Week 35- "Throw Down" General Conference

Holy cow, "throw down" on the plan of salvation, families, the godhead and the spirit! Such a good General Conference.   I was so excited for it, being able to watch all sessions of Conference and sit in a focused environment is so cool! When there is no phone and I'm not focused on anything other than the gospel the message is so much more powerful. I love the recalculate GPS message and the "all in" talk by Elder Sabin! "repentance is a privilege not a punishment." and the Australian guy who talked about Christ's love to the rich man! I also loved the talk about perfect love casteth out fear! And the spirit is a teacher and the gifts of the spirit are not fear they are motivation to act! When trying to get someone to do something whether its a missionary teaching an investigator or a mom trying to get someone to do their hair right it shouldn't be because of fear but perfect love, which is charity, which is the pure love of Christ! They really "threw down" on charity! It is so important! When you love people when they are in the wrong,  they will have a more desire to change!  Like the mission president to his disobedient  missionaries! Such a good message!

Yeah general conference was so good,  I really enjoyed it! I have so many notes I can't tell you everything I learned! So my new companion! I love Elder Bailey.  I can already feel it is going to be a good transfer! We are different but I love that because God gave us strengths in different areas which has made us a powerful companionship! Elder Bailey is from Lexington South Carolina! He is a convert from the age of 16 and his conversion story is absolutely awesome! I was fighting to hold back my tears the other night as he told his conversion story! He is a spiritual giant! Although we are different I can't help but look inside of him and see his powerful testimony and motives for being out here and serving a mission! It makes me love him so much more! I learned when you can see the good in everyone and have that pure love it casteth out everything that potentially could be problems! That's why I have never had a problem with a companion so far.   I luckily have been blessed with that love for everyone despite their decisions! Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ love each of us despite our imperfections so it should make us love the imperfect people we are around even more! That is so important in our lives and it has been a mission motto of mine! 

This area is a struggling area.  It seems like we can hardly find anyone despite how hard we work and it kind of drains you, but I see the lord work with me by small and simple means! Because through small and simple things great things come to pass! Being responsible for the entire mega district of elders is tough.   I'm up late every night making calls and making sure I fulfill my duties,  but its fun because I can talk to the entire district.  So aside from all the accounting I can have fun with it and joke around! It makes me super organized though and stretches my abilities to multi-task which you and dad both know how bad at that I am. I'm just ready for P-day and ready to hoop it up! When P-day comes around it is so exciting! It makes it so missionaries don't go crazy!

 I received the package.   I love all those pictures! I love seeing all of my friends and family and what they are doing! Regan is such an unbelievable artist! She has so much talent! And I forget where Hannah is at? I love those pictures of Alex and is long hair! I love his long hair it looks so good, he can pull it off! His costume is awesome!  I peed! Man I miss everyone.  It is so cool to see what they are all doing with their lives! Interesting that the things that happen after high school and you start growing up! I'm growing up a ton,  but sometimes I look back and think what I could have done more of or better!  But I know what my purpose is! It is so clear and being out of the world  is such a crazy difference!  When I get back home I'm sometimes afraid of how I'm going to tune out all the worldly things because it engulfs you right as you step off that plane. That's why I'm going to stay on that plane and fly it myself for the rest of my life and listen to general conference talks forever haha! If I continue to stick to the simplicity of the gospel which is reading the scriptures, praying, keeping commandments, attending the temple, repentance and taking the sacrament and enduring to the end I'll be set! The gospel is so simple! 

I can see mom freaking out about Avery's knees,  that was a good one! My companion got  me too! He convinced me super early that president was going to emergency transfer him because another Elder went home! He told me he had to start packing and president would be there to pick both of us up!  He got me good and then surprised me with an April fools! Mom and I are both gullible.   I did miss not going to Friendly's with you after the priesthood session!   That was a real bummer! You know what I did instead of going out to eat! I went and found 2 new investigators with my companion which were the only ones we found all week! How awesome is that!  They were miracles!

Anyway, I don't know what else to tell you other than, press forward! Small steps!  I love you and miss you and can't wait until I get to see you all on mothers day! So I can see my beautiful mother who I love so much and am so grateful for!  Only If I could just give you a hug and tell you how thankful I am for you...and you too dad haha!  I love you both so much! 

Elder Brown