She got off easy!!!

Well...I think that this girl got off easy on the eggs for her birthday. I know she dishes out much worse...like whole eggs with the shells and flour. They were kind enough to Crack the eggs and beat them in a cup and then pour them on her.....most ran off her head...haha! I am so glad that this custom does not happen in the USA!! I bet she is super grateful that it is not birthday week over in Peru!

She had a great birthday and the members showed her a lot of love with meals and cakes. We had a little birthday celebration here for her to. We really need to work on the Happy Birthday song for family home evening or something because...well...we just are not very good at singing it together...but the cake was delicious!

 

Here is her letter for the week....

 

Hello Family,

 

Hey you guys! Wow this week went by super fast and I feel like a lot of things happened. Well first off I had my birthday and I am no longer in the teenager category. To be quite honest it doesn’t really feel any different. I had a good egg washing from my zone and from a couple members... it was awful. I also got my face smashed in 3 cakes! I am so glad the US doesn’t do that. There was so much egg in my hair and I had to shower like 4 times!! I feel bad for my laundry lady. I had a really nice day besides that! I got 3 birthday cakes and 3 dinners! It was a lot but somehow we managed to get through it. It was a birthday I’ll never forget that is for sure ha ha.

 

Also.. yes Presidente came with his wife and did room inspections and interviews. It’s also so nice to see them! Yes our room passed and Hermana Rasmussen even used our bathroom... we are the winners. I had a good talk with Presidente and his wife! I’m pretty sure that I will be leaving this next week! I have no idea where I will end up but I’ll go where ever the lord needs me. It will sure be an emotional goodbye because there is something so special in this branch and I love all these people so much!

 

We had intercambios(splits) with our Hermana leaders as well. It was a good day and almost every door we knocked they let us in and share a message. This was my tender mercy of the week. I usually get so stressed when we have intercambios because I don’t want us to just be knocking doors all day so it was a really good day! Today for pday we watched another movie and ate together for lunch. I seriously love everyone in this zone! I'm gonna miss Paita so much! 

 

This week was also general womens conference! A member in our ward lent us their laptop and we watched it in english. It was really good and really inspiring. They talked a lot about faith. Faith is such a huge part of our church. I loved the talk by Dieter Uchtdorf! He talked about how we need to have faith and endure to the end. That god knows each of us individually and that he knows all the desires of our hearts. Everything will all work out in the end no matter what the situation. It will all make sense to us in the end! It was really inspiring! 

 

Well that is pretty much all from me today! I love you all!

 

Hermana Brown

Omelet Brown....all those Elders there and not a one stepped up to rescue her.....haha!!!

One of the families that she celebrated her birthday with!

I am not sure what is on her face.....

Another family that she had a birthday celebration with!

I really feel sorry for the Elder who got egg on his hand......

It's all good....thanks for the love!

They are trying to use all the different face masks in Peru.

Watching Women's Conference in English.....Blessings!!!

Look mom...I'm a grown up!!

Well....it happened.....this girl turned the big 2...0.....it is kind of a relief to only have one teenager left. I can't wait to hear her fate on the egg front....she deserved anything that she was given...she is part Peterson after all. We bought a Schmidt's cake.. Aushlynn's favorite....and sang Happy Birthday to her and then had some cake...no reason we should suffer without birthday cake just because she is in Peru...Right???!!

Anyway here is her letter for the week!

Hey Family! 

Well this week not too much happened here in Paita! Still pushing through these grueling summer days here in Paita! It’s starting to get really windy here and that means Hermana Thomas and I are pretty much blind now from how much sand we have got in our eyes. I just have to say that this transfer has been the fastest transfer in my whole mission and well I’m starting to feel like my days in Paita are winding down and I will be leaving shortly! We will see what the lord has in store for me!

This week we had the opportunity to do invasions! This is where all the missionaries in Paita go to one part and go out and find all the less active members! We did this in the zone leaders areas and the part by the beach! Well I felt like half the time I was just totally lost trying to find these people but we always somehow magically ended up at the right doorstep lol. That was a pretty long day but Hermana Thomas and I always have a good time and make the work fun! One of our investigators Angie is progressing really well and she has a baptism date set for the 30th. So we are really excited for her. Our other investigators need to really start progressing. We are hoping to do so much this week with them.

Well so you all know.... it’s my birthday week! Thanks to all who sent me birthday cards, emails, and videos! I seriously love you all. Thanks for all your support! Well... I’m sure you have all heard but in Peru it’s a tradition to break eggs all over your head and throw flour all over you... lets just say I have never not wanted my birthday to come until this year ha ha... if you guys can remember for Hermana Thomas birthday we cracked 40 eggs on her head.. now she is my comp... over my birthday... why president why... she has a lot of things planned with the members in our ward... yay... ha ha ill make sure to send picture! 

This next week is also interviews with the Presidente and they are doing apartment inspections. We are going to have the cleanest apartment in the mission. For P-day we went to the market where a traveling group of merchants came into town. They sell Peruvian alpaca goods. I bought some beanies, a poncho, and a backpack. Everything is amazingly soft!

Well, I can’t believe my years of being a teenage punk are over! Here is to my 20s! 

Love

Hermana Brown

The streets of Piata.

Translation......Live Happy

A view of the ocean

Aush and her companion

This looks like a pretty yummy meal....

I think that her brown hair looks awesome. In fact there is a story......they tried to dye the top brown hair blonde....And it didn't work so well...they then decided to go with a overall brighter blonde which turned her hair grey!!! Haha...they then went with a nice brown...oh my goodness...what a hairy adventure...reminds me of when Pam turned my hair maroon...ahh...memories!

Happy Birthday Aush.....a member sent me the pictures!

On her 20th birthday!

What cute kids...thanks for making her birthday awesome!

My hair now matches my name!!!

I know....I am terrible at this posting the letter lately. I don't know what is up with me. So sorry! Anyway.....this girls teenage years are rapidly coming to a close.  The last few minutes of being a teenager are like sands through the hour glass. 4 days until her 20th birthday! I can't believe I am celebrating one of my kids 20th birthday again without them. I am 3 for 3!  I am gonna bake a cake....ok....lets get real.....I will probably buy one from Schmidt's.....and blow out the candles for her an eat it! Just because she is gone is no reason we should go with out cake!

 

Here is her letter for the week:

 

Hey family! 

So like I blinked and this week was over like I don’t even know where the week went to be honest. Everything was good with Hermana Thomas and I this week! We had water all 7 days and it actually wasn’t to hot this week! It was like a nice fall weather week! We were able to visit our investigators this week but the work right now is not going so hot. We are kinda in a little rut. Our investigators are just not progressing like we want them too. It frustrating but we have high hopes for this week. 

So a major change took place in my life and well….. I have mixed feelings about it. I dyed all my hair brown and yes I regret it... its fine I’ll just dye it back blonde when I get home. 

Also… today for p-day we just played soccer on the beach like usual. Don’t even worry I’ll be starting up my own soccer training camp when I get home! I think I’m actually good enough to make a Marv Jensen team now!! 

We had an activity with the tree of life with our branch. So pretty much like 15 people showed up and I got really mad because we had been planning this for weeks and half of the leaders didn’t even show up... the branch prez didn’t even show. Ugh. 

So this month we were assigned by president to fast once a week for a month! Now I don’t know why but on the mission it is so much harder to fast haha... anyways we had a really spiritual fast as a companionship. We really were able to see blessings from this fast and receive revelation for our area and our district.

Well not much else took place this week. Still here livin the life in pita! Still partying with Hermana Thomas every day and having the time of my life! I love you guys and pray for you guys!! 

Hermana Brown



Hello....

P-day soccer

Hair dying regrets! Her hair now matches her last name!

Just a little Titanic for your enjoyment!

How's the water??? Where's the water????



Hey Peeps....I am so sorry to have not posted this letter until now.  I have been feeling a little lazy this week and did just not get around to it until now.  I am sorry.....I know how much some of you look forward to reading this update. Anyway...guess who only has 234 more days in her mission??? Can you believe that...her time is just flying by.  Aushlynn also confessed to me that she opened her birthday dress.....the little stinker!  She said that she was tired of wearing the same thing day in and day out.  Oh my goodness she took like 42 different skirts.....what she has "had" to wear each one like 8 times...haha! Well, I guess somebody is not going to have anything to open on her birthday!  Augh...maybe I will have to send something!  You know me! Well, here is her letter for the week...

 



Hey Fam bam!

Welp… another week has past and gone! First off I just want to go off on a little rant about my companion Hermana Thomas! Honestly I am sooooo grateful for her! I know we were put together at this time in our lives for a reason! She is honestly one of my bestest friends. We just get each other! She is always helping me to be a better person and also a better missionary. I’ve learned so much from her for it just being 2 weeks! 

Anyways, this week we found a boy named Percy. He is 21 and is from Lima. He left his home when he was 14 years old. Percy and his family are atheists but he doesn’t have contact with his family. He is only renting a room here in Paita so we had a lesson with him in the church. It’s so sad because he doesn’t know who god is... but he wants to know him. He listened to our message with his full attention and at the end we asked him to pray if these things were true and that if he would be baptized on the 30th. He told us he had never prayed before but accepted. His prayer was the most sincere prayer I have ever been a part of. He asked to know if he was really there and that he wanted to feel loved and feel like a son to god. Of course my mom gave the water works gene and so I was bawling. I had never felt the spirit so strongly with an investigator. He accepted a date to be baptized and will continue to teach him! Also Walter is continuing to read the Book of Mormon but is still praying to know if he should be baptized. We have a girl named Katy we are teaching but she needs to be married before she can be baptized we are working with her to get married!! :) I’ve sure seen a lot of miracles and ways that this gospel blesses the lives of people here in Paita! 

So this past week we have had water for like 2 days in our apartment. Okay.... this is not okay Hermana Brown ca not live like that. Apparently I’m high maintenance because water is optional.. Oh wait.. no it’s not. YOU NEED WATER TO LIVE!!! Haha we had a zone service project painting a house and afterwards we got to our apartment to find we had no water... what. We were covered in paint.. we went out that day covered in paint... the next day was zone meeting and still no water... we were so nasty... so we took one of our drinking waters and made our own shower and were able to at least wash our hair... after that day we had water for a couple hours and then it got cut off again... I know you all are thinking… how is she even living???... well today... MONDAY! THE WATER WAS TURNED BACK ON AND I WAS ABLE TO HAVE A NICE ICEY SHOWER :D…. you would think that after all that time they would have made a hot water option but no... I know I’m just as disappointed as you guys are!

Today we had a bbq with our zone at the beach! Yanno the whole stuff 16 people in a minivan and drive an hour to the beach :) I’m pretty much use to the smell of B.O now... lol. We just took pictures... played soccer and Elder Abbott brought his guitar and we played songs and sung. I got thinking that I am really gonna miss Peru when I have to leave. The beach is so quiet and calm and I love it. There is no place I would rather be then here. Despite all the things I’ve gone through I wouldn’t trade this experience for anything. I love this gospel. I love the Peruvian people and I love my Heavenly Father!

Con mucho amor

 Hermana Brown



Aushlynn and Mr. Crabs....he is taking the discussions in this photo and thinking about baptism in the ocean.

Hermana Brown and Hermana Thomas

Ummm....I think somebody needs to scrub her name badge......

P-day at the beach. They had a BBQ of hot dogs and hamburgers.

Aushlynn and her "shower" to wash her hair...the poor girl.

Hey.....Peace out....until next week!

I thought everyone from Montana was a cowboy!



So I was so excited to hear about Aushlynn's week.  I think that you have all heard that she is companions with Hermana Thomas......I am pretty sure that you have!  Well, she told me that she was super excited for the transfer so I was anxious to hear how the first week went. It was amazing!

 

So funny story....Aush is singing a song with a Elder Abbott for a special training video or something like that.  I asked her where he was from and she said Montana. I replied with he must be a cowboy! she told me hahaha....okay he is not a cowboy lol...but I'm so gonna tell him that because that is what everyone says and it makes him mad. I replied with, I thought everyone from Montana was a cowboy!..haha She said, I am taking a picture of this email to show him that I have the funniest mom. But she said seriously he is a awesome singer. I replied with, that cause he strums his guitar and sings to the cattle at night. I bet his rendition of Home on the Range is amazing! She in turn told me that Hermana Thomas was laughing so hard! Well....I aim to be the comic relief!  Haha!

 

Well, this is what she has to say this week!

 

Hey Family!

 

Okay first off I just need to tell you about Hermana Thomas! She is honestly my soul sister! She will probably end up being my best friend when I get home! I love her to death! We get along so well and we laugh non stop! Finally someone who gets my humor! I am sooooo excited for this transfer! Watch out Paita were about to take over!

 

So I have been really praying to have more service opportunities lately. I feel as a representative of Christ we all should give service and felt like I was not doing enough of that in my mission. Well this week god answered my prayers and had about 4 service opportunities this week! First we were able to help a lady in our ward feed her animals and cook lunch for her family. Then we were able to teach 2 classes of English! The people here love it. Most of these people are learning English in school and so we usually teach a little lesson and help with homework lol. Also..... we cleaned the whole church with a less active member! We weren’t planning on this but it just kind of fell on our shoulders.... the fault of our president of the branch but whatever ha ha. I know that if we strive to do more service for others that we will be able to strengthen our relationships with people and become more like Christ.

 

This week we found 4 new people to teach. One couple that seems really promising! They are reading the book of Mormon and praying for their date this upcoming month in September! Also.. we had a really spiritual lesson with Walter! He is awesome! We have been visiting him for 2 weeks and he has already read 18 chapters of the book of Mormon! Okay #blessed. He also is sharing this book with his friends and talking about the Mormon religion with his friends. We are hoping he will be baptized in the next couple weeks!! 

 

This week as I was studying one morning and I was just kind of thinking back on my whole mission and I was just thinking wow look how far I have come. How much I have changed. How much my testimony has grown. I’m speaking Spanish and gaining friendships that will last a life time. I’m learning to love a culture and people that I’ve come to know only 10 months ago. I am so grateful for this gospel and the knowledge we have of his plan. I am so grateful that I can be the hands of god and I feel him working through me every day. As I am thinking about this I start to cry and get filled with such a strong, undeniable spirit and as much as I miss you guys back home I know this is where I am supposed to be. 

 

For P-day we went to Piura and sent packages home! Yeah there is a package for you guys with little trinkets from Peru! Also we ate frozen yogurt with Hermana Sandibum! It was so good to see her!! This next week we are going with the zone to the beach for P-day! Yay I’m super excited to explore more of the beaches in Paita! This by far is my most favorite area! 

 

I love you guys and am praying for each and everyone of you daily! I am so sad to hear about Harold. His family is in my prayers! I know that the plan of salvation is true and that there is so much more than just life on earth. If we continue to keep the commandments and do our part here on this earth that we will be able to live with our family forever! 

 

Hermana Brown



In the mission if you stand to close to the Elders or Sisters or talk to much to them they call you a snake.....this one is for Elder Abbott.......SSSSSSSSsssssssss.



 The Dynamic Duo 

Lets just say that the two of them have a lot of laughs together!



 



They are going to be besties for sure! People in Peru say that they look like twins.

So we did Peruvian face masks....more like tar...lol...Yeah....it pretty much ripped our skin off!

Our new district....it's smaller now.   Looks like there is a Elder who does not like his picture taken.

Aushlynn trying to be the cool kid!

Elder Abbotts birthday....I think that this girl might have opened up her birthday dress early...so so so naughty of her! I guess that is what happens when I send it 6 weeks early! haha

 

Cooking up some grub!

Hermana Brown and Hermana Thomas

Transfers....

Aush had a great week. She is super excited for this transfer...let her tell you why!!!

Hey Fam Bam! 

Okay the rumors are true... IM WITH HERMANA THOMAS!!! Wow president you really hit the nail on the head with this one! I am soooo excited! We have wanted to be comps for awhile!! I’m so excited to be here in Paita and be able to learn from Hermana Thomas!! Now.. yes I am scared because the first thing Hermana Thomas said to me was your going to get it on your birthday. Ha Ha. If you remember I bought extra eggs when I was serving in Chulucanas to break on her head. Yikes I’m in for it.  Unfortunately, Hermana Ramos left! I will miss her a lot! She was a really fun comp and we had a lot of success together! She got transferred to Piura! It was really sad for her to leave Paita because this was her first area and had been here for 6 months! 

This last week we tried to work hard because well usually people get a little trunky the week of transfers! We were able to put up some really good numbers and able to progress a lot with our investigators. We have an investigator Walter that is truly a gift from god. We were able to meet with him a 2nd time and he had read 5 chapters of the book of Mormon including the testimonies in the front. Also he was able to pray to know if it’s true and said he got a clear answer! WOOOO! We have a baptism date for 13 of September!! This week I am hoping to find some really cool people to teach. We have a lot that we are teaching but I feel like some of them aren’t progressing how we would like them too so we will see. 

Also this week we were able to travel to Piura twice. I’m so not a fan of the buses here. My comp had an allergic reaction and had to go to the hospital. She ate some bad eggs I guess. We need to watch the food that people are giving us better! Also... were just not going to have a pension because well we don’t want eat rice every day! I love Americans ha ha. I love Latinas too but not so much the rice lol. Also traveled to Piura for an interview with Presidente.. for my comp. 

On Sunday night  Hermana Ramos said goodbye to everyone.... now when you say bye everyone wants to feed you food. Now I don’t know about ya’ll but there is only so much fish and rice a girl can eat... little to say it was a rough night. Everyone in the branch is like oh no there is going to be 2 sassy gringas in the branch now ha ha whatever I’m not even sassy... it’s like they think they know me ha ha. 

Love Ya..

Hermana Brown

When you go to the a Elders area for lunch...with members....and follow the Elders directions and it leads you here.......WHHHYYYY! Oh look....a puppy!

So this was my knee last week they wanted me to get a shot for....Nope!

Correlation meeting with the Mission leader and the Elders in our area.

Me trying to teach Hermana Ramos english..lol!!

Time keeps on slippin'......into the future

Hey fam! 

Well this week sure did just fly by! You really don’t realize how fast times goes by and how short this life really is until you get out in the mission field! I’m trying to soak up every feeling and every experience here in Peru! 

This week we almost had a baptism but we felt like maybe a little more time and she would be more ready to be baptized! We have some investigators progressing! The one that is closest to baptism is Walter! He is 37 and single haha…I know what you are all thinking... that’s the road that Dyllon is on but I assure you…… Dyllon will get married before this guy…. haha... hopefully! He has a really desire to know if this church is true and I haven’t seen this much desire in one person! I know that he will know and get a sure answer! He is a special person! 

Whelp... you know how us Browns are just prone to getting hurt.. Well... so, I got totally taken out on the soccer field one morning playing soccer and ended up with a huge bruise the size of an orange on my knee. Now don’t panic.. I’m fine! Now apparently when you get a bruise people think ya need to run to the hospital and get a shot and I was like okay… not doing that... so I let people put herbs and creams on it for a whole week till it went away haha.. These people and there remedies! 

So….I am learning how to play the piano…so that’s cool. I got a call from Presidente the other night….I was kinda scared haha…..but he asked me if I would sing a song with Elder Abbot for a video he is making for the mission. 

So this is the last week of the transfer and well it’s also the most stressful haha because this is counting for the whole next transfer! We are just trying to put our heads down and work hard. Hermana Ramos will probably leave this area! She is really sad but knows that it’s her time to go.. But... you never know with Presidente…he is always getting these weird revelations that I need to be somewhere else in the mission….. so we will see! 

Well….that’s pretty much all for this week! I love you all and want you to know I am praying for each and every one of you! Have a great week!

Hermana Brown

This picture made me laugh....it looks like they are in a giant red wagon.

Aushlynn and her companion and some members...I think....or possibly some investigators. She never tells me.