21 Months

Hi everyone!

 

Well we had a pretty great week! Elder Judd says this past week was the best week of his mission. haha.

 

We were able to start teaching several new people this week. We started teaching Naia, one of the young adults in San B that we met before. He's 19. He wasn't super interested, but he's cool with meeting with us again and we left him with a Book of Mormon and our testimonies. He's not big into reading but said he would read it. We're seeing him again on Thursday.

I was on exchanges on Saturday with Elder Galt (remember him from Barstow almost a year ago? haha). He was super excited about it. I guess all week he kept bringing it up to Elder Langi since they share a ward. haha. But we spent the day biking all over the place trying to find people to teach but with absolutely zero success. It was fun though. A part of me misses being on bike but my sore rear end and the gross collar of my shirt reminded me why I prefer a car. haha. But! That left Elder Judd to be in charge in our area. He was able to meet with Breanna, sister Fale's daughter, as well as Breanna's friend Valerie. I guess Breanna wasn't super excited but Valerie was super pumped! She wants to be baptized so bad! They set a date for her to be baptized on November 23rd.

 

K so here's a funny story. On Wednesday we had to take the car in to get the brakes worked on. While we were waiting, a guy walked past outside and looked in through the window for a minute. Dunno what he was looking for. He started to walk away but then stopped, backed up, and looked back in through the window. Right at me. We stared at each other for a moment and then he put up the "I love you" sign with his hand. I grinned, gave him a knowing look, and pointed at him. He pointed back at me, smiled, and then walked away. Super random! But it's moments like that that just totally make your day. haha.

 

Thursday we had interviews with President in the morning. I love President Van Cott! He's so great. I asked him what he wanted from me for the rest of my mission, and he turned the question back at me! I was like... what? He was like "what do you desire? Do you want to be a zone leader? You'd be a great leader and be able to touch many more missionaries that way. Do you want to train? Stay in the Samoan ward? Become one of the new office missionaries? Heck I'll even let you pick where you want to go!" So I was super taken aback by that. He said to think about it and to let him know what my desires are today. So I've been praying and fasting about it and I've come to the conclusion that... I really don't care. My biggest desire is to be where the Lord want me doing what He wants me to do and learning what He wants me to learn. I don't care if that's being a zl, dl, trainer, office elder, staying in the Samoan ward, heck I'll even stay with Elder Judd if that's what God wants. So I told him that. We'll see what happens next week. Could be anything! I'll be going into the office to help President and the APs with transfers I think at the end of the week.

 

We visited Sai on Thursday and gave him a blessing. He's been struggling and was going to go into rehab this past weekend. Hopefully he's doing okay. His phone is off and he hasn't been home but we'll keep trying to get ahold of him and his wife.

We helped sister Fale get ahold of some furniture on Friday. Some people are so humble. She literally had almost nothing. A few mattresses on the ground, 2 metal folding chairs, a small tv, and bare essentials in the kitchen. We got a bunk bed for her sons, a small couch, a lamp, and some dressers. She didn't let us leave without giving us lunch though. haha

 

We have a new ward mission leader! We're sad to lose Brother Matapula but he's been so busy lately he hasn't even been able to meet with us. The new WML is brother Moleli, who was just released as the 2nd counselor in the Bishopric. He's already looked up a bunch of the videos and other training online, set up to meet with us every week, set aside part of Saturday to come out with us to visit people, and he's pushing for more ward missionaries. Holy wow! He's really taking his calling by the horns. And we're finally getting the ward mission process going! Showing all the perseverance and patience we've had week after week to the Ward Council has finally helped them to open up. They want to make sure we have a list of people to always visit and teach. The Lord will hasten His work in His own time. I definitely have a testimony of that. The work is increasing, and it's obvious that those blessings have nothing to do with us and all to do with the Lord. If things keep up, it's possible that even our ward could get a 2nd set of missionaries down the road. It's an exciting time to be a missionary :)

 

Oh I haven't even talked about our conference with Elder Walker! It was so good! He's funny haha. Turns out he's coming to the next Rigby Idaho Stake Conference! He asked me to tell you to make sure to introduce yourselves to him. Meeting with him was like having another session of General Conference. Lots of good lessons that will apply to all of my life, not just to my time as a missionary. He talked about Moroni 7:45. Moroni 7:40-48 is my favorite passage of scripture. In verse 45 it says "charity... is not easily provoked." Cough. haha. He talked about that line for a while. I definitely needed it!

 

The work is true! I'm worried for the first time that I'm going to struggle leaving it when I come home. haha. I testify that the church is true. The Book of Mormon is true. Joseph Smith was a prophet of God. This is the Lord's church and His great work.

I love you guys :) This is probably my record-long email. haha. Don't get used to it! :) haha

Love,

Elder Nelson Browning

 

p.s. What do you want me to do with my bike? It's still in decent condition but it's not an expensive bike so I'm inclined to just sell it unless you want me to ship it home. Let me know! :)