It was the most bizarre thing...dated 11/5/13

So we had to give Gabby away to Elder Walker... That was depressing for two reasons. #1 I love her and we really connected and I really felt like I was her missionary and she helped me feel the spirit. #2 I had to give her to Elder Walker.

She really wants to go to the El Dorado ward so Austin and she are going to try and get permission for that to happen... I kind of hope it does but I don't know if it will.

We picked up a new investigator this week at the institute named Andrew. He takes a class so that he can park there for free and he is super awesome. A month ago he walked into the institute with a thing of chewing tobacco and a lack of respect. Brother Given had to pull him aside and tell him that his behavior wasn't acceptable and that if he wanted to park in the parking lot he would need to sign up for a class. He signed up for the Teachings of the Living Prophets class and when we were there on Wednesday we sat in and listened and he had some awesome comments about the talk that was given in general conference by Christofferson "The Moral Force of Women". It turned out he was the one that requested that talk. So after the class we called him over and I just said to him "Andrew, we want to teach you." and he paused and then said. "okay". We set up a time later that day to come back and we had a really good lesson with him. We have another appointment for this Wednesday again but we have to make sure he lives in our boundaries so we can know if we are able to teach him. Wouldn't want to end up with another Gabby situation.

Adrian is probably in Jacob by now in the Book of Mormon at the rate he is going. We still haven't gotten him to church but he is doing awesome with the lessons. He is really eager to learn and understand and he always has really good questions!

Christian is literally my favorite person but he is lacking the desire... and desire is what drives us to do something, so we asked him to read Alma 32 and the next time we meet with him we are going to talk to him about desire and then see where he is. If he doesn't start progressing we have to stop going by, and that would be really sad :( But we are positive thinkers over in these parts!! 
Funniest thing happened at church yesterday. We were sitting in the chapel and in walks the Elders with a non member. we start to kick ourselves because once again the Elders out-do the sisters and we were really just annoyed <---- we all had a bad attitude. obvi. Anyways, after church ended we were meeting in the gym for break the fast and their "investigator" was sitting all by herself so we decided to be the nice missionaries we are and go sit by her. We got talking and it came to be that she had looked up the Elders number on Google that morning and called them up because she was thinking about becoming Mormon. Sounds solid, right? yeah! until she starts asking really weird questions about polygamists and it turns out SHE WANTS TO BE ONE... she was soooo disappointed when she found out we don't do that anymore and then she started asking which states polygamy exists in and I become really awkward and Sister Mickelson said "I'm pretty sure it's illegal in every state..." hahaha

It was the most bizarre thing. She was so dead serious and she just said I know it sounds weird but I think it would be more fun. When the Elders found out Elder Dixon just awkwardly said "It's hard enough to handle one person of the opposite sex..." ha! I'm still laughing about the whole thing. Obvi.

Ups and downs this week. The downs were down but I made it through and now I am expecting a victory every day! :)

I am so thankful for the part the Lord plays in my life everyday. I love Him so much. 
I really want to do good on this mission. Through everything I really want to change my live as well as others. I am really trying. I know the Lord and I want others to know Him too. I want them to see a light at the end of their tunnels, and that light is Jesus Christ.

I love you all and I need you to know that! I am so thankful for all of you. You are in my prayers.

An invitation from President Tew...dated 10/21/13

I forgot to tell you last Monday but I've been asked to teach at zone conference...

Okay, so a week ago Saturday (10/12/13) President Tew called during companionship study. I answered it, "Hello, this is Sister Brown." He asked me how I was doing and then if he could ask me a favor. I thought he was going to ask me if I could come into the office to help him with something... NOPE. He says "The assistants and I have come up with an idea for Zone Conference and we wonder if you could help us out with it...." Alarm bells! He goes on to tell me how they want to have a demonstration featuring the best teachers in the mission but it's not the typical two missionaries practice teach on an "investigator". We are going to do a live teaching experience. We are going to have real investigators that have been investigating the church for a while come in. They have agreed to let you teach them in front of 70 other missionaries".

Elder Tewksbury told me that someone brought my name up and they all paused... and then agreed at the same time.

I am really nervous. I am still not used to the fact I can't recognize the spirit so I don't know if I can be as good as they think I am.

I am not teaching with my companions either... They said they picked who they wanted and then paired them up. The sister I will be teaching with is Sister Wasden. We have been given permission to go on exchanges together so that we can learn each others teaching styles.

She is in Los Alamitos which is only like 20 minutes away and zone conference is on November 9. Elder Pollard and I are the only ones that were asked to do it that haven't been out longer than 9 months.

I got a blessing yesterday where Heavenly Father told me he was proud of me so that was nice of Him!

We are going to sports today for P-day activity and I don't think I am going to play so I'll write ya a letter then. 

We got six member referrals this week and we get to hang out at the institute all the time! I really love this area! I am trying to think of what else happened this week... we have to spend a lot of time in the car because we can't do a lot of tracting because we cover an entire stake. I am not complaining because my ankle is getting a break, but sometimes it feels like we are getting nothing done. But as long as the ward continues to refer people, we won't feel like that for long.

I think I felt the spirit last night so that was really good! Yesterday day was really rough and I'm not sure why.... sometimes I just want to curl up in a ball. But the conferences were good. I went to two, I went and watched Sister Luft and Sister Andelin teach Sherry, and Elder Walker and Elder Blodsoe teach a guy named Moose. They both did an awesome job! I learned that we are allowed to go meet and talk to the people we are teaching before the conference so I think Sister Wasden and I will go do that, and it will be better then I have been thinking.

The temple was so good...

Love, Sister Brown

Meeting the new missionaries at the airport...dated 10/14/13

How are you family?

I hope you are all doing well. As for me, I have been busy...

So last Monday night we went over to pick Sister Luft up from the mission home (we had her companion while she was at her funeral dinner) and while we were there Sister Tew started making comments about how she wished that there could be sisters at the airport along with the assistants to welcome the new missionaries... we all got talking about who could possibly go and Sister Tew turned and said to me, “You’ll already be at the office and you are such a great greeter... will you come with us?" I said "okay" And secretly inside I was jumping for joy because I love seeing the poor new missionaries walk off the plane like the walking dead. Ha!

So I went with them to the airport and everything was so disorganized. The APs got there first and Sister Tew and I got there seconds after them. We were all late because of traffic so when we got to the place where we were to meet the new arriving missionaries,  the plane had already landed. The elders were waiting for us (President was still not there lol). The elders went with the APs to get the luggage and Sister Tew and I waited for the sisters to come out. The Elders were arguing with me trying to convince me that the sisters had already come. I kept trying to assure them that they just got off of a 2 hour plane ride and they all needed to go to the bathroom, and girls take longer than guys... they didn't believe me. But guess who was right?

I loved seeing Sister Tew's reaction when we saw them coming. She was SOOOO excited! We welcomed them to the Great California Long Beach Mission and gave them big hugs! They looked a lot better then I imagine myself looking in that moment 4 1/2 months ago... 

So we get their luggage and walk down to the loading dock, and while we are waiting Sister Oler (one of the new missionaries straight from the MTC) starts talking to a lady named Christine. She is doing an awesome job by herself but I could tell that she didn't really know how to bring the Gospel up so I went and helped her out. I told her how we were missionaries and she told us how she has relatives that are Mormon (let me remind you that I had the Presidents wife and the President observing my contacting skills... stress!) We talked a little bit more but then our van pulled up and we had to start loading luggage, so we ended the contact and went on loading. After our luggage was loaded and on its way back to the mission office we started walking to the parking garage and I mention to Sister Tew that I wish I had a Pass-a-Long Card to give to that lady (I left my bag in the car) and Sister Tew stops in her tracks searches through her purse and immediately starts to run in the direction of this lady. She is so awesome!

So we get to the parking garage and all the new sisters, Sister and President Tew, and I file into the elevator and just when the door is about the close a little old couple named John and Maria ask us to hold the door... We hold it for them and welcome them in with big smiles and happy hellos. We start talking and it turns into another contact but now I was in the spotlight (not the same spotlight I like to be in....) and I have all these new baby missionaries watching me along with President and Sister Tew... Even more stress! I made the little couple laugh though and I invited them to stop by the church building in Fountain Valley. I walked away feeling good! 

So then we get back to the church and feed the new missionaries breakfast while President Tew is figuring out their temporary companions, then off they go!

While we were waiting for the vista waiters and Spanish speakers to get in (they all came in at different times which never happens and is super annoying) my new companions and I loaded all of my stuff into the car. We then went and chopped up fruit and got lunch ready. Sister Fulgham and Mickelson would have rather been out doing missionary work but we are white washing (which means none of us have been in the area before) and the elders we share the ward with are the APs, so they were busy and couldn't give us any information about anything until 6:30 pm..., so my companions helped me get lunch ready and then we went to our apartment and cleaned (It was the most disgusting thing ever. I swear to you the elders that lived there before never cleaned ever, not once.) I had to clean the bathroom and I wanted to shoot myself in the face. Later that night we went to meet the APs at the office but they were an hour late so we just sat outside and got to know each other. When the elders finally showed up we were able to learn about our area and that was fun. They gave us a bunch of potentials and tips on how to work the area.

So the thing about the El Dorado ward is that it covers two stakes the LBE and the Cerritos Stakes. We are over the entire Cerritos Stake boundaries which to every other mission is small, but to this mission... its super huge! The elders have always just focused on the LBE side so Cerritos has really been neglected.

The area is awesome though! I love the ward. I would be okay serving here for the rest of my mission!

XOXOXOX, Sister Brown

The day before transfers....dated 10/7/13

Hello family,

How are you? Well this is what has been going on in my world...

After we moved from Betty's home we were living in an apartment with 5 girls and one shower. That was not easy!! Then we moved into our apartment on Thursday but the gas and hot water weren't turned on until this morning. We had to take cold showers. Thank Heavens that's over.  On Friday a bunch of Elders told us that Sister missionaries are basically worthless, so that was really hard. Most of our appointments fell through this week...it has been rough. I have been proud of myself though, I have tried hard not to let it all get me down.

I'm being transferred and Sister Bauer is staying in the Woodruff ward for her 5th transfer. I will be in a trio... with two sister training leaders. I am a little nervous about being in a trio and about transfers in general, but transfers are life.  The only up side is that we are the first sisters to be in the El Dorado singles ward :) I'm super excited about that!! I am excited to be in a singles ward. Sister Bauer is happy to be staying in the ward. 

So, transfers are tomorrow morning, and then I am working in the office. Sister Tew needs my help. I am basically the SAPW - Sister Assistant to the Presidents Wife. I made it up :) 

This is how tomorrow will go...Sister Bauer will take me to the office where I will stay with her new companion’s old companion while we wait for our new companions to come. Then I will go with Sister Fulgum to get Sister Mickleson and we will go drop off our stuff at our new apartment (Elder Walker, one of the APs, was being a butt and wouldn't tell us where we were living and they left it off of transfer facts so we thought we were homeless until about 2 hours ago), and then they will take me back to the office where I will greet the new missionaries! 

Okay so that is Elder Cox he is one of my Zone Leaders... he is Uncle Brendon's doppelganger. I mean seriously they are the same person. 

Sometimes we take side walk chalk and draw things pertaining to the Gospel. While we do this, we talk to people about what we are drawing! It's pretty fun. We drew the Plan of Salvation while biking through Hartwell Park! - Yeah! It's a way to take the stress out of walking up to someone because, most the time, they will walk up to you and ask you what you are doing.

Bahahaha...aren't the pictures of the public restroom funny! I am not embarrassed that I use the facilities with no privacy. There was a nice breeze blowing...hahaha. The stalls are short with no doors to prevent rape and other crimes.

I gotta go. I'm gunna go provide some humor mom misses to everyone at sports while I try to play some basketball.

 I love you mucho grande! 

Delci, Sister Bauer, and a drunk guy at the laundromat...

Family <3
Long time - no write- I know, I am the worst!
Right now I am at a laundromat. I have four loads going and Sister Bauer only has two. It's funny how people do things different. I learned to separate everything out --she puts all her lights in with her whites and then does colors together with darks. It's less expensive her way but I have to stick with the way I learned or something bad might happen to my clothes. Ha! There is a man here sweating alcohol from his pores and I don't know exactly what is happening, but I think he is dancing...ope, I think he fell...maybe he stubbed his toe? I'm not sure. I heard a crash, things are getting weird!
Now he is drumming on the machines. He has no rhythm. No, this needs to stop!

Yesterday I spoke in church. I was only given 5 minutes so I didn't even write my talk until I was on the stand. I had an idea of what I wanted to say but it wasn't until I was sitting on the stand looking out at the congregation that I decided I should probably write something down as an outline. I figured it would be embarrassing if I stood up and forgot everything and had nothing to remind me...Pat didn't come and I was so sad. I watched the door the entire meeting. We tried to go by after church but I don't think she was home. I feel bad because Sister Bauer is going to get transferred and Sunday was Pat's last chance to come to a regular sacrament meeting while Sister Bauer is still here. Maybe we can convince her to come watch General Conference with us. I don't know...I guess we'll see.
So I went to the office on Friday to help Sister Tew prepare lunch for MLC, Mission Leadership Council. This is where all of the ZLs amd STLs come for training. Then I helped Sister Barlow. She and her husband are office missionaries. She is in charge of ordering supplies and distributing them out to all of the zones, as well as directing referrals, and a bunch of other stuff. She has a big job. Anyway, I was there and my ride back to my area was in a meeting, so I went and asked Sister Barlow if she needed help with her supply orders. Usually she does it the Friday before transfers because all of the zone leaders are at the office for meetings. While they are there they can grab the supplies and distribute them to the district leaders. It is a really big job for one person so she asked if I could help her get a head start on it. Well, I told her we would get it done that day. She was skeptical but optimistic. We got half of the boxes done and then Elder Jesperson came to help. The three of us were able to get it all done in 2 hours, which I hear is record time. Sister Barlow was super thankful and I was happy I could help. It was nice to work in the office and get my mind off stuff. Sister Bauer went with Sister Youngberg and Sister Okanoue but ended up doing nothing because Sister Youngberg didn't feel well.
While I was at the office President Tew called me into his office to help him with a project. When I walked in I accidentally looked at the transfer board. I think he knew I was peeking though because he said, "Sister Brown, why don't you come sit down?"...Ha, fine. Well, when I looked I didn't see anything except my picture was in the same place but I'm pretty sure Sister Bauer's picture was moved :( I know it was unrealistic to think we would spend our whole missions together, but I am sad. My companion is leaving and Sister Luft is leaving. I am trying to deal with it but this is really new to me, so I don't know how to deal with it...sorry, Negative Nelly for a minute...I'm over it now.
Sister Bauer and I are going to make this the best week ever! I love her a lot. We are always going to be friends.
We didn't play basketball at Zone Sports today because we met Sister Luft and Sister Andeline for lunch at a Lebanese restaurant. It was cool. We made it to sports in time to play but we didn't have clothes :( Oh well, there is always next week.
Well P-day is coming to a close.
I LOVE YOU!!! --Sister CA

P.S. Sister Bauer and I contacted into an African American community and they welcomed us into their fold. I loved it. I love them...I felt like I was home :)

Elder Frost...he was our district leader. He is an amazing missionary and he is going home this transfer.

A letter from Delci's companion...

Brown Family,
I wanted to write you a letter concerning your daughter. There are some things you should probably know about her...maybe you already know. Sister Brown is the funniest person I have ever met. She is hilarious! I have never laughed so hard on my mission! She is the sweetest and kindest person. When I need her she is always there. When she loves, she loves with her whole heart.She truly cares about the people we teach and talk to. She teaches like a pro! Sister Brown teaches with such clarity, conviction, and power. When she testifies not even the powers of hell could testify against her. She wants to be a good missionary. She wants the Lord to be proud of her. She wants to return with honor. She is honest with everyone, and she is not afraid to be who she is. She is Delci Brown and if anyone has a problem with her..."sorry not sorry" :). She's a remarkable missionary and she will deny it every time, but she is so good! Everyone we meet loves her! She steals all the members' hearts (which I am sure doesn't surprise you!) I am so blessed and grateful that I got to be her companion for 12 weeks. She's taught me a lot. She's got a really good soul and I am lucky to have met her and to be her companion. You've got one pretty amazing daughter, but I'm sure you already knew that! Thanks for raising such a great girl! Ya done good!

Love, Sister Bauer

P.S. I can't wait to meet you in real life someday...

Things have been pretty busy...

Temple Day!!

Family Ties <3

Hello! Sorry it's been a week since I've written. Things have been pretty busy.

Right now I am waiting for Sister Bauer to get ready so I thought I would tell you how my week is going so far. I'll have a longer letter in the mail by the end of the week!

Today is Wednesday morning (8/14/13) and I am sick...my stomach is upset so I think I have a virus and the last few nights I have been the worst. I toss and turn all night.

Yesterday (8/13/13) was my 4 month anniversary since going through the Temple for the first time! It was also a hard day because I was so sick. We woke up and walked a mile and then I crashed on the couch while Sister Bauer was getting ready. When she came out, she checked my head and said I had a fever. She called Sister Luft who told me to go back to bed. I felt bad doing that but they both insisted, so I did. I slept on and off until 10:00 am and then I got in the shower and got ready because we had a lesson at 11:00 am with Susan. Susan is really cool and she would make an awesome Relief Society President, but I don't know if right now is the right time for her to accept the Gospel. We are not giving up though. We talked to her about Joseph Smith and she said she believes that he did see God, the Father and Jesus Christ, but she doesn't believe that he was the only one who was told to "create" a church. She thinks that Martin Luther and others were also called by God. She is almost too open minded...

After Susan, we came back to eat lunch and study Preach My Gospel. I hadn't eaten anything yet so I decided to try some chicken noodle soup, which I still can't decide if it helped or not...

At 3:00 pm we taught Sherry the Plan of Salvation, and Pearl was there! It was a good lesson. The first time we taught it we weren't able to cover the whole thing so we needed to go over it again. Sister Bauer has a Plan of Salvation packet with visual aids, so we used that and it was fun. 

Dinner was with Sister Taylor. She makes interesting food which I like and I think I would have really enjoyed what she made if I wasn't feeling ill. I forced it down though because I didn't want to make her feel bad. 

The Relief Society pool party was last night and we got to stop by for a couple minutes because Sherry was there. We got there a little late and when we arrived one of the ladies we are teaching was really upset, so she left. We walked out to the car with her and found out that she was upset because she was sitting at a table with a bunch of women and not one person talked to her. She said she tried to get in on the conversation but no one would talk to her. I felt for her because Heaven knows I have been in many situations like that and it makes you feel like crap. Although I am sure none of them realized what they were doing, it made me realize that we need to be aware of people around us who are in need. This lady swore up and down that she would never go to one of the ward activities again...which makes me sad :(  The Church is perfect, the people are not.

We stayed at the party for about a half hour and had fun. Then we went to the Mission Home to get some music for Sister Bauer. She was asked to sing in church on Sunday. We spent about a half hour there. We talked to President Tew and Sister Tew. Sister Bauer sang for them. Their son and his family were there so we knelt down and had family prayer with them. It was a nice visit.

We needed to stop by Sister Luft's apartment to get some notes that the "mini-missionary" left for us so since we where in the area, we did that real fast and then Sister Bauer let me drive home :)

On our way home we made a pit stop at the Goodies to say hello and shared Moroni 10:32.

I really tried to be a good missionary even though I was sick.

In and Out

Delci at Seal Beach

Monday after emailing we went to In and Out and then to the beach --Seal Beach, which I think is the beach the Goodman's took Dad to...I'm not sure. We aren't allowed to go on the beach or the pier but we were able to sit on the bench and look at the water. I was fine with that. The ocean is my peace and it was really relaxing. That is what we did for most of our P-day. During emailing we had a picnic with the mini-missionary, Sister Pito, before she went home (a mini-missionary is someone who lives the mission for 1-2 weeks to decide whether or not they want to go on a mission). After the beach we went back to the house to switch out our laundry and get back to work.

Monday was a good day.

I don't know how to cast my burdens on the Savior. I am really trying to figure that out. I am working on not running faster than I have strength. 

Thank you so much for the book. I love it.

AJ, Emma, Sam, Luke...good luck on your first day of school! I want to know how it goes :) I'll be thinking about and praying for you.

Mom and Dad, How are you? How is work? Has anything fun been going on?

How is Jansen? I miss him!

I've been really thanking Heavenly Father for all of the blessings He has given me --the biggest being my family. So many people don't have what I have and I realize it more and more everyday. Thank you for being my family <3  I love you all.

--California

The church is true!!