We have like 15 people with baptismal dates for the next month. We will probably be getting at least 7ish baptisms. They always say if you want to baptize one person you got to have 2 with date. We have hope for 9 of them but we will see how it goes. Really I've learned a lot from the 2 1/2 weeks I've been with Elder Steren. These principles really will help me for the rest of my mission. I'm really excited for the good that I will be able to do. I have been blessed to be put here in this mission at this time. It also however is a greater responsibility as well.

I really got to tell you a cool lesson I learned this week. I've been thinking a lot about what Elder Taylor taught me which is we need to consecrate ourselves to God (scriptural references from Jesus Christ "he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it" I've been thinking a lot about it, and really what we have to do is give our "hearts" to God, but then I realized, I've been trying more to take things out of my heart and put God in my heart, but that isn't what God asks. He asks us to give him our "hearts". The sacrifice being the sacrifice of "a broken heart and a contrite spirit." God doesn't want us to take everything we love or like out of our hearts, he just wants us to take our hearts (and all that they contain) and give them to him. We don't end up actually giving up anything that we love (unless our desires are bad) but what we say is that "we acknowledge that you know best. what you tell me, I will do". Scriptural reference in the Joseph Smith translation of that same verse in the bible. "He that is willing to lose his life for my sake shall find it." (go go go Joseph) So yeah thats the gem of knowledge from this week. Well I really have gone over time now, but know that I love you tons and will talk to you next week.

Love you tons!

Elder Brown

Questions:
1. How did you get 12 people with baptism dates already? Were they already being taught or are you guys just that good?
Well things are really good, it's actually really easy when your companion is willing to work hard.

2. Are you on foot? How do you get around in this new area?
Pretty much everywhere in the mission is on foot, I think there's 4 bikes in the whole mission

3. Do you have a Paraguayan Family in the new area yet? How are the members there?
No not really, not yet at least. The members are super great.

Everything is going well here, we are pretty lucky to be opening up this area. We are doing a lot. We found 35 new people to teach this week. That's like finding our family once a day. Yay new people. My new comp is a great guy. Really obedient really hard working. It's going great. We are seeing a lot of success, we have 12 people with a baptismal date, and we had 4 investigators in church. It was a good week.

Really I'm lucky to be serving here now. The mission is really starting to kick it in to be the highest baptizing mission in the church. It should be a great year. It's really good to be here.

It may keep snowing there but here its like 90 degrees and up every day, not fun when you have to go out and walk around all day, except when it rains, then its a little cooler. But that's still not fun cause then you get soaking wet in the flash flood rain that happens every time it rains. Not tons of fun. Fortunately winter's right around the corner.

Yeah that just about sums it up, but know that I love ya tons!
Love Elder Brown.

Questions:
1. Do they have good restaurants now that you're in the big city?
There is a Burger King in Centro as well as Pizza hut, but I still haven't gone there, Thursday we will.

2. What do you do in your ward?
Me not much. show up. It's good to finally be in a ward that is self functioning.

3. Elder T said that sometimes you are fed cow intestines. Have you eat that and if so did it make you sick?
I did eat it once. I didn´t like it but it didn´t make me sick. Mundungo no bueno.

Tyler and his new comp Elder Steren

Everything is going really well here. We are doing really well starting out. We are finding at least 1 new family a day to teach. We should start baptizing really quickly, we already have 5 people with baptismal dates in March, maybe I can get a baptism on my birthday, that would be awesome. Really I've realized how much of a responsibility starting an area is. Really if we start it poorly we set the tempo for every missionary who comes here after us, but if we hit the ground running other missionaries will come and have trouble keeping up, and that's really what we want, cause if you're comfortable it means your not working as hard as you should be.

So yeah, my new comp is from Bountiful, he actually went to Woods Cross and knows the triplets, I told him Heather was going on a mission and Sami was getting married and yeah. As for roomies I have none (minus my comp of course) all 3 sets of missionaries have their own houses, ours is however the most awesome. It's super chuchy (rich). The ward is great, yesterday we had 109 people in church so yeah this place is going well. A lot of that stuff about Ciudad I had heard before. The market it talks about is actually the 2nd biggest black market in the world, and the first in South America. Stuff for super cheap. Missionaries can't go there. I hear they have new x box games for a dollar a piece (normally 50 dollars).

So yeah I'm super excited to be getting this area rolling, Know that I love you tons and look forward to talking to you soon.

Sure do love ya,
Elder Brown

Questions:
1. Where is your companion from?
Bountiful, Utah
2. Do you have much in common with him?
Not really but he's a great guy,
3. How are the members there? Do they take care of you?
They're great. but I don't know if they'll take care of me, we will find out in a while I guess.
4. Have you had the opportunity to sing? Do you think you will get the chance in this new area?
There's actually a ward choir here!
5. Do you know about the Iguazu falls? Are they in your area and will you be able to go there?
Not really, and probably not, however I will be able to go to Itapu dam the biggest dam in the world
6. How long did it take you to get to your new area from your previous area?
6/7ish hours.

Me with Elder Taylor Elder Stokes the morning of changes before we went to the bus terminal.

Well first off I gotted transferred, it was fun in San Antonio, I love the people there but it really feels good to start again with a new area. I've been put into Ciudad Del Este, Barrio (ward) 2 area 3, (there are now 3 sets of missionaries here.) My companion is Elder Steren, (he is coming right out of the office) so what we are doing is kinda like white washing an area only that we are dividing the area of some other Elders, we are now in the same ward as the zone leaders in Ciudad Del Este, Elders Facer from Tennessee, and Nolet from Quebec Canada. He was raised speaking French, had to learn English to learn Spanish, no I can't understand him nor speak with him in French anymore (I lost my touch.)))) I don't really know the other 2 Elders in my ward but I will. My companion is the district leader (as i said hes fresh out of the office.) I'm super excited to be here and ready to start this area off right. Ciudad Del Este is a super rich city, everyone seems to be really well off here, I guess I'll have to let you know when I know the area better. Really I look forward to my time that will be spent here.

So yeah thats that. I don't really have a description because well, I have no idea where I am. haha, but I'll get used to it quick, so yeah. I'm glad to hear that you have felt the Lord's comforting hand, really he always is there and as is taught in Alma "He suffered all manner of afflictions that he might be able to succor his people." Really he understands perfectly well what you and I and Johny down the street need, to be comforted, The Atonement is really an amazing thing. The more I learn about it the more amazed I am by its power.

It's super good to hear that your almost done with student teaching. Funny thing, when you finish it will be changes here again. Changes go by so fetchin quick. It's good to hear that the students are loving the way you teach and all the great plans you have for them. Really all your hard work will pay off. I too am saddened by the end of Rome (unit) but the show must go on and music must be taught and all that Sciency stuff too.

Go Green Bay!!!!!! yay!!!!!!! (well that was short lived)

I am super excited for super awesome mama empanadas. I don't think its humanly possible to get sick of empanadas, really if you get sick of eating one flavor buy a different one for a couple of weeks. It's super awesome.

Really I've loved every minute that I've spent in Paraguay and I've learned so many things. I've really learned the use of study. Before studying was something you did if you didn't pay attention in class, but I now know there are more things to know behind anything than just what a teacher talks about or what will be on the test. Really there is so much to learn in this life and so much to learn to be. I look forward to being able to go back to school and apply the principles I've learned here.

Well, that's really just about all I've got for this week, but know that I love ya tons, and I still pray for all of you guys. Super excited to hear from ya on Monday again. Really that's the only thing about changes that is pleasant, you get to write home twice in 4 daysish.

Sure do love ya,
Elder Brown,