Baptism!

Hey y'all! What a wonderful week it was. I had the time of my life! This week was super duper busy! Which is so so good! 

Tuesday we had our last district Council for the transfer. Which is really sad we had a party for sure. Our District leader even made us Yonana which is the best stuff ever! We went finding a bit and then did some My Plan for Sister Bergeson. Which is something missionaries getting ready to go home do.  

Wednesday! We went and did service for the lady who actually referred Larry to us. She is a member in the Regal Park ward and needed some help weeding her garden! She is so sweet, and she was nice enough to cut our hair after. Then we got talking and she shared a bit of her life story with us. As she did so she shared how she had a son pass away. She was so heart broken! In the moments of her telling us that I was so grateful for the Plan of Salvation and the knowledge that she would see her son again. Then we went and bagged some potatoes for service at the food Bank. You best believe that this girl from Idaho felt right at home doing so. It was fun to just talk with the people that were there! 

 

Thursday was a crazy day! There is a lady who we do service for in Shallowater every Thrusday, so we started out day off with her and helped her with her laundry, then we went back to Lubbock. After we got back to Lubbock, we went and did service for Miss Billie when Elder Bergeson, a senior missionary called us. He said that someone was needing some help moving, so we changed real quick after we were done at Billie's and went to help. The Elders were supposed to come, but they had lessons so we used our strong muscles to do all the heavy lifting ourselves. Then we had to finish doing stuff for the lady we help in Shallowater. We went back to Shallowater at around 5 to drop her groceries off. Then we went home and had dinner. And did studies the rest of the night. It was crazy! 

Friday! We started making the program for Larry's Baptism. After that we had to go to Shallowater and help another lady in our ward pack some stuff up so she could move. We were there for a while! Then Tropical Cafe was having a free smoothie day. What a dream! So after our hard work of packing we went and got smoothies! We were supposed to meet with Brother Grinch, but he dropped us. He was not ready yet, but the Lord has a perfect plan for him and he will be shortly. We also had dinner at a less actives house. She is so sweet! Then later that night we went and practiced our song for Larry's Baptism the next day!! As well as getting church keys and stuff for the font. 

SATURDAY!!!! This day was one of the best days ever! That whole day we pretty much prepared for Larry's Baptism. We were running around all day getting programs, and filling the font, ect... Then Larry showed up nice and early to get ready. He was so so excited. While teaching him he said he just wanted to be right with God. This was the day he was going to be right with God and make covenants with Him! He had actually asked our District leader to baptize him and it was so awesome for the both of them. During the program Sister Bergeson and I sang Nearer My God to Thee. As we sang I just looked at him and smiled so big and he smiled so big back! After the ordinance had happened he hugged the elder and just cried. He then looked out to all of us there and his face was priceless. It was like he knew he was right with God. It was the sweetest thing of my life and I couldn't help but smile. Afterwards he told us he felt something he had never felt before. I am so grateful I was able to be part of that day. Man do we love Larry! After the service he gave us the biggest hugs. 

Sunday! We didn't have any meetings this day. We did studies and stuff in the morning and then had church. Larry was confirmed a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints! We are so happy for him. Then after church we did lunch and then we called our families. Which we were so stoked about. I am grateful for my dad and the example he is for me! Then a member found out we didn't have dinner and he made us some to take home and eat. He is the nicest. People are so good to us here! Then we waited for transfer calls. When we found out that Sister Bergeson and I will be staying together for another transfer! WHOOP WHOOP!!!! We are so stoked! 

 God is so good my friends and this week was so good! I am grateful to be a missionary! I know this church is true! I am grateful for Larry and his decision to be baptized. I know his life will change for the better! Love y'all! 

-Love Sister Browning 

1. Free Trop

2. Potato bagging

3.Larry and US!

4. Elder Johnson and Larry

5.Yonana

6. The Temple

Dust Storm!

Hey y'all! I hope y'all had a wonderful week! What an amazing time to be alive and to be a missionary. I love sharing the Gospel it is the best!

For starters this past week we made some cookies to take to some of our ward members to share our appreciation. We also took them to some of the people that we are teaching. I don't think members know how grateful we really are for them and all of their support. 

This week we had a couple more lesson's with our friend Brother Grinch. He is the sweetest old man. We were able to finish teaching him about the Restoration. He always has a lot of questions, but that is good we like to answer them. We are in the process of helping him be comfortable with praying and recognizing the importance of prayer. He is coming along wonderfully though. I love being able to teach him. 

We also had a lesson with Larry! We taught him pretty much the rest of what he needs to know before baptism. Let me tell you Larry is so ready for baptism. He has so much faith and willingness and every time we teach him something he just accepts it as Gods will. Then he actually got a blessing for his back that he hurt. Which he was so thrilled about getting and knew that God would take care of him. When we saw him on Sunday his back was doing much better. He is good friends with the Tech coach and so he had their trainer help him out. God is so good. Sunday he had his interview for his baptism and he passed with flying colors. He is ready to go for this next Saturday! I can not wait for him to be able to enter into this covenant with our Heavenly Father. He has such a desire to do his will! 

Also this past week we were able to experience a haboob! This is what they call a dust storm in Texas. It was crazy! One second the sky was nice and blue, then it was brown two seconds later. I was very honored to be able to experience one! 

We also did a lot of service this week which is always my favorite. We get to work with some of the nicest people ever! We also went to a baptism for the elders in our ward it was amazing. The spirit that was felt as Miguel entered into the waters of baptism was amazing. Miguel has changed so much ever since I have met him about 5 weeks ago, the Gospel changes lives I know it! I love being here in Lubbock and I love being a missionary. There is no other job I would rather have than this. My Bishop shared something about trials yesterday. He asked how can we be happy when we go through our trials. Trials are hard and we go through them all the time. I have definitely experienced my fair share this past 11 1/2 months, but how can you stay happy through them. Well there is something that we have in our lives or can have in our lives. The Gospel of Jesus Christ. This is a Gospel of HOPE! When we go through trials we can be happy because we know that we can make it through, because we are not alone. I know that our Savior is with us as we experience heart ache and sorrow. I know that our Savior Lives! What JOY that brings to my heart. Man I love this Gospel so much! I love you all so much as well! Have a blessed week.

Love, Sister Browning

- 

Miracles!

Hey y'all! Another week here in Texas! Whoop Whoop!! I love it here and honestly there is no where else I would rather be! One thing I learned this week is it thrills God to bless us! We have seen so many miracles and it just makes my heart so full! 

This past week I went on exchanges and it was a party. I was WITH Sister Stevenson who also happens to be my old MTC companion! She is the sweetest and we partied hard. We had a little town in my area called Shallowater we went finding there. Can I tell you it was so fun! We took our bikes and it was the most beautiful day outside. We just biked around and talked to literally everyone. We found a cute old man named Grinch and he said they call him that because he has a big heart and he was right. We shared The Book of Mormon with him, set a return appointment and were on our way. We have been back and taught him the Restoration, and he finds it so interesting and just want to know more. We found many more people as we biked around in the beautiful weather. Then this week I actually had to go to the dentist to get a cavity fixed which was not fun, but the people were nice so hey!

We also had a couple of lessons with Larry this week which were the best! That man has so much faith! Anything and everything we teach him he just accepts knowing that it is God's plan and that is how it is supposed to be. He is so prepared my friends! I love him and so does our Heavenly Father. June 15th is his day to make covenants with God! We got to teach him about temples and how he can be sealed with his wives that have passed away and to him that is so exciting. I loved being able to teach about it. Especially after getting to chance to go to the temple again this past week! What a time that was being able to be in the House of the Lord! It is my most favorite place to be! I am grateful to be serving so close to a temple, God is so good.

God is so good and time as a missionary is flying by fast. I love being here, nothing gets better than this. I love sharing the Gospel with those that I love so dearly. I know that there are missionaries who are all around you guys and who love you so dearly as well. If you ever need anything ask the missionaries, because we always love to help! I love you all so so much and I am so grateful for each and everyone of you. Hope you have a blessed week!
Love, Sister Browning