Letter from Neicia to mom received 6/26/15

Masweda Amyi!

Muli bwanji? Tsiku laku linali bwanji?

Translation: Good morning mom!  How are you?  How has been your day?

KK, I would rather not translate everything so we we’ll just stick to Chizungu (English!)

So mommy Happy Mother’s day!  I hope it was well!  Glad I got to call! (It’s 5/5/15 so I still haven’t really called yet!)  But yeah!  Oh surprise!  Random small thing for you!  I sent the small thing for you  I sent the small package with Sister Griffus and she sent it off!  It was for you because you are my mother and also for Emily Cole!  My new friend at the home!  But you should be happy with my name tag! Only have one now so hope I don’t lose it!  I want grandma to get me some magnet ones because I can’t get them from this part of the ‘ol world!  And at home they are just $2.00 and here it’s the price of a small human kid!

Anyhow, what would Amyi  want in her letter?  Umm…?  You probably are just happy you get this bur I know you so I will just ramble on and tell you everything!  I can think to ramble.

First, What is hard for me:

Diligence!  It is SOOOO hard to not be allowed to do things!  So hard to be actively engaged all day in the sun!  Head aches and leg cramps!  Ha, but it’s good and I am soooooo grateful which leads us to…

Second, What I’ve learned most:

I honestly can’t express it!  Man mom, I am learning so much!  Prayer!  So much!  I have come to actually have a relationship with God!  Love!  I love the people here!  I sometimes want to just cry because they are not progressing…Book of Mormon!  Dang how I love that book!  I feel empty when I don’t have time to really study!  I LOVE it!  Humble!  Still working on it but God is helping me!  I think the most thing I’ve learned so far is that I can’t change on my own and God will change me in his own time.  Mosiah 4:27.  I’ve learned that we have to work as a team!  I can’t without God and he can’t without me!

Third, What I miss most:

1.  Food that doesn’t make me sick!

2.  Family but the once a week email helps a lot!)

3.Piano!  Man the piano…

4.  Friends.  (Not too bad but a little!  Most are on missions so that makes it easy.  10 friends on missions!)

Fourth, what I’ll miss most:

1.  The good food (Nsima!)

2. The people

3. The time to be dedicated to God

4.  The beauty!

Fifth, what I want to take home:

1.  My appreciation for the fmaily

2. Study habits

3. Desire to be my best

4. Love and relationship with my Heavenly Father!

Sixth, funny moment:

I was in Limbe and I was with some elders.  Well we were getting in the coombee (minibus) and I had eaten something cause man, I had gas.  So I feel it coming on and it goes right when I get on the bus…silent but DEADLY!  We sit down and then we see the elder’s faces!  Elder Etiang gets off the bus!  Me, I’m like “Dang Elder, what did you eat?”  He was just “It wasn’t me!”  And then his comp is just blaming him.  “You totally just farted dude!  That’s nasty!”  Ha!  I was dying!  I told my comp and she was just dying even!  Basi!  That will be done!  All ok  Sorry my lame black pen died…I liked that one…Anyways last thing left!

Seventh, my testimony:

Hope you like it and learn a lot from it!  It is good!

Ndikyolziwa tchalitchi chathy Ndichowona ndine osangalala chipukwa cha uthengawu ndikudziwa mulungu amatilsonda tonse.  Ndikudziwa buku la mormon.  Nolilowona chipukukwa, limaphyzitza kuti titha kubwerera kwa mulungu.  Josepha Smithie ndi mtumiki wakubwenzeretsa.  Yesu ndi ambuye wathu nai mpulumutsi wathu.  A kulamulira naipo a matikonda.  Naikudziwa utumiki umabweretsa madeliso. Ndik=makukondani nonse mu dzina la yesu khristy Amen.

Basi Ni nha ku knoda Amyi! Chiconda kwambili!

Sister Neicia Marie Browning

PS.  Feel free to put it in the google translate but I probably spelled some of  the things bad!

PPS  Yeah…You’re going to have to find your own magnet!  I sure would like some from grandma!  That would just be the best thing for my birthday!  Man, I would just be so very much happy!

Group email 05/18/2015 (Written 5/11/2015)

LAST WEEK…
WELL… THIS WEEK!! ITS BEEN BUSY! WELL THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS ANYWAYS!! HERE IS WHAT IT HAS CONSISTED OF:

SAYING GOODBYE TO EVERYBODY (COMPS GOING BACK TO OL’ MERICA!)

HELPING MY COMP PACK!

THEN TALKING TO MY BROTHER AND SISTER IN-LAW YESTERDAY! ALSO THEY WERE WITH SOME OF MY GOOD OL’ PALS!

BEING LATE TO CHURCH BECAUSE I WAS TALKING (NO REGRETS!)

COMP GAVE A FAREWELL! SHE CRIED!

WE TOOK PICTURES WITH EVERYBODY!!!

WENT TO ANOTHER BRANCH AND TOOK MORE PICTURES!!

LUNCH WITH THE SISTERS

FINISH PACKING

TOOK THE TWO GOING HOME TO THE BUS STATION! (MORE TEARS!)

TO THE SISTERS FLAT (MY TEMP. HOME!)

THEN TO SKYPE THE FAMILY!!!

THEN BACK HOME!

COMP STUDY/ PLANNING/ REPORTING! (AKA MISSIONARY WORK!)

GRANDMA CALLED RIGHT BEFORE BED!!!! (WHOPP!!!)

WAKE UP!

CLEAN!

SHOP!

WHAT? I AM BEING TRANSFERRED!!! SAME FLAT NEW AREA!

MY COMP IS FROM BOISE, IDAHO! WHAAAAT!!!!

HELP HER PACK!

GO TO ZINGWANGWA TO SAY GOOD-BYE AGAIN-BUT THIS TIME FOR ME!

FINALLY HERE!! EMAILING!

ABOUT TO GO FINISH MOVING MY COMP!!!
SO THAT WAS MY LIFE!! FUN FUN!!! LOVED TALKING TO MY FAMILY! LOVE THEM SO MUCH!! SAD TO SEE MY AREA AND COMP GO BUT AM EXCITED FOR A CHANGE!! EXCITED TO CONTINUE TO GROW AND TO FIND OUT WHAT CHILOMONI (MY NEW AREA) HAS IN STORE FOR ME!
I DID LEARN A LOT THOUGH IN ALL OF THIS MADNESS!!

(I AM GOING TO CHEAT AND JUST COPY/PASTE MY EMAIL TO MY MISSION PRESIDENT!)
Hello President!
Man, this week. it was wonderful! it was awesome to teach this week. Its awesome to be a missionary in the GZLM.

As i was going through my week I realized something. Heavenly Father can do his own work. I knew that before, I had heard it, but it never really hit me until this week. It made me wonder why I am out here. why does the Lord call missionaries!? It’s so he can build us in the process.
This was one of the biggest things I learned from Sister Griffus. She taught me about the atonement. About how we are being built up by our Heavenly Father.
I learned this week that the reason that I have not yet reached the type of missionary I want to be is because I never will. I will always have something to work on. That is why I sometimes feel a little unqualified. I am unqualified. I get the opportunity to work hard now. To go through the pain of repentance and to assist the Lord in not only building the people in Malawi but also myself. I am so grateful for the times that I don’t feel as strong, that when I can completely rely on the Lord and be stronger then I ever could by myself.
I feel so much more peace about where I am as a missionary. I am not perfect but I know where I need to work and how I am going to do it. The Lord and I are a team now. He is building me and I will let him and assist in anyway I can! I am just ready to serve him!
Like we talked about in an interview a while ago I am looking at this change as a new start. It’s a time that I get to strive to be the best I can be. I will be more obedient I will work in more unity with the Lord and my companion and I will try harder. I am excited! I know I can do it, with the help of my Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ!
President I am so excited! Truly I am. Changing areas will be hard but it will be good. I feel like I became too comfortable there. I can assure you I am not now so here we go growth! Haha.
Life is good! I am happy!
I love you and hope your week is so very good!
Sister Browning
WELL MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS I TRULY DO KNOW THAT I AM DOING THE LORDS WORK!

Group email February 16, 2015

WELL MY FRIENDS,

I WAS BAD AND FORGOT TO EMAIL THIS UNTIL THE LAST SECOND! FORGIVE ME! WELL, I THINK I WILL JUST TELL TWO STORIES THAT SUMMED UP MY WEEK!

FIRST:

I GET A PHONE CALL AND LOOK WHO IT IS. “WEIRD LITTLE INDIAN MUSLIM MAN.” ITS MY LAND LORD. “HELLO THIS IS SISTER BROWNING” I ANSWER.

“SISTER BROWNING!!!! HOW IS THE WATER? I JUST WANTED TO CALL AND MAKE SURE MY FAVORITE PEOPLE HAVE WATER.”

“THANK YOU. WE DO HAVE WATER.”

“AWESOME!!!”

“WELL THANKS FOR CHECKING UP ON US! TEONANA! (BYE BYE)”

“BOSSY (STOP OR LIKE WAIT) I HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION FOR YOU.” SILENCE… “DO YOU HAVE A VALENTINE?”

“YUP!!!” I WILL REPENT LATER FOR LYING I THOUGHT!!

“MAN REALLY!?”

“YUP! IN AMERICA!” BIG MISTAKE!

“HA! AMERICA! SISTER YOU NEED ONE IN MALAWI! CAN I BE YOUR VALENTINE!?” I LOST IT! DIED! MAN WHY DO I ALWAYS LAUGH!

“NO, AS A MISSIONARY I DEDICATE MY 18 MONTHS TO ONLY THE LORD AND DON’T GO ON DATES!”

“GOD DOESN’T CARE IF ITS JUST ONE NIGHT! OR EVEN 365 NIGHT!” MAN I WAS LITERALLY TRYING NOT TO PEE MY PANTS!!! I WAS LAUGHING SO HARD!

“I AM SORRY BUT I CAN’T!  I MADE A PROMISE TO THE LORD AND I WANT TO STAY BY IT! THANK YOU THOUGH! GOOD NIGHT INSALLY BWINO (GO WELL)” AND I HANG UP!

WELL, THAT WAS THE HIGHLIGHT OF MY WEEK! AND HERE IS MY SECOND!

SO THERE IS THIS MAN I HAVE BEEN TEACHING! HE IS A VERY STRONG CHRISTAN! HE IS WONDERFUL! BUT VERY HARD TO TEACH! HE HAS NO INTEREST IN THE BOOK OF MORMON! BUT THAT IS HOW I LIKE IT! IT MAKES IT SO MUCH BETTER BECAUSE I REALLY HAVE TO DEPEND ON THE SPIRIT! SO I WENT TO THIS LESSON AND IN THE BEGINNING HE JUST STARTED BASHING US! WHICH IS REALLY SAD AND HASN’T HAPPENED TO ME BEFORE REALLY TOO MUCH! SO AT FIRST I WAS A LITTLE SCARED. BUT THEN I REALIZED THAT I ACTUALLY LOVED THIS MAN AND HIS FAMILY AND I COULDN’T LET HIM JUST STOP LISTENING TO US. SO WE (SISTER GRIFFUS AND I) JUST SILENTLY PRAYED AND WE LET THE SPIRIT DO ITS JOB! I CAN’T SAY THAT THE MAN WAS TOTALLY GOOD WITH THE BOOK OF MORMON AFTERWARDS. I CAN’T EVEN SAY HE WAS A LITTLE GOOD WITH IT! BUT I KNOW THAT MY TESTIMONY WAS STRENGTHENED! SISTER GRIFFUS AND I TALKED ABOUT IT AFTERWARD! WE BOTH REALIZED THAT EVEN THOUGH HE WAS STILL BEING PRIDEFUL (HE WOULDN’T PRAY ABOUT IT) THAT WE HAD STILL PLANTED A SEED THERE! THAT SOMEDAY HIS HEART WOULD HOPEFULLY BE SOFTENED AND HE WOULD PRAY! ALL WE ASKED HIM TO DO WAS TO PRAY! SOMEDAY I FEEL LIKE HE WILL! I DON’T REMEMBER WHAT I SAID BUT I KNOW WHAT I SAID WAS THE TRUTH! I KNOW THAT IT WAS THE SPIRIT GUIDING US THROUGH THAT LESSON!! MY TESTIMONY ON THE BOOK OF MORMON WAS STRENGTHENED SO MUCH! I LITERALLY COULDN’T DENY MY FEELING FOR THAT SACRED BOOK! IT WAS MY FAVORITE LESSON THIS WEEK BECAUSE OF HOW MUCH I WAS STRENGTHENED! I KNOW THAT NOW I WILL BE ABLE TO BETTER STRENGTHEN! I LOVE THE HOLY GHOST AND KNOW THAT I AM NOT THE ONE TEACHING BUT I HAVE THE PRIVILEDGE OF BEING HEAVENLY FATHERS MOUTHPIECE!

THE GOSPEL IS TRUE! THAT’S ALL I CAN SAY! I KNOW IT WITH ALL MY HEART! IT IS TRUE!

LOVE SISTER BROWNING!

Group email 02/02/2015

 

CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT I HAVE BEEN ON MISSION FOR A WHOLE 10 WEEKS!! IT IS TOTES CRAZY MAN!!

ANYWAYS I COULDNT REALLY THINK ABOUT WHAT I WOULD WRITE ABOUT!! BUT HEY EVERYTHING IS GOOD HERE NOW!! HOPEFULLY IT WILL STAY THAT WAY! THEY ARE EXPECTING MORE FLOODS COMING UP SOON SO KEEP MALAWI IN YOUR PRAYERS!!!

HERE IS A FUNNY STORY THAT HAPPENED ON EXCHANGES THIS WEEK!

“HELLO SISTER, WHAT IS YOUR NAME?”

“HI!” I REPLY STARTLED AT THE SUDDEN APPEARANCE OF A MUSLIM MAN! “I’M SISTER BROWNING. WHAT IS YOUR NAME?”

“GOD.”

“WHAT?” I REPLY THINKING I MISHEARD

“GOD.” HE REPEATS, SO MATTER OF FACTUALLY.

“YOUR PARENTS GAVE YOU THAT NAME?” ASKS SISTER MNTUNWA

“NO.”

“THEN WHY DO YOU SAY IT IS YOUR NAME?”

“BECAUSE I AM JESUS.” HE CLEARLY STATES.

WE SIT AND TRY TO HOLD IN OUR LAUGH!!

“DID YOU TELL YOUR PARENTS YOU’RE JESUS CHRIST?” SHE ASKS.

“YES I DID.”

“AND WHAT DID THEY SAY?”

“THEY TOLD ME I NEED TO STOP TELLING PEOPLE THAT.”

THE WHOLE TIME I AM SOOOOO CONFUSED!! MUSLIMS DONT EVEN ACKNOWLEDGE JESUS AS THE SON OF GOD. WHY IS THIS MAN SAYING THIS!?

“SISTER,” HE LOOKS AT ME “ARE YOU MARRIED?”

OH NO HERE IT COMES AGAIN!! STANDARD RESPONSE “YES, I AM MARRIED TO GOD FOR THE NEXT 15 MONTHS!”

“I AM GOD!!” HE REPLIES! MY COMPANION’S LOST IT AT THIS POINT.

“NO, I AM NOT MARRIED! BUT I DONT PLAN ON BEING MARRIED FOR A WHILE!”

“LETS ALL TAKE A PICTURE!” SISTER DLAMINI SAYS COMING TO MY RESCUE!

AFTER THE PICTURE THE CONFUSED MAN SAYS “I WOULD REALLY LIKE YOUR NUMBER THAT WAY WE CAN TALK ABOUT MY EXPECTATIONS OF MARRIAGE.” I JUST LOST IT! I DIDN’T TRY TO! I JUST COULDNT HELP IT!!! THIS GUY!!!

I SWEAR, WHEN I GET HOME I AM GOING TO BE TOTALLY DEPRESSED! I WON’T HAVE DAILY PROPOSALS I WON’T EVEN HAVE GUYS ASK ME OUT EVERY DAY!! LIFE WILL BE HARD!! I WAS THINKING THOUGH, I THINK I WILL HAVE A HARD TIME NOT SEEING BLACK PEOPLE EVERYWHERE!! THAT WILL BE VERY WEIRD!! SOMETIMES I DON’T EVEN REMEMBER I AM WHITE! PEOPLE STARE AND I AM THINKING “WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING AT?” THEN I REMEMBER!! LIFE AS A MISSIONARY! MAN!!

NOW FOR A SPIRITUAL THOUGHT:

SO THIS WEEK WE WERE ABLE TO HAVE CARL COOK, THE AREA 70, COME AND TEACH US. HE WAS A VERY NICE MAN! I LEARNED A LOT! HE TAUGHT ME A LOT ABOUT MYSELF! SO ONE THING I HAVE REALLY BEEN WORKING ON IS “FORGETTING MYSELF AND GOING TO WORK.” THIS HAS BEEN A STRUGGLE. THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS A LOT HARDER THAN YOU’D THINK. GROWING UP I ALWAYS THOUGHT OF MYSELF US UNSELFISH! I COULDN’T HAVE BEEN MORE WRONG. A MISSION HAS TAUGHT ME THAT EVEN IF I DO SELFLESS THINGS ONCE IN A WHILE DOESN’T MAKE ME SELFLESS. SO, LATELY I HAVE BEEN TALKING WITH MY HEAVENLY FATHER AND PRAYING FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO SERVE. I WANT TO BE ABLE TO SERVE ALL THE TIME. IT IS HARD. IT HAS BEEN A HUMBLING EXPERIENCE. SO ALL THIS IS HAPPENING AND I GO INTO THE MISSION TOUR READY TO HEAR FROM ELDER COOK. HE TALKED TO US ABOUT BECOMING SELFLESS. BUT THEN HE TALKED ABOUT HOW WE CAN BE HARD ON OURSELVES AND ABOUT HOW THINGS WILL HAPPEN IN THE LORD’S TIME. SO THAT IS WHAT I AM IMPLEMENTING NOW. NOT BEING HARD ON MYSELF. AM I SELFISH? YES, OF COURSE I AM. I SPENT 19 YEARS OF MY LIFE NOT HAVING TO WORRY ABOUT ANYONE BUT MYSELF. BUT I AM WORKING ON IT AND TRYING EVERYDAY TO IMPROVE. THE LORD WILL PROVIDE. I KNOW HE WILL! THAT IS WHAT I LEARNED. SO I HAVE A PLAN OF ACTION NOW. EVERY MORNING I GET ON MY KNEES AND ASK FOR THE GIFT OF CHARITY. I ASK FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO HELP ME IMPROVE. THEN AS I GO THROUGHOUT THE DAY I TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THOSE OPPORTUNITIES THE LORD GIVES ME. THEN EVERY NIGHT I REPORT TO HEAVENLY FATHER. I THANK HIM FOR TRUSTING ME WITH HIS CHILDREN AND I TELL HIM ABOUT HOW I TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THE OPPORTUNITIES HE HAS GIVEN ME. THEN I APOLOGIZE FOR THE THINGS I COULD’VE DONE BETTER. THEN AFTER PRAYER I TAKE OUT MY BOOK OF MORMON I READ FROM IT EVERY NIGHT AND I FOCUS ON CHARITY. EVERYTHING THAT EXHIBITS CHARITY I UNDERLINE. THEN I START AGAIN IN THE MORNING.

SO YOU GUYS CAN DO THIS TOO. CHOOSE SOMETHING YOU WANT TO IMPROVE ON AND THEN CHANGE IT!!! I LOVE THIS GOSPEL MY FRIENDS!!! I REALLY DO!!

LOVE YOU ALL!! 🙂 YOU ARE THE BESTEST EVER!!

LOVE NEICIA BROWNING!!

Pictures, chat and testimony 12/14/2014

Sister Browning and Sister Hubert at the MTC.

First attempt at Nishima. The hard part for her was the capenta (little whole fish including eyes and bones) and mathumbo (sheep intestines).

Up close look at capenta and mathumbo.

This is what happens when you fall asleep on the couch and not under your mosquito net. She counted 72!

These 8 legged creatures can sure cause drama for a girl…or two.

Eeek!

I wonder if this is why they say don’t drink the water?

Laundry time!

We have a laundry room!!! It isn’t in our flat.  It is right next to it but in our gate!!! So it is just ours! It hurts to wash with hands!! My comp taught me! All the Americans have scraped up wrists!!! Haha!

I am pretty good at it though!!! I wash lots!!! We went and found a lady washing outside on Friday and started helping her and man like 20 people gathered around and laughed at the azungu washing!!! Ha, It’s good for them to see!!!  They think we are better than them!!!  Like they get on their knees to shake our hands because we are “better than them.”  Sometimes it’s a sign of respect but it makes me sad!

So I was riding the taxi home on Thursday and somebody was behind me and kept plucking my hairs!!! I seriously just laughed!!! It doesn’t bug me because I know they are just amazed at my hair, its color and softness!!! It gets touched a lot!! People pretend to do it on accident!!! It’s funny!!! But man the person plucking my hairs! Ha, probably wanted to prove to people they saw me!

Ha two packages!!! Wow!!! Yay!!! everybody has gotten theirs and then there was me but I didnt care until the zone leaders called and told me I had one too!!! I waited anxiously for days like half a week only to find out it was my other suit case!!! Ha, my comp has a package though so I guess I don’t really need to buy her things for Christmas!! She has way more then me! Ha!! It’s all good though!! I really don’t care too much!! I bought a Crunch bar and put it my stocking the Coles gave me at my homecoming!! I am excited!!! I really would love some American food in my next package! Actually, I made a list I’ll tell you later!!!

You asked about my schedule.  I

get up at 6:30

8-9 personal study

9-10 comp study

leave by 10

be home by 6, but leave area by 5!

6-10:30 dinner and planning! Then we have a lot of time that we just sit and talk or cook! stuff like that!!! It’s because it is so dangerous here at night so we just don’t get to do as much work!!! Normally, we go to bed early though because we have really long days still as it is super hot and humid so we are very tired!

Sister Dlamini and I, we have fun! It’s a loud apartment!!!  We laugh and blast Motab for all the world to hear!  She knows Nianja which is very similar to Chichewa!!! But she is learning still too!!! She is definitely not fluent she just picks it up faster!!! Plus she speaks 9 languages so she is used to learning new languages! Most of the Africans here know lots of languages! There are 11 official languages in South Africa and that’s where she is from.

*After I talked to Neicia for a while she wanted to talk to one of her sisters.  I took my computer in to Jessica at 5:40 just before she had to wake up anyway.  Neicia wanted her to take a picture of her new phone and send it to her, which she did.  Her last email message made us laugh so hard.  I’m glad she always has her sense of humor.  This is what Neicia said in return.

Ha!  Wow!  I like it!!! The screen is intact!! For now!! We will see next week!!! Haha!! Not even joking either! How did you get it? Did you have to pay or is it an early Christmas gift? Good I will get the letters in a couple of months! 🙂

I will send kalten some! I just had to wait until I get paid! I didnt get 20% of my money last week so I have been a bit poor!!! Plus I didnt get paid today yet! Hopefully, I will later on today! Otherwise I won’t have any food! 🙂 Literally! Ha, and no way to pay to get home! 🙂 It’s all good fun!! Our neighbors take care of us!! The Beals, they made me brownies last night! 😀

*Then Jessica let her know it was time for prayer and scriptures.

I’ll write you a spiritual thought!!!  2 Nephi 22:2  Jesus Christ is our salvation! Only through him and his atonement can we be saved and gain that salvation. I will trust and be not afraid!!! I love that part!! Jesus Christ went through every thing we did plus more. He knows EXACTLY what we go through and so we can trust in him and fall on him because he will lift us up. I love the CD by Kenneth Cope (I brought it from home) about Jesus!!  It’s helping to build my testimony a lot!! I love Jesus Christ and am eternally thankful for his sacrifice for us! Jesus is your strength and your song as well!!! Let it shine Jaide!  Let it shine!

Pray and study your scriptures!!! Not read but study!! I love you little sister. Have fun at school! Write me emails weekly on your new phone!! You’re the best!!!  And you should do your hair cause you look nasty right now!!! I showed the sisters in my zone! We all laughed!! You need a shower!!! and a shirt!  But you were sleeping so it is ok!!!

Well little one,  I think my companion is almost done now so that means I get to go eat some lunch!!!  I am starving.  It’s 3:30 and I ate last at 7:30ish!  Oatmeal!  Best thing in the world now!!!  I can’t eat cereal because the milk here is SO gross!!!