February 3, 2014

Hey everybody! 

Things are going well here in Oberhausen and I'm doing great. It's a pretty nice day outside and we're having a good P-day so far. But Sundays here are pretty nice usually. We don't have as many eating appointments on Sunday here as I had in past areas, but I think that's just kind of a difference in the ward. We have stuff to do often though. Yesterday we had our Ward Mission Correlation meeting after Church and then we ate lunch with the Single Adults in the building. Someone made some chicken curry and rice that was way good. But the single adults in the ward are pretty cool, and a couple from other wards come too so it was fun. 

The FHE is a couple in the ward with a little tiny daughter, so they just invite us and some other members and we have it together. She is from North Carolina, and he lived and studied at UNC for like 7 years, so we speak English with them and they're way cool. He's a chemist and may take a job with Exxon in Houston this summer. I told them to look at the Woodlands, and they did and said it looked pretty nice, so maybe we'll have some more friends there haha. 

But I definitely approve of the gifts for Amanda's baby... creamy jalapeno oh my word.... haha. That's so crazy that that's almost here. That'll be weird. 

I'm glad that your lesson went alright Dad. That's weird with the Super Bowl - unfortunate for the Broncos. I would have liked to see Peyton win another one. But good that BYU is doing alright. Hopefully they can pull it off.

Things are good here though. We should have a baptism happening in a couple weeks, so I'll be sure to keep you posted on that. And oh... I totally forgot something kinda big. I am now in a dritt (tripanionship) with Elder Smith and Elder Blackhurst, the other two elders here. Elder Langford still lives next door with a new companion. My two companions are both way cool and we're having a ton of fun. But yeah.. just so you know haha.

I'm doing good. Have a great week!! Tschüß!!

Elder Brown

January 27, 2014

Hey everybody!

Chariots of Fire is a great song haha... I've listened to it many times out here…. That's sweet that Brother Wawro was called as the Stake YM Pres, and that Brother Barnett is the ward Pres now. The YM are in good hands for sure.

This past week was pretty good, it went by super fast, which is usually a good sign. But we had a great lesson with our American investigator on Wednesday, and we have FHE with a family tonight that lives not far from him, so hopefully we'll see him there. And then we helped with a move on Saturday, which was nice. I actually really enjoy helping people move... it's kinda weird. I don't know if I ever told you, but one time when I was helping someone move in in Langen, I was carrying some big piece of a bed or something downstairs into the cellar, and just slipped and ate it so hard on my butt. That hurt really bad... and was a little embarrassing. But I survived. Anyways, just remembered that.

That's sweet that you guys got a brand new missionary, and that he reminds you guys of me... because if your judgment isn't impaired, Denton 2nd Ward is in great hands. Haha but I hope he had a good experience at the house, because if he felt at all similar as I felt my first day in the mission field, it was the weirdest day of his life. But I'm sure you guys were great at remedying that.

That's unfortunate that BYU doesn't look like they'll be joining the field this year... can't believe that's coming up so fast. Maybe they'll go on a run through the tourney. Who knows.

But that's about all that's going on in my life right now. Hope you all have a great week!

Tschüß!

Elder Brown

January 20, 2014

Hey everyone!

My day has been good so far... despite not being able to find the internet cafe for a little bit haha. We changed because the last one was terrible... and there was always a bunch of foreign dudes trying to buy cars... very loudly. But this one's way nice, we just didn't remember where it was at first. So there's a little look into our lives haha.

Some weeks definitely feel longer than others, but they have been going by pretty fast since I've gotten to Oberhausen. We have a lot of fun so even long weeks aren't too bad. But even with the long ones, time goes by incredibly fast. 10 months today... way crazy.

Sounds like ward conferences went well, and that there's some good stuff happening in the Denton Stake as far as missionary work is concerned. That's good to hear.

But as far as your question about the German hymnbook, it is very different than the English one. It has a lot of the same ones, a lot of different ones, and all the numbers are different. There are some pretty sweet German hymns haha. But don't worry, I've got my own little one so you'll see it one day. It's got my name on it and everything.

The weather has still been pretty nice... I don't know if we're gonna be getting any snow any time soon. It's kinda weird because I only heard how awful winter was over the summer and fall... and it hasn't been bad at all. We haven't seen the end of it though.

This week was way good though. We had a great lesson with our American investigator, as well as the member's son we are teaching. He should be baptized next month, so hopefully all goes well with that.

That's great that everything went well with Grandma. She sent an email to Keegan and me today and she sounds like she's doing well.

But all is going well here, I hope you guys have a great week! I'm gonna go get my bowl on!!

Tschüß

Elder Brown

January 13, 2014

Hey everyone!

I had a good week this week. Glad to hear I had the most exciting New Year's of anyone... that's kinda sad haha. But I'm sure you guys had fun in your own way.

But yeah the new transfer has started off well. Elder Langford and I are the same as ever... and Elder Smith's new companion is really cool, so we've been having fun for the past few days since he's been here. We're gonna try and have a Taco Night with the ward in a month or so...

Glad to hear that the week went well, even if it was kinda quiet. Quiet weeks are kinda nice sometimes. This week was pretty sweet here. We've got some good stuff happening here. We're starting to teach a 13-year old who's the son of a member and comes to church every Sunday, just isn't baptized. Coolest kid ever though. And then an American investigator came to church for the first time yesterday, and we've got an appointment with him, so things are going good. This week looks like it'll pretty good.

The white shirts would actually be kinda nice. I haven't worn an American white shirt in a really long time (there is a rather large difference) but I do need some more, so you can send em this way.

Things are going well here though. Thanks for everything you do, and I hope you guys have a great week!!

Elder Brown

January 6, 2014

Hey everybody!

Well... let me just start off by giving Germany some props. Germany goes hard on Sylvester (New Year's) haha. Elder Langford and I did indeed ring in the New Year at midnight because it literally would have been impossible to sleep through it. Literally everyone was setting off fireworks. We could lean out our window, and see people lining the streets for as far as we could see. It was pretty sweet. And that went on until about 1, so we got to sleep around then. The streets the next morning looked... and smelled... like a war zone haha. So that was fun. 

But the winter definitely hasn't been bad so far. I'm sure it's not far away though. Snow will be around pretty soon I'm sure. Not really sure if I'm looking forward to that, although I kinda like snow. It'll lend some variety to the scenery haha. But it's been pretty mild so far. It gets kinda cold with the wind sometimes but that's about it. 

But it's weird now that all the holidays are over. Life is just back to its old boring self haha... jk things are always exciting, but it does kind of have a "well.... what do we do now?" feel to it. We're excited though. Oh, and on that note, we did have something exciting happen... transfer calls! I'm going..... nowhere! I made it through a whole transfer without getting moved again, it's pretty nice. Elder Langford and I will be staying together, which I'm really excited about. We get along really well. But one of the other elders here in Oberhausen got transferred… to Solingen! Haha I was pretty pumped for him. I talk about it all the time too so hopefully I didn't get his hopes too high. I really did love that place though and it was cool to see someone I knew go there. But the new elder coming is younger than Elder Langford... so now it's me, Elder Smith (from my MTC group,) Elder Langford, and Elder Blackhurst, who's younger than all of us. 4 elders and me and Elder Smith haven't even hit 10 months yet haha. So that'll be fun. 

But we did have to be in on New Year's at 6 o'clock, I think that's like a worldwide thing... could be wrong though. Elder Langford and I bought a Christmas tree for the apartment... we haven't taken it down yet... it'll probably be up for a long time. It's a real one though so it might start to symbolize the distance of Christmas more than its presence over time haha. 

But things are going well here, we're excited for a new transfer and a new year. We've got some sweet members here who want to help get things going so I think some good stuff is ahead. Crazy that I hit my 10 and 11 month marks this transfer as well... this first year has gone by very very fast. But we're having fun... trying to keep it under control though, don't worry. Haha. 

Hope you all have a great week!! I'll try to do some cool things this week and maybe have some new pics for you next week or something. No promises though! :) 

Tschüß!

Elder Brown

December 30, 2013

Hey!!

Well... I don't know what to start with now, but it was sweet to talk last week! It seriously was so awesome. And yes, I was able to see Amanda and Brian and Olivia on the iPhone. You guys were just on top of your technology game, I was impressed! Haha.

But Christmas was great, thanks for everything! But all I know about Elder Langford's comp is that his name is Elder Young and he plays the euphonium... and he knows about Brother Bowman, which I guess is kind of a natural thing for someone who plays the euphonium. But yeah, that's all I know.

But just want to say thank you to everyone for everything you've done for me in the past year, whether it was a letter or a package or an email or a prayer or anything. It all means so much to me. This year has definitely been an interesting one. I will probably look back on 2013 as a year where I learned more than ever before. It was really hard, even before March 20th, and I had a lot of opportunity to learn from challenges. I've gained a lot in regards to my testimony of Jesus Christ and his Gospel, and I'm so grateful for that. The examples of, and relationships with, my friends and family have always been a huge part of my life, and that hasn't changed even as I've been on the other side of the world. Thank you for that, and for the support you give me. 2014 will be just as challenging I'm sure, but I'm grateful for the opportunity and for the countless things I'm sure I'll learn.

Have a great New Year's everyone, and I hope 2014 has great things in store for all of you!

Tschüß!

Elder Brown

December 23, 2013

Hello and Merry Christmas!

Crazy that it's time to say that again. 2013 went by very fast. That's really wierd. But that's sweet that Griff is back, I'm sure you guys are having a great time.

But that's awesome that Guyer won again. I'm sure it's a fun time in Denton right now. Sounds like BYU is living up to expectations haha.

I'm glad you enjoyed the pictures, I thought that would be a nice Christmas present. The internet cafe we use here in Oberhausen is.... nice, so it isn't the easiest thing in the world to accomplish. But alas, I pulled it off. 

That would be sweet if Sister Weiland was teaching Sunday School again... at least for the kids in that class. She was the best Sunday School teacher ever. Tell the Weilands hi for me next time you see them. I miss playing ball up at the church with them a lot. 

But things are going well here. I like this area a lot, and it reminds me a lot of Solingen. But as is the case for most in the winter time, we've been trying to meet with the members a lot and not freeze to death, so that's been fun. There are some really cool members here, so it's fun. We also helped with move on Saturday, and I actually always enjoy that, so that was fun. But this week is looking really good, we feel like we're gonna have a lot of fun for Christmas. So don't worry about me!

But things are going well, hope you guys have a great Christmas! I love you guys and am so thankful for everything you do and for the opportunity I have to be in such an awesome family! Until Wednesday!

Elder Brown

< We got to Skype with Elder Brown on Christmas and he looks and sounds great. He says Hi to everyone!>