Thanksgiving Week

Hello family that I am oh-so-grateful for!

So this week was another week in the works I suppose. We haven't been able to teach hardly any lessons though. Everyone is busy or out of town for the holidays. Melissa did come to church though! As well as Cameron and Elaina. Elaina is the one who has been taught all the lessons and has a testimony but still has a hold up (her boyfriend). Our current game plan with her is to help her to help her boyfriend. They won't get married sooner and they won't break up so the only option is to overpower them with the spirit! Muahaha! Only by being "pricked in your heart" can some people really change.

We had Thanksgiving dinner with brother Adams (1st counselor in bishopric) and his family. It was fairly normal: turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, stuffing, rice pilaf, green jello pudding (with pistachios! mmm), rolls, and yams that I casually passed on. haha. We also got invited over to another member's house with some other missionaries but it was later in the evening so I thought it was just to hang out and maybe eat dessert. Turns out they were actually expecting us for dinner! I was so stuffed I was barely able to eat more than some fruit, jello and another roll or two. It was fun though.

 

Coordinating the vehicles has gotten a little easier. I know what I'm doing as far as all the basic stuff. I get several calls every day, some of which are pretty funny. It's weird that missionaries call me thinking I would know exactly what's wrong with their car. I'm definitely no auto mechanic but so far I've had a good idea at least of what's going wrong. Some sisters were the victims of a hit and run on Thursday and those are the calls that are less fun to answer.

 

So the sisters in Indio that we swapped cars with had an issue last Saturday night. They called me complaining about Chevy cars and why I couldn't give them a toyota because now their car isn't working. haha. It wasn't turning on or anything and after asking a bunch of questions it sounded to me like a battery issue. I asked if they had any members that lived close by that could help them jump the car and they said they did and would call me again if they had any more issues. I thought it was going to end there but they called 10 minutes later. They said "so we got out and shook the battery and the car started up fine. We drove home and parked in front of our mailbox but when we got back in the car now it won't start again." Me: "so you parked in front of the mailboxes andturned off your engine?" Them: "Yeah and now it won't start and my companion is shaking the battery again and there are sparks flying everywhere!"  Oh dear. haha. Well I told them to stop shaking the battery and call their zone leaders to come over and tighten the terminals on their battery (since the sisters didn't have a wrench). Whew! It made me realize why the church only buys new cars and why, oftentimes, the sisters are driving the newest of the bunch. They didn't even know what a wrench was! haha... oh well. They're all squared away now.

 

Well I hope it doesn't sound like my life is boring. It definitely isn't. There are some really slow moments in the office where I would love to just listen to music. Some of the work is really a lot like what I did for Browning P.S. I've actually had a lot of laughs this transfer. So it's been fun.

Oh! We had dinner with Melissa Strong on Wednesday and she is Steven and Ben South's cousin! Crazy huh?? What a small world!

 

As far as Christmas goes, I actually have one or two small ideas. I could use a new black belt. One of the ones I came out with was already kinda old so the other one I wore like 80% of the time. They're both pretty worn out. Just make sure it's not a super wide belt because some of my belt loops on my slacks are small. I could use more garments... but I wanted to try out some slightly different kinds so I might just do that when I come home. A couple socks wouldn't be bad either since most of the ones I have are on their last leg. Or foot. haha.

Well that might not help much. haha. I already have a christmas tree so you don't need to send another if you were planning on that.

 

Anyways! We actually don't have to email on Saturday. Pres said we could just do it Monday since we're already at a computer in the office. So. Still unsure which I'm going to pick. I wish he would just pick one for me! When I told him I'd last Monday that I'd already emailed Saturday he was just like "well if you'd like to email your mom again and have time, go ahead!" So I might just go back to Mondays. I just don't want to feel like I have free reign. I'll talk to him about it again.

 

Love you guys! I'm definitely thankful for you all and for you mom and dad. I've realized what a blessing it is just to have a mom and a dad at home, especially ones who try to do everything right.

Love,

Elder Nelson Browning

2 Months

Well this is weird! Saturday is a special day its the day we get ready for... the rest of the week i suppose! Actually we've done service this morning until now and the Millcreek ward missionaries have a baptism at 2 that we'll be going to so we're still fairly busy amidst this day of trying to get things done.

So last night we got some bad news. Shortly before we left the office we received a call from the mom of a sister in our zone, sister Morgan. I was sister Morgan's district leader back in February when she arrived to the field, and now I'm her zone leader, and she's companions with her trainer who was also in my district back then. Her mom told us that she had recently found out that she had cancer and wasn't sure the best way to inform her daughter. Man. Elder Rosa told me "...this is the part I hate about working in the office." We told President Van Cott and he talked to her and gave her permission to talk to her mom. Sister Morgan called us this morning and we gave her a blessing. She's a strong girl.

Anyways! Not sure you needed to hear all that but it's definitely been on my mind since last night. But this week I've been thinking about my current assignment and decided to view it mostly as an administering job. It's not the most glorious or spiritually enriching work but it needs to be done and it assists in the efforts of some 220 other missionaries. Honestly it just feels like a job. We're working office stuff from 9 to 5, 5 days a week. Haha. It's not boring though. I enjoy it.

We go to the ward's institute on Tuesday nights and a nonmember girl showed up this week. She's been studying religion and was interested in the Mormon church. She actually showed up to one of the district meetings that morning and the missionaries there talked to her for a little bit. She really liked what she saw in the members and what she's learned so far about the church. Her name is Melissa (pronounced mayleesa though). Elder Rosa and Aaron (the ward mission leader) talked to her for a little while afterwards while Cameron taught me about the atonement. She's coming to church on Sunday! And she's going to try to come to the baptism that's today as well.

I'm really not sure what to talk about... haha. I probably make my life sound super boring. Elder Rosa and I laugh a lot though. It's fun. We'll really miss the Housers when they leave. And we'll probably feel super lost. haha.

We drove out to Indio yesterday because we had to swap some cars out there (remember where that's at Jeren? :) haha) and Elder Rosa felt like he needed to visit one of his old investigators from Desert Hot Springs. So we stopped by and she let us in and it turns out she's really been struggling. The other missionaries there haven't been able to contact her and she stopped going to church a while back. Elder Rosa was able to bear his testimony and help rekindle that spark of interest in the church for her. She felt a little weird about going back to the family ward since she'd had a falling out with a few people there so we gave her the info for the singles ward out in Yucca Valley. I felt like it was definitely inspired for Elder Rosa to stop by. I've noticed that he just has a way with some people and connects with them in ways others can't.

We had dinner last night with a girl in the single's ward that's engaged to be marriedon the 21st of December. She's the same age as Megan! I was like... what! I think it just made me more scared to get married. haha.

My face is a "gorgeous sight to behold" huh? Maybe that's because for the first time in a year, I didn't cut my own hair! haha :) there's some members that own a salon that will cut the missionaries' hair for free.

Well. I guess that's about it. I'll only email like 7 or 8 more times. Is that crazy or what? I want to start telling people I've been out "about a year and a half" when they ask. haha. I'm sick of people asking if I'm excited to go home and what my plans are. No need for me to be trunky until the 20th of January. haha

Love,

Elder Nelson Browning

November 18

Hi everyone

So I don't know what day we'll be emailing after today, probably Saturdays but we'll have to see. We're officially the vehicle coordinators and secretaries for the mission now. The veteran couple don't go home until December 2nd but they want to make sure we know what we're doing before they leave. haha. But anyways. If I miss emailing, don't freak out! I'm just really busy. haha

Well this week was a little tougher. We only have a few hours in the evenings to visit and teach people and a total of 9 of our appointments canceled this past week. So that was fun. (: haha.

Every Monday the ward has an FHE activity. This past monday they played human battleship. They set up tables on their sides in the middle of the gym and everyone laid down on one side or the other and we lobbed dodgeballs back and forth. Lots of hit and miss. It was actually kinda fun.

We spend a fair amount of time just running cars around. Which means we end of driving separate from each other sometimes. I've driven alone like 10 times this transfer now. It's kinda weird to have no one in the car haha. I have to put in a cd or it's eerie.

Did I mention Ephraim who we just started teaching? We saw him again and he seems fairly positive about everything we've taught him. He's not super gung ho but he's open enough that we're thinking we'll be able to get him to progress. He works every sunday but we'll deal with that issue later.

We had a mission-wide conference on Saturday. I thought there was going to be some huge announcement but it was mostly just a reiteration from MLC, talking about cleaning up the corners of our day and raising our expectations and faith. It was cool to see all the missionaries though. Elder Pauga and I talked for a while. He's doing super great. Really enjoys his area and the work there.

Two things I forgot to tell you last week. One: I sold my bike. In under 24 hours. haha. I told sister Houser that I wanted to sell it for just 100 bucks. The next day I was thinking that maybe that was too cheap and I should raise the price but when I got to the office she had already sold it! I know it was for a good cause though - the missionary that bought it wasn't able to afford a new bike and wasn't sure what he was going to do. He was thinking he was going to have to piece together some of the half broken ones left by previous missionaries. But I guess when sister Houser told him and his mom about my bike, they were super excited and asked to buy it right away. That new missionary is Elder Malm - he arrives next month.

Also! 2nd thing: I ran into elder Bagley! We were outside of the church building after district meeting and I heard someone yell "Browning!" I turned around and there was Austin Bagley sitting in the back seat of his parents car! Remember him from Wrightwood? He just went home in August. He was revisiting the mission with his fam and was here visiting the temple. It was cool to talk to him for a few minutes.

Just a little about my companion. Elder Rosa! He's from Florida. He's pretty cool. Very relaxed and easy going but hard working too. We get along well.

The food in the ward is decent. Honestly I LOVED the samoan food. I wasn't a fan of the way they prepared some fish dishes and their boiled green bananas but everything else was awesome. Lots of meat. I'm happy I don't feel forced to overeat every night now. Haha.

Well, Hopefully you hear from me on Saturday! Or sometime. Plan on Saturday because that's what's most likely right now.

I love you!

Elder Nelson Browning

I know, as a representative of Jesus Christ, that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is true. We have the priesthood power restored to the earth again in this day. I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God and that it was translated by the prophet Joseph Smith. We have a prophet on the earth today; He leads and guides us in these troubled times. The power of prayer is real. Our Father in Heaven loves us. The Atonement is real. By it and through it, we all can be changed and become His sons and His daughters. This I testify in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

10 Weeks

Hey everyone

 

It was another long week, although it went by a little less slowly than the one before. We've been able to teach more lessons and visit more people. We've only been fed like 3 times in this ward but one of the times was on the 5th I think and they found out it was my birthday so they stuck a candle in some ice cream and sang to me. haha. We had one of the ward missionaries pass the dinner calendar around during church so now it's a lot more full.

 

The work in the office is kinda more same ol' same ol' but it's not tedious or anything. We were able to meet with some less active/recent convert singles in the evenings. We had 3 less actives and 2 non members commited to come to church but none showed up. Most had a half decent excuse and should definitely be there next week.

 

We're teaching an individual named Cameron. He wants to be baptized super bad but he's waiting on approval from Salt Lake. He's read the Book of Mormon 5 times. He's had the lessons several times as well and we just switched roles - now he is teachingus the lessons. I think it's pretty cool. Hopefully we hear back form SL this week.

We're also teaching a gal named Elaina. She has had all the lessons and has a testimony but something else is holding her back. We suspect she has worthiness issues with her less active boyfriend who's currently down in San Diego but it's hard to tell for sure. We're thinking that as we get to know her better we can be more bold in helping her change and repent.

 

We had MLC on Thursday, just like the other Browning Boys. haha. I took minutes of the meeting which I've never done before so that was interesting. I'm a fast enough typer to keep up with the gist of everything going on but I'm not an extensive note taker so I missed some things. We have a mission wide conference this Saturday so I'll probably have to do it again. haha.

 

Saturday we had a day full of chaffing. I wasn't on a bike but it was still just door after door where no one was home and all 3 of our appointments canceled. We put about 150 miles on our car by the end of the day. Those are my favoritist days. ha.

 

Thank you so much for all the birthday cards! Since I was in the office I didn't have to wait for them to get forwarded and 4 different cards came all on my birthday. That's more letters than I've ever gotten in even a single week my whole mission! haha.

 

Well I gotta run - I don't have as much time today since I'm emailing from the office. Thank you once again for all the birthday stuff! I'll save the party poppers for New Years :) haha

 

Love,

Elder Nelson Browning

 

p.s. you got a letter about my upcoming release? Me too :/ I got my flight info. I fly out of Ontario at about 10:30 am on the 21st, land in Salt Lake around 1, catch my next flight at 1:45, and land in Idaho Falls an hour later.

November 4

Hello family!

Wow. What a long week! One of the longest on my mission. haha. It feels like so much has happened and yet so little at the same time. And it definitely doesn't feel like I'm 21! Goodness. I'll take the binky mom. haha.

 

So we've spent a lot of time in the office and running around trying to fix errors and mistakes from transfers. Some cars needed to be swapped around and we've picked up/dropped off bikes as well. Besides swapping out a few other old cars for new ones we're done with most of that fix-it work.

Two of the senior missionaries in the office will be leaving at the end of the month and we're going to be taking over their positions. One is in charge of vehicles and the other is the main secretary. Their real replacements come in December so we're supposed to in turn teach them what we just learned. Fun huh? So far it's actually been fairly fun. Elder Houser, the one over vehicles, mentioned that we've learned in only a few days what usually takes others a month to learn. Some of the stuff we've been doing is similar to the work I did for Dad's tax practice.

 

The ward is interesting. I haven't served in a YSA ward before so it's weird to be with so many people close to my age. We haven't been able to teach a lot of lessons yet but we should have quite a few lined up. Our ward mission leader returned from his mission only 3 months ago so he's super gung-ho about missionary work and wants to come to and set up as many lessons for us as he can. He wants to get it to the point where we always have appointments and lessons to fill the time, especially in the evenings when we're not in the office. We've been in the office most of the day from 9 to 5 but with the rate we're learning things that may taper off. Also, since the office is closed saturday but open Monday, when we start to train the new senior couple we won't have much of a pday anymore... haha. We'll probably have to email Saturday, shop and clean whenever we can, and spend an hour or two with our zone during the day on monday. I guess we'll see what happens.

 

Redlands had its 125th anniversary on Saturday and had a big lunch/dinner even thingy that a lot of the missionaries served at. We served food to a total of about 1200 people so it was good to get our faces out there to so many people, showing them that we are in fact polite and normal people. haha

 

Hmm what else... being a zone leader isn't much different. Except sometimes our phone blows up with messages. Like last night. Stressful... haha. I'm not used to being asked for permission to do things or go places. But so far it's good. There are only 4 missionaries going home this transfer and 4 going home next transfer including me. So I'm a pretty old missionary. Out of roughly 225 missionaries, I'm one of the 8 oldest. It's so weird. People keep asking me if I'm trunky! I don't like it. haha. Recently someone in the store asked how long I'd been out and I told him and he said "wow congratulations on finishing strong." I was just like what? Finish? I still have 3 months left! okay maybe 2 1/2... haha.

 

While going through the bike shed where all the extra bikes are kept, I noticed that mine wasn't there and it wasn't on the list of checked in bikes. Uh oh. We thought maybe it had stayed in Rancho and was in the other mission. However, on closer inspection of the records I noticed a red and black diamondback bike that apparently had no owner or name attached to it had been checked out to another missionary. Hmmm... so I called up that missionary and was like "hey does the bike you have have a hole in the back of the seat?" "uhh.. yep" "mkay... and does it have a broken odometer?" "yeah" "and does it have a G.I. Joe sticker on the frame?" "mmm yup" "bingo!" haha found it! Somehow my name had fallen off and they just gave it to another missionary. I got it back though! I gave that missionary another bike that for sure no longer had an owner.

 

Well I gotta skidaddle soon. There are only a few computers at this library and other missionaries need to email.

Thanks for the birthday package :) You guys are awesome. I assume the candles mean theres a cake mix in there? I'll have to bake it and take another birthday song video like last year :)

After jeren's birthday I won't miss another birthday on my mission! Wahoo! :)

Love you guys!

Elder Nelson Browning