Let’s Work Bois!

Yoh we hit the streets hard this week. So many people were canceling with us. So we did hours upon hours of street contacting. We know it doesn’t really produce much fruit, but we’re doing it to show the Lord we’re willing to put in the work.

But we’ve been seeing huge changes throughout the zone. All these missionaries are way hyped to get out and put in the work, and we saw some big improvements from each of the areas. Shows that all the opportunity we can to just hype each other up in district council and call ins just gets everyone fired up and so they can go out and grind till the sun is gone.

We had Elder Palmer teach us yesterday. It was way nice and his accent is so silky smooth. But it was a really good meeting and then tomorrow we have a combined SA zone conference with him. That’s gonna be really good.

The joy that comes from missionary work is real. I have gained a strong testimony that this is the Lord’s work and that the spirit teaches each individual if they do not harden their hearts to the message. I’ve been able to see that with people we are teaching and it’s a real blessing to be apart of.

A lesson I’ve also learned being a missionary is that the Lord doesn’t just put things in our lap if we do nothing. We should be anxiously engaged in a good cause of our own freewill. Agency is too big of a part of the plan of salvation. Go out and prove to the Lord that He can trust you with whatever you need of Him.

Still no camera, but here’s a throwback!

Hurrah for Israel!

 

Merry Christmas from South Africa!

Merry Christmas all my friends and loved ones! It’s the most wonderful time of the year!

This year, I am going to be rocking this blistering hot Christmas in my new South Africa Jersey, thanks to Sister Kenney! But I’m so excited to be spending it with the people here in South Africa and be able to share the light that Christ brings during this time of year.

I’ve noticed during this month of December, we have been spending a lot of time tracting and street contacting, and people are just in that vibe where they are thinking of families or Christ more and they accept our pamphlets or our pass along card with so much more gratitude than normal. I have noticed that the spirit has been poured out more abundantly during this time when the whole world celebrates Christ’s birth.

Yesterday we got our entire flat complex together to share a Christmas message with all of them, and it was so nice to sit around and read from Luke 2 with them and discuss and help them gain a deeper understanding of the importance of that event. Even though it was kind of funny when one woman thought ever time she spoke, she had to stand, clasp her hands together and speak with her body in a 90 degree angle. lol. But that aside, they seemed so grateful and so happy. That was all because of the spirit. Sharing a story about a baby being born and being put in a manger shouldn’t give us that amazing peace that is does. The spirit testifying that Jesus really is the Christ.

I’ve been thinking of how it must have felt for those shepherds. Seeing the Saviour of the world in a shack and he must have looked so small in the world. Picturing myself as one of the shepherds and seeing little Jesus, and really thinking of what the Atonement is just kind of chokes me up.

I love this time of year and I love the love that is shared all over the place. Makes it seem like we have a little less problems.

Merry Christmas from South Africa!

Our King Lives! 

-Elder Browning

Elder Hansen, my adopted father, has made the end of his journey which we call mission.

 

Brother Schmidt took us biking

It is the season of giving

We had a combined zone conference with all of the missionaries in SA, and it was super nice! We went to some game reserve park and I was able to see almost all my previous companions which was pretty cool. We also had a gift exchange and it was the most hyped gift exchange ever. I thought my gift was so lame but people kept stealing it from each other. It was a blue rubber squeaky duck. 

Since December this side doesn’t have much happen with missionary work, we’ve been spending a lot of time walking around empty streets, but we’ve also been spending a lot of time in members homes. I just love these members. They are so generous to us and there is also the same happy feeling walking out of any of their houses. Members of the church are the best. Especially when they are in a spirit of serving. 

We’ve been trying to get together with our whole flat complex and have a big christmas celebration with them, and they had to cancel, so a few days went on, and then this lady as we were leaving for an appointment called us to come over and she went and grabbed Malva pudding she made for me and Elder Curtis. Then we found out a little bit later that she was actually put into the hospital by an emergency a few days earlier and that’s why she called it off and she was super weak still. I was so touched by this woman’s effort to serve us as she has been concerned for us since we’re away from our family during this time of year. What a wonderful woman. But it was a good reminder to me that I never have an excuse to not serve.

We got our transfer news and me and Elder Curtis are staying together for another 7 weeks. So that will be sweet! TTFN from Pretoria North!

Hurrah For Israel!

-Elder Browning

 

 

 

This Little Internet Cafe

This little Internet Cafe is playing the most lit music ever. Like what on earth? Where is all the trashy house music? I miss these 40 vibes too much.

But it’s been raining nonstop for 4 solid days now. Which is a problem in SA, because the streets are very empty, and everyone is leaving for the Holidays. Since Montana is city, we’ve been given permission to go to the other areas in our zone to just go contacting. So we spent like 3 hours contacting in Atteridgeville and met lots of pretty weird people.

I love our members so much. They are the best. They like feeding us a lot too. So I’ve been eating such good South African food lately. I love it.

I’m singing to all these songs and all the people in the barber shop are staring at me. Probably should quit it. Also Elder Curtis is ashamed.

We were able to get a few new people last week and the rain was a lot of fun and it makes it feel like it might be a little bit winter, even though its summer…

I was blessed and saw a man who looked just like Willem Dafoe.

I’m back in 3 Nephi again and I love that book. We are so blessed to have more of Christ’s words.

Hurrah For Israel!

-Elder Browning

 

Paintball Zone Activity

 

Gary Simon

Thanksgiving with the Lubamba’s

Christmas is coming!

We’ve started giving out Light the Worlds and watching the new The Christ Child video with people. The church makes missionary work really nice. I’m really excited to be able to try and follow it very close.

My first week in Montana/Pretoria North was good. Except it was very tough seeing anyone. We had a lot of canceled appointments, so hopefully it can pick up sometime soon. Montana is very city and it is tough to get things going, but the members come in clutch here and give referrals if we earn their trust. Fingers crossed.

It’s also a ward where I am serving! I have only had small branches and it is so crazy having a congregation that is there and when singing is more than just 5 peoples voices.

I don’t really have much else to say, so get ready for the Light the World! It’s something we should take very seriously and try to do all the things it recommends. The Lord will recognize our efforts!

Hurrah for Israel!

-Elder Browning

 

 

Humidity

That humidity nob really turned up this last week. Walking out and it’s just like a swimming pool it’s kind of gross. But we got Elder and Sister Jenne this past week, and they are so awesome! We were their tour guides sort of this last week, so we were spending most of our time with them. They are going to do wonders for the district we have up here.

We only spent a couple days in our area this last week, but we have been working with Lassy, who lives far from the chapel. He was a referral from Washington DC sister missionaries, who we have been working with. They straight up teach him lessons over the phone, and when he has the means to taxi to Tzaneen, we teach him. So it’s been kind of amazing teaching him, because they are able to give him the foundation. And he came to church yesterday! And he added how he went to his pastor who told him the Book of Mormon is the devil’s book. And he testified to him that this book is of Jesus Christ, and it can’t be from the devil. He opened his book and was pointing out on all the pages where it talks about Christ! People! That is powerful!

We also were able to see a big testimony builder of how President Nelson is God’s chosen prophet today. Lassy told us how he was on Facebook when he came across a Facebook page called Come Unto Christ. Hearing the name, that was something he knew immediately he wanted. So then he looked in and got in contact with the Sister missionaries in DC. If the facebook page was still just Mormon, he would have had no idea of what the purpose of the page was. President Nelson is receiving revelation to help move forward Christ’s church!

But, I’ll be enjoying my last days here in Tzaneen and preparing for Elder Holland who will be going to Joburg and we get to go!

Hurrah for Israel!

-Elder Browning

1) We were walking and then a way heavy rain just hit us and we got soaked brothers and sisters….

Moving is finished

So moving went alright. We did it all in one day, and now we live closer to the taxi rank we walk to which is nice. Also the new senior couple is coming this week and that is going to be so good!

It was hard to find a lot of time in our area. We were put in charge of getting our old flat all ready for the new couple. Most of our days are a solid 20 minute taxi out of Tzaneen, and we had to stay close to the flat to close it up. Pretty frustrating. But still we had some lessons this week, and one was with a guy named Kingsley who stopped us when we were getting out of the taxi. He understood that we should only have 1 prophet so well, and I hope he acts on how he felt.

A verse that really stuck out to me in my personal studies was Mosiah 23:21-22: I think it’s a really big and important lesson that we are going to be tested nonstop on this earth life. If not, then what are learning and how are we growing? I’ve always noticed that when I feel comfortable with life, I become slothful and very casual. So the Lord knows what is better for us.

Stay well!

Hurrah For Israel!

-Elder Browning

 

 

 

 

Fire Prayers

Holy my people. This last week, me and Elder Lima heard the most firey prayer probably in the history. It was actually a cool experience though. We saw his sister sitting on some maize sacks and approached her. She called for her brother and he came out and I realized it was someone I contacted in town, which is very far, who really wanted us to come months ago. But we were BRTing it up and then we were about to start and asked who he would like to pray, and then goes, “okay…” His eyes roll back and his arms just go straight up to the air and begins to SPIT FIRE for a solid 10 minutes. . . And now because of that, we know what we need to work on.

Lately me and Elder Lima have been trying to find the elect. And we have realized that in order to find really good people, you need to sift through a lot of people sometimes. I thought that finding people, and then teaching them and having them just instantly know it’s true would happen more. But it really shows that conversion doesn’t work like that. It’s between each individual and the Lord. If they are really willing to keep commitments with Him.

We got transfer news and I’m staying in Tzaneen for another one and with Elder Lima! Vamos La!

But I love Tzaneen and Limpopo and the Lord does too. He cares for these people and he wants them to be able to be brought into their fold. His work will go forth! He is in this work with all of us. I’m also so pumped for General Conference! Everyone should prepare questions that they want answered. Some of the best time to receive personal revelation for yourself.

I recently read D&C 138 and yoh! I felt my brain maxing out the mortal comprehend-ability level. I would read a verse and BOOM mind blown. Read another, another, just getting spiritual punches left and right until I was KO’D. The prophets of the dispensation of the restoration are true! Study their teachings. The things they taught apply to even us.

Hurrah for Israel!

-Elder Browning

 

 

 

 

 

The Malv Pud

Thobela!

Forget was baptized! It’s crazy to think that the first contact we had with her, she had no idea who we were or what we had to share. She was so awesome to teach and she will be a powerful ambassador for the gospel.

But last week me and Elder Lima did a ton of finding. And we were able to get a lot of new people who could be promising! We were going to Nkowankowa, Mokgolobotho & Tzaneen and just talking to everyone we saw and knocking on a lot of doors. Elder Lima’s English is slowly improving each day and things are going great!

I am absolutely in love with a dessert/desert (Can’t remember which one is correct. Lol) called Malva Pudding. Eish it’s so good. I was given the recipe and went a little nuts ever since I got it. But basically all I can say is, I’ll make it lots when I’m home. LOTS. Also custard I’m in love with. And that goes with Malva pudding so life is great brothers and sisters.

I just started the Book of Mormon again, and I’m reading 1 Nephi, and gosh, what a good story. And 1 Nephi 10:19 is such a good verse. We need to seek diligently. For me to open, read and close, that will do nothing for myself. But he who reads with the desire to learn is going to learn. These things are simple, but powerful.

Also with 1 Nephi, I am so HYPED about the Book of Mormon videos. Something that I can actually watch! They look good and every Monday from now on I’ll be making the Malv Pud with this. LETS GO BOY!

Hurrah for Israel!

-Elder Browning

 

 

 

 

 

My Brazilian Son

I’d say a bit has changed since I last wrote to the multitude.

So it’s Tuesday morning, about 6:15 AM and I was getting GAINZ while the phone goes off and it’s President Anderson. Answer and he tells me that I’m going to be training a new Brazilian missionary who was coming in halfway through this transfer. Didn’t tell me much else but asked to speak to Elder Poulsen who was also getting gainz and he is told he also is training a young buck.

So Elder Poulsen is going back again to his second area to train again. Haha! That poor Elder’s life has been groundhog day if I’ve ever seen one. But we went down to Polokwane for zone conference and we our seed there. My boy’s name is Elder Lima. When I met him, I realized that he spoke about as much English as I did Portuguese. Haha! So we’re working with it together. Very powerful though. Brazil makes them good. And he’s gonna teach me how to make legit rice and beans! LETS GO!

But zone conference was awesome. It was all about working with members. Something I think I can improve a lot on. He shared a quote from one of the apostles that said without using members, you cannot reach your potential as a missionary… So I got slapped in the face and am gonna try and work with members a whole lot more.

We were supposed to have a baptism on Sunday, but it was very “cold” for the people here and Forget’s mom didn’t want her to get sick riding in the back of a bakkie to church. So next week… But I’m praying she’ll get baptized eventually!

I just finished the Book of Mormon again yesterday! EISH that book is too good. The last few verses that Moroni writes are so powerful. After everything he has seen, after all of his experiences and what he possibly has to face ahead of him, he exhorts us to seek Christ and to come unto him.

I know that we can truly become perfected through and only Christ. And if we serve him and follow him with all our might, mind and strength, then his grace is sufficient for us. Such a powerful verse that when I read it, it really hit me to the core.

Have a blessed week!

Hurrah For Israel!

-Elder Browning

p.s. If anyone has any English teaching tips, just send it! Sharp!