El fin se acerca y hay poco tiempo.......(The end is near and there is little time .......)

Welp! This is the last week of my mission and I'm not really sure what to think. This past week wasn't that great and we don't have a ton of stuff set up for this week. We have our quarterly interviews with President and then I have my farewell dinner and interview with him 3 days later. Not exactly sure what we are going to talk about on Friday so...we'll see.

Like I mentioned above, it was a pretty trying week. The great BIG family of 12 that we found doesn't want to progress. But there is another family we are working with that has received their spiritual confirmations that they need to be baptized. It's so funny seeing all the excuses people have to not get baptized and the reason people don't want to be members of the Church of Jesus Christ and receive blessings and the scariest invitation we make is to pray to God and ask him, and most people don't do it because they don't want the answer he is going to give them. I am SUPER happy that this family was able to receive an answer to their prayer and better yet, every single member of the family prayed and received a personal answer. The mom told us yesterday and in another visit that we have been able to quench a thirst that she didn't know she had until we showed up....that right there, is the gospel and the Spirit in full effect!  Well I think that's about it. Just preparing myself for this week and what's to come.

Love
Elder Browning

Conference Weekend

this weekend was amazing...no?!? I received answers to prayers and questions that I brought to conference. I did miss have a big breakfast party but we made due with some wildberry pancakes. I kinda didn't leave myself any time to write you a recap of the week but just know that everything is going GRRRRREAT as Tony the Tiger would say lol We found 2 more families this week and all three families that we are working with came to church....that 15 people in total!!! WE practically tripled the branches....ok maybe not....but we got close. It's so great to see so many things happening and coming together as my 'tour' comes to an end. I only have 2 Sundays left ....holy cow where has the time go. Has hard as i try to slow down time, it just gets faster and faster! Not fair, I don't want to leave! Thanks for all you love and prayers!

Elder Browning

ps. we are still celebrating my birth month here in Laredo! you're all more than welcome to add to the partyness!

You're Invited......

....to my month long BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION! That's right it's that time of year again where Elder Browning turns one year older. I'm going to hit the big 23 this year....that just means that I'm SUPER OLD! at least in my eyes and all the other missionaries' eyes, especially all those whipper snapper 18 and 19 year olds. But who cares....I had a picture of me by our mail box and i was going to tell you that I would be waiting here everyday till I go home but my camera wasn't working so I'll send it next week.


this week has finally we have seen the light at the end of the tunnel. we had a super rough week last week and this week was about the same. we have really been struggling to find people to teach and then to find them again after the first lesson. we have been praying and fasting to do the Lord's will and then the miracle happened. We had talked with a memeber to go out and visit her and her family after church....while at church she told us that she would not be there, but previously we had made plans to work with one of the other members that live out there....in Las Lomas about 22 miles from Laredo. we asked if we could still come out and visit him and he told us that he actually had a family he wanted us to meet. So we meet him and followed him another 10-15 minutes out after making our 30 minute trip already and we pull into this super run down house.....we walk up start to introduce ourselves and do the whole bit and then we ask....so how many kids do you have....we see that there were a lot running around and playing and they said 9! that's ALOT and then you have the 2 parents and the grandma that lives with them....and their not a hispanic family.....9 of the 12 are of baptismal age and the 9 of them accepted to be baptized the 28th of April! this truly was a blessing and a miracle from our Heavenly Father. This was truly a trying few weeks but the Lord is always faithful to his faithful servants. I am so glad that among everything else that is going on here that we stayed diligent and faithful and worthy to receive this blessing. I am so gratefull that we have a loving Heavenly Father that listens and answers our prayers. I am also grateful for the Atonement and the changes that it allowed me to make in my life to that I could finish serving the Lord and find this beautiful family. I know that this is the work of the Lord and he needs now, more than ever, ALL HANDS ON DECK.

Have a wonderful week!

Love,
Elder Browning

si quieres conocer a Mexico, hay que andar por Laredo.....

"Mexico if you want to meet, you have to walk through Laredo ....."

 

We had a 92 year old member from his hospital bed sing us this....it was such a great experience.

This week has been one full of trials....I have learned so much from this past week and so grateful to have a loving Heavenly Father that has entrusted me with such trials. To give you a little background, we have been teaching 2 people that have faced a lot of famiy opposition in their teaching process and their learning of the gospel. We have been fasting and praying so much for them for their family member's hearts to be softened and for the Spirit to be with our investigators even more. One of our investigators got super excited on Thursday to be baptized but later that afternoon she told her mom and her mom then told her that she would not be allowed to do it until she has been investigating the church for 1 year. This was very heart breaking, but what was more disheartening is that she is super afraid of her mom and doesn't want to ask again. We promised her that if she told her mom how she felt about church and everything that she learned that her mom would tell her she could get babptized. (side note she is 19 and doesn't need parental permission, but she's a big momma girl) After our day of fasting we went to our lesson and found out that she called her mom, and her mom sad no...i was so sad but we also found out that she didnt do what we promised and therefore the Lord couldn't fulfill his promise. It makes me sad that the only thing that hold people back is fear. We learned this week that an obstacle only appear when we take our eye off the prize. I know that this is true. I know that the Lord will bless us as we are obedient to what his servants say!

Have a wonderful week!

Elder Browning

In the Streets of Laredo

o to first explain a little about the title, the senior couple that live below us one day this week came up and handed me a piano and asked me to play a song for zone conference called "the streets of Laredo" so I agreed and it turned out to be one of the funniest things i have seen on this side of the Mississippi! the senior sister dressed up in a riduculous cowboy (well girl in her case) costume and she went around singing and getting everyoneelse to sing and she "shot" people and stab people with her tin foil knife...it was pretty humoruos.

 

but that wasn't the only musical experience i had this week, it was zone conference this week and when when there is zone conference there is musical numbers....so guess who had the privileged to participate in another musical number? this kid but this time it was probably one the best one yet and coolest ones. This time I did a duet with a former member of the MORMON TABERNACLE CHOIR that's right THE MOTAB! so take that all of yous that made fun of me singing or playing music....I had the chops to sing a duet with the MOTAB! but really, its was super cool!

 

other than that not a lot has happened. the days keep flying by as hard as i try to hold onto them or slow them down. It was super sad this week because i had to give my departing testimony at zone conference and it just made me realize how little time i have left! yesterday i realized that i can count the number of sundays i have left in the mission field on 1 hand :( its such a bitter sweet feeling, but for right now we are going to keep working our tails off. I know this message is true and that it changes peoples lives. I have had the wonderful opportunity to be able to be among the people here in Laredo. They have changed my life and I hope that i have been able to change thiers. 

 

I love you

Elder Browning

Helloooooo.....

so it's been awhile since I have given you a formal update of the happenings here in the mission. Where should I start...first off....Elder Munsey...He left, he went to McAllen to be the new Assistant to the President. So I have been without a companion since Thursday. So I have been working with another missionary who lost his companion due to the arrival of his visas. So I've been running the zone all by myself and I have been pulled a little thin the past few days but I've survived and am super eager to get my new companion on Tuesday. What I'm more excited about is that my new companion is a native and I have wanted this all my mission. I have always been the "native", but now I'm to that point in my Spanish that I need to 'grammatical' help and what not. So I'm super excited...his name is Elder Sanchez and everyone calls him the BIG TEDDY BEAR....so yea. You'll see next week when I send pictures home.


What else.....that's about it. Yesterday I had the opportunity to interview someone for baptism and it was a very spiritual experience, the spirit was so strong you could almost touch it. At the end of the interview she still didn't feel ready to get baptized but I hope she remembers the spirit that was there in that room. That small experience really strengthened my testimony. I love this gospel and the changes that it can make in peoples lives. I'm so glad that I let it changed mine.

Ok...for real this time

As most of you, or none of you knew, I spent the last week in Corpus Christi for a leadership training meeting. Man, Corpus is a DIFFERENT place! It felt like a completely different mission up there. It was a little weird not having to work for 3 days and living in a beach house for the week. As we walked along the beach for our morning exercise we all decided that it didn't feel like we were on the mission but it felt like we were on vacation. Thankfully that 'vacation' came to an end and we happily returned back to Laredo and went back to work....except Elder Browning....He got Strep on Saturday and picked up the stomach flu on Sunday and had been pretty much out our commission since his return to Laredo. Actually, I'm writing you all today from my death bed...so please gather around as I impart with you some words of wisdom.....NO SE CREAN! I'm still felling a little under the weather but I received a blessing today and I know that things will start to look up. 

I'm going to talk with President Trayner later today about school, but I have decided that I will be attending LDSBC and then transfer from there when I'm done.

It's super windy here today and it was super hard to wash the car, because as soon as we washed it the dust would just stick to it.....GRRRR!

At leadership training we found out who the new mission president is going to be. President Maluenda. He's from Chile! and its the first time that the mission has had a native mission president. How Exciting! to bad i won't be here when we comes. 

Welp! I thinks that about it for now!

 

Love, 

Elder Browning

creepy picture from the valentines wedding/party

Bro. Nader the DJ/Muscian....I wanted to be behind there but I'm afraid I've lost all my chops

 P.F. Changs of 'Vacation" with the Assistants

 

this is Elder Mulitalo...he's my Bruda Cuz

 

the 3 hour trek back to Laredo. I also wrote a rap on the car ride home. it will be sent in another email

LOREDO!!!!!

Holy cow! I can't believe that we will be entering the middle of February...that means that this month is almost done!

 

So first thing is first.....so far I have been admitted to BYU-I and LDSBC...I'm still waiting to hear back from BYU-Provo to make my decision. I kind of regret taking it easy my senior year....but I guess that is why they say that hindsight is 20/20. I'm just trying to be on top of the ball here....NOT TRUNKY! My future is at stake! 

 

Anyways, this week went really well. Elder Munsey and I are getting along great and I have realized that leading the largest zone in the mission is a little tiring...We didn a lot of running around fro missionaries this past week becasue of broken bikes and broken cars and parked cars and meetings and what not. I can now honestly say that I am the BIKE GURU! I have grown a love for bikes on the mission eventhough I have only been in one bike area. Elder Munsey raced bikes before the mission and we have been talking about doing that after the mission. Which leads me to my latest news...we are one a diet...well not a diet, per se, but we are eating healthier and we have a work out program. The senior couple that lives beneath us helped us make a menu and a program so we can get into shape. we going out today to buy our food. I'm kind of excited...but well see how this week ends.

 

LOVE YOU AND FELIZ DIA DE AMOR Y AMISTAD!

 

Elder Browning

Holy Smokes

---

I have no time to write this week! Everyone decided to write me this week and so I had to take a lot of time copying and pasting and formatting in Word so I don't have a ton of papers to pay for later. 

So I got some good news and some ok news. Application for school got submitted! When I was in McAllen this past week, I saw some papers concerning arriving and departing missionaries. I was on those papers.  It makes me think I don't have much time left.  I have lots of work to do?

During testimony meeting yesterday, one of the senior couples went up and bore her testimony (they go home in May as well) and she said she would only have 3 more times to bear her testimony on fast sunday....I'M NOT TRUNKY! when she said that, I was a little sad because that means I really don't have a lot of time left and I still have so much work here to do!

So that's about it this week.

Elder Browning

Hola from.....LAREDO! whaa?!?!

yes you read correctly...I know write you from the great city of Laredo. I got here on Friday and everything has still been a whirlwind of action since I received telephone call on Wednesday. There was a zone leader that went home on Friday because of medical issues so all the Zone Leaders have been tossed around. It was super sad to leave because that was the longest I have every been in an area. 6 months! thats like....half a year! I made a lot of good friends and taught alot of people. Unfortunately I had to leave before Billie got baptized on Sunday but it was made up for when I got to Laredo and we had a family of 4 get baptized. So thats the suprising news and when we had interviews with President Trayner, he told me that there was a large possiblity of me ending my mission in Laredo...which makes sense since I only have 2 1/2 transfers left....thats 15 weeks. (no I'm not getting trunky, its just a little statistics).

Being here in Laredo I feel like I'm serving in Reynosa again. There are a lot of similarities to the cultures, and it makes me happy. All that needs to happen now is to have the "Tie Fast" broken so we can go digging and to have the "conch" (its a soccer field for indoor soccer) opened again and it would really feel like Mexico. My new companion is Elder Munsey...its pretty funny. We are complete opposites but I've learned a lot about patience and so I'll be taking it easy. The funny thing is that in our 3 hour car ride home from McAllen, I was trying to describe Branson but I didn't say the city and i was like....its kinda like Vegas but not as vulgar....and he was like so you mean its kinda like Branson... and I was like yea, how do you know about branson...and then we started to talk. Funny thing is that we have a mutual friend and we'll probably go to Branson after the mission.


So, side note...Laredo is a district, meaning its not a stake and all the units our branches. Usually there is a senior couple that plays the piano on sunday but she was sick, so guess who had to play piano yesterday....this kid...and gues who is getting better at piano....this kid. but we had 2 different baptismal services yesterday so I was running back and forth between the 2 to play their music.

Welp, I think that's it. Your package got to Harligen the day I left but no worries we have ZLC on thrusday so I'll get it then. 6 hour round trip drive on thursday.....who's excited? ME

Love you Elder Browning

Another Monday is Here...HOLY COW!

I'm not a big fan of how fast time flies on Monday. It's already 2:30 and all we have done is go bowling and now we are writing emails. So I know you might be asking...Bowling, again?!? Yes but this time, a member took us and a few other missionaries and she taught us how to bowl. That's right you're now receiving a letter from Mr. 300! I'll send you my autograph later...but yea, so we still have a ton of stuff to do, and I don't have a ton of time to write. So I'm going to try and make it up with some pictures.

Not really sure what to write...I am in charge of another musical number...I know what you might me asking...Another musical number?!?! Yes and I am super excited...I have come to the realization that I really improved my musical knowledge and ability over the course of my mission. I can almost play any song, and I can play a few songs with both hands now....just the Bass notes for right now...but it's getting better. And to top it all off I've been asked to teach piano to one of the kids in the Spanish ward before church starts...OH BOY....not really looking forward to this one, but we'll see how it goes.

Yesterday at church, I was reminded of a very eternal truth. One of the members was giving a talk about our desires and our choices and she shared that "If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem," and that is so true. I was also reminded of something I shared with my missionaries a few months ago quoting that God's work and glory is"to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man." I continued to share with the missionaries that if they weren't helping bring this to pass that they were not helping Heavenly Father's plan, but hindering it and that they were not living their purpose. I know ti sounds harsh but in context it wasn't and the meeting was a very spiritual experience. But it is so very true, we can't be in the middle, we have to choose a side and then stay on that side. Every day I am reminded or taught in a different way that the gospel is black and white, and it is us that unnecessarily make the grey area that doesn't and shouldn't exist. 

Welp! I think that just about sums it up for this week! We've been enjoying some lovely weather this past week and I'm hoping it stays that same. It feels like the beginning of summer in Chicago.

Love,

Mr. 300
aka Elder Browning

My toes right after surgery, yes i still have toenails and yes Dad is still the only member of the no toenails club

the Umar Family, they know Grandpa, they were in the Hyde Park ward....i think

Elder Rodriguez and I at New Years in Brownsville, he's my BFFL!

a 50 inch Pizza! no we did not eat it all we just got the left overs

this was when it was cold like 40 degrees and we went and got chinese food

Breakfast with the Bartholomews

Yea, I know it's late!

i have literally spent all day at different doctor's offices. I went for a check up on my toes and they are doing great by the way and we also met a less active member as we waited for about an hour before my appointment. Then I went to the eye doctor ....where I met a member of the reorganized church so we got to talking....its weird in how similar yet so different we are. then we went to another eye doctor and then a check up on the bleeding belly button I had last week....i know gross, but its all better now....hopefully i wont have to see a doctor in a long time.

New Years Eve was great. we spent it in Brownsville. I couldn't play or do much because of my toes so I just caught up with Elder Rodriguez (my Biffel) then we watched 'Forever Strong' the sound wasn't working and we couldn't figure out why so another elder who ran a sound board for his drama club and myself went at the problem and viola! we got it solved 30 mins and a lot of wire later.

this week we are having our Zone Meeting on become the '4th missionary'
we had our own special meeting with the Zone Leader last week at ZLC about become the '4th' and it was a super spiritual and uplifting experience. I can't wait to do the same with our zone tomorrow. Oh and BTW....its been FREEZING here and when i say freezing i mean Texas freezing which is in the lower 40's with wind, no sun and drizzle. unfortunately, went on an exchange this week and had to ride my bike in the weather and I'm pretty sure i caught something because I don't feel so hot. but not to worry, all the members had given me medicine and love and care so I think I'm in good hands....and to reassure you...there is a member in our area that reminds me of you and our family and the crazyness and what not and when ever we complain about not having something from home or whatever she always tells us...."it's ok, I'm your Momma now!' its kind of an inside joke but nevertheless its comforting to know that we have such wonderful members here that worry about our well being.

Love you!

Elder Browning

It's over

Who would have known that the year would have passed that fast. Now it's over and tomorrow we start a new year with new goals and aspirations. I wish you all the best as we analyze the things we did, or perhaps did not so well in the past year and encourage us to make and set goals that will help us reach the potential that our Heavenly Father wees us becoming!

We reached our December goal of 10 as a Zone yesterday and I am so happy for all the service and ganas that all the members of the zone gave this month. We finished the month and year strong and now we are setting our eyes to the future. On Friday we set goals for February! HOLY COW! and, again, we welcome in January tomorrow. It's absolutely amazes me how fast time really flies and how much time we really don't have. We as a mission, and I personally, are super excited for the goals we have set for the year 2013. We have set out to baptize 1200 children of our Heavenly Father! It's quite the feat but we are all super excited to work at the side of the Master in His vineyard. This past year was a difficult year for most. I have learned un MONTON! (a lot) and the crazy thing is that I will continue learning everyday and hopefully I will continue changing to become better.

Oh! I remember something that happened this week...I got my toenails taken out! I was having a problem with one of my toenails and it growing in wrong so I went to the doctor and the doctor said...no more monkeys jumping on the bed (there are the dang monkeys again)... no but really she said that my toes grew funny and that I would have problems all my life if she didn't take them out. So I said to take them out! and out they went and now I have wrapped little piggies that won't be going to the market anytime soon. But I'm still alive and to tell you the truth they don't even hurt.

Also one last thing and this is more for the Jensens (Big Al and Josie) so my companion and I gave our talks last week and we said we were from Chicago. So yesterday one of the sister in the ward came up and started to ask which ward we were from and we told her and she wasn't familiar with any of them...now here's the cool part. I asked her how long ago and which ward was she from and she said that she moved here 5 years ago and was in the Hyde Park ward. So then I asked her if she remembered President Jensen (and for some reason people confuse Grandpa with someone else) and she said yes and then she asked how Josie's wrists were and then I knew she knew my Grandparents because I am only aware of one lady that has 'claws' and that's my Grandma! Her name is Sister. Umar....I think I will get a picture with her family next week.

Welp! That's it folks! Thanks for your prayers, thoughts and love! I wish you the very best where ever the Lord may take you in this wonderful new year!

Love you,
Elder Browning

Its [was] Christmas

I hope everyone had a very merry, berry and quite possibly but hopefully not scary Christmas! To tell y'all the truth it didn't feel a lick like Christmas. It was 82 degrees and super sunny. The only thing that gave it away was the palm trees wrapped in lights and all the stores closed. I'm not sure if I like Christmas without all the cold and snow...it just doesn't feel the same...oh well its over now and but the reason for the season should be remembered all year round.

This past Sunday I gave a talk in Spanish Ward I was SUPER SUPER nervous since it was my first time giving a talk in Spanish. After I got up to the podium all my fears and nerves left and i was able to give my talk and then fill in for the super short talk my companion gave. So I ended up talking for 25 mins....in SPANISH!!! CHECK THAT OFF THE BUCKET LIST! BOO YEAH REG! Then yesterday for Christmas I washed a pig! yep that's right you didn't misread anything, I washed a pig that some members got for Christmas to raise and then kill for bacon....btw the pig's name is....BACON...what a fitting name.

Thank you so much to all of you that sent presents. I appreciated all of them!

Sorry for not writing a lot today, I kind of got it all out of my system yesterday when I talked with my family....zorrie!

I wish you the best in all that you do and hope that you have a wonderful new years!

Love,
Elder Browning, but you can call me Grandpa Browning now because I was taught how to knit yesterday and I'll be a knitting fool in no time. Wait until next year when I knit everyone a Ron Weasley sweater.

LOVE YOUS!

ps pic - Christmas at the McMillans. Somehow this is the only picture i took yesterday

Texas McAllen Missionaries - Merry Christmas!

We need more Christmas Hymns?!?!

o yea....i think that we have sung every Christmas song possible. and their are still 2 weeks left of December. anyways......

Howdy Y'all! OK so that's not really how they talk down here its more like....buenos dias!, como estas? Everything is really well here in the Valley. We had a wonderful Christmas Zone Conference, with a Pinata, presents and beautiful musical and departing missionary testimonies. I'm going to send the music number we did home, but its on the cassette so if you want to hear it you've gotta go to my house.....sorry y'all

Everything is going great here in the south of Texas, we have baptisms lined up until the end of the year and then some. It's something about the holiday season that open the hearts of the children of our Heavenly Father. and guess what?!?! no I didn't get a pony in the mail.....I'm not getting transferred....AGAIN....this is the longest I have ever been in an area and I absolutely love it....I have no idea what president was thinking keeping "Chicago" together. Oh WELL, its time to reign another transfer of awesomeness here in Harlingen. I also would have been super sad If i were to be transferred right before Christmas...so good thing that I'm not.

Coolest and most spiritual news of the week...Marina got baptized this Sunday. She has been waiting 3 1/2 years for this day and it finally came. I had the privilege of interviewing her and hear her amazing story....GOD DOES EXIST AND KNOWS EVERYONE OF HIS CHILDREN BY NAME!

Love you all and hope you all have a Great week as Christmas pulls around the corner.

Elder Browning

We baby sat this week and elder Wray(the big one) was from LA so we threw our LAs up

Angry Birds

Us at the Wedding

I was the flower girl

Marina and Us

BRRRRRRRRRR!

its cold....no wait....it's FREEZING! its sad that I'm saying that 55 degrees is cold but its true when yesterday was in the lower 90's.

I'm writing a little later than normal because we just got finished practicing a special musical number for the Zone Christmas Conference. Yes...I'm doing another musical number and yes I just finished doing one. This time I am just a participant and not in charge of anything. Its a super sweet arrangement of 'Mary, Did You Know?' It's a duet, and the goal is to make Sister Trayner cry because of how awesome it is. This week and last week anytime Sister Trayner saw me, she always had something to say about the musical number that I put together for Mission Conference and how great it was and how much Elder and Sister Schwitzer enjoyed it.

So this week is an exciting one besides having our Christmas Parties. Janie(our recent convert) and her fiance Joseph are getting married on Wednesday! It's super exciting....Janie texted us the other day, telling us that she had finished the 1st book of Nephi. We are going to go bowling with Jospeh a little later on today. Woo Hoo!

It seems like up until the time I have to write I have a bazillion things to say but when I actually sit down and write I completely space out. Oh! I remember on thing that I wanted to say....I gave a talk on Sunday...I was asked at the ward Christmas party Saturday night if I could be one of the High Counselor's companion speaker.....it brought me back to the time when I went with Ron to visit and speak at the Watseka branch. May I brag a little by saying that I gave a pretty good talk and I had to cut it short because of time. That also reminds me to tell you about our ward Christmas party. We were asked to sing a few Christmas songs, so we did a few chrismas hymns and then we sang Feliz Navidad! we sang it a capella like SIX so I was on the trumpet, another elder on the stand up bass and others just making noise. It was super funny and the ward loved it.

Welp! that about sums it up! I feel a lot like the Grinch, as in I feel that my heart has grown 2 sizes this year toward the season of Christmas. I love you all and espero que Dios les bendiga con muchos zapatos! Que se Cuiden! con amor, brazitos, y besitos y un renito que se llama Jefferson,

Elder Browning

What a Wonderful Week

This week Elder Scwhitzer came to the mission field and we received a special Zone Leader Council with him as well as as a mission we received a lot of training. On Thursday, we stayed in McAllen after our ZLC for the Fireside that Elder Schwhitzer put on. we had just enough time for dinner, so I called up one of the families in my first area and they were happy to have us over, catch up and feed us. It was super great to see them again, and to catch up with them. I always have this feeling that when I leave an area I will be forgotten, so when the Jenkins were happy to hear from me and have me over it but my little puppy heart to rest.

and yes to clear up any confusion, they put Christmas trees and lights up down in Texas. we actually got to help a family put there's up and we ended up finding a person who would like to start investigating the church.

It was also very enjoyable to hear the words of the prophets yesterday in the Christmas devotional. something that stuck out to me was something that president Monson said

"The Christmas spirit is the time for giving without a single thought of getting"

and to add, the words of president Uchtdorf that we should be betting receivers.

Being on the mission i have come to love the Christmas season and the Christmas spirit. I wish you all a wonderful week full of love and surprises.

Love,
Elder Browning

A thanksgiving dinner

Bowling at Bass Pro Shop

Jaws of Death?

The Jenkins Family

Setting up Christmas Trees

This is our ablum cover for our boy band "The Next Level"

NO MAS GUAJALOTE!

I cant believe how fast Thanksgiving got here! and this Saturday its CHRISTMAS!!!! ok maybe not Christmas, but its the first day of December. HOLY SMOKES!

Its sad to think that this was my first and last Thanksgiving in the mission field. Last time I had it at the MTC and things were crazy there as Zach has already mentioned. It was fun....luckily we only had 2 food appointments and that my friends was plenty. I can confidently say that I didn't feel sick after eating for 4 hours. PACE was the key and eating little bits at a time helped as well.

This Thursday we will be privileged to hear the words of Elder Greg Switzer of the 2nd Quorum of the Seventy. We will be in McAllen Thursday and Friday. We as Zone Leaders have a special meeting with him and on Thursday and then on Friday he will address the entire mission.....SO EXCITING!!!!

So quick funny story before I sign off. Elder Boswell is from Naperville. I know that, but I guess it never registered. The other day we were pillow talking (jsut talking at night after prayers and what have you) and we were talking about certain things in Plainfield/Naperville and then it hit me that he is from where I am from. Small world story....since Zach told his....Scottie Sonnenburg is in his home ward.

Welp! that's about it.....gotta get our stuff done today because we are going bowling at Bass Pro Shop! WOOOHOOOO!

Love,
Elder Browning

I'm a bald bunny....ain't got no fur!

so funny story.....I'm now a bald bunny....or at least i feel like it. So awhile ago i discovered a growth on my stomach. So i called sis. Trayner, she called the doctor and the doctor said....no more monkeys jumping on the bed (there are those dang monkeys again, good thing a had monkey chow) no but he told me what to do to take care of it. Heat compress and soapy water. well, it hurt as i rubbed my belly with my furry belly so i decided to shave a patch so i wouldn't hurt anymore....well that patch turned into my entire chest and lets just say its a little chilly......I'll save you the pictures...but I'm off today to go see the doctor because my belly lump has not gone away.....hopefully i wont hear the word 'pompis" again like i did about 2 years ago when i was in that sketchy doctors office in Mexico.

with that being said, I'm sure you are busy as ever with getting Zach ready to enter the MTC.....Holy Cow that's on WEDNESDAY.....which means that we are having transfers down here as well. Elder Mickelsen is heading out and I'm receiving a new companion....He's name is elder Boswell and guess where he is from.....If you guessed NAPERVILLE, ILLINOIS you are absolutely right!

He lives by 88 and 355! I have no idea what president was thinking when he put 2 Chicagoans together but I'm super excited. now all the missionaries in the mission that are from Chicago are now in one zone...and that's here in Harlingen. This will be his first time a as Zone Leader so I will be 'training' him. I'm super excited for the change as well as for all the AWESOME stuff that is going on in our area! things are looking so good. we are baptizing next week and having a wedding a couple of weeks after that. welp, i think that is about it. Its cold and it feels like a Chicago November and I absolutely love it and we have been listening to Christmas music for the past couple of days....who would have thunked it....it think Branson did something to me.

Love,
Elder Browning