Hello Family!
What a week! What
a weekend! Maybe the week first, then I suppose I'll get to the
weekend... First off, my new companion! Elder Williams from Orem, Utah.
He was the finance elder When I first got to the field so we've known
each other for a while. Two notable things here: 1. Another American!
(we're the only American companionship in the mission except for people in
training). 2. Another companion who goes home this transfer! My companion
from just a week ago is now at home with his family. In six weeks, it
will be the same with Elder Williams. In 9 months, it'll be the same with
Elder Brown! What else... Apparently, khaki pants have been approved for quite
some time now. Guess I just have to find some suitable foot apparel then
I'll buy myself some khakis! Also, a new elder in my zone fresh from the
MTC saw me at district meeting and knew who I was. How? He has been
reading my mission blog (these emails copied and pasted) before he got to the
MTC. Good to know at least someone actually reads these
things! ;)
The weekEND. This
was the start. The start of...well, general conference! So what,
again, is conference like in the Philippines? First off, it's a week late
because of the time difference. The whole district (or stake) watches it
at the district (or stake) center. Attendance is low, very low, for the
Saturday sessions. The chapel is swarmed Sunday morning, but calmed down
again in the afternoon. It's a bit different than being in the comfort of
my home, enjoying the soft, warm and tender comfort of... my mom's cinnamon
rolls? Yes. A big difference compared to home traditions is
Priesthood session. This conference, Priesthood was my favorite.
The Priesthood Session
was shown both Saturday morning AND evening. All the other elders went to
the morning session so we expected numbers to be low for the afternoon session.
Wouldn't be like at home with hundreds of fathers and sons sitting
together. Rather, we walked into the chapel five minutes before the start
and it was... just us. My and my companion to watch Priesthood together.
What a great experience. Wouldn't be like at home, running off with
friends during the songs. Luckily, the entire District Center was not
completely lonely with it's two Elders. But a young-ish couple from our
group eventually showed up a bit after the start. Our Branch President
came as well even later. Whoops - getting ahead of myself in the story!
As soon as the session started, I felt a wave of the Spirit come over me,
just like it felt when an apostle spoke to us at the MTC. Wouldn't be
like at home where I'd be too focused on sneaking a text or playing Fruit
Ninja. We arrived to the congregational hymn which required all five of
us to stand and sing. This, you'd imagine, was not like it's be at home
with the army of Priesthood packed into the church. but, I still sang
"with gusto"! (: President Uchtdorf gave my favorite talk of
the conference (http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2013/10/you-can-do-it-now?lang=eng)
and soon it was over. Surely, no one would be skipping the closing hymn
just to beat the traffic leaving the church. Upon ending, it was time to
eat. No, this wouldn't be the classy dinner with Dad, Grandpa and the
uncles. Instead, it's be a nice, modest meal with my great missionary
companion. Arriving home would normally mean off to friends' houses.
For a change, it was straight to planning the next day, writing in
journal, etc. Yes, you could say this conference was different (not sure
why I never talked about the last conferences here like this). You could
also say it was the most meaningful and impactful of all. There is so
much revelation I received. So much to share. So much to do.
But so little time to email it all! (:
Love, missionary work
(work of salvation - with investigators AND lost members), and marriage seemed
to be major themes along with enduring to the end. It's great! I
love conference! Looking forward to one more in the Philippines six months
from now! Hope you all enjoyed conference as much as I did!
Love you!
Elder Shane Scully Brown
Pictures -
1. Everyone's
luggage at our house from transfer day
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