Subject: Re: All is well
Date: Wednesday, August 12, 2009 6:23:28 AM

HOLA FAM.
Well was hard to leave Sauce. Im off to Treinta y Tres which is kinda close to Melo. Like a 5 hour bus ride so that should be fun again. My comp is another Latino Elder Chuima. Its funny though cuz my old comp Elder Paniagua will be my District Leader so im way stoked. Well its been a week full of goodbyes and man it was just hard to go from Sauce. We did get a cool little surprise though. Found out Julio was a member and will receive the Priesthood this sunday! They are already planning to go to the temple in a year and so i should get to see them again to come back for that. They were really happy bout that.

So i found UNO here which is like impossible to find and we had some fun nights playing that with investigators and members. People love it here. We also took the guitar around and had a little fun with that in the lessons. It was a good week and just really relaxed.

So they tell me the worst part of winter is over but well see. It was always freezing in the house in Sauce because it was so big and open. wed put more clothes on to enter the house than to leave but its been pretty decent weather. still took like a week to dry clothes though. thats something i wont miss in sauce, i think someone does our clothes in treinta y tres and well actually get lunches.

Well glad to hear everything is tranquilo still at home and love you guys a ton!
Con Amor.
Elder Brown

Subject: Re: To Elder Brown
Date: Monday, August 3, 2009 9:21:02 AM

HOLA FAM!
Well to be quite honest not much has happened this week. its just been really calm and tranquilo. The work is going great and glad to hear that all is good at home.

Well Justin was right its been really cold here and apparently this has been a really cold winter. Getting used to it and i think for now i have all that i need. About sending the sweaters i think it will be cheaper if i just find one here than sending a package of sweaters but if it gets bad ill find one. For now ive been pretty good and kept warm. The only hard thing is waking up in the cold… man is it cold in the mornings and everything is just covered in ice.

Well sorry dont got much to tell this week and no fun stories but this friday we go to the temple! and then the next week is changes so i wont be writing until wednesday and ill let you guys know where im going and with who.

im pretty sure ill be leaving little Sauce. Everyone heres just like youve been here forever and its gonna be hard to leave its been like another family cuz the members here are all way close cuz its so small. Im stoked to see another part though if i leave. ill be happy if i go or stay.

Well Love you all!
Con Amor
Elder Brown

Subject: Re: July is gone
Date: Monday, July 27, 2009 1:37:40 PM

Hola Familia!
Well its hard to hear about Derrick and for sure am gonna write Jordan. I was thinking about them the other day which is really weird because I like started thinking way deep about the Leavers and all the stuff we used to do and how Jordan was. Mission really has made me understand death alot better. Its amazing the plan our heavenly Father has for us and how much he loves every family and every person.

Alexa your swimming! thats awesome hopefully ill remember how to when i get back. Why were you such a bugger with me when i taught you Nah im way happy though for yah chiquita. Love Ya and keep on swimmin.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRANDMA, BRIDGET, AND TONY!!! id sing to you guys if i could. i actually went all day to some members house today for a birthday party. actually washington cooked for us and his sister in law had the birthday but we are like way close to the whole family out there. Laura, birthday hermana, Wants to know if you got the recipe for oatmeal chocolate chip cookies that you can send me next week. She would really appreciate it cuz shes been asking me for months and i always forget to ask you and i think she might kill me cuz she threatened me today when we went. i had to give her the brownie recipe i had. Thanks.

Well the baptism we had went awesome! everyone that had talks and prayers and everything didnt show up yet it ended up going awesome. We also had the musical number which we planned to practice before the baptism because we dont have a piano at the house but we ended up getting locked out which is a long long story and we ended up being locked out with Josefa all day from 10 in the morning till about 2 and the baptism started at 4. we just kinda walked around Las Piedras for a couple hours then had a picnic in front of the church. Was kinda weird being with her all day but she loved it and we had a blast. the baptism was just an amazing experience even though the water was freezing cold and i forgot to bring an extra shirt to change into after. Josefa is just an amazing women and is just undescribable her faith.

Well i got a question for you guys… umm an hermana here wants to know if there are any doctors in the states that treat a disease called Retinosis Pigmentaria. I have no idea what that exactly is in english but if you see any eye doctors that work with that let me know the names. Shes willing to even go to states for it and so just lemme know

Well what i remember most of Grandma is her just always being happy and positive about everything. I cant remember one time that she got mad or upset or discouraged with me. Also watching her drive when she could barely see over the steering wheel LOVE YA GRANDMA!

Well i miss you all a ton and am looking forward to going to singles ward with you alyssa. Say hi to everyone!
Con Amor
Elder brown

ps. im glad you could go to justins homecoming. hope he gave you a huge hug for me!

Date: Monday, July 20, 2009 12:07:16 PM

well HOLA!
So you guys all sound great. i was wondering if in that package you could send something called mapeline. stuff to make maple syrup. but yah its going great here in Sauce! this Saturday Josefa is getting baptized and shes really excited. We had one of the best nights with her the other night because she was feeling really scared about her baptism and that she had no support from her family and just felt horrible. We invited her to pray right there about baptism and we got on our knees and she just poured out her heart and was like one of the most spiritual experiences ive had here. The spirit just feels amazing and when she finished she told us how good she felt but that she just wasnt sure still. the next day was sunday and she came to church and she had an interview with the bishop and after she said she knew that this was the way and the bishop told her something that touched me too. He told her that maybe she doesnt have the support of her family but we always have the support of the church and our father in heaven and older brother Jesus Christ. We never have to feel alone and its true. The bishop is just an awesome guy here and Josefa is certain about her baptism and received her answer. It was amazing.

Well a few strange things happened this week…. first we found out that Julio was apparently baptized years and years ago but never told us. He thought that if you stop going it cancels the baptism and yah its just been a very strange week with that. The amazing thing though is hes so excited that hes a member because he wants the priesthood sooo bad. It will be a huge blessing for him and his wife.

The next weird thing was today i ate Cow intestines that an investigator made for us….. weirdest texture ever but not too shabby. it was a different kind of food then Ive ever had. I dont know if i ever told you about this investigator Washington but hes way cool and is the one that cooked it. took 2 days just to prepare so i dont think ill ever cook cow intestines myself because i dont got that patience. He also wants to come to the states cuz he loves cars and wants to work on the Mustang haha. hopefully you guys havent sold it yet hes a great guy though and just loves cars.

Well thats about what happened this week.

oh and dad i had a good bike wreck! Ran into my comp and flew head first into a ditch in the rain. Got pretty dirty but besides that didnt get hurt which my comp couldnt believe but i think the mud softened the fall.

oh and how do alyssa, alexa, kt and will like their new houses?

Con Amor.
Elder Brown

Subject: Re: Visitors
Date: Monday, July 13, 2009 7:58:52 AM

HEY FAM
Well im doing great here. I don’t feel sick anymore but my comp is now sick and cant leave the house till tomorrow so its been interesting. Ive been leaving with Hermano L when he could this week. Hes been an awesome help and is just excited about missionary work. He didn’t get to serve a mission so this is like his mission he says and it is. He loves it but hes hard to control in lessons sometimes haha. Sometimes he justs starts talking bout the randomest stuff and deep doctrine with investigators but hes fun. For only being able to leave in the evening we actually had a really good week. We have 5 baptisms planned now and were way excited for them.

Josefa went to church again this week even though its all the way in Las Piedras now. SHE LOVED IT. She just feels the spirit so strong there she says and it’s a different feeling than the evangelical church she was going to. Shes really sweet and everyone at church thought she was a member because she was always prepared with all her books ready to read and answer questions. Luis her husband is still having a hard time with his brothers death but hes getting better.

We also got to talk to Elizabeth again this week! It was a miracle that we found her. She lives out in this town called carrasco de sauce and earlier this week she said she wouldn’t be there this week but that we could find her at Beatriz´s house in sauce all week. We were excited about that until beatriz told us this week everyone in the house is sick and didn’t want us to come by and get sick. So that was a bummer but then me and hmno L went to carrasco de sauce and we felt we should try her house there and well she was there. She said some stuff came up and she ended up in carrasco.. just on the day we happened to be there. Shes got a date too now for her baptism and is just awesome. I just knew after we left that the Lord always has a way for his work to get done despite when stuff comes up.

Well you want to know bout the new president… hes a really calm humble guy. Hes way cool and really loves the missionaries. Every night he calls me and taupau to see if we are feeling ok. You can just feel the spirit so strong with him.

About the music, its alright. I want it to show some members and for activities we have. Any peanut butter is alright too, skippy just came to my mind haha but chunky or creamy its all the same to me just peanut butter. Don’t worry bout justin cuz I cant get anywhere to meet him to give him stuff so never mind. Im also still looking for a sweater but thanks for everything! And please tell patsy thanks for the money a ton! Im trying to find a place to send mail from
but it might not be till next change that I start writing letters. Just know I love you all and love it here! Oh and Alexa love the pics of you everytime make me laugh. Hope you liked cali cuz sure made me miss it there but talk to you all next week!

Con Amor,
Elder Brown

Subject: ME AGAIN.
Date: Monday, July 6, 2009 8:29:17 AM

Hey fam!
Well im so glad everything is going good back at home. Sounds like the trip was a blast and made me miss cali and elissa and them. Garth and madi are 16 and 14? Thats crazy…. But makes me happy to hear all the awesome opportunities you all have had to share gospel with others. Its been pretty tough here in sauce and going kinda slow. weve been sick this whole week. Went to the doctor on wendesday and were told to stay in bed until today. The medication and taxi rides kinda killed me with money but ill be alright.

Well I had got to have my first lessons over the phone this week. That was kinda different. We couldnt leave so i called the investigators and it went well. Not the same as in person but it was interesting. We had this new family in church yesterday who have baptismal dates and were stoked about them. The husbands brother killed himself a couple weeks ago and they really opened up to us and are amazing. The gospel truely brought comfort to them and to know that there is something after this life. We are gonna go this week and play the guitar with their kids and grandkids and hopefully be able to share more with the whole family. They are a sweet family and are all neighbors and just love to talk.

Well we also had a huge shocker in church. The bishop is changing our branch out here and the area 70 doesnt want branches meeting in the missionaries houses…. so, we now every Sunday have to go in a rented omnibus to A chapel like 40 mins away in Las Piedras. Its gonna be crazy but good. It will be good for the members to be able to meet in an actual chapel but it will be hard to get all to go because we leave at 8:30 and get back at 1:30 but there is a reason for everything.

But yah thats the big news from this weekend. To be honest i totally forgot it was 4th of July Saturday! Happy 4th of July! Well i guess thats all but i was wondering if when you send a package if you could send me a disc of all my efy music on it and also the joseph smith a nashville tribute cd and any other good church music that you have. I loved the guitar cd.

But yah LOVE YALL and thanks for all the letters everyone! Im trying to get back to everyone but the mail is sooooo screwed up here and we cant send through the pouch But i love you all!
Con amor,
Elder Brown

OH AND YOU THOUGHT I FORGOT BUT HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM! LOVE YOU A TON! HOPE YOUR ENJOYING IT RIGHT NOW!

Subject: HOLLAAAA
Date: Monday, June 29, 2009 10:24:09 AM

HOLA FAM!
Well its a sad thing but good old comp turned off on me after i wrote everything so lets try this again….Sorry ive been terrible answering them i just always forget.

First, i would love a nice black sweater or hoodie or something. But i love my sweaters to fit me perfect and pick them out but its also hard to find nice stuff here and what isnt fake is extremely expensive. I think money though would be best. But if you do send a package i would love some Skippy peanut butter and nutter butters I did get the refills and thank you for all that was in it. I dont really remember because i eat all the food so fast. Everyone here tells me im getting fat… ut oh. But yah i love it all

My comp has been out for 22 months and is way cool. He doesnt really speak at all though. In fact in lessons he just sits there quiet so im learning alot about talking with people. Hes really awesome though, hes teaching me the guitar. Hes my big teddy bear haha.

I am sooo sorry ive been terrible with writing and sending pics and stuff home. Its really hard cuz there isnt a mail place here in sauce so we have to go to montevideo to send anything home which is like an hour away. Justin harrison told me i could send stuff home with him though. He goes home in a couple weeks. Dont know if you know him but he went to school with me but is in the east mission.

Spanish is coming good. I love speaking to people and understand almost everything. Its annoying because just being american people say they dont understand you cuz they think you cant talk even if you say it perfectly. The accent really throws them off but… oh well. Teaching is easy because gospel words im soooo used to more than anything so thats the easiest way to talk

I cant believe you saw mate in albertsons haha. You still need one of the straws they use here so ill try to send one home. Everyone here drinks mate including the members. Its nothing bad but i doubt you guys will like it… its like grass water from what ive heard. I cant believe you will try it before me! But yah tell me how it is cuz i have no idea. You have to try it.

And how could you think i would forget your birthday? Dont you worry… and alexa get that killy baptized but make sure shes at least 8 imaginary years old. Im so glad you are all so good with the missionaries. I now understand and feel bad about all the times i told elder carlson id go out with him on Saturdays but then end up working. Looks like ive been replaced though in that pic haha. Thats alright but keep being good to them missionaries.

Well alot has actually happened in just 2 day. First we found Elizabeth again! She is still excited about getting baptized and just needs a little push. Her boyfriend is doing great, he was doing drugs again but passing the drug tests and the other day he went to his mom and told her he was cheating the drug tests and really wants to quit and gave her the drugs. Showed alot of will power to quit from him. I think that makes sense haha. That family is so awesome and Elizabeth is gonna help them alot to be active i think. We also had stake conference yesterday which was amazing. President and hermana Ashby talked at it and it was awesome. It was great to hear from them again before they leave. Well im glad all went well with moving and the new house. Ill remember that you told me i could rent a room Thats great about brogan too. Hes gonna do great and love the mission. Tell him hi for me. And thanks for the notes aunt Silvia and Rachel. I love you guys and you are the best.

I guess thats all for now but I love you all a ton and miss ya.
CON AMOR
ELDER BROWN

It’s just really sad when the emails are late!

Subject: CHANGES
Date: Friday, June 26, 2009 12:09:37 PM

HOLA!
Well its going great here. Yep im still in Sauce but with a new comp. Here with Elder Taupau. hes a huge tongan from australia! Hes a way awesome guy. Well i think we are gonna have a good change. This last week we received a ton of blessings and awesome news. First of all Elizabeth who was supposed to get baptized last week…. well we hadnt talked to her in a few weeks and thought she was mad at us or something because wed call her and it was like someone was hanging up and was never at her house. We were extremely sad because shes awesome and we couldnt really do anything. Well this week we felt we should offer a prayer for specifically her this last Sunday and after felt we should call her. Well she didnt answer and we felt terrible cuz it was so strong this feeling me and Elder Cardona felt to call her but we left a message. Well when we went to her house this Tuesday once again she wasnt home…. but she left us a note and explained to us that she was so sorry that the baptism didnt work out and that its been really hard with her newly born brother that came 5 weeks
early. The thing that was really something special for me in the letter is she said that our calls and messages had really helped her feel not alone in all this and that her phone is broken and doesnt even have time to go fix it but she wants to get baptized still and is praying she can come to the stake conference this Sunday. I know that prayers are answered but not always in the way we expect.

Well we also were able to teach julio again. The hermana Lia was really sad because he had told her a few weeks ago that he was happy how he was and didnt want to listen more but respected it all. Well this week she talked to him about the priesthood and he wanted to listen again. We went and it went awesome and invited him to be the patriarch of the house and offer the prayer and he did. It was amazing the spirit that he brought and it was the first hed ever done or as far as the hermana Lia knew of.

But yah its been great here! This change will be awesome.Sorry to hear bout the baptism alexa…. know how it feels. Just keep working with her and be an example for Killy and all will be gooooood. LOVE YA!

WELL LOVE YOU ALL AND HOPE ALL IS WELL!
CON AMOR
Elder Brown.

NO EMAIL FROM ELDER BROWN YET!
What’s up with that?

Subject: ITS Me FINALLY
Date: Friday, June 19, 2009 3:31:38 PM

HOLA FAMILY!
Well its going great here. Sorry we couldn’t write until today but we had the last zone conference with president Ashby. It was amazing. He was such a great president. But yah its been a good week here in Sauce. we had the grand opportunity to drive with a Uruguayan to one of the little towns wego to… the hermano Luis. Hes crazy. First of all the truck he was driving is incredibly scary just looking at it and then with his driving…. We almost died. We were driving down the road and the hood flys up…. So of course with his awesome driving he decides to swerve left and drive in the left hand lane not able to see anything…. then swerve to the middle of the road and just parks on the lines in the middle with cars flying past us on both sides of a 2 lane highway them havin to swerve into the dirt….. it was the scariest time of mylife…many prayers were said in like a 5 minute interval. It was crazy.

Well we had a good experiences this week. I don’t know if I already told you but Adriana will be having her bag removed in about a week which was an answer to prayers. She knows the gospel is true and we just found out shes not married but that wont be hard to change. She and the family are ready for baptism just a matter of this bag being removed.

Well sorry that I didn’t write more that happened but I cant remember right now. Ill write next Friday cuz changes are Friday next week or at least I think so. So yah if you don’t hear anything on Wednesday its because of that.

ALEXA LOVE YOU! (and you cant love me more than I do you) Its alright I threw fits too just get better, always is better to be

HAPPY FATHERS DAY SOON! Too bad we cant call but love you dad thanks for everything. Wouldn’t be here without you and mom!

Questions…. First yes we signed the himnario it was pretty cool. About the pictures ill do what I can but we don’t really get a lot of time on the computers like other missions so well see. Ill try to at least send discs home but I am backing up all the pics on the flash drive.

CON AMOR!
Elder brown.

Subject: HEY!
Date: Monday, June 8, 2009 8:32:40 AM

HEY fam!!
ok im sooo sorry that i havent hand written anything lately but i tell you it all in emails ill try to be better but im like way pressed on time lately. this week was tough had like 10 people in church and the branch president and bishopbric of the ward we pertain to havent come in weeks and so its been kinda rough but all good still. We are working well with this Elizabeth and she couldnt go to church yesterday cuz her mom had a baby which was a bummer to not see her there but it was for a good reason at least. shes doing so well. this week we taught her the plan of salvation and she started crying and saying she hated how it all ends. we were so confused cuz she was doing great and the spirit was so strong and then she told us that her family doesnt want anything with the church but she knows its all true and heaven wont be anything without her family. it hit me so hard and made me think of a quote from elder Holland that is something like ´´heaven wouldnt be heaven without my family.´´ i realized how blessed ive been to have such a great family even though i was a little bugger. but back to Elizabeth…. well pretty much we talked to her more and shes amazing she just told us how much more shes gonna have to work to be an example to her family and really.. everyone comes in their own time.

we actually werent able to meet with Julio this week because of some work complications and so that was a bummer but we are trying to have another family home evening with them tonight which should be good. we also visited adriana, lady with cancer, and taught the whole family this time. they are so awesome and loved the testaments. she wants to go to church but with this bag she has in her right now she cant leave her bed much so this week she has another exam and were praying she can remove it. shes reading and wants to be baptized but were waiting till she can come to church. But thats been me here. not much new but its been rolling. ohhh something new i shot a homemade crossbow which was pretty cool ill try to send the video of it if it works or at least a pic.

great to hear bout everyone and how good your all doing. LOVE YOU ALL! and im doing fine with money dont worry bout me

oh and mom i know you want that pic but i cant just go anywhere in uruguay, i gotta stay here in sauce but maybe ill get transfered there in the future and can take the pic

CON AMOR,
Elder Brown.