Tuesday, October 16, 2012

CONFERENCE





Well, it's morming here. We're about to head out for our day's businesses (bank, post office, grocery, bowling, etc).

Howdy Team,

Wow. Conference was stunning. Awakening, really. I truly loved each talk.. of every one of the five sessions we enjoyed. If you missed a session, it's time to repent and hearken to the voice of the prophets. I actually had that thought it one of the talks.. it went like this, "For how much I am learning this conference, I sure wish I had hearkened to the prophets earlier in life. It's time to repent.[for not giving conference my all in the past]" In fact I had many thoughts pass into my head as I listened intently to the prophets and tried to listen to the still, small utterances of the Holy Ghost. Fifteen pages of thoughts! I won't send them all, but later today I may send my thoughts on a few talks. Right now, there are three talks I would like to mention.

Dieter F Uchtdorf - Of Regrets and Resolutions. Almost the entire duration of this talk I heard my dad holler as I would leave home, "Remember who you are, and what you stand for!!!" I have spoken multiple times about that in church meetings, zone conferences, etc. Remember who you are. Move forward with faith. I imagine I will touch on that subject in the future.

Henry B. Eyring - Where is the Pavillion?. Wow. I think the one line sums it up: Our certain reunion with Him at the judgment bar will be more pleasing if we first do the things that make Him as familiar to us as we are to Him. Isn't that something. It actually goes right in line with another theme of my life right now, one that Elder Holland spoke on.

Jeffrey R. Holland - The First Great Commandment. I have listened to this talk at least six times in the last week. It is incredible. But again, it illustrates the doctrine of loving Christ as He loves us. Right in line with President Eyring's, "make Him as familiar to us as we are to Him."

I said three talks above^^, but I meant four.

Boyd K. Packer - The Atonement. Words cannot describe the tugs at my heart as this dear apostle spoke. I love the hymn "Brightly Beams Our Father's Mercy". He brought it to life. He LIVED that hymn. The doctrine of the Atonement taught was clear and true. Then he read the words to "Does the Journey Seem Long?". Then the choir sang and that brother solo'd the hymn. That was powerful. I thought in awe at the great journey President Packer has made through his life. Again, he seems to literally personify the hymn, and gives a great lower light for us to look to.

There were many themes I like in conference. They were for me, in answer to a personal question I brought. I asked, "what do I need to change to be a more effective missionary?" What did you ask? Were your questions answered as you tuned in to the Spirit this [last] weekend? Are you applying what you learned? I sure am. There is great security that comes when we follow the prophet and men called by God to lead us today. Great peace attends.

For updates on people we're teaching.. have you met the Obrado family yet? I don't think I've been able to take pictures. They've found the light again; they are making the journey. I don't think I can do justice to the faith of Sister and the willingness of brother to act. They live in poverty. That sentence doesn't quite capture the condition... and you know, I won't try. This I have learned from them: There are no excuses. They have endured with cheerful countenances, can not we?

Shane wrote me in a pouch mail, "I feel like I'm repetitive when I say this, but it's true. I'm so happy!" And how happy I am! I raise my voice with you, brother, in joy! This joy comes only from living the Gospel of our Savior. Believing in Him can only be when we follow Him. For what man believeth that food will fill him, yet starves for fulfillment in times of abundance? We must partake of His gospel to be filled with His joy.

Love,

Elder Trevor Todd Brown

Shane, PDay Ganes



Subject: howdy team! I love having Shane here so much.

I don't see him ever, and we're far apart, but it feels so good to know he's doing the same thing, with the same people, in the land I have come to love. Dad mentioned a few words of sadness when thinking back on his own mission. Yeah, I think it will be sad. Cause, you know, I just love this work. I love these people. This has very much become my work, and my people.

Anyways.. the work continues. I think one of the biggest challenges now is figuring out how to balance office work with proselyting work. I don't mean the hours of the day, but the mental powers devoted to each. It feels too easy to just start thinking about office work or do that stuff when we get punted or disappointed in our proselyting work. When these thoughts come, I have learned to fight back and focus on our investigators. We will often be walking and I'll ask Elder Delos Santos somethings about the next lesson we've planned, or something about the people we just taught, or how to help the ward. Just little things. The Savior said, "And faith, hope, charity and love, with an eye single to the glory of God, qualify him for the work."

Ah we're out of time! I'll attach the journals. Those have the good stuffs. Much love,

Elder Trevor Brown





PS I gotta explain zone pday. We went to this crazy cool resort thing. No entrance fee, just food that is super mahal (expensive). They had this one area where you could purchase a cup--or plate or vase or bowl or TV really--and throw it at a wall. I think the theory is to relieve stress. Anyways we did it as a companionship.. As you can see, I have great form. Haha. I'm not dancing there, that is really me throwing a ceramic cup at a wall. Super fun zone pday.

Tuesday, October 2, 2012

FAMILIES, OFFICE AND OLD FREINDS



Howdy Team,

journals are in.. I only got to write once! It often came down to less sleep or not writing. it always does really. anyways this is what i could write last night. 

Any word from Shane this week? I imagine he'll email in the afternoon like last week.. make sure he knows to send emails to you too! I'll check again later tonight to make sure he did. He sounds so good. Yes, I can absolutely imagine what he is doing right now. I mean, we're doing the exact same thing. 

Updates updates updates.. I think I covered most of it in my journal! Hope you can read that. I know that Jesus Christ is my Savior and Redeemer. I know what that means for me.

Love,

Elder Trevor Todd Brown





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PS Pictures!! One is of a jeepney. I rode that jeepney to and from transfer day for almost all of 2011. Got a picture of some of the newer missionaries loading up into it. One is me and my companion walking to an appointment. The Packers came with us and took that. One is from our baptism last sunday. That's the Agquiz family. 9 children, oldest 15 and missing in that picture. Last is dinner yesterday.. terriyaki fried rice!!! Thank you mother for the recipe.