That's a Wrap!

Dear family,

First, a video!

Well I'm the most shocked of anyone that 18 months has come and gone this fast. Serving a mission has been the best decision I have ever made. People keep asking me, "how have you seen yourself change from the beginning of your mission till now?" And that's really caused me to reflect. Im still me, but I have changed a lot. I know and love my Savior on a personal level that I hadn't experienced before. I understand not just how blessed I am to have the gospel in my life, but how rare that is, and I understand the urgency to bring the gospel to a fallen and searching world. I've learned how to love people. I've learned how to work hard and be happy. I've learned how to repent. The things that I want and my highest priorities in life are different now than they were before my mission. I know that I wouldn't be prepared to be the wife and mother I need to be someday without my mission. It was definitely a necessary part of the plan for me, and such a blessing!

There are three things we can take with us after we die, and that's our knowledge, our character, and our relationships. The relationships I've been able to form on my mission are the most precious things to me. I love everyone I have met and served with here and especially the people I was able to teach. I have seen people change through the atonement of Christ and find true lasting joy, and I know now that all they have to do to start on that path is to read the book. The Book of Mormon is true and I have had an unmistakeable witness of that. Joseph Smith was a prophet. Christ's church was restored through him and is on the earth today. I know God loves us, and I know the Savior is our everlasting friend. The whole purpose of the gospel is to help us live forever with our families. I'm excited to be a member missionary and apply all the things I've learned in a new adventure!

Love you all, and see you soon!
Sister Megan Browning

Bowling

President and sister snow took us after our Monday meeting :) and then we went to lunch. It was like my "last hurrah field trip" he called it. I've never laughed so hard while bowling (you'd be surprised how well missionary humor and bowling go together). Felt like President threw me a surprise birthday party! It was what we all needed because this is gonna be one stressful week with Christmas conferences!

It's December!

Dear Family,

It sounds like you're doing great! It's so crazy that the pool is basically done! Ryan looks so good at his dance competition!

Right now my life kind of sounds like this:

"I'm dreaming tonight of a place..." SKIP

"I'll be home for...." SKIP

"All I want for Christmas is..." SKIP

Haha. So, yes Mom, tug-of-war is right! It's exciting and also heartbreaking to think about coming home. So I'm just soaking up every last minute I can.

Here's our week in a minute and 45! Thanks for continuing to pray for me and for your emails :) This next week and a half is going to be the best! I plan to just go out with guns blazing! I love my mission so much and I'm grateful for every second I get to spend here.

D&C 123:17 "Therefore, dearly beloved brethren, let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed." 

Love you all two times around the world, and then some :) 

Love, Sister Browning 

Blown fuses and Tongan food

Dear family that I love,

This week was crazy! We had 3 exchanges back to back to back. It was exhausting but great. It's such a privilege to serve with such hardworking obedient sisters and get to know them and learn from them.

Heavenly Father has been doing some really cool and crazy stuff in our area this week, and the amazing part is he is using our blunders to His advantage. No, Alex's family hasn't kept their initial commitment, but he's led us to other families who are ready for the gospel as we've done silly things like knock on the wrong door! And break ovens! And take wrong turns! Heavenly Father works in mysterious (and sometimes downright weird) ways! We don't have to be perfect, we just have to be trying!

So in honor of all crazy miracles we saw this week my ponderize scripture for the week is Jacob 4:7. "Nevertheless, the Lord God showeth us our weakness that we may know that it is by his grace, and his great condescensions unto the children of men, that we have power to do these things."

Exchanges in Whitney ranch with Sister Redford!

 Exchanges in east with sister Palanite! It's been a week full of learning about Tonga! :) 

Hooray for Lisiate! He's the coolest person ever! 

Happy thanksgiving! Tell the extended family hello and give them hugs from me! This year I'm so grateful for the Atonement of Christ and everything I've learned about it for the past 18 months. Life would be nothing without it!

 Love you all, 

Sister Megan Browning 

It's a Jungle out there!

Hi family!

We survived week 1! In most of the pictures we took this week, I look
like the living dead. So I will not be sending them home. Haha :) But
here is sister Walton and I when we took the departing missionaries to
the temple!

I love having a curly haired companion. She understands!

Tuesday and Wednesday were the craziest days. We were helping with transfers, meetings, driving departing missionaries to the airport at 4am, picking up the new ones, training them, and then staying up till 1:30 working on stuff. By Thursday we were giving trainings in our sleep. It was a blast. I loved getting to see the new missionaries come down the escalator and hold the big "welcome new missionaries sign." It was a good conversation starter and we got a couple good contacts there in the airport ;)

It was also really cool to see Heavenly Father just pour down miracles in the few hours we did have to proselyte. Even though our time was so limited it was the very best week of my mission in terms of finding and teaching. We street contacted a YSA age girl named Alex who we passed off to those missionaries. They in turn told us to go teach the whole family and invite them to be baptized! Sure enough, Alex, her parents, and her teenage brothers were all there and all accepted a baptism date of December 12. Wow!!!

Missionary work continues to be the funniest, the weirdest, and the awkward-est. This one guy we were teaching, Eric, was given a huge lizard as a pet and we showed up as he was wrestling it from the car into his apartment. Not the weirdest thing I've ever seen. Halfway through the lesson I noticed a tarantula waving it's nasty arms behind the glass of its cage. I'm happy to say that I did NOT flip out! Progress is real ;) I was really thinking about asking him if I could hold it, yknow, total immersion and all that, but he dropped us so I won't have to face that fear. Bittersweet. ;)

I love you all and I love the gospel! Jesus Christ is our everlasting friend and His church has been restored :) have a happy week!

Love, Sister Browning

Plot twist!

Angelica's baptism was awesome! Her dad got to baptize her which was
really cool to see :) at the end she said "I have an announcement" and
got up and bore her testimony. So sweet!

Last lesson with the Lopez family. I will sure miss them.

We took a huge 15 seater van to get lunch after our meeting with president today, there were so many of us! Haha it was so fun!

This week I have been thinking a lot about how the gospel is the good news of Jesus Christ. The word gospel literally means "good news!" I'm so grateful I have another transfer to share the good news of Christ as His full time representative! I invite you all to live the good news and pass it on :)

Love,
Sister B

Face-sized flan and other chum churning encounters

Happy November Y'all!

So much has happened this week I don't even know where to begin! We
found tons of new people to teach and several of them were referrals
from members. We're finally starting to feel like we know the members
and are gaining their trust. We are teaching an awesome family, victor
and Michelle, in one ward, Karen Paula and Yelenis in another, a woman
named Karen who used to be a member and is ready to come back after 30
years, and an amazing lady named Yolanda that the God just totally
placed in our path. We have a sweet 11 year old girl that we call
Jelly getting baptized on Saturday and her family has been reactivated
in the process. .It is such a blessing to be in this area. And
Heavenly Father has been so good to us. It is impossible to get
bored!!

For Halloween all the missionaries (except for out-of-valley, which is
why I didn't go last year) went to the mission office for a Halloween
party. Each zone did a "worst member present lesson ever" themes skit.
They were stupid but we were all roaring with laughter. I guess it
doesn't take much to entertain 200 missionaries! then we watched the
Cokeville miracle which is quite possibly the best thing of my life. I
heard a lot of sniffling from the roe behind me and I know there
weren't no sisters back there... Elders are softies!

Pday fun with our ward mission leader, his wife and her parents :)

This was our pumpkin!

I got to take meet my great-granddaughter at the Halloween party :) I trained the sister to the left of me, and she trained the next one, and so on. To my right is also a granddaughter :)

Egg nog is now in the stores! Oh happy day! 

So if Katherine (may her wisdom teeth rest in peace) is looking for something soft to eat, I would recommend flan. Because it literally takes no teeth. One day, as we were out street contacting, we ran into a member who invited us inside. After visiting for a minute we had to go to an appointment. The member goes "Wait!!" And serves us each the BIGGEST SLICES OF FLAN I HAVE EVER SEEN.... Well we are late so we scarf it down, and thank goodness you can basically just stab and swallow. We went straight from the appointment to a dinner of shrimp enchiladas and rice and beans and MORE DESSERT and by the end we were dying. Prayed through the rest of the evening and tried to keep down the puke. I don't think I'll ever be able to eat flan again. 

Another funny food story- We were going to a member's home for a lesson that the bishop had set up for us. When we got to the home the investigator answered the door, and we thought she was the member's wife, WRONG-O... Then as we're sitting there getting to know the investigator the member LEAVES to take his son to the movies... He leaves us there in his house with the investigator! So we stall for as long as we can. when he comes back we are late to our next appointment and have to leave, and HE pulls out food too... Soggy 3 day old sandwiches with blubbery meat I couldn't chew. I didn't know what to do with it so I thanked him graciously and asked him if I could take it with me. All I knew was I couldn't run the risk of gagging at his kitchen table. Oh boy! My heart is touched by his generosity but my stomach just couldn't do it! 

Sure love you all! The Gospel is true and brings real, lasting, inner peace! Don't forget to ponderize! 

2 Nephi 28:30 :) 

Sister Megan Browning

D&C 18:10

"Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God." My

ponderizing scripture for the week!

Hi Family that I love,

Congrats to Ryan for becoming a brown belt! That takes hard work! Way

to go bud :)

So I don't think I realized just how big the pool house was going to

be... The pictures make it look HUGE! If it's up and running when I

get home, can we swim with the lights off? Cause my tan lines might

blind people.... Hahaha just kidding ;)

What is everyone dressing up as for Halloween?? We can't dress up...

But at a ward trunk or treat we met another little sister missionary!

How cute right?? She got it right down to the cardigan and the no-show socks. 

Mom, I just want to say that you were so inspired to tell me to study grace. The timing couldn't have been better. On Tuesday, I pondered grace and read 2 Ne 2:9. On Wednesday, I helped a young missionary through her first stress breakdown of her mission. On Thursday, an active family informed us that they would no longer be attending church because of some doctrinal discrepancies they thought they found. On Friday, our newly-reactivated soon-to-be priesthood holder told us that he found anti and no longer believes that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. That same night, I also found out that Nate and Jori have decided that they don't believe in the Book of Mormon anymore and are totally done with the Mormon church. 

I finally found myself asking, "Where is grace in all of these situations?" Grace has helped me still feel ok. I was able to empathize and know what to say to that struggling sister missionary because of grace. Grace is in the fact that the stories of these friends of mine aren't over. I know that through the grace of Christ they can find renewed faith as soon as they want it. I have felt my own faith strengthen in circumstances which, if not for the reality of Christ's grace, would have hurt my testimony. This week I've felt lonely but not alone, sad but not without comfort, and disappointed but not without hope. I remember during one heartbreaking lesson silently praying and thanking Heavenly Father for allowing me to have experiences that are slowly solidifying my conversion to Christ and His restored gospel. 

I know that He lives. I know that we experience happiness and peace because He lives. Every good thing we have is a gift from Him, and "there must needs be an opposition in all things" because a loving Heavenly Father wants us to know what joy feels like. We live in a fallen world but I really believe God's got this. As Sister Porter would say, "you can get glad in the same pants you got mad in!" It will all work out and God's team has been the winning team all along! 

I love you all soooo much. Have a happy Halloween and a great week! 

Sister Megan Browning

"If you really want to get God talking, ask Him about His kids."

Dear Family, 

Grace is the best!! Thanks for reminding me to read that BD section! That one and the section on Prayer are my favorites. A quote on grace by Brad Wilcox: "Christ doesn't make up the difference... Christ makes all the difference."

So yes, grace. Grace and vitamins. Those are what I must rely on. ;) (thanks for sending those, Mom, I used up everything I had in my last area so I can't wait to get your package.)

This week was great! We had a few exchanges and tons of lessons and lots of little miracles! 

I had Sister Lee with me in the area for the day, and that was the funniest exchange I have ever been on. She is 33, from South Korea, learning English and has been in the field for 9 weeks. We saw all kinds of miracles, like meeting a woman who was part Korean (she was black and it was dark outside... never would have guessed) who had literally just made Korean food and was looking for a church/baptism. Whoa!! What are the odds! I've never seen a happier missionary than Sister Lee in that moment. Haha 

We also met a woman named Brenda who's just amazing. Trying to meet some more members, we knocked on a door where we knew two YSA-aged kids lived, and their mom Brenda answered. Her children have both taken missionary lessons on their own and joined the church but she has never sat down and talked with the missionaries. But she is the most Christlike person I have ever met and loves God so much. She's been through every trial you can think of found Christ because of it and has built a beautiful life for her kids. She told us, "If you really want to get God talking, ask him about His kids. He's the proudest parent in the universe." Sometimes she'll look at a person and ask God, "tell me about that person." And she gets a little glimpse of them through God's eyes. Then the Spirit will tell her, "now go tell them that." And that's how she gets to help people see their potential. What a gift! She told us that she used to be afraid of the Mormon missionaries but that now she's open to listen. We promised her that that same Spirit she is so attuned to will testify to her the truth of our message if she opens her heart, reads, and prays. Can't wait to see what happens! 

Funny quote of the week: While standing on a doorstep, the member who was out with us looked at me and goes, "You know, even though you're... dying slowly... I appreciate that you're still willing to work."

Thank you? Hahaha 

My ponderize scripture is 2nd Nephi 7:11. "Behold all ye that kindle fire, that compass yourselves about with sparks, walk in the light of your fire and in the sparks which ye have kindled." I'm really not sure what it means, but I read it this morning and thought it sounded cool. Like... As you help others light the fire of their testimonies, keep yours burning bright by living what you believe. It's Isaiah, so... It could mean anything... Any thoughts? 

Tell Becca Parkes I said congratulations on her homecoming! She has kept in contact with me my whole mission and I just admire her so much for the way she served and the person she's become. And please tell Cheryl Porter that I love her. How fun that you got to spend some good time with her. :)  

Love you to infinity and beyond! Hurrah for Israel! 

Love, 

Sister Megan Browning

Our ward mission leader and his wife are two of the best human beings this side of the Rockies. At dinner we learned that Bro Ackerman has a drag racing Oldsmobile which he let us sit in and pretend to drive. It's the best we could do! ;) 

Vroom vroom! 

"The future of your faith is not by chance, but by choice."

Dear Family,

My new ponderizing scripture is Matt 6:3-4 if you're curious :) thanks

for sharing yours!

I got a sweet package from the Houghtons today and I'll be writing a

letter back soon! Please tell them I said thank you for thinking of me

:)

Glenn's baptism on Saturday was wonderful! Something cool- there were

back to back baptisms at the stake center all afternoon. On the hour,

every hour. These missionaries are working so hard and seeing so many

miracles! It's just a blessing to be serving around them!

Glenn just has the purest heart. He will make a wonderful member of the church! You go Glenn coco! 

Sorry if my letter's a little short this week- I am going to go use my Pday time to nap. This is the most exhausted I think I have ever been. This week we had so many appointments that we had to work through lunch most days and dinner a couple times. It's constant go, go, go!

 On Thursday I got to go on exchanges with sister Koyle, and the night after exchanges sister Porter and I realized we didn't make any time to plan our trainings for the zone meeting the next day. I knew I was supposed to train on having effective studies but I didn't know how my tired brain was going to come up with anything good. I knelt down in my bathroom, exhausted, and prayed for Heavenly Father to help me plan this training because I knew I couldn't do it on my own. As soon as I opened my scriptures, the revelation came: Miracles. I was supposed to train on miracles, and how we prepare for miracles by studying for our investigators. It turned out to be pretty good. I know it would have been nothing on my own. It was a great lesson on doing everything through Christ! 

This week I've been thinking a lot about the power of faith and really loved reading Neil L. Anderson's talk from the priesthood session. Our faith really is always either increasing or decreasing. I've asked myself the question he asks, "how does the Savior see my faith?" It's a humbling question and there's so much room for improvement! I'm going to keep striving for the great faith that's in the scriptures and invite you all to do the same :) 

I love each of you and I'm praying for you by name! 

Love,

Sister Megan Browning

Why have I not learned Spanish?!

Whitney Ranch friends (from Megan's former area)

My Bestest Hafen family. I would take all the kids home with me if I could.


The Turleys! Minus bro Turley :( they told me to come back and ride their motorcycles after my mission. Bucket list!!

Nate and Jori. And baby Drew :)  We had an amazing last lesson together and they're in good hands :) I miss them!

*****

Hi family that I love so much!

Wasn't conference amazing?? I was going to ask if you were all "ponderizing" but you beat me to it! Those are awesome scriptures. Mine for the week is one that President Monson mentioned, Matthew

5:16. "let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your father which is in heaven." Siblings, what are your ponderizing scriptures?? The theme of conference for me was choosing to live so that the Spirit can be with you. It seemed like they really wanted us to up our game on seeking the Holy Ghost. At least that's what I took from it. :) I love President Monson so much and am so excited about the 3 new apostles. I know they're called of God!

And did you hear all the conversion stories that the speakers shared about themselves?? SO COOL!

The young man in Elder Holland's talk is actually a good friend of mine from my first area Robindale. We'd kept in touch once he left for BYUI and I'd heard from Sister Luke that he went back out to finish his mission. I recognized the story immediately because of the time he

told us the whole thing in great detail over a lunch of peanut butter sandwiches in his home. He told us, "I tell you this story with two requirements: you don't feel sad for me, and you share it with  

you think it will help." It made me cry to see his story reach and help millions of people all over the world. I think that's exactly what he wants. :) His amazing mom does deserve every bit of praise

Elder Holland gave her.

This last week feels like 6 in one. Short of riding a rollercoaster, whitewashing an area is the most exciting, exhilarating, crazy thing! I love it so much! Sister Porter is from Idaho as well! She has been out for 6 months and is a new STL with me. She's 23, a trained therapist, and engaged to be married when she gets home. And basically just one of the best missionaries I know. Her and I have very similar personalities- she's like a more loving, graceful and wise version of me. Haha :) we work really well together and are having so much fun.

For example.... When we moved into our apartment, there was all kinds of fun leftovers from previous sisters (I now have a new wardrobe) and this was the first thing I found:

"Ooh. Ahh. That's it, I'm not going." --the Grinch

Then Sister Porter tried it. Ooo la la! 

Because of conference weekend we still haven't met a lot of the members, but the ones we have met have been very supportive. Very humble, awesome, salt-of-the-earth people. We're going to be working with them to improve relationships a lot. Work was happening before we got here but it seems like the area was ready for a change of pace. 

So let me explain "east Las Vegas." Our area covers from Nellis to Treeline and from Vegas Valley to Charleston, if you have a map. When I was in Temple View YSA this area was just a small postage stamp in a much bigger area that took in Sunrise, Central, and East Las Vegas stakes. I haven't been in this zone before, temple view is considered sunrise stake, but I do know a couple of the members that have YSA age children at home. It's pretty ghetto in some places and full of TONS OF PEOPLE. Basically my dream area. I've used more Spanish here than ever and just wish I would have taken that darn class in high school or BYU! It would really be coming in handy right now! 

We're teaching an older man named Glenn who finished reading the Book of Mormon this week! He also came to all the sessions of conference! He is so ready for baptism. The stake president (whose home I skyped from last Mother's Day) was at the stake center with us for each session- he told all the missionaries that he felt a prompting that there was someone who needed us and he would accompany anyone to a lesson between or after sessions. So we introduced him to Glenn and were able to have a great lesson with him in President Timothy's office about repentance. It meant a lot that, with all the demands on his time, and I'm sure just wanting to be with family, he made a little time for some missionaries and their investigators. :) 

I love my area, my companion, I love the feeling of hitting the ground running and learning fast, I love all the opportunities ahead... I just love my mission and I'm going to squeeze every last drop of goodness out of it that I can! I'm more exhausted than ever and happier than ever. This is the joy that comes in little bursts whenever we share the gospel and can permeate our lives as we live it. The speakers in conference each testified of this joy and I want to spend the rest of my life seeking it and spreading it. Life's too short not to be happy and grateful! I love you and hope you have a wonderful week! 

Love, 

Sister Megan Browning

I'm going on an adventure!

Hey all! 

For those who watched the Women's broadcast- wasn't it amazing? I think President Uchtdorf's talk was something that everyone needs to watch. His message was actually something I've been learning all transfer-- something Sister Loveless has been teaching me by example. She is like the happiest person I know, regardless of anything that happens in life. I'm so grateful to have been her companion. I've made so many amazing friends on the mission and many of them have been my companions. Lucky me!

Transfer news arrived... I am headed to East Las Vegas! I covered the area geographically when I was in Temple View YSA. Sister Porter, one of the sisters that's currently in my zone, will be my companion! We are both so excited. Just last week we were on exchanges and were saying, "we should just be companions!" Well, Heavenly Father listened :) We're whitewashing into the area and I'm SO PUMPED. I have always wanted to whitewash an area. You get to go in with brand new eyes and just start fresh! It's going to be an adventure! 

This will probably be my last move of my mission. It's actually where Sister Luke was trained, so I'm finishing where my trainer started. Sister Koyle is also in the zone so I will get to go on exchanges with her :) hooray! 

We talked to more people this week than I ever have before on my mission- we almost broke 100 contacts! That was our goal and we got soooo close. It was really exciting. As far as the work goes, I think this was the hardest transfer of my mission. No one got baptized, no one came to church, and despite our best efforts, many of our investigators dropped us. But I have had some very sweet and tender experiences in this area with investigators, recent converts, less actives, and my companion that confirmed to me that I am in the right place and our efforts were not wasted. It's also been amazing to see Nate and Jori's progression, despite tons and tons of opposition. 

Last week we gave them Mosiah 4 to read (one of my favorite chapters) and Jori was so impacted by it that she got rid of all of her bad TV shows. Nate told us the other day, "if it weren't for the missionaries, we probably would have given up on the Mormon thing." Now they consider themselves Mormon and are working hard to make it to church and make it to baptism.

I'm grateful for my time here and I'm excited to go to back to the ghetto!! Wish me luck! 

I love you all and am so grateful for my Savior Jesus Christ. I feel an increased tenderness toward him every time I get to share His love with others. 

 Love, Sister Browning

This is Sister Zigler! She is a poet and gave me one of her award winning poetry books. 

For the last  2 months we have been stopping by this sweet lady's house each Sunday  to tell her what we learned at church. She is widowed and has lots of health issues so she can't make it out. I love

her like my sister! Since we started visiting her, her sons who are less active have all slowly started returning to activity. I don't believe in coincidences, do you? :)

This is where it's at!

Hi family! 

This week was better. We had a couple cool experiences finding new people to teach. Nate and Jori introduced us to their coworker Chris who is so prepared for the gospel. Hopefully we'll be able to get back in contact with him this week, and our other investigators- Satan is

tricky, and he likes to make people think they are too busy to come to church or meet with the missionaries. But we're not giving up! Joke's on you, Satan! 

We also met a woman named Earlene who just recently lost her 27 year old daughter but has incredible faith in Christ and knows she'll see her daughter again. We testified to her of the Plan of Salvation and she is excited to learn more :) Eternal families are where it's at. I just wish I could share that joy with EVERYONE! 

So I don't know if this is a little too irreverent to send, but it made me laugh really hard so I'm sharing it anyway. Nate, during one of our lessons this week: "You know what I like about the Mormon church? They always end everything with 'I know that this is true, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.' You're testifying in the name of Jesus Christ; you can't be full of crap. You can't be full of poo poo." Ah boy. Too true, Nate. 

One of my favorite sister missionaries who has since gone home, Sister Hope, surprised us with a visity. I asked her what her advice would be for us, looking back. She said to really use that hour of personal scriptures study to its full advantage. Just soak in every minute of it. My studies have been really good lately and I feel like I've been feasting on the words. Today I read in Alma 22 where King Lamoni's father says that he would forsake his whole kingdom and give up everything he possess to know God. What am I willing to forsake in order to know God? Am I willing to give away all my sins? I'm so amazed by the humility of the saints in the scriptures and I hope to be like that someday. I know that through Christ we can be totally transformed. If we're willing to give up the things that hold us back he stands ready to help us give them up :) I know that peace and healing come from the gospel that we can't get anywhere else. Use the Atonement every day! I'm so grateful for it and for my Savior :) 

So we decided to bike more this week. It was a blast because you can talk to SO MANY MORE PEOPLE :) and our area is almost mini Provo so there was tons of "hi, sisters!" going on. We biked to the ward activity and everyone was like whaaatt?? Sisters on bikes? 

Instead of helping my companion lock the bikes, I take selfies. Selfish selfies. :) 

Clara, our member friend and Jori's fellowshipped friend, cut and styled our hair today. We love her! 

Katherine, just so you know, the freshman marriage rate at BYU-I is 40%. DON'T LIVE ON CAMPUS! I love you ;) 

Love you all, have a wonderful week! 

Sister Megan Browning

1st Nephi 11:17

Dear Family, 

Congrats to Katherine on getting into BYU-I!! And I'm so excited about Nicole's baptism! How exciting to have the whole family involved in helping someone embrace the gospel. Her and her little son's life will be totally different and so enriched because of your examples and her decision. Way to go, Idaho! ;) Mom, my prayers are with the Algers and with you. I love you! 

This was the hardest week of my mission. But it was also wonderful because I learned so much about the power of the Atonement. I have felt Christ carry me this week, as if I were in a cradle of the spirit, and I have seen and felt His tender mercies. Now I can testify to others with a depth of understanding I didn't have before. 

One of those tender mercies was being able to go back to Kingman with Sister Loveless for the Anderson baptism. The wonderful Walker family drove all the way to pick us up and then drove us all the way back that night. As we drove into Kingman I had a flood of emotions that are hard to explain. It was as if I could feel all the prayers I said and the testimony I bore echoing and reverberating off the old store fronts and canyon walls. I thought about the scripture in Isaiah about the "voice of one crying from the dust." Prayer is powerful. Even if they're the prayers of an inexperienced, young sister missionary. The rest of Kingman may not be able to feel it when they drive through, but I can, and I know that place has changed me. At least one family was affected by my efforts, and that's the Anderson family. If they stay faithful, my entire mission will have been a success. 

Anna and Braeden were baptized by Brother Walker, and Andy, who now has the priesthood, got to be a witness! Missionaries are lined up left to right from the newest to the oldest. Sister Hame and Onorato have both finished their missions and couldn't be there. And Bro and Sis Walker have been there since the very first lesson :)

 I am astounded at the growth and change of this family. They have the purest hearts in the world! Can't wait to come back for their sealing! 

I love you all and invite you to draw on the Atonement as often as you can. Jesus Christ suffered for you so that we don't have to go through anything alone. He loves you and walks beside you and is your eternal best friend :) 

Love,

Sister Megan Browning

My Sister Tan Line is Outrageous

Hi family! 

We are coming to the close of another summer (and by that I mean the high is ONLY 105 degrees this week!) and I think I have the worst moddest-is-hottest tan I've had to this point in my young life. Haha attached is a picture of my feet, so if you're afraid of feet, I'm sorry. This is a once in a lifetime look I'm sporting as only a sister missionary can. 

It's like my upper arms are glowing. Just put that vanity on the altar of sacrifice ;) 

I forgot to write last week about the Turley family. We had decided that we wanted to do a little bit more finding through the members, so prayed and picked a few names off the ward directory. It led us to the Turley family, who invited us back for dinner and to give their family home evening lesson. What we thought was a simple visit to meet an active family and beg for  some referrals turned out to be totally a part of Heavenly Father's plan for this family. Over the course of the evening we figured out that Bro Turley had been struggling with going to church for a long time and that hearing the restoration from us was exactly what he needed. We have been going back each week to teach another lesson to them and their sons who are all preparing for missions. I have so much love in my heart for this good family and can't wait to see them reach their goal of the temple someday. I know we were meant to find this family and help them be more united in living the gospel. 

This week we taught Nate and Jori the word of wisdom and they are currently working really hard to keep it. In the middle of the lesson, Nate looked us in the eye and said, "have you ever been addicted to anything?" Uhhhhhh.... Long story short, we have given up all desserts and sweets in an effort to support them. We've made it through week 1 and so far, so good. They are making progress on their end and we have held our end of the bargain so far! :) 

It's been an interesting experiment giving up sweets for Nate and Jori. I hope I can keep it going for a very long time. It hit me this week that, to go on a mission you give up almost all your coping mechanisms. No phone calls to mom. No Netflix night. No going for a run by yourself with your headphones in. No hitting the gym, going on a date, or napping it off. And now no bowl of ice cream or chocolate chip cookie dough at the end of a long day. It really is just me, my companion, and the Lord, facing it together! A mission is designed so that, if you are being obedient, the way you face your challenges is on your knees in mighty prayer and in your scriptures. What an inspired exercise in turning to God! I feel so good and so free. 

I finished the Book of Mormon again this week and knelt and prayed to be reassured that it was true. I do this every time I finish the book. I stayed on my knees for a long time, and essentially told Heavenly Father, "if you tell me the Book of Mormon is not true, that it is not the word of God, I will give this all up. I'm willing to go whatever direction will bring me the very closest to you and if it is something other than this, I will do it." Now I know that sounds a little weird... But as I prayed I knew without a doubt that the Book of Mormon is true and that I am exactly where God needs me to be right now. The Holy Ghost is anxious to confirm this truth. 

One more cool story: we street contacted an older gentleman this week who said, "what are you girls doing tonight?" We smiled and said, "well, we're missionaries!" He asked, "are you Mormon?" When we said yes, he said, "I was thinking of converting to Mormon. One of my clients is Mormon and he's a great guy." We get to teach him a little about the Book of Mormom right there and set up a return appointment. We have high hopes! God is preparing people everywhere :) 

I love my mission with my whole heart. It is not easy but it is wonderful. I love the gospel of Jesus Christ that I get to proclaim every day. Nothing else can bring this kind of lasting joy! 

Love always, 

Sister Megan Browning

Oh yeah, we spearheaded a car wash proselyting activity this week. We had lots of nonmembers come and gave some church tours and sent out a referral!

 No Pday clothes, no problem :) 

Do you spy the member talking to the nice lady about the gospel? :) 

"In the gift of His Son hath God prepared a more excellent way!"

Ether 12:11 :) Favorite scripture of the week! 

Dear Family, 

I LOVED the pictures of the Cotswalds! It looks like you had such a blast! Did you get any pictures outside the London temple? If you've got more pictures send them my way :) 

This week was stressful. Sis Loveless and I worked harder than ever and found several new investigators. We were excited about them but most dropped us before the week was over. We've been working with a sweet 14 year old girl named Kylee whose mom got baptized in May and her stepdad became active at the same time. She really wants to be baptized but is afraid of what her dad will think. We had an amazing lesson with her on Saturday where we'd felt prompted to invite her to be baptized, but the next day at church her mom told us that Kylee had a breakdown, worrying about her decision. That broke my heart and I felt so horrible. I just have to trust that Sis Loveless and I were following the Spirit when we invited her to be baptized and trust that it will be okay. 

We're also working with a sweet girl whose aunt was recently baptized in another ward. She wants to be baptized so badly but lives with her dad on the weekends. He'll let her go to church but doesn't want to take her. We're praying and trying to figure out a way to work around that. Thankfully she has some great fellowship in the ward. We brought Sister Hafen and her cute daughter with us and they invited her out to the activites. So we'll start there. :)

 So we knocked on a door this week that had one of those alcoves next to it... Sis Loveless dared me to see if I could fit in it. This is the best I could do :) haha 

Our yummy egg tomato and avocado breakfast, to celebrate after our back-to-back exchanges were over! I love sister l<3veless! 

I don't have that much else to report but I do want to bear my testimony. I have come to realize that peace, joy and love are not just words that make people feel good-- they are human needs. Lasting peace and incomprehensible joy come when we live the doctrine of Christ. Heavenly Father loves us more than we can comprehend. Families are the most important unit and the greatest blessing. This life was not designed for us to figure out on our own. We need our families! We need each other. I've decided that when I have my own family, my first priority will be the things that keep us unified: Daily scripture study. Daily family prayer. Family Home Evening. Listening to General Conference and attending church together. Serving together and playing together. I refuse to skimp on those things. I've seen what happens when families stop putting Christ and His teachings at the center of their relationships. I'm so grateful for my family and the pattern they've set of gospel living. I know that the Book of Mormon is true and that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is Christ's original Church restored to the earth. I feel this in my heart and it is confirmed to me every time I pray. Jesus Christ lives and His prophets point to Him. And I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ. :) 

Love you times a million! Have a happy week! 

Sister Megan Browning

"It can be easy, or it can be FUN!"

Hi Family! 

So I looked back at my email from last week and I think half of it got cut off and lost in space... I didn't mean to write that short of an email!  :/ Sorry guys. I went on to talk about how we took Nate and Jori for a tour of the temple grounds and they were totally speechless. There was a white dove up in the rafters and Nate was like "If that isn't a sign that the Spirit's here, along with the fact that this is the only place that can make me speechless..." Jori texted us later and told us at the temple, she finally felt that she was where she belonged. Pretty cool stuff. 

 I sure miss Sister Mayfield but I LOVE Sister Loveless! I talked about this in the vanishing half of my last email... but she came straight from my area in Kingman AZ! So we've taught the same people, love the same members and recent converts and investigators.... we've had the most wonderful time talking about Kingman and all the people we love there. Andy's wife Anna and their son Braden are getting baptized in September (:D!!!!!!!!!!!!!) so we will get to go to the baptism TOGETHER! How cool is that?!!! 

Anyway, Sis Loveless brings out the best in me. She's been out 7 and a half months and she's from KIRKLAND WASHINGTON. Yeah! (Fun fact: Our whole leadership team, the ZLs and us, are from Western WA. Vancouver, Enumclaw, Kirkland, and Kent. It's operation occupy GREEN valley!) She loves the color yellow and is the most positive, happy, hardworking and down-to-earth girl. We're having a blast and working hard. It's really cool because we've been able to feel the Spirit guiding us to be in the exact right place in the right time. 

For example: One night we were driving to contact some referrals and we both felt like that wasn't where we needed to be. So we pulled over and said a prayer, and felt like we needed to visit a recent convert named Sis Frazer. We knocked on her door, no answer. Talked to a guy on the street, not interested. Felt prompted to knock on another door, not nice. Decided to leave- as Sister Loveless was backing out the car, someone else drove by and she waved. I watched in the rear view mirror as the driver stopped, backed up, and rolled down the window. It turns out it was a woman named Cindall, who has met missionaries before and wants us to come back! Look at that. If we'd left any sooner we would have missed her. Heavenly Father's timing is perfect. I know that if always trust in that, it will always eventually make sense. 

This week we had an amazing stake conference with a member of the seventy named Elder Tilleman. During the adult session he impromptu called one of our companionships of sisters up impromptu to share their testimonies. One sister, Sister Shaw, had only been out since wednesday and bore the sweetest testimony. Sister Porter, her trainer, has only been out for 4 months and said some incredibly profound things. I just sat there and bawled. 

A few things that Sis Porter said that I want to pass on (paraphrasing) : 

"We [the missionaries] are here to be your backup. When I came on my mission it was a lot easier than I thought it would be to talk to people. I thought it was the nametag... I learned that sharing the gospel isn't putting on a mask, it's taking one off." 

"The difference between me and you is a piece of plastic.... 'If ye have desires to serve God ye are called to the work.' D&C 4 was written to Joseph Smith Sr- a member missionary.' "

What a powerhouse! It was really cool to see the attitude of all the members toward missionaries and missionary work change after conference was over. So grateful to serve around such amazing sisters. :) 

I love you so much! It sounds like you had such a blast on your London trip! I can't wait to see photos. And Dad, that's so exciting that you were able to give that Book of Mormon to Amelia! I'll pray for her that she reads it and reaches out to the missionaries!! That is AWESOME! :) Best of luck adjusting back to normal time and starting school! And happy birthday to mom! Best momma in the world! 

Love, Sister Browning

We made welcome banners for our missionaries and put them on their doors while they were at the new missionary meeting :) we have some young missionaries in our zone! They are all under 5 months old and two are brand new! 

Comp study with L<3VELESS :) I have reached a point in my mission where companion study almost always happens on the floor. I kneel down to pray and I just can't get up! 

Have a lovely week! 

Sister Browning plays the bagpipes

Dearest darlingest momsie and popsicle,

The house is STUNNING. My jaw dropped at those photos! Well done

family! But really, it's like you knew what my dream house in my mind

looks like and filled it with all my favorite things. That's gonna be

such a wonderful gathering place :)

Also, the wedding announcements are adorable! Tell Tanner and Caitlin

I said congratulations. They look SO happy :)

To answer your questions Mom, yes we get to do the new member lessons

with Sharonda :) thank goodness because I would miss her too much if

we couldn't!

And the Mormon plushie was a joke, not anti :) Nate and Jori jokingly

told their daughter that Mormons are little cute creatures that hatch

from eggs... Mark and Clara, The young LDS couple that lives next door

made her a stuffed animal to go with it. Mark was like "yeah... We

took the joke that far." In fact, Clara made us our own Mormons too!

Ta da! 

We took Nate and Jori for a walk around the temple. Usually, when I've given temple tours on my mission it's been like, teach-expound-exhort-testify etc, but this was the first time where I really felt speechless. It was a very clear message from the Spirit: "stop talking and let him take it in!" There's a little atrium where we sat for a moment and Nate pointed out a white dove sitting in the rafters. He took that as a sign that he was in the right place :) 

Transfers are upon us again. I realized this morning that it is transfer #11 for me?! *gulp* Sis Mayfield is leaving and I am getting Sis Loveless, straight from my area in Kingman! She told me that when she got her transfer news she was with my favorite family, the Andersons. They are so excited for two of their missionaries to be companions! Sis Loveless told me that Anna and their son Braden have finally accepted a baptism date for September!! We will hopefully get to go back to it together!! Ahh joy! :) :) :) 

We had a sisters lunch on Saturday and gave them all crazy glasses! There's a couple not pictured that had to leave early :/ we weren't fast enough whipping out the camera. Still cute though. 

Well that's about all I have to report this week! I'm continually amazed by how much peace the Gospel brings and how much there is to learn about it. The more I apply the atonement and feel it changing me, the more I realize that everyone needs what I have! I know Jesus Christ is my Savior. I know God loves His children. He sends His ministering angels and divine aid whenever we are in need. All He asks that we ask, seek, and knock! 

Have a wonderful week! Enjoy taking those names to the LONDON TEMPLE, you lucky ducks! I sure love and pray for you! 

Love, 

Sister Megan Browning

DoTerra vs. Doctrine and Spanish Word of the Day

Spanish word of the week: July. "I can't believe it! You are going to London?! July to me!"

There's an adorable set of sisters, Sis Hope and Jane that we love that have started sending us a "spanish word of the day" to use in a sentence. I have decided to send you one every week. Enjoy! 

Hey Everyone! 

Zach told me he was going to email you! It was so so so cool to be able to be at his first baptism on Saturday. He baptized his friend Dylan in the Royal Mesa YSA ward (The one Derek introduced to the missionaries!) Zach, Derek, Sabrina and Sharonda were all at the baptism. Derek and Sabrina are both dating good LDS kids and I'm hoping there will be some celestial wedding bells in the future ;) It was SO COOL to be able to witness that! He had Sis Mayfield and I sing I know that my redeemer lives. I will be so sad when she's not my companion and we can't sing duets anymore. Anyway, it has been amazing to see Zach's progression in the gospel and I'm so excited for him to go through the temple this fall. 

Speaking of the temple, Sharonda did baptisms for the first time this saturday!! While walking down the stairs to the baptistry she had to stop in her tracks and just take it all in. It was the cutest thing. :) She had a wonderful experience and was excited to learn she can go back as often as she wants. 

Have so much fun in London you lucky ducks!! Mom, you asked for tips on how to contact people on the plane?? Boy do I have tips! I think the best thing would be to take a Book of Mormon. A pass-along card is great but only if you explain what it's for (e.g, they can find missionaries anywhere in the world on mormon.org, they can look up videos of mormons with similar interests to theirs, they can look up the questions they have and find answers, etc.) otherwise it's just a piece of paper they'll put in their wallet and never look at again. Definitely take BoMs because that's what converts people. 

Some things you could say: 

1. "Do you like to read?" (talk about your favorite books and then talk about the book of mormon.) Everybody take a book of mormon and give it away to the person next to you on the plane! You have 18 hours to do it so it will be easy ;) 

2. "Are you going home?" This lets you talk about family. Preach my gospel says that people tend to naturally have an interest in families. You can share with them what your family means to you and how the gospel has kept your family strong. 

3. Drop "Mormon lingo." "We're going to the temple in London while we're there. Have you ever seen an LDS temple?" Or "during family home evening this week... Oh, that's something we do in our church each Monday night..." Etc. 

Oh this is so much fun. :) This is my challenge for you this week! Have a missionary experience on the plane! I will be praying for ya! I'm soooooo excited for you! Just like it says in 3rd Nephi, being involved in the work of salvation is what brings real joy!! "Ye have desired that ye might bring the souls of men unto me, while the world shall stand. And for this cause ye shall have fullness of joy...." I know this is true! It's been confirmed to me over and over again :) it is exhausting, stretching, and difficult , but so worth it!

Love you all soooo much. 

Love, Sister Browning 

Quotable quotes from this week: 

Nate, talking about the picture of Moroni burying the plates: "Who's that silver fox?!" 

So our ward is so incredibly into DoTerra essential oils that sometimes it's hard for them to distinguish between doterra and doctrine.... some quoteable quotes from recent sundays: 

During a young man's sacrament talk: "He memorized the Proclamation on the Family in 11 days... Pretty good, but I think with oils I could cut the time in half." 

Discussing the parable of the 10 virgins in relief society: "It seems selfish at first that the 5 wise didn't share their oil, but you see..." 

A doterra lady: "I would share my oils!" 

Alma 29:10

Hi Everybody,

First things first... HAPPY BIRTHDAY AUBREE!! The big 1-4, woop woop!!

I hope there's a stake dance coming up! There is a letter on its way

for you :) and happy birthday to Lauren this week!!

I'm so grateful for this mission. It's growing and stretching me so

much. We talked to a lot of people this week that were pretty closed

off... ok, some of them were pretty hostile. We met with Alan, the guy

I texted, and gave him a tour of the church. He had listened to the

Book of Mormon on a podcast (not put out by the church), and

definitely hadn't listened with real intent. He and several other

people we met this week bad-mouthed a lot of the truths I hold dear. I

think the farther I get into my mission, the more it hurts when I

testify of the things I know are true and people don't have an open

heart to understand. I'm really grateful for these experiences though,

because they show me just how much my testimony has deepened in the

last year. It also teaches me a lot about the enabling power of the

Atonement. When I'm able to stand in the driveway of a 50-year-old man

who is trying to, in a very Korihor-like way catch me in my words, and

somehow say the right thing for the circumstance and walk away, I know

I have Christ and His power helping me to do something I couldn't do

on my own.

Saturday was THE BEST day EVER for three reasons which are in these

photos below:

1: Mini missionaries! 5 stakes in the surrounding areas participated

in a big youth conference and every set of missionaries got 1 or 2

laurels/priests to work with them for the day. We had Awilda and

Jordan, the two cutest girls on the face of the planet. We did splits

with them and Awilda had to leave halfway through the day, but Jordan

got to come to Sharonda's baptism and our evening appointments with

us. Fun Stuff!

Awilda! 

Jordan! 

2: Sharonda's baptism!! This woman is so amazing. The next day in church she was confirmed and then she got her temple recommend after the meetings were over. She had us over for dinner this week and I found myself inviting her to come spend new year's with us. Do we have any plans for new year's, mom? :) I want her to meet you guys so bad! She also told me that I feel like a daughter to her, and if she had a son, she would want him to marry me. Wow. Biggest compliment ever. She'd be the perfect mother in law, but I'll just keep her as a forever friend! 

Sharonda's sister came to the baptism and is really interested in learning more! We gave her a book of mormon and the ward mission leader practically taught her the whole restoration right there. We're going to meet with her this friday to teach her more! Hooray!

3: Patrick's baptism! Right after Sharonda's baptism I got picked up by a member and got to go back to Temple View. Before I left temple view, I gave Sister Koyle the instructions, "don't give up on Patrick!" She didn't, and neither did Heavenly Father, and he's finally gained the testimony that he struggled so long for. It was an awesome awesome day. 

Dad, there's a sister serving somewhere in Rigby whose family just moved to Whitney Ranch. Her name is Sister Emily Rawlins? Have you met her? If you see her, tell her I said hi and keep up the great work and that her family's doing well :) 

I love you all! Thanks for all the emails and letters this week! 

Love, Sister Browning 

Confession: Sacrament Meeting Makes Me Trunky

We just had like 5 young couples move into the ward, on top of the half a dozen already here. There's nowhere to look to escape the cuteness. HELP 

Dear Family, 

So the major event that happened on Tuesday was that Sister Mayfield and I can both cross off "ride in an ambulance" off our bucket lists. We were in a lesson with Sharonda at the end of the day, just got through talking about tithing, and the law of chastity. Invitations extended, promised blessings given; I expect Sis Mayfield to ask Sharonda to say the closing prayer, but instead she says, "and, I'm seeing double vision." What? Thankfully Sharonda is a home health nurse and knew what to do. Our member Sis Bigler called the ambulance so I was like "guess we're gonna take a little ride?" The dispatch crew ended up being an all-Mormon group that happened to be all working overtime. They were able to give her a blessing in the back of the ambulance, and that was awesome. We laughed all the way to the ER, and we laughed while we were there, and we laughed home. When you're with Sister Mayfield even a trip to the ER becomes something funny and fun! :) 

We've been taking it pretty easy while sister mayfield recovers (oh yeah... It was dehydration. I didn't do my job as a good companion and make her drink enough water.) so we were inside a lot. Awesome stuff still happened though! Here's the short list: 

1. I got a call from sister Koyle and her adorable trainee, sister Thornock (forgot to tell you, I'm a grandma!) telling me that PATRICK IS GETTING BAPTIZED!! Do you remember Patrick, that you were probably praying for the whole time I was in Temple View YSA? He finally gained his testimony of the Book of Mormon and is ready! So many prayers will be answered this Saturday! 

2. Derek from robindale, showed up at church on Sunday! I saw him in the hall and it was all Icould do not to hug him! He was there because he was bringing a friend to church who lived in our YSA ward's boundaries. A year after his baptism, Derek is active, getting ready for the temple, and doing missionary work. Ahh my heart is bursting. 

3. While inside I decided to go through our ancient cell phone (it literally has 600 contacts in it...) and text everyone whose name I didn't recognize. Well, I didn't get very far, but I had one guy reply and say that he would love to meet with missionaries again! "In fact," he says, "since the last meeting, I have read the Book of Mormon cover to cover, and am now working my way through the pearl of great price. There is so much to talk about!" Whoa! He's going to talk to his wife and we'll hopefully meet this week. 

4. While watching the Joseph Smith movie with Sharonda, she looked at me and winked. I swear I saw Grandma Snow in her face. That was a special moment for me. I love this woman very much. 

5. We also had a lesson with her where I felt promoted to talk about kneeling morning and night when we pray and listening for answers. I realized that we had never said a kneeling prayer, so she probably didn't even know that's what you do! She sent us the sweetest message the next day telling us how revelatory that was for her, and how now she really feels like she's talking with God, and he's talking back. 

6. We have some sisters that are struggling with the work in their area and Saturday night they came to us for advice. I remembered the time in Kingman where Boulder springs was really struggling and how Sister Hame and I had to get really creative. I sat down with these sisters and for half an hour brainstormed all the finding ideas we could think of. They're gonna keep brainstorming and then pick three things to try first- one thing they can do on their own, one thing they need the wards help with, and one thing they need the district or zone's help with. I now know why I needed to go through that hard time in kingman- it was so I knew how to help these sisters. It means the world that they felt like they could come to us. :) 

Funny story of the week: walking away from a door that had been rude to us, sister mayfield through a one-second fit in frustration. She promptly then fell/stepped into a hole. "I get you, Heavenly Father!" Laughed till I cried. 

The zone leaders came to the rescue when they found out we were in the ER- little did they know that Sharonda and Sis Bigler were taking good care of us :) we're lucky to have such great people around! 

I am so tickled to hear how well everyone's doing at home, especially Ryan just taking off and running with scouts. Way to go, mister 9-merit-badger. Love you all so much! The church is true! Read your Book of Mormon every day, every day! 

"It's after all we can do, the Savior and us, together." -- Sister Porter, one of the awesome new sisters in the zone 

Love, Sister Browning 

P.S: I have a book recommendation for you..The Power of the Everyday Missionary by Clayton M Christiansen, who used to be the president of this mission. We have permission to read it during lunch and stuff. If anyone wants to know how they can comfortably and naturally share the gospel, that book will show you how to do it! It's awesome!! I think every member should read it!