A Week in Stateboro :)

To start the week off, we have a great YSA group (lots of inactive ysa...but we're getting there)! They all meet on Monday nights for Family Home Evening. Apparently they sometimes bring friends (members and less active members) with them. It's so great to reach out and just invite. When we went to dinner yesterday, the wife of the home told us that when she was 14 she would get dressed and ready to go to church..then wait for someone to invite her (she  wasn't a member). But then they never would. How sad! Eventually....someone did invite her to a youth activity, but imagine how much happier she could have been if a simple invitation had been made months earlier. That's this week's challenge...INVITE. They don't have to say yes, but we MUST invite. :)

Tuesday we service for a part member family in the ward. You learn lots of neat skills on a mission...a new one for me was when we painted and crackled doors. After that I did a bunch of cleaning. Cleaning can make you feel so good because by the end of it, you feel so accomplished. By spending quality time with this family through service, it has softened the husband's heart a little. Years down the road, I pray he will be ready to look into the messages we share with them. :)

Tuesday evening was when the real cool story comes. Since this is a college town, we have a few investigators who are going to school. One of them is a Sorority girl who invited us to come to this coffee shop Tuesday evening with a few of her friends. She said a bunch of girls just come together and talk about Jesus. Sounded good to us. She had been hard to get a hold of recently so we thought this would be great, and we could meet new people. So we go...and order our sodas :D While we did so, she saw us and headed over to tell us to come upstairs and find a seat wherever we could. hmm So we go upstairs..and there are about 30 Sorority girls gathered in a group! wow. we find a seat and listen to this senior tell every one about her 'journey' of finding God. It was super neat to see this side of these girls. After the big gathering, everyone split up into smaller groups. We were able to tell a good number of these girls about the Book of Mormon, how we can have faith, the power of prayer..basically it was amazing! We were mostly planting seeds of faith for later, but who knows when they will be ready? We're hoping to meet with 2 of the girls this week. 

Thursday I was able to have a signing lesson! We have a less active member in the ward. She really doesn't have many people to sign with (even her sister, whom she lives with, doesn't sign much). So it was an amazing experience to use the little I knew to carry on a normal conversation with her. Signs came back that I thought I had forgotten. It was wonderful! I hope to sign with her more and be able to learn more "church/religious" signs. 

Friday night we had an interesting experience...while at a less active YSA's apartment, we got caught in the middle of some pretty nasty roommate drama. The one roommate started asking us a whole bunch of questions to get at the girl we were visiting. It was incredibly uncomfortable, and there was the potential for it to turn really sour really fast. Through prayer, and listening to the Holy Ghost...our mouths were filled with what needed to be said to calm the spirit of contention. I was especially grateful for sister Stout's powerful testimony of the Atonement. The spirit entered back into the room, and we left with things placed in the Lord's hands. 

Saturday night we had a lesson with a young family. The grandmother and husband are not members. It was full of the spirit. Neither were originally open to the idea of our religion very much...but since the spirit was there, we could see a change happen within their hearts. The next day, the grandmother came up to me and thanked me for the simple, yet profound way I had connected with the children. That most definitely wasn't me...but she had felt the spirit! That made me so happy! When we feel like what we are doing isn't adequate, the Lord has a way of sending the encouragement we need. 

I love this Gospel and I KNOW that when we pray with all the energy of our heart, we CAN know the truth of all things. We can know our divine potential. We can know the plan our Father has for us. We can know that God does has not shut the pathway of communication to heaven! WE CAN KNOW. 

How I love this work!!! Take hold of it :)

-Sister Brown 

Whirlwind of a Week

Well, this week started off crazy and ended up even crazier. I'm just grateful for the power of prayer and the strength that we can gain because of the atonement in those times when we need it most. I know that we are all put in the positions and places that we are for a reason. I have felt that it is going to be a wonderful, yet challenging next couple of weeks. Good thing life isn't easy...or else we wouldn't become any better! 

This week was interviews with President Cottle. We drove to Pooler on Wednesday afternoon for the interviews. We went over briefly how we were doing and if there were any concerns. Both sister Lewis and I just told him we loved each other and that things are going GREAT. We've had a bit of a rough time in Hinesville, but we always relied on each other and kept a positive attitude..even if we were just 'planting seeds.'  Now, some things have started progressing. President Cottle also quizzed us on our memorized scriptures for the 42 principles. It was wonderful and I was so grateful I had spent the time to gain a personal relationship with the stories I would use to teach my investigators because it gave me the confidence needed to teach President what he asked about.

The Villellas Family. Baptisms set for May!

My favorite part about interviews though was in the very beginning when President Cottle offered the opening prayer. Every time he speaks I can feel the spirit. It is powerful. Tears had formed in my eyes before he had even finished the 90 seconds of communicating with our Heavenly Father. The Spirit DOES bear witness when our words are true. When we are living our lives in alignment with the 'frequency' of the spirit, others will feel it as well. 

After interviews we had the Sisters from Statesboro meet us in Pooler. They had asked us before hand if we could please move exchanges earlier. So we knew before hand it was going to be a little bit of a rough exchange. Well, I went to Hinesville with one of our sisters and Sister Lewis went to Statesboro with the other. What an incredible learning experience it was for us all. By the end of the time together, both the sisters expressed to us that the felt they could make it to the end of the transfer. We knew, however, that we would keep close contact with them to offer support needed.

Thursday night (Sister Lewis and I were back together) we went over to the Villellas (they are the part member family who we absolutely LOVE. They are making such fantastic progress). After a wonderful lesson of missionary work and service, we followed the spirit and invited them to be baptized on a specific date. We were nervous to do so because when they son prayed for the first time, he felt he had received the answer that he needed to wait about 5 months so he could learn more. While waiting is not a bad thing, he was most definitely ready to be baptized sooner. It will only bless his life. So, when the time was right, I worked up the courage asked them both by the Spirit. Wow, as soon as the words left my mouth, both Sister Lewis and I could feel it was right. It was like the Spirit had rolled into the room so thick, no one could deny it. I probably should have asked sooner..but regardless, they will be baptized this May. Such an amazing family! 

Lindsay and Sister Lewis said goodbye.
These two sisters have been a dynamic
force for good together in the field.

From Thursday night on has been a bit of a blur. To make a long story short, we were up late talking with a set of our Sisters, President and Sister Cottle, and the Lord. For the sake of the work...an Emergency Transfer was made. There were many tears from both sister Lewis and me...but we knew we were always willing to do what the Lord needs.  I packed my bags on Friday, said goodbyes, and we changed companions Saturday morning. I know it is hard on President Cottle as well to perform these ETs...he said only 4 or 5 like this have been done while he has been here the three years. I can feel why. It is not enduring to the end. At the end of our trials, we receive the biggest witness of our faith. Maybe we will receive little ones along the way that makes us seem that we have learned what we should and now we are ready to have the trial taken away...when in reality, the biggest blessings are right around the corner. 

Don't worry though, I have started adjusting to the new area. To be honest, it felt like I was underwater...like that feeling when you can hear people speaking but you don't really know what they're saying...for the first couple days. But the ward is incredibly sweet! And I have started to kick myself back into gear, talking to everyone. That has helped me feel the spirit guiding my footsteps once again. This work is so precious! I'm grateful I get to serve no matter where I am. I pray I can be of the best service needed and give this area and companionship the help it needs. 

I love you all very much! Continue sharing your light. Others WILL see it. Pray for missionary opportunities.

Love y'all!

Sister Brown

Pic 1-Goodbye for now

Pic 2-Villella Family!!

JOY

Talk about a week! Between exchanges, zone training meeting, addiction recovery class, and new beginnings, it was a busy one! 

Tuesday was full of following up with people we have met over the last couple weeks and seeing if they're really interested. Always hard work, but it's worth it if you find one person who accepts this JOYFUL message into their lives. 

Wednesday we drove up to Pooler for exchanges with the Sisters there. That, as always, was such a neat experience.  It was wonderful to see how the sisters down there work and to serve them at the same time. Their companionship seemed to be getting along quite a bit better than expected, so that's always a plus. I love being in this position because you're able to look outside yourself and see if there are ways to serve those around you. It is so true, when we lose yourself in the work...you find that much more happiness. Sister Lewis and I met back up at our Zone training meeting where she trained on how the Book of Mormon answers questions of the soul, and I trained on Joy. Studying Joy has helped me immensely in this work. As one of our mission presidency members said, "I'm not going to be a cheer-leader for joy." Joy goes much deeper when we truly study what it is, and how to have joy. Joy is so much more full than its synonyms. It lasts through all circumstances. To know, and take an active part in, the plan of Salvation is to know joy. 

One of our investigators, whom I've mentioned before, is named Michaela. I figure I'll be sharing more of her story each week so I may as well give a few more details so y'all can follow easier. ;) Anyways, she's the lady we met who's originally from Germany. We met at a volunteer activity. She has had MANY trials and hardships she's been facing lately. She Loves everything she learns. She always says, "Oh, I knew that was true! No one could tell me it until now though." She loves every time we read from the book of Mormon. And every time something inspired comes into our lessons, like an answer to question or a scripture that perfectly fits her needs..she says "Stop it, you're freakin' me out." She's the cutest!! I just love her! And I truly feel that she is one of the main reasons I have been sent to Hinesville. We connected right away. Not to mention God has blessed me to be able to somehow understand her questions that confuse many other people. I know it's the Lord's guiding spirit. I'm so grateful for that guidance. 

On Sunday, she came with us to the addiction recovery program. Her friend, whom she had brought for support, ended up turning on her in the middle of our discussion. It was so sad. Michaela is at a point, however, where she is giving everything up to make the changes she needs to feel God's love and support. Even one of her best friends, she had to let go of for a while. Michaela has been so stressed recently that sister Lewis and I will be leaving soon. She says she has finally found 2 people who love her for who she is and that are willing to help her overcome the hard things in life. She's scared she won't be able to find people like this again. Those moments are when I am SO grateful to know that the same spirit she feels with us now will stay with her as she meets other members of the ward, and other missionaries who will help her on her journey just as we are now.

I love her to death! The cutest part is she always says, "I'm not going to become a Mormon, but..." It's so funny :) She is so very sensitive to the spirit, and I think she knows deep down that this is the path God has prepared for her. 

Thank you all for continuing to be a light to those around you. I know this Gospel brings true Joy. I know we can always be of use to our loving Heavenly Father. Ask Him what more you can do with an open heart and He WILL tell you :)

Love y'all!!

-Sister Brown

A spiritual FEAST

Talk about a week full of spiritual uplifting direction! 

Wednesday I was quite ill. Something has been going around and sister Lewis and I caught it once before..but then the same type of symptoms hit me hard Tuesday night and Wednesday. Wanting to be obedient, I still woke up on time and followed the schedule just as usual..but I was performing at far less than my usual ability. The entire day it seemed we had appointments falling through and people not wanting to talk to us. To be completely honest, all I wanted to do was sleep for days. I knew, however, that I didn't come out on a mission to sleep. This was our only FULL day of missionary work because we had additional meetings this week and then general conference this weekend. I had to push through. Although we didn't see any particular miracles or blessings, my testimony of enduring to the end was strengthened. I knew that I tried my hardest regardless of physical limitations. Luckily we didn't have a dinner appointment that day, so I was able to come home and take a quick nap. That was greatly needed and appreciated :) I am so grateful for the strength that the Lord will give us to be able to endure our trials. We can be strengthened just as Nephi was when his bands were loosed. 

Lindsay helps Sister Mim do her hair while they watched
some of the priesthood session. 

A story on the power of the Book of Mormon- We've been working with a less active lady recently. We have tried to encourage her to read the Book of Mormon. we downloaded it onto her phone and her son showed her how to use the listening function of the app. We went back this week and asked her about her study. It had only been a couple of days, and she had already listened to the first 7 chapters. She was in love with the story! We could see the spirit coming into her study more and more. She used to only study the bible because that's what she grew up with and was comfortable with. We went back two days later and she had read 7 more chapters! She was overjoyed with the results. She explained that it was so much easier to understand that expected. She told us about how she felt a great connection with this book. We called on Sunday to make sure she was able to watch General Conference. She said yes she did and she loved it. Then she told us about how she wanted so badly to keep listening to the Book of Mormon, so she also listened to that after the Conference session. She said she couldn't describe the feeling she had while listening. She was just filled with the spirit. Her voice over the phone exuded joy, love, and gratitude for this book! I know that what she felt is how I feel when I read this account of Jesus Christ. It IS another witness of our Lord and Savior. The only way you can know it is true is by reading it. God loves us, so He gave us the Book of Mormon. 

Lindsay says where else do you see a truck flying three
full-sized flags? Georgia, that's where.

On Friday, Sister Lewis and I drove to Macon for the Missionary Leadership Conference. That's where all the Zone leaders and Sister Training leaders meet to receive direction from the mission presidency which we will pass on next week at Zone training meeting with all the other missionaries. During the drive up, we got a text from the Zone leaders in Hinesville asking if we had already left. They told us there was a Tornado warning until 9 pm that night and that we should be careful. They also told us the meeting had been moved up an hour. Seeing how it was April 1st, we figured all of it was a joke and laughed it off. The moving of the meeting time was a joke...but as we continued making the 3 hour trip we ran into a NASTY storm. We realized the tornado warning was actually very real. Thankfully, we were safe..just a little bit wet :) What a blessing to arrive safely to the meeting house three hours away while we drive by multiple areas ruined by the tornadoes. We didn't see the wreckage until the drive back..it's always a bit of a shock. 

We received much needed council at MLC. One thing I would like to touch on is how powerful the spirit can bear witness of our message when we live worthy of his additional witness. This was not a training given, but it was something I felt while President Cottle was speaking. His words hit so powerfully that everyone in the room knew they were true.  The spirit was so thick, you KNEW what was being said was true. I am grateful for the power of the Holy Ghost and the conversion we can receive by listening to those promptings. 

Notice the gator!?!

My time is short, but I want to encourage everyone to listen to General Conference over and over again! The messages shared there are critical for our understanding and salvation. Let's Please humble ourselves to accept what the Lord would have us hear. Put aside our personal views to listen to Him for a time. I love you all and I love this work. I see miracles every day. Just being here is a miracle. 

Love you! 

Be safe!!

#Hallelujah

Hallelujah for the Resurrection of our Savior Jesus Christ! It was so incredible to see how open people were to accept a card with a video of the Resurrection this last Sunday. As we knocked door after door, we were received with many more smiles than usual. True understanding of the  resurrection of Jesus Christ makes the message of the restored gospel so much more meaningful. Jesus Christ and our Heavenly Father DID appear to a young boy 200 years ago as perfect, resurrected beings. "Come, Follow me" is the invitation Jesus Christ leaves with us today. 

This week we have had absolutely FULL days as well as quite the opposite. After seeing so many of our appointments fall through these last couple weeks, it was a wonderful feeling to be busy running from appointment to appointment on Wednesday. In fact, we were so busy that we ended up almost skipping our lunch and dinner hours. That's not healthy... so when one of our later appointments fell through that evening we did take a half hour 'breather'. I am so grateful when we have people to teach! It has been hard to not see progression in almost any of our investigators, but I strongly feel one of my jobs is a seed planter. As we continue bringing people unto Christ, our purpose is fulfilled. One day they will be ready. As for now, we keep planting seeds and inviting them to progress! 

Lindsay with Brother and Sister Cottle.
They are a missionary couple that is on
base in Hinesville. They take great care
for the missionaries and service men
and women stationed there. Thanks!

One of the rather funny miracles I saw this week took place Thursday evening. Things kept falling through and we had completely exhausted all of our backup plans. Since we were stuck on post (non-proselyting) we figured we would at least drive off post so we could do some finding. Well, as we were driving, I remembered that the city has a farmers market every Thursday in March and April. We had wanted to check it out and do some finding at the same time...but hadn't been able to make it out yet because we always felt like there were better things for us to do. Well, we literally had nothing. So we followed that thought and made a quick stop to the farmers market. 

We did a quick walk through. It wasn't well attended. The finding situations were a little bit awkward and not the most ideal, so we walked back to the car to do something more productive. All of a sudden I got that quiet communication from the Spirit. A pressing feeling that wouldn't go away. I knew we had to go back. What? I was so confused..but called out to Sister Lewis who turned around, and we both walked back. I told her I felt like there was someone there we needed to meet..but that I had no idea who or how we were going to share something with them. 

As we walked up to the booths..I remembered a particular tent selling baked goods. I had a feeling that I needed to buy a snicker-doodle. Ok...I know God works in mysterious ways, but this just seemed a little bit strange. However, It was a very specific prompting, so I followed just what I felt. The whole process was funny. I would receive a prompting to do one thing, act, and then receive the next thing I needed to do. It was so neat. I shared the followhim video with the lady selling the cookies and in no time at all I felt the direction we needed to move. So we did. And we saw a lady we have done volunteer work for in the past.

The next thought- "Go say hi." So we went and said Hi. Then as we were talking with Hollie, a young couple walked slowly past. All of a sudden they paused... and I could tell they were looking at me. I made eye contact with the young woman, ended the conversation with Hollie, and the young woman came back, introducing herself and her husband. They were clearly military and newly weds. Not only that, but they were members of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Awesome! 

The experience taught me that we must always be ready to act on a personal revelation regardless of what it is. The Farmers market was such a small event that had we done anything differently than we had, we may not have met this couple at all. So many military families become less active because they get lost in the moves. This could result in entire generations knowing nothing about the restored gospel! I don't know what the impact our meeting them could have been that day... but I am glad we listened. They came to church this week and made a great transition into the ward. 

I don't remember if I wrote about this in weeks past, but one of my investigators from my past area is being baptized this week! It is such a blessing for me to have been able to see that my work is making a difference. I am so, so happy for her! She truly has an incredible love for the Lord. She is a convert who will stay. This work can and is changing lives. 

Love you all! Keep making a difference! 

A thought from the Women's General Broadcast: SERVICE and LOVE

Let's live Christ-like lives. :)

Love,

Sister Brown 

Finding a New Fire

Sister Lewis and I are staying for a third transfer together in Hinesville! That's the new 'fire' we've found. Something just sparked within us. We both felt a powerful urge to go knock on every single door in Hinesville. XD It's going to be a good transfer.

This will be a new experience for me seeing how it will be my first time not training. We have both, however, been called to be Sister Training Leaders. So we will continue to find new service opportunities. I look forward to the chance the Lord has blessed me with to lift the hands of discouraged missionaries that may hang low, and also be uplifted by their incredible examples. The sisters in our mission are wonderful and so full of love. I'm grateful for their examples to me. 

Because I don't want to interrupt the email later to write this--> Something incredibly random but funny from this week...we've taught lessons to a few women who could literally have had their babies at any moment. One lady we taught on Thursday..her due date was Saturday. Another we taught on Sunday and her babies usually come very early...her due date was in a couple weeks. All these young families...there are so many pregnant women!

This week has been a good one full of hard work! We are spreading the Easter video far and wide! It is such a powerful message. I hope you all looked it up this week. 

We met some of the sweetest women this week. (Being sisters..I feel the Lord puts those in our path who just need to feel loved sometimes.) It's not very common to run across older people in some of these highly military areas...but we found a few :) One of the women we met has had the hardest things happen to her. It was crazy! I couldn't even imagine the stories she told us. It seemed like what you would hear in a movie. Some of the details are in my journal..but I probably shouldn't share them openly. Regardless of the sad experiences she has gone through, it was so good to still see hope in her eyes. Hope for a better life. Hope for a family who loves her. Hope that someone, anyone, would come sit with her one afternoon. Missionary work is about love. I know that to be true. I get teary eyed just writing this. The job of a missionary is to care for those the Lord puts in our path. She may not accept everything we teach, but she is in need of Love. 

This week, I have seen how destructive the negative thoughts that slip into our mind can be. One lady who we teach has an incredibly strong desire to make changes in her life. She knows she will be happier without some of these destructive habits taking rule over her. Yet doubt of her divine potential slips in and tells her she isn't good enough. She can't just decide to stop. We ARE strong enough to change. I bear witness of that! I know it to be true. I know it is a hard process. Repentance is not supposed to be easy. If it were, it would not have the lasting affect. We continue to love, and support her through this difficult time. I am grateful to be bringing people unto Christ no matter what step they are at in their conversion. That is the huge change I have seen in my missionary work lately. Every effort is a good one. Every change is one step closer. I love this work! 

At church this Sunday I pulled out a rusty talent that hasn't been touched in quite some time. I played the violin in church as a musical number. Wow. That was a little bit of a scary experience. Granted, I was using a lower quality violin than I was used to back home..but an amount of my skill was gone. It was a good reminder, however, that this work is the MOST important thing we could ever do. Sure we may be asked to make some small "sacrifices," but these are not truly a sacrifice at all. The Lord will use our skills to further His work. I am grateful to put His will first and foremost in my life. I'm working on knowing how to do that better every day. This week, put your talents towards the work of our Lord! 

Easter! What a blessing we hold in our hearts to know that Jesus Christ IS the RISEN Lord. Wow. Nothing could bring more power and peace to my soul. This is the message I hope to testify of often and with all the feeling of my heart. Study it. Study Him. Let's Prepare this Easter for the most meaningful experience we can have with our Savior.

Love you all! 

Sister Brown

PS There were three birthdays during district mtg this week..so one of the sisters bought a pinata for those with birthdays. cute thought :) 

He sent His Son

Easter is on its way here! Yesterday the new Easter video came out! Check it out at FollowHim.mormon.org It is absolutely wonderful! Because of Jesus Christ WE CAN find new life. I know that to be true. So many of the people we have been teaching recently have been so intrigued to learn about the plan of Salvation. The plan that God has for His children. I testify that YES we can live with God and our loved ones after this life. I know that we will be blessed with all the opportunities needed to truly decide to FOLLOWHIM. It starts one step at a time :) 

Tuesday was a day of miracles. In all honesty, it felt like the perfect day. Due to certain circumstances, we ended up with an extra Sister. It was so wonderful to have her sweet spirit and devoted personality helping us with the work we had that day. Her goal during that time was to bear frequent and powerful testimony of Jesus Christ. I bear witness that as we talk of Christ, a special spirit will be added to the doctrine being taught. Nothing is more powerful. 

Among our lessons, we stopped by an older woman's home who is currently working on coming back to church and learning more about the scriptures. We typically go read with her in the evenings once a week. We stopped by that afternoon to help her clean out some boxes. When we let her know we were there to help her clean, her face brightened up so much! It was wonderful to see her smile brighten up everything within her. She was so happy and grateful for the service. I know that as we serve others, they will feel their Heavenly Father's love through us. What greater work could we do? So here's the challenge of the week-find someone to serve every day:)

In my email last week I mentioned a lady who was prepared for the gospel. Well, we did meet with her Tuesday evening. She was facing so much sadness and confusion. She was looking for so many answers but didn't know where to look...we were able to bear testimony to her that her Savior, Jesus Christ does know her personally. He is interested in even the smallest difficulties that pile around her each day. She expressed to us her desire to try what we had to offer. I know that when she follows through and exercises her faith by doing what she has promised God she will do, she will find relief. Anything God asks of us is not to make us miserable, but to allow us to find happiness. It may be uncomfortable at first, it may be hard, it may mean we need to re-prioritize our life...but it will ALWAYS be for our good. 

I love you all so much! I know God is guiding us and wants us to accept His help. Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer. He is Jehovah. He is our ultimate source of light. He feels your joy and pain. He has done what none of us could. He is the Only Begotten Son of God. 

And He LIVES.

-Sister Brown