Captured by a Kurent in Ptuj

We went to Pust at Ptuj which is basically a huge celebration to chase away winter. There is a large group of Slovenes in Cleveland actually and they celebrated Pust there this year. We all went as a Slovenian zone for P Day to Ptuj to celebrate and that was really fun.

At PUST, these creatures, called Kurents, dance
 around to chase away winter. 
We need some in Spokane.

Well, the dreaded transfers have come and gone and I have left my beloved Maribor for Ljubljana to be with Sister Jennings. I am sad. I would be lying if I didn't acknowledge that. I think I'm a little heartbroken, in fact. I love the people of Maribor. 

But I have faith that the Lord wants me and needs me somewhere else right now and that He will take care of those people who I love in Maribor. Elder Jensen got to go to Maribor and I have great faith and trust that he will take care of the people who I love there. 

Not a lot of time, but I would just like to say that I believe in Jesus Christ and that I have felt him lifting and supporting me this last week. I have received strength beyond me own to bear up under the burdens I have felt. I know that He will do that for each of us who will sincerely turn to Him and ask. I am grateful for the peace that comes from living like Christ lived. We need peace and He will give it. I love you! 

Keep your chin up and find the joy in the life you're living right now. Someone said at church yesterday that problems are good things because they help us grow. I can't say I'm always grateful for trials in the moment they are happening, but I can say that when I have looked forward with faith through the storms of trial and turned to the Lord, relying on His strength, He has made me stronger and built me up. 

Sestra Stephanie Brown

Pozdravljeni!

Pozdravljeni!

This week has been great. We've seen miracles all around us and we've seen the Lord guiding our footsteps to be where we need to be at the time we need to be there.

The other day we were knocking on doors and asking if we could sing a song about Jesus Christ for people. We were planning to stop by the train station afterwards to buy train tickets we needed for a trip to Ljubljana the next day. 

While we had planned that morning, I had had a very specific thought that we should walk a certain path which we don't normally walk. Well, after leaving the area we were working, we headed toward the train station along this specific path.

Lo and behold, we ran into our friend in a completely different area of town than we had last found him. He told us that he had had a great experience at church the week before. He told us that he had felt something really special with the members in Maribor. He told us that he was searching for a good change in his life. He asked us why there were so many churches on the earth if God is only one. Wow. Does he sound prepared and sincere or what? So that was a neat miracle!

We had an early train to catch Sunday morning and we planned to leave our apartment by 6:30 in order to get there. Well, I set the alarm for 5:30...or so I thought. After laying in bed for a long time, I decided to get up and check what time it was because it seemed like the alarm should have already rung. Well, I walked into the kitchen to see that it was in fact 6:20! Incredibly, ten minutes later we found ourselves walking out the door, fully clothed and teeth brushed. No, I never did imagine that on my mission I would find myself doing my hair and makeup in a train station bathroom at 6:40 in the morning, but I guess it happens :) Have a great week! Choose to be happy and shine with love for God. He loves you and he wants you to know that. And I love you too!

Love, Sestra Brown

Miracles in Maribor again!

Miracles in Maribor again!

Lots of good things happened this week, but it all climaxed on Sunday.

Let me back up a few weeks. This all begins with Elder Draxler. he and his wife were living here in Maribor when I first moved here. Elder Draxler always encouraged me to avoid filling up the gas tank at a specific gas station because it was owned by the governent. So in honor with his wishes, I started a habit of using a particular gas station just outside of town. It was perfectly on my way every time I came home from Ljubljana or Zagreb. 

Over the last month, Sister Squires and I have made friends with a man who works in the gas station. It all began with a friendly hello and keeping our hair off our shoulders so he could see our nametags :) We told him who we were and invited him to come to sacrament meeting. After four or five exchanges like this over the period of 7 weeks, we saw a miracle in him walking into the chapel EARLY Sunday morning to join us for sacrament meeting and our 2nd hour. I think that he loved it and he loved what he felt while he was there.

I love the opportunity to take the sacrament and the strength that Jesus Christ can offer us as we humbly desire to change. I feel lighter and more full of love when I take the sacrament with a sincere desire to become more like my Savior and to live a little more like He lives.

Have a great week! Spread a little cheer and give someone a hug from Sister Brown who is far away in Slovenija.

Ping Pong, Parents, and Pho.

Ping Pong, Parents, and Pho.

Parents. I spent half my week in Ljubljana with my "mission mom" or my trainer, Sister Kanell and it was so good! Serving with Sister Kanell is definitely a highlight of my mission. I don't think I appreciated her while we were companions as much as I realize now that I should have. Shout out to a stellar missionary who the ANM will definitely miss when she heads home next month. We had a great exchange and she sent me home to Maribor with a little more energy and excitement to go at it and do the Lord's work.

Ping Pong. We had a wonderful branch activity this weekend where Sister Squires demolished the ping pong tournament. She even gave President Fidler a little taste of humility :) We had a blast and it was the most successful and enjoyable branch event I've yet seen out here. It is always good to bring people together and to have fun!

Sometimes we get so weighed down the heaviness of the things ahead of us that we don't smile and enjoy our lives. "men are that they might have joy." Our Father in Heaven is loving and He wants us to have joy.

It doesn't mean that circumstances will be easy, but we always have a choice to smile. I mean to be light hearted because I know that people experience very very trying and difficult things which I can't even begin to imagine, but I do think that God will help us to be happy even through the hard times if we will turn to and trust in him. He will strengthen us to be able to bear up our burdens and smile.

Pho. There is this great vietnamese restaurant. To be honest, I didn't eat Pho there. I can't actually even remember is Pho is Vietnamese or not, I just needed something that started with a P for the headline of the email. I digress. The food is really great there. As we were walking past the restaurant the other night, I looked through the window to see a man and a woman doing dishes. They looked like they were closing up. I had the thought that maybe we ought to go inside and my immediate reaction was to reject the idea. They look busy and I don't want to interrupt. They're anxious to get home. We're anxious to get home. It's late. Etc. Well, I mentioned it to Sister Squires and we headed in. We were able to meet with this couple later in the week and share with them about God's loving plan for us and the restoration of his gospel and authority to the earth. They werew so thrilled as we gave them each a copy of the Book of Mormon in their native language - Vietnamese and Slovene. I know the Lord will lead us as we desire to listen and have courage to act. I have seen my life changed and blessed and lightened as I study the word of God contained in the Book of Mormon and I really believe that God loves us and leads us through a living prophet, Russel Nelson.