Sister Brown's last email. It's just too incredible not to share. *names have been changed to protect other's privacy* items with sleeves to wear that maid of the brides like
Also, look who Sister Brown found in Oregon. She was so happy!

"Transfers came. I'm staying in Medford with Sister Herbst, but we
added a new addition to us, Sister Payne! We now have the best trio in
the mission. (:

Cool story.
I had felt strongly that we should knock on one of our Potentials
doors. After doing that, we crossed the street and Rick and Terrell were
sitting there. I said, "Hi, How are you doing?" We then got talking
and started up some gospel conversation. Abe then joined us and we
thought he would be the one we were gonna have to really work with. He
was being purposefully difficult. We answered a few of his questions.
Then John walked up and started listening. Let me give you a visual
image of this whole situation. They had tattoos all over, body
piercings, and looked as if they had had a hard few years. It seemed
as if they may have gotten done smoking something heavy. They were the
type that possibly two young sisters shouldn't be talking to, but
there is this weird thing as a missionary, where you just really don't
care. Everyone is seen in a different light. More like, how can I help
you and meet your needs rather than looking at how we feel or what we
need. We found out that John was actually a member and stopped going
to church when he was 14. He told us, as we gave him a pamphlet, "no,
I want a Book." Us: the Book of Mormon? John: yes! I want to read it
again and get back into it. He then tried to quote the first verse "I
am Nephi..." to us!
We ended up giving Abe and him a Book of Mormon and baring
testimony of it. Abe then kept talking to us as the other men
slowly left. We ended up talking to him about prayer. We asked him if
he prayed. He said he hadn't in a long time. We asked him why. He then
opened up to us and told us about his mother dying from Cancer and how
the Lord didn't answer his prayer to let his mother live. My wonderful
companion then started to testify of Jesus Christ and how he had asked
in the Garden of Gethsemane if the cup could pass from him. Even he
didn't want to go through with it if he didn't have to, but it was
more important for him to do the Father's will. She testified of how
sometimes things don't work out how we think or want them to, but we
have to strive to align our will with God's. The spirit was SO
powerful! She later expressed that in that moment all she could think
about is testifying of the Savior. Making this even better, as we
talked to Abe, John ended up sitting down and reading Alma 32.
The chapter we had given him to read. It was the most beautiful moment
as I thought about a man who had traveled so far away for so long, now
sat in his own little sanctuary reading from the Book of Mormon.
This was a beautiful testament to me of the power of the spirit and
two companions working together. I led us there and my companion
finished out. All by the spirits directions. This truly is the Lord's
work. We could never do it without him. We do not convert anyone. We
are not trying to convert anyone. The spirit is the true converter.
The spirit is the only way that people can truly come unto Christ. I
can honestly say that my love for each of these men was great in that
moment and tears came to my eyes. I didn't care about where they came
from or what their past was. I just saw them looking forward. I could
see them walking into a church building. I could see the potential of
change within them.
At that moment, I felt as though my purpose had been fulfilled. They
didn't become any new "number", but we just testified of our Savior
and added a little bit of light to these men's rough lives. I felt my
purpose as a missionary which truly is about changing lives through
the power of the spirit and our Savior's infinite Atonement.

Love,
Sister Brown"

Sister Brown ran into Kiera Leavitt this week. What a joyful reunion.