Merry Christmas from Mesa, Arizona!  Danielle has been blessed to serve in the Mesa Arizona Mission since November.  She is amazed at how time is flying by, she has enjoyed serving at the Visitor Center and has loved the beauty that the Visitor Center transformed into during the Holiday's.  She has ran into some family and friends over the Holiday's, and was thankful to share her love of the Savior with them.

Danielle wrote home and said, she couldn't think of a better place to be during this Christmas season then serving the Lord.  Sharing her testimony of Christ and helping those seeking to come unto Him.

Here is a  picture of the Sister's taken by sweet Sister Taylor who had the Sister missionaries for Christmas.  If you have time, Danielle would love to get a letter from you.  If you look at the previous post you will find the address to send it too.

This was sent to us of Sister Brownell and Sister Lewis.  She is doing well in Arizona and doing lots of great work.  Here is a little from her last letter.

Our investigators James and Ashley who we just started teaching are doing so well. Ashley is 11 and the cutest thing every. She is shy, but really wants to be a part of the ward. At church the prymary got up to sing on Sunday and she got up right with them! She had no idea what the song was (Having only gone to church 1 time before) but she was so darn cute. I am so excited to see their progression and happiness in their life that is coming. 
I got a Christmas letter from Grandma and Grandpa Murray this week. 35 bucks from them too! YEssss. Today I go to payless to find some boots. (It is actually really really cold here. Like 50-60 at night and my feet freeze!) So I will buy a pair of boots for outside when I am at the VC or in the area late at night. The other night my feet were so cold I hopped off my bike and didn't feel them and fell on the ground. I laughed pretty hard as a car drove by and Sister Javed was freaking out that I was dead or something :) haha.  Tell Grandma thanks for me!
So something I studied this week I wanted to share with you was the importance of giving our all to the Lord. This Christmas has been soooo fantastic because I am serving Him. I am not worried about worldly things, but rather doing his work. Elder Holland has a talk from last GC that I loved. The First Great Commandment. Its golden. Read it. He talks about how we are all disciples of Christ and how we need to devote ourselves to him. Some parts that touched me were when he took liberty and expressed what he thought Christ would have said.... "What I need, Peter, are disciples- and I need them forever. I need someone to feed my sheep and save my lambs. I need someone to preach my gospel and defend my faith. I need someonewho loves me, truly, truly, loves me, and loves what our Father in Heaven has commissioned me to do." HOW POWERFUL IS THAT! I know that we are all discipes of Christ and we are here to share what we know to be true. It is not just on my mission that I will be doing this, but for my whole life. I think about the Sons of Mosiah and how when they learned of the truth they went out and served him for 14 years! (and more). I also love the thought that as we devote ourselves "to be an instrunment in [his] hands to save and preserve the people" (Alma 2:30) we will be strengthened. We can not just pray for strength and give nothing back. I know as we pray for help to fight evil and bring the gospel to all we will be blessed. In Alma 2 it talks about the Laminates and Amlicites who are numerous so much that they are "As the sands of the sea" (vs 27) but the Nephites, who have "prayed mightily to the Lord" (28) are able to defeat them. We too have those who seek to destroy us Each Day. The influence of Satan is all around and we will become sucked in if we do not pray mightily for that strength and as we do so devote ourself to him. We are called to be disciples of the Lord, all of us. What a special calling that is. "In short, we have a life of devoted discipleship to give in demonstrating our love of the Lord. We can't quit and we can't go back. After an encounter with the living Son of the living God, nothing is ever again to be as it was before" -Elder Holland. 
I know that this work is true! I know that Christ lives and loves us. This season is about HIM. It is not about gifts, or lights, or crud like that. It is about serving others and bringing the light of Christ into the hearts of all men. I encourage all who have read this to go out and do something more! Go share your testimony to that person that may need it. As we do these things along with continually holding to the Church, reading or words of prophets and the scriptures, praying, and hearkening unto the spirit we will find happiness and be blessed!
Thank you all for the love and support I receive every day from you! I love you all and hope you are enjoying this holiday season. It is strange not to be home, but I love this work and would not change this for anything in the world!
Love,
Sister Brownell

Danielle's week in Mesa.  
I have really loved being here during Christmas time. We have so many people come into the VC every night and I have the chance to just share a particle of the importance of Christ. I love the opportunity to simply testify of him. I know that he is the savior of this world, he came to this earth for each one of us so that we will have the chance to live our lives following his example and find true happiness in this church. It is just so wonderful!
We had a wonderful service on Saturday for Amy who was baptized. Her daughter was baptized about 2 weeks earlier and it was just such a neat experience to see this happy family all sitting together knowing that they are making the correct choices to come back to Christ. I was fortunate enough to have preformed a special musical number during the service- it was kind of last minute so I just sang 'He Sent His Son' from the Childrens Hymn book. I am not trying to boost my ego or anything, but boy... it was such a spiritual experience. Music truly testifies of Christ and I know that. I have been very blessed to have grown up with music and with the talents that I have. I know I will have the chance to share this talent and help others feel of the Spirit through it. It was pretty funny after the service I was talking with the family and they were all amazed that a sound like that could come out of somebody as small as I am. . . then some skinny jokes were made. Those seem to follow me everywhere I go as well :) haha. 
Something I learned the other day during study is how important it is to share this message with others. I was reading in 2Nephi 30 and in vs 3 it says

 3 And now, I would prophesy somewhat more concerning the Jews and the Gentiles. For after the book of which I have spoken shall come forth, and be written unto the Gentiles, and sealed up again unto the Lord, there shall be many which shall ^abelieve the words which are written; and ^bthey shall carry them forth unto the ^cremnant of our seed.

I read this vs and realized that I am a missionary right now fulfilling what this vs talks about. I know that the book which it talks of is the Book of Mormon and because I believe on the words I must share them, I am doing just that. I stopped for a second and thought about those who know that this Book of Mormon is true and are not on a mission- this call to share is NOT just for full time missionaries, for we are all "member missionaries". I realized that as a member of the church we have an obligation to share what we know to be true. I continued reading and the call to spread the gospel is all over chapter 30. In chapter 31 it tells you what you need to preach- The Doctrine of Christ. It is pure and simple. We are to teach Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and his Atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the End.... Something I was told by Grandpa Reynolds right before I left was that this Enduring to the End encompasses going to the temple. As we are worthy to enter the house of the Lord we are living our lives in a way that will bring us eternal happiness. I just love that. I want to challenge you all to go out and be that missionary now. I know Daddy works with the missionaries all the time, and having a good ward missionary can and Does have a HUGE impact on the mission work of a ward. Just go out and share what you know! It will bless your live soo much. I know that. I live it and do it every day!!!

Well MY WEEK!!!!! I have seen so many miracles. I am not even sure what to say!  
Ammon got baptized on Saturday! This is one of the most amazing things I had ever been a part of! This young man, Ammon, is only 17 and is mentally unstable. Because of his condition he did not need to get baptized, but three years ago when he was adopted into an LDS family he began coming to Church and learning about Christ. I have never seen anybody as close to the Lord as this boy. He decided to get baptized, even if he didn't need it, because he knew that it is a commandment. Whenever we meet with him he always gets excited and tells us how he is reading his Book of Mormon! After he was baptized he clapped his hands and said "yay". Later he got up and bore the sweetest testimony I have ever heard! There was not a single dry eye there that is for sure! I feel so blessed to have been able to be a part of his life, to see his progression and see happiness that has enveloped him and his family.

I ran into Grandma Gibbons the other day too! She is in town visiting. I was at the VC and turned around and BAM there she was! I didn't get to talk long because I was with a lady at the VC teaching her about Christ. It was nice to get a familiar hug and see that beautiful smile of hers. Sure love that family!! I will probably end up running into the gang some time during Christmas lights (which are FANTASTIC!!!). 

Christmas time is a big deal at the VC. We have shifts usually from 5:30pm-10pm -most days, some days we have a morning one. LOTS of people have been coming to the VC for the lights and the nativity exhibit. We have 90+nativities from around the world! I love it. I think its funny how I get to explain what a painting means or draw symbolism from work because that is what I LOVE to do at school and such! People have realized I love doing that, so they send some visitors to me to understand paintings and then I swoop in and tie it into the gospel :) I love it. Another funny thing about being in the VC is we don't always have to be next to our companion. As long as we stay inside the walls of the VC we are put into different posts and such, some newer elders or even some members always look super concerned and ask us Where is your Companion! I just smile and explain how we work differently at the VC.

I have learned soooo much this week! This letter truly does not do justice. I have realized that I have so much to learn. While I was at the MTC I learned how to have patience with my companion and others, but I must have missed that step of having it with myself. This work is hard, and I came out and wanted to know exactly what to do and how to do everything right away. That is not how it works. I was having a hard time accepting the fact that I needed to be patient with myself and such. One morning I actually wrote in my journal soemthing along the lines of "I need to learn to accept I don't know everything and I need to be have patience". Later that day I got a letter from Jordan that had exactly what I needed to learn. He shared some scriptures about patience and still has no idea how impact full they were to me. I know each and every day I am learning and coming to understand more and more.

I love this work. I love the chance I have to share what I know with others and help them come to Christ. At the VC there are lots of Members or people who might not be intersted in the CHurch at all that just come in for fun, I have loved the chance to testify to all about Christ. Even if they do not have a desire to change I know that I have done the Lords work and planted a seed in their hearts. I am so grateful to be here. I know that following Christ is the ONLY way (2Ne 31:21). I am so happy to have that in my life. I know that no matter what if I "Hold on...[and] fear not" I will be blessed "for God shall be with you forever and ever" (D+C 122:9).

I testify that this work I am doing is important. We all have the responcibility to help others come to understand Christ. I know that we are all loved by God so much. Thank you for being wonderful support to me! Continue to search for ways to serve others! That will bring you closer to Christ, trust me!
Love you all!
-Sister Brownell

Hello family from Arizona!!!
Well I made it here safe. I am loving it a bunch! Before I get into amazing miracles that have already happened here is just some stuff you need to know. I am not giving my home address out (mission rules) but what you can do is send any letters or packages to the VC because I am there every day. Here is the address

Sister Danielle Brownell
525 East Main St
Mesa AZ 85203

Now for the fun stuff.
I LOVE ARIZONA! IT is soooo  amazing. I even love all the bug bites all down my legs and everything ;) The people here are fantastic and I have a wonderful trainer. Her name is Sister Javed. She is from Pakistan and I love her! We like to match clothing some days and it is just super fun! I have already learned a lot from her and I am excited to continue in my growth. I get to help her with English. She said this cute quote the other day "If you love someone you will correct them" I realized its true! I was scared to tell her she was saying things incorrectly, but now because I love her so much I know that it is okay to correct her :) yay.
Saturday was probably my favorite day all week as far as field work goes. WE are usually half in the VC and half out (except starting thanksgiving to christmas we are there most days from 3-10 pm!!! So excited!) Anyway... Saturday. We had a baptism! First week!! Briana is a 14yr old who has an amazing testimony. Because of her now her step dad is reactivated and her mom will be getting baptized in two weeks. How exciting is that! It was an amazing service filled with the spirit! That night only got better. We have this investigator, Matt, who is living with a newly reactivated member and wants to get baptized. We talked to him about the importance of commandments and making goals and such. We showed an amazing film about John Turner (i think thats his name..) he was a non believer who changed when his leg was healed by faith in Christ. So Matt expressed how he loved that movie and how it related to him because he was too a non believer and that had changed. How amazing is that! Sooo when he said that I followed my prompting of the spirit I had and asked him to set a baptismal date! He committed to the 22nd of December! He would be ready this weekend, but has to get married first! So we have a marriage of these two people I love so much and his baptism coming up! I just love seeing the happiness in this families life now that they have found Christ. I know that living a life in accordance to Christ is so important. 
Those were the two most exciting things of the week! I have meet so many amazing members here. Its funny when I ride my bike the first day or two I was always scared when the car next to me would roll windows down or honk, but now I know it is just a member saying hello! :) I am getting much better at the whole bike thing just to let everybody know. I haven't fallen yet! Today I even mastered riding in a pencil skirt! I am planning on going to buy my own bike later today because I'll be on it a lot this mission. It is great! Its about a 30 min ride to the VC each day. The other day Sister Javed and I realized we probably bike about 2hrs minimum a day! Its fun. 
I am going to send another email with some pictures on it from the MTC and from the first week in AZ :) 
I just want to share how much it means to me to be on a mission. I am continually thanking the Lord for this amazing call to serve. I know it is going to be hard work! It already is!! and I love it. Every day I see miracles- people coming to Christ, people asking the perfect questions, me not falling on the bike... They are everywhere because the power of Christ is with us as missionaries. I know that this is the Lords work, it is not my work. Having that knowledge is so humbling. I am thankful for the chance to grow here, and I am more thankful for the chance to be an instrument in the lords hand. Much of what I do is completely faith based. The other day at VC I talked to a nonmember for about 40 mins about the importance of faith and coming unto Christ. I know faith is something that is unseen, but it is something that we can not live without. My favorite Scripture 2Cor 5:7 played a huge role- we walk by faith not by sight- in our lesson. I am thankful for this knowledge of the gospel! I am so glad you are all doing well. I love you very much. Know you are always in my prayers!
-Love, Sister Brownell
Mesa AZ 85203

Today Danielle left the Missionary Training Center for Mesa, Arizona.  I was able to talk with her this morning before her flight.  She is so excited to finally get out in the field, she is also looking forward to that Sunshine.  The past couple weeks have been a challenge on her as she wasn't really prepared to be in the cold.

Please fell free to write letters to her, I know she would love to hear what is going on with you.  She will not have a P-day until next Monday, which is when I will post her letter.

Sister Danielle Brownell
6265 N. 82nd Street
Scottsdale, AZ. 85250

Thanks to all who have given her support in her decision to serve the Lord.