"Wherefore, whoso believeth in God might with surety hope for a better world, yea, even a place at the right hand of God, which hope cometh of faith, maketh an anchor to the souls of men, which would make them sure and steadfast, always abounding in good works, being led to glorify God."
--Ether 12:4




Monday, March 26, 2012

Una Palomita, Dos Palomitas

Hola Familia!!!

Well on Monday we found Maria Lourdes again!  That was a miracle from the Lord.  Her husband came back and they are trying to work things out but she has some major problems with the other person he left her for, and so has disappeared again to try and get safe, away from that other lady.  Crazy stuff.  We are just praying for the Lord's will to be done in that situation!  Also on Monday we got massages by the sister of Hna Diaz and it was so awesome--I couldn't keep my eyes open afterwards it was like my whole body wanted to sleep.  Also while waiting my turn, Melissa Diaz was finishing up a concert dvd of the Jonas Brothers and Taylor Swift and it was crazy how much we don't realize how set apart we are.  I felt very uncomfortable and like the music was so loud and obnoxious and just worldly and didn't like it and it's not even crazy music!  It's cool to be set apart like that and realize it.

Tuesday we had an awesome comp study--Hna Jo is so awesome and our comp study is so cool because we literally share like everything with each other.  Everything we've studied and learned or thought and make plans together.  I love it!  We were talking about light and she said that subject fascinates her.  The first thing God did when He created the world was separate the light from the darkness.  Those are still separate and the two main forces now.  Also that our eyes see because of light.  When people can´t see or have bad vision it´s because they can´t perceive the light. Many times people struggle to perceive the light of Christ and their answers in the Gospel. And often times this is caused by other factors. A glaucoma is anything blocking the iris from receiving the light.  She said what are our spiritual glaucomas?  Then related a quote by Jeffrey Holland that said basically: we know who´s going to win!  Christ!  He is the never ending light.  Yet we´re still trying to decide which team we´ll play for and which jersey to put on.
Tuesday the Lord blessed us that we didn't have to contact at all and found 2 new people.  Also we visited Miguel and didn't really know what to expect really.  He came outside and we talked for a while.  He opened up about everything and said that he was better this week than last--he had talked to the Bishop online and that the Bishop counseled him and gave him articles to read and that made him feel better but that it's not the same.  He then said that he remembers those feelings he had, the testimony, energy, animo, and desires he had and that now they aren't as strong as they used to be.  He said he felt that before it was like a light was on in a room but that now he feels like a candle dimly lit with huge winds of darkness trying to blow it out all the time.  He said he felt like the darkness was more than the light right now.  We told him that we all had our ups and downs spiritually.  He said that he felt he was one of those seeds planted in fertile ground but that the needles have come to try and ruin the fruit and he needs to get rid of those.  Haha I love how he relates scriptures!  He said and admitted on his own that not reading or going to church or institue or English, etc has contributed to this.  Also he told us that talking to us really helps.  The whole time he talked, I would ask a question or make a comment and he would continue talking.  He then laughed and said he was back again and we could see and feel that!  Hna Jo then told me that it was so weird but that she just felt SO strongly the whole time that it was me who had to do the talking and asking and that each time she would go to talk or add something she couldn't and felt that strongly.  She said that she has always felt that Miguel has needed my personality and way of expressing myself just like I´ve felt that Julio needed her to progress!  It was weird how calm I felt the whole time and how things just flowed out of our mouths and how open Miguel was and I know the Spirit was there and the Lord helped us and answered the many prayers being said on his behalf!  Thank you!  I was just overcome with how marvelous is the Lord!
Also that night Miguel really wanted to buy us a hamburger he said was delicious, and we got there and it was like a little street cafe thing and we ate it and I suffered the rest of the night hahaha.  Last time I´m ever eating on the street!

Wenesday we found this 94 year old cutest man ever who had like a cartoon smiley face and it's amazing how sharp he still is in the brain and body, everything!  We didn't believe it when he told us his age.  He is so cute and I could just imagine Papa being friends with him and loving him and how he is.  Cuteee!  Also I got pretty frustrated with a lesson we had with people who just wanted to mock us the whole time and I was fuming inside and Hna Johansen is just so patient and accepting and patient with me!  I´m always so impressed and amazed by her.

Thursday comp inventory was awesome as usual!  We leave feeling so uplifted and supported and appreciated by the other.  We also had a hilariously fun English class where we taught them tongue twisters and testified of Christ, etc.  It was great!  We have finished English classes because not enough non-members have come so we wanted to take that time and use it again to find other people but it was fun while it lasted.

Friday my infection came back and has kind of jewed me the last few days but it's ok!  The Lord blesses us for working. 


Saturday we had a SUPER TORRENTIAL rain storm.  Honestly, the WORST we have ever had if I thought that was even possible!  Satan was trying really really hard to get us to not find people that day with crazy hot sun, sickness, being soaking wet and miserable BUT then we found Rosalia!  Wow it was incredible.  We went to contact that door and she came to the window and I introduced ourselves and she just smiled and said, are you going to come in?!  We were dumbfounded because that NEVER happens here!  We didn't even tell her anything but our names.  She said she has never let missionaries in before but she did.  She is such a strong woman and caring for her daughter who has Asbergers syndrome.  She has sadness in her life and that is reflected from her eyes but wow it was such a blessing from the Lord to find her!  She came to church yesterday and her daughter loved Primary but Rosalia didn't seem too happy and we aren't sure why.  She might have been worried about her daughter the whole time.  But we are praying that she will progress!  We are just praying and fasted for people who are ready to progress and be baptized in April.

Also on Saturday I was pretty humbled and down on myself for my human weaknesses and failures and for sometimes focusing on how I feel when I´m sick.  But I found some awesome scriptures during personal study.  I love in Alma 17 how the sons of Mosiah suffered in body, mind, and spirit (which is exactly a sum of all the different kinds of trials in a mish!) but they were patient in their afflictions.  Also in D&C 10:4 I like how it says that being diligent unto the end is of more importance than maybe killing ourselves for a lesson if we are sick or something else.  Of course we need to work but the enduring to the end is what matters.  Also in Moroni 10:32 it's interesting how it doesn't just say to love God but to love Him with all our body, mind, and spirit, and THEN we qualify for grace.  I was just humbled by how much I have to improve on as a person and a missionary and yet how much the Lord still loves us, His imperfect children and has such mercy on us!  I am trying to be better and grow closer to Christ and it's amazing how one becomes ever aware of his or her weaknesses and shortcomings during that process.  It's interesting how in Ether 12:27 it says if we come unto Him then He will show us our weaknesses.  It's part of the process of growing closer to our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and if we want to be humble and improve, we have to first come unto them and then know our weaknesses and THEN again, is His grace sufficient for us.  Like Moroni 10 and Ether 12 said, His grace is incredible but to receive it, one has to love God with everything, come unto Him, and be humbled by our weaknesses.  Then that divine help will be ours---after all we can do!  I LOVE this Gospel.  I love the perfection process and although it hurts and is sad or painful sometimes, it is so amazing and worth it.

Sunday was a great day at lunch--we just LOVE the Diaz family!  They are members and like our fam here and we always end up just dying laughing with them.  They are like Modern Family (as I've said before) and it's just great.  They were singing dramatically Camila songs and teaching us them and then as we were leaving, Bro Diaz opens the door for us and salsa dances his way out the door singing : Una Palomita, Dos Palomitas and shaking his hips like salsa while singing. It was hilarious and just awesome.  We love them.  Josue accompanied us as always on Sundays and I'm just super impressed with his maturity and progress and desires to serve a mission!  Being mission leader has really helped him see the good and bad and real life of mish work.

Last night I went to call the elders to tell them we need a new phone because ours is broken and ancient and it turned into another crazy pass the phone joking crazy session with those elders.  haha they keep our phone calls interesting and hilarious and give us good amusement :)

Well I am just SO grateful for this Gospel and for my Savior, Jesus Christ and for the love that I feel and can share with others.  I´m so beyond blessed and so grateful for this opportunity I have to progress and share this joy with others.  I have the best companion in the world and I´m so grateful for her!  AND General Conference is this weekend!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Which means we get to watch the sessions in English because we are both gringas!!  WOOHOO!!!  That is going to be such a blessing to hear it in their own voices and our language.  I know that the prophet and apostles are inspired and men called of God and that this weekend they will instruct us and direct us on how to live our lives and how to improve and tell us the things our Heavenly Father wants us to know.
PLEASE make this a priority in your lives.  This only happens once every 6 months.  I´m sure if Christ was on the earth and held a conference there's no way we would want to miss it or let things get in the way.  So why should this be any different?  It's not!  Don't miss a session if you can help it--that is my challenge to you and I promise you that the answers or comfort you are seeking will be found.  Pray for the questions you have and answers you want and in one of the sessions or talks, you will find it!  How we are blessed to have this opportunity!  I am so excited and am praying that our investigators come and can find the answers and peace and direction they seek.  The Gospel of Jesus Christ is real.  It is personalized.  It centers on our Savior, His love, His light, eternal families, and enduring as covenant keepers to the end.  He loves us personally and will provide answers for us personally!

I love you all so so much and am so grateful for your prayers and thoughts on my behalf and for my investigators!  Keep em coming!
LOVE YOU!!


-Hermana Bryan 

Monday, March 19, 2012

The Ecuadorian Rollercoaster Ride

Where´s Waldo pic: the blonde, white girl stands out just a little bit huh? :)


HOLA familia y amigos!!!
Well this week has sure been a fun rollercoaster ride.  With lots of ups and downs.  You sick of me saying that yet? :)  Walking many days this week Hna Jo started singing the song Hawaiin Rollercoaster Ride from Lilo and Stitch but totally changed the words to fit our situation here.  Thus, the title of my email.

Well Tuesday was our 8 month anniversary and Dallin´s birthday!  So that was fun!  We made oreo truffles to celebrate and share with the Zone at zone meeting.  Hermana Ward taught a lesson with an awesome activity and it's always just cool to see these fully seasoned missionaries so close to going home sharing their testimony and knowledge.  Elder Archibold (the other DL not mine) also taught and then to wrap it up he started saying how this week was going to be a competition to see who could baptize, etc. and I just got mad inside and started shaking my head in unbelief and frustration and turns out Elder VW saw me cuz he looked at me and looked back and raised his hand and said, ¨You mean it´s a competition this week to see who can love their investigators most, right?!¨ hahaha I loved the understanding we seem to have for each other and that he knew it bothered me and wanted to fix it.  That´s what awesome leaders are like.
Also during practices, Hna Jo and I finished teaching the practice lesson and Elder Archibold, who was acting as the investigator, gave feedback.  He said that for him the only thing to improve on would be to testify and give personal experiences.  I just accepted because sometimes it´s not worth it to fight back and say when you actually did that haha so I said ok.  Then he asked Elder VW if he had any commentaries and he said, ¨Yes.  I loved the questions.  And Hermana Bryan did, actually, share a personal experience and testify.¨ and that was it.  bahahahaha I thought that was hilarious.  He totally had my back on Tuesday the whole time!  Love it.

Miguel.  Wow, I hate Satan.  A lot of troubles have happened with Mayra and Alvaro (the fact that Alvaro kicked Mayra out and she was living in Miguel's teeny room he rented for a week but then returned with her husband like nothing happened) and that has really affected Miguel so much so that he smoked again and then actually put all of his Gospel-related things in a bag under his bed because he doesn´t want anything anymore.  He said he just feels so disappointed and let down by the church, Pres Amaya, everyone and is just tired.  He has lost a lot of light and I KNOW what we said to him touched him because the Spirit was there and his reactions let us know that but I just pray and hope everyday we haven´t lost him.  We haven´t been able to have a lesson since because he has been busy or working and though we have passed by to say hi, it´s not the same.  For the first time he didn't come to church so we went and dropped off a letter at his house and left that for him to read.  Please pray for him!!  We found out that the pres was going to interview him after 2 months and that will be like in a week.  He´s so amazing but also needs to realize that endure to the end means just that!  Not just 3/4 of the way for nothing.  There is a clear choice: eternal life, forgiveness, salvation and an eternal family OR none of that.  It´s all up to us and the decisions we make!  We have plans to help him recognize that through the Spirit and certain scriptures etc.  The bishop also had to go through a similar experience turns out (he took 1.5 hrs to talk to us one day after lunch and share his feelings that he has seen we are working and actually wants to talk to us, etc and how that usually doesn't happen and then shared his experience.  We are getting him involved to try and share that with Miguel.)

Wedesday.  Satan is such a piece!!  He got me SO down on Wednesday and it was so ridiculous and bad that as we left the house I just couldn't hold it in and began bawling/sobbing in the streets it was ridiculous!  We sat down in a park and both cried and talked and resolved everything.  Turns out she was feeling exactly the same.  He was making us doubt ourselves but we also related everything to ¨The Gospel according to Harry Potter¨so that helped.  haha yes we are nerds.  It was so nice to talk everything out and realize we had felt the same, build each other up, realize what was happening etc and resolve ourselves to not let that guy and his workings get us down.  He works so hard on missionaries working hard and who give it their all.  Also we talked about how we had been so ¨jewed¨by Satan and Hna Jo just burst out, ¨You know WHAT, Satan?!  We may be jewed right now but YOU are jewed FOR ALL ETERNITY!!!  AND FOREVER!!¨ hahaha love her. We left and then immediately saw so many tender mercies in our lives.  The Lord is so amazing and lets us know daily how much He loves us.
Then later while walking down the street, there was a car moving slowly in the opposite direction as us and this guy sticks out his head and arm out the window to try and grab me while saying Hello and I was scared and surprised and tried jumping away and he passed.  Well turns out Hna Jo was in shock cuz she was right behind me and saw it happen and swears it looked like he fully grabbed my arm.  I told her no I didn´t feel a thing and nothing happened.  She was like WOW!  You just got Samuel-the-Lamanite-ed!  It was way crazy afterwards thinking about it but I´m so grateful for the Lord´s protection and love.
Wednesday Hna Ward came and slept over with us because she was leaving for the states on Thurs morning!  That was a tender mercy for us all as we got to catch up and enjoy each other so much :)  As she was leaving it was so sad--it´s always such a weird feeling watching people go home.  But she was like don't worry we will take lots more pictures and have crazy times as roomates at BYU :) haha Elder Hammer freaked out when he heard us 3 were planning on that and was like oh nooooo haha.
Wedesday we also saw Julio again and it´s SO amazing to see the light of these recent converts!!  Such a change and incredible miracle.  I love the gospel!  He said he was reading the Liahona the other day and that he just felt this cool amazing happy feeling and he said, ¨I said to myself, Julio, You are MORMON!!¨ and said he felt so happy and had noticed a difference in himself.


Thursday wow I have the most amazing comp ever.  During comp inventory she related 3 Nephi 12:8 to me and added cool insight to it (said she thought it meant the pure in heart will see God in other people), and read me other gifts of the Spirit she had researched that reminded her of me and then pulled out a letter she had written me.  She is incredible.
Thursday we visited the girls (just like every other day this week) and it was just so amazing to see how ready they were for their baptism the following day.  Also it was incredible how they keep finding out that more of their family members investigated the church at one time or that their grandpa was a bishop a while ago in the church, etc.  what?!  The Lord works in mysterious and miraculous ways :)

Side note: we have felt so sick, run down, SORE, tired, powned and jewed lately.  We literally have like old sore decrepit bodies it feels like!  haha

Friday we contacted for 6.5 hours straight in the sun.  That was fun!  BUT It was CAMILA AND ALEJANDRA´S BAPTISM!!!!  I honestly have NEVER felt more happy or joyful, grateful, loving, etc than I did that night and when we got home.  Wow.  The baptism was literally perfect.  SO many people came!!  Like more than they do in the States!  The YW sang ¨Hijas de un Rey¨and made the mom of Camila and Alejandra cry!  The baptisms were both performed by Fabian per the girls´request and that was awesome!  Just studs all the way around that day :) They looked SO happy and I just imagined them in the temple soon!  The welcomes were awesome and the bishop addressed the mom for a bit too and she stood up and thanked everyone and expressed how she felt like they were all family now, etc.  It was wonderful!  Everyone was so congratulating, loves, and has fun with them and can see how special they are.  There was such a special and amazing spirit there.  They said they felt so good and it was something extremely beautiful and special.  There is truly NO joy like this!!  I had a hard time talking to Elder Rubio giving my inform at night without bursting for joy and I was just laughing and so happy and so was he!  What a perfect, amazing night.  And an absolute miracle from our Heavenly Father!  It blows my mind how we found them--knocking doors--that was a direct blessing and privilege.  They shine and the Lord is so good to us and blesses us!  That was a direct answer to MY prayers too to be able to see the fruit of our labors.  Wow I´m just so humbled by the mercy of my Heavenly Father and the goodness of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Saturday we got poned by making fun of Latin hair styles in the morning about how they are all slicked back and then had to accept the offer when a member saw us sweating and wanted to pull our hair back and did that to us!  bahaha It was hilarious!  We also threw a bunch of rocks at a mango tree to try and get some mangoes and this guy saw us and pulls out his 12 foot bamboo stick to show us up and help us get mangos.  We then contacted for 7 hours straight and it was probably one of the hottest days of my mish.  BUT I know the Lord will bless us for this in due time!  That's how we have to find people.  We don't have many people to teach after the baptisms and we get down about that and the lack of a program or people wanting to accept but how can we complain?!  No way.  The Lord has blessed us so much this transfer and I know it will continue if we keep working hard and giving it our all.

Sunday we contacted more and with Josue our mission leader (the kid in the pic with us and Julio at his baptism is our mission leader! :) ) and also had a fun experience with Alvaro trying to insult us at church and make us feel guilty, etc but I held my ground and didn't accept it and made them know how much we have done and how much Miguel does mean to us and how much we will continue to not give up and talk to the leaders and try and help Miguel out.  That guy has some nerve and will get his own someday!

Wow sorry for so much details about all that has happened.  The mission is the most wonderful, hard thing ever and I feel SO blessed to be a part of it!  I love the Lord with all my heart and feel so humbled by how much He loves us.  I am a weak human trying to serve Him and I fall short in so many ways.  But that is the blessing of the Atonement and the Gospel.  If we give it our all and continuously strive to progress and get better, They will take care of the rest and bless us in so many ways.  I know this church is true.  I know the BOM is true and changes lives.  I know the church is directed by a prophet who gets revelation.  It only makes sense!  Because HF and Christ LIVE and LOVE us and want to help us.  I LOVE you all so so much!  And am so grateful for you.

Have an incredible week and always remember that smiling and laughing is the way to enjoy this life :)  Seek to Serve, Live to Love, Go and Do!! :)

Love,
Hermana Bryan



Camila and Alejandra and me!

¨Fav¨pic cuz it has my fav people: Fabian, the girls, and my comp!

Monday, March 12, 2012

Striving to be a ¨Disturber and Annoyer in his kingdom¨

Julio's Baptism


HOLA!
First of all I want to say: HAPPY 16th BIRTHDAY DALLIN!!!!!!!  You are the best brother ever and I´m so excited for you!!!  Also I love that your birthday falls on my 8 month mission anniversary!!!  Crazy how the months go by so fast!  In 2 weeks I´ll be halfway done with my mission--what?!  That´s crazy.

So Tuesday we had District meeting and the practices were so so wonderful.  I was acting like one of our investigators and the first practice was alright so I was honest with them and made them re-do it haha because I didn´t feel like it really helped me with my needs.  So Elder Vanwagoner stepped in with Elder Rubio and it was incredible.  They asked me more questions and really were guided by the Spirit.  One time during the practice, Elder VW asked me a questions and I looked down and really thought about it and answered and when I looked up again, Elder VW was crying--super super teary and that hit me really hard.  I had never seen him like that and it really touched me.  I love this work and the Spirit we can feel when we really focus and love the other people.  He has learned and improved a lot--he talked so much today and was so open and friendly and expressed more details of the struggles the zone had in Manta--things I had no idea about and his experiences searching for me in the Clinica Manta, etc.  haha it was great. And he calls us to congratulate us for our work and our numbers and baptisms and asks if we need help or anything, it's incredible--the change!

Tuesday also Camila and Alejandra had their baptismal interviews and it was incredible how impressed Elder Rubio was with how they could differentiate between our church and others and their testimonies.  Also, Camila has an awesome personality and is absolutely hilarious and I thoroughly enjoyed her teasing the elders a lot.  We went to ask the mom to sign for permission and she all of a sudden changed her mind that she needed to talk to the dad first, etc etc so that was a bit of a scare and something we really had to exercise our faith and prayers about.

Wednesday was an awesome awesome day!  I woke up SO so super happy and the Lord blessed me with such happiness today!  I LOVE the Gospel and missionary work and studying and being able to share together what we learn and have such an uplifting comp study.  I just felt so blessed to be here with Hna Jo.  It´s really a season of hard work, desire, love, and pure joy.  During Wed we just had like a half hour where Satan that piece was trying to get us down and we went walking looking for a contact and met dun dun dun...Oscar Nieto.  This ancient old man who talked our ears off for 30 minutes and would NOT let us leave and kissed our hands and kept calling me Astrid and asking if that was correct and after the 10th time I just finally told him that yes my name was Astrid haha it was such a hilarious, weird, crazy experience and I was crying laughing the whole time and was just a testimony that the Lord has a sense of humor and loves us and wants us to be happy and have fun in this work and in life.

Thursday was Woman´s Day and was hilarious because everyone kept wishing us ¨Feliz Dia¨ and we had no idea why until English class when our students told us and Miguel brought us roses.  Haha dang it we could have taken advantage of that one!  :)  Thursday during my personal study I found a scripture I loved in Luke and though many scriptures are similar in Matthew, etc.  In Luke when it talks about the people who take up their cross, Luke added a word in there and said take up thy cross DAILY.  I loved that.  A lot.  because the decision to follow Christ and the trials we go through, etc. are daily things and we daily have to do things to follow Him and to be examples of Him and to go through trials but it's all worth it!!  Thursday night, Elder Hammer called and played a WAY mean joke on us that had us freaking out about transfers for like an hour and got everybody involved in it including Elder Rubio when we called to give our report.  What a fool! haha I was cracking up but yelling afterwards cuz of how gullible we are cuz we are always paranoid about that subject because we don't want transfers at all :)  More details when I get home but it was a good one.

Friday we went to Julio´s (we went every day this week) and he said he had started the BOM again and read from the beginning until 1 Nephi 14 and got so excited to tell us the things he learned and it was amazing watching his face light up telling about the stories from the BOM.  I was just staring at him and seeing the look of pure content and peace and wondering how this happened.  I can´t pinpoint a time when Julio stopped doubting and let his faith take over, but it´s happened.  It´s all fallen into place and his light, absolute humility, humor, peace, countenance changed is such a humbling and emotional experience for me.  The Lord is amazing.  How am I so privileged to be a part in these magnificent changes?!  There is NOTHING that compares to watching someone change their life and being able to note the change just by looking at them all because of the Gospel but to be able to be there every step of the way.  What JOY and how utterly blessed and humbled I have felt.  Friday we came home early because anemia Hna Jo has really really affected her that day so I had some more time to study.  I found a scripture in Luke 16:10 that really hit me about how obedience in the small things really does determine our obedience in the greater or bigger matters.  Also how obedience in the small things can determine our destiny and who we become.  Also in JSH 1:20 I LOVE the word choice of Joseph Smith to describe who he was in comparison to Satan.  He said he was sure that he passed through many trials because Satan knew he would be a disturber and annoyer in his kingdom.  That´s right, Satan!  That´s what we are :)


Saturday= JULIO´S BAPTISM!!!!  Wow so many things went wrong that day to make us feel crappy, etc.  (that's usually how baptismal days are for us in the mish here) but Satan can´t win and Julio was baptized!!!  At the baptism I was kind of mad because hardly anyone came and talked to him and even the Bishop was acting dumb but it´s just a testimony to me to know that it´s not about the other people.  Julio felt the Spirit and felt so happy and nothing else mattered.  We sang Come Thou Fount and I bore my testimony about the Savior before we sung and threw in an inside joke we have with Julio about the Gospel to make him smile and we felt so much better.  The ordinance was amazing--we had someone baptizing Julio (the most awkward guy at church and it's SO cute because they are good friends) and another young 18 year old kid standing in the font, shaking while holding Julio up.  He was so great and it was a miracle he didn´t drop him because he was absolutely shaking!  They brought him under and back up again and then man grunted out of the font but he did it, Peter!!  Julio was SO nervous beforehand but afterwards couldn´t stop smiling and I could tell he was so happy.  The Bishop gave a wonderful welcome and explained a lot of things to him and during talking about us and the work we´ve all done, Julio looked over at us and smiled and gave us a fist pound in the air--it was such a Hurrah for Israel moment.  He texted us later that night just thanking and thanking us.  What a blessing!!!!

Sunday Julio received the Spirit and it was such a testimony of the power of the Priesthood for an 18 yr old kid who normally can't speak fluidly and is more awkward to give the blessing and just feel so powerfully the Spirit and he was just so smiley afterwards.  Also, we passed by Camila and Alejandra in the morning to walk to church and they came out and handed us the baptismal forms ALL SIGNED because their mom had talked to their dad and they GOT PERMISSION!!!!  The Lord does so many miracles and I know that fasting works and prayers exercised with faith.  They will be baptized on Friday!!!

So I found some quotes I wanted to share.
First comes from a YW song: ¨Remember you are greatest, when you walk with God.  When His light is in your eyes, you are truly strong.  You are divine within, you were sent here to become like Him.
the other two are in  Spanish and come from the RS book Hijas en mi Reino:

¨Si solo hacemos nuestro trabajo a medias no tendremos ningun placer; si lo hacemos por nuestro sentido del deber, no tendremos ningun gozo; pero si sentimos que somos una rama de esta viƱa, que nuestro Padre Celestial nos ha considerado dignas de ser miembros de esa rama y que podemos llevar a cabo esta obra cuando se tenga que hacer, entonces tendremos gozo.¨--Louise Y. Robison

¨Lo mas grande en el mundo es el amor.  Y si siempre guardamos eso en el corazon, y lo damos como mensaje a los que nos rodean, seremos bendecidas y seremos instrumentos para bendecir a las personas con quienes nos relacionemos.¨--Clarissa S. Williams

another one from our week:
¨Sometimes God removes our burdens and other times He strengthens our backs.¨--Me
¨And other times your companion puts rocks in your backpack to do it for you.¨--Hna Jo

I LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH!!!!  Have a wonderful week!!
Hermana Kenna Bryan




Monday, March 5, 2012

Mas Tercas que Rocky!





Hola Familia!!!  Well I have missed you all a lot this week.  Love you so much!  This week has been wonderful.  Of course, full of ups and downs but just so great.

Monday we had the fun fun opportunity to go to Malecon and Las Penas and it was so fun!  My first real outing to visit sights of Ecuador.  Las Penas is this cute old city on top of a hill with 500 steps to the top and a lighthouse at the end to climb up.  It was so fun! 
 It was also wonderful because we could go with our house-mates before they moved out to live in a different house.  So fun :) 

We then went and visited Maria in the nighttime and it was so wonderful.  She told us that going to church, she felt like she was entering a home and that everyone there felt like family.  That´s the only way she said she could describe it and it´s so true!  What a wonderful lesson and testimony of the truthfulness and difference of the church.  It´s true!!

Tuesday we went to our Zone meeting only to see our new ZL....dun dun dun....Elder VANWAGONER.  BAHAHAHAHA  (Hna Angulo--can you believe it??!!)  He started smiling super bigly when he saw me and I just started laughing.  I was excited and also couldn't believe it. haha It was hilarious because there was this knowing relationship we had during the meeting and he always smiled bigly and laughed when I would look at him or answer something etc.  Our meeting was awesome with lots of laughter, participation, and it was just a feel-good meeting.  He´s learned how to get everyone to participate in a zone meeting, learned that the focus should be on loving our investigators and helping them change and feel the Spirit not just numbers and baptisms.  What a nice change and improvement!
We then went to visit Julio and it was incredible because every scripture, article, quote and experience we found in personal study and planned directly applied and touched him.  It´s been so neat to see the small changes in his eyes and life.  Also it´s cute because he used to say that going to church was a pretty serious thing and that he wasn´t ready and that he wanted to keep reading and praying first.  Today he got scared and said that baptism is super serious and he´s not sure and he wants to keep going to church.  Haha it's cute cuz I think we all know he´s going to do it but is just nervous.  But we felt the Spirit so strongly during the lesson and it was so familiar and happy and wonderful to be with him and testify and love someone.  He also told us that at church you feel something different than any other church and it feels like family.

Next incredible thing is Alejandra and Camila!  They loved church and said they loved reading the BOM so much that they continued until 1 Nephi 7!  15 and 12 year old girls who have such a hunger for the truth and who are finding answers to questions they´ve always had.  They remember everything they read and get so excited about it and about the stories.  They believe the Restoration and prayed and got answers and are such incredible, special spirits and 2 escogidos de Dios that we happened to contact.  They already pray like members and apply things to their lives.  Miguel saw us in the nighttime and told us we were literally shining and asked if we had a great day.  haha you could say that :)  He also told us that he was dying all day on Monday thinking I got transferred because we never showed up---dang it poor guy!  haha I told him I would have said goodbye:)  He also told me that he asked forgiveness from Alvaro and now he has done absolutely everything!!  I told him our fam put his name in the temple and he got SO happy and grateful and just a look of pure joy.  thanks family :)   I feel so blessed to have been raised in such a thoughtful and loving family.  I love our motto: Seek to Serve, Live to Love, Go and Do!
We had 2 new missionaries spend the night at our house waiting for their trainers so that was a party--6 missionaries for a night!  One of them is awesome and the other is special like many are now in the mission.  haha dang it.  but oh well! :)


Wednesday was a hard day and Thursday was a pretty good day with ups and downs!  Comp inventory was incredible just like always.  I also got a testimony of 3 Nephi 27:28-29 asking for righteous intentions and receiving it.  I´ve been asking to be able to see, for once, the fulfillment of these fruits and people in my mission and if it's the Lord´s will, to be able to see that this transfer and stay here with my comp and it's happening.  How the Lord blesses us!

Thursday night and Friday morning Satan really tried to make me feel like a failure and like a much lesser person or missionary than others and it was horrible.  I hate that guy! :)  During comp study I was tearing up a lot and was down on myself and was sharing the very few things I had to share that morning when our doorbell rung.  I looked out the window and saw the bishop who always takes the office elders around in his taxi.  The new pouchero, Elder Archibald was there with meds for our house-mate and he shook our hands.  He looked at me and I didn't even have my nametag on but he said Hermana Bryan!!  You were in Cordova in Manta right?!  I was the elder there and just came from there!  He gave me updates that they couldn´t ever find Soheil because he had left the city dang it, but they saved the BOM in Persa just in case.  He gave me other updates and than said Manta IS OPEN AGAIN TO HERMANAS.  I freaked out and didn´t get a chance to ask him about everyone but I´m going to next time!  I couldn´t believe the news.  It was very nice for him to take the time to tell me that and I took that as a tender mercy from the Lord and that He knows me and loves me and knows my heart.  Wow.  I don´t want to go there now but maybe I will actually be able to sometime!  I think my heart has been left here now though with these people in Francisco so I am so grateful to still be here :)
Friday during our lesson with Julio, we kept talking about baptism and smiling and laughing and kept mentioning it and he said to us, "You guys are more stubborn than Rocky!"  and started busting up laughing.  That's where my title comes from.  haha Later on in the lesson I bore my testimony and then kept mentioning baptism and smiling and he kept smiling nervously and then finally burst out laughing and said, "You are a MONSTER of conviction!!!"  bahahaha I didn't know if I should be offended or grateful so I just started busting up laughing and we laughed a lot and set up a baptismal interview for him :)  He´s so awesome.

Saturday was a wonderful day and Camila and Alejandra have permission from their mom to be baptized and are so excited!  Also Julio had his interview and we went to visit him before and after and he is so great.  He is going to be baptized ON SATURDAY!!!!!  March 10!!!  He is ready and though he is scared and there's a lot to think about for how to baptize him, the members were so excited that they practiced yesterday during church and have it all planned out to put a chair in the font and have 3 people around to help put him under the water and help carry him out of the water, etc.  They have been so supportive of him and us.

Sunday we had 6 investigators at church!  What miracles.  I was just SO happy to see them and see their progress.  The ward members and leaders have been surprised at the investigators coming and that we have 3 baptisms coming up and others progressing.  The testimonies were awesome and so was our Principles of the gospel class and the hermana said that God´s purposes will NEVER be frustrated and that we are His hands and instruments on earth.  How true that is!!

Some random things: people say I talk like a Columbian here hahaha maybe it's from being around Colombian comps and Miguel a lot :)  Also I thought Moses 1 was amazing during my personal study this week.  It´s interesting because in the first 7 verses, Heavenly Father really emphasizes to Moses that he is His son and created after the image of Him and divinity and repeats ¨my son¨ over and over.  Then later when Satan comes to take away the testimony Moses had gotten and the light he received (cuz Satan always comes after, that stupid guy) Moses had a testimony already of his divine potential and was able to refute Satan and stand strong because he knew he was a son of God with the potential to become like Him.  It struck me that Heavenly Father emphasized that for a reason and if we really understand and feel and know our divine potential and who we are, Satan will have no power over us!
Also sharing in comp study, Hna Jo shared that she took a jewelry class one time and that you obviously have to burn out the impurities and refine the metal.  She said she asked the teacher how we know when the jewelry and metal is ready.  The teacher told her: when you can see your reflection in it.  How true that is for this life and the trials we go through and the experiences we pass through to refine us.  We are being refined and we will be done when Christ can see His reflection in us.  What an incredible thing to be able to strive, fall, pick ourselves back up, and try to become like our Savior and Redeemer.  I love Him.


I also loved this quote by Heber C. Kimball: ¨To meet the difficulties that are coming, it will be necessary for you to have a knowledge of the truth for yourselves...the time wil come when no man nor woman will be able to endure on borrowed light.  Each will have to be guided by the light within himself.¨

Our housemates moved out and it was way sad but amazing to be with them and to form such a sister-like relationship with Hermanas Ward and Johansen.  I love that they go to BYU and that we get along so well and how much we love each other.  It is so wonderful to have people like that in our lives!  Also Hna Ward thanked me for being such a light and I got really touched at that literal fulfillment of the blessing Elder Hammer gave me a while ago.  How I love the priesthood, my Heavenly Father, and though I feel so unworthy for the many blessings they give me, I feel so grateful.  I love being able to see people change, I love loving people and serving them and giving our all and leaving the rest to the Lord.  His purposes will be fulfilled!  The church is true!  Christ lives and loves us.  I love you :)  Let His light and love lead you along and refine you.

Miss you like crazy!   Have such a wonderful week!!!

Love,
Hermana Bryan