(Heads up to Andrew Schutts,
Joe Aman, Gavin Deyarmin, Matt Hommel, Hannah Calligan, and other high school
friends – Drew would love to hear from you if you have a minute – see the
bottom)
This week was really great, it has been Chinese New Year and
we've been fed a ton!!! WAhooooo!!! I personally don't feel any
bigger, I've been working out hard too, but Jeff our investigator did say he
thinks that my face is getting bigger...uh oh...not again!!! I did
several hundred pushups several mornings this week, have been running, and then
do as many pull ups when I can get a bar!!! But for now, only in two days
did i get the chance and I did fifty!
My highlight of the week may have been our trip on Sunday to
Mingjian. The branch President Chen called us to inform us he wouldn't be
at church...nor would his Counselors...they are the only priesthood
brethren. So he asked if we could conduct...and preside, haha! Well
in that case..."sure!" So we did.
While we were there though, expecting to not have many
people because of the holidays...we ended up with 22 in attendance. Not
just any 22 either. I knew a handful of these saints because they were
all from my other areas!!! Albert Zhen came from Nanzi with a Sister Li,
his girlfriend, who had been a short term missionary in my district there (she's
also an RM from the Boise ID mission). Then this college student came
from Xinying who is from Taipei but studied in Xinying!!! So cool, so I
conducted, my companions blessed the Sacrament, and all of us bore our
testimonies!!! It was so fun for me to see my old areas as well as
friends from those areas!!! I loved it!!!
Other than that, let me work backwards.
First off, Dad...I got that book for Characters, and I have
just had time to read it's summary before I went to bed...I AM SO SOS O
EXCITED!!! Thank you so much Dad, that looks like just what I could use
to amp my study!!!
Second off, Thank you Mom...I don't know how...but I just
got our Christmas card...I love it!!! Haha, I actually saw the front of it
in President's office before I actually got to read it myself :) I LOVE
IT TOO!!!
The boy playing computer next to me is smoking hard core, I
asked him to stop but he doesn't want to and it's not a no smoke place.
So I prayed to be not hurt by the smoke...fortunately it seems...his smoke
whiffs smell like campfire and marshmellows. Hmmm, God works in
Mysterious ways!!!
We ate at the Z family today and will go to the L family
tonight! Everyone tries to make us explode with food but they haven't yet
:)
Oh no... Mom you asked me what I do as a Zone leader --
I go on Exchanges with District leaders as well as those who
need it per transfer.
We attend leadership councils every month then turn and
train our Zones in a meeting on what President does for us.
I collect and analyze numbers every week for English class
and Key indicator work!
We try to work hard and smart to provide a model example for
others.
And we unfortunately get a lot less study time some days as
well as rush around a lot and stay busy, but it's good, I'll tell you if I
think of any others!!!
Peter loved Church!!!
I love you all,
Thank you!!!
Yes, H's family are the two boys in green!!! We actually just ate lunch with them and the Z family for our
second to last day of Guonian, the Chinese new year (there should be some huge
pictures of our gathering!!!)
They are doing great, this was my first time to see H since
Japan, and then this week I will go over and actually invite him to get ready
to take his family to the Temple...Pray for me, and please follow up with me
too!!! ;)
You should also see all our pictures of cleaning that Elder
Gathright took for me, haha. ALL MORNING and still not done, but I'm so
grateful for comps who'll work with me to do what President asked us to
do!!! WAhoooo!!!
Then they must've announced Trevor so early because he's so
AWESOME!!! Nice work Trev...that's the way!!!
You can tell the Carter's Aman’s and Ross's: I had a dream
the other night and it was just after the mission, I seemed to see many good
friends who had also just gotten home, but three stood out. David and
Brandon did because before we had left the mission, they came to Taiwan
(apparently the small branches they served in decided Taiwan would be a good
middle place to meet, haha, as if!) and we had a church meeting together.
Then afterwards all of our mission presidents wanted to secretly talk to
us about something... But in the main dream, I felt like Alma in Chapter
17:2-3. It felt so so so amazing to see these friends who I have missed
for so long, and they were all studs. Then, I saw another superstar who I
didn't know had gone on a mission...Joe was there, and he was sitting in the
chapel fellowshipping someone until I came up. Joe Aman, one of the
greatest friends ever, had gone on a mission too. And now, this friend
who I had invited to come to church with me long ago, but was often busy, was
on his own mission (and helping other people to get to church!!!). It was
amazing!!! I can't even explain how great I felt when I saw Joe, in his
missionary attire, come up and give me a big handshake and hug, full of love
and full of the Spirit!!!
I know missions bless our lives. And even more so, it
is the Gospel of Jesus Christ that blesses us. Because Heavenly Father
loves all of his children dearly, and He wants the best for us, He Restored His
Gospel in these Latter days! This restored Gospel was brought about
through a young man named Joseph Smith, and is led today by a living Prophet of
God: Thomas S Monson! I love learning and hearing the words of these
prophets, which teach us God's will and guidance for us! I know that the
Prophets are directed by God himself and his Son Jesus Christ, that is
true. That is why I'm on a mission, because I want everyone to know this
truth and let it bless their lives!!!
I am grateful for my experiences had and yet to come with
sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I hope all my friends serving
likewise will be strengthened forever from this experience. And I often
wonder how my other friends are doing as well: Andrew at Harvard, Gavin at EWU,
Matt Hommel, Hannah Calligan, everyone!!! I hope and pray that they're
well. I want them all to know that I know God lives and loves us. He is
our Father. And His Hand is in the details of our lives, but we
ultimately decide whether or not to accept the fullness of his help!!!
Love Drew
If you want to email, the address is drew.brown@myldsmail.net
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