Week 4

Hey fam

So thinking over this past week it really hasn't been very good but I didn't really realize that until we were adding up numbers last night. They were terrible! Almost all our appointments canceled and the family of 3 didn't show up to church either. Neither did the less active young man we met with. We're really hoping that Robert and Veronica are willing to keep meeting with us. He said he wanted to just come to church for now but if he won't even do that, the only way he can progress is if he reads and earnestly prays about the book of Mormon. I can only hope and pray that he will and will have a change of heart because of it.

The young man that's less active, Adrian, has started to change his life around because it was just getting worse and worse. He found he had cancer on his thyroid and they had to remove it. But, when they removed it, they hit the nerve on his vocal chords and he couldn't talk or breathe. He's only recently been able to talk more. His wife also left him and he was going to have to move out. He started putting God back in his life though and things have been turning around for him and he said he thought they would keep improving as he got back to church. His wife actually came back the day we met with him and they're working things out. We'll try and see him again this week. 

I had two exchanges this past week, one with elder Taylor (served in Phelan for 2 transfers when I was in Wrightwood) and with another missionary in my district, Elder Olsen. It hasn't been super hot or anything but having to walk or bike everywhere is so much harder in the heat. Especially when, after 2 or 3 hours, no one lets you in, whether member or not, active or not. I don't like being drenched and sticky while wearing a shirt and tie. It takes longer to dry out. haha. 

I believe that no effort is wasted even if you don't see anyone progress. But it's harder to believe that when you work and work and didn't get to even talk to hardly anybody. I wonder if people have started running away when they see us walking down the street because we didn't pass nearly as many people as we had in earlier weeks. We'll just have to go out of our way more if this week is the same. 

So another disappointing thing is that pres wants to ban tote bins. Like plastic storage bins. EVERY missionary (except brand new greenies) have one for extra stuff. Apparently a lot of missionaries that have been going home recently have been leaving a lot of stuff because they can't take it with them in their suitcases because of either weight or physical space. Personally, half or more of my clothes will be thrown away among other things and I definitely don't have more than I'll be able to take home. But. It's yet another rule being created because missionaries are/were stupid. Until all the zone leaders have gotten rid of their totes, no one else has to. But, we'll have to sooner or later, so I gotta get rid of some stuff. I'll probably send home all my cd cases and I'll have to leave behind some other less important things. Stuff like board games (the game of life and monopoly), my cd player boombox thing, some extra t shirts and probably one of my service shoes. It probably still won't be enough so you might get more than that in the mail. This might be the point that I finally part with my C - grade suits. haha. And just keep the ones in better condition.

Anyways. Didn't mean to rant at ya. Life's good! We're working hard. And trying to budget so that we can afford feeding ourselves. haha. I bought a jacket to wear when I'm biking that I would also wear with normal clothes and like to take home with me but I won't need it with this warmer weather so I'll probably return it.

I love you guys! Here's some slightly more exciting news. The first presidency and missionary board has announced that all missionaries are allowed to email anyone (besides young women living in the mission) from this time forward, and are allowed as much time as they desire on Pday to email (as long as they get everything else done that they need to). So, if anyone else wants to email me, I'd love to hear from them :) I won't be able to take much more time out of the day but it's definitely a cool thing. The US postal service is getting tight pants so I wonder if they'll just stop forwarding mail soon. Might be why this announcement was made. Anyways. So I guess you could post my email address next to my mailing address on the blog or wherever else it's at.

Stay classy!

Love,

Elder Nelson Browning