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.