ShaneBrownsMission: 21 5-7-14

Hello!

"May the Fourth (force) be with you", Cinco de Mayo, and Mothers' Day are all great holidays. But the more exciting bit for me this week is the 7th... I'm turning 21! Happy Birthday Elder Brown!

So, I'm not 21 yet, but it's close! How do I feel? As with every birthday ever, I feel the same. And I'll be doing the normal thing for my birthday. Actually, we're going to celebrate later today because Wednesday is when we send home the old missionaries, get the new ones from the airport and train 'em all day. In the Philippines, birthday tradition is that you free everyone lunch of cake or whatever, quite the opposite of America! But that's how it goes. I like it better (: So anyways, I feel the same, yet at the same time, I know I really have come along way. Remember two years ago when I had just finished freshman year at college and was only dreaming of being in the Philippines? Then for the entire 21st year of my life, I was here! This year will be a little different since only a few months of my 22nd year will be spent in the place I love so much. All is well though, the best is yet to come.

I'm doing super great! Vern didn't come to church, but it sure made me think a lot about what would have been different were he there/ what I've learned since being with him. One of the things I really had to change was the way I sang hymns. I always have sung hymns with "gusto", but being with Vern really makes you pay attention to what you're singing because you're wondering what he'll have to say about certain lines coming up in the hymn, etc. And I like that, the paying more attention to what we're actually singing. It makes it a lot more powerful.

We have transfers this week. Will be a big game changer. Tune in next week for more updates. Love you!

Elder Shane Brown

Pictures -

1. Volleyball - we've got HOPS!