Elder Conner Brown

Ohio Gozaimasu - Week 2

It's been a nice week getting used to things in Ohio, including getting used to driving. We started out the transfer pretty low on miles, so it's been fun trying to use them as efficiently as possible. 

 

As far as teaching goes, it's been a pretty good week as well. We've been able to meet with several members over the week and share messages with them. One investigator we started teaching used to meet with missionaries before, but we met with her and the senior couple, the P__'s, and a had a great lesson where she committed to come to church! She didn't quite make it this last Sunday, but we're still meeting with her. 

 

With another investigator, we spent the lesson going over the Restoration Proclamation announced last general conference. That document is an awesome resource to use in missionary work! It explains the Restoration so simply and completely and testifies of Jesus Christ's restored gospel. She was very engaged as she read and had lots of good questions. We committed her to read the Proclamation by herself and ponder and pray about it.

 

We will likely have a new investigator very soon, an awesome guy who came to church with a few member friends the last couple weeks. He really enjoyed the experience and is excited to learn more about the church. Working with members is definitely the most effective missionary method and it always will be. It leaves everyone edified and uplifted, the missionary, the member, and the investigator, whether they join the church or not.

 

One other fun thing this week was a ward picnic for pioneer day. There was a mic set up and we all had dinner while people shared stories about their ancestors and the pioneers. I got up and talked about my great x4 grandfather Ebenezer Brown, from the Mormon Battalion. The spirit of Elijah was so present as we talked about the past and those who went through so much to give us the freedoms and lives that we have now.

 

I had one of those moments this week where it just hits you, the reality of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost, what it means for us that they really exist. Because they live, there is a purpose for our lives. Because they live, there is a future for us after death. The knowledge that we have of our Heavenly Father's plan truly "maketh an anchor to the souls of men," (Ether 12:4). I testify that whoever truly ponders the message of Christ's Gospel and what it means for them will receive a witness from the Holy Ghost that it is true!

 

Have a great week!

愛しています!

 

Sincerely,

Elder Brown

 

Ohio Gozaimasu - Week 1

Ohayo Gozaimasu!

This means "good morning" - and a perfect word play because "ohayo" and "ohio" have identical pronunciations.  If you know Elder Brown, you know he loves puns.

 

So this week was a little crazy with transfers and everything. Usually, they have us go to our new areas on Tuesday, but a few delays made transfers happen on Thursday this time. That gave me a couple extra days in Mansfield to say goodbye and do a bit more work. 

 

Thursday, we took the 4-5 hour drive over to the Greentree chapel (in Pittsburgh). There I met Elder King, who is a super awesome and hardworking missionary from Utah. He gave me the keys to our car and we set on the road. Lol I haven't driven consistently since two years ago before my mission in Japan. It sure was fun getting back behind the wheel, though. 

 

We made it safely back to the Ohio apartment. This area is literally on the whole other side of the mission from my other area. (310 miles from Mansfield). The ward here actually covers parts of Ohio and West Virginia. So, we have 7 missionaries serving in this ward. There's Elder King and I who take the Ohio side, a trio of Elders who take the West Virginia side, and a senior couple which kinda takes both. Of course the church building happens to be on the Virginia side, so it takes us a bit to get over there.

 

The Ward is super nice and we have a few people we're meeting with. It's been a good few days to get settled in the area and familiar with all the people. I'm looking forward to my days serving here and seeing what the Lord has in store.

 

Oh! Also I'm the Japanese Virtual District leader. That means every week I hold a District Council with all the missionaries in the mission who are assigned Japanese speaking and we practice the language. We'll see how it goes! I'm excited to work with these other missionaries and help us all prepare for when the Lord needs us back in Japan.

 

The scripture I'd like to share today is 2 Nephi 2:8 -

"Wherefore, how great the importance to make these things known unto the inhabitants of the earth, that they may know that there is no flesh that can dwell in the presence of God, save it be through the merits, and mercy, and grace of the Holy Messiah, who layeth down his life according to the flesh, and taketh it again by the power of the Spirit, that he may bring to pass the resurrection of the dead, being the first that should rise."

 

The Savior has prepared the way and made the sacrifice necessary for us to return to him. He has done all the heavy lifting. All he requires is that we turn to him and apply his atonement and his gospel to our lives. Whenever we share the gospel with others, it is so they can have that chance to accept Christ, so we should do our best to help them know the importance of this message.

 

The gathering of Israel continues!

Hope you all have a great week!

 

Sincerely,

Elder Brown