Transfer #13

Hey fam!

 

Just a short email today - not a lot to talk about and we need to pack and deep clean the appartment. Val is still doing great he memorized the ten commandments from us telling them to him once. It's crazy how fast that kid picks up information. We also have a lesson with him tonight and that's going to eat up a fair amount of the evening so most of the chores need to be done by 5:30 or so today.

Wish I had some idea of what's going on with transfers - no one knows, all we can do is guess. Our guess is that Whiting is leaving and it's up in the air as to whether I'm also leaving or going to stay. We'll have to see what happens tomorrow.

 

I got the bike fixed for now - a member was kind enough to help me out and get it completely trued (last time they didn't do a perfect job) and also get the brakes adjusted. I went to a swap meet and got a carry on suitcase for 20 bucks so that didn't make too big a dent in my wallet. I had enough to put some extra money away in case of an emergency and still have enough to buy groceries this week. I think I have to attribute it to fast offerings since I see no other explanation.

I got the slacks from Ferrells I think in Idaho Falls. They're CTR clothing brand. The insoles for my shoes are Polysorb brand - arch support I believe. My dress shoes are size 11, not 12 like my normal shoes, if that makes a difference when getting insoles (it might for some).

 

I hope everyone is doing well at home since I haven't heard anything from ya this week. I'll have more to talk about next week - hopefully good things! And if I stay here, hopefully a baptism as well.

 

Love,

Elder Nelson Browning

Trunky Missionaries

Hey guys

 

This past week went alright. Val is still doing great and is excited to get baptized. Hopefully all goes well and he gets baptized next week but even if his mom doesn't feel he's ready by then he'll definitely get baptized in July.

 

Lee's baptism went well, and it was cool that he wanted us to be his witnesses. Too bad we couldn't stand in the confirmation circle yesterday since it's for a different ward. He's definitely going to be a solid member.

 

Meeting with Taylor, on the other hand, did not go as well. She said she prayed about the Book of Mormon and got a "no" answer and doesn't see any reason to read it. She prayed about it without probably reading any more than what her paster showed her so we tried to tell her that she needs to just straight up read it from the beginning but she doesn't seem like she has any desire to do so. We might meet with her occasionally if she wants to meet with us, but we probably wont try to set up any more appointments. She's seeking for something, she always talks about finding more truth in her prayers; but for what, I don't know.

 

So it seems like the longer I've been out, the more missionaries I know going home each transfer. And each group seems to be trunkier - or get trunky sooner - than the previous one. So we spend time occasionally with them (to help out their poor not-so-close-to-going-home companions haha). A couple nights ago one missionary texted us and was like "save me from my companion! ps delete this text." haha. I thought they were fighting or something but it was just his companion had been talking about going home ALL DAY. haha.

 

Anyways. So more and more missionaries are leaving huh? There are so many sisters coming out that seeing a set of elders in a car is going to become a rare sight. My bikes wheel is bent and I'm going to have to replace it since I'll probably be on bike for the rest of my mission. I got the wheel trued when I came to rancho but it's even worse than it was before and almost unrideable. Also, I forgot to but my brake light in my backpack and it got stolen so I might have to buy another one in case we're ever biking at night (which is rare). It seems like I'm doomed to have frequent financial issues as a missionary. haha.

 

My shoes really are fine but the insoles I've used before we got from Big 5 I'm pretty sure. I keep forgetting their name but they're black with yellow lettering and the brand name starts with a "p." I seriously can't remember. I'll have to just write it down.

My slacks are probably whats in the worse condition. They're super great for the heat but the pocket material was too thin and most of my pockets are torn or starting to tear. At first it was just the seams but now it the material of the pocket itself. I'm hoping I can get them to last the rest of my mission but we'll have to see. Might try and find a way to patch them.

Theres not really anything I need though. Besides a bike wheel. haha. I'm going to get a small carry-on suitcase or a 2nd large backpack to fit a few more things since those are allowed.

 

I really like Mormon. He has a lot of cool prophesies. There was one verse I read either today or yesterday that said basically "if you're unhappy in this life you'll be unhappy in the next," and vice versa. Keeping the commandments is the way to happiness, despite what many people may think. "Obedience to law is liberty" - L. Tom Perry.

 

Love you guys

Elder Nelson Browning

500+ Days

Hello everyone!

 

Are my emails boring? I'm kinda tired of emailing each week. They seem pretty redundant. Like. "This is what happened this week... the end." A lot like my journal entries. haha. Actually, I started trying to write more insights from my studies in my journal so that I would have things that are actually worth reading after my mission. Wish I would've started that a year ago.

 

Well, anyways, we focused more on working with the investigators we do have and spent a lot of time working on a list of less active members that the bishopric doesn't really know. A lot of that time is spent with people not answering doors, but we did find 2. One isn't interested but another asked us to call her later this week when she will have her work schedule.

 

Teaching Taylor has been more of a challenge than I thought it was going to be. She thinks that the Book of Mormon says we basically have to be perfect or we can't obtain celestial glory, and we've been trying to tell her that the Book of mormon doesn't say that. Comp study has been pretty boring for a while until this past week. haha we met with her twice and apparently she said she prayed about the Book of Mormon and felt a "no" answer. We told her to try again haha. She wants us to show her that the Book of Mormon is true. She's a factual person and wants that kind of evidence for the Book of Mormon. We tried to emphasize the importance and power of a confirmation from the spirit, but she keeps saying she wants facts. Goodness. There are plenty of factual stories that show the Book of Mormon must be or should be or probably is true and inspired, but that is relative truth, not absolute truth, the difference of which Elder Richard G Scott has talked about before. It's kind of crazy. Testimony based solely on factual evidences and relative truths will not hold the strength necessary for conversion to the gospel. We just need to somehow get that into her head. haha.

 

We started teaching Val this week. He really likes everything to do with the church and is eager to be baptized. He's an odd kid. He likes dancing and video games. haha. His mom wants to take things slow since she's been out of the church for 10+ years so we're setting up appointments with them twice a week. We set a goal with him to be baptized at the end of the month.

 

Lee, the man who took us bike riders as a sign, is getting baptized this saturday. So that'll be pretty cool.

The mission officially splits on July 1st. Transfers are on June 25th, so wherever I end up is the mission I'll be in. I don't really care where I go. Part of me wants to stay here because I know more people and missionaries here but part of me things it would be cool to overlap with Jeren or Grandma and Grandpa. No one knows where they will be since President is having everyone pack, write white wash notes, and go to transfer meeting.

 

So one thing I wrote in my journal from studies was something I realized about all the wars in the Book of Mormon from reading 3 nephi 4 (specifically verses 8-10 and 30-33). Every time it mentions the people praying for strength and support, they succeed, especially when they give thanks afterwards; and when they fail to do so, or are lifted up in their pride, they get totally wiped. I think we can apply that to our individual lives. Wars were some of the big trials they went through back then, and luckily our trials are different. Not necessarily a lot easier, but different. But it applies to whatever we're going through: if we supplicate to the Lord for strength, really putting our faith in him, and give thanks afterwards, we'll always make it through.

 

And with that... I'm out!

 

Love,

Elder Nelson Browning

June 3, 2013

Hey guys,

Sorry I wasn't able to email last week. Memorial day had all the libraries closed and even the tech center was closed. We had a pretty fun memorial day though. The Tongan ward had a party and they fed us and we played basketball and other sports. Everyone was at least a little sunburned. We've been out hitting the pavement so much these past two weeks that someone the other day commented about me and Whiting that we looked tan. What! Me? Apparently I'm a little darker haha.

 

Anyways. We've seen lots of miracles mission-wide as everyone has been working harder. Two weeks in a row, we've had 2 non members at church (3 different guys) which is pretty exciting. However, 2 don't live in our area so we've forwarded their info on to the missionaries that do cover those areas. The 3rd is the 12 year old boy who we should finally start teaching this week. His mom was sick and they were busy and then his mom and her boyfriend (not husband like we thought) have been fighting. Bishop met with them and said he (the bf) probably wont be coming back to church. Great. Valmore (the boy) and his mom came yesterday though and we're seeing them on Thursday. He's been 3 times now so he just needs the lessons to be baptized.

 

We found another investigator this week. Finally huh? The only bummer is we might have to give her over to the YSA ward, especially if her older sister starts taking the lessons but her parents don't. Her name is Taylor and she's 18. She went to temple square and really liked it and filled out a missionary request. She has a lot of "well what about this?" questions - she's a very fact-centered person. Like one of her questions was about all the wars in the Book of Mormon but the lack of archaeological or other evidence. What do you say to that? haha. We emphasized the importance of answers through revelation, truths and convictions that can't come from fact-finding. She's super nice and invited us back but she didn't come to church yesterday. We should be meeting with her again tomorrow. If that lesson is positive (or at least not negative), we'll bring up the YSA ward and possibly give her over to those missionaries. It's kinda an odd transition age. She probably wouldn't be comfortable in the YSA ward unless she was with her sister. So we'll play it by ear this week.

 

Lots of tracting lately. I don't like saying "there goes another lost soul" or anything like that when people don't want to listen. I prefer just moving on, thinking something like "it's not their time yet" or "they just need more preparation; maybe someday they'll be ready." People can't truly reject the gospel unless they feel the spirit and understand what it means. I believe many will run into missionaries and members throughout their lives and never agree to listen to the message but also never understand what they passed up until in the spirit world. But we don't know that line of understanding, acceptance, rejection, etc. God knows if they had adequate chances and plenty of opportunities on earth. Even if they did completely reject it, they can still accept it after this life, although chances at celestial glory will have been lost and their eternal sphere of glory will be the terrestrial kingdom.

 

Anyways. Dunno why I got on that subject. We had another cool thing happen this week. So you know that guy that I mentioned lives in our area but has been going to another ward? When Elder Whiting and I met with him, we were bold and committed him to really seek for an answer as to what God wants him to do. He's really been seeking for an answer or sign as to whether or not he should get baptized. He met with the missionaries on Friday and said earlier that week he was in his car pondering and saw me and whiting riding our bikes and took it as a sign that maybe he should get baptized. Another time either that day or that week, he saw us again riding our bikes and knows he needs to get baptized. haha! Works for me I guessed. People have joked with us now that we can quit working and just ride our bikes around all day. haha. If only it worked that way! But he's super gung-ho and wants Elder Whiting and I to be the witnesses at his baptism on the 15th. He's moving with his wife to Oregon in July.

 

It was quite hot on Saturday; hot enough that I was dripping with sweat by 11 in the morning. I can manage some heat but when it's at or near or over 100 I just melt. I'll probably just have to work in hour spurts or something when it gets hotter, taking time throughout the day to cool off. Hopefully it'll be manageable that way.

Had to buy new running shoes... all the rough basketball tore a hole in the end of my shoes. Its been coming for a while though. Found some on sale at Big 5 which was lucky.

 

Apparently, those that stay in the Rancho mission will have a 7 week transfer, meaning they'll go home on their original date (Jan 28th for me). Those that go to Redlands will stay on their current schedule (Jan 21st).

 

There's the 2-week update. Peace!

Love,

Elder Nelson Browning

 

Helaman 3:35 (33-35)