December 26th

Christmas here is a little weird. I asked a youth what Christmas meant for him and he said, "It's just another day." Christmas doesn't mean much here. Very strange. Today we are having a district activity. But Zone and Mission, we don't get together ever. Our rules are really strict.

We got to the cyber a lot later than planned, so I'll write to President and that will probably take me all the way up to the skype call time, but I did read the emails and will write more next week. Talk to you in a minute!

Love,
Elder Brown

December 19th

We are working like crazy here. We are having trouble finding investigators, but we will get them. I'm really glad for the opportunity that I have to work with and serve such great missionaries as are in my district. We are teaching more than before but we still need a little more to reach the goal, but we will get there.

The office has a new method of doing things. When a package comes they send us a notice and then we have to pay them so that they can send it to us. So last week I got 1 notice which asked for 20,000 guaraniis which is a ton for a package. It usually tops 10,000 so I guess it must be either really big or really heavy one of the two. I think its gonna be heavy, so I'm guessing the books I asked for. But when it gets here I'm gonna open it. Don't worry I'll film it as is Christmas tradition. I am going to get it today because I have to go out to Encarnacion 3rd branch to do a baptismal interview. So I'm going to pick it up from the Sister Missionaries in the 1st branch and then head out to the 3rd branch do the interview, and then hang out with the elders.

We will be doing the calls at noon our time. (8 I think your time.) So I will still do email first. So 11-12 email 12 til who knows when calls.

Yeah everything is going super well. One of our investigators, Geronimo is going to be baptized Wednesday. Then I give a talk in church Sunday about Christmas. We are still having trouble finding investigators, but last week we saw a miracle. We were walking down the street when an old pair drove up along side us in their moto and the woman said "hey where are you guys going?" and I said "we are heading for the Vivienda" so she answered "hey I live close to the Vivienda, come over to my house right now I want to hear your message." She then gave us her direction and we went by and shared with her and she wants to be baptized. Problem, her boyfriend isn't sure, and they aren't married and he is separated but not divorced to another woman. So those are the problems but they just take time to solve. But yeah that's the crazy experience of the week.

I'm glad that everything is going well in the classroom. I'm glad that the kids are still loving it as always. I look forward to being able to study stuff with you and help you prepare your class. I always loved Moroni 10:5 and by the power of the Holy Ghost you may know the truth of all things. Many times as members of the church we think that revelation is only for religious stuff, but anything that is important to us is important to God and he will guide us in all that we do. All of our labors can be consecrated to God. A sports game, a music performance, even teaching a class, or cooking food. Every single one of these things we can be guided by God. I love revelation. It's so awesome.

But yeah I got to go, but i love ya tons, and I look forward to talking to you next week. Miss you and love you. Ciao.

Love,
Elder Brown

December 12th

It's going by way too quick, and I still have so much more to offer, but yeah time goes as it goes. I just hope to do the best I can and not waste a single minute. With the district everything is working out fine. We are all working like crazy. The zone leaders called me this morning to thank us for all my district is doing. They told me they were a little frustrated because in the zone the numbers weren't very good but then they got my districts numbers and they felt better. So they called me again to thank us for our work and for all my district is doing, and told us to keep it up. But yeah I know my district can get more. So I'm just gonna be pushing them a little bit harder with love.

Everything is going well with my comp here. We worked hard this week, but December 8th is a holiday here in Paraguay, it's where they all travel to Caa Cupe and worship the Virgin Mary. But we are going crazy working here. Not finding much, but we are tearing it up.

I'm so excited for this last bit of my mission. Really I now have no problems expressing myself. I know how to teach and how to follow the spirit. Really if there is a time when I am at my prime as a missionary I think its now. We don't have much right now. My area is huge but I know that the Lord will bless us in direct proportion to our obedience and our diligence. I'm excited for what this last time will bring.

Thank you for all you do for me. I really love you so much and am so grateful for all you have done for me. I miss you tons. i look forward for all the good times to come. "the best is yet to be." I miss Christmas, and most especially Christmas music, but it will be there when I get back. I miss you guys too, especially in the holiday season, but lucky for me it's warm here so it doesn't feel like Christmas. People talk about Christmas and inside I say why are they talking about Christmas? It's summer. I love ya and miss ya and look forward to your email next week.

Love, Elder Brown

December 5th

Yay for the package. I'm glad it will be here by Christmas. Can you send me a list of what all was in the cosa. I forgot all of what I asked for, or is it just gonna be like Christmas again?

Yep things are going great here, my companion was replaced by Sargent Worker. I'm excited. I'm now with Elder Anderson. I'll send you a picture of him next week. He´s great, he works hard so we are going to get lots done. I'm grateful, it will be a good 6 weeks. I'm super glad.

In my district: Elder Mower (Utah) and Elder Shelly (Arizona) are still together. Sister Quartino (Uruguay) died in battle and went to valhalla (finished her mission honorably and working hard so she went home) to replace her came Sister Lefler (don't know where from) to be with Sister Hubbard (Idaho). I'm excited to be working hard.

Yeah hurricanes aren't fun, but Dad told me that our house basically got skipped, but as always Dad is on the front line of helping everyone else get their things straight. I don't know why but every time there is a disaster it always seems to just hop over our house and destroy everyone else's so we have to be there to fix it all up. It's great we are such a service oriented family.

About Spanish, it's sometimes really weird to think back to when I didn't speak Spanish. I feel like I just always knew how to speak Spanish, but I know that a year and a half ago I had no idea, it's just weird to think back.

Well, I don't really have much else to say. Workin hard finding new investigators. It's always fun. But yeah I'm glad that everything is going well at home. I'm excited to be involved in the work, and looking forward to getting lots done here, but I miss you tons and always look forward to your emails. I absolutely love hearing from you and am so happy that you write me every week. I love ya tons and I look forward to your email next week.

Love, Elder Brown