Monday 29 May 2017

Week 29




So this week i had to Adult,  I had to take our car in and get it
serviced and repaired so I had to make the appointment I had to talk
to our insurance people then I had to get everything in order so the
car could be serviced and then go to another place to get the side
mirror fixed (previous accident not my fault!) and also I had to
arrange for the car we were going to be driving in the meantime. Then
I had to drive us to the dealership. So everything was working out
perfectly I got everything payed for I filled out all the paperwork
just like a big girl and I picked up the keys and we went out to our
rental car. This is where my adulting ended. So I put all our stuff in
the car that the car repair people dropped off for us at the
dealership sat down in the car went to drive and realised oh no! this
is a manual car! I can't drive manual! So then I had to make a few
calls and arrange for the car repair people to bring me an automatic
so an hr later they brought us an Automatic and I filled out new
paperwork for the new, new car moved all our stuff again then the guy
took off and we got in the automatic then I went to drive again and
looked down and saw the most messed up shifter ever the gears were R,
N and E and then a - and + sign for all you car people I literally had
no idea what the heck it meant so I had to call about five other
missionaries before we could figure it out what the heck we needed to
do to drive that thing. So ya I used my Adult powers to the extreme
that day.

Our Investigator is doing so great we have been teaching him and
helping him lots so it's been going really good with him. He is
seriously so prepared he came to Gospel principals this week and he
seriously crushed it the whole lesson he just answered every question
and asked if he could read scriptures and ya it was amazing it's just
so cool to see him make so much progress so fast. I love it.

This Sunday we had our first sacrament meeting in Skegness it was a
success 16 people went to it. Good things are happening in the Boston
area.

So last night sister Osele and I were downstairs just talking and
sister Alayon was upstairs the phone rang and sister Alayon answered
it and started talking to one of our assistants to President and the
last time we got a phone call from them it was because Sister Gjika
was being Emergency Transferd so naturally I started Freaking out
because I thought someone was going to be leaving. So then Sister
Alayon said oh you wanna talk to Sister Brown and I almost started
crying because I thought he was gonna tell me I needed to pack. So I
got the phone and it was just him telling me that I have been called
to be a trainer by President Leppard so After I got over the shock of
don't worry you aren't really leaving and then I got really excited
because I'm gonna be a Momma! Well at least in the mission haha so ya
I getta go to Birmingham this week for a trainers meeting and then my
baby should be coming in about three weeks I think so I'm super
excited.

This week was just super busy with traveling and teaching and just
doing the work. It makes me sad that my trio life is ending though in
two weeks but I'm excited to get my own little greenie and to
introduce her to missionary life.

Love,
Sister Talia Brown 🇬🇧
68, Norfolk St
Boston
PE21 9HQ
England

Monday 22 May 2017

Week 28



Well this week I'd say we fully recovered from our crazy weekend with
being robbed it seriously felt like it was so long ago now but it was
kinda rocky in the beginning.  On Tuesday when I went to study and
stuff I realised my pencil case was gone with all my study stuff in it
which really doesn't matter but as a missionary I feel kinda heart
broken that my stuff is gone haha I loved my markers and stuff... and
they even took my lotion bottle from off my desk so that was really
annoying cause I have to replace really tedious Items. They also took
Sister Osele's white handbook we counted to see if they took any Book
of Mormons sadly none were taken dang it!

So we decided that since we were put out that meant Heavenly Father
had a miracle waiting for us so we got to work and honestly It kinda
seemed like Heavenly Father started pouring the blessings to us at
first we tracted into a young man and he said we could come back and
seemed like we taught him 4 times got him to come to games night and
also to church on Sunday .he is now on a date for Baptism so please
pray that he will continue to stick and have the desire to keep
working towards baptism he is honestly so prepared it's amazing his
mother recently passed away and it is just so amazing to see how
Heavenly Father prepares people to receive the gospel and just sends
the missionaries at the right time.

We also met with a mother and Daughter who came to church the day we
got robbed with some members of the ward they liked the teachings so
they came back this Sunday and we were able to meet them finally. They
are so awesome the mother is a friend of some members and her daughter
told her that she wants to start going to church because she wants to
believe in something. The mother started to look for a church that she
liked for her daughter to start going too. She talked to her friend
who is a member about our values and beliefs and liked them so they
have started coming to the Boston ward so we are gonna start teaching
them now which we are super excited about.

This week we had to set sometime and clean our flats front yard and
back yard out so the landlord will take care of some problems we have
with our flat. We asked the elders quorum if they could help us so
that morning we answered the door and all the men in our ward came
to help it was so awesome we felt so loved that they would come take
care of us they also put a bunch of dead bolts on all the doors and
gates on our property so we are basically Fort Knox up here.

Today we went to Wollaton Hall and for those of you who don't know
what that is just think Batman! It is a sick mansion it's being used
as an exhibition for wild life. And there were so many amazing murals
every where in it, it was super cool. The ground were absolutely
breathtaking English people know how to do lawn care FYI. Everything
is so green the trees are huge cause they have been there for
centuries it's amazing I love how old everything is here!

Today I got my UK license in the mail so I'm all legal now and ready to go!

Trio life is still pretty great I love my companions it is literally
always a party which makes life just so much fun it also makes the
work easier. The best is when we have to do road trips then there is
just so much car singing and just such random topics we talk about
haha.

The other day Sister Alayon said after our appointment with an
investigator everything is just falling into pieces sister Osele and I
looked at her like what?! And then she realized opps I mean place!
Haha we love our little Asian! But seriously though so much love last
night sister Osele asked can I stroke your arm for you and sister
Alayon rubbed my back haha so much touching! But I'm getting over it
more and more I think they are just so sweet no one could not love
them.

So things are getting better again we have been able to sleep normal
again and we have been getting lots of love from members and also back
from the work so life is good again!

Love,
Sister Talia Brown 🇬🇧
68, Norfolk St
Boston
PE21 9HQ
England

Wednesday 17 May 2017

Week 27

This week was kinda messed up to be honest started out good and ended
good though.

So I celebrated being out for six months on Tuesday so that was sweet
president McKee pointed out to me that I'm one third Done my
mission... I cried a little bit after that, both good tears and sad
tears even mix.

We had a zone Conference in Nottingham so it was the trio's first road
trip together it was pretty successful we learned a lot and sang a
lot. We gotta meet more people in the zone and we're also able to eat
some Taco Bell! Finally! Not gonna lie I have been desperately missing
my Mexican food. Anything with flavour really, I don't think I'll ever
eat a potato again after the mission. We also made a pit stop at
Costco! It was magic sister Alayon had never been to a Costco before
so it was really nice showing her the place and the food! We picked up
Costco brownie mix and Popcorn! English popcorn does not taste nice
some how they made it so bland! But the Costco stuff tastes just like
the stuff at home so I have about fifty bags to get me through the
next leg of my mission I think!

The rest of the week was chill we worked hard going tracting and
running activities and stuff for the ward and also for none members to
come to. We had our first ward correlation with our new ward mission
leader and stuff so that was good we gotta share lots of ideas for the
ward plan and stuff.

So saturday night we went to bed all excited for our Skype call to
our families after church. That morning we woke up at 6am and started
getting ready for the day I was upstairs saying my morning prayers
when I heard sister Alayon yell oh no! Check your wallet! I ran down
stairs and saw my companions looking through there wallets. After
taking a moment and looking around I saw that our flat had been turned
over and the back door was open. So pretty much someone broke into our
flat while we were sleeping and went through all our stuff and stole
my companions money and electronic valuables. Honestly I think that
was the worst day of my mission so far even though I didn't lose
anything it was such an incredibly sickening feeling knowing someone
entered into our flat while we were sleeping and unaware. So we had to
call the police and miss church as they went over the flat and swept
for fingerprints which was  creepy. So ya that was a struggle that
morning and honestly it was scary but I'm still grateful for the
companions that I have and for being able to sleep through them
trashing our flat and also being able to talk to my family the day it
happened because honestly there was no one else I would have wanted to
speak to besides my family after that. And I do feel like we were
protected because if we would have woken up during it I don't know
what would have happened so I'm glad we weren't able to hear it.

Talking to the family was awesome and we were able to spend the day
with some members so we felt safe. We have gotten a lot of love from
the ward so I feel so loved and cared so that's helping. Last night
was rough and we couldn't really sleep because we were jumping at
every noise but. It will get better. On the other hand it has caused
for some funny stories because we are all so jumpy.

When ever Sister Alayon has to walk around anywhere in the flat the
hammer is in her hand. Last night Sister Osele reached over me to open
the window while I was sleeping and It scared the heck out of me and I
just about Karate chopped her face haha. We have a middle of the night
bathroom pact so if anyone has to use the toilet we all have to
accompany that person. I walked into the kitchen and then came back
through the study and sister Osele was sitting there but she wasn't
before so I had a minor heart attack.

So ya it's been a crazy week but life is still good.

Love,
Sister Talia Brown 🇬🇧
68, Norfolk St
Boston
PE21 9HQ
England


Love,
Sister Talia Brown 🇬🇧
68, Norfolk St
Boston
PE21 9HQ
England

week 26

Well trio life truly is the best life. I waited at a members home for
my new companions to come and then I picked them up at the train
station. And it's been nothing but snorts and giggles and cussing in
different languages ever since haha.

So my new companions are Sister Osele from Zurich Switzerland who has
been out for five months and Sister Alayon from Macau China who has
been out for three months. Between the two of them they speak English,
French, Tagalog, mandarin, Cantonese, Portuguese, German, Swiss-German
and Italian. And I'm over here barely able to speak English myself.
There favourite fraise to say is "Freaking" "English isn't my first
language!" and "Uhh?" Haha I seriously love them so much it has
seriously been such a party in this first week we have had together.

So car singing has been interesting because we have three different
languages singing along to like every Disney song or hymn or whatever
we're playing. The first time Sister Osele put in her Swiss-German
Music it was a bit late and I started singing along and she asked
"Sister what Language are you singing it in?" I'm over here like " oh
this isn't English.... I have no idea what I'm saying"

We went to a diner appointment and as we were all sitting around the
table and the Toddler was STARRING at Sister Alayon after about
fifteen minutes of this kid starring down sister Alayon she finally
leaned forward and said " what's wrong have you never seen an Asian
before??" Sister Osele and I and the parents literally peed our pants
and we're crying from laughter.

We went to an appointment this week and we're talking to this man who
proceeded to tell us how if he could talk to God he would explain to
him how he would have done things much better. Sister Osele proceeded
to tell him that she didn't like how he was speaking about Heavenly
Father later in that same conversation she told him that he is "lazy
and prideful" because he wasn't willing to do the simple work to find
out if God truly is there. FYI no body messes with God when Sister
Osele is in the room.

On Pday we went to Lincoln castle and the Cathedral it was so Gorgeous
and super cool to see everything and go on the castle walk we took a
billion photos. I'm finally out of a relief society district so we've
been doing lots of stuff with the Lincoln Elders which has been a lot
of fun!

We did some service for a member in our ward and we did some sewing so
I broke out my sewing skills for the first time in forever. Sister
Alayon had never used a sewing machine before so the member showed her
what to do, as she started instructing her on how to use the sewing
machine pedal the member said it's kinda like driving a car Sister
Alayon said but I can't drive! the member looked at her and said oh my
and didn't leave sister Alayons side again after that haha no trust.

Oh so I saw a Delorian... we were walking up to the cathedral and then
I started Freaking out because it's not every day you see one
especially when your in front of a cathedral in England and not in
California or Orlando. But then I felt kinda dumb cause I felt like I
was the only one who knew what the heck it was. Needless to say I kept
my eye out for Marty and Dr. Brown.... no I didn't see them but when I
got out of the cathedral the car was gone so the Delorian lives guys!

So I don't have sisters at home so I'm kinda new at this whole sister
bonding thing and by that I mean I don't know what to do. So it's
about that time that I like to start going to bed so I'm chilling in
bed pondering life watching some Mormon messages when Sister Osele
comes in and sits right next to me and starts talking to me about all
things and I'm just kinda like oh ok we're gonna talk now haha later
in companionship inventory she told me that her favourite part of her
day is bugging me right before bed haha my companions are so
incredibly sweet there melting my sister-less heart.

So life is pretty great in the mission field right now.

Love,
Sister Talia Brown 🇬🇧
68, Norfolk St
Boston
PE21 9HQ
England

Tuesday 2 May 2017

Week 25

Wow I've been out for 25 weeks gah almost 6 months thats crazy!
This week on Pday we went to the Lincoln castle and cathedral and it's
so big we only saw the magna carta and the prison haha so we have to
go back and see more but it was so cool to see. I love seeing all the
historical stuff in England it's really cool they had a museum in the
prison of all  the stuff they used back in the day, so cool!

Weve been pretty busy just trying to see people and get stuff done so
I love when we're so busy it's definitely harder when it feels like
the only thing we can do is go tracting. We've been doing lots with
the less actives and working on building a branch in Skegness which we
are super excited about.

This week we drove to Lincoln, Nottingham and Birmingham all in one
day! If that wasn't the most stressful thing I don't know what else
would be gah. It was six hours of uk driving so that was fun but we
were able to get all my license stuff done and sent off thank goodness
so even if I never drive again after this area at least I will have
the souvenir for it!

I was able to go on exchanges this week in Stamford, stamford is
gorgeous it's known for the white stone the buildings have been cut
from it is seriously the prettiest area I've been to yet on my mission
while I was there I also gotta take my lunch on the grounds of Burly
House the mansion used in Pride and Prejudice for Mr. Darcy's home it
was so gorgeous and it was really cool living the pride and prejudice
dream for me and my mom.

This week we had dodge night and sister Stirm is leaving me I'm so sad
I have loved serving with her but she will do awesome. As for me
apparently I didn't learn whatever lesson I was supposed to in my
first trio because president is putting me in another! So hopefully I
will learn whatever lesson I need to from being in a trio again.

I seriously love Boston though I'm super excited to be here for
another transfer! It is a gorgeous place and the people are wonderful.
Especially the ward they show us a lot of love it's great.

Life has been good here it's getting warmer but raining a lot more so
days like that I'm grateful for the car.

I'm really grateful for the experience to serve a mission and for the
people I've been able to meet so far. I'm starting to understand that
challenges aren't meant to be a punishment but something to mould us
and and make us what Heavenly Father wants us to be. It still sucks
going through challenges but it's kinda exciting and terrifying to see
how you will come out the other side of the challenge.

love Sister Brown