September 16, 2013

Hey Everybody!!

The week was great here in Solingen! Kind of slow as far as the work goes... tons of cancelled appointments and stuff, so that was kinda frustrating, but Elder Anderson and I have fun anyways. We did get a lot of appointments in with less actives though, so that was good. We're also really trying to do better work with the members, so we've been meeting with them more and talking about missionary work a lot. That's been good.

One of our investigators was sick this week, so we weren't able to meet, but it was still pretty awesome. We were at a dinner appointment with a family in the ward, a really cool younger couple in the ward, and I was telling her about how the week was pretty frustrating because we didn't have much contact with investigators. Then like ten minutes later, our investigator texted me and said that while he was sick he had read the whole Book of Mormon and that he wants to be baptized.... Pretty cool haha. So that made the whole week a lot better. 

Other than that, things are slowly picking up. We're going to start meeting with one of our new member's friends tomorrow, so we're excited about that. Other than that, we've got a good amount of member appointments for the week, so we're excited. 

Yeah this transfer was pretty crazy... there were only about 14 or 15 companionships that stayed the same out of 120ish... so yeah haha. Still haven't been a part of it though.  <The mission had a very large transfer this past week, highlighted in a Church blog – over 150 missionaries at the train station at one time>

Welp, that's about all I got. Things are going well here, I'm loving it. I bought some sweaters and a coat so hopefully I won't freeze to death.

Have a great week everybody! 

Tschußß!

Elder Brown

Elder Brown and his new companion, Elder Anderson

September 9, 2013

Hey everybody!!

First off WASSUP BYU!! That's so sick. Man, I bet that game was awesome. I do miss me some BYU sports haha. Man... that's awesome. They better do the same to Utah. My best buds out here, Elder Divver and Elder Blackley, are both Utes so there will be a lot riding on that one.

Elder Anderson is the man. We're having a ton of fun together and we're excited for the transfer. He's from South Jordan and came here from down in Nürnberg Zone. He's a stud. The other elders are here, and they're cool too. They live way far away from us though. Like a 30 minute bus ride. 

Everything is going good here. Like I said, Elder Anderson and I are getting along super well and things are looking good. We have one investigator who is super cool and has a ton of potential. Other than that, we're just working with all of the less actives and members that we always have. I love the ward here, they're so awesome. 

And, a little bit of cool news, one of the Young Single Adults here got her mission call this week. She's going to Winnipeg Canada English speaking. So she's really excited about that.

But that's about it as of right now.

Love you guys, hope everything is going well!!

Tschußßß

Elder Brown

September 2, 2013

Hey everybody! 

Things are still going great... And I guess I'll get to the big news first, about transfers. I will be in.... Solingen! Haha I'm staying here once more, but I'm senior companion now so that's kinda exciting I guess haha. My new comp is Elder Anderson, and he just got done being trained. I've heard way good things about him and he sounds way cool. Elder Collins is going down to Nürnberg Zone. I'm excited though. 

Things are still going pretty well here... Pretty chill. I think things will pick up here soon though. We're also getting two new elders here in Solingen, so that'll be fun. I'm looking forward to this cycle. 

I'm hoping that me and Elder Anderson will get down to Friedrichsdorf this transfer to the temple, I think we're going to be able to. That would be sweet.  

That's too bad about BYU... maybe they'll shake it off next week. Probably not though haha. 

I hope everything is going well with you guys, and that you guys are having fun. I'm having a great time and I'm excited to stay in Solingen. 

Peace!

Elder Brown

August 26, 2013

Hey!!

It's been pretty nice here for the last week or so. It rained pretty hard yesterday though. I think Summer is well on its way out. 

But yep, transfer calls will be this week, it's so weird. It seems that every cycle goes by faster. I've already been in Solingen for four months! Pretty crazy. It'll be a crazy couple of days. This zone is pretty tight…. I've loved my time in Düsseldorf Zone. We'll see what happens. 

That's crazy that the second school year since I've graduated is starting... I'm so old! Haha, I've only got three months left as a teenager, what the heck??

But not much too new to report from here. This week was kind of just a settle down from the work and excitement of the baptism week. Just kinda had to formulate what's next for Solingen. It was a good week though. Met a lot of new people though. Met some less actives that we hadn't met with before, as well as getting some new referrals, so that was cool. Things are definitely looking up for Solingen I think. 

Our ward mission leader came back from his temple mission, which was nice. He's a boss. He's got a great vision for the missionary work here and really wants to make it happen. 

But not really anything else. The package was awesome, we've made some delicious tacos a couple times this week. A little taste of home haha. It's nice to have something like that every now and then. German food is great, but still. Yesterday we had a pretty massive dinner appointment. Had a ton of salad and bread and stuff, and then two schnitzels and potatoes and yeah... I was very full haha. Gotta start doing morgen sport. Haha.

But that's about it, hope everything is still going well with everybody. Love you guys!

Elder Brown

August 19, 2013

Hey everybody!!

I did indeed perform the baptism... it was so awesome. The whole experience of just teaching, and preparing, and the baptism was just sweet. She is so cool, and she's going to be a way solid addition to the Solingen ward. But yeah, that was the highlight of last week for sure. The program was way good, a lot of missionaries came with investigators so that was really cool. A member gave a talk on baptism and then Elder Ockey gave a talk about the Holy Ghost. Then there were a lot of refreshments... which is always good. The ward was really excited and has done a really good job of welcoming. Elder Collins and I, and the bishop confirmed her on Sunday, and now she's a member, so tight! Definitely will be an experience I look back on the rest of my mission. 

I got my visa and I look pretty dang fresh. Rocking the combover and what not. I'll have to send you guys a pic...) And dang, you'll have to keep your eye out for Elder Hall if you're ever around the YSA ward again, that guy is too fresh.

But in other news this week.... not much. I went on a split with Elder Brown in Krefeld.... so that was fun haha. The people definitely enjoyed themselves some same name humor. And then the rest of the week was basically spent visiting some of our usual people and getting ready for the baptism. It was a good week. 

…until next week! Love you guys,

Elder Brown

August 12, 2013

Hey everybody!

The week went well here as well. But church was the whole 3 hours yesterday haha. It was actually fairly chilly in the morning, then warmed up later in the day. It was cool though. During the 2nd hour we basically just planned everything for the upcoming baptism, she tried on the clothes and talked to the bishop and stuff and then we had a little lesson. But everything is on track for Saturday and we're way pumped. It will be really cool. 

This week was pretty crazy. Elder Collins had to go down to two meetings in Frankfurt, and I stayed in Düsseldorf with the ZL's on Tuesday, then went down to Euskirchen on Wednesday, then was on a split with Elder Blackley in Solingen on Thursday, then had a power split with the Euskirchen elders in Solingen on Saturday as well as a JAE activity in Ddorf that we planned on Saturday. So I was in Solingen last week for about one and a half days in total probably. So we didn't get a ton done but it was fine. Things are still going great. 

Good that the Rangers are getting it done, and yes I did get the fine Rangers plasticware haha. I drink much Coke out of it. And I gave the pitcher to one of our JAE's for her birthday haha. 

But umm that's about it, this week was just kinda crazy and I was waaaaaayyyy tired all week so I like can't even remember what I did haha. This week will be good though. 

Hope everything's going awesome, have a great week, love you guys!

Elder Brown

August 5, 2013

Hey!!

I hope everyone's week was great, mine was pretty awesome yet again in Solingen. It has been pretty hot here. Church was only two hours yesterday because they canceled Sunday School due to the heat and the lack of air conditioning haha it was pretty awesome.

This week was good. We had a pretty busy week, met a lot with our investigator that is getting baptized and a couple times with a new investigator that we met through one of the less actives we meet with. Had a lot of good things happen, people kinda coming out of the woodwork, so it was cool to see. Elder Collins and I have been working hard and it's been nice to see things start happening. Nothing too huge to report on, just basically a good week. Had a split in Wuppertal that was good. Had Zone Training which is always good. Now we're heading on down to Düsseldorf and then this week is looking pretty crazy. We have some meetings in Frankfurt that I may or may not be going to…then two splits and an activity on Saturday. It'll be interesting. 

But that's about it from my end. Things are going really well, I'm happy and having fun. I hope everything's going well for you guys. Have a great week, love you all!!

Tschußß

Elder Brown