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
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