Shane True Tagalog

Hello Family!

Great week of work, with tremendous results!  Included in that is a service project and almost catching a rat (see pictures).

Tuesday night, we walked in the apartment and saw something run into the bathroom - rat (granted, it was small still).  To make a long story short, we spent the next 45 minutes setting up traps, barricades and walls with the rat just barely slipping through our hands (not literally) each time.  It was especially exciting when he walked in the cage, then continued right on through the metal bars (see pictures).  Saturday was the National Day of Service (ended up being a half -day), so we all got to wear "Mormon Helping Hands" vests and go plant and things like that.

Sunday was the best.  Got to church (not even sweating!) and there were tons of people.  Last week we had 20 people (lowest I've seen is 9 or 10), this week.... 35 people at church!! (only two empty chairs!).  I guess all of our investigators and less-actives just decided to show up all on the same Sunday.  Super happy that.  (okay, now I'm reminded of wards in America with 400 active people each week... Still 35 is amazing here!).  It was actually the first sacrament I've had in Baao (5 months now) where I didn't have a part in the program (prayer, bless/pass, speak without warning...).  I did teach the youth (finally don't have to teach the adults now that our leaders are active), bit I'd rather do that than not.  After church, we had some interesting experiences.  We were trying to find some members who have been inactive for years and years (moved to another church)...  Here, it's not like people give you an address and you punch it into the GPS and drive right up to the house, rather, it's more along the lines of, "Oh, they live in that neighborhood over there (point in a vague direction), just ask people as you walk and you'll hopefully find them."  That kind of thing.  Well it was great when we asked the neighbors and the member was right there but not revealing her identity.  Hah I can't describe it, but imagine knowing you've found the person you're looking for but they deny it until giving in after 5 minutes of interrogation - in the middle of the street, with all the neighbors pointing in different directions to go look.  We ended up actually having a decent conversation after she confessed she was the one we were looking for. (these are not the driods you're looking for).  Then went in search of another person.

On our search, some kids pointed to a big house with a gate (mayaman).  We did the usual "Tao po!" (just shouting "people!" so they know you're outside - no knocking), and out walks a white guy! (What the?!)  Basically, he and his American wife have been in the Philippines for 29 years serving a mission for another church - not at all interested in our message, but he was nice and we talked for a bit.  I was reminded of two important things: 1.  The Gift of Tongues is real.  29 years of speaking Tagalog and the guy was still making small errors with a thick American accent.  On the other end, in my short time, I had been talking to a lady earlier that day who stopped me mid-sentence and said, "Sorry.  I'm just so amazed.  I leterally feel like I'm talking to a Filipino, but you're white.  Are you really a foreigner?" (confidence booster).  2.  Our church is true.  This man's religion's main doctrine -if my understanding is correct- is that if we have faith ("accept Christ"), then it's by grace alone that we are saved.  Literally doesn't matter what we do, wicked or good.. If we accept Christ = heaven, reject Christ = hell.  Well that doesn't make sense, does it?  I wanted to whip out 2 Nephi 25:23, "...for we know that is it by grace that we are saved, after all we can do." (italics added).  Kept that to myself though.

Hah, it's been a fun week.  I'll close with a Gordon B. Hinckley quote I found, "Can any man who has walked beneath the stars at night, can anyone who has seen the touch of spring upon the land doubt the hand of divinity in creation?"  And I add my own words  - can anyone who has felt the redeeming joy forget it?  Can anyone who has felt the love of God not desire more?  I can't forget it, and I do desire more.  Therefore, I press on.

Next week I'll be emailing the day before my birthday... Don't forget! (:

Love, Elder Shane Scully Brown

Pictures - 

1.  The running out of the cage...

2.  Cage with hot dog bait

3.  One of several barricade attempts

4-13.  Service project!

14.  Church 

I Ate BUG 4 22

Hello!...

SaDI NA ak0...

maGDAlagan nA kam0!

Hey team, good news:  this week I ate bug.  Yes - bug.  Not at all good, BUT I did discover that just as bananas are cheap (25 cents for a whole group),  tomatos are as well (20 cents for a whole pound!).  So I've been buying lots of those two things...  Here's my report (about one thing) for the week:

Our golden investigators didn't make it to church yesterday, but I guess I can at least tell you about them.  We met the Badong family just two weeks ago.  Tatay (dad) is a tricycle driver and it just-so-happened that we got on his triccy coming home one night.  It was one of those situations where I was  tired.  As in, so tired.  Hungry, thirsty and just beat.  As we sat on our way home, I figured, why not talk to this man and share a little?  I did.  Talked about how families can be together forever and as he drops us off he looks at me and says, "So...what?  You guys come visit me ah."  Gave us his address (meaning the name of the neighborhood and some landmarks - no addresses here).  He's 35 with a wife and four kids, so we were hoping they would all be home for our first visit.  Turns out, it was just Tatay and his friend.  We talked just a little about the family, then he told us to come back the next day when his wife was home.  Go back, his wife is there - caught her up then discussed prophets + Christ.  Tatay had done his reading (we gave him a pamphlet) and after one question from us proceeded to teach us all about dispensations and why authority is important, saying a church needs it or there's no point (which is why we are LDS).  That was awesome (Simmons and I had huge smiles as he himself gave examples while teaching that we the missionaries use).  Come back the next time and Tatay's brother is there along with the rest.  Turns out, the brother was the "friend" at our first visit and he readily commands us to visit him too.  Then the brother's wife comes out, "Hello Elders!!!"  She was taught years ago as a teenager (but moved away) and couldn't stop talking about how much she missed it.  She too insisted that we visit them (tomorrow).  Hah after she exclaimed to the Badongs how peaceful and pretty our buildings are, it was a little weird explaining that we don't have an actual church building in Baao...

I didn't explain very well hoe prepared this family is...  But just know that we're finding people like crazy.  There actually was a night when we felt prompted to go visit the Badong family at a certain time - went there and they had something suddenly come up (couldn't teach).  Upon leaving, I thought to myself, "Why did we feel to come at this time if we couldn't even teach?"  Literally just as this thought entered my mind (knowing there was a purpose), we got called over to a group of teenagers.  What came of that?  New investigator. 

Lots of good things happening in Baao.  Our leaders are all active now, complete families are coming to church, and I'm happy (:

Love, Elder Shane Scully Brown

Conference 4 15

Hello!

Good news!  We got up really early to go watch conference talks online (due to problems yesterday).  Got to Iriga (the big city) and there was a brown out.  They said it would be hours before power would come on, so we just did grocery shopping and came home.  Now we're at the only computer shop in town and besides watching an ant line run right past my fingers, the internet is slow, so I'll just send pictures home next week!

This was a chaotic week!  Meetings, cooking, drunk guys, brown outs, general conference, brown outs AND general conference, and learning new things.  Okay, the morning report (weekly report):

Two great things my mother would be proud of: 1. I made eggs for the first time in my life! (also got sick).  2. I learned how to open a can with a huge kitchen knife.  How wonderful.  Also, my faith proved strong when talking to a slightly (very) intoxicated man in the streets.  He first tried to tell me that the Lord should be drunk too.  But then there was no Lord because we can't see Him.  But wait, this drunk guy was actually the Lord and was going to take us to his house to teach us... "Uh sorry... We're busy.  Maybe next time." Flee the scene. -That's basically it.  Wednesday we had an all day thing for missionaries in training then of course conference so the work was a bit slower.

Conference:  As with last conference (which seems only weeks ago), I stocked up on some great snacks.  Turns out, "comfort food" was the better term for my high-end snacks because we had a bit of troubles (minor technical difficulties).  Arrive for Saturday morning showing of Priesthood Session: five minutes to go, all is good for us to patch into the satellite feed then wait - BROWN OUT!  We figure out how to get the generator going (thanks for teaching me, Dad) but we're sore pressed upon knowing the little guy won't be able to power the air con (air conditioning).  Two hours of Priesthood Session - hot.  Then midday comes around in time for the morning session to be watched - hotter.  Go to lunch then come back for the afternoon session... half way in - electricity is back - air con!  But guess what, the satellite over-heated and broke.  Now we have to stream the rest online.  Internet is fast though.  All good.  Saturday session is over, go home.  Study.  Brownout!  It's dark now.  Luckily we have an emergency light.  A minute later - low batt.  Go out to work.  Still no electricity.  Come home.  No fans, using a cell-phone light to survive.  9PM, the Amerikano finds a generator - power again!  Sunday morning we get to conference on time.  Satellite is not fixed.  Time to stream again - slow internet.  People speak for ten seconds - freeze.  Load.  A few more words.  Freeze again.  Load.  Repeat.  In over and hour and a half we have barely watched what should have only taken 40 minutes.  But good news - back up disc arrives.  Insert.  "Disc not supported."  Uh Oh.  Different cords.  Nothing.  Lap top.  More cords - works.  Perfect quality.  Enjoy the last half of morning session.  Lunch.  Come back.  Insert disc.  Still good.  Are we actually going to get one good session in?  Nope.  50 minutes in, disc stops.  Not all of conference was "successfully downloaded."  Now we don't have internet.  District President, "Okay everyone, we'll close with a hymn + prayer and watch this in our individual branches next week."  Um... we don't have a church building.  "We'll just watch it tomorrow for Pday."  "Good idea."  Say goodbyes - we have transfers next week.  Come home.  Study.  Rest eyes.  Take in the day.  Shower.  Sleep.  Conference weekend is done.

...Well that's it really.  But I suppose I can share a few things I liked about conference, which through it all, was just as beautiful as the last.  They mentioned 58 new mission being formed.  My mission is splitting to add one of those - "I'm just another statistic!"  Elder Holland's talk was powerful as always.  L. Tom Perry's accomplished what I've long wanted to do - slap the 10 commandments in peoples' face (mine too.  I'm not perfect yet either.)  I always like what the Young Women Leaders have to say.  Last October it was Sister Dibb sharing the proud statement, "I'm a Mormon.  I know it.  I live it.  I love it."  This year t was Sister Dalton (Sat. morning session) who discussed standing as a witness at all times, in all places.  She mentioned the phrase, "What e're thou art, do well thy part."  Basically, what I take from that is we all have some sort of calling(s) in life, and we might as well make the best of it.  Strive to improve.  Magnify.  I'm a missionary, a representative of Jesus Christ.  I best do my part well! (Ezekiel 33:1-6!).  I've got less than a year and a half , best continue to do well my part.  Anyways, I'll have to download the talks and re-watch next week (can'd download here).  Hope everyone was able to find their conference gem.  If not, go back.  Listen.  Listen right.  It's there.  Look.  Search.  Beg, plead, pray.  That's my assignment too (:

Other news:  I learned the "SMILE" acronym that apparently every one else knew before me:  S.M.I.L.E. (to be Spiritually Minded Is Life Eternal. -see 2 Nephi 9:39).  Also, kept up just fine in a four language lesson (Tagalog, Rinconada, Bicol, English) so that was exciting.

That's it.  Have a good week! (:

Love, Elder Shane Scully Brown! 

Super HOT!! 4-8

Hello!

Super short this!  We went hiking because this morning so we don't have lots of time.  Went to a super pretty place called "kawa kawa" (see pictures).  Anyways, quick summary of the week:

It was still really hot.  I mean, just grueling.  So ridiculously hot.  It was especially awesome when it was 96 degrees in our room last night.  If I ever apostatize to idol worship, it'll definitely be my little red "Minami" fan.  Love that thing.  -I got the best compliment (in the form of a question) ever: "Are you Fil-Am (Filipino-American)?" "Nope.  I'm from America too."  "Oh wow, I thought maybe you are from Manila..."  Huge confidence booster that.  -I finished the New Testament!  As with the Old Testament, it was another life changing thing.  Too bad we're pressed for time or I'd go into more detail...

Anyways, life is still great.  Animals still running around everywhere.  Kids still don't wear clothes.  And I'm still a hot, sweaty Amerikano named "Joe".

Love ya!

Elder Shane Scully Brown

-Also, we are watching conference next week pa because of the time difference..  But here's a good quote from Talmage that I came across, "Knowledge is to wisdom what belief is to faith, one an abstract principle, the other a living application."  Okay, what does that mean?

Pictures - (I hope my captions are in the correct order)

1.  Our general conference invitation for April 13-14.  You're all invited.

2.  A building in construction

3.  Same building, same construction - slightly closer.

4.  Sitting on stairs

5.  Standing with a back ground in the back ground

6.  Me and Elder Simmons

7.  Climbing a buko tree.  Or... coconut tree.

8.  A staged picture of me walking

9.  Pointing

10.  First deer I've seen here

11.  Another standing

12.  The "dump".  Just a place where people throw trash in until there's so much that they burn it all.  Awesome.

13.  More standing

14.  More pointing

15.  View 1

16.  View 2

17.  Me viewing

18.  Tree plus sunset 

Prayer to Heal to Teach

Hello!

Big news!  You know how my mission was supposed to split on July 1st?  With the changes and everything they need to take a few more experienced people from my mission (before it splits) and put them in the American missions that have Tagalog Branches (New York, San Francisco and San Diego)... Well guess what.... Elder Shane Brown has been officially reassigned to the San Francisco Tagalog Speaking Branch!!!!!!!!  I fly out at the end of June!  I'm super excited except for that is just an April Fool joke!  Yep.  Just a joke only! But, there still is some big news:  My father, Todd Brown, has a birthday tomorrow!  I'd reveal his age, but I think I will not... Anyways, had a good week:

We work out "buns" off this week.  I'd talk more about it, but first, you should know that the heat has been brutal.  I'm sure I've never sweat more in my life...  The best is when we have brown outs (no electricity) at the apartment and even just in shorts and a thin shirt I begin to over heat the instant my fan turns off.  Summer is only supposed to last until May though (they say).  On the bright side, we tripled our investigators this last week, so that's got to say something about our diligence this Easter season.  We've really felt the Lord's help in our work too.

One of the coolest experiences was actually last Pday after I emailed home.  Elder Simmons and I  had returned to the apartment and we had about two hours before we would go out and work at 6 PM.  Simmons mentioned that he thought we may have to change plans to go visit someone (we'll call him "Joe" for story's sake) and with that he went down to wash his clothes (with a wash board and bucket of soapy water of course).  As I sat at my desk, I pondered if we did need to change everything to go teach Joe.  In that moment, I too felt a powerful witness of the Spirit that yes, this was right.  However, as I pressed on with my studies I began to feel sick (about 4:30 PM).  When Simmons finished washing around 5 PM, I felt so awful (headache, vomit, all that good stuff) that I had to just lay down to avoid what I thought to be an immanent death.  Simmons looked at me and said, "I hope you get better, because we are going to visit Joe."  As I lay there, miserably trying not to lose my lunch, I too knew we needed to visit Joe.  In a silent prayer, I thought it out... Hadn't I received undeniable instruction to go visit Joe tonight instead of others?  Wasn't that what the Lord wanted?  Then why was I sick (and getting worse) if that's what we had to do?  I rested my eyes and pleaded, "Look, I know you told me to do this thing, but I cannot even get out of bed.  Please... Take this from me..."  Three seconds passed and every form of illness was instantly gone.  By this point it was 5:45 PM.  I shot out of bed and announced it was time to go immediately.  Got ready in a flash then headed out the door to what turned out to be the most inspired and spiritual lesson I've ever been in on my mission.  So, so amazing.  I can't say more...

In terms of other announcements... We were both super hungry while walking the other day and I let myself think of a big feast.... Hah, at home, I probably would have imagined steak, twice baked potatoes, In-n-Out, Chic-Fil-A and more.... But I guess 6 1/2 months of the Philippines has really  had an effect on me because I instead pictured my big feast as a little plate of meat with a humongous bowl of rice.  That's great.  Also, turns out, Elder Simmons can sing (also great)!  He sang in a performance at the MTC so we're always singing hymns.  Hah, he does, however, still need to adjust to the random (and frequent) cockroaches here.  My poor ears take it hard when I hear a good shriek from Simmons about some big bug or another.  Also, I wish you could have been here on Wednesday because that morning we got called almost all out usual names all in one walk:  Joe, puti (white), malaki (big), matangkad (tall), Americano, babae and animals - accompanied with all the usual questions ("Hey man wut's up?" "Where you going?" " Wash yer name?" "Brethren (or brud), you want shot?") and we had some "caveman" noises made at us too.  Classic.

Okay, have a good week and April's Fool day.  Remember my father's birthday on April 2nd!!!  And my birthday (May 7) is approaching so if you'd like to join me in saying goodbye to the teen years, this is the last week probably to send a letter if you want me to get it before that day!  Love you!

Elder Shane Scully Brown

Pictures -

1.  How I sleep (the electric fans)

2.  Best Easter gift ever from the members with a sibling in America  

3.  Our sweet living room, kitchen, dining room, and den

4.  Cute little sink

5.  The Master Bathroom (the big barrel and ladle is how we shower)

6.  Mayon from afar

7.  Me pointing

8.  Another Shot of "The National Highway"

Brother Tatay Aguino Miracle in White 3 25

Hello!

Elder Simmons and I's first full week together!  And after just thgis short time, we've had a great work together.  We experienced quite a few cool things this week, despite it being 92 degrees in our apartment at night.  So besides the constant buzz of our electric fans, we've also had a bit of excitement in the air with what we've accomplished this week.

To get us started, Simmons' Tagalog is really picking up.  After trying to only speak in Tagalog while out of the apartment, he was able to narrow his major mistakes down to just one this week:  Quick Tagalog lesson - puso means heart, and pusa means cat.  I think you can see where this is going...  Hah so we were teaching this family how to pray and instead of telling them the important this is that the prayer comes from the heart, Simmons confidently told them that prayer should come from the CAT!  Whoops.  Other than some improvement in the language, we were able to reel in plenty of new investigators through sharing an Easter message.  Basically, no one here will deny an Easter message about Christ.  We have a few different approaches, but my favorite is sharing Matthew 28: 1-6 where the angel announces the Christ is riden then after some discussion we move to D&C 76:22 where Joseph Smith plus Sidney Rigdon proclaim "That He lives!"  It's a great way to have people trust us and be a little more open as we read together from the Bible, but then we also get to slip a little modern revelation in to set up more for next time.  It's pretty cool, and probably all we'll be doing this coming week seeing as it's "Holy Week" here.

We had countless amazing experiences this week.  We really felt the spirit as we found new people who completely opened up their lives to us and as we were asked to give blessings.  I could talk (type) your faces off, so I'll just share one.  Basically, there is this old guy (about 50....ancient!), Tatay Aquino.  He has a sickness where his whole body hurts and sometimes (last year it happened for the first time just once) the pain is so bad that he can only lay down.  Well last week, the really seriously bit began to return to him.  He was completely bed ridden, and couldn't even open his eyes when we found him.  We gave him a blessing of healing.  Next day, the Branch President comes to see him, which was good because his family all of a sudden had to leave.  The Branch President left so it was only Tatay Aquino laying down in excruciating pain.  As he suffered there, all he could do was pray (I was about crying at this point in his story).  Then he felt the presence of someone in the room.  He was able to just barely squint his eyes open enough to see someone in pure white sitting on his bedside chair.  He kept praying for relief, not being able to speak, and slowly, he began to feel his pain leaving.  Before he knew it, the person in white got up and left.  Within moments, Tatay received all his strength and could get up to walk around (first thing he noticed was that all the doors to the house were still locked and closed...).  Now, I can't say who was sitting there at Tatay's bedside adorned it white, but I do know that I saw a miracle.  A loving father who was crippled to his bed, was now up and walking. Since then, he has been able to afford his medicine and is now making his way to a complete recovery.

My heart is really being touched here.  Also, we were given Welch's Grap Jelly (!!!!!!!!) from a family with a sibling in America.  That was about on par with everything else (:

That's it.  Love ya!

Elder Brown

Pictures -

1.  Me standing in a field.

2.  Same field, closer picture.

3.  Kinda bright but I figured I'd send it anyways ah

4.  Our group leader's kids

5.  Standing for a picture

6.  Again, standing there to have my picture taking.

7.  Me and Elder Simmons at this very moment that I'm typing this in the internet shop.

Training Elder Simmons March 18th

Hello!

This week has been AWESOME!  Most of it has basically just been characterized by how much I love training my new comp.... Elder Simmons from Layton, Utah!  But here's what led up to that:

Tuesday morning my old companion, Elder Balanon, and I went to the transfer point where he would be taken to his new area.  From there, Elders Alldredge and La'Ulu (the Polynesian in some of my pictures) came back with me to Baao since they are also training as well.  We worked in Baao, then on Wednesday, we got up early in the morning and went to Naga!  Naga, if you remember, is not only where the Mission Home and SM (supermall) are, but also that was my first/previous area!  We spent the day taking in the luxories of the mall, shopping, and even seeing a few people I used to teach (a lot are baptized now!).  We also saw at SM my old comp, Elder Balanon.  He is assigned in my old area, and guess what, his companion is my trainer!  Hah my trainer, Elder Fronk, has now been in the same area for six months.  Wednesday evening, we reported to the Mission Home for some training.  President Bliesner did a workshop and we got to have a taste of what I used to enjoy... air conditioning!  And on top of that, a hot shower, with a real shower head!  How exciting.

Thursday morning, we had more workshops until lunch.  But at 8:00 AM all of the new kids arrived.  We were given a few minutes to welcome them and I met a kid from Orange County!  I thought that maybe we'd become companions but nope.  After lunch, the trainers and trainees were all brought into the same room where the new companionships were to be announced.  We all were pretty anxious.  I was assigned with Elder Simmons, we had one more hour long wirkshop, then we were off in the vans to our areas.  We got back to our apartment in Baao around 3:30, discussed our plans for half hour then were off to work!

Basically, since then, we're been doing great!  I'll admit, it was a little stressful when I gave him a turn to teach (like I normally would with any companion) then realized that he didn't understand a single thing our investigator said.  Hah the language sure has made for some great adventures (:  Elder Simmons is awesome though.  He has a great desire to learn and must have just been nervous the first few days because on Sunday he gave two great talks (in the Group + Branch) for "Missionary Sunday" (every 3rd Sunday).  It's interesting - you take a kid fresh from the MTC, turned 19 only a few weeks ago, can hardly understand anyone, and put him in front of a bunch of people, and even in his broken Tagalog, he will give the most heartfelt testimony you ever heard.  Although we didn't quite understand his staggered words, there was an undeniable spirit in the air radiating from him and put tears in several of the congregation (including myself).

In short, training is the best thing.  In just three and a half days together, we've found more people to teach than I did in months with my last companion (and I thought we were pretty decent!).  Sometimes I get in autopilot mode and assume he knows everything.  Hah, I forget that this really is a new world for Elder Simmons, but I've been there too.  I loved it then, and I love it more now.  I'm happy (:

Hope everyone is doing as well as I!

Love, Elder Shane Scully Brown

Pictures -

1.  Getting taught to cook a Filipino meal

2-4.  Fun.  (we didn't actually teach like that)

5.  This crazy lady we used to teach in my first area

6-7. Some of the trainers at trainers training (breakfast at a nice restaurant in Naga)