Not Much Happened This Week :(

Christms Day 2015 (I'm really, really cold!)

December 28, 2015

Wow, time really has flown by! I'm almost done with my training. That means that in three weeks I could be training. It also means that in three more weeks I will probably be called to serve another six weeks in this area. The time goes by fast, but 4.5 months in one area seems really long.

What happened this past week? I really don't know. well C**** was going to get baptized the 26th and that changed. She now wants to get baptized the ninth (she almost got baptized the 5th, and that would have been really weird, seeing as its my bday). We had companion exchanges with the zone leaders this week, and that was pretty fun.

Then was Christmas Eve. Here the Christmas Eve Dinner is a big thing. The families here dress up and make a big deal of it. However, nobody ate together, and nobody talked together, it was one of the strangest things I've ever seen. The food was ridiculously tasty, but nobody ate it together.  However, someone else told me that most Mexicans use it for beer, go figure.

A Member's Dog

We played volleyball Christmas day and then went out to eat. My companion missed home and I was rather bored. We went to dairy queen and ate blizzards and cookie ice cream sandwiches. They were really good. The pecan blizzard is really good. I think it was pecan.

The days kind of blend together. Maybe I'm really misunderstanding this misionary thing, but it seems like it's almost a dull blend of walk and talk. It kind of all mixes together to form a dull brown blend of something. Not much progress seems to occur in the people, and neither does it seem to happen in me.

Meetings, Meetings, Meetings!

Dec 21, 2015

We were tracting one day and ran into someone who sold pan (it's like a really dry, slightly stale, doughnut). The previous encounter he gave us each one free and he talked about how all the religions are harlots. He said he learned it from revelation. He's certainly confused. However, he's a good man, as is demonstrated in his generosity to us. He said that he was willing to hear our message, but he wasn't goin into nuttin, cus they were all harlots. We met him again last Friday and he talked to us and then asked if he could sing us an alabanza. He closed his eyes, started swaying, and then commenced his alabanza. "God is here, God is here, surely as the wind and the air that we breathe, surely as the day of tomorrow will be, Dios is here." At least it sounded nice, and had a nice feeling to it. But he belted it. It almost echoed. Wow. Elder Ruiz and I looked at each other and looked around. It was a real blessing that we were alone. :)

District (L to R)
Elder Ruiz, Elder Salvatierra, Elder Brown, Elder Priego
(Not Pictured: Elder Scoubes and Elder Bernal)

The last week was relatively frustrating. We spent half the week in some stinking meeting or another. Monday ws Pday, Tuesday was a full day. wednesday was a zone meeting. Thursday was when we had my stitches removed. Friday was the entire day in the christmas party and meeting with the president. Saturday was a baptism for the ward Riveras Bosque, one in our district that we attended to help. It was the first baptism of both companions. Sunday was, well, sunday, and after sacrament meeting, we had a branch counsel. Altogether, it was rather ineffective and my favorite part was when we spent 15 minutes talking about how we need to shorten our meetings. :)

not much happened, unfortunately, as we didn't have much time for anything to happen. However, I'm doing much better as a missionary, and I'm able to take charge of the lessons and conversations rather than just listen and nod my head. I've learned that the key really is colossians 3:23, "And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the lord, and not unto men." o en espanol, "y todo lo que hagais, hacedlo de corazon, como para el Senor, y no para los hombres." We are agents unto ourselves and the power really is in us to do that which we should. We are gods in training, and God has given us a world to change and lift. We should do it, and do it with gusto.

Remember to Look Up!

Dec 14, 2015

Stitches!

Well this week was an adventure for sure!! Thursday we went to the temple to buy a Bible for L*** the mom of K****. She only has one of the New World Translations. Some of the writings are subtly changed to suggest other meanings of the scriptures more along the lines of another religion. We called Presidente G**** (President has an E on the end), stressing the brevity of the excursion, and he granted permission. We left in a calafia (small bus, but nor derogatory) at 10:00 and arrived at the temple at 11:30. Almost short. We set back for our area at 12:00 having bought her a beautiful bible and other Mormon propaganda (she isn't our investigator yet, but her whole family's getting baptized, even her sister), and then, to save ten pesos, or sixty cents, we changed routes. Around 12:30, I was ferociously attacked by a stand-still sign. (I was walking with my head down when I hit the top of my head on the bottom edge of a sign. The momentum forced me downward and my pants ripped.) I fell to a crouch, heard a rip that meant trouble in the pants, and said something creative, like "OW!", or "Nombre!" or both. Then Elder Ruiz looked at me like, Seriously? and saw that I was bleeding. We went to the doctor (there's one on almost every corner here) and she sent us to a hospital to get stitches. So much for a short trip to the temple for a Bible. However, we were walking around the city and looked like refugees of a bible bash. Elder Ruiz had a torn shoe, and I had torn pants, a bloody sweater on top of my head (which Elder Ruiz let me borrow from him so I wouldn’t get blood on my white shirt), and blood in my hair. Yes, the pants are fixed. There's a member here that sews who fixed them. Our "short" excursion turned into an adventure, almost, of a lifetime. I have learned a great deal from this incident. Most importantly, however, is "to look up". In fact, there's a general conference talk about it. I believe it's by Arnulfo F. Valuenza. (There are actually two recent General Conference talks about looking up. One is called Look Up by Elder Adrián Ochoa and the other called It is Better to Look up by Carl B. Cook.)

At least he's happy!

I translated a couple of conversations for a couple from Builders without Borders over the weekend. They came down for the dedication and happened to be in our same chapel. In fact, they had worked in my area during Thanksgiving. They were nice. Translating is really weird. I start talking in English but then go back to Spanish mid-sentence. I would ask the english speakers a question and then realize it was Spanish when they looked at me all puzzled.

C*** is changing a lot!! She's keeping commitments. She's asking to learn, not just to pry. She actually asked us to teach her about the law of chastity, which was about the most unexpected question out there. She told us about her crazzzzyyy life about 2 or 3 years before. She wants to change and improve.

All y’all in the united states. Be grateful that your stakes tell you things before they happen, and not when they do. Here, if we know anything more than a day beforehand, we're sitting pretty. We receive an announcement and run our whole area delivering the information to everyone.

D****, a new investigator, is progressing really well. When I extended the baptismal invitation, I basically retaught lesson 1. However, she is progressing. Our third lesson, she had an answer concerning the Book of Mormon. She wants to get married to her boyfriend so they can get baptized. She has very good questions too.

Eye Spy President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

The cultural celebration was really cool. There were a bunch of fun songs and a bunch of cool things. Actually there's a Chinese colony in our mission (they speak Spanish) and they performed the fight between the dragon and the loin tiger thingies. It was really something.

Tijuana Temple Cultual Celebration

The next day we went to all three sessions of the temple dedication. The gentleman who is not baptized did not show up, and so we never had to deny him access. PHEW!! In the first session, the first counselor in our branch sang along with the choir (the dedication was broadcast to our stake center and we watched it on a screen). He was the only one in the entire congregation signing. I thought he would have noticed by the end of the first of four verses. Here they sing even longer than in the US.

In the second session, one of the speakers quoted someone of saying, "What is the price of infidelity? of divorce? of broken families and broken dreams? What is the price of pornography, alcholoism, and their broken hearts? There is no price for these, but the Temple fortifies the world against these plagues."

This is a great response to the question "why do you spend an incredulous amount of money on your temples?"

Another speaker said, "The most important things in this world are: one the atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ. and two that which occurs in the temples as its result." So please, go to the temple, take advantage of the blessings. Work vicariously, just as the Savior, and help those whom you cannot yet see.

Love,

Elder Brown

This Week Was Not the Prettiest...

Mexicans (at least in my Branch) can't carry a tune. Every time we sing, the melody sounds terrible. With everyone else so completely off, I can't stay on pitch either. What more, We sing every day for companionship study!! I'm looking forward to an american companion so we can hold a tune... However, as far as blessings go,I have been surprised to notice that I can play the piano better now than before, and I play the piano less. I can read music. I can play like normal as well. It's an unexpected, but by all means welcome, blessing.

I have given two blessings to people who are sick. If it wasn't intimidating before, well, the Spanish takes care of that. However, I gave a blessing to an investigator yesterday morning for her back, and her back is healing. That's always encouraging to see. :)

Honestly, this weekend has been a disaster. We had exchanges with the zone leaders on Friday. We taught one of our most interested investigators and she was mad about the temple. She said it was ludicrous that we spend so much money on a temple when there are so many people in poverty. It was horrible.

Next we were going to teach a new investigator, but I received a prompting to go to C****, the recent convert. While we walked, we were notified by the relief society president that his baby sister of less than a week had died. We went to try to help, but my companion didn't know anyone and I, who knew people, was assaulted with children. We were no help.

After that, we went to interview our baptism for the next day. She had separated from her cohabitee for a month, but had returned with him two days before. Not only that, but Elder R***and I had verified every day last week that they hadn't gotten back together. The baptism fell through.

When I returned with my companion, I heard as well that Elder R*** had lost his camera, with more than a years' worth of fotos. Honestly, I was overwhelmed with all that had happened, discouraged with my Spanish, and, well, overwhelmed. I haven't had much confidence in myself nor in what I have taught because I'm always worried that I'm forgetting something. Ironically, when I worry, I do forget.

Saturday was not much better. We walked all day and taught almost nothing. Sunday was a fail as well. The branch president was giving the temple dedication recommendation cards out like free samples. Signing them like blank checks. We have to go and recover at least one from the father of the deceased baby. That's not going to be fun.

After that we were called by the branch president and told that he was not available for lunch (the main course of the day, like your dinner). We didn't have any food or water in the house, not having been able to replenish it the day before, and so we had to go to the zone leaders and ask to join their lunch. During the meal, I only understood 80% of the conversation, and it seemed that most of the jokes were on me, particularly my Spanish. That didn't help me much either. We went to the christmas broadcast, and that wsa fun. The talks were translated into Spanish, but they didn't translate Silent Night, so we sang it in English, and boy was it fun hearing the Mexicans be confused for once. :) Elder Hurst, the zone leader, told me that my Spanish is better at one month than his was at four, and that when he had four months, he felt very proficient.

Then we taught C***, the younger sister of K***. She was crazy before. She was legend among the missionaries, because she could not be reverenced, but she was also interested. We taught her and she had received an answer about the church, and was very interested. Her two other brothers are interested as well. That was a real booster to my confidence. Also, I taught with greater confidence during the lesson and it was a spiritual lesson.

We're teaching the "husband" (nobody's married here) of a less active and he is really ready to baptize. His only obstacle is the LESS-ACTIVE “wife”.. :)

I'm really enjoying the christmas season this year. I was the one to suggest Christmas hymns. Also, Ive really developed a taste for what is called "nuez" here. I'm not sure what it's called where yáll are, but I'm sure I didn't like it. :)

Q & A from Mom to Elder Brown

Q: Tell me a little about your companion. What is he like? Do you get along well?

A: My companion is awesome. He played soccer before he came on the mission. Nobody plays soccer here (of the missionaries). He was really reckless before his mission. He stole his moms car one day and drove to St. George with his friends. Now, however, he's a great missionary. After he received his personal testimony, he became the ward mission leader and changed the dynamics of his ward. In the mission he is very good and serving well.

Steps Up The Mountain

Q: Please tell me more about your area. Why is it known as the runt of Tijuana?

A: Well the branch lacks a lot of leadership. It is made up of new converts, so no one really has much experience in the Church. There's no hot water, unlike most other areas. It's a mountain. I have pictures of a few trails. It's dirty. It ruins clothes. There isn't much progress because there isn't anyone to work with and the people with whom we can work don't know how to, but we can't really train them because that's not our responsibility. The stake doesn't help much either. We don't have a garbage service. We burn all our trash. It’s fun, but smelly for sure. Rotten milk is one thing, flaming rotten milk?! Also, when meals with members fall through we are on our own where in other areas the missionaries receive 200 pesos. :) But it's fun.

A Little Note from Brock's Mom

After reading this week's letter please say a prayer for Elder Brown and his companion, Elder Ruiz, that they may continue to be in tune with the Spirit as they help investigators and new members. Last week had it's challenges and it would be wonderful if we could all band together in prayer for Carlos and his family as they deal with the passing of Carlos's baby sister. Please also ask our Heavenly Falther to help Elder Brown and Elder Ruiz will know how best they can help.

Blessings of the Gospel

Wow! This is week 12 of my 104 weeks as a missionary. That's crazy! The time really just flies. There's so much that happens every day and yet so little to explain! Every day is the same but presents itself so differently. When we baptize people, we tell them that it's the beginning, not the end, of their life of righteousness, but I never really understood how much of a beginning it really was.

Diego (age 13) was always serious and fairly doubtful. He wanted to act, but was not anxious. He wanted to change, but had concerns with his mom, who is not a member. We baptized him about two weeks ago, and the changes have been exciting. He's more confident. He told us he's felt more happy since his baptism. OH!!! It's just so fun to see!!

Elder Brown, Carlos (age 16), Elder Ruiz

Carlos (16) is serious too. However his seriousness is a bit less timid and a bit more dominitave, which is relatively hilarious, as he doesn't measure more than 4 feet 2 inches, and although his build fits his frame, in no means does his width or strength make up for his lack of height. He wears a size 16 shirt, if that helps you understand his stature. Anyway, he had problems with anger, and since his baptism, his anger has dissipated. What more, he had a girlfriend. This girlfriend wanted the commitment of a married couple, without the papers or the age. After his baptism, he had the courage to give a definitive no, AND to end the relationship. He's obviously heartbroken, but baptism and the Gift of the Holy Ghost has helped him a lot.

The family of Karla is still investigating the church. She is still waiting, albeit a little impatiently, for her family to join her. However, the temple has worked wonders in their lives. The Mom, when I arrived, was passively against the church. Today she gave us a reference and Scarfs. Her children initially were hesitant. Now they all want to be baptized. The husband, well, yeah. He wouldn't go to the temple. The temple, even before it is dedicated, has the power to soften hearts. If we attend the temple when it is dedicated, it has the power to work wonders.

Elder Brown and Elder Ruiz at Tijuana Temple

I had the special privilege of attending a tour of the temple led by President Garcia. He is something else. The temple is something else. We stopped in every room and tried to soak up the Spirit there. He taught us things in each of the rooms. His very voice feels like a hug. He is very concerned for our welfare and our success, possibly more so than you. ;)

Speaking of which, President Garcia gave me a blessing for problems I had been having with my fee last week. He blessed me that they'd be fine and that my Spanish would be adequate. There were other things but my memory proves I'm very human. You asked me about my impressions of president Garcia, and now I have enough experience with him to describe him and my experiences with him a little (I'll try to summarize it under a different article).

One time we (my companion and I) got involved in a bible bash with someone who didn't know the Bible. It's kind of hard to do, but somehow we managed it. Nobody knows the Bible here. Hardly anyone knows much of religion, and the people who know something think they know it all and are not willing to learn. It's like 2 Nephi 9:28. The smartest people often utterly fall short of wisdom. How many times have we done that? How many times have I? Anyway, It occurred to me that every other church is founded on the Bible. We are the foundation of the Bible. Every other church finds its power in the Bible. We acknowledge that the Bible has the power of God, but the prophets of our church give it that. Yes, the scriptures in the Bible allude to our teachings, and our teachings do find reference therein, but because we have a prophet today, the source of the Bible anciently, we give credibility to the Bible, instead of the other way around.

How Beautiful upon the Mountains
Mosiah 14 reads

 14 And these are they who have published peace, who have brought good tidings of good, who have published salvation; and said unto Zion: Thy God reigneth!
15 And O how beautiful upon the mountains were their feet!
16 And again, how beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of those that are still publishing peace!  17 And again, how beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of those who shall hereafter publish peace, yea, from this time henceforth and forever! (Mosiah 15:14-17)

Elder Brown's Shoes
Week 3--Hope They Last 2 years

I was stuck in the house one day this week when I read the last verse of Mosiah 27. I remembered all the other times in Mosiah that the theme had been repeated. Once in Mosiah 18, once in 12, before I believe, and chapter 15 as well. There are probably more as well. The humor is that I was stuck in the house due to my feet, which weren't exactly looking pretty. :) I got to thinking though, about how much a privilege it is to be here. To try to teach as I know Christ would have me. To try to teach as I know Christ would. To try to walk as he did. These verses fill me with a deep enthusiasm to work and to walk in this great eternal cause.

PRESIDENTE GARCIA

I remember the first day I met him. We all unboarded the plane with a Mexican travel leader. We were all very lost and confused. The American missionaries all talked about looking our best for the mission president, about impressing him. I don't know what the Mexican missionaries talked about. As the American missionaries continued talking about impressing the mission president, I realized nothing of the sort had even occurred to me. I was just moving on. Then we met the mission president and the APs (assistant to the president). One AP was really tall and had scarily prominent cheekbones, and the other wasn't. We got in our cars and nervously bounced our way to somewhere else to eat, and boy was I hungry. President Garcia talked with us in Spanish, mostly promising us that in three months, we'd be fluent if we talked in only Spanish. The rest I don't remember. I was more interested in filling the black hole of my stomach.

Elder Brown with President and Sister Garcia
October 26, 2015

Then we went to our next appointment. All the new elders sat in the front and nervously awaited their assignments. I said something that was not funny to about ten of the Mexicans, and they thought it was. Normally I say something that is funny and people think it isn’t. Presidente Garcia said a bunch of things that weren't funny to me, but were to the experienced missionaries.

The next time President Gartcia and I talked, I needed to verify in the bathroom mirror that I still had my eyebrows. He scolded us and told us off for all our imperfections. Then did it again. this was the zone conference.

The next time he talked to us I checked again. I can assure you I still have my eyebrows, but it was a close call. He is intense. This was the training control meeting. I learned afterwards that he is concerned that the baptisms are dropping. He worries that too many trainers are lazy.

Then I got to know him personally. He is sooo warm! He is sooo concerned for us. Yes he is intense. I knew it was because he loves us. but I couldn't comprehend how very much. and how very deeply.

Chicken Bowels, Blisters and Spanish Profanities!

La verdad, casi siempre parece tan facil escribir en espanol como escribir en ingles ahora. Solo cuando hablo de cosas extranas es mas dificil. pero, voy a escribir eningles para que sea mas claro y mas como quiero que lean.

Elder Brown Enjoys Flowers

 Hola!! It's Monday already. Can you believe it? :) It seems like just las week it was Monday! I was thinking last week at how short it all really seems. I remember sitting down at a computer just like this reflecting on the previous week and really, trying to stitch together the previous week in a manner that fit its caliber. It's really not possible. It's great, it's long, it's short, its sweet, it's spicy, its disappointing, and it's the best choices (intentionally pluralized) you'll ever make.

First off, I want to brag that my first meal with a member was the bowels of a chicken. It tasted good, but it had the texture of a paste. From one to 10, it was a 4. I finally learned the meaning of mollijas.

(Mom insert here - Did you really eat chicken poop or am I confused as to what bowels are? This has me quite intrigued...maybe I don't want to know, but you know me...gotta have the details!) haha :)

Yes, I ate that crap. :P The bowels are where the poop sits. I don't try to think about what all may have been there. But I know where it all is now, and that is good enough for me. :) I don't generally see a food cycle repeat with such rapidity though. It's kind of entertaining. :)

Next, up until this week, my Spanish tongue has been void of what we call groserias, the Spanish word for profanities. However, due to a slip of the tongue on a common word, the mimicking of an 8-year-old member (he called me by the name, ouch), and the reading of someone's apron today, I officially need some soap. ;) Just some of the more major accomplishments of the week...
Next... Well... This week has been somewhat scarce in the pickings, to be honest. It's been great, but it's one of those weeks where the roots grow and the fruits ripen. We did exchanges on Friday last week and I taught with Elder Bernal, the Trainer of Elder Scoubes. Elder Scoubes is doing great, according to Elder Ruiz, and our area is fifty-fifty.

Elder Ruiz and Elder Brown at the Tijuana Temple at Night

We have some promising investigators, but they're running into external roadblocks. One family was planning on attending the temple with us, but had a family emergency. Another girl is 17, and I think she's flirting with me, but my companion isn't entirely certain. However, She's much like my "Devil's advocate" when I pick apart everything. She's not taking us seriously. She's the sister of Karla. There's another family that worships work. We've kind of given up on them... again... There's a lady of 55 and her daughter of mid-to-late thirties that are interested, but not committed. The mom, when she exited the temple, asked us, "Why do you spend so much money on a temple when there are so many poor people?" Everybody, EVERYBODY, treats us like a buffet. It's kind of frustrating. They don't understand the concept of someone who legitimately speaks the words of God. The words of God are not a buffet. They are truth. The laws of man aren't a buffet. The laws of physics aren't a buffet. Why on earthest would the laws of God be a buffet?

My feet aren't sitting terribly pretty right now. I manage to run an eight-day cycle or so, where they hurt, then they really hurt, then they heal, but then they hurt again. The frustrating thing is when I walk my entire area twice to bring anyone to the temple and come up empty-handed but my feet are full of blisters. It's frustrating when I invest so much and see so little. But It's not discouraging. It's mostly a let-down. But I'm not discouraged. Honestly, I know every day is challenging, but we decide if it's a challenge.

My companion, Elder Ruiz, thinks I will train after my three-month training is over. That would be really fun.

If Brina or the others want, they can write me too. Also, They can send me the lesson summaries and I can weigh them against the principles I learned here and reply with suggestions. If they want to practice, I suggest they practice with someone under the age of seven. Even Mormons at this age know more about God than the scholars at forty. It's rather sad, but it's an evidence of a prophet today that teaches us about Christ in order that we may understand.

Elder Brown enjoying a little DQ!

Tijuana Temple Open House, Baptisms and Spanish Calculus

Nov 16, 2015

Elder Brown and Elder Ruiz at Temple Open House

It seems like it's been a day or two, not a week since I last wrote you all!! However, a lot has happened. For example, I got over a 4-day stomach cramp, my feet developed a lot of blisters and then healed, we ran out of water to drink and water to shower in. It rained, and in Imperial, that's never good. I have taught a few horrible lessons, and met more than a few people in contrary to us. However, those are minor prices to pay for the blessings I've received. We have many progressing investigators. We have more investigators than there are people in the branch. However, there aren't many people in the branch, and the investigators never progress as quickly as us missionaries would like. :) We baptized two investigators last week. We have another sure baptismal date. We visited the Tijuana Temple Open House three times since the open house commenced on Friday, November 13th. I've had a lot of spiritual experiences, and I've learned a lot that can't be written.

Elder Brown, Carlos, Elder Ruiz

I have been serving a mission for 2 months, to the day. I am 1/12 of the way done. It's crazy how quickly the time goes. We baptized two people Saturday and Sunday. The first is named Carlos. He was my first lesson. I committed him to baptism when I taught my first lesson in the field. He then decided not to be baptized but has since changed his mind again. I was able to baptize and confirmed him also. That was a cool experience.

Diego was a cool experience also. He wasn't very sure that he wanted to be baptized, all of the way to Friday the 13th, when he decided to be baptized Sunday the 15th. That was a really cool lesson.

Elder Brown at Temple Open House

I remember thinking, "we need to get the investigators and members to conduct a Noche de Hogar, or Family home evening," and then dismissing the thought due to the logistics of balancing our lessons with our investigators, recent converts, and members. Later that day, during the mission correlation meeting, a brother from the stake told us that the members need to conduct Noche de Hogar's in the homes of the investigators. I learned that sometimes the Spirit may give us enough of an idea to develop it and then act on it. If the prompting doesn't seem feasible, find ways to creatively achieve it.

Mrs. Gourley, you’re going to LOVE this next story!!! We were trying to teach a sister of Karla, named Clara (dangerous naming scheme, I know) but she was doing homework. Turns out, she needed help with math. I ended up teaching her and her friend calculus in Spanish. That was a fun experience! :) We are now teaching her and she is planning on being baptized in December. The family of Karla is opening to the Gospel. She's really a blessing to them and to the branch. She has done soo much for them. Her aunt and cousin might be taking the lessons after most of Karla's family and her aunt and cousin attended the temple open house today.

The Tijuana Temple may well be my favorite one. It's beautiful. It's not large, but it's fantastic.

Elder Brown Enjoying Little Cesear's Pizza

The Gift of Tongues

Nov 9, 2015

Hola! There have been many great things happening here. First off, I thank you for the prayers that have been sent my way. :) Thank you for all you've done to help me be a good missionary. However, in the missionary handbook, I am told not to ask that my family or friends hold a fast for me and my area. I was thinking about it, and I think I might have an idea why. Yes, I am your friend, son, brother, or possibly annoying sidekick. However,

Photo from Mexico CCM

I am not your missionary. I am a missionary of the Lord. Your missionaries are serving in your wards and stakes. Those missionaries should have just as many, if not more, prayers, and I believe actions to go along with them.

I learned from Mosiah 18 that members are the ones that build the wards, not missionaries. I see that evident in Tijuana. The past two weeks about 20 members came from the stake to attend our branch and then came with us, the missionaries, to serve and invite others to attend the following week, and more importantly, to attend the Tijuana Temple Open House.

Yesterday, 10 young men, in their white shirts and ties, deconstructed the home of an investigator at the request of the missionaries. There wasn't enough work for the other ten that came, so instead they decided to stand on the corners and pass out invitations. They were better full-time missionaries than we are!

Friday we had our zone meeting and the mission president told us all that we were doing wrong. As I was listening, I thought, wow, he's talking to us like you're two-year-olds. Then I realized that I really am. Sure I'm all grown up and smart, but I have so much that I need to learn. Kids in kindergarten are permitted to do fewer things than I, but the restriction allows them to learn the basics. It's the same as in the mission. I can do fewer things here than before, but here I get to refine the basics. It's brilliant!

I was thinking yesterday as I was walking down the path to church about how I might respond if I received visible success, a.k.a., baptisms. Then the Spirit told me, “The moment you stop thinking about the progress and focus on the success is the moment I leave.” Perspire, don't aspire. I can't really explain it, but It was a really neat experience.

I had another cool experience. I believe it was Thursday. Anyway, we taught the plan of salvation to a family who had lost a ten yr old daughter, presumably to cancer. I taught them a few of the principles and my companero did the same. It was really cool because normally I make a couple of mistakes and speak a bit choppily, but when we taught that lesson, I spoke perfectly. There were no mistakes and there were no pauses to collect my Spanish thoughts. I have noticed that most of the time, when I choose to speak to someone in Spanish about the gospel, the Spanish comes well. However, when someone else chooses for me, or when I don't speak but merely listen, The Spanish is difficult. I really believe it is the gift of tongues. Alma 7:32 says open your mouth and it will be filled. I believe that it is true not only with a new language, but with our first language as well. Open your mouth and God will help you to teach what needs to be taught. He will also teach you at the same time.

Kind Members

Dinner at the Camacho's Home

This post written by Elder Brown's Mom--

Our family has been blessed by the kindness of the members in the Imperial Branch. Elder Brown was not able to send pictures home this week. However, he has had the pleasure of eating dinner in a member's home and they took a picture of him and his companion and emailed the photo to me.


Later, a recently baptized member in his area emailed another couple pictures. This time, it was raining and the missionaries didn't have their umbrellas. This wonderful sister, not only lent the missionaries umbrellas but took a couple photos and emailed them to us!

Rainy-day Rescue

It truly makes us happy to see his smiling face! The unexpected pictures have been a nice surprise this week.

The Family is Central to Heavenly Father's Plan

Hola All!

What is there to write about? Well night one, I was teaching with Elder Ruiz and we invited Carlos, who had 16 years, to be baptized. He accepted, and then the next lesson he decided not to. However, he doesn't talk much so we couldn't figure out why...

Next we taught Lucero, someone who had committed to a baptismal date, and she decided she didn't want to be baptized either...

Every day we have enough appointments to fill the day, but when we follow up and knock on their doors, they're not there. We spend about half of the day contacting. The worst is when a night appointment falls through, because it's too late to knock doors, but its too early to be done...

The computer I'm using right now functions much better than the last one. We're at a nicer internet cafe, but I'm not sure if I can upload pictures from this computer unfortunately. I will see about a different computer next week.

We attended the branch in Tijuana yesterday. It was a testimony meeting, like in every other ward in the world, and I bore my testimony. There were about 20 people from the stake that attended sacrament meeting and then came with us to visit less-actives in our branch. It was really fun. Of four lessons, four lessons worked out. That doesn't generally happen for us. I think it was in large part due to the member involvement. I love it when the members do fulfill their part of the work of salvation, because it enables me to fulfill my part in it as well.

Tijuana LDS Temple

For a long time, I have known the importance of the atonement in my personal life, but not until the past week have I really begun to understand the centrality of the family to it all. Without the family, the church can't grow. Without the family, we can't grow. Without the family, the beautiful children of Heavenly Father can't receive bodies and learn to use them. The power of an entirely active family is something special in the church. Carla, a recent convert to the church, has taught a few lessons with us, but her family is not yet a member. Her baptism may be a powerful influence for their welfare, but her entire family needs to have the blessings of the gospel in their lives. I CAN'T WAIT for the dedication of the Tijuana Temple. Think about it. Most of the members of the church here haven't received their endowments. More, Most of them can't say that if their son were to die, they know they will see them again. When a temple is constructed in Utah, sure it's exciting, but imagine how many more of God's children in Tijuana will have all of the blessings of the Gospel in their home. Its a powerful thought. No wonder every time a temple is built the power of the adversary is lessened in the earth.

Funny story of the week: I cut jalapenós yesterday helping the branch president prepare dinner and I wiped my eye with my jalapenó juice-covered finger. Boy did it sting!! I washed my hands and then my eye. Eventually it stopped hurting. :)

Q and A from the Family: 

 Q: Have you taught any investigators? Tell us about them. 

A: Yes, I taught investigators. Most of the investigators are not progressing very well. It's rather unfortunate that they attend church every week, but they won't get baptized. There's been one baptism in the past 6 weeks, her name is Carla, and she's doing really well. We have taught lessons with her. 

Q: How many Book of Mormons have you given out this past week? 

A: We hand out temple invitations, not Book of Mormons, right now. However, with the new investigators, we have given about 4-5 Book of Mormons out. 

 Q: What does the interior of your apartment/house look like? 

A: The interior of my house is nice. I wish I could upload pictures, but unfortunately I can’t. 

 Q: How many bedrooms are in your home/apartment? 

A: There’s a bedroom, a study room, a kitchen, and two bathrooms in our casa. 

This is Going to be Fantastic!

Hola! Semana 7

no tengo el tiempo para enviar todas los fotos. Son bellos. Me encanta mi nueva area.

Elder Ruiz and Elder Brown

Now English. I'm loving all of it. My companion, Elder Ruiz, is awesome. He doesn’t speak English but he doesn’t need to! I wish I could send the pictures of all of this. It's seriously the craziest thing ever. I'm in the only area in the entire mission in which there is no hot water. The area is fantastic. I love my trainer. My Spanish is coming along very well and at the same time…not. This is going to be flat out fantastic.

I lent my scriptures to a member of my district because he forgot his somewhere else. I won't get mine back for a month... :)

I'm sitting in a legitimate shack typing this letter to you on a keyboard with more dust than keys and using a mouse that only double-clicks. Imagine that... It makes things a bit more difficult.

On the flight today, I was able to teach a psychologist some English. I also handed out a Book of Mormon and invited another to read The Family: A Proclamation to the World. I also gave them cards for mormon.org.

I can bear testimony, once again, of the fact that when you commit to share you testimony, whether it be formally or informally, God will give you an answer. Think of ways to express your testimony in natural ways. I know it may seem slightly counter-productive to try to artificially create a natural conversation, but It is a way you can treasure up in your heart the things of the Lord. Then when the time comes, you will have given you the exact words in the exact moment what ye shall say. And you will be given one to whom you may give that testimony.

A little about my knee, the one I injured last week.

Me gustaría compartirles una evidencia del poder del sacerdocio. El ultima semana, me lastemé la rodilla. recibí de Elder Scoubes una bendicion sacerdotal que me bendiciera que mi rodia no impediría mi servicio como un misionero. Hoy, aunque haya caminado mucho, no me ha lastemado la rodilla.

My New Street

I would like to to share with you an evidence of the power of the priesthood. Last week, as you saw, I hurt my knee. I sprained it and may have done worse. Elder Scoubes blessed me that even though I hurt it, it would not impede my service as a missionary. Today, I have done substantial walking, and my knee hasn't hurt me all day.

The priesthood is real. It works through us and changes us as we turn outward and give it somewhere to go. :) It works in us as we let its power flow through us to the blessing of everyone we can.

First Home in the Field

What more? Um, I listened to a talk by Elder Bednar called The Character of Christ. It was the reminder I needed of how I was who I was. Before my mission, I took every opportunity given me, and even those not, to turn outward and serve others. The CCM seemed built to serve self, to build self. However, at the end of his talk, Elder Bednar said somethings along the lines of: “With the apostolic keys given me, I promise you that according to your desire and diligence to develop the Character of Christ (which turns outward in service, always), you will be blessed with every other blessing or gift that you need. So forget about yourself when you go to the MTC, wherever you go. The MTC isn't about you. School isn't about you. It's about your classmates. You future family, your God. Buckle down and lose yourself in the growth of His divine work, and I promise you will be happy, in the measure you make every decision one of service.” :) 

Love you to the moon and back,

Elder Brown

—This gun dun been fun :)

Krispy Skreams and CCM Departure

Sunrise

Elder Brown started his Monday October 26 out very early getting ready to leave the CCM in Mexico City for the mission field in Tijuana, Mexico. He needed to be up and ready to leave at 3:30 a.m. (That is 1:30 Utah time and he was flying into an area that is on California time). I'm sure his internal clock is a little messed up today. He sent home this beautiful sunrise picture and I thought I would share it with all of you.

Eyeball Doughnut

Here's a little shout out and a great big THANK YOU to the Missionary Package MX people. Last Wednesday I ordered a dozen Halloween themed Krispy Kreme doughnuts (they call them Krispy Skremes)! Thursday Elder Brown told me he hadn't received them. All day Thursday and Friday, I was trying to figure out why he hadn't received them yet and began getting a little sad he would miss receiving something fun and yummy before he left the MTC Monday morning. I finally decided to send a quick email to the company to see why they had missed the order. Turns out, for some reason, the order never processed and was still in my shopping cart!!! It wasn't their fault at all. It was mine (or my computer's). I was pretty bummed. BUT they came to the rescue. They called Krispy Kreme to see if an additional dozen of their yummy Krispy Skreme donughts could be added to the order for TODAY and the answer was YES! The Missionary Package MX people are making sure my sweet child feels loved and remembered this week. Today, it is bringing tears of joy to this mother's eyes and heart. Seriously, look how cute these doughunts are!

Mummy Doughnut

Thank you Missionary Package MX for saving the day and delivering a darling and yummy treat to my son before his MTC departure! You have gone beyond your call of duty and this missionary mom is so touched!

Just in case anyone reads this who has a child getting ready to enter the Mexico City MTC, you can order goodies and other items from www.missionarypackagemx.com. You can even send a 1-3 page PDF letter to your child via email and they will print and deliver it the next day (free of charge to the MTC)! They even send you an email telling you when your letter/package has been delivered! Awesome!!! And, in case you are like me...I have checked with the MTC in Mexico to see if using this company was okay since in our missionary packet it clearly states that we are not to send packages to the MTC. The MTC told me using this service was an okay thing to do. There are actually four companies they allow deliveries from, but don't publicize the companies. However, I just had to share my story!

--Elder Brown's Mom

Daily Scripture Study

Hola!

It's been another great week down here in the MTC! I'll be leaving to teach the people of Tijuana next Monday at 3:30 a.m. I'm thoroughly excited to assume the role of a full-time missionary. I'm excited for the blessing I have to lose myself in service, whatever form it may be in. I hope to learn to love the people and then show it in a way that increases their love for God.

I've been learning the importance of daily scripture study. It is vital to a life of full conversion. Joseph Smith said that "is the most correct book of all other books on the earth, and the keystone of our religion; and that a man would come nearer to God as he followed its precepts than by any other book." I know that this is true. My conversion story is based upon a decision to read the Book of Mormon. My conversion story every single day is based upon that principle. It brings a depth into life that cannot be achieved nor rivaled in any other way.

MTC Study Time

I've been studying the scriptures more often now than at first in the MTC. It's been really helpful. I've said many times to many people that one can predict the day based on a prayer. If one would consistently have good days, not just fun or happy, but truly good ones, then one must consistently have powerful prayers. In order to have powerful prayers, one needs intentional scripture study. It's a continuing cycle. Each enhances the other. I love to read the scriptures. I love to learn about the prophets, and even more, about Christ. I love to feel the power of his words when he talks to the Nephites. There's an undeniable power there. Read the scriptures every day. Pray over them. I love them. I know that the scriptures contain the power of God. They will change your life. They will make your life a life worth living. The depth of your life will increase. Its meaning will deepen.

Weed-Whacking Warrior

As you may have noticed in my picture with the Weed-Whacking Warrior, I have a knee brace now. During a game of ultimate frisbee, I hyper-extended my knee, sprained it, and may have bruised/roughed-up the cartilage. The doctor here says I'll be fine, I just need to abstain from running. Walking is ok, but any misplacement or twist hurts it. It gets sore and stiff really easily. However, I got a blessing from Elder Scoubes last night. I was told that the injury would not have a negative effect on my capacity to serve. I was told that God knew me and had a plan for me in the CCM and my mission. I am very grateful to have companions that are of such stature as to be a medium of the words of God in a blessing. Elder Kelson has given me a blessing as well. They are great men. I hope I can do things like them. I was really blessed to not have injured myself more with the nature and manner of the injury.

I know that the priesthood is of God. I know that blessings are not given by melchizedek priesthood holders, but through them. I know that this church is true. I love it. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Elder Kelson's Bday Party-MTC Style

Krispy Kreme Doughnuts

This week we celebrated Elder Kelson's bday. Elder Kelson opened presents! Elder Scoubes received two dozen Krispy Kreme doughnuts. We had ourselves a little party!

Love,
Elder Brown

Necessity of a Testimony

Hola All!

It was a great week! Teaching is coming along. I learned of the necessity of testimony, and of testimony invoking questions. How much cooler does it get than when you ask a question and the investigator's heart is not just opened, but magnified? The Spirit isn't just invited into the room, any testimony can do that; but into their heart, and only one testimony has that potential.

This week was pretty eventful. On Tuesday night I attended a devotional about the Sabbath Day. We learned about the Sabbath Day and the Sacrament. I was given the invaluable opportunity to reflect on my conversion to the Sacrament. The Apostles promised that as we learn to honor the sabbath THE WHOLE WORLD will have their faith increased. How cool is that?! I thinking about the Sabbath, I was reminded of two times that God's honoring of the Sabbath could be followed. The first is obviously the creation, where God created the world and then rested from worldly labors. The next thought was that the Millennium is a type of the Sabbath. What will we be doing in the Millennium? We will be trying to unify our eternal families and bring it all to God. We will be serving and learning, but the largest endeavor I know of is that of family. Maybe that's how we make the Sabbath a delight, we find ways to tie our family together.

A member of our District went home. That was unfortunate. However, Elder Scoubes is now my companion too. Elder Kelson, Elder Scoubes, and I are a trio: The Three Usketeers. That's not unfortunate at all. :)

We also learned about Missionary Work and focus. We are now working harder to accomplish our goals.

The Three Usketeers
Elder Scoubes, Elder Brown, Elder Kelson

Today, I went to the Mexico City temple and in the celestial room met an Elder Gould from somewhere in Toelle County. He did not know Uncle Ronnie. He was teary-eyed, and I grabbed him some tissues. After a bit of talking, I learned he had been out only a week and a day. I told him that one of my favorite parts about the Celestial room is that wherever you are, anywhere in the world, as long as you're in a Celestial Room, you're home. We talked a bit more, and I told him that yes, the Spanish is important, but what I think is most important is that he bear his testimony as often as he could. I felt the Spirit confirm my words and the Spirit of the Celestial Room became even more sweet. Please, bear your testimony as often as you can. Get creative with it. If I have learned anything from the teaching classes here, it is about testimonies and questions. Why? Agency. When you act to intentionally share parts of who you are, a testimony, it invites the Spirit into your life to change yours and increase their agency. When you ask questions of people, it invites them to use their increased agency and bear testimony themselves. In that way, we may teach diligently, and be edified together. I love the temple.

Be Thou An Example

Having completed half of my first transfer, I'm 1/34, or 2.9%, of the way done. That means I only have 33 more allotments of the time I've experienced. That's not very long when considering what I hope to gain and looking back on my growth. The Spanish, still, is coming well. Like my dad, I can analyze and understand the grammar really well. I love my teachers. I love the Latinos. Everywhere I go, they call me out. I got the chance to play the piano for a little bit, and got my jazzed up version of God Be with You Til We Meet Again stuck in Elder Scoube's head. I hear him whistling it about every hour or so, and he's a really good whistler. It could be an instrument for him.

Now for some cool experiences: 

Monday night I decided to find more ways to serve and then serve. Tuesday morning I got a letter from each member of my family about how I had served them or how they had seen me serve others. It gave me some ideas to serve here and it also helped me have the motivation to.

Wednesday, yesterday, my afternoon teacher said we (the class) didn't teach according to her needs. She said we taught what we wanted to teach her, and not what she needed to hear. That was hard, because I felt like I was trying to bend our teaching to fit her needs. We knew she had needs she hadn't told us, but we had no idea of how to figure them out except through more teaching. The whole class got really offended. I got offended too, which surprised me, because I don't identify with getting offended. My companion got really upset because he shared a concern and another elder snapped at him for making excuses. I was confused and trying to think through it, but didn't know quite how I should go about changing. Then I remembered a talk by Elder Holland to the missionaries. He said that when teaching, we should change things at least every 2 minutes. I thought about that, and I realized it kind of resembled my life. I try to change things frequently because if I'm already changing, it is much easier for me to change according to the Spirit's direction.

What else? Do you have any questions?

Q: Have you gotten over being offended? How? 
Yeah. I was over it quickly. I guess I should have specified that. :)

Q: Did you get the package we sent or just the letters? 
I got the package. The oreos were great. :)

Q: Anything else about the last week you want to share with the family and friends? 
 I'm writing a letter for the Collings, GMA GPA and Sister Morris.

 Q: What do you do on Pdays? 
Serving my companion:  I'm going to try to push him. The day is emotionally and physically demanding on him, while it isn't on me. If I use this to help him push himself a little more than is comfortable, his growth will be exciting. I gave him oreos. I have been doing the stuff around the dormitory. Folding many of his clothes, tried (rather unsuccessfully) to teach him how to sew a button on. He gets distracted easily. I try to ask him what I could do for him every day. We set goals, and I ask him how I can help, but every time I offer it he doesn't want to follow through. I'm not sure he's quite figured out how to match up his drive with his enthusiasm.

Serving my district: I help them when I can with the language. I've taken some time to help them understand the words they're trying to memorize. They get too impatient when they try to learn, and they get too patient when they don't know they should learn. They skip steps in learning when they have to learn and they wait to learn until they think they have to, which is about two or three days after the due date. (Sound familiar Mrs. Gourley?) When they ask my help I give them a thorough explanation of the concepts and the principles. It helps them learn, but much like all of us, they don't quite connect the dots. They just think of it as "Elder Brown" magic. :) I try to write notes of compliment and give them to people. It's weird here because the district is such a small bubble. I don't like working in small social bubbles. I feel confined in my abilities. Do you have any ideas on what I could do to serve people better?

Q: How does one abstract language? I've never heard of that before…
 When you think, you can frequently hear words bouncing around in your head. However, just before the words comes a concept. What people do is they try to add Spanish vocabulary to their English "dictionary". Then when they want to think or say something, they have the idea, then the english word, then they have to ask themselves, so I want to use the appendix(Spanish Language)? or just go with what I have(English)?  Then they have to find the word in the appendix, and that, at least in the beginning, is never very organized. They then try to pull together a cohesive thought and express it. They need to start a new dictionary. That way there's no translation. If they can consciously separate the languages then it will come much faster. When I read the Book of Mormon, I would watch the events of which I was reading play out as I read the Spanish words. too often I hear people translate it to english and then understand it. As an example, When I talk to people in Spanish, I can remember fairly well the events of the conversation, but when I switch to English, I can't remember what happened, because everything was experienced with a Spanish mindset. Does that make sense?

Q: Can you write about one of your spiritual experiences from the past week?
It's kind of hard to remember much of anything that happened. It's all just a blur to me. I will focus on marking something every day to remember to tell you about.

Here's one: In 3 Nephi 13:33-34, it says, "Mas buscad primeramente el reino de Dios y su Justicia; y todas estas cosas os seran añadidas. Así que, no os afanéis por el dia de mañana, porque el dia de mañana traerá afan sus propias cosas. Basta el dia para su propio mal."

I don't currently have the scriptures with me, so I had to give the memorized Spanish first. The translation is: But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you. Take ye no thought therefore for tomorrow, for tomorrow will take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient is the day unto the evil thereof.

That might not be exact, but I think it's pretty close. Anyway, I think sometimes I worry so much about living for the future that I forget to see the present. That is one  reason all of this time has gone by so quickly. Do I have the faith to let go of the future? Do I have the hope that my future is being cared for by God as I take care of the present? It is helping me to let go a little bit of the mechanics of it all and live more in the present. I know that at the end it says sufficient is the day unto the evil thereof, but in my mind, I hear Christ telling me, "there are plenty of things for you to worry about in the present. Let me take care of the past and the future." Faith acts because the past is taken care of. Hope lets go of self because the future is ensured. Charity is finally allowed to step forward and change the world.

Q: Did you watch General Conference in Spanish or English?
 I watched about 6 talks in Spanish. It was very difficult.

Q: We have heard that there are a lot of fireworks that go off every night. Can you tell us about those?
Yes. The Catholic church right next to our campus loves fireworks. They make loud cannon sounds, and so when we asked our teacher what the sound was, she made the Hunger Games sign. :) I think it would be awesome to be some of the missionaries orienting the newly-arrived ones, and then when the fireworks went off, we all dropped to the ground and yelled, "Get down!! Get Down! Get by a wall!" Probably fortunately for their sake, our district will never be welcoming new districts, as a different zone is in charge of orientation.

Write Elder Brown

If you would like to send a letter to Elder Brown while he is at the CCM (MTC), there is an internet service in Mexico that will print and deliver your letters.  Click here and follow the instructions. He will receive your letters the next day during the week. The CCM post office is not open on weekends. You will need a paypal account to use this service.

See more cartoons by Scott T. Petersen
Golden Street Animation

Please address letters to Elder Brock Brown.

Let's flood him with letters this week!

Week 2 - Legendary District at the MTC (CCM)

Can you believe it?! two weeks down already. What more? I'm about 1.9% done with my mission. That doesn't sound liike much, but in reality. That's a lot. As of now, I only get fifty-one more allotments of the time I've spent here on a mission, and only 1.5 more allotments of that time to prepare to be a missionary. Time is of the essence, but it needn't be rushed. As of Monday this week, I realized how important the difference is.

I still haven't been homesick. I've loved every second out here. However, last week I was only a shell of myself. When I boarded the plane and left Utah, I left my family, my job, my ward, my free time, all of that, behind. I was totally fine with that. My free time was never mine anyway. I also brought many things. I brought everything on the packing list: toothbrush, money, church clothes, church clothes, Scriptures, more church clothes, and toiletries. There was one thing however, that was not on the packing list. I forgot to bring myself. I was always absorbed in my flashcards, or focused on learning Spanish. It had become my definition. I was so focused on the mechanics of a missionary I forgot what it pointed towards.

A look at the city

Monday I cracked one of my first puns, possibly since I left home. I really came out of the shell. I was loving every minute here, but I wasn't enjoying it. I remember my farewell talk when I said I needed to be busy but never rushed. I was busy and always rushed. The interesting thing is that I'm picking up Spahish just as quickly, if not more, now that I'm slowing down a bit.

I attended a devotional Tuesday night and the speaker spoke in Spanish. I could partially understand him, and there was also a translator there. I could understand the english just fine. ;) It was a very good devotional. It was focused on making commitments, because they needed to act in doctrine. The speaker asked a couple of questions, and I obviously answered. However, when I answered, I answered in both English and Spanish, translating for myself instead of the translator. Bragging points for me there.

I know almost everyone learning Spanish here would trade Spanish ability with me, and I know this will sound really terrible, but it's been hard being able to hold a normal conversation with latinos when three of the ten in my district still don't even know how to say the name of their mission. I want to be able to learn at my fullest capacity, but that means I have to do it all by myself rather than working with someone else. I wouldn't trade my companion for anyone in the world, but it's still hard for me to spend 2 hours helping him memorize Spanish and scripture in which I am already fluent. All that aside, I love being his companion and he's doing really well with his Spanish.

Elder Brown and Elder Kelson

My companion is District leader now, as our old district leader was "promoted" to zone leader. Elder Kelson is concerned about being the zone leader now, but he's awesome and I wish he wouldn't worry about it. He works hard but he has a charm that pulls our district together. He makes sure to notice people who are struggling and can help them.

Our district has a couple of MTC legendaries. Elder Slade, Elder Scoubes' companion, has a girlfriend whom will be arriving next Wednesday night. We might actually get another district then too. :) I was the only one to translate for myself in the MTC devotional, so I hit the books for that. Someone else told me I'm legend in another zone for my Spanish and for my Gospel knowledge. Since the Latinos go in and out every other week, when the first latinos I met left, they all wanted a pitcure with me.

And we think the Diverging Diamond Intersection in Lehi is confusing...

Mexico City Temple