Letter from Elder Brown 9-27-2010

The room where he had is surgery
The table the Kent layed on to have his surgery.
The hospital where Kent had his surgery.

Hello Everyone,
Another week down and nothing to incredibly exciting has happened this week. Not that I can think of anyways. But I hung out in the house quite a bit this week, kind of. On Monday we did P day and i stayed around in the house. And Tuesday same, just kind of hung around in the house. It was Really boring and we dont have Air conditioning. And it is really stinking hot here! I have lost weight just sitting in the house haha!! Me and my companion were talking this week and we decided the only way you can get fat here is by bad genes and no way else. But anyways, I worked all day Wendsday and the rest of the week. I was tired of sitting in the house and so was my companion. But really the work was the same this week. I liked it a lot more this week because sitting in the house and studying 12 hours a day helps you get caught up on the gospel subject. Granted I am no were close where I want to be. But I am catching up. I read all of Jesus The Christ. And man that book if you havent read it I would suggest it. It really goes into the life of Christ and just the scriptures and everything it is a really good book. But anyways I really dont have a whole lot to write about this week. I guess the only real big news is that transfers were this week. And something happened that I didnt think would. I am staying a third transfer with my companion. Which he said never happens. Three with someone is very rare, I guess. And I am staying here in Sal probably for another at least two transfers. haha! So it should be great fun. But I feel bad for my Companion. He was so ready to leave because he has been here in Sal for 6 Months. And he was like there is no way I am staying another transfer. I have knocked every door. And I just dont know what I would do if I got put here another transfer. And we got the call from President and he told Elder Rosell you are staying one more with Elder Brown in Sal. And I thought Elder Rosell was going to die. Seven and a half months in one area!haha! And these areas are small. Theres only so much you can do. But that was all the exciting news this week though. That I am staying on Sal and probably will stay here for a couple more transfers.
But anyways, I dont know what else to write. I was very sad and yet happy to hear about Mr. Paridis. He is having a joyous reunion, I am sure, with his loved ones on the other side. I was reflecting a lot about Mr. Paridis these last couple of days. And just thinking about all the times we would go over there and knock on his front door and say my tire is flat. Or I need to put a new tire on my bike. Or I hit a tree stump in Grammys yard with the lawn mower, now the blade is bent. haha!! He was always there. I am very glad that you all went to his funeral. He was a great man. Almost like a Grandpa. But the awesome part about it is, we will see him again. What a great blessing the plan of salvation is. That we can live with our family and all of our loved ones once again. That after this life isnt the end but merly the beginning of our mission. That is why we must prepare to meet our Savior one day. And prepare everyday. I want to let you all know that I know that Families are forever. And are very important to your Father in Heaven. It is the greatest possesion we have on this earth. Because it is one of the only thing we can take with us after this life. So cherish your families. Love them, care for them, and most importantly serve them. Be the examples to them. Because I promise you that the path or direction you take in your life they will follow. But be joyous to know that FAMILIES ARE FOREVER. But I dont know what else to write besides I love you all. And will be more animated in my writing next week.
Love Elder Brown

A letter from Elder Brown

Our Missionary
A small army of Helamon
His first baptism
Doesn't he look awesome! He looks so happy!
Elder Brown's new ride
This looks like a little village
I think these are houses that people actually live in!
Baboon on the house
Hey Mom ya it has been a better week since the A.P.S left. Well kind of sort of! haha! On Thursday I was sitting there doing personal study and out of the corner of my eye I see someone at our door. It was President Neves. He made a surprise visit to our house. Our house was a filthy mess! Because the other two elders that live with me and Elder Rosell are very sloppy and dont clean up after themselves. It rained that night so our house was muddy and it was just a disaster. But luckily my room was clean. haha! But anyways he came and didnt say a word to us and went and sat down and we finished our personal study. And then probably the most emabarrasing thing that has ever happened to me in my life, President Neves said,"Cancel all your appointments until 6. Because can you honestly feel the spirit with your house like this. And he helped us clean our house. o man was i just in the upmost embarrasment. I wanted to go hide in a corner! Then we had an interview and President Neves is a cool guy. Man he made me feel loved and stupid at the same time. But he made me realize that what I did wasnt the best thing. And that I could have been more loving about the way i handled it. (Just a side note: Elder Brown had a run in with his A.P. last week. He kind of lost his temper with him. That is what he is talking about.) Then he said,"Elder Brown when I first saw you and even now, I see a strong leader. You had something I have never seen in a missionary before. That is when I wanted to go bang my head against the door. But it was all good. And I have learned from that mistake. And am trying to better myself from that.
This week has been a crappy week of sleep. For the first time in my mission I have woken up a half hour late two days in a row and not exercised. Not to be disobedient. But I have this really bad rash on my legs. That is eating away my skin. And it burns really bad and makes it so I cant sleep at night. The last 4 nights I have got a combined eight hours of sleep. So my tank has been running low and it stinks. I have had to sleep in that extra half hour or I would be miserable all day. I have put a ton of desitan and the things you put in the package on it. And it doesnt help at all. It is just getting worse and our nurse went home last week. So I am stuck until our new nurse comes which is next week. But it is like I told my companion, I am not going to their hospital here. It is nasty! I dont want Aids! I"ll take a picture of it and you will know why. haha!
One thing that was cool about this week is I got my first Baptisms. It was sweet! I got to baptize in the ocean and the water was magnificent!
Other then that we have been having really nasty weather. And hurricane season is coming. So that will be cool. If you dont hear from me it is probably because I am dead or something. (another side note: Someone should tell him he should never say those kind of things to his mother!)
But anyways love ya mom and will talk to you next week! Well I am glad to hear everything is well at home and thank you for everything in the package I loved it all! I feed the Flamming hot Cheetos to these African kids and they hate them because they dont eat hot things here. haha! but thank you so much!
Love you
Elder Brown

PEACHES!! PEACHES!! PEACHES!!

My friend, Malya, gave us 4 bushels of peaches this year from off her tree. They were beautiful early Alberta peaches. The skins slip right off of them. You dont even need to use a knife to peal them. Four bushels of ripe peaches on a school day usually means disaster. But my kids all stepped in and helped. The 3 youngest helped after school on Friday. Tristan, Ashley, Josh and the babies helped out on Saturday. Together we got the job done. It was great team work. Now we have over 100 quarts of yummy peaches to enjoy this winter!

After I blanched the peaches I put them into cold water. The boys job was to peal and pit the peaches. They did an awesome job! As you can tell they actually had fun doing it.
Everyone hard at work
Heidi's job was to load the strainer with peaches. And then I would put them into the water to be blanched. She was a big helper!
The babies even got into the action. Karder and Jarrit thought it was great fun to help Heidi load the peaches into the strainer to be blanched. Ashley and Josh also came to help. We got alot done! By the way, excuse Heidi's hair. She just got out of the bathtub right before I took this picture. I didn't even think about combing it before I took this picture. Poor little girl looks like an orphan! Oh well, such is life at our house!
Our favorite thing to do with peaches:Put peaches in the blender with some ice. To make peach nector. The kids drink it and think it is delicious! It makes a great after school snack. I can't get them to sit down and eat a bowl of peaches. But they wont hesitate to drink them. Silly kids!

Tanners Baptism

Tanner and his Dad. Dressed in white. Ready for his baptism. He was very excited!
Tanners Confirmation Day
Tanner thought Heidi needed to be in all his pictures. But I talked him into just one. These two are best of friends. He is so patient and loving to his little sister. And of course she idolizes him. I just wish it would always stay that way. But for now, it is nice.