Kingdom Come: August 2017

Elder Brown 28 August 2017

Malo e lelei!

We had zone conference this week, which was cool. President should be here until tomorrow, and we're going soo to a P day activity with all the missionaries in Vava'u. I'm really excited; there are a lot of people in the other zone that I haven't seen in a while, so it will be fun to see them again.

Zone conference was great. President Tanner from BYU was here in Vava'u on Thursday, and he got to come and speak. They came with a couple of major donors to the university, who have a sone who served in Tonga from 2013 to 2015. He's held on pretty well to his language and it was a lot of fun to talk about some of the old guys from the mission who've already finished. Time sure flies.

I want to get a baptism before I leave! I haven't had one in months; I'm sure there's someone somewhere who's ready. We just need to find them!

I'm going to head out; if I can, I'll check later this evening if anyone else writes.

I love you!

Elder Brown

Elder Brown Pictures 21 August 2017

1. Elder Tupou and I on mount Talau after our district meeting
2. Elder Brown with the '8 weeks left' look on his face
3. Flooding at Sione Latu's house
4. The beach down in Feletoa. It's a bit of a walk but it's sure pretty here.
5. A pretty view indeed. There's an old white guy that supposedly lives in that little house way in the back, right in the middle of the water. It would be fun to see how he's doing.

Elder Brown Pictures 21 August 2017

Elder Brown 21 August 2017

Malo e lelei!

The elders in my old area were able to Baptize 'Ofa! We had worked with him for a while and didn't respond well to the baptismal invitation. But, Elder Le'ota and Elder 'Uvea didn't give up! I'm way happy because of those guys; they didn't give up! I saw 'Ofa at stake conference yesterday and he looked great; he shaved and showed up in a suit looking like a million bucks. He has a lot of close family in the Church, a couple of whom have recently returned from missions, and the young men in Tu'anekivale are great. He' got a lot of help behind him and I can see him going on a mission and going through the temple. That was definitely a highlight of this week; now I know that all that preaching in Tu'anekivale ended up was worth it!

We went door knocking in Vaipua after district meeting; I went with elder Tupou and we had a great time. We got a few names, got in a couple houses and passed out some pamphlets. We also took a half hour or so to climb mount Talau and took a couple of pictures. We had a lot of fun getting work done and smelling the roses along the way. The elders in Taua (elder Sulunga and elder Tafengatoto) have a massive area with heaps of hills so they were grateful for the help.

With all door knocking success we've had in the past couple weeks, we figured we'd give it a shot in Feletoa and we didn't really get anyone. We went around during the slow part of the day, so not many people were home and those who were home told us to come back later. I met a lady from Folaha (an old area of mine) which was fun, but she asked us not to come in because her husband doesn't like the Church. We'll try to get a hold of the man and see what's the deal.

We had stake conference yesterday and on Saturday. One of the area seventies came and conducted, and it was great. I don't remember the guy's name, but it was great. I have a lot of fun watching seventies and apostles speak; they show up with their scriptures and their life experience and they always end up telling us exactly what we need to hear. This church runs on revelation, and its always a thrill to feel that and to see that.

I'm a little excited to be done, but the Lord always manages to find some way to get me excited about the work again. The Seventy showed a couple of videos, one of which showed the growth of the church and missionaries all over the world; it got me really excited and I felt like I could move a mountain. That combined with 'Ofa's baptism has got me excited.

This is the Lord's Church and He never lets us down. I love you all!

'Ofa lahi atu!
Elder Brown

Elder Brown 14 August 2017

Malo e lelei!

I was sick for a few days this week. That's two weeks in a row, and it's definitely a lot less fun to be the sick one. On the bright side, I was feeling lazy the week before last from spending time indoors, and being sick (and getting better again) has put a little spark back in me.

My comp and started running a couple days before I got sick. We run to Ha'akio and back. The hill on the way back, right before we get home, is killer, so by the time I get back I'm going to have calves of steel like my brother in law. We've been eating very little and walking a lot as well. My comp is great and he keeps me going.

We've started a new program as a district where after district meeting all 10 of us knock doors in whichever town we met in. We did that in Leimatu'a for 2 or 3 hours last Tuesday and we got into every house we knocked. Leimatu'a is the best! I can't wait to give it a try in Mataika and Feletoa, because we've gotten in one house in Mataika. It seems like mataika's been knocked on 50 times over so people have the 'go away' speil memorized.

Once again, I've started sharing the story of Alma and Amulek with the members;I think it's perfect here. Alma got kicked out of Ammonihah until he started working with Amulek, the guy who already lived there, knew the people and had their respect. We go around and when we share messages we ask the members if they can be like Amulek and get us some Baptisms!!

I love my companion. He's been a great help and we get along great. He's very easy to get along with and he ants to work. He keeps me going and gets me out of the house. I'm having a lot of fun with him.

'Ofa lahi atu!

Elder Brown