I AM HERE!!!!!!

i`m here safe. i thought i was ready but now that I'm down here i have learned other wise. we didn't get into Monterrey until 1045 and didn'tgo to bed till 1215. its way fun and i'm super excited to be here. i've met my companion, elder Heredia. Him and I are opening an area. he's from Chihuahua and speaks no ingles. this is going to be fun. well i just have 10 mins to write home. I'm here, I'm safe and I'm going to become a mexican. President Walker is great, i know I'm going to love him and is wife already. love you.

hasta proxima semana! (until next week!)

elder browning

I'M GOING TO MEXICO!!!!!

Hey so I finally got my visa! and should be leaving this week.



funny story, so on our way to the consulate they called and said that there was a mistake and only half of us would get our visas. fortunately i was in the lucky half. miss you all! Que tenga un buen dia!

Elder Browning

HOLA de.......

THE MTC!! Todavia no tenemos nuestras visas. ijole! (We still dont have our visas. Shoot!)

Staying here has been somewhat of a blessing though. I had the opportunity to be here for thanksgiving (which i hope everyone had the bestest thanksgiving and took a nap for me). So one of the benefits of staying here for thanksgiving is i got to listen to Elder Holland and his family. Kinda of a side note and funny story, I've been praying that i would here from elder holland before i left and when we were supposed to leave 2 weeks ago i was a little upset but i know that one reason we didnt receive our visas is so that i could hear from him. It was so great and spiritual. all his grandchildren sang a song (it was like primary program) and the youngest one was in the front singing the loudest (yelling) and he started on the 2 verse of the song so all the other grandchildren started laughing and had to stop and start over. It felt just like home.

so to my understanding my 'bear pelt' was the topic of conversation -------

****SUPER SIDE NOTE!!!! while writing this i got called down to the travel office and i'm going to the conselate TODAY to GET MY VISAS which means we are leaving either by the end of this week or next week. ESTOY MUY MUY MUY MUY ANIMADO!!!!!-------END SUPER SIDE NOTE!!!!****

so back to the bear pelt, I understand that i am to come home with it...well that doesnt look like thats going to happen. There was an elder in our district that didnt get his permisas and he got retransferred to Boise, Idaho. We was supposed to go the monterrey, and like me he didint pack any warm clothes. so instead of buying a coat for the short time he was going to be there i let him take the bear pelt to keep him warm. pues, lo siento! the bear pelt will not be making it back to chicago. it will probably resside in Idaho for time and all eternity.

so i dont have much more to write. Love you all. Next week i'll be writing from mexico!

Love,
Elder Kye Browning

Greetings From....

The MTC....we did not get our visas this past week nor did we receive our travel plans...we did however received our Permisas which is like a promise visa saying that they will come eventually. We got called down to the travel office and they told us once we have permisas its anywhere from 1-4 weeks until we receive our actual Visas. Our hopes are shot for receiving them this week because everything is closing mid week due to Thanksgiving. So we will start hoping again next week.

so thats a little update with the status of things around here. Anyways...HAPPY (early) THANKSGIVING! I here that we actually get real food! so i'm pretty excited.

So now its time to get to the fun stuff....yet again i have added a few more things to my "list" this past week. all of which happened from Saturday Night - This Morning.

**Background: Elder Sweet doesn't sleep at night, he would rather stay up and "write" then sleep. I have told him he needs to sleep or he's going to make himself sick! end background**

Well, guess who spent all saturday night/sunday morning throwing up??? why? because we've had teaching week this past week and the stress levels are thru the roof because we have been teaching in solo espanol. so what happens when stress levels are high and you dont get sleep. You get super sick. so i spent my sunday morning/afternoon in the emergency room at the Provo hospital. It was quite the experience because we were driven and it was the first time i've been in a car and off the MTC campus in 2 months. So wierd! So from sunday to today i've been studying for practically 48 hours. no class just studying. needless to say he's doing better.

one other thing. the reign of the '12' was ended last week. but from what i hear we are supposed to get quite a few general authorities for thanksgiving.

well i'm all out of time. Just kinda heads up...for those wanting to send letters/packages (not saying you have to) i would urge you to get a move on it because i'm not sure if or when we are leaving.

Love, Elder Browning

Ps Its as cold as penguin balls!!! (ask my mom for the reference)

Well....

it looks like we are still here. unfortunately we did not get our flight plans this past week which means we are not leaving this monday. sad day! we went to the travel office yesterday and they said that they had no clue about anything. they couldnt even give us a rough time line as to when we will be here. they just said we'll let you know when we know. so as of now we are stuck in limbo. there are a few things that can happen now.
1) we could get our flight plans this week and still leave when we are supposed to

2) we could get re-assigned (meaning we get another call to serve somewhere else until our visas in)

3) were are here till we get our visas (whick could be any length of time)

I'm still here. the eye is getting better. last weeks general authority was Elder David A Bednar. 4 weeks in a row never heard of at MTC!

 

nothing else to exciting. I'm hoping this is the last time you will hear from me in the states if not you will here from me in a week where ever i might be

Love

Elder Browning

Time to Check Another Thing Off My List

So yes, I have again had the opportunity to check another thing off my list. I'm not really sure how to sure coat this one so I'm just going to say it. **note: I'm fine...it's healing...end note** Friday I was punched in the eye by a 350-lbs Samoan, side note: he was a professionaly UFC fighter before coming on his mission.

Just to clear things up...no I didnt do anything to provoke him...i was simple in the wrong place at the wrong time. It was after gym and he punched the wall but missed the wall and hit my eye. so i've been walking around the MTC with a pretty nice Shiner.

Pictures will come soon.
So lets see some things about this week....

1) Elder M. Russell Ballard was our speaker for our Tuesday Night Devotional. That's THREE Apostles IN A ROW! Super stoked to see wahts in store for tonight!



2)Sheri Dew spoke to us on Sunday Night, and apparently it was a really good talk....i wouldn't know because I was using the headset/translator.



3) WE GET OUR TRAVEL PLANS TOMORROW!! From what we have heard (thru the grapevine) Visas to get into Mexico are getting better. Apparently, there were elections in mexico and no one was in office to sign and approve visas. But please keep us in your prayers. As much as I want to stay here I want to LEAVE! 



4)If we actually leave when we are supposed to we have 12 days left.

5)I got a coat in the mail today and no joke it looks like a Bear Pelt. I look so good walking around the MTC. btw its so warm and its getting so cold. Pictures will come (but the picture printer in the bookstore is behind so i wont get my pictures till after i leave, sad day but i will print them all when i get to mexico and can go to walmart (yes they have one in monterrey)

thats about all i got this week. Thank you for all the letters and love. I'm only have 1 1/2 weeks of reliable mail service if not you will all have to do dearelder.com
Elder Kye Browning
MTC Mailbox # 176
MEX-MONE 1122
2005 N 900 E
Provo UT 84604

Till next week
Elder Kye Browning

You can check it off my list - (Tuesday, November 2, 2010)

This week has gone an past! I get my Travel PLans next week which means I'm almost outta here. GA watch...Richard G Scott. Way awesome. i'm almost for sure we are getting the prophet this week. keep your fingers crossed. HOpe everyone had a great halloween. i'm sorry i dont have a lot to write. nothing really exciting has happened this week. just the same old. I appreciate all the letters from everyone. they really help adn brighten up the week. the song we perfromed in church went phenominal and athe branch president gave me a hug because it was his favorite song. we ended up doing the entire song a capella and it turned out great.  So just like taylor *erhm* Elder Hardy i to have a list to accomplish before i leave here at the MTC. one of those things was accomplished this past week

**note: those wtih weak stomachs may not want to read: end note**

So last friday i was minding my own business in the store and as i was looking through some pictures another elder wasnt feeling so well and threw up, but not just and throw up, PROJECTILE THROW UP and guess who was the lucky recipient of this projectile vomit......if you guessed ME...YOUR ABSOLUTELY RIGHT!!!



It was a awful day. it was all over my suit and my shoes and my pants. I got in the cuffs of my pants and in the little tiny button hole in my buttons. It was a little awkward handing my puke coverd suit to the dry cleaners.
So that just about wraps up my week, not a whole lot. Studying, teaching, and learning spanish. All in the day of a MTC Missionary

Till next week,
Elder Browning

I Am King of the Black Market!!!! (Tuesday, October 26, 2010)



**NOTE So let me give a little background to the title. So one thing I failed to mention last week was that I 'illegalized' tie trading within our Zone. At first I was really ashamed , but now I have taken pride in it. So now that tie trading has been banned in our zone and in our floor. I have to go to other building and other floors to trade. therefore entering the black market of tie trading. this past week i have dominated the market and have aquired some pretty re-donk-ulous ties. pics will be sent soon. END NOTE**

This week was pretty normal. I also failed to mention that I have been called as the music coordinator in our branch. I have to do all the muiscal things for church. I'm so stoked. I have arranged an a capella piece of 'Brightly Beams' in spanish to be performed next week on sunday. it sounds way good. Last weeks 'general authority watch' was ELDER Russell M. Nelson. Its was way awesome to hear from an Apostle of the Church before we leave.



Elder Sweet and I 'aquired' 2 new investigators and so now we have 3 and we are super busy. We got a new district this week and they seem pretty cool. I have been able to get to know them because of my new calling. So its getting FREAKING COLD here.   

it was like 80 last week and now its snowing in the mountains and its supposed to snow my thursday. not excited! especially because i didnt pack a coat because i'll be in mexico where its warm. and i only have one suit. not complaining just saying. theres really nothing new. spanish is coming along. I am forcing myself to talk it more because thats what i'm having the hardest time with.

love and miss you all!
and in case you forgot!

Elder Kye Browning
MTC Mailbox #176
MEX-MONE 1122
2005 N 900 E
Provo, UT 84604



Elder Browning



Halfway Gone.....Now I'm On My Way!!! (Tuesday, October 19, 2010)

Que tal!

This week has been like every other week. not aton happening. We had the opportunity to hear from Bishop Edgley, the 1st conselor of the Presding bishopric. Way cool and super very spiritual.

We had one of our districts leave this past week. it was sad. they were our zone leaders and helped us a ton gettting settled in. It was sad because now one of my good friends, Elder Williamson (He's from South Africa and you better believe I'm going to visit him), left as well they all headed out to the sotuhern most mission the church has. In Chile, i forgot what mission but i do know its the most south. Spanish is coming along well, I have gotten to the point where i can read and listen and write it very well but i'm having a more difficult time speaking it. and as you all know i'm going to have to speak it al ton. so keep me in your prayers. thats about it! I'm safe and well. Me and Elder Sweet are getting along more and it has helped a ton as we have taught more lessons and investigators. Love you all.

Elder Browning

Week 3 - Solomente Espanol (Tuesday, October 12, 2010)

This week has been great. The days are long and the weeks are short. Not to much to report this week, other than going to the TRC, which is where we teach 'investigators' and practice our language. This week has been our first normal one here. our first week we get orientated, our second week was general conference so our scheduales were different and this week I can say we have finally settled into the routine of things. Also, Elder Sweet and I have tought our first "Progressive Investigator" where a teach acts as if they are a real investigator. Fun stuff, but we both left the appointment disappointed and felt that we didnt express our feelings and message as well as we could or should. o Starting yesterday, our classes are being taught solomente en Espanol - Only in Spanish. ¡Ay de me! its been difficult especially yesterday. Our teacher was sick and he couldnt find a sub so instead of teaching we had MDT or study time. so instead of our normal 4 hours of MDT we had 7 1/2 hours of MDT and by the time class came around that night, our brains were fried. so when class was only in spanish everyone threw in the towel and gave up for the night. so this pday is going to be used to recupe from yesterday. thats about it! till next week friends. and as always heres my address if anyone feels the urge to write.


Elder Kye Browning
MTC Mailbox #176
MEX-MONE 1122
2005 N 900 E
Provo, UT 84604

Miss you all, Love you much!

Elder Browning

Week 2 from the MTC (Tuesday, October 5, 2010)

I hope you all had a excellent conference weekend. It was weird but very enjoyable to see all 5 sessions of conference. I miss you all and cant wait to hear from you. The MTC experience at first is a little overwhelming but I'm happy to say that I have settled in quite nicely. My Companions name is Elder Sweet, from Lubbock Texas and yes, Sis. Hardy he knows your parents, or at least of your parents and I will be sure to look for you nephew here in a few weeks. I cant believe I've only been here two weeks, it definitely feels like at least a month. The days are long but were are so busy I lose track of time and a mojority of the time I forget what day it is. I guess I have lost myself in the work of the Lord. So one thing was the hardest to get use to is having a 'shadow' 24 hours a day. I dont want to say it like a bad thing but have a companion is one of the hardest things to get use to. Its nice because you always have someone to talk to but at the same time if your having a bad day, unfortunately, hes the one you take your frustration out on. Like this past week, I was having a bad day and I just let my companion have it. not on purpose but apparently he was having a bad day also so if you can imagine it was like a walrus fighting a hippo (i'm not saying i or my companion are fat, just that walri and hippos are very aggresive animals) It was not a good day. but since then we have overcome our differences and found that we both express ourselves through music. so wa have spent alot of time sitting at the pianos around the MTC. He's jealous of me becuase i listen and play by ear and i'm jealous of him because he can sight read like its no ones business. we also have joined the MTC choir. Unfortunately we were like 1-2 weeks late to join the MTC mens choir for conference but it would have been so awesome to been there. Regardless the spirit was so strong in conference. I love how at conference it seems that the apostles have written a talk specifically for you. It just strengthens my testimony that God loves us and knows us by name and knows waht we go through every day. Its still hard to imagine how much spanish i have learned in just these 2 weeks, I can honestly say i have probably learned more spanish in these 2 weeks then in 4 years in high school. though the 4 years have helped. So times running out so i guess this is my farewell for now. I love you all and keep you in my prayers. If any of you would like to write me I would suggest dearelder.com or good old snail mail. My mission is the Monterrey Mexico East. I'm not sure exactly what is needed for dear elder but if you have any questions you can ask my mom. I ask for dear elders or snail mail only because i dont have a lot of time to read and then write emails, so if you write me then i can email you back or even write you back.


Snail Mail:
Elder Kye Browning
MTC Mailbox #176
MEX-MONE 1122
2005 N 900 E
Provo, UT 84604
Love,
Elder Browning