HOLA Familia y Amigos!!!
I love you all so much. I´m writing super frazzled today because like always the mission is full of CRAZY changes and I haven't slept in 2 days. Literally. haha. Pero asi es la mision!
So this week was full of ups and downs like always and ended marvelously on Sunday. Miracles are happening and the Lord is so good. I had kind of a really rough part of the week some days and I loved the scriptures Alma 31:31 and Alma 34:41 and my title comes from those scriptures. The scriptures have an answer and blessing for every one of us no matter the situation!!
So Tuesday we had a really hard morning and had to talk a lot a lot a lot and it always helps to communicate--figure that?! haha I think I´ve had to teach that to every comp here and I'm sure they all think I'm a communication fanatic but it's hard living 24/7 with someone and when things happen or people feel down there has to be communication! We had a wonderful lesson with Jacinto about the Plan of Salvation--it was the most simply I´ve ever taught it and he shared with us he´s felt the marvelous Spirit of the BOM and the truthfulness of the church. It is such a neat experience teaching him--I´ve never had an experience like this! We also cried with him about feeling down about the loss of his wife 3 months ago. In the mission, one really learns the meaning of mourning with those who mourn and it's a special experience.
Miguel had his interview and it was 3 hours long. We were dying the whole time because we knew he would have to have a longer interview. We even taught our first class of English (we now teach English 3 times a week and it's awesome!) and finished and he still wasn´t done with his interview. He finally came out and we could see he was a bit down but good. He doesn´t have a baptismal date as of now because he needs an interview with Pres Amaya but that scared him originally and he wasn´t sure he wanted to, so he was going to let Elder Rubio know. Elder Rubio was SO wonderful with him, took his time, gave him projects, really really cared about him. I started crying on the phone when Elder Rubio told me all this and then he started thanking us so much and told us not to get down but keep going, etc. He is such a good leader and it's amazing how much things can change :) Miguel needed our trust and love and we needed to gain more of that because he never really opened up fully with us ever, but we felt SUCH a necessity and fast to gain that and help him to encourage him to keep going and don't let this stop him! And that he CAN achieve his dreams of having an eternal family, going to the temple, going on a mish, etc. We literally hurt for him and his trials and didn´t sleep at all that night worried about how we could help and what we would do. But we did trust in a loving Heavenly Father and knew everything would work out according to His plan with our faith put fully in Him.
Wednesday we got the BEST news ever after looking everywhere all day for Miguel, calling him a million times and no answer, etc. We finally wrote him a card, marked a few articles in the conference Liahona and left it under his doorstep. Elder Rubio called us in the night and told us that Miguel had actually called him Tues night really late but he answered and Miguel told him that he had been thinking about it and did want an interview because he wants this so much and loves the church and the Gospel. AAAHH we were screaming with joy. The Lord is answering our prayers and doing miracles and we felt so much better and at peace.
Thursday was a hard day and emotional morning and comp inventory but it´s always great that we know the situations of each other and I´ve tried really really hard to help her and be aware of everything but man it was such a hard week emotionally! But it's always good to work things out, help each other out, work, and watch the blessings of the Lord come. Funny story--remember how I told you all about the Jehovah´s Witnesses trying to convert us one morning? Well Thurs morning someone rang the doorbell like 5 times until we finally went down the stairs to open the door and there was a cute girl there trying to give us a pamphlet and share the truth, etc. and when I told her the same thing I told the last guy, the whole Jehovah´s Witness congregation appears out of nowhere at our door bahahahaha they were trying to convert us through the cute girl but it wouldn't work on us! Also we had a funny experience in a taxi--the traffic police were doing checks on everyone and our guy didn't even have a license or the car's documents even though it was a yellow taxi and he tried to bribe the police officer and the policia threw his money in his face disgustingly, etc and there was a big scene but the police were so nice to us and helped us find another taxi. But the whole time we were dying in the backseat like oh my gosh what is happening what are we doing and of course this would happen to us?!! hahaha.
Friday I recovered that Spirit and hunger and LOVE I´ve felt for the scriptures and I love that feeling! During comp study we read outloud the talk by Elder Holland: ¨Cast Not Away Therefore Thy Confidence¨ (thank you mom again for all the talks, etc!) and that talk has taken on such a whole new meaning on the mish and especially during this transfer here. The Spirit was so very strong and the talk perfectly applied to our lives. How I´m so grateful for inspired apostles and prophets!!
Saturday night was crazy. One of the sisters that lives in our house has problems obviously and threw a crazy tantrum and locked her comp out, etc etc and we were up till 1 like trying to help out and talking, etc. We couldn´t believe everything that happened. Some people here are crazy and come for the wrong reasons on the mish. The mission is not a cure all for personal problems or an escape from real life! Anyway we´ve learned a lot that's for sure!
Sunday was an incredible, incredible day. We woke up dead of course but it was all made ok seeing Miguel come alone to church again. He is SO faithful and ready and dedicated! He has come to every English class and comes to church even when his sister and bro-in-law don't! After Sunday School we decided to stay a bit to ask more about how he was and all of a sudden just told us everything he was feeling and the problems he has faced or is facing especially with his poor sister and her husband. I thanked him so much for trusting us and he told me that Sat night he was reading in his triple where it talks about angels always being around us: seen and unseen, mortal and immortal, and he thought of us and really feels like we are that for him. He said every time he´s wanted to smoke he has pictured us in his mind haha. He started crying a lot when we talked to him and testified and just expressed to us how much he loves us so much and we just feel the same about him! I can´t describe it to you all but I love him SO so much!! He is the most incredible, special person I´ve ever been privileged to teach. Miguel reads the BOM at work, at home, in his free time, studies and ponders questions, shares the Gospel and yearns to know more. Members don´t even do that. We met with him after lunch too, he came to our fireside, made friends--enjoyed it a lot and we are just SO impressed with him. He always makes our day! What a special bond and experience it is to know and love people like him. We will work hard for him to have that interview with Pres Amaya and that Miguel doesn't move to Colombia again beforehand!
We put on a fireside for the members about how to befriend investigators, new converts, their role as members and then ending with ¨Back to the Basics of NOE¨. The ward missionaries and our mish leader helped us put on a skit of a really horrible, rude example of treating an investigator coming to church and it was hilarious. We taught from Preach my Gospel and the scriptures and had a lot of participation from the ward. We feel like this ward is improving and the support we receive, and we feel like slowly but surely this program, area, ward, people are changing and we just need to keep working!
So after that we were all happy and Miguel made a ton of friends and we all walked home and we were walking to visit another investigator when we heard someone screaming Hermanas and it was Marcelo running after us. He started bawling in the street saying he needed us and we went immediately to his house. He told us everything and was crying and just feeling so horrible and alone. We let him talk, we shared some advice, let him cry, and then 2 Nephi 4 came to my mind. I pulled out the BOM and told him that I knew he told us he didn´t want to read the BOM or believed in it. But I asked him if I gave him this would he give it a chance and read this one part? He said he would. I explained to him that in this part a prophet of God even felt the way he was feeling and was crying to God, and I just knew it would touch his heart. He asked if we could read part of it together and sing and then after he said he never gave the BOM a chance before but this time he would if we helped him know where to start reading and how. It´s incredible that the Lord guides this work so much and in His timing! I love this work and we felt just SO uplifted Sunday. The Lord and His love for His children is amazing.
So today there were transfers and Hermana Hernandez left. I have a new comp--barely got here and it is Hermana Johansen! 2 gringas again--this is crazy! haha She knows Robert Hyer and I am excited. I was sad to see Hna Hernandez go but it was so interesting because when we got the news, I felt so sick like what is going to happen to our amazing miracles and the ward, etc. because we are teaching English, Marcelo talks to us in English because he feels more comfortable that way, etc. I just felt like no you know what, everything is going to be ok. Francisco de Orellana needs English right now and it's gunna happen. Well it did! We were able to make breakfast for Miguel and his sister, Myra--we made pancakes and Miguel LOVED them with peanut butter haha He couldn't get over how much he liked them. We LOVE them so much!!! We will forever feel that love and concern and bond for him. They were so sad to hear about changes--he said, what's going to happen to my 2 angels?! haha But I´m just so so so grateful and feel like the Lord is blessing my life so so much that I can stay here to continue helping and seeing the changes and miracles and especially continue with Miguel. We went to the office, came home and packed like crazy, went and had lunch with Miguel and Myra while they did my comp's hair and then we went back to the office to get our new comps.
So it's time obviously for a new change, new comp, new attitude, and new animo! I feel calm about this change and good about it and know that the Lord is blessing us and guiding our missions and His children.
Please pray for Miguel and Jacinto and especially that Miguel can be interviewed, continue with his strength and progress. I´m SO grateful for you all and your support. I can´t thank you enough. I pray for you all everyday and feel your love with me. This church is so true. Heavenly Father loves us and Christ lives. He atoned for us, let Him help you and carry your sorrows. I love you!!! Be safe!!!
Love,
Hermana Bryan
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