Week 49- The Bird is the Word

Guess what..................................................The "Bird" is the word.....funny story for you.  So Elder Bird and I were working in Castle Rock yesterday just walking around and street contacting the people we see. We saw a lady in her car and we made up in our minds that we were going to go talk to her. When we got over we started talking to her but she was face timing her "sugar daddy".  But we still asked her if she knew anyone that was going through a hard time in the area. As she started talking to us something hilarious happened. The in-ground sprinklers popped up so they were in visual sight. I said watch out Elder Bird you don't want to get sprayed. He said oh its probably not that powerful and 3 seconds after I said that BAM! It just shoots this nice high pressured jet stream right in the family jewels soaking right through his pants into his undies. The lady in the car started cracking up and rolled up her window so it didn't spray in her car. We awkwardly walked away and took it as a sign from heaven that right now is not her time.  Thought you might like that it made my top ten  funny missionary moments.

But now with the meat of my email.....MARCUS IS GETTING BAPTIZED ON THE 22ND!!!!!!!! I'm so excited he got an answer to his prayer and told us at church he is a little nervous but excited to be baptized into the crowfoot YSA ward.  How awesome is that! oh it makes me so happy! as a quote from the mission nurses son Nathan Crowley, "I'm not a sower, I'M A HARVESTER" if I could tell you that in its original context it would be a lot funnier, but I have been planting a lot of seeds. Not as fruitful as last week but still met some awesome investigators none of them I'm super confident about though  We Will see.   But we taught gospel principles this week and in sac meeting I played a special musical number with Jarrod Beckstead my homie in the ward! Jarrod is pretty awesome.  He is only a year older than me got back from his mission from Philly.   I love that kid and we hopefully are getting together after the mission. 

This week we had an MLC with president savage and all the zone leaders and sister training leaders in the mission. President savage is a superstar at analyzing data and making plans to overcome barriers in the mission. It was a super effective MLC and I know while he is serving in the mission the work is going to boom! He is awesome and so is Sister Savage. She was a public speech teacher at Utah Valley  University and I told her I'm going there for my aviation science degree and she said to do it because all the people that do  an aviation major are all really successful in theie fields because of how great the program is. A lot of them minor in business as well so I can have a fall back plan but I'm committed to flying! Anyway, they are awesome. Elder Bird is from San Jose California

LOVE YOU BOTH!
Connor Brown

 July 4th Grilling

Week 50- I got to Work

Man I have a lot of things to say but I want to first say I'm proud of Isabelle! It brought me a lot of joy to hear that she bore her testimony at youth conference, and brought me a overall sense of peace that my family is rooted in the gospel of Jesus Christ! Tell Isabelle to be strong and that I love her so much! I love Avery as well so tell her that I love her just the same! I'm excited to hear about your trip to the reservation and I hope you have been feeling the promptings of the spirit about grandpa! I have been thinking about him and what Christ would do or say if he visited him. I know and feel that grandpa is excited for you to come out and that he has a strong place in his heart for our family including you. Tell him I think about him and love him and when I get home I want to spend some time on the reservation with him. My heart just pours out about my family that I just don't know much about. I'm glad you had a successful youth conference and I know you're  just dying to have this week off of work. I kinda feel what its like now to work hard everyday and then come home and just want to crash. But when I come home its taking care of the zone and following up with all the companionship's  which is draining but I find tender mercies in doing so. It's like coming home and then having to take care of your family, balancing both of those things can be exhausting. But one thing I have realized that it never gets stressful. That's because my boy Jesus Christ is at the center of everything I do! He is my rock

This Sunday I had one of the most impacting sacrament meetings ever! On my mission it has been pretty easy to be unorganized because we are running around everywhere and I feel like my whole life has been this super unorganized mess! It has been my life's biggest struggle remembering things and being accountable to people and ultimately the Lord. It's been on my mind my whole mission the question......what can I do to be more organized and how do I fight my ADD? Let me tell you my life changing solution after I explain the pattern....

My patriarchal blessing told me I will come to understand the organization, structure and function of his church. I  read that this week btw,  and recently having two successful business men as mission  presidents  Mendenhall and  Savage I have really understand how the church communicates information throughout the various leaderships in the church. One thing that the brethren do is create what's called a goal barrier and action plan. They identify what the church is struggling with and what goals they need to set. They identify the barriers that get in the way by hearing accounting from all the wards in the church, from the bishops to the stake presidency (which coordinate with mission presidents) to the area authorities to the 70 and ultimately to the general offices and councils including the 12 in the church. This is how communication works in the church and really in any effective business. this last transfer President Savage has been stressing its importance in increasing the effectiveness of missionary work. As this week came to a close I had a powerful personal revelation. If we use this method in the church and it helps organize how we can improve. Why can't I use this method in my own personal life!!!! So I got to work.

I created my own personal GBA and showed the lord what I'm going to do specifically to ultimately become more organized. The Lord is all about order in his house and my life can't be a mess in his kingdom. As I prepared for sacrament Sunday I told the Lord in prayer what I'm going to do this week to improve my organization or my specific "Action Plans" to improve my organization skills. I had a spiritual experience as I did this. I learned something about repentance. One point I feel that I have always missed is the principle of restitution. What I'm going to do so I don't do it again. When you take to the Lord what you are going to do specifically in your life to improve you are fulfilling the process of repentance. You are accessing his atonement. When your action plan is broad and you say something like.....well...I want to stop forgetting things this week....how is that showing the lord what you want to work on. When you bring something specific to the table you are showing the Lord you have the real intent. I can't believe I was so blind to have never realized that growing up. I wished I could become more organized but I never made specific plans to overcome those obstacles. As I took the sacrament I felt so much peace and I felt a lot  of hope for my future. I'm grateful for the access to the atonement we have each day! I love my savior so much and am grateful for these experiences he has provided me within my life. 

As for the work Marcus is off date he dropped his phone apparently and he hasn't been in contact with us for a week now. It's frustrating and he is moving but once we get in contact with him it will be fine. He will be baptized and we will be there it just won't be in our ward. Elder Bird and I  had two new investigators at church but nobody close to a baptismal invitation. We  have been getting creative with activities and teaching. Our next idea involves pairing up with 20 return missionaries. It should be fun!  During The basketball activity this last week we had 5 non members come and I have been balling up pretty hardcore and I have been in a white shirt and tie. I just wear my ball shoes. But my game has gotten pretty good. When i have confidence I can really play. when I come home I have thought about trying out for Utah Valley. It would just be a lot of conditioning to get back in shape. 

mom's question 

1.) President Savage is a savage

2.) I will probably stay one more transfer with Elder Bird

3.) I played the piano in zone conference.

4.) My patriarchal blessing says how important the temple will be in my life and how I will have a lot of revelation inside of it.

I love you all so much! Elder Brown out

 ​Out in the middle of Elbert Colorado. It is so far away and it's a town of 50 people. How awesome is that!

Week 48- The 2 Greatest Weeks on my Mission

 President and Sister Mendenhall saying goodbye!

 Aunt Karen, Grandma and Sister Simmons who I live with.

She visited Grandma when she was in Heber

Oh my gosh I love it mom! That is hilarious! Sister Simmons is this  widow we live with.  She is so sweet and is so nice for us! She makes us dinners the nights we don't have anything and we have a fun time together and make her laugh! I'm glad she got to meet Grandma Brown she reminds me of grandma,  they have very similar personalities! That's so funny let me type up my email really quick. You're going to be blown away at the week  Elder Bird and I have had have had! 

You won't believe the kind of week we had! Elder Bird and I were on fire this week.  It has probably been the  2 greatest weeks on my mission. Elder Bird and I ended up finding 14 new investigators with 2 @ sac meeting and 2 very ready for baptism and  with a third that's close,  when he gets back from his trip. We talked to absolutely everybody that came in our path. like we didn't miss a single person. 11 of them were YSA investigators as well! We found one of them on Saturday at like 7:00. He is about 24,  really cool guy and we had a 2 hr conversation and we invited him to come to church! He accepted and was glad he has friends now. His mom committed suicide about 2 years ago, his dad isn't supportive and his sister lives all the way out in Texas. He lives by himself in this apartment and just wants to feel peace in his life. We told him how the ward is like a family and we got him a ride to church because he didn't have a car. He came to church stayed all 3 hours and in Elders Quorum he got up and thanked the ward for their love and support and gave us a shoutout saying how thankful he was to be invited to church and how he feels like this is the right place to be. On his ride home with one of the members he expressed he wants to join our church and be apart of this. We are meeting with him this week to discuss baptism.   God has been placing investigators in our path and it has been awesome. Elder Bird and I took advantage of every opportunity to talk to people and we have been doing it with the very powers of heaven. Regardless of awkward situations we have been trying not to let the lord down. The Lord has truly been placing people in our path because of our diligence to buckle down and get out of our comfort zones. Now its becoming 2nd nature. Its heating up down here in crowfoot YSA and hopefully we can keep it rollin! Thank you for your continuous love and support and I won't bother you to much while you are on  your vacation. Hope you are enjoying your little break! Love you both! Grandma told us dad bore a beautiful testimony and I wish I would of been there to here it! Love you!

Elder Brown

Week 47

Hey dad and mom.   I'm glad you liked the gift! I dumped all of my MSF on the t-shirts hahahabut it was worth it! I'm happy you liked the card! I love you so much and am so glad we have such a good relationship! I wouldn't trade it for anything!!

Okay get ready for the killer week we had!  Elder Heiner and I used to average getting 4 investigators a week and have never being able to get people to come to church! Elder Bird came in and we found 8 investigators in 4 days! It was awesome! We have been having some stellar contacts with people. We came up with this pattern that has given us the chance to testify of what we know with out being awkwardly confrontational! And because of it,  we have had 4 people tell us they aren't interested and then towards the end express how they would love to meet and learn more. It's been crazy but we have been very kind and friendly but persistent at the same time! I love working with Elder  Bird! He is so organized and it helps out so much! He is a great analytical missionary and me and him make a pretty killer combo! He's a really good elder and wouldn't be surprised if he becomes the next AP! Him and I teach really well together! Have you ever had a companion where you just cliche so well together and your unity just flows naturally! I feel me and Elder Bird have that natural connection and it really works in our teaching because no one talks over the other! Anyway things are of to a hot start! We found a new investigator and he is very interested in what we have to teach! We also had another investigator come to church and that hasn't happened in the area in a while! This last week has just been amazing and I'm excited to work with Elder Bird this transfer and probably a lot more! 

Zone leader responsibilities have been a blessing, I feel like God has been helping me analyze certain situations and giving me the council that I need to give to the members of the zone! It's been pretty awesome. I have been better in situational circumstances and it has helped tremendously! Plus I get to go to meetings and see all my friends in the other zone leader offices!

The basketball activity hasn't been the best. We weren't able to make the video and post it yet but this Tuesday we are shooting it! We will send it to you when its all done. So hope isn't lost hopefully this can spark some interest in the community!  

Anyway I wish you a good week! Enjoy your breaks I know you're sick and tired of dealing with complaining clients hang in there and enjoy the service and let me know when your called to the Stake Presidency because its bound to happen hahaha. You're in for the long hall dad.  I  hope you know every stake young men's president gets called into the stake! You and mom are going to be mission presidents and mom is going to die hahahaha! oh man I'm joking! okay dad I Love ya and will talk to you later.

Elder Brown 

Elder Bird my new companion and Sister Simmons whom we live with

 Elder Grey going home

Week 46- Transfers Again

Looks like I'm getting a new companion next transfer because mine is the new AP and is only a transfer ahead of me!!!!!!!! Since Thursday morning I have been in a trio because the AP's drove down to pick up Elder Heiner! So I have been in charge for the last couple of days! Help me haha! I can't believe Elder Heiner is the AP! That transfer was so fast it felt like only 2 weeks! But now he is over the whole mission. When he got the call he had a panic attack and I had to calm him down. Mom he is more ADD then me! I'm a little nervous for him! I pray he will do well.   I definitely think that this assignment is for him. He will grow a lot....he has too or it will be a long ride! My new companion is Elder Bird! he is only a transfer ahead of elder Heiner! He is a cool guy.  I don't know a ton about him but I hear he is a good Elder so we should get some work done!

I sent dad a father's day and birthday gift today and put a little gift for you also! you'll like it! okay so catch this! Elder Heiner and I started this activity for the YSA called Basketball with the elders! we go to downtown parker @ o'brien park and challenge people to play us in basketball! It's a beat to teach style and we have had more and more people come! This week a professional photographer and videographer is coming to get me dunking and introducing what we do as missionaries and why we serve missions. Its going to be posted all over social media and we are going to post flyers as well! Our goal is to get a ton of people to come out to the park packed and beat everyone that challenges us so we can teach them! Its so exciting! He even has a little drone that has a video camera on it and is going to have it fly over head! I'll send it to you when its finished! 

As for the work we found a super solid investigator named Alex and she said she believes the Book of Mormon is true!  She is leaving to go back to Indiana this week for 3 weeks so the date is going to be far off. Hopefully she gets in contact with the missionaries back home and has them teach her! Hopefully this transfer I can help someone get baptized! We are also teaching people who will be a long process! Mckennzie who is a girlfriend to this guy in the ward! Hong, who is also dating a girl in the ward! and Bryce a student from Atlanta here for the summer! We are also going to be teaching another girlfriend of this member in the ward! she received a BOM recently and is excited to eat with us this Wednesday! So things are poppin in the YSA ward! 

 

 That's all I got for ya! I Love ya.   I will email you some pics.   I got a bunch!

Week 45- The Elder Brown Show

Sounds like you have had a loaded week! Dad gave me the scoop on everything! Oh my gosh Lauren sent me the video of dad laughing and I haven't ever laughed so hard! I'm in the library too so a lot of missionaries are staring at me,  like what the heck is going on with him! I miss dad's funny laugh so that made me so happy!  I did perform 3 musical numbers at the fireside and everybody nicknamed it the Elder Brown show! I wish you could of heard it.  I wasn't able to record it but I save all the music and when I get home I will put on a spiritual recital performance for you!;)  My duet with Elder Olson sounded awesome! My voice is way better than when I left!  Plus I got my higher range back too so I can sing songs a lot higher than usual! So wish you could have been there! The convert fireside was so awesome! My heart was full the entire fireside and with the music I felt like I was just glowing! At the end President and Sister Mendenhall(Mission President) gave a farewell talk and asked us to stand up and sing Called To Serve and the spirit was so strong! He and Sister Mendenhall were in tears because we also gave them a package of all the letter written from all the missionaries they have ever had! I cried a little! If I can tell you how amazing President and Sister Mendenhall are holy cow! I love them so much I really do! The spirit that they carry is amazing! I will miss them so much!

At the end of the conference a lot of people left and I walked up to President and gave him a hug, he looked me in the eyes and said you are a special missionary and you will have a very big impact on the mission.  Continue to be a light to the other missionaries! A lot of weight to carry but it was such a great compliment and there was a lot of power in the words he spoke to me! 53 Missionaries are going home with this transfer and next and only 18 are coming in! Most of those 53 are all the leaders so there won"t be hardly any left.  Only Elder Keith, Elder Fenske, Elder Sharptenteer, Elder Merkly and Elder Christianson, Elder Heiner and Elder Bird! Only leaders in the mission when everyone is gone! So we will be the seniors of the mission for the rest of our time! Elder Lytle might be going home. He might have bladder cancer! I feel for that guy! He hasn't had a good mission so far its been tough for him!  I hope he sticks it out!

As far as the work goes, we are starting to build a teaching pool.  We are now teaching 3 people consistently but they will each be a long road! They are all either boyfriends or girlfriends of members and they have agreed to meet with missionaries. They each three have different concerns some are more interested than others but it has helped me teach to their needs rather than teaching things in a specific order! But we have received another referral from other elders in the zone who says that she is super interested and wants to be baptized! We are meeting with her at on 5:00 Tuesday so hopefully we can start getting something going! The YSA had a ward barbecue and we had 5 nonmembers there and will be teaching one of them next week,  so I''m pumped for that! Good things are happening! We recently have been thinking out of the box. We set up an activity for Tuesdays, called basketball with the elders. Its two fold, one, we get nonmembers to come and invite nonmembers who are at the park to play with us! Its been working and I get to play a little bball too! We play in our white shirts and ties but I still ball everyone up! :) Elder Reynolds is going home in a transfer! Elder Gray is going home in 10 days! he's coming up to hike with us today! We are hiking castle wood canyon! and yes McKenzie is in boulder! I'm trying to see if she can come down.  She is only 1 hour away. 

Anyway that's been my week! I love you mom!  Happy me! Love you mom bye!

Week 44- 10 Months Down 14 More To Go

 I had a good week! We keep finding new investigators but nobody super solid! We do have 2 solid people that we are starting to work with! They are both referrals from the ward and hopefully we can get things going with them! Like  I have said before we have been receiving tons of referrals from ward members and from other elders and with being so busy we haven't been able to visit them! This week we are trying to visit old investigators to see if they want to meet or not! Then we are focusing on our referrals! I have been doing a lot of administrative stuff and it has kept me very busy! Sometimes I doubt I'm doing a good job as a leader but recently I have been studying teaching in the Saviors way manual and it has helped a ton! I love the opportunity to effectively lead and do it as the Savior would! Studying the manual has helped me reach out to my district more and lift them up and by doing so it has lifted me! The work continues to move forward! This week we had a mission leadership council with all the zone leaders and sister training leaders at the mission home! There, President and sister Mendenhall the Ap's and a set of zone leaders trained on things that they want us to train on in district meetings! Also for an hour we discussed new changes that will be taking place, such as the new mission president and his wife coming in! And an accounting matter concerning the Goal Barrier and Action plan the district leader comes up with every week! It is now moving from a group setting to an individual companionship setting so that the comp. can set goals and make plans to help the work in their own area! I like it way better than the previous one. Reasons why.....because now instead of the district leader analyzing problems from 3 companionship's and trying to make a plan that combines all 3 problems together, he gets to let the companionship decide what action plans will work for their individual area! It will be more effective than trying to please all companionships. Sorry if that seems confusing but that was the best way I could condense it which I'm not so good at! 

Other than that, that is the work going on in the CDNM! This Friday is the convert fireside and I'm in 3 musical numbers either playing or singing! I feel like I'm stealing all the attention and I don't like it! They need to get more musically capable people to join! I'm singing a beautiful duet with someone and we have practiced it already and it sounds amazing! You would be impressed! Sorry trying to be as humble as I can! But I wish you could hear it! I'm going to have Elder Heiner record it on my camera but the audio will be stinky! 

Next week I along with the zone and the AP's will be hiking castlewood canyon in our area! its a beautiful hike and I'm excited to hike it! On a side note I know this is out of the blue but the mission is now accepting buzz cuts for hair cuts and the elders are trying to convince me to get a buzz! I keep saying I never will but I might to make you guys go crazy! I'd look good right hahahahaha! Anyway that's been my week! very busy all the time but keeping me on my toes and teaching me to organize myself and be more responsible which I need desperately! 

I love you Mom and Dad and I hope to hear from you soon! 

Elder Brown