A few pictures

He wants to bring this companion home, but mom's not thrilled about that. The other missionaries will be coming back to Mesa (Elder Kevin Hancock - at MTC, and Elder Hale - son of Diane Hale there in the West Indies too)

a little bit of a strange experience

This weeks report. Just teaching these awesome people that have baptismal dates. Elder Giddings and I found this pretty cool guy named Leon and he invited us into his house with his mother and sisters. One of the girls thought she knew a lot but we taught them a lot, in a respectful manner and it was amazing to see how much they learned. A few of them cared at first about what we had to say but by the end they ALL were really intensely listening. I can tell they want to progress. Yesterday however was a little disheartening. We went and talked to a person of a religion that I won't name, due to my respect for all religions, and he threw some anti Mormon stuff at us but Elder Giddings and I held onto what I believe. He went on to tell us science proves the Bible true and nothing proves Mormonism true. We did raise a lot of good points to him but it was sad to see that his faith only relies on science as a back up. I am proud to have a testimony of the Book of Mormon and know that it is true. I know that it has doctrines in it that will help us to return to our Heavenly Father. I know that what I feel now for the church is true and what I have felt so many times in the past is undeniable and that the gospel has been restored through the prophet Joseph Smith and that we have a prophet here today to lead and guide us. I love finding people who want to know the truth and don't take the Book of Mormon to try and disprove it. I can tell with how many baptismal dates that we have it can't be just me who knows the church is true. I love seeing the change in people's lives. I currently have 7 baptismal dates and I am so excited to see how excited they are. A girl named Nandy has a baptismal date but her mom wants her to wait till 18 to be baptized, so it is a bummer but she is 18 in November so if anything that's how long we have to wait. She has a great testimony in the church and it is amazing to see! Next we have Eugene and Patricia. They have been living together for a long time but are unmarried. Guyana has the common law that considers them married but they need to be married to be baptized and they have been going to church for like over a year. Eugene is blind and his wife is close to being blind and is pretty shy. We are trying to set up the wedding and they are so excited! I see them at church every week! Then we have Yulanda and her kids who make up the rest of the baptismal dates. Her kids know so much about the church and are hilarious! I have to be honest at their age I probably didn't know what they know about our church. They are such a fun family to be around. One week we asked them questions and one of the kid's reply was "Doctrine and Covenants!" each time. Our lesson had nothing to do with that so it was a pretty good laugh. Also I had a little bit of a strange experience this past week. I do not mean this in a crude way at all just something I have noticed. We gave a blessing to an old lady who was bedridden and not a member nor was anyone in the family. One of her daughters was laying on the bed and had a son who was about 4 years old. All on the same bed as the bed ridden grandmother. They had a tv on and I looked at if for about a minute or so and looked back. Apparently I did not hear that the kid whom was 4 years old or seemed about that age wanted milk. I look back and . . . . . yah. Elder Giddings thought nothing of it because he is from this culture. I saw it and immediately looked around the room so she didn't think I stared at her. Elder Giddings laughed so much and said it won't be my only time that happens. I hear that in Guyana (Respect to it's name and country) women don't cover up when feeding. I am glad to see people in the states go into another room or use a blanket because it was not awkward for her or my companion but oh boy was it awkward for me. This place reminds me of Resident Evil 5 (not that it's evil, just that it's jungle - I don't think he's seen any zombies yet either) Anyways the work out here for bringing others unto Christ is going great!

Until next week,
-Elder Brown

Things get better

Well it's been another week and things get better. I try avoid saying "I love Guyana!" Because something tough usually happens the next day. I had a long day the other day as I had fallen into a trench and got wet up to past my knees and the wind blew against us that morning while riding bikes making us feel really slow. I sometimes forget stuff to write certain things and then realize I have to write them the next week. My companion is a pretty cool guy (Even though he likes Twilight. Or so I say he does.) He says Nikki Manaj is hotter than Katy Perry. Also I got to hold a monkey! Most people know I generally don't like country music but I just might have found some music that is even more annoying. Indian party music. We hear it a lot because they blast it out from the houses and clubs. I thought that was as bad as it gets but no. Too often I hear Nickelback play. Even here in Guyana they are plagued with Nickelback. One Elder in my district likes them. I make Nicholas Cage jokes too. I feel a lot more comfortable at church now and feel like I bond with the members and look forward to church. I miss my iPhone a ton though. Elder Giddings and I miss our good phones and I realize how convinent it would be to have it and be allowed to get on Facebook because I could just instantly share experiences. I gotta be honest I miss some video games and imagine myself playing them sometimes such as Zelda Majora's Mask. Which also reminds me, one of the two days I was in Trinidad I met this really cool guy named Brother Young who was about 20 years old. Now you probably ask how he came to the gospel. He was playing an online video game (He likes games) and some girl from Texas shared the gospel with him. Moral of the story: Video games are good!
Well I am about out of time so write you all next week!

Elder Brown's first letter from the field!

 I am in Guyana and my first day was quite the adventure. I have mosquito bites all down my leg but I got one of those coils that make smoke and they leave. I got in a bike crash my first night out working too. My companion (Elder Giddings whom was born in Guyana but was raised in Antigua) has been here for 9 months I believe he said, was riding bikes with me at night trying to get over to some members homes because they prepared us some awesome dinner. There is this about 6 inch pot hole and it was filled with water making it look like it's flat ground. He went over a certain part that had a pathway across it and as soon as he did that he realized it was my first day and next thing you know I fall right off the bike pretty hard and scraped up my arm just a little bit. Nothing too serious. It was a blessing though that no cars were coming otherwise I could have been seriously injured or dead. (It's fun to say it that way because it scares my mom and makes me sound cooler) but aside from that and just being so drained from riding my bike to a few villages that day I walked the bike (The chain broke) and kept going. I that day had Satan tempt me a lot saying it's okay to go home. I am not planning on it though! When I was in the MTC I said I was so ready to get out here and said "Put me in the fire." Guyana is said to be the hardest area but most baptisms. There is no ac at all. Just fans. We had a zone conference in Georgetown, Guyana (got me super pumped by the way) and the building had ac! Needless to say I wanted to stay in that building for a long time! I got to bear my testimony in church (Not too many people there and it's like a house) and talked about how a friend said to me that I shouldn't complain about the awesome things I will be missing this summer like concerts and all that because I am going to paradise. They all laughed with me about the paradise part. I told them that outside that church building is not paradise at all. None of the West Indies is. But what real paradise was being in church there. Feeling the spirit strong no matter where in the world the church is. In a sense the church was the same. You go to Elder's quorum and there are guys texting girls while someone is talking. I was a little upset about that but then I realized a few months ago that was me. My first day there we went out for lunch and people would just stare at me because I was the only white guy in miles (With acception of a senior missionary) Some guy who I am sure was drunk just looked at me and held out his hand and I asked my black companion what he was doing. "Admiring your whiteness." It feels weird being the minority but it is awesome because there is no racism at all here. I am wondering if that is mainly in America. We have to pass this liquor factory almost every day and the smell is just so rancid. Any temptation to try and drink has been shattered by that smell. I cannot even explain it. I saw a monkey in a cage but it's owners weren't around so I couldn't hold it. These kids in Friendship, Guyana had a monkey but I guess it got stolen. One of the kids offered to get me a monkey to keep for on $3000 Guyana dollars. That's really cheap. So in 2 years I might come home with a monkey or at least I hope so. We went grocery shopping today too and spent quite a few thousand dollars so I felt grown up and rich. We cleaned the whole apartment and I am so glad! Guyana is so dirty. Anyways I will keep you all posted next week and try to remember more things to write.

-Elder Brown

Brother & Sister Mehr

Heading to the West Indies!

After many problems getting the call, we finally got to talk to Elder Brown for about 20 minutes.
He's very excited to go. He was sorry to say that he hasn't missed any of us too much yet, no homesickness (good to hear). Can't wait to get some pictures from him. I think he said he's going to get a picture with a monkey as soon as possible. Haven't heard from the mission home yet, but he's probably getting to his new area today.

Our first email from the good Elder - but no pictures yet

 Here at the MTC I make sure to make the days fun so I try and make rich (yet fake) back stories. The other day I was a professional jump roper and used jump ropes that cost over $200. We are allowed to talk to sisters and such and I just kinda show them the differences between jump ropes. Those who enter the MTC soon I warn you. Brace yourself for the food. It makes you gassy and diarhea (computer here doesn't have spell check) Also the juice is kinda crazy so drink poweraid or sprite or something. I drank cranberry juice and it felt so weird for days after. Like I had eaten a mint and breathed after only it lasted for about 3 or 4 days. The MTC is fun and all but since day one I have wanted to get to the West Indies. I am also District Leader so it's no biggie (2 weeks in the MTC as a DL is litteraly not that big) I have been here one week and one day. Well I will keep you guys posted but don't hesitate to email me or write me! kyleb@myldsmail.com See you later!

Mom: The cookies were amazing and the district and I have loved them! Please send me in a letter or something mailing addresses for tons of friends and family please! By the way stamps are like 45 cents! I thought It was cheap. So if I write someone it means I love them.

Off he goes, to the MTC

Paul and Skye picked the good Elder up, and took him home for some time with Chance & Demi to say goodbye too.
Wednesday morn before he reported they got to go through the SLC temple.
They all met up with cousin Haley, who's going to Peru, then reported at the same time.
We can't wait to hear from him!

Jumping right into the work!