Exchanges and Birthdays!​..... May 27, 2014

5-27-2014

Hello again!!

(do I start my email like that every week?)

Happy Birthday Morgan! Yesterday!!

Anyways.....

So! Life is Cave Creek! It's like a mix of all my other areas combined. With a lot more cactus. And a billion more quail. But I saw a bobcat! And a coyote crossed in front of our car, then a roadrunner did the exact same thing. I love seeing the animals!

One of the best things about this week was Shelley! I actually went with her and her girls to the Gilbert Temple Open House in January when I was on exchange in this area! We went on splits with the ward Tuesday night, so I got to go see her again! And she even knew the ward missionary I was with, who is a teacher at her kids' elementary school. Shelley is SO READY for EVERYTHING!!!! The biggest holdup is her husband Frank, who grew up a strong Catholic. But we had a great visit on Tuesday, and she believes so many of the things we believe! And she even showed up to church on Sunday!!! She could only stay for sacrament meeting, but it made my day! She and her family is super busy though, and will be out of town a lot for the summer. But she makes me happy :)

We are working with a few members, trying to help them prepare for the temple. Jan is one of these, and she is a hoot! She is so funny. We are also meeting with a Bob and his ex-wife Marge- they live together because their son lives there too. It's kinda weird. I actually met them when I was on the same exchange in January as well! Isn't life crazy? They are super nice, but very hesitant about coming to church. We are working on teaching them about the Book of Mormon, and about how the Book of Mormon and the Bible support each other and work together. I think if they want to, they could make it to the temple as well!

Here's probably the craziest thing for the week... On Saturday we were on exchange, I was with Sister Baham in my area. An investigator named Angela invited us to her home for breakfast, and it was delicious. Fanciest breakfast I've ever had! (I know now that eggs Benedict are delicious.) Her good friend and house help Servie as there, as well as her daughter home from college. But this house.... I've seen really nice homes in Scottsdale and Paradise Valley, but this home is ridiculous, and the amount of security we had to go through was crazy! She lives right across from someone famous. We took lots of pictures :)

Angela and Servie will be hard to catch this summer as well, because Angela has a home in Indianapolis that they go to a lot. But I hope we can go back! I want to live there.

We're still trying to meet a lot of people, which is becoming increasingly more difficult as the heat settles in and the people peace out. Sister Cole and I are getting along great, and the couple we live with amazing! They sure keep good care of us :)

And I'm on exchange again today! Sister Baham and I will be together a lot when our companion go on exchange. But we have fun!!

​

I love you guys!!! Stay cool! :)

and go to mormon.org/becauseofhim  if you haven't yet!!! :)

Love you!!

Sister Hailey Brown

 

 

 

Livin' the Wild West...............May 19, 2014

5-19-2014

Hello again! I guess it's been another week or so. We've been doing a lot!

Hermana White has been showing us around our ward in Cave Creek and Carefree, and parts of Scottsdale and Phoenix. But we had to part ways Saturday morning, so now Sister Cole, my new GPS and I are trying to figure this out!

We met a lot of people this last week, some less actives and investigators and potential investigators. The ones who stick out the most to me are Justin and Tonya. Tonya is a less active member returning to activity, and Justin is her husband- they just got married a month or so ago! Justin was progressing really well towards baptism, but fell back into some bad habits. We met with them twice last week, and they showed up to church yesterday! It will be a long and hard road for them, but I have faith that they can make it! Sister Cole and I were able to talk to Justin Friday night, and I think he feels comfortable with us. We are excited to work with them, along with the other people we have met!

Well, I've adjusted to a lot of the heat, but it sure is still HOT here. And now that it's summer again, the bugs are coming out. I haven't seem them, but I sure have found a few bites on my legs! Definitely the worst part of skirts. Time to pull out that bugspray from last summer!

This area reminds me a lot of my first area in Taylor. I took a few pictures of the area as we were driving..

​But it sure is different at the same time! A lot more people with a lot more money :) It's a really tourist town, so that is kind of fun too!

 

I'm excited to be here, and really excited to be working with the people here. The ward knows how important it is to share what we have with those around us! I am so thankful that I have grown up with the Gospel of Jesus Christ in my life, because I can see so clearly how it has blessed me and my family. I want everyone to have these blessings and to find the happiness and joy that comes from the Gospel!

I love you guys! Be safe and happy!

Until next week....

Love, Sister Hailey Brown

 

 

Onward and Upward! Headed North, but not what you might think.....​May 14, 2014

5-14-2014

Hello Family! and the everyone who doesn't share my genes, hi to you too!

If you didn't skype with me on Mother's day, than you haven't heard the news- I'm getting transferred! Or, rather, I've been transferred! I'm in the same stake but a different ward- Cave Creek Ward in the Scottsdale North Stake. We cover a huge area including the towns of Cave Creek, Carefree, and who knows what else! Maybe part of a National Forest too..... :) My new companion is Sister Cole, and for the next few days I'll have Hermana White as a companion too! We are taking the area from her, but it doesn't need to be white-washed, so she is showing us around and introducing us to people until Saturday. Then she will go to her new area! President and Sister Sweeney will take her up to the Fort Apache Reservation near Show Low on their way to Eager on Saturday.

Cave Creek Ward is an EXCELLENT ward, with a lot of potential and hard working members! I'm excited to be here, but nervous to be taking on such precious cargo. But I'm trusting in the Lord! He knows what He is doing with me and the ward. :) There must be something here for me to do! I'm excited to work and get to know the area and the people.

We're actually living with another set of sisters right now, because the member home we live at has company over. So we'll move in next Monday. Unfortunately, that means I get to live out of suitcases until then. this is gonna get rough! But we just had three missionaries relocated here from Ukraine, and they told us about how rough it was for them, so I am never complaining again. At least, I'll try! They had to be evacuated and had a day's notice to leave. I am so blessed to be serving in the United States, in an area where I know I have a mattress on a bed frame and buildings that are up to code. We truly are blessed with so much!

Don't know much else of what to say.. I'll know more next week! But just seeing the area and the people yesterday was amazing. I'll really going to miss Chaparral Ward, but they'll keep going! And Brenda told me she would definitely invite me to her baptism!!

I love you guys! I'm so thankful for the opportunity I have to be here serving a mission and doing the work of the Lord in Arizona. I may not be as far out of the heat as I would like, but God puts us through our challenges to make us stronger! :)

Be happy!!

Love, Sister Hailey Brown

picture: Sister White, Sister Cole, and me! and a huge cactus is the background :)

 

 

Mario and No-Shows..​.. and 102 degrees!..​..................​. May 5, 2014

5-5-2014

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ELIZA!!!!!! SWEET SIXTEEN YEAHHHHH!!!!!

and Hi everyone else!! :)

This week was pretty great! A young woman in our ward brought her friend Mario to church a week ago, and then texted us letting us know he wanted to meet and learn about the church!! He grew up a Jehovah's Witness, but never felt fulfilled in his religion. We met and taught him the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and he sincerely wants to read the Book of Mormon and pray to know the truth! We are super excited to be teaching him!

We also had TWO great lessons with Summer (the inactive member) and her four sweet daughters. We taught them about Lehi's dream, and they begged us to come back the next day! They had so many questions that were answered by the Plan of Salvation so we taught them about God's plan for us. They ask the best questions! I don't think I've had anyone ask me on my mission where God came from and how he become God! And these girls are all in elementary school! I love them SO MUCH!!! We invited them to come to church and sing fun songs in primary but they didn't come :(

We went to another ward's baptism on Saturday, and Brenda was supposed to come but was running late... and never showed. But she said FOR SURE she would be at church.... but nothing. We were really disappointed. We've been meeting with her for almost 5 months now, and I feel like we're going nowhere. She is really sick a lot, or busy, which is understandable.... I just wish we could help her see how much her life could be blessed by the Gospel of Jesus Christ! She hasn't been to church in probably 6 weeks. We'll keep trying! 

The missionary work is rough sometimes. And it isn't any easier now that summer has decided to come on full force.

Saturday was hot.

 

But it was even hotter two minutes later-

Don't mind the dust- it's everywhere down here!

Anyways, almost died, no big deal. Pray for me.

 

I love you all! Mom sent me some pictures of the front yard and it is BEAUTIFUL!! I love the beauty of Arizona, but I really miss the lush green soft beauty of Logan, Utah. I kind of wish I was serving for two years and so I would be coming home in the middle of summer, not winter!! I'll see what I can work out :)

Take care of our sweet family! Every day I testify that the most important thing in the world is our families. I have seen how blessed I have been by my sweet and loving family, and I pray that all families can find that pure peace and happiness that only comes through the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I love you all so much! Even if we're not family and you're reading this... I love you! You must be awesome if you're reading this anyways..... :)

Love you all! Thanks for all your prayers and your support! I'll let you know next week if I'm still alive here in Scottsdale or (preferably) chilling out a bit somewhere a bit cooler!!! 

LOVE YOU!!! BYYYYEEEEEEEEE

Sister Hailey Brown