Elder Caiden Brown New York New York North Mission: The loss of a companion and prayer!

Mi familia maravillosa!!

Wow, it sounds like y'all just had a fun filled week! It's sad that I wasn't able to be there at the Brown Family Reunion! Those are always the best time ever! There really isn't a better family than the one we have. Sorry to all the families in the world, but the Browns are the bomb!

This week was one of those weeks where just all the lessons fell through and nothing seemed to go right. But, as we all know, during those weeks is when you grow and learn the most about yourself, and how true was that for me this week! It was also pretty sad because we sent off Elder Edward Galo (son of the Galos of course) off on his mission yesterday. He is headed off to the Salt Lake City west mission, and how lucky is he?!?! He gets a whole two years left to his mission! I wish I had that.... We were talking about it and he was like "2 years is a long time!" I think I thought that before I left as well... 2 years? I'm going to be a grandpa when I get home... Everything is going to be so different. But man, the past year has literally been the fastest, best, most rewarding and incredible year of my life. It was sad to see him go though. It was like sending off one of our best friends. He was always coming out to lessons with us and sharing such strong testimony with everyone. The companionship goes from 3 to 2.

Imagine this.... We get down to kneel for companionship prayer like we do every night right before we go to bed and we begin saying this prayer. Well, the whole day before we had been thinking about what we could do to help Caesar. He had been struggling with some doubts and his mom was also struggling with some doubts that she had so we just didn't know what to do. Well, during this simple prayer Elder Molina and I were offering the Spirit just fell upon that humble little missionary apartment more than I had ever felt the Spirit in my life. And it told us, not in a verbal voice, but in a feeling in both of our hearts that we needed to try and help Caesar enter into the waters of baptism THIS Sunday! (Meaning this coming Sunday). Haha, well that was SUPER surprising due to the fact that he isn't the most ready person for baptism yet, but we decided that we were going to follow the prompting and do our best to make it happen. We talked to him yesterday about it and he is super stoked. Today he will be asking his mom for permission and the zone is participating in a zone prayer, which basically just means that they will be keeping him and his situation in all of their prayers. It's going to take a lot of work... We are going to have to meet with him every day for the rest of the week, but we know it is possible! Miracles are real! Please pray that this Sunday it will be able to happen! I love this kid! It’s been so amazing to see him grow. He is already acting like a missionary. He invited 3 of his friends to church last week and they came!! He begs his mom like every week to come with him and he already wants to go out on splits with us. He is SO cool!

I think that was the biggest thing I learned this week.... That when we are in need we HAVE to pray. That should literally be the first thing we do in every situation that we have is ask of the Lord. I think it says it perfectly in 1 Nephi 15:8 “And I said unto them: Have ye inquired of the Lord?" How simple but powerful is that? Have I done that in every situation on my mission? No, but I sure have seen the difference when I have. We aren't alone so why act like we are? I know the church is true. I know the Savior lives. Love you all and have a great week!

Elder Brown