Pictures from Whitesands Tanna

This picture was taken yesterday (Sunday) at our unit.  Oh man, my heart is so full.  We had 67 people come to our small unit.  The spirit was so strong.  Last time we held church in our new unit the attendance was 45.  My companion and I have been working hard to get people to come to church.  A few of the priesthood men have been building a small shelter for us to meet in.  The work is moving at a rapid pace in our area.  We have 7 souls getting interviewed for baptize this Saturday.  With faith in every footstep the work is moving! 

We had a baptism on Saturday.  This is a picture of  Mama Dorkis with her two pikininis and Joyce one small girl.  Mama Dorkis had been meeting with the missionaries for years and years.  Her heart finally softened and she decided to be baptized.  We have no water in my area besides the sol water (ocean), so we baptize there every time.

This picture is in the kitchen...oweii oh man... this was taken on one of the hardest days in my mission this far.  If you cant tell I am absolutely SOAKED from the rain and seet seet is on my face.  All of my clothes are drenched in this photo because we had just finished our three hour hike in the rain.  We got to our last appointment and one mama's hands was burned really bad (she couldnt even lift the pot to cook).  I told her that I would cook her and her family their dinner.  I tried my best to find a few things around the kitchen and in her garden to put into a soup and it actually turned out pretty well! They call me chief chef Braon now! haha. 

Almost Thanksgiving

Mom!!!

I can no belief that it is almost Thanksgiving! It seems like it was just yesterday that it was the beginning of summer and I was getting everything ready to come out here! Christmas is just around the corner...can you belief it? I cant! No one here celebrates Thanksgiving, I think that is an American thing, but I bet that the food will be great and there will be lots of cutesty things because you are in  charge.  I hope that at least one of your two remaining children will help you clean and prepare for the feast! (Good luck!!)  Oh man..Turkey cookies....cookies..haha.  Please eat at least 20 in memory of me! And pumpkin pie too! ;) haha maybe I will try to make a fake thanksgiving here...probably not! ;)  It sounds like every something is going well at the house, I hope that Ben and Liz are helping you a lot.  What was Mason sick with? I am glad that he is getting better!!  I LOVE the pictures! Thank you too much for all of them!!

This week has been great! We have been working really hard in the farther villages in our area so it has been an exhausting week to say the least! Since standing up that unit, we have received a lot of referrals so that means we have had to walk far far far beating far almost every day this week.  On Tuesday and Wednesday this week we left our house at 5:30 AM to go to area and got back to the house around 7 in the afternoon.  On Wednesday a member took us around and showed us three different villages that had never been visited by missionaries before.  They were all so excited to see us, and this gave us a lot of opportunities to teach! Wednesday afternoon we were walking and the volcanic ash was raining so bad that our skin was completely covered. (the ash has been made our hair start to fall out! My hair is thin now!)  We had been walking for three hours and we were exhausted. When we were walking up the last creek of the day it started pouring rain. We had one more person to try to see at the top of the creek.  My companion and me did look at each other about to cry.  For a small second we both wondered why in the world Papa God was doing this to us.. we were trying so hard to make good work.  But then I remembered a quote I had found during personal study.  "The help of heaven requires working past the point of fatigue."  I knew that we needed to show Papa God that we were willing to work past our point of fatigue.  That we were willing to do whatever we could to see his children. We both prayed and prayed that we would be able to make it to the village.  We knew that we were only going to be able to make it with the help of Papa God. When we arrived at the village the people were excited too much to look us and we were able to teach over ten people.  I know without any doubt that Papa God helped us that day and every single day out here in the field.  Without the help of him there is no way that us missionaries could do what we do every single day.  I have seen the hand of Papa God every single day on my mission and I know that as we take time to appreciate his hand in our lives we will see it even more.  Missionary work is amazing.  I am so grateful for the opportunity I have to be a part of it! I love it here!! :)

I hope you have an amazing week!! :) :) 

Yolkokakaeek! 

Where We Worship Now

Family!

Time flies out here in the islands, I cannot believe it is already November. This week has been amazing! Everything over here is going really well! My companion and I have been making full up progress in the area, and Papa God has been helping us every step of the way.  Yesterday we were able to hold our first sacrament meeting with our unit in Lapangtawa.  Yesterday was probably one of the most amazing days on my mission this far.  We had been working hard to get every something figured out for our unit.  We planned to hold the first meeting at the  house of a member.  We left our house with 1 Melkezidick priesthood leader at 6:30 to make sacrament at 9.  When we arrived to the village there was full up people already there.  They had made a small house for sacrament and they were all waiting for us to start.  We had classes first: I taught all the pikininis for primary, Lutui taught women class and a papa taught priesthood.  After we all gathered into the small house for sacrament meeting. As we sung the first song the spirit was so strong.  Almost every papa and mama in the place had tears in their eyes.  We didn't have sacrament cups so that was interesting, but none the less it was just another testimony to me that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is not a church of any man, it is not the church of America, it is the church of Christ.  It does not matter where you worship, but it is about who we worship.  I have never felt the spirit so strong in my entire life.  People got up to share testimonies who had prayed for years that they would have a church in this place.  Papa God is aware of each and every one of His children.  He will always provide a way for us as we keep the faith.  I am so grateful for the opportunity to be a servant of Him in this place. Missionary work is amazing.  Needless to say this week was nothing short of a miracle. 

Thank you too much again for that package! It looks like packages are doing really well here.  They get here really fast, and I haven't heard of anything getting stolen yet.  I will keep you posted though.  Thank you too much for every something that you guys do. 

Yolkokakaeek! 

Lost In The Bush

Family!

First of all can I just tell you all that I love too much all the photos you have been sending! I cannot belief that mason is getting so big! I cannot wait to hear him talk! Teach him the name of me will you? It sounds like Halloween was a blast.  Here in Vanuatu we don't celebrate Halloween, so I missed out on all the lollies this year. The chicken noodle soup and the cookies look amazing! Owiee, I miss meals like that! But belief it or not I can literally eat anything now.  Picky eater no more.  I just eat whatever the people give me, and since I have been sick that has been pretty interesting. It sounds like things at our home are going really well. I love too much to hear about everything! Mom, thank you too much for sending those packages! My family here will love it, and I am sure they will share with me!  I will let you know when I receive it, I thinks that it will take a little longer since the months now are busy sort of. 

So yes, my companion is gone, she went to Vila to rest.  I think that there comes a time for every person where they physically, mentally, and emotionally break down, and that was the time for her.  I am glad so much that she will be able to rest for a small time and then be transferred to a more developed area.  I was sad to watch her go, but oh has Papa God blessed me with one amazing companion! We work well too much together and I love her so much.  My previous companion Sister Natto was quiet small, but my new companion Sister Lutui and I are both so loud and outgoing.  It has been such a blessing to our work in our area.  This week we have been waking up every day before 5 to sketch out plans for our new "group"/unit and we have been walking, walking, go, go. We have been going to areas that missionaries haven't gone in years because they are too far away.  Papa God has been blessing us so much as we have tried the best of us to labor in his vineyard.  We were able to teach over 40 lessons this week and we have a bunch of people ready to receive baptism close up now.  I am so blessed! I love it too much here! Papa God has been working hard hard hard in making these people ready to recieve his gospel and I am lucky too much to be a part of it!

This week Sister Lutui and I decided that we would cover 5 areas in one day.  We left the house at 8 and took a member with us to help us show us the right road because I had never been to Loono village before.  Well..we walked for 3 hours down and up 2 huge creeks and it was raining like crazy when our member we had been taking with us kept stopping and thinking.  Finally I asked her if she knew where we were, she said, "Sister, I have never been on this road before. I don't know how to get to Loono or back to the house of you."  Oh great...we are lost in the bush and my energy is about at 0! It was then and there that my old bossy self came out to shine. We kept walking and the next man we saw I asked him how to get to Loono.  He laughed and laughed and told us that we had missed the road 2 hours ago and would have to go down 2 more creeks to get to our house before dark.  That was my first experience being completely lost in the bush, and from now on I ask the member we take about 8 times if they know where they are going.  

I am so grateful for the chance I have to be serving as a missionary here.  My testimony of the power of faith has grown too much.  I know that with faith in Papa God and His divine power, anything is possible.  He never forgets us his children.  No matter where we are, he is aware of every fasin and action that we make.  He knows what is best for us, and he will show us always the path we need to take.  But this is only possible through righteousness and faith in Him.  I know that sometimes He lets us struggle for a small time to make us stronger. Papa God needs strong soldiers in this last days. Every experience that we receive in this life will build us up and make us stronger.  As long as we do everything we can to follow the Savior in this life, we will reap our rewards: some in this life, and many more in the life after.  

I hope you all have a great week!! Thank you too much for every something that you all do for me.  Pray hard and work harder!! Yolkokakaeek! 

Sister Braon

The Chief

Ramaraskin Amurada Famle!!

It sounds as if the trip to New York was amazing!! I am glad too much that you all were able to go and come home alive!! hahaha.  I cannot believe you forgot to pack snacks! Wanemkinya?! How could you forget the snacks!?!  ;) I guess no vacation without me is ever the same!! :)  I bet that you all shopped until you dropped..cant say that I miss that quite yet!! ;) Wow sounds like you all did the whole 9 yards of New York..you always were a great tour guide!  Your dumpster diving story was hilarious...typical Liz! haha.  I am glad that Ben got to do some manly things while you girls did your girly things!  And tell Bella I am so proud of her and her new modeling career she has going on! I always knew she was a superstar!

I can't believe I missed Sister P's birthday!! I hope that you catered to  her every wish and please send her all of my love!! I miss her so much! I really have been thinking about her a lot! Keep taking care of her for me, and tell her I will come have a sleep over with her when I get home!!

Things here have been nuts! My companion was emergency transferred out because she got full up kidney stones! Man oh man I have never heard anyone scream as much as I heard her scream.  I tried my best to use all my nursing skills, but kidney stones are the pits! Needless to say, I have been playing nurse instead of missionary until Wednesday when she flew out. 

On the bright side, I got a new companion and oiwee she

is the best!! Her name is Sister Lutui and she is from Tonga!! We work from sun up until sun down and it is amazing! Papa God has been blessing our hard work so much!! It is crazy how much Heavenly Father will bless us if we are willing to put in the work required!!! Thursday there was a flood because of the rain and so we just stayed in the house and helped members whose leaf roofs caved in.  

But between Friday and Saturday we taught 33 lessons received 12 referrals and over 6 new investigators.  The work in White Sands is taking off, and it is no where near finished!! Heavenly Father has been blessing us so much and my heart is so full!! This past week we met with a chief and oweii Heavenly Father has been working to soften his heart so much!! He is so ready to hear the gospel, and has agreed to let us come and teach him and his people.  He told us, "Sisters, I have been waiting for the right church to come to my village, and this is it." So this week we will be walking to a village about 3 hours away from our house and teaching about 22 people.  I am sooo excited!! My testimony of waiting on the Lord's timing has grown so much while being out here.  Sometimes Heavenly Father tests our faith and makes us wait small before he blesses us.  But as we work hard and show him how much we want it, the blessings he sees fit will come!

  

Thank you too much for all that you do!! I apprecaite all the love and support! Have an amazing week!! :)

Yolkokakaeek!! :)

Zone Conference

Dear Sister Brown –

We just returned from the Port Vila Zone conference today. 

It was wonderful – very uplifting and filled with the Spirit.  I’ll let our Sister Brown fill you in on that.

She was wonderful:

  Bore her testimony in beautiful and fluent Bislama

  Helped with training

  Generally was a delight to have around – and helping the other sisters. 

I caught all the sisters sitting together after lunch and got the attached pic.  Thought you might like to have it. 

Elder John E. Call

Office Specialist Vanuatu Port Vila Mission

Cell# 678-555-0122 Office 678-23146

P.O. Box 1412 Port Vila, Vanuatu

vanuatuportvila.mission@ldschurch.org

1802437@ldschurch.org

Lollies

Tarwedelaplapin Mama!

First of all: All the missionaries from Tanna say thank you for the package!!!! That's right, the new missionaries that came in for transfer brought the package to me, and it was all finished within the hour... haha.  THANK YOU SO MUCH for the lollies!!! I miss American candy soo much! I miss licorice like twizzlers and sours and real chocolate! haha I taught my companion how to roast starbursts on the fire and she is obsessed! She saved a stash of starbursts and would roast 2 every morning and talk about how cool it was. Oh man, full up good times here! haha. But yes, thank you soo  much!! And we loved the church news and book as well!! :) Thank you too much!

It sounds like life back home is crazy as usual. Mother on the go go go all the time.  I am sure you miss your boss!! ;) haha.  Mase is getting sooo big!!! Owiee I barely even recognized him!! He is so cute!! Tell Benny congrats about scouts and I sent him a little message! :) But I am not sure if you are in New York or not, but if you are...don't get blown up... you crazies...Out of all of the places in the world you choose to go to the most dangerous!! I hope you all have a great time though!! :)

This week has been kinda crazy! We had transfers and my companion and I stop in White Sands still! I am so glad!!! I LOVE THE BRANCH!!! We have been having full up activities go go all the time to get everyone involved in the branch and it is so fun! So this intake we got full up Utah Elders! Every elder on the island is training a white elder! It has been really...interesting! haha. But anyway! We had a baptize yesterday! These two cute twins Namia wetem Nalia got baptize! They are both 10 and the cutest things ever! The missionaries before were teaching them but stopped because the boys kept running away.  My companion and I worked really hard..and used a lot of lollies to make friends with them and yesterday it all paid off! They really understand the gospel so much! It was amazing!! I LOVE MISSIONARY WORK! Last night the Elders came and got us and we are staying close up to the airport until we fly out for Villa on Wednesday. Zone conference is this thursday and you will never guess what... I got a call from the APs last week, and guess who is giving the zone training? This sista.....I think I am going to be sick...Of course they choose the new white girl who cant speak Bislama well to stand up and give training to the missionaries! Haha.  Blessingya! But on the bright side, when Heavenly Father calls us to do something he also qualifies us.  As I have been preparing for training he has been helping me too much! Am I still going to turn bright red and sweat? You bet! But Heavenly Father needs me to do this and so I am going to suit up and make it happen! On the bright side afta I am going to eat fullup icecream in Villa! Party in the town with flushing toilets and maybe even some running water!!!

The work is moving here in white sands! We  have 7 people that are waiting to receieve baptize when we get back from Villa! We are working hard gogo! I am soo happy!! Heavenly Father really has been blessing me too much! He definitely looks out for all of his missionaries!

Funny bathroom story: I am sure you are sick of these: So my companion and I were going to the toilet late one night.  She was standing outside holding the torch while I went into the toilet.  It was really really dark but all of the sudden these two fat cockroaches fell on me, I jolted and sungout and I fell off the toilet.  10 seconds later after I had already gotten back up and everything my companion casually says, "Oiee Sister Brown, are you alright, or did you fall in?" haha. Got to love the toilets here! :) 

I hope you all have an amazing week!! :) Lavem yufala everyone!! :)

Editors Note:  I am leaving her letter as it was, bad English and all.  I think it's kind of endearing:).  Hope you can still read it.