I don't know what to say here.... I love you! December 29, 2014

12-29-2014

In my head I keep hearing this old song... "So This Is It..."

So that's how I feel right now! An amazing adventure is coming to a close.

But, let's talk about Christmas!

Our zone went out caroling to different families on Christmas Eve, it was chilly but so much fun! We were able to give gifts to families who may have been in need, and we all loved it! We had a white elephant exchange real fast in the church, then the zone leaders sprung a big surprise- time for Sister Brown to bear her testimony! That's what we do when we leave, and because I was out with sick Sister Roberts at our last zone meeting I didn't do it then. But, I am thankful for the chance I had to bear my testimony.

We had a sleepover with the sisters in our zone that night, and Christmas morning we went over to meet the sisters in the next zone over for Christmas breakfast- our first of many! Our Christmas day was filled with lots of treats and fun members.

We were also able to go to the Christmas lights with the adorable Martinez family on Saturday, it was Sister Roberts' first time seeing them! And, the missionaries get free fry bread across the street. I love being a missionary! :)

Serving a mission is the best decision I ever made. I met have thousands of people who I have loved at first sight, and others I have grown to love over time. Each had made an impact in my life! I have grown in my understanding of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and in Our Father's view of missionary work and our missionary efforts.

Well, don't know what else to say. I love you all! Thank you so much for all of your support and love and emails and prayers! I know that Heavenly Father loves each one of us so much, and He never forgets us!

I love you all! Keep being awesome!

Love, Sister Hailey Brown

The Christmas Countdown....... December 22, 2014

12-22-2014

Merry Christmas everyone!

The weather here in Arizona is a bit chilly, but nowhere near the white Christmas I'm used to! But being on bike, it's plenty cold for me!! It's finally beginning to feel like Christmas- it's on everyone's minds now! I love being a missionary around the holiday season- but it is so hard to be white-washing an area right before Christmas, knowing that I'm leaving before the holidays are even over.

Many people don't have time for the missionaries in all the hustle and bustle, but we have found a few people who we may be able to meet with. We were able to contact some referrals who we will  be meeting with, and we found a woman named Heidi on accident, trying to find someone else who had moved. She has talked to missionaries before about what happens to us after we die, and has agreed to meet with us, after the holidays. :) But we are working hard to keep meeting people and getting to know this ward, and especially trying to meet the less active members in this ward. There is always work to be done, no matter where you go or what circumstance you are in.

I don't really know what else to say. I'll be home next week! I think I'll be emailing on Monday (it is still a P-day after all). But, I love serving my mission so much. In a way, I never want it to end. And I especially don't want school to start! I don't remember how to do school!

My mission has been such a blessing in my life. I feel like it has been really selfish of me, to serve a mission, and to do the Lord's work and meet so many wonderful people and have amazing experiences. I have to remember that I'm helping other people too! I truly am so thankful to have been blessed to be able to be a part of these people's lives, even just for a short time. I've learned so much on my mission, and I am so thankful for all my great times and my hard times, because I have become so much stronger, and I know more hard things are ahead of me. I am thankful the Lord has prepared me in this way. I ALWAYS want to live worthy to be His representative, and to follow His example.

I love you all! If you have a chance to serve a mission in your life, I hope you take it, because going on a mission is absolutely the BEST thing I have ever done. It's awesome :)

Love you! Have a safe and happy and wonderful Christmas! Talk to you soon!!

Love, Sister Hailey Brown

Pictures: 

Our Ward Mission Leader's cat likes to play! Especially in things she can get into.....

Poor sicky Sister Roberts, with Carmel, the dog that belongs to the member we live with.

The Christmas Lights are Shining Bright!..........December 15, 2014

12-15-2014

Hi again!

So this week, we did a lot of biking around, getting to know some people, and trying to stay warm. It gets chilly at night here in December! We also had a rainy day, and boy it is difficult to keep out of the puddles! Luckily no drivers splashed us :)

We got a new ward mission leader yesterday! The work in this ward has been... slow, to say the least. I am hoping that with new missionaries and a new mission leader we can breathe some life into this area! There is a lot of potential here, but many of the potentials live in low-income temporary housing, and don't stay for long. We are having a great time tracting though- something this stake is having all the missionaries do in all the apartment complexes. We are inviting people to come see the Mesa Temple Christmas Lights, and telling them about the He is the Gift video. It's been going pretty well! This is the perfect season to talk to everyone about Christ :)

So, my companions! Sister Tippery is from Portland, Oregon, and has been serving for six months. Sister Roberts is from Tallahassee, Florida, and came out the transfer after me, so she'll go home in March. Sister Roberts served in this ward before, a few months ago, but only for one transfer. So she is familiar with the area, but we are all getting a fresh start! When we are biking down the road and need to stop at the busy street, the three of us line up, and I feel like I'm in a biker gang :) I'll have to try to get a picture somehow!

Anyways, we're staying warm (mostly) and staying safe (besides the dog bite Sister Roberts got.... just startled an old dog at a member's home. got checked out at urgent care and everything, it's all good) and working hard (we're trying!) I LOVE missionary work! Sometimes I have no idea why I do, but then I remember- this is the most rewarding work any person can ever do! I have been so blessed to have been able to serve the Lord here in Arizona, and I am so thankful for all the experiences I've been blessed with!

I know that Christ has restored His church to the earth, and that we are blessed to be led by a prophet of God on the earth today!

I love this Christmas Season, I hope you are all taking the time to remember Christ!

I love you!

Love, Sister Hailey Brown

Photos- the sun beginning to set behind the rain clouds :)

so here are my new companions! I just took this picture and we all look terrible, 

they would probably kill me if you put this on the blog!

​Sister Tippery, Sister Roberts, and me!

yep. here ya go.

And Here Comes Zone Number 7... Hello Maricopa!!..... December 10, 2014

12-10-2014

Hello Everyone,  and welcome to my journey into Maricopa Zone! I am now serving in Maricopa Stake, in the Westwood ward with Sister Roberts and Sister Tippery. We haven't taken a picture together yet... that will come next week!

It has been hard to leave another area that I've barely begun to know the people, and yet love them so much! I want so badly to be able to come back and visit all my friends and all my wards..... but at this point I've served in 13 wards and 1 branch. But on the up side, I know basically all the mission and I get just about anywhere!

Don't have a lot to report on this week. A great miracle that happened is, Sharon and Mike, our investigators in Granite Reef ward, came to church! Mostly because we were leaving and giving testimonies in sacrament meeting. They came to all three hours of church! I am so thankful they came, it's been four years since they have come to church.

I am thankful that we are leaving our wards in good hands! The two sets of elders who cover each ward full time are great, and I am so thankful to have had the chance to work with them. Even if your sister missionaries leave, don't despair! Elders can be pretty cool, too, I guess :)

Whelp, emailing time is short. I love you all! Are you sharing He is the Gift? Let's share the Spirit of Christmas!!!!!!!

Christmas.mormon.org

#ShareTheGift

also go check out this adorable Christmas video at

https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2013-11-018-the-reason-behind-christmas?lang=eng

I love you! Enjoy the snow and preparing for Christmas.... and I'll see you soon!!!

Love, Sister Hailey Brown

Photos-

1 our awesome district! I hate me in this photo but this is the only one where someone's arm wasn't covering up someone else's face :)

2 Us with our Ward Mission Leader and his family from Granite Reef ward, the Gedris family. I love them! We had crepes at all our missionary correlation meetings Sunday night :)

love you!

A Week Full of Gratitude and Sniffles............ December 1, 2014

12-1-2014

Happy December Everybody!

Can you believe that this is that last month? I'll say Hi in person come January!

So, we had a pretty good week this week! Getting ready for Thanksgiving, cooking on Thanksgiving, eating Thanksgiving food, recovering from Thanksgiving.... really exciting week :)

We had a great Thanksgiving breakfast in Shadow Mountain Ward, then headed over to Sharon's to cook and cook and cook for our big meal! Unfortunately, almost all the people we invited had to cancel last minute, so we had a whole lot of extra food! But it all turned out great and delicious!

We had a few mini meals after that, and took a nap- my poor companion has been fighting the sicks this week! That evening we watched "Ephraim's Rescue" with a family- I love that movie! So good.

On Saturday we made Christmas cookies with Sharon, and helped her put up her tree and hang Christmas lights. We had a lot of fun! 

Reflecting on the gratitude of the season and the blessings we have received through the Gospel of Jesus Christ has brought me so much joy this holiday season, even as we are just beginning! I am so thankful for the joy I have here, through the Atonement of Jesus Christ and the love from Our Father in Heaven. Always remember how much He loves you!

Okay, I really can't think of anything else to say. Besides... my mom sent me a great Christmas package! yay Christmas tree!

​

I love you all so much! As you prepare for the Christmas season, please remember, the true reason for Christmas!!!!

http://www.mormon.org/christmas

#ShareTheGift

I love you! Stay warm :)

Love, Sister Hailey Brown