Milagros/Miracles

This week was really great!!!! Last week we were just walking around knocking doors and the last door that we tried in this one apartment complex was a woman named Claudia. She was really sweet and we set up a time we could come back to talk with her a little more. The lesson did not go that great truth be told. I think she expected us to just talk and she would just nod her head and listen. Also she might have thought we were really intimidating or something. Because each time we asked a question she would get really nervous and would keep saying she didn't know. She just did not seem comfortable. We didn't have a super set return appointment after that. But one night after dinner we were trying to figure out who else we could visit (after a few people fell through) and we felt like we needed to try by them again. This time her husband was there too! At first it was really awkward still, but we kind of explained that we aren't looking for a specific answer when we ask questions. We just want to get to know them better, their beliefs, and see what they think about what we say! It still took a bit to get past the awkwardness but once they realized we were genuine, Claudia especially, opened up so much!!! She was talking and talking. It was awesome. The husband would even throw in his opinion on some things as well. The husband works on Sundays so they wouldn't be able to go to church but he totally offered to ask his boss if he could have Sunday off. Which he said thinks might take some time but he would do it. They even came to our ward activity this past Saturday!!! I think they enjoyed themselves. We also visited them yesterday night and again they are beginning to open up more to us. I am really excited. I think they're super ready to hear the gospel. 

Speaking of El Noche de Talentos. It was super awesome!!!! Everything was like traditional Mexican dances and stuff. I LOVED it. So much fun. They are an awesome group of people.

I'm so grateful for the oppourtunity I have to be here! I love you guys, thank you for all of your support!!! you guys are the BEST!!!! 

...Sorry I accidentally sent this without the pictures!!!!  

I love all the fields here. Featuring one of many almond orchards!!!!

My bed bug bites make the little dipper hahahahaha. Btw I think the chinches are gone!!! 

We sticky note attacked some members doors! Haha one family didn't understand the point of it and apologized that they didn't answer the door.

Chinches/Bedbugs

This week.... We had chinches aka bed bugs. Not fun at all. So we slept at a different place while the pest control guy sprayed, he told us we could stay at our place that night as long as we didn't step on the carpet. So... we did but we kept getting bites. He came back to spray again and informed us that he had mixed up the sprays and used the "mild" one instead of the super strong one. After three nights of still sleeping there. Haha but it's all good. I have so many bits probs like 17-20 on my face, a bunch on my arms and legs, even some on my stomach. Hopefully they will go away soon!!! 

This week was very similar to last week. Mostly trying to get to know the members of the Spanish ward here, Madera 3rd. Also we are trying to talk to anyone and everyone that will listen to us. We are finding more people that don't want to listen to us haha but that's okay. It's interesting because a lot of the people here are Catholic but when we try and ask them what Christ means to them, or what they believe, they basically just say that it's just what they believe or it's just God. We want them to see that they can have a relationship with God and that our message can help them in everyday life. They just don't really see it that way, but it's okay! We can only help them if they are willing to listen and act. 

But back to the ward. The ward here is so great. They are so sweet to us. All the women are super motherly and just want to take care of us. Many of them are super willing to help us find people to teach or come with us to lessons. They are also fabulous cooks. I'm definitely going to try and get them to teach me. 

There's this video that was made a long time ago by our Church, it is called "They gave up their Christmas" and you remember the Church's vineyard I was talking about last week? Well the video is literally about the vineyard here in my area and the people in the video, the spanish ward they talk about is literally the ward that I am serving in right now. Like most of the people in that video are probably still here. https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2011-05-01-they-gave-up-their-christmas?lang=eng Here is the link to the video if you want to see. So cute. Love these people. 

Me encanta mi tiempo aqui en el campo y tambien aqui en Madera. Se que Jesucristo es nuestro Salvador y podemos sentir paz en nuestras vidas cuando oramos, leemos las escrituras y sirvimos otras personas. Espero que hagamos algo este semana para crecer mas cerca a Dios. Se que recibira bendiciones mediante sus esfuerzos. 

Pics: Huge mango the size of my face, me and my companion (Hermana Malmstrom, from Utah), mis picaduras de chinches (my bed bug bites). 

Love yall!!!! 

First week in the Field!

It's my first week in the mission field, literally. Haha I'm not used to all this farmland, it's everywhere! It's so pretty though. My first area is called "Madera" it is a bit north of Fresno and is 80-90% hispanic/spanish speakers. I think I have seen like 4 white people so far, three of which being other missionaries haha. I love it so much. Madera is known as "Little Oaxaca" because nearly everyone here is from that part of Mexico. Also, there is this ancient Aztec Language that some the people of Oaxaca still speak (my assumption is that it's mainly the older generation), but there are people here in Madera that speak it!!!! Most that do speak it, typically also speak Spanish. But one of our first conversations was with this super old couple who only spoke the Aztec language. I think it's called something like masteca but I don't know exactly nor how to spell it haha. 

Madera has always had Elders here, but there hasn't been Sister Missionaries here for a long time so we are kind of starting from scratch. It has been a bit slow of a start but we are starting to pick up on work and it is great! And the Spanish congregation we are working with is super excited to have us!!!! Especially the women haha. 

Also sad side note. So the church owns a grape vineyard here in Fresno that is fully functioning off volunteers. They harvest the grapes to make raisins and those are then distributed far and wide as a contribution to humanitarian efforts, going to people who are in need of food. The missionaries in this mission get to help with the harvesting which would be so fun!!!!! Except for the fact that I get here and find out they did it LAST WEEK. HAhahahah less than a week late. 

But one of the members in our ward owns an almond orchard and he gave us almonds from his orchard this past week so I can't complain too much. Maybe he'll let me go explore in the future. 

ALSO we met a lady this past week who was so so sweet. She works picking figs and we were chatting with her then she goes into her trunk and fills up a tub of figs for us!!!!! It was so nice! We're meeting with her again this week. Picture below of the figs she gave us. It was my first time having a fresh fig! 

Anyway I dont want to be too long winded so I will try and wrap up. My companion and I have been waking up with a bunch of bug bites and we are fairly certain we have fleas or bed bugs. Last night right before bed my companion said good night and i responded with "sleep tight, dont let the bed bugs bite" without even realizing just how relevant it was hahaha. So funny. gotta love it. I guess there is just never a dull moment here! 

I'm so excited to be here and can't want to get the work going! I know that the gospel of Jesus Christ can bless lives! It has blessed mine!

Sister Brown Has Arrived

From Sister Mackay (Mission President's wife):

We are pleased to let you know that Sister Brown has arrived in the California Fresno Mission and is even now hard at work serving the Lord with her new companion.  Attached are photos of her arrival at the Fresno airport and with her new companion. As a point of information, we maintain a mission blog at californiafresnomission.blogspot.com where you can periodically check for new mission related photos and other materials.

We are grateful to be serving with Sister Brown and give you our unwavering commitment that we will watch over and care for her with love and all diligence while she is here.  We express gratitude for your love and support of your daughter in this great work.

With gratitude,

President and Sister Mackay

California Fresno Mission

This week Mexico, Next week California!

Amigos... I can't believe it is my last week in the CCM! I leave on the 5th, this upcoming Wednesday, for California! I'm so excited!!!!! Is my Spanish perfect? Not at all, BUT I'm super ready for the challenge and to just start working!
This week has been good but a little challenging at times (but really that's how every week is haha). We learned the present and past subjunctive this week. And although I remember learning it in high school (gracias a sra austin), it's just so hard to apply haha and it's supper common so I probably should get on that.
Estoy agradacida por la oportunidad para servir un misión. Te doy gracias a Dios porque Él siempre ayúdame en todas las cosas.
I'm gonna miss it here and all my friends I have made but we're all going to do the Lord's work so I can't be too upset (:
I appreciate all your thoughts and prayers! 

Pictures of me and my companion with some of our Latino friends and with the nice worker from the cafeteria! I love all the people here!!!!

A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words

I'm at a loss of words for this week haha. It has basically just been a ton of studying and teaching lol. And I've been slacking on sending pictures so I included a few here. 

I leave the CCM on the 5th of September. Which is only like a week and a half away at this point! Then it'll be back to the US, to good old California. I can't wait!!!!! I definitely not ready as far as spanish goes but I'm ready to get out there and start working! 

I don't know what order the pictures are gonna show up but one of them is a selfie of me and my cousin, Will! So excited that we overlapped while here in the CCM. It is so fun getting to see him! 

One picture is a selfie of me in front of the temple! Such a beautiful place! And the last picture is my district, which just means the group of missionaries I have all my classes with, and the guy taking it is one of the latinos in the district whose classroom is next to ours. 

I love learning about the gospel and I can't wait to start getting to know the people of Fresno! I love getting emails from you guys!!! You all are the best! If anyone has any questions about what I'm doing or what I'm teaching email me! 

With love, 

Hermana Brown

Dad is adding these in addition to the ones from the letter...

Week 4 in the CCM

Something is going around at the CCM haha. It's getting to the point where people who have gotten the virus have to stay in their casa for three days and eat at a separate section of the comedor and they're basically secluded haha. We aren't allowed to shake hands anymore to prevent the spread of germs. I don't think I've gotten it yet so I am very grateful!!! 

This week our maestro challenged us to speak only español for 4 days. So from Tuesday till tomorrow I will have only spoken Spanish from the minute I wake up till I go to sleep at night. It has been rough. Not really hard but frustrating when you want to tell a story or express thoughts that you don't have the vocab or grammar for yet. Haha. It is helping though! 

Tuesday night is always pizza night. Before arriving, I always heard it was Costco pizza which I was so excited for but every week it has been this mediocre kinda not that hot pizza from what I'm assuming is some local pizza place. But this week we got Costco pizza!!!!!!!! Tender mercies y'all. 

I want to share a thought with you all. In english and then in Spanish for my latino friends. 

There is a chapter of scripture in the book of Mormon, in Alma, that I want to share. It is about a man, Ammon, who is praising the Lord and expressing his appreciation for his sacrifice. It is in the 26th chapter and it says, 

"13 Behold, how many thousands of our brethren has he loosed from the pains of hell; and they are brought to sing redeeming love, and this because of the power of his word which is in us, therefore have we not great reason to rejoice?

16 Therefore, let us glory, yea, we will glory in the Lord; yea, we will rejoice, for our joy is full; yea, we will praise our God forever. Behold, who can glory too much in the Lord? Yea, who can say too much of his great power, and of his mercy, and of his long-suffering towards the children of men? Behold, I say unto you, I cannot say the smallest part which I feel."

These two verses teach us that through Jesus Christ we can overcome tribulation in this life. I know that Christ died so we could live again and through his atonement we can be forgiven for our sins. I don't think we will ever be able to truly understand all that Christ has done for us in this life, but as we grow closer to Christ through repentance, we can feel his love and that is something to rejoice about! In serving a mission, I have the priveledge of sharing my love of Jesus Christ with others and help them grow closer to Christ. I challenge you all to grow closer to Christ this week by praying to God, going to church, reading the scriptures (book of Mormon 10/10 would reccomend Alma Chapter 7 or 3 Nephi chapter 9. And many more haha), going on lds.org or mormon.org, or anything that brings you closer to our savior. My joy is full because of Him, and I hope you all can feel it too! If not, He is always there waiting for you to reach out, waiting to shower you with his love and blessings. 

Hay una capítulo de escritura en el libro de mormón, en Alma, que quiero compartir. Este es sobre un hombre, Ammon, quien es elogiando nuestro salvador y expresando su apreciación por el sacrificio de Él. Este es en capítulo 26 y dice, 

"13 He aquí, a cuántos miles de nuestros hermanos ha librado él de los tormentos del infierno, y se sienten movidos a cantar del amor redentor; y esto por el poder de su palabra que está en nosotros; por consiguiente, ¿no tenemos mucha razón para regocijarnos?

16 Por lo tanto, gloriémonos; sí, nos gloriaremos en el Señor; sí, nos regocijaremos porque es completo nuestro gozo; sí, alabaremos a nuestro Dios para siempre. He aquí, ¿quién puede gloriarse demasiado en el Señor? Sí, ¿y quién podrá decir demasiado de su gran poder, y de su misericordia y de su longanimidad para con los hijos de los hombres? He aquí, os digo que no puedo expresar ni la más mínima parte de lo que siento."

Estos dos versículos nos enseñan que por medio de Jesucristo, podemos superar tribulación en esta vida. Sé que Cristo murió para nosotros y por Jesucristo, podemos vivir un otro vez. Mediante la expiación de Jesucristo, podemos ser perdónados de nuestros pecados. No creo que entenderemos exactamente todas las cosas que Cristo ha hecho para nosotros, pero cuando crecemos más cerca de Dios mediante arrepentirnos, podemos sentir el amor de Dios. Y este es una cosa a regocijamos sobre! En serviendo un misión, tengo la oportunidad a compartir mi amor para Jesucristo con otro personas, y ayudarles creces más cerca con Dios. Este es mi objetivo. Tengo una desafío para ustedes. Esta desafío es a crecer más cerca de Cristo por orar a Dios, asistir a la Iglesia, leer las escrituras, buscar a lds.org o mormon.org, o cada cosa que le trae a usted más cerca de nuestro salvador. Mi gozo es llena gracias a Él. Y espero que ustedes pueden sentir este también! Si no, Él esta aquí siempre, esperando para usted. Quiere darle a usted su amor y bendiciones.