Week 34: August 29

Hey family,

This week was good Monday we had pday which was really good we went down to Ukiah and drove the sisters down cause they are low on miles and we played some hardcore ball, wth the whole zone it was really fun, we celebrated 2 birthdays so that was really that night we went and tried to see the labrash family and they said to come by Wednesday night so we said okay!

Tuesday we had district meeting we were taught by my companion elder southwick since he is the district leader. It was good we talked about introducing the Book of Mormon and different way that's we can introduce it to people's life's and help them out personally, after district meeting we went on exchanges with elder oiler he is super cool guy. We went and did some finding and less active finding we were able to teach with one less active it was a good lesson and he said he would come to church so that's cool.

On Wednesday we went less active finding and went through the whole list and we were knocking on the door and no one aswered of course but we were walking to the drive way and the lady came home and instead of you know seeing us and we seeing her and she knows we saw her we think you know she is going to come and park in her driveway but she looks at us and swerves and keeps driving up the road pretends that she didn't see us haha, it was funny a lot of that happens here, people look and is and they think that we have the Black Plague haha. But it's slowly starting to cool down next tomorrow it's only supposed to be 85 degrees, yay. But we went and had dinner with the rodriguez family again they have us every Wednesday and we usually have the same thing every time pasta with this weird sausage, it's not bad. But we had a good lesson with them after and there care takers Connie and tom always listen to us they belong to another church and they are super cool people they like us a lot haha. They always are super excited for the message at the end. After that we went to the labrashes and they are a super cool family I love them a lot we had a really good spiritual lesson with them we got both of them to open and share some personal things and we shared some personal things, my companion shared about testimonies and I shared about the temple and how I have had a really hard with the temple and going to the temple and just enjoying it, but now starting to love it each time I go, it's a process but I the feeling of peace in your heart when you go and knowing that you are where you are supposed to be even though we aren't perfect that's where we are supposed to be, if we were perfect nothing would stop us from seeing Jesus and the father haha. But I told them also that I love the temple cause that's where the family is sealed and how we were sealed together as a family and how special that is to me and how Important it is to me. But also the importance of being able to save others on the other side of the veal and feeling there presence and knowing and feeling there joy as you do those ordinances. The lesson was really good they agreed to read the Book of Mormon with us when we come by, so yay!! I think one of the things that they are going through is that they weren't really raised knowing the church they went when they were kids but they stopped going when they turned 18 and now they feel embarrassed to go to church cause they think that they will be judged cause they don't know the church that well, but the next time we go over we will tell that, that is okay. It's a huge learning process and we are all learning and right now is the perfect time to start. But yeah it was a good lesson, I think that my trial personally right now is keeping the faith, so many people are badgering us on if there is a God and if everything is true and yeah, it's a struggle. But I just gotta keep looking ahead and keeping my head. Cause I know it's true.

But on Thursday we went less active finding and didn't really have success but we were able to have dinner with the east hams and teach there 11 year old sun he is super cool he has a disability but he is very smart we are teaching him he wants to get baptized. It was a really good lesson we taught him the plan of salvation. After that we went to Denis and vessas house to see how they are doing and we taught them about Callings cause they are going to get one!! Yeah! Love that family, they make some bomb Mexican food.

Friday was good we planned all day and messed around with the other missionaries planning with us haha. We planned a good this week though.

Saturday we went to a baptism up in lowers lake because the middle town sisters had a baptism!! It was super good middle town just had a fire and it is very burnt the whole place is in ashes so so sad,  it after we went and saw Tami but she wasn't home Maurice and Tami are main investigators they kind just kinda disappeared which is super sad we will keep trying though.

Today was church and we had a good time we taught the first lesson in gospel principles we then went and visited members and saw how they were doing, and we had a good dinner with bishop and his family is was awesome this week was really good I love you guys !!

Hope everything is well. And if your wondering why I sent this tonight is cause we are going on a hike tomorrow morning and we asked the zone leaders if we could send them off tonight !! Sorry if you were going to email me questions, I will answer them tomorrow if you have any haha, tell he kids I love them !!!

Elder Devin Brown

brown.devin@myldsmail.net

603 19th Street

Lakeport, CA 95453

Week 33: August 22

Hey guys!

How is everyone doing? I hope you are all doing good I miss you a lot, this week was pretty busy we have been going everywhere haha.

But I will just start at he top at Monday. So we had pday of course we played basketball and then we went a our members and played pool and ping pong it was pretty fun. That night we went and tried to visit the Labrashes and some of the other families right by them out in Upperlake it was good.

On Tuesday we had district meeting it was good we had all the missionaries in lake county come cause they got evacuated from the huge fire, so it was cool we got a new sister and I got to meet her she is really cool. But after we went on exchanges with the zone leaders and I went back to Ukiah again, I feel like I haven't even left my old area haha. I feel like I can still help people from here in Lakeport. We went and saw some people that I new and every time I go to Ukiah there's always someone we visit that just starts crying when I am there and just like what the ? But I gave her a blessing and tried to help her. After we went and had dinner with the Henries one of my favorite families they cook the best meals haha. And after we had ward correlation and it was really good to be back and to that, and see Isaac again and the Ukiah second missionaries. Then after dinner we went finding it was really fun Elder Turnbow is a funny guy haha, and if we put the 2 of us together is pretty fun. But we just talked all night after that.

Wednesday we had interviews with president and so we exchanged back early that morning and then we had Interviews they went really well, I love president, after we drove back to Lakeport and did some less active finding cause we printed off all the names and started going through some of the people so that was good. We had dinner with the greens after man they talk a lot! But that's pretty normal for northern Cali. People just talk and talk and talk.

Thursday we drove down to Santa Rosa for my appointment with charity, it went super well ! We talked and went through a book about anxiety and our minds it was  super cool, and that "we are enough" and I took the same test from the beginning and my first score was an 85 and 65 is the score that qualifies you for medication and therapy, and I took it again and it was a 35 !! She said she is really proud of me and she hasn't seen someone do that that often. So we decided to stop meeting and to keep I touch. Afterward we said hi to president and some other people. When we got home we saw some people most didn't answer, but we got some addresses figured out so that is a plus, on Friday was the temple day!! Sadly Thursday our ride canceled so we called everyone to find a new ride and found one a crazy one.

Friday we had to drive to Ukiah 5 in the morning and then we drove down to Rosa and then the new old couple missionaries took us down to Oakland, so I am grateful for them. After the temple was our potluck and really nobody came it makes me mad cause we go out and ask all then members to invite people to come, and they don't do it and so it's just the same people that come we invite tons of people, so that is in the works still.

But Saturday we did some service and cut down a ton of trees and loaded them up and went to our members house and dumped them in in burn pile so that was fun, after that we drove down to Ukiah to go to the night session of stake conference that was really good, I got to see a lot of members that I have missed a lot, after that we went to Ukiah 2 ward missionaries and we stayed the night, and the yesterday we had conference from 10 to 12 it was really good it focused on the temple and keeping our selves clean and temple worthy. After we drove to Lakeport and had lunch with some members and then went and visited a couple people. Today we are back In Ukiah for pday to celebrate some elder bdays, and some ball!!

Love you guys don't have to much fun without me! 😜

Elder Devin Brown

brown.devin@myldsmail.net

603 19th Street

Lakeport, CA 95453

Week 32: August 15

Hey family !! Hola.

So people just don't exist up here in good old Lakeport, haha we go by and people just don't answer the door ever all day everyday, and if they answer the door they are like oh yeah you can totally come back anytime next week and guess what we do? Come by anytime he next week and guess what they don't answer ever it's like they just disappear off the face of the earth, and we go at different times each time it's just interesting. 🌧 that's my rain cloud this week.

So on Monday we had a pday the end of the transfer pday. So we really just hung out at the church and talked and signed journals my favorite sister left sister Jeffery she is the one that came into the Mtc with me she is going to Vacaville. And elder Taylor I got really close to him cause I have been with him since I was born so it sucks I won't see him again. It was a good pday though.

On Tuesday we had transfers, my companion is the new DL so we went and met he new missionaries, they are pretty cool just super quiet, then after all of that excitement we then went and saw well tried to see a lot of people here Lakeport, after that we went to Denis and vessas hourse my favorite family to go to, and we asked if they had any questions about anything about the church, the.

On Wednesday we spent the day up in Upperlake and nice and Lucerne, we saw a couple people and found out what we need to report to the ward council. Then we went on a road strip out to hear less active way put in the middle of nowhere it was a good drive but saddle they weren't there. After that we went to visit a member in blue lakes and had fun there.

On Thursday we went through a list of a bunch of primary less active families that have kids cause our primary has like 4 kids in it which is super sad :( but a lot of them either moved or got evicted  from there house. So that is pretty sad, but we then went to service to move some members out of a house I am a pro mover haha, I could probably easily get a job doing that now but don't really want that job haha, but they fed us the best meal right before it was so good! It reminded me of grandma and grandpa Browns meals, so good!. I am kinda sick of the heat haha, it wasn't rained since I got here 3 months ago and there are fires everywhere, there is a huge one in Clearlake and lower lake, and people are getting evacuated from that. It's crazy. We also had a earthquake here, it was a 5.1. So not that big but it was kinda cool. I heard that it was a rolling one so it wasn't as bad as it could have been. So then that night there was the meteorite shower that night we woke up at 2:15 in the morning and went outside our apartment for a little and saw the showers of them it was so cool, it's crazy to look and think about it and it blows my mind on how it was created and how much knowledge Heavenly Father and Jesus and Michael, had to have to create all that stuff it's crazy to think about.

But on Friday we had weekly planning for the next week our week this week is going to be so busy we are going to the temple this Friday cause it closes on the 20th for a couple months so thats crazy. And we are going to be driving eveywhere this week. It will be cool, after weekly planning we went and moved out the jones family they are the ones that are moving right by the Dolans I told them to look for them when they get there they should be there now moving in, they definitely belong in Utah they are a Utah family haha, out here you can just tell.

On Saturday was a bummer cause everyone canceled on us we were going to do some cool service for a less active family but we just went and did some finding it was cool.

Sunday was good went to ward council and reported our findings, and had a good sacrament wasn't very many people that showed up, but that is okay, after that we printed off a less active list it was about 9 pages of names a lot, it's like a huge valley of less actives, really good people that are just lost, I think it's definitely clear that this is happening "The love of men shall wax cold, and iniquity shall abound” (D&C 45:27). It's just spreading people's faith is failing, they are getting caught up in the world and they cannot let go of it. It's super sad, I have had hard times with my faith, it's hard it really is being out here and trying to save people that hate the church and call us cults and devil worshippers, and trying to tell them to look to Christ for help but they just turn away and tell us to go away, but you just got to turn to Heavenly Father in all things, it's one of the challenges that still struggling with. But everyone struggles with something so it's okay, I am just glad that our Heavenly Father was once like us he sinned and went through everything we did and that's amazing, to know what we are really preparing for all the covenants we are making and ordinances we do, it's getting us ready for he next begging After this one, after this huge testing ground. But yeah haha, this week was normal can't say it was good can't say it was bad, elder Warnick my former comp, went home he called me right before he left it was cool, a lot of missionaries went home that I knew it's sad :( but they need to start there lives. But yeah, I hope everything is well back home, tell the kids I love them and to get good at basketball cause I am going play them when I get home!! Well sadly 5 months after I get home cause I am coming home in the winter!! Gross!! Anyways love you!! May the spirit be with you 🌞🌞 just got your email the kids are growing up so fast I am not there to hang out with them and watch them grow I miss them so much. It sounds like you guys are doing awesome!!

Elder Devin Brown

brown.devin@myldsmail.net

603 19th Street

Lakeport, CA 95453

Note and pics from Sister Olson (a Lakeport ward member):

So excited we were able to keep both Elders this last transfer!!  They are a great companionship!!  We love the spirit they bring into our home and the service we see them doing!  With out even trying...they have become one of our very favorites!!  We have our youngest daughter, husband and children living with us!  They are less active and really enjoy us inviting them for dinner.  In fact it was our grandsons third birthday and I wasn't sure I'd be home in time for the dinner appt. we had set up.  We arrived home from the Dr.s and our daughter said she had picked up pizza so the missionaries could still come.  I was happy to see they wanted to share their special time together with them!!!  I do have your phone numbers and want to call you ,so I can brag, but worry calling at a good time.  

Week 31: August 8

Hey what's up?

So is week was pretty lame we didn't really do much, umm we had PDAY that was super fun cause if was with the whole zone and we celebrated some birthdays for some missionaries and then we played some hard core basketball and frisbee and soccer that was pretty fun.

Tuesday was zone meeting it was good it was just a review on all he other stuff that was said before this last one, but then after we went to the Asian Buffett that was super good but my stomach isn't as big as it was before so I only could eat 2 plates which was super sad 😭 but after that we drove back to Lakeport and tried o see some people like brother Taylor but he is in Utah looking for a house to buy which is pretty cool, but after that we went back to our apartment and called the district leaders.

On Wednesday we had a huge service project we went deep into kelseyville and fireproofed this sisters home so we dug out huge bushes and cleaned up the yard it was super tiring especially digging out the roots but we caught a king snake and played with it for awhile so that was cool I also caught a huge lizard. But after that we cleaned up the bushes and we followed her to the dump and dumped aLl the stuff out. After that we went out and did some finding and and then we had ultimate frisbee with the elders. I love ultimate frisbee it was us 2 against other people and we still won it was awesome.

But then on Thursday we went up to nice and worked up there for a couple of hours it wasn't the good but we did talk to some people but it was good we then went to the church and looked up talks to read from at the church, Friday our main investigator told us that she didn't want us coming over for a while, so that was sad which sucked. But yeah we then went and weekly planned for the next week at the church with the other elders and we did transfer prediction cause Tuesday is transfers. And we just stayed at the church cause there was a baptism after for the other elders and it was really good. The spirit was strong. After we took pictures and then tried to go and see the Scott's but they were nt feeling well. So we will try next week. I gave myself a hair cut Thursday night so that's good, I am glad I can cut hair haha. It saves money.

But then Saturday we had finding in Lakeport and we got told to never come back a couple times which is pretty normal. But you know never give up even though we get rejected just like alma in Ammonihah, just keep going no matter what, the lord will provide a way, but that night we went to dinner at the olsons and my companion got his hair cut, and then after we went to the church to see if we were leaving or staying I am staying in Lakeport with elder southwick so that is okay. 😕

Then Sunday we had church and asked the members to give us names that we could go and visit so they gave us a couple names that we could go and visit.  It church was good we had a lesson on the final judgment. And I talked my Jared my favorite guy. But yeah after that we went and visited the labrashes and taught them about families so that was really good, we had dinner with the bishops last night and we helped the daughter get ready to go on a mission, cause she goes to he MTC on Wednesday so that's cool. so I read a ensign that I think you guys would like to read as a family it's called "Families and Prayer" By President Henry B. Eyring (September 2015 ensign) cause realizing it now families are the most important and we need to keep all of us together and make it through this great journey together.

Because without you guys adopting me where would I be??? Would I be like my brother ? Would I be like my father ? Even though I hear there doing better it doesn't matter, but you guys saved me from whatever life I would have if you Guys didn't come into my life and save me. I am beyond grateful for that and I love you guys so much, I know now that all you wanted was the best for me. I didn't see it but I thank you, families are wonderful and I will never let that out of my heart and I will never stop trying to help all my family even though I have a lot on both sides, but I know Heavenly Father was in the helping of my adoption because I don't even remember saying yes, but I know he was there in that, tell the kids I love them and I miss them a lot I had a dream about them last night haha. That's my shpill haha, love you guys.

Elder Devin Brown

brown.devin@myldsmail.net

603 19th Street

Lakeport, CA 95453

Week 30: August 1

Hey guys whats going on? I hope that everything is going well back home, and also with the extended family as well :)

But to start out with my week it was pretty good on Monday we had a pretty good Pday we just went to the church and played volleyball and basketball of course i am not that very good at volleyball though which is pretty sad, But I am trying! But that night after wonderful pday we went to the lab-rashes and taught them about setting good spiritual goals with there family. It went really well they enjoyed it a lot and I think that they will come back to church one of these days but they are a really good family, I have enjoyed teaching them and seeing them personally grow, yeah it was good though.

So on Tuesday it was a good day as well we had district meeting and it was very good, one of my favorite missionaries is leaving which is really sad cause he is the funniest guy ever, he always asks me how he can get huge and get ripped so when he goes home he can be the best looking when he goes home so that will be really good haha. But I taught in that district meeting on how to know that we are successful missionaries and how we can always have that thought in the back of our minds at all times because most of the time while being out here we lose hope and get discouraged and get down but to remain up beat and to have that hope that we are making a difference in somebody's life. But after that we went and and bought everyone pizza because we had gift cards to the little ceasars here haha. And it was so good! but after that we went to kelseyville to help the other elders with service for there investigator who actually got baptized on Saturday and it was a very good baptism, but we helped clean out this trailer so that her friend could live there and it was a very big mess but that is just fine haha, we scrubbed our hands off and tried our best to clean the place up, That is one of the reasons why I am grateful I love to work and clean and doing service because if I didn't like doing service then I would have hated life very much.  But after that we went to denis and vessas house that night and taught them about the law the chastity haha a very fun one to teach but it was a good lesson I thought.

Then on Wednesday we went one exchanges and I went to Ukiah!! To my home ! it was really good experience we went to an Indian reservation and we tried to see some people but sadly there weren't any people there that opened the door to us so we went back to Ukiah and went and did some finding and we had dinner with brother dean he didnt remember me which was sad but oh well I am quiet anyways so Idk how many people will actually remember me.

I went on exchanges with Elder Sorenson by the way he is like a hollister model he played football and he is a ripped guy so Thursday morning we worked our super hard lifting weights like pros ;) but after that we tried to go see some people but they didn't answer so then we drove back to Lakeport well close kinda to it we drove to blue lakes to exchange back it was a really good exchange I love Elder Sorenson he is an amazing funny guy. But after that we went and saw people in blue lakes and made our way down to Nice and Lucurne and saw a couple people we were able to set up some return app. so that is good. The day was long and good we did a lot of finding we went back to lakeport and tried to find more people tons of names we had dinner with the bolanders but JK they canceled so we just ate at our apartment which was fine.

And then on Friday we had weekyl planning and that was so much fun my favorite day!! Can you see my excitement well I guess you cant but oh well ;) But after that we had our ward potluck and that was really good it was at the library park I have a lot of pictures there so that is cool but a band come there every weekend and plays so we got to listen to some cool music and talk to people and eat some sandwiches which were really good but Oh I forgot we were dying in the heat all week haha. It got up to 110 degrees so that was pretty gross, A little to hot for my taste.

On saturday we went and saw a lot of people in lakeport and most of them were less actives and potential investigators, and then we didn't really have that much success. After that we went to a Chinese place with some less actives they took us there and we were able to talk with them they are a nice family. From there we went to the Baptism for the other elders and it was a very good baptism it was a really good experience.

Sunday we went to ward council at 7:45 it was good church was really food we talked about trying to be like Jesus and the millennium which is super interesting haha. I Cant wait! But after we went to have lunch with the Olsons and then we went to a farewell for a sister missionary the bishops daughter so that was really cool to see. And then we went to did our number for the weeek and it was awesome! but after that we went and tried to see Ryan a cool less active guy but he wasnt home so there’s that haha.

I love you guys! I hope the dog is good too of course :) tell the kids I say hello and that I love them And tell them I wont change to much haha I dont feel that different 😂

Elder Devin Brown 

brown.devin@myldsmail.net

603 19th Street

Lakeport, CA 95453

Pics: This is us sacrificing Elder konezcny cause he is dying this transfer haha.