Hey Everyone,

Things are great here. The work is moving along really well. We have 4 investigators with baptismal dates, and 2 others who are almost to that point. So things are going well. My area is great. It's very humbling circumstances. Our ward mission leader (who is comparatively wealthy) lives in a small 6-ish room house with 5 people, and there are a lot of people who don't even have that much. It is really humbling. But fortunately, the people are super humble and teachable ;) It's a great place to start. I'm really glad that I have been placed in this area. I know that it is where I am supposed to be right now and that this is where I can help the most people. I'm already growing to love the people. They are almost always happy despite the circumstances in which they live.

Everything is good. Area is good, people are good, missionaries are good. Todo es bien. About my area. I think it's West of the main part of Caa Guazú. Red dirt streets, little shacks that kind of stuff. It's great! The people are humble and the members are all happy and fun loving, everything is great.

Church was an interesting experience, it's all in Guaranii (the native language). and of course I don't speak Guaranii. I don't even speak Spanish yet;) so I just read scriptures the whole time. It's great. I love the area. Well I don´t have much time left, but know that I love you all, and miss you all, and that I have a testimony of this gospel, that it is true and that Jesus is the Christ, and He is the only name under Heaven given whereby a man may be saved.

Love Elder Brown

MTC Photos

Hey everyone,

For a while I was worried that my trainer would be a native but it turns out that my comp isn´t a native after all. He is from American Fork or somewhere around there. His name is Elder Clyde. My first area is Caa Guazu. We went out and proselyting last night. (We are quite a ways from Asuncion) We didn't get in till 4 ish. We taught somewhere around 5 lessons, none of which were scheduled. The people are great. I can´t understand them because of the accent. but I can understand what my comp says just fine. It should be a great area to work. Pretty much everyone drives motorcycles or mopeds. I've seen like 10 cars here. and I have seen a couple of horse drawn carts. It's a different world here. It's so strange, but I'll get used to it. As far as our house, it's just my comp and I. but we have another couple of Elders in our complex but I've only seen them once since I've been here. My district leader stopped by with his comp this morning to say hi and welcome me to Caa Guazu. I'm excited that I get to work here. The people are great and I'm sure I'll grow to love them. I´m going to send a picture of me and my companion. I´ll take some more pictures this week and send them next time.

It´s so strange to actually be here, it's one of those days you think will never come. but I'm here in Paraguay, where no one speaks English. but I know it's where I'm supposed to be, and I know that I have the right companion. I know that this is where I will learn the most and do the most good. I'm grateful for this opportunity to serve, and I look forward to the good I will be able to do in these two years. I'm grateful for all that this church gives me, and I know God will be here to help me along. I have a testimony of this Church and all that it is. I know that the missionary program is inspired. that every call is perfect for the missionary, and every companion you get is the one you need. I love this church and I look forward to being able to talk with you all again.

Love Elder Brown

After 29 hours of traveling, placing a Book of Mormon in Chicago, and teaching the first discussion in Spanish to a man on the way to Miami and giving him a Spanish Book of Mormon, Elder Brown has safely arrived in Paraguay. We received this email from him:

Hey Mom,

Everything is good here. They drive here like they do in Mozambique, but I'm still alive. I'm thinking I'm going to get a native trainer. I was talking with the President, there are 18 new people (4 are native Spanish speakers) so out of the 18 trainers 5 are native Spanish speakers. I asked him if my trainer would be a native speaker and he said I'll find out tommorrow. By the way he said it, I'm thinking a native. But thats ok. Jump start my language. It will be difficult but that's ok. I'll get to email again Thursday to tell you more, but the normal p-day is Monday. Well I got to get back into the meetings, but know that I love you and look forward to emailing you again Thursday.

Love,
Elder Brown

Off to Paraguay!

Hey Everyone,

Everything is great here. I leave Monday, at 4 in the morning. Which means I either don't sleep the night before or I wake up at three in order to make sure everything is alright and then have time to go to the travel desk and take care of the last minute things. so... I think I just won't sleep;) but as I said everything is great. I'm excited to finally get into the field and finally meet the people I will serve. I don't have much time this week. (last minute packing and such) but know that I love you all. I know that the Church is true and I'm glad I get this opportunity to serve.

Love,
Elder Brown (formerly known as Tyler;)

Hey everyone!
I don't have much time left on my email. 7 minutes to be exact. But I get my travel plans some time today and I head out the 23rd (10 days from now) but things are good. I'm excited to finnaly get in the field. So things are going to get a lot better and more exciting.
That's just about all I have time for but know I love you all and look forward to any letters I can get in the next ten days.
Love you all. Got to send this before time runs out. Hope to hear from all of you soon

I received the following letter yesterday:
Hola Madre,
So, as far as your question, Visas won't be a problem, we go in on tourist visas, so no worries. It's weird to think I'll be in a foreign country in 11 days, where no one speaks english, but I'm excited. Mom, I just want you to know that I love you. I know I wasn't always the best son and I feel bad for every tear you shed because of me. I miss sitting and talking with you. I miss being able to tell you I love you every day. Being here makes me realize how luck I was to have you there, always willing to sit and talk with me, always willing to listen, and always supporting me in whatever I did. I'm realizing now how much you sacrificed driving 2 hours down to Ephraim to hear me sing 1 song, followed by the 2 hour drive back, how much could have you done with that 5 hours, and this happened on more than one occasion. I just want to let you know how much I appreciate those sacrifices. I promise you, I am going to do the best I can every day, to make you proud of me. I've wasted so much time, and all the gifts God gave me, but no more. I know from words to actions is a great distance but I will do it. I promise I'll make you proud. I know I'm not perfect, but I'll do my best to be. I look forward to your letters, know that I love you, and every night I pray for you, and each family member, by name, and ask God to keep you safe and to help you feel my love, and then for anything I know you need or want and I know that God will answer my prayers and I hope you do feel my love. I miss you and look forward to talking to you in 11-ish days. I love you.

Love Elder Brown.

Elder Brown & Elder Okazaki (Brady's trainer in Mozambique who now teaches at the MTC)

All is well here. My district speaks in Spanish pretty much all day. It's actually alot of fun. We all get along just fine. I think we are all getting a little stir crazy here. Things that used to appear incredibly boring have become incredibly fun. But I guess that's a good thing. Who doesnt want to be easily entertained;) yeah so we have fun. We head out for Paraguay on the 24th of this month. So t-minus 2 1/2 weeks. I'm super excited to get down there and meet the people I will be teaching. But yeah, to be perfectly honest not much is new but it's all still fun. We got back from the temple probably an hour ago it was great. But thats just about it. However, I want all of you to know that I know that missionary work is an inspired principle. and that I am where I am supposed to be (no matter how much I miss all of you;) I know that this is where the Lord wants me to be and I'm ecstatic to be able to carry the gospel that has given us all so much joy to those who don't have that joy in their lives. And last but not least know that I love each of you, and look forward to getting letters from you. Nothing is better than the having the district leader walk in and set 4 or 5 letters on your desk (not that this has happened recently) . It's great. but as I said I love you all and look forward to hearing from you.

With love,
Elder Brown (formerly known as Tyler;)