Elder Brown Spelunking in the south of Taiwan

Here they come as I get to feast upon the words of family emails, my favorite delicacy next to the words of Christ...it's crazy how many friends are emailing me about them going home!!!  Ahhh!

Oh man Dad, I love you too so much!!!

I can't wait to see you all.  All of those entrepreneurial ideas sound great, fresh and fun!!!  I'd be more than happy to be on call for Brother Stewart's Zip line as well!!! 

Poor Trevor, ah my heart goes out for him...Pole Vault is just that way. I love you Trevor!!! 

I pray for Kyle's and Trevor's flight every night, but God knows Pole Vaulting is not an integral part of the Plan of Salvation,

Yes, most importantly, I have not been attacked by a shower-head-wielding Elder Page, but that does not stop him from tackling me almost nightly onto my bed or into my desk...haha, he's a funny one ;)

This week has been a wet one for sure, near every day we are just soaked, whether by rain on the outside, or by sweat on the inside (of our raingear!)  Oh boy...it's nice.  I actually for about the second year of my mission have not had any long or hard rains, so I like that now we do get some moisture.  Not to mention Taiwan sorely needs it!!!  It's in a drought-s

tage right now.  Not anymore.  However, when I first moved down here, the city of GaoXiong was going to make a policy where they shut down the city's water for two days every week.  Condition: unless it rained a-lot and soon!  So you better believe you know what fast Sunday was for in May, haha.  Us missionaries were thinking, well "we could fill up the bathtub one day before, and take turns bathing in it each morning for those two days...or we could just shower in our own sweat as we exercise in the mornings and proselyte in the days...I probably would've gone with the latter had I the choice.  However fortunately we don't need to worry about that anymore!!!

The Y family is great, good and sad news.  We visited them on Saturday, and passed them over to the QianZhen Elders because they live right over the ward boundaries.  Those Elders are Elder Cuartas and Elder Lindsey, both great Elders and the Zone leaders of the other GaoXiong Zone,  So we'll miss the Y family.  But they're in good hands!

You should be able to see in our pictures that last Saturday, we went to visit some caves in Northern GaoXiong with Elder Jensen and Elder Davis (E. Otte's MTC Comp.).  This was also Elder Pennington's old Area!  GangShan.  Anyways that was pretty cool and fun.  Probably more dangerous than we realized at first, or at least for those claustrophobic friends, but I just pushed along and we made it to the nice light through an adventurous tunnel, super old, natural, and cool!!!  

The man who took us is English named Dark...and is their investigator, he loved Elder Elder Penninton, and is sad he's gone, so that was a treat!

Today, all the other Elders wanted to show off their cool socks...hmmm, so I got my cool socks out too!!!  (aka Costco Wool)  We're going into the uptown City part of GaoXiong today to see some shops or something that might have some cool stuff, now I'm not a shopper, but Elder Page said they have Taiwanese stuff...hope so, might be cool.  But it is a rule that we don't use mission funds for personal items.   I've heard some missionaries complain that "it's all our money anyways, can't I just save it up and spend it on what I want?"  But we are instructed specifically not to do that... even more important for now is honesty, and before I forget, I just need to pull that out to make sure I don't return home without exchanging that money back to my mission fund.  Anyways, if you see that drop that's why...also, in the long run, that should be an insignificant withdrawal ;) ...unless I let myself realize it's like 20 Subway sandwiches...but I don't let myself think such horrible things, haha;)

Today should be fun!!!

Sister Blickenstaff did get the pictures!!!

Y Wang passed her Baptismal interview too :) !!!!!  She is so great and so prepared!!!!!  This Saturday at 6:00 we'll do her Baptism, and then we'll watch a church movie afterwards as sort of a Ward activity, because two targets we have and need are ward unity, and convert retention...it's so happening!!!  N is close behind and improving, we met his Mom, she's great!!!

Love You!!!

Love Drew

Keeping an Eternal Perspective

Hello Everyone,

It's been a great week!  Rainstorm for the first time in forever on Tuesday!

Y and N are doing very well.  Y is just so prepared, and then N needs a lot of help but we are seeing such great change in him through the gospel… Yes!!!

WE FOUND A FAMILY!!!!!  They are a family of four, and kids are our ages.  They also invited two cousins and a boyfriend to come listen to our message.  Then, as and after we shared, the family all committed to read from and pray about the Book of Mormon.  The Dad's boss is a member down here, at the American institute in Taiwan,  COOL!!!  They are such a quality family, oh my goodness!!!  Very interested in WHY the Church had to be restored...and they're getting it know.  Please pray that they can be converted together in the right place!!!

Esp. need to read the Book of Mormon!!!

Our Kids were cute in English, they grab me for a "train ride" every time....like marching behind me just turns into "oh, grab Elder Brown's shirt tail pull it out and ride along the floor behind him his sister's a kindergarten teacher so he loves this train stuff" type of activity!  Haha!

Oh yes, my reflection went well, I'll send you what I have so far...I got all the GaoXiong missionaries laughing so hard, it was great (cause everyone likes marriage jokes ;)...then I faked 'em out at the start, then I talked about how an eternal perspective gets us through anything!!!  Because of that perspective, when we get out the door in the morning...as soon as the rubber meets the pavement, we can smile, look up, and say: This is going to be a great day!!!  Oh yeah!!!

I'll send it to you!!!

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference...

In the name of Jesus Christ...I would like to share my reflection!

Now, you may all be wondering at this time "Elder Brown...your mission's wrapping up...what's next, what are you going to do next?"

Let me tell you:

As I entered Zone Conference today, and saw all of these Elders who were trained from the very start with me: Great Friends, 帥哥s, ...I was hit with a realization.  In the upcoming months...I'm going to have to book a LOT of tickets and travel time...to attend a LOT of Weddings!

Haha, what was the game plan again Elders?  If I'm not mistaken, it's going to be Elder Page and Elder Munger followed closely by Elders Jensen and Jardine...

Don't get me wrong, I too am an avid advocate of following prophetic counsel to efficiently establish a righteous home and family.  But let's just say I've come to know for myself: these Elders are really good at dropping in Week E goals!!!

(Alright, enough with the jokes...well, that last one wasn't a joke ;)  ..In that week E goal; E stands for Eternity.  And as I share with you my reflection today, Eternity is just what I would like to talk about...) About six months into my mission, I received a note from my little brother.  At Christmas time he gave me this gift, it said "Hey Drew, Mom told me you needed a Temple Recommend holder.  I picked this one especially for you.  REMEMBER TO ALWAYS KEEP AN ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE.  I miss you and love you so much.  Your little Bro that loves you, -Trevor"

Remember to always keep an eternal perspective...that really hit me hard, and reminded me...

***Okay Pause; we're almost out of time, so I may have to finish next week ;)***

Love Elder Brown

Love Drew

WAhooooooo!!!  Yeah Trevor!!!

YOU ROCK BRO!!!!  Done with AP!!!

Elder Page is Drew's MTC Companion.
They are now in the same 4 man apartment.
They took a picture with these very same shirts in the MTC.

I can't wait for the news next week!!!  Go win Regionals, you and CV!!!!!

AND then the news NEXT NEXT NEXT week even more!!!

Love You.

Love DREW

Can't believe this is all wrapping up!?!?!?  AHHH!!!  Nationals at Oregon sounds like so much fun though!!!

Thanks, I love you,

Love Drew

Ferocious Finding in Fengshan

I've just very quickly moved through all my inbox and daily to - do s...and find myself with half an hour to just email to you all!!!

How exciting!!!

I'm so excited for Trevor and Kyle in the coming months to make work happen.  Get up to 15' and 18', place at State and Nationals...Wahoooooo!!!!!  Go Bros Go!!!  Take videos for me and know I'll be there in Spirit to cheer you on!!!  I can't wait to vault together!!!

Kendra and Stephanie just looked BEAUTIFUL today, when we Skyped.  Both so slim and nice casual hai

Mom...HAPPY MOTHERS DAY!!!  (And you too Grandma, and all you great Aunts!!!  And you've still got the best catch--Dad looks healthy, slim and ready to give Kyle a run for his money going to nationals.

But...Please pray for me to have a steel sharp focus over this next month, so I really can leave it all on the Mission Track!!! 

I loved seeing the Jensens too!!  I love you all, do we have a reunion for the Browns or the Sintays this summer???

As we go into this week, I have been reminded to prepare a reflection to present in our Zone Conference to sum up my mission in three minutes...haha, good one...yeah right!!!  But regardless I will share that on Thursday!

And, those two baptisms for Sisters that Elder Otte mentioned...we also get to take a train on Friday to go and see those.  Because Elder Pennington is Elder Otte's last Companion.  I feel blessed because I'll get to see Elder Otte, AND Elder Johnson one last time before I peace out...they're serving in the same district there!  Sweet, tender mercy!!!

As for us here, besides being treated by members just now to a little Sushi buffet...we are witnessing many miracles on the homefront of missionary work and invitations to salvation!!!

Rather cool, this ward, had the most people come and attend our yesterday's Single FHE activity -- we brought two investigators, two RCs, and some members with friends too!!!  Very rewarding to see people come together relaxed and have wholesome fun in a good environment.  Taiwan especially needs that right now!!

I know we're still pretty new here in Fengshan.  But I also know Heavenly Father has blessed us greatly to see miracles of progressing investigators, softened hearts, and improved relations!  I love this wonderful work which we all have the chance to be a part of.  I love Heavenly Father and know that he loves me even more that I can comprehend.  He loves you too...the same!

God wants us to be happy, and that's the bottom line!  In order to allow us this opportunity, he has penetrated the whole world round with the message of the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Including the ultimate Plan of Happiness.  We share that plan every day.  I know it will bless your life, IF you choose to listen, and obey.  I invite every one of my friends, especially if you never have, to learn more of Heavenly Father and this Plan in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  It's not necessarily easy to know truth, but when you find and feel it...it's the best thing ever!!!

So, that means you, go and find the missionaries, or visit our church website: lds.org or mormon.org and learn for yourself.  I love you all, and thank Heavenly Father for the many blessings in my life as well as your's.  Especially the best blessing of my Mom!!!

Love You Mom, 

Happy Mothers Day,

Love Drew

After this perfect kick!!!  I'M ON MY TOES!!!!!

WHOOOOOOO!!!  LOVE YOU!!!!!

LOVE Drew

I'm also singing a piece in Zone Conference with my district...starting off with me soloing Be Still My Soul...:)  Wahooo!!!

Elder Brown goes South to GaoXiong

Oh boy, I can't even begin to tell you all how much I love you!!!  And also. ...how much I love my mission!!!  These 2 years are flying by, and whew...when was my return date again...June 2016???  I'm sure the next year is going to go by before I even know it...;)

As for the current news here in GaoXiong...hmmm, probably a toasty 100f with NO chance of wind and snow coming in sometime in the millenium!!!

Elder Pennington and I have been hitting it hard this week -- on the streets, on the ward, on the bikes, and even this morning...on the court! ;)  We love this area.  Within the first several hours of our arrival (i.e. Monday Night), we realized we were facing a decent challenge here in FengShan. But as far as we're concerned negativity has never been in my planner, let alone in God's.  I've seen miracles as a ward works together in Faith to Hasten the Work of Salvation, not only in the ward setting, but in homes and family lives as well!

I love the Nantou ward, and will miss them dearly!!! (I believe these are all the members who came
 into the ward while Drew was serving in Nantou)

We're doing so so so GREAT!!!  I love it and instead of "dealing with the heat," we've decided to wholeheartedly embrace it...oh yeah!!!

From what we've seen, these members are AMAZING, and we're out to help them, their friends, their neighbors, and their families become even more so...get ready for some miracles baby!!!

On the mission front, wow, we've got such a great district and area here.  

We have 4 new amis this week: Yu: from English, has had some spiritual experiences praying when she was younger...but her dad din't let her go out...now she's in college...yeah!!!

N,. shy guy, has an earring, met missionaries in Daliao, our neighboring district, and loves church and activities!!!  He'll make it!!!

A grandma who added from our spiritual share at Eng class...I'm the small kids teacher again :)  And we'll see her on Wednesday...she wants the Book of Mormon!!!

Then J C--cool guy who wants to join all churches...ummm, don't think so buddy, but we'll help you know for yourself why!!!

I have so much fun here -- thank you for your prayers!!!  Elder Pennington, Page and Stuart are all AWESOME!!!  We're fun and friends!!!

I love my mission and hope I can leave it all on the Track now!!!

Love You,

Love Drew

PS played soccer, frizbee, this week and Played Basketball with the mega District today...great!!!

Oh PS  I've been learning and studying how important Gospel Study is throughout our entire lives, not just here, PMG takes on a whole new meaning in Chapter 2 especially when you realize and feel the calling to share His Gospel...is not just on a 2-year time frame.  But that makes it all the happier.  

Love Elder Brown

We sweat forever here...and are LOVING it!!!

 
two things: 1)  This Zone Conference I will give my "Reflection"  Kind of like a farewell talk ON the Mission...

2)  Elder Pennington and I Whitewashed, and therefore, I hope I don't lose my food budget, haha, ...next to losing the spirit I can't see a more dire circumstance...

3)I love that story (the boy who sold his violin to serve a mission), I'm so grateful for the chance I have to sacrifice and serve now.

Love Drew,

Love Elder Brown

YEAH TREVOR!!!!!  I am praying whenever I go over your name that you're gonna get up and over 15'

...and you so got it, wahoooooooo!!!   加油加油加油！！！  You're right about the mission too, crazy to think that next...it'll be you!!!

  Mom and Dad, that does sound like a blast....thanks for going to see my alma mater for me....ahhhh!!!

About Mother's day -- I LOVE YOU MOM!!!!!  We are thinking we will try to talk with you all on Saturday night for you, Sunday afternoon for us, about 1:00 here...10:00 there?!?!?  Would that work???