God’s Plan

• “You’ve got to be good to play in the big leagues, but you’ve also got to be lucky. Not getting drafted by the Orioles. Hitting a home run to win the first game I ever played in a Phillies uniform. Having Granny Hamner as a champion in the Phillies organization.Being spared a fourth knee operation at the eleventh hour.Right time, right place.God’s plan.”Clearing the Bases (Schmidt, Mike;Waggoner, Glen) Kindle Location  271-274
• January 27th to January 29th in Clinton Brown Mission Journal – Peru and Ecuador begin a war, causing the North Americans to be evacuated at 3am to Banos while the Latinos were to stay in their homes.  According to Ecuadorian law, any young man born between 1971 and 1975 could be grabbed off the street, head shaved, and sent to war.  The government asked all young men in this age group to report to go to war with Peru.  Elder De La Vera, who was with us in Banos, went to Ambato to report.  During Sacrament meeting that day, he came back with everything fine.  My companion, Elder Zambrano, went to report at the Military Base in Shell.  When he reported, he was speaking with Vega Valencia, who is a man we were teaching the discussions to.  Of course, Vega Valencia let Zambrano go back to the Mission and not have to go to war.
• “You may feel lost alone, but God knows exactly where you are, and He has a good plan for your life.” Charlie Brown
• December 20, 1995 – Wednesday – Quito Ecuador… “Wow.  Great day.  We taught 8 second charlas today and we committed 4 to be baptized.  We’re going to commit the other 4 ya mismo.  I’m really seeing the positive side of things.  When Satan does something, or something fails, I can recognize it, think, and do the best of the situation.  Many times the citas are stood up, so we think of another option – nada, and then another – nada – but we always find someone in the road, or by their house so that we make contact, or take out the referral.  The Lord really does guide us to do the things that he wants us to do.  I know this is His work, and no one elses.  I love being here.  It’s so important to be worthy of the Spirit.  If not – no success.” – Clinton Brown Missionary Journal
• December 29, 1995 – Friday (18 MONTHS as a missionary) – Quito Ecuador… “This morning we got up & felt early to do the January Calendar.  It turned out funny.  We then went to the Torres’ house and had a good talk with Hilda and Geovanna.  They’re both going to be baptized.  We next went to some inactives’ house.  We were about to leave when Marcela Moreno (muy inactiva) told us to go and visit her friend.  We went there, knocked on the door and we told them that we were sent by Marcela.  They allowed us to go in.  During the charla they had a few doubts, and a few worries but we helped them with the scriptures.  In the middle of the charla, they started to cry.  They told us of how Fernanda had separated from her husband last night, and she told us that she had been praying that God would help her.  They told us that they know that we’ve been sent by God.  We testified to them of it, and left.  The Spirit was very strong.  We made great contacts today.  Our program is so packed.  We need splits every night.  We need to make a lot of contacts at the right time.  I need to be worthy so that the Lord uses me as an instrument to convert many souls.” – Clinton Brown Missionary Journal
• May 17, 1995 – Wednesday – Quito, Ecuador… “We took off to Chillogallo in an evil bus.  The bus driver about killed us trying to race a bus alongside.  Not too intelligent.  Well, we got off the bus, and the roundabout was full of big time confusion.  Elder Hanks & I were confused but decided to keep going to Hermano Baez’ house.  We started going down an alley (one of the most dangerous) and we felt like we were going to get jumped or robbed.  We just didn’t feel too good.  So Hanks said he had the feeling to just go home – Quick!  So we took off quickly.  I saw a members house & thought that it’d be smart to grab my keys that I had left there last week.  So we head up there, and in their house was…..Hermano Baez.  Also an inactive Stud that should be a big leader in the church.  Hanks & I knew that we were guided to this house, 1st of all to find Hermano Baez, & 2nd of all….we still don’t know.  We tried helping the inactive to commit to go to church, but we couldn’t.  We kind of felt we were sent there to change the inactives life, but we didn’t seem to had done it.  So we felt as if we failed.  All I know is that we were guided to that house by the Holy Ghost for some reason.  I don’t know if we will ever know why. Maybe we wouldn’t be hurt going to Baez’ house.  Who knows.  We did take out a reference from the Taxi driver on the way home. Maybe we were lead there.  The Lord works in mysterious ways.” –  Clinton Brown Missionary Journal