The Week of the Harvest

Jan 11, 2016

This is the last week of my training. There's been a lot that has happened. I received pictures of me my family and me from before the mission. I realized that I've changed a lot since then. I've grown a lot (at least in belt size). I have begun to see the differences between business and progress that comes with total focus on a single objective. This week has also shown me much of God's dealings with us. for example:

We went to a chinese buffet for my birthday. I ate jellow without utensils.

1. It rained three days straight. We have no pavement, only dirt, Day one was bad, Day two was dangerous, and day three was flat-out hopeless in our area. We were confined to walking to two different houses each day. We were a bit discouraged for this, but it actually turned out to be a blessing. Because of the weather, we ended up spending the majority of each day in the house of K****, the family of whom we had been teaching very frequently for the past three months. We were pretty much stuck in their house, so we focused more than ever on them. C****, 18, (Baptism 1, I performed it), R******, 15, (Baptism 2, Elder Ruiz performed), and C******, 18, (Baptism 3 Elder R*** performed) received more lessons more quickly in the last week than anyone else here. We also got to teach K****, a recent convert, and L***, their mom (she'll get baptized within the next two months). The rain turned out to be a blessing, as it forced us to stay and teach them.

2. We met another family about a month or two ago. actually we just met the dad. He's about 70 years old, his wife's about 50 or 55, and they have a daughter, age 18. We taught him the first lesson but couldn't find him after that first discussion. Their son got baptized the 26 of December (in another area), and the interest of the whole family surged. Now, they’re planning to get baptized the 6th of February, and are progressing really, really rapidly.

Here's what the roads look like after it rains

3. We were out tracting one day and we met the most born-again, evangelical christian I think may exist, and he starting talking our ears off. He told us it was good were were doing something good and then said, "To my shame, i used to like rock, but I'm over it now, and I think God placed my neighbors here to hear my message of my salvation from Rock." After the contact, Elder Ruiz and I looked at each other and said, "Vamos a salvar los pecadores de Rock.", or "let's go save those sinners from rock." We went, and we met a golden investigator. We taught him of baptism, and he wanted to do it. When we set the baptismal date, he told us that he wanted to be, better, more like Christ when he got baptized, but when I told him that baptism is the first step, not the last, his doubts were resolved. It was fantastic!!! His answers were very thoughtful and accurate. His resolve was very evident. To me, it was a miracle.

4. We had a lesson this past week with A*******. We wanted to bring a member to the lesson so A******* could get to know more people in the church. After thinking really hard about the three members we had as possibilities, we concluded that we couldn't bring one. We went to his house and knocked his door. Lo and behold, the son who had just gotten baptized was there and was able to help us teach and provide a third witness to that which we taught. They all want to get baptized. It's a goal that's very present in their minds.

5. We weren't quite able to go shopping last week, and so we were on the tail end of our food almost all week. One day I made oatmeal, only to find that we had nothing to give it flavor. I went on eating the really, really stale oatmeal in a relatively optimistic manner when i remembered that K***’s father had given us pan (that sweet bread stuff, kind of like a dry doughnut) the day before. I ate my really stale oatmeal with really good pan. I thought of the biblical miracles of bread and food. You may not count it as a miracle, but it was certainly a blessing i could not achieve alone.

6. We returned to teach Hna. H*******(60) and her daughter C*****(35). They are interested, but a little doubtful, and the mom is mad at God. She's the one who got mad about the expenses of the temple. However, they are improving and progressing now. This week has been full of miracles. This week has been the week of the harvest.

7. We received a phone call from another Hna. H****** (40) that she had changed her work schedule and was available to go to church again. She's going to get baptized this month or next. I can't believe that so much is happening!!!

8. Hna. D**** is about 30 years old. She really wants to get baptized, but the only problem is that her husband's not in on the whole church thing. He's not against it, but neither is he for it. He's a good investigator. He's intelligent, and he understands what we're explaining, but he still isn't exactly rooting for the church. However, the wife bought a skirt for church and is reading the Book of Mormon. She's progressing. She just needs the courage to act now. :)

Baptisms January, 9, 2016

9. Now for the baptisms, C**** was pretty much sure, but R***** and C****** were almost against baptism last Tuesday. They started reading the Book of Mormon every day since Monday and progressed rapidly (that's what happens when we read the Book of Mormon). Friday they had set their baptismal date more or less securely for Saturday the 16th of January. However, after the baptismal interview with C****, both R****** and C****** decided to get baptized with her. :) Our one baptism Saturday turned into three. It was really cool to see. Without the Book of Mormon, without Prayer, no baptism would happen, but most assuredly these last two. If you read the Book of Mormon and pray, your whole world will change.

10. We are bringing more and more of the people here to the fold of God. Through the work of my companion and I, and the many miracles that have occurred, the Branch is opening and beginning to develop.

These and many more miracles happened over the past weeks, not all of them can be told, and none of the experiences can be sufficiently shared. On looking back, I realize that every one of these experiences were miracles. The rain was, and the sunshine too. Ether 12:6 says that the miracles don't come until after the trial of our faith, but maybe the trial of our faith isn't necessarily a hard day or a tragedy. Maybe the trial of our faith is FINDING the miracle. There are miracles in everything, and as I search, two things happen: One, the small miracles continue, and two, I have sufficient faith to plead for larger ones.

God is opening the hearts of people in my area. He is opening my heart. The miracles are everywhere, I just can't wait to find them. :)

Love,
Elder Brown

Time Really Flies!

Jan 4, 2016

 Hello Everyone!

New Year's Eve 2015

 It’s already the second-to last-week of my training! I know I should stop commenting on how quickly the time goes, but seriously, it seems like only just last week I was seated at the computer behind me typing all y'all. It seems like just last week I was reflecting on my progress and contemplating the benefits of my sacrifice to serve a mission for two years without the normal comforts of daily life. Oh, that's right, because it was. And just six days ago I talked with a missionary that decided he was done. He told me he hadn't progressed nor had seen any hope for progression. I thought about how much it resembled my doubts. I asked him if he believed that God lives, and loves us. Then I asked him if he believed that God calls prophets to communicate His will with us. The answers to both questions were, of course, yes. The prophet's words are scripture to us today as they were anciently. God doesn't change. The prophets command the young men to serve a mission, if they are worthy and able. To me, believing that I am exempt from serving a mission would be denying my testimony, and ultimately, denying Christ. I don't want to do that. That would take some serious paradigm reconstruction, and along with it, a serious loss of the hope to which I cling every. single. day.

Now. For the changes that happened this week. I first set myself to studying forgiveness. Before, my companion had gotten angry at times that didn't make sense to me, and this made me scared to do other things that I thought might frustrate him. I didn't have any real negative feelings for him, I was just very hesitant with everything I did. I realized that repentance isn't truly accomplished when we only stop doing something wrong, but rather when we start doing something right, when we become something right. Forgiveness isn't accomplished when we only stop, or avoid, having hard feelings, but rather when we start doing something right, or when we begin again to open ourselves again. Alma and Amulek healed Zeezrom, the very man who had tried to humiliate them and corrupt their teachings (Alma 11, I believe). Nefi frankly forgave his brothers after they had tried to kill him, and trusted himself in their presence. Before, I said many times that the more vulnerable we made ourselves in the cause of Christ, the more invulnerable we truly become, and that cannot be more true. However, I had not realized how large a realm of experience this statement spans. Nefi, in I believe Third Nefi, leaves a mob that had tried to kill him to preach to another mob that tried to kill him, knowing it would be so. It's easy to avoid holding a grudge, but it's much more difficult to let it go and give again, but this is what Christ asks. How many times have we been forgiven, and then blessed after repenting of the exact same sins?

Friends, Elders Scoubes and Brown

This week has gone better and better as I have worked more and more consciously to do what I think is right. "And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the lord, and not unto men." (its a lot cooler in spanish...) when we really do this, we will be blessed.

Now for my worries about my lack of progress. We were with a member, K****, actually, who had recently gotten baptized and was working RREEAALLYY hard in the Church. She taught with us almost every day. She wants to help in everything. She is the YW president here and is now making visits by herself and inviting the inactive YW to church. We were helping her prepare a lesson for Sunday when she broke down in tears. She told us that she had been trying soooo hard to do everything she was supposed to do and she hadn't received a witness of the church. She felt cheated because there are those that don't go to church but have received an answer. Others just pray and receive something awesome. After six months of church attendance and two months of membership, she still hasn't received any kind of witness upon which she can put her finger. (my english comes out funny now. :)) I was thinking about how much it resembles my experience as a missionary. I then thought about how much it resembles my experience in the church. I have received many witnesses of the veracity of this church, yes, but they strengthen my testimony, they don't make it. Ether 12 says that the witness comes after our faith. Moroni 7 I believe, says that miracles follow the believers. There's a song that says, "How can we think to see His face (that of God) when we couldn't see his hand?" One person uses the earth as a proof of athiesm, and another uses the same as proof of diety. The answers we receive to our prayers can be recognized, or can be discarded. It takes muscle to gain muscle. It takes faith to build faith. It takes a seed from a tree to grow another one. To believe is a choice. To exercise faith is a choice. To know, ultimately, is a choice. A testimony is a choice. We choose to recognize or discard the witnesses that God WILL send. A testimony cannot be measured. Conversion cannot be measured. It is a choice to grow or to stagnate. As such, it is a choice to believe that I have grown, and that I will. It is not measurable by human eyes, because as logic suggests, we can't measure air pressure with a voltage meter. It is simply the wrong tool. We can't measure our testimony nor our conversion with our human experience nor the measurable actions for which we set goals. It is measured with faith. With faith, I can see that many weaknesses that before were hidden have now been revealed and I can work on strengthening them. With faith, I can see that through forgiveness I can work towards strengthening friendships, not simply refreshing them. With faith, I can see many now hopes and opportunities. With a ruler, I only see twelve inches.

Elder Brown

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.