Week 52

January 4, 2016

Dear Family and Friends,

On Monday we went to the church to play ping pong with the other missionaries and then watched Johnny Lingo. It was really fun.

On Tuesday we had District Meeting where we are about to finish watching General Conference. We watched the talks by Carol M. Stephens and Allen D. Haynie. The theme was about commandments. I really like how Sister Stephens connected them with love for us and also how we are able to express our love for Heavenly Father. I liked in Elder Haynie's talk about the Atonement and a little bit about why it was necessary. I really like that Sister Bestenlenher's family sent us a General Conference Ensign in her Christmas package, so now I can start to go back and read all of the talks that I really liked. For the rest of District Meeting, Sister Madison talked about how to prepare people for baptism, and Sister Bestenlenher taught us about addiction recovery. One of our commitments was to do this activity in Preach My Gospel where you try to quit a habit that you have for a day, and then after that a week. Then think about how hard it is for someone with an addiction. It was hard to think about what my bad habit could be, some people chose cracking there knuckles, other suggestions were adjusting your glasses and overeating. It is kind of a cool commitment to help us become better.

It has been really cold outside for the last week and we made a mistake on Wednesday that we wouldn't be making again, it has been about -8 degrees farenheight here. We decided one morning to go outside for about 3 hours. We didn't make it the whole 3 hours, we ended up going into a store to warm up for a few minutes, then we knocked on people's doors to get out of the cold. There were definitely people to find during that time, so I am glad we did it. We will just be smarter about that. This is definitely the coldest humid weather I have ever lived in.

On Thursday was New Year's Eve. We had to be in by at least 5 PM, or dark. We went in and we watched these little For the Strength of Youth DVD's we have. They were so good and uplifting, I definitely want to use them in Family Home Evenings when I get home. They are also pretty entertaining. We also decided for the New Year we would try to give up sugar. We gathered all of our candy and things so we could eat it for New Years Eve. It was really hard and I even ended up throwing away some, as well as giving it away to others. I think I will feel better as I don't eat as much sugar. We were told that there would be a ton of fireworks on New Years Eve. They were going off long before even midnight, but at midnight I woke up to watch them and they were literally going off all over in the distance. It was really fun. Sister Bestenlenher was too tired and warm in her bed to come and watch. It was exciting. We went to a baptism on Saturday for an investigator of the elders. Her name is Giedra. She is really sweet and so excited to be baptized.

Love,
Sister Brown

Gingerbread dome and scene.

Sister Bestenlenher with her new socks.

"Table of Sacrifice." Going no sugar for the new year.

Ready to go out in the -8 weather with about 5 layers on, we are lookin' chubby.

Week 51

December 28, 2015

Dear Family and Friends,

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! This week was great, we were able to talk to a lot of really nice people on the street because everyone is a little nicer around the holidays. We got to open our gifts that were sent from home, as well as Skype our families. It was a great week. We were able to visit a member named Birute and she is really sweet. We met with her on Wednesday since she would be going to her sisters for Christmas who lives in the country. We had a real treat on Christmas Eve and Christmas day, we were able to listen to our music all day, usually we are only allowed to listen to it on Monday's. We also had to be in by dark on both days so that was about 4:30 in the evening. Sister Bestenlenher and I eve did a little nativity scene. I was Mary and Sister Bestenlenher was the narrator/a shepherd. It was a lot of fun. On Christmas day we got to Skype our families and we did that at the senior couples home where they let us eat food before we Skyped. It was fun, but very loud when it came time to Skype. After some technical difficulties we were able to get connected. It was a wonderful experience having Christmas on a mission. You really do focus more and relearn the reason for the season. On Sunday night it began to snow and it hasn't let up since. It finally feels like Winter is here.

Love,
Sister Brown

Caroling on Christmas Eve.

Christmas.

Snow!

Week 50

December 21, 2015

Dear Family and Friends,

It has been hard to work because we have not had an area book until this last Saturday. We mostly just would walk around and try and find people. Now we are excited to have an area book so that we can use that for finding and setting up lessons. On Saturday mornings we have Missionary Coordination Meeting and a language though with the other missionaries. It is really interesting because there are so many other missionaries here in Vilnius. When we are all gathered it feels like a missionary training meeting. There are 7 Lithuanian speaking elders and 4 sisters including us. There are also 2 Russian speaking missionaries. We are split into 2 districts all of the Lithuanian speaking elders are in one district and all of the sisters are in a district with the Russian speaking elders. It is fun to get to know them as well, as I didn't know them as well, but they are actually really great. I liked something that Alvydas our Branch mission leader said. He was talking about people on the street, he said... "we follow Christ, not tradition." People really for the most part live according to their tradition. Usually their religion is tradition. For our Christmas Zone Conference we got to peel 40 potatoes for mashed potatoes. It was a lot of work, but it was worth it. We also had a white elephant gift exchange. I bought this alarm clock that is like a robot for the gift I would bring, and I received a really cute mug with different kinds of tea and chocolate inside. It is a really cute mug. We also got to see a slide show they put together for the missionaries with pictures of all the missionaries from the Baltics. We then watched a really well put together slide show that Sister Harding put together with Christmas Mormon Messages, as well as singing and performances by the missionaries. At the end they asked us to think about one thing we could give Christ this year. It was really a fun day, and at the end they handed out all of the Christmas packages from home. After, we went straight on an exchange. I went with Sister Madison and Sister Bestenlenher went with Sister Neeley. It was a lot of fun, as we were all staying at Sister Madison's apartment here in Vilnius. It was a good exchange. Then on Saturday we had a branch activity that the branch actually put together and the missionaries had nothing to do with it. It was very impressive and they put a lot of effort into it. They had some singing and other performances and they also had a Christmas dinner. One investigator even brought a choir with her to perform, I don't know if anyone was expecting that. It was a really good turn out and it was fun to socialize and get to know everyone.

Love,
Sister Brown

Week 49

December 14, 2015

Dear Family and Friends,

Wow, this week was a crazy one. We had transfers and after 9 transfers and 9.5 months I finally left Kaunas. I was sad to go, I really love the members there, but now I have the opportunity to serve in Vilnius with Sister Bestenlenher. Vilnius is quite a big city, it is going to take awhile for me to figure out how to get around. Sister Bestenlenher and I are both new to the area, Vilnius East, so we are doing something called white washing. Sister Bestenlenher just came from Vilnius West, so she knows the bus system pretty well, so that helps a lot with knowing how to get around. This week on Monday we were anxiously waiting for transfer calls all day, then we finally go them and found out that Sister Neeley was also leaving Kaunas West and going to Kaunas North with Sister Hubert. We had from when they called us that evening at about 10 PM until our train left at 1:45 plus district meeting at 11:00 for an hour to be packed. We started right then and ended up staying up until about 12:30 with most everything packed. In the morning we continued packing and we were all packed by the time we went to District Meeting. After District Meeting we had to go straight home and get our stuff by taxi to the train station and eat some lunch. We made it on time and all traveled to Vilnius. Sister Seaman was headed to Riga Latvia to go home. Her mission has now ended and she is home with her family. She is a wonderful missionary and it is sad to see her and also Elder Martin go home. After we got here we met a lot of the other missionaries to swap companions. Sister Bestenlenher headed to our new apartment to drop my stuff off, then we met the other sisters in Vilnius, Sister Madison and Jerman, to help clean Sister Bestenlenher's old apartment that the Elders would be moving into. Then we moved Sister Bestenlenher's things into our new apartment. The next day we were able to go grocery shopping and finish up the cleaning and moving. Then we were able to unpack and get situated. Let's just say the beginning of the week was exhausting and a little overwhelming, but we made it.

Love,
Sister Brown

My district in Kauanas.

My worn out shoes that I finally threw away.

New companion Sister Bestenlenher

Week 48

December 7, 2015

Hello, Sister Neeley again.

I just had to write you about today. We had all day to go out and make our day (because we had very little plans). We talked to many people in the morning and I was so impressed by Sister Brown, I couldn't stop thinking about it. She stopped a few people in not ideal situations and potentially awkward moments, and bravely offered our message. Today I was really especially impressed. Someone who came up to talk to her. We were standing at a crowded bus stop for 2 minutes until our bus showed up. During that 2 minutes I was a spectator as this guy (about in his 20's) came up to her because he saw her Book of Mormon. He told her that that book was bade and an offender to true religion. He said this to us in Lithuanian and then in English. Oh boy did she tell him! "This book is the most correct book of any on Earth. Have you read it?" He said he had as our bus pulled up (thank goodness). "You need to pray about it!" And that was all. It was such an intense moment. Such boldness and power and authority I've never heard from Sister Brown! Wow! JEGA! I stood behind her as she got on the bus and the guy just watched us leave. Usually only mental or drunk people talk to us, but he opened up a new category. I'm not saying he was possessed, but his was an offensive spirit. Offensive to truth and light, not a follower of Christ.
On another note, Sister Brown is a great example to me. Every single time she is sitting on a full bus and someone gets on who needs a seat, every time without fail she is the first one to give up her seat. That's all for now. I'm very grateful Sister Brown is my companion. I think we are going to be friends for a very long time. :)
Oh! And our favorite rejection so far this week has been when Sister Brown tried to talk to this lady and said we are missionaries. The response as the lady walked away was a new one, "disappear from my eyes!...missionaries." (haha)

Love,
Sister Neeley

PS- You're right, missions are very much for the missionary. Reminds me of Joseph Smith when they were building the temple he said, "the Lord is not just building a temple here, He is building us." And I will be sure to contact you before stopping by in the future. :)

Brown Family,

On Monday after emails we got to watch the full Restoration film on a computer at the church. Sister Brown and I managed to maneuver the leather couch from the foyer place down the hall so we could sit on a couch in the hall as we watched the movie. :) I love watching fils with Sister Brown because she is so sensitive and so am I. I always know when she would be crying, then I look and yep, the tears are flowing. Sometimes she finds a Mormon Message from a collection in our apartment and has to show me her favorite. Pretty soon we are both sobbing together, or one time I got her. I had a collection of stories and the best one happened to also be the saddest, so I read it to her and we both sobbed together. It's really good bonding, but anyway! It's nice to not be the only emotional person in the companionship.

This leads into our Wednesday night experience in Branch Council. We both felt our hearts reach out (yes us both, because we are so unified, so tight...like unto a dish ;)) as a new convert shared halfway through the council that he was just kicked out of his home by his wife who thinks he is crazy for being a Mormon. In all seriousness, this moved us. We serve in a country where if you are a Mormon, or anything not Catholic, you are mental. Literally crazy. It's really sad. In the words of Sister Brown, "it's just weird because I thought that didn't happen anymore these days, people being rejected by their families for joining the Church." These members are in church every Sunday because they love the Lord and have sought and received an answer from Him that this church is His only true living church on the planet. I hope that is the only reason we all go to church every Sunday. That would make the Sabbath a delight, honoring it for the right reasons.

Love,
Sister Neeley
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Dear Family and Friends,

A few weeks back we had a Branch activity where we all cleaned up the church lawn, We raked and picked up leaves, and good thing because the very next day we had the very first snow of the Season on Sunday. Before, and while, we were headed to church it was really coming down, really giant snowflakes. It was really fun. So that was a blessing, we did that before the snow even though it didn't actually stick for more than a few days. We also had a Young Women activity where we learned how to make a cake and these really cute little desserts. We made this batter, then we take this rod type thing with a cool design on the end and you dip it into the batter, then you put it in hot oil and you hold it for a second, then it kind of releases and you are left with a thin, crunchy, fried type cookie and you sprinkle powdered sugar on them. They were really delicious.

On Sunday we were finally able to meet with a referral from a member, her name is Ryta, her name actually means "morning" in Lithuanian. She was really nice, but also you could tell they are siblings how they treat each other even though they are in their late 50's and 60's. You could also tell she is the older sister. It is hard to meet with her since she works a lot at a hospital. We were able to meet with her once though, and we were planning on teaching about the Plan of Salvation, but when we got there the questions she had were more about the Restoration. she took everything well and said she would begin reading the Book of Mormon and praying about it.

The day before Thanksgiving we were able to meet with a family in the Branch. It went well and she made these delicious little pastries and then they made us eat a ton, at least they were yummy. They are a really sweet family. I really enjoy visiting people in the Branch. We get to know them better and then they can feel like they know us and trust us more.

On Thanksgiving Sister Neeley made us a delicious dinner of chicken, mashed potatoes, and steam broccoli. She is always making sure I get my vegetables.

On Sunday we received permission to have a Thanksgiving dinner at the senior couples apartment with all of the Americans in Lithuania. We had all of the missionaries and some girls who are here with a program to teach English, then a little family who is here for the husbands schooling, the Salmon's. It was really fun, they even found a turkey, apparently they are really rare here because it was hard to find and then it cost them 50 euros. I still can't believe they bought it. I was really grateful though. I brought a pumpkin pie and Sister Neeley made a pumpkin roll. It was really yummy and felt like Thanksgiving being all together. I am so grateful for all of the friends I have made on my mission, it has been a wonderful experience.

Love,
Sister Brown

I rearranged my pictures on the wall. Also, notice the stuffed wolf in sheep's clothing. Isn't that cute and completely relatable to the Gospel? I thought so.

Leaves

Week 47

November 30, 2015

Dear Family and Friends,

A few weeks ago we were able to have a lesson with a less active, Vanda, with an active member, Valdas. We talked to her about why the Atonement and repentance are such a big deal, we read a few scriptures from D&C 19:15-20, where it talks about since Christ already suffered for our sins that if we don't repent we will have to suffer even as he. When she was reading she was realizing the magnitude that meant for her. She realized what she needed to do and she even cried a little. Her son, who is not a member, was even there. After, she said she would come to church, although she didn't end up making it because she was really sick. I think she felt something and I just hope she remembers what she felt and learned from the lesson.

One a few Monday's ago we were able to listen to a wonderful talk that my brother Jarom put on an MP3 player for me, I have no idea where he got it, but it was a really good talk given by someone named Skousen. I think missionaries serving in Texas. I listened to it and learned the most amazing things about Christ and the Atonement and why it was necessary. My favorite part of the talk was about when Christ was suffering in the garden and he probably didn't want to do it, but Heavenly Father probably said you have your agency, you don't have to do it, but if you don't everything you have created, all of the people you have healed, will just go back to unorganized chaos. Then Christ did go through with it because he loves us so much, and when he was going through it the angel came and comforted him. This part of the talk made me realized how reliant I am on just one person's choice and how if he would have chosen the alternative I never would have made it here with a body. I am so blessed to have this knowledge so that I can show appreciation every day for what he has done for me. It was a really amazing talk and I wish I could send it to you, but unfortunately the file is too big to send through email.

In District Meeting we watched two more talks from General Conference. The first one was by Jeffery R. Holland, about a mother's love. I really enjoyed it, he talked about Mary and her love for her son and how much that hurt her when her son died on the cross. He said, "how can mortal love be so strong" as a mother's for her child. Then we listened to a talk by Bradley D. Foster and this one was kind of about fathers. I love how their is so much teaching about roles in the family and how we are supposed to raise them. He talked about how when he was a Stake President he interviewed this young man for a mission and he answered everything almost too perfectly, so he made sure and went through everything a second time and again answered perfectly and was completely worthy. He asked him how did he turn out so good and the young man talked about how his father at different ages would take him aside and talk to him and tell him I was your age once and tell what is coming at him and what kind of challenges or temptations. Elder Foster was impressed and thought how sad he was that his children were already grown and he didn't get to implement this wonderful idea. Then he felt that it was never too late, so he gathered his grown kids one at a time and talked with them. I liked that message, that it is never too early or too late to start intentional parenting. I love you all and I hope you have an amazing week.

Love,
Sister Brown

Week 46

November 23, 2015

Dear Family and Friends,

Every Tuesday we teach Gospel Discussions and afterward, Sister Neeley, who plays the piano beautifully and is practicing to play for the Christmas program, and Edvinis in the branch, who is kind of putting it together, get to meet to practice and figure out the arrangements of things. He actually plays the accordion and brings it to see if he can play it for the program. He is pretty good and it sounds really cool, the accordion is actually a really neat instrument.

We had a Zone Conference and it was with Elder and Sister Klebingat. He felt impressed to talk about Joseph Smith, in the beginning he had a really long and neat powerpoint put together, he didn't go through everything, he said he may stay on some slides longer than others if he felt impressed. He told us that we as a church do not talk enough about the Restoration. Elder Klebingat loves that people have doctrinal questions that need answered because questions lead to answers that we can find and pray for, then we grow. He is always talking about how important they are. Like Joseph Smith had a question, it is okay to have questions because you can make your questions into stepping stones that help your testimony grow, and Heavenly Father will answer if you ask a humble question. "If you can't endure persecution, you can't endure the Celestial Kingdom." Right now our testimonies need to be solid in a living prophet and in the Restoration, otherwise we will falter with all of the persecution that will be coming. Sister Klebingat talked about prayer and how to receive spiritual revelation. She talked about how we all need the gift of prophecy and that gift is how we receive personal revelation. I had never really thought the gift of prophecy as something we could have, but she said of course it is within our own spheres, not for the whole church, like the Prophet. She talked about how we must work for it and it is not going to just fall into our laps. Whenever it talks about people needing answers in the scriptures they have to wrestle with the Lord. Prayers should be a dialogue, it is important that the Holy Ghost will lead our prayers, as we pray by the Holy Ghost he will tell us exactly what to say to receive an answer, we just have to listen. There was a lot more, it was a wonderful Zone Conference.

We had dinner at the Salmon's and we were able to share with them what we learned from Zone Conference, it was really neat, they were able to share with us some things from their missions, it is interesting to compare. Sister Salmon served in Germany and Brother Salmon served in the Philippines. Sister Salmon understands more how our missionary work goes here since hers was similar.

We had an activity for the Relief Society the other week where we made a food called Kibinine, which is just basically a pie crust wrapped around some kind of meat. We made these ones with ground pork. They were delicious and we are going to teach the Salmon's how to make them on Friday.

Love,
Sister Brown

First snow of the season!