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 

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!

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 viña, 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

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

Ya pues, la Iglesia es Verdadera!

In the Flood!!!

Hola familia!!!

I´m so happy to be writing you still in Francisco de Orellana and still with Hna Johansen!!  Last night was torture waiting for the transfer calls to come and we are SO grateful they didn´t come!  I still don't feel completely ¨safe¨ yet but for now I have one more week here with these incredible people and my absolutely incredible companion!!
Thank you for all of the support, prayers, love, thoughts, emails, etc.  I love you!!!

This week was up and down like all weeks here, but incredible, and the Lord has blessed us immensely.  I don´t know if I mentioned these last few weeks that we have basically had nobody to teach and been contacting for hours and had everything fall through so that's been stressfull but we knew things would work out and how quickly it does when you have two people together who have all the desires and love to be here and want to work!  I feel so grateful!

Monday was a fail of a P-day haha nothing was open, everything failed and we were in a bad mood until we visited Miguel and he was so excited to see us.  We had prepared a lesson on forgiveness about forgiving his brother in law, etc. and before we could say anything he said that he was reading the Liahonas and BOM and old letters and came across some scriptures and when he read them, this huge feeling rushed through his body and he knew he had just forgiven Alvaro.  He was so happy and it was so crazy I started busting up laughing that he always does that--finds things out on his own--the things we prepare for him.  That means he doesn´t really need us as much and that really just is the definition of conversion--Miguel.  He wrote a letter to Pres Amaya expressing his feelings, quoting the general authorities and scriptures and felt like he should do that.
We then enjoyed Carnaval in our house on Mon night and I kind of am the culprit of the whole thing.  Ok not kind of--I am.  But it was fun :)  And then we had a horrible phone call with our district leader and I was so frustrated and disappointed and he wanted me to prepare a lesson for our District Meeting of how we could improve our district or things we need to work on and I wrote a ton about our lack of trust, charity, and love for each other.  I quoted the Manual Misional and scriptures and just asked some questions to them like if they could look around at all of us and say they really loved us? Or they really were concerned for our well-being, our trials, and our successes?  It was kind of a heavy environment but started a great discussion and Elder Rubio promised to change and we all promised to change and be better.

So that was Tues morning.  Tues night there was a huge huge aguasero--is that like torrential rain storm in English?  Don't know but it was crazy and we were like wading through water everywhere we walked and absolutely soaked!!

Wednesday we went back to 2 jovensitas (Alejandra and Camila) we had contacted last week and they let us in and it was a bit awkward at first but we made it through and the enviornment just felt familiar and nice.  And we were so excited about that and excited that little by little the Lord is blessing us!  We then learned that pride is the downfall of so many people and so many of us, and is the stumbling block on the road of salvation--we have had to drop some investigators who are SO prideful it's ridiculous!  Beware of that pride :)  Then we found out Miguel fasted for 4 days straight.  Like he would eat lunch every day and begin fasting again with a prayer, etc. Wow.

Thursday we had an amazing comp inventory and the things Hna Johansen told me touched me so much.  She pulled out a piece of paper and said that during the week she was writing things down that she admired and was amazed about and she didn't want to forget to tell me.  She is amazing and I feel so blessed to have her as a comp!  We then were making comp goals and revising old planners with old comp goals and we realized that the things we used to set as goals we don't even need to work on because without our realizing it, those things naturally happen and we naturally do them because of our great relationship.  How neat!  Thursday was an awesome day and Christian accompanied us all day--it was so fun and then English class was hilarious and just awesome.  Waiting for English to start, another miracle from the Lord happened.  2 ladies walked into the room and straight to us and one introduced herself as a member from a different ward and stake but that her friend, Maria, had recently moved into our ward and wanted to receive the lessons.  We were shocked that they had just walked into the church because we hardly are ever there and just at that time they decided to come in.  We happened to be there and could talk to her and comfort the friend and give her the Plan of Salvation pamphlet to read.  It was awesome.

Friday we had SUCH an awesome lesson with Alejandra and Camila and it is absolutely INCREDIBLE the questions they have.  All of their questions were about things the Restoration or Plan of Salvation answer, and they are so mature in thinking and actually interested in religion and wanting to know the truth.  The Spirit was so so strong when we explained the Restoration and they understood and asked questions and got so excited when we gave them the Book of Mormon and they just are incredible.  That was such a blessing from God.  Friday we also had another lesson with Julio.  Julio is someone we have been teaching since Hna Hernandez and I, but didn't have faith in himself and didn't ever want to commit to come to church.  Well last Sunday he came!!  Julio has polio and can't use his legs so he has this reclining bike machine he uses and uses his hands to pedal it and get him around.  He came alone last Sunday to support us and hear our talks and stayed the whole time and that in and of itself was a MIRACLE and I know the Lord had His hand in that, and I also know that Julio needed Hna Johansen here too to progress.  I forgot to say that last week.  So Friday we brought a member over with us and the lesson was awesome and Julio promised to come to church again and that he wanted to go alone.  Wow!  Friday night we got really sick--like infection sick but knew the Lord would bless us for working.

Saturday was a fail of a morning--we felt so sick and during comp study Hermana Johansen just burst out, ¨MAN, this SUCKS!!!¨ hahaha that pretty much described our morning.  But we knew we just had to make it until we could visit Maria.  We went in and her friend was there too and the Spirit was SO strong the entire time.  It was incredible.  Maria had underlined and underlined so many things in the pamphlet and expressed to us that she was up reading it that same night we gave it to her until like 2 in the morning because she said until this, she had such a hunger and thirst but that NOTHING would ever quench or satisfy that, and that in one little pamphlet, she found like all of the answers she was looking for.  She said she didn't know why she felt such peace and calmness even though she has so many problems in her life but that finally she does and that she knows it will only get better from here on out.  Everything she said was incredible---stuff you always hear about but that never seems to happen in real life---that was how it was.  What a prepared person and what a special experience to be able to be there.  That totally changed our day around!  What a blessing.  We left her house and Saturday afternoon and night it just poured and poured and poured---so hard!!  Harder than I´ve ever seen it here and it was so hard that we couldn´t even hear what each other was saying while walking next to each other in the streets!  We just could look at each other barely and bust up laughing because umbrellas do absolutely nothing in that case and luckily we brought our rain jackets!  It was SO hilarious and then the streets all flooded so we were literally like swimming in the water while walking through the streets and people were staring at us like WHY are these crazy gringas still out here in this storm and flood trying to visit people?!  It was hilarious and such an experience/adventure.  We visited an investigator who was really impressed that we still came and told us that is the meaning of love--that even floods and rains, etc won't stop us from visiting them.  I have included pics of our swimming adventure :)  We also went to visit Julio during the storm and he was really touched because he had just been thinking about us wondering where we were in the storm and we could sing a hymn together, share a few minutes, and pray.  That really touched him.

Sunday was a wonderful day and I felt so sad all day at the thought or possibility of being transfered because I literally have come to LOVE these people and LOVE our investigators and their situations and of course I love my comp!!  I took advantage of every opportunity to take pics with my fav people :)  So miracle from the Lord.  At the beginning of this week, we had nobody in our program.  At the end of the week, 7 people came to church.  SEVEN!!!  That has never happened in my mission ever.  It is amazing what happens when you mix the blessings of the Lord with hard work and unity in a companionship!  People have started to notice that too--like members in the ward commenting on our companionship or special spirit or investigators, etc.  I just feel blessed and happy.  Julio came to church 30 minutes early so he could rest for a bit after pedaling hard with his hands to get him there!  What an INCREDIBLE person!!!  Maria came, Alejandra and Camila came--their mom was so happy to let them go with us and have us take them back home.  Miguel of course came and a few other people.  After church on the way back to their house, Camila was talking to me a ton and telling me that they are going to move to the US in May but was telling me all about her classes.  She then asked me all about the mission and how that works because she said a girl at church was talking to her and it really interested her.  But Camila was worried because she said, "But like if I become a member here and want to prepare to serve a mission later on, I´m moving so how do I do that?!!"  I was shocked and just loved bearing my testimony about missionary work, the Gospel, and that OF COURSE the church is in the USA--that's where it was restored!  She was like oh yeah!!  and I told her it would all work out :)  Alejandra was saying how cool it was that their class related to something they had been reading in the Book of Mormon and that you really should prepare like that to go to church.  These girls are only 12 and 15 years old but really really special spirits and people.  How amazing.  We had a wonderful lunch and lesson with the Diaz family--they are like our family here in Francisco and honestly remind me of Modern Family hahahaha I LOVE them!  Sebastian is 9 years old but acts like he is 45--no joke.  He is SO witty and mature and just cracks us up.  He´s the Manny of the fam.  We all got really teary as I related my experience to them of being able to go through the temple for the first time but having all my family with me and feeling/seeing a piece of what the celestial kingdom must feel like--having all your family with you for eternity.  They have a goal to be sealed in the temple and it was so special to be with them.
We then had a fun FHE and then anxiously awaited transfer calls and those dumb leaders I swear call 100 times more often on transfer Sundays for different things than other days hahaha they like to freak us out.
Today we are going to Malecon and Las Penas--my first outing on a Pday really hahaha we usually just chill and don't have time to do things cuz we have a lot to do but we are excited!  One because we all love each other and two because Hna Ward is going home in 2 weeks and we want to spend time with her too.

At the end of it all, I want to testify of the amazing blessings and miracles of the Lord but the importance of doing your best, working hard, and relying on the Lord to take care of the rest.  I don´t know how we started the week with nothing and how we have a lot more now but I know that the Lord is blessing us.  This church is true!  The gospel changes lives and people can feel it!  Christ lives!  He loves us and wants the best for us.  I know the righteous desires of our hearts will be answered in the Lord´s timing and in His way--don´t give up!  Learn to patiently wait on the Lord, always maintaining faith and hope.  I know that families can be together forever, I know the Book of Mormon is true and that we can find any answer to life´s problems in that book!  I know we have a prophet today and I know that though we are imperfect and should always strive to be better each day, our Heavenly Father blesses our efforts.  This Gospel is a Gospel of change, of love, of mercy, of peace, and eternal blessings.  It´s worth the wait, the price, and the sacrifice.  Share your testimony with those around you this week and I promise you will feel of this marvelous work!

This week while reading the Relief Society book they printed this year, I found a quote from Joseph Smith that I love.  It´s so simple but has been something I´ve been trying to do lately.  He has counseled us all to, ¨be at peace with the Lord, with those around you, and with yourself.¨ It´s as simple as that and I feel like if we feel that peace in those 3 aspects of our life, we are on the right track.

I love you all so much and pray for you daily!  LOVE YOU!!!!  Have a wonderful week.

Love,
Hermana Bryan

With Julio

With the Diaz Family

There's Drama about Life, but this is like Drama about Eternal Life!

Eating at Chili's!!!

A part of our Sector

Hola Familia!!  

Well I can honestly say that this week has been CRAZY and full of so many tears, laughter, drama of the mish, heartaches, prayers, fasting, and reliance on the Lord to complete His will.  
Needless to say every time we got home at night, our other house comp Hermana Ward would be waiting anxiously to see what had happened in our telenovela series that day.  Finally on Friday--she said the quote I quoted in the title of my email and we loved that hahaha.  So true.  Gotta love the mish!  Also today and tomorrow is Carnaval--where people throw water, foam, etc all over each other so that will be fun.  Everything is like closed and many people are traveling so it's really calm and quiet here which is weird.  But this holiday looks so fun--we should do it in the US :)

So last Monday was awesome and we celebrated our 7 month anniversary by going to Chilis!!  That´s right--you read that correctly--we found a Chili´s over here and we invited the sisters from our house and Hna Hernandez and her comp as well so that was so awesome!  We both were so glad we were comps after seeing our old comps and their emotional states.  Hna Hernandez was bawling as she hugged me and I felt so badly--I´m glad she could talk to me for a bit that day.  We then got our hair done later on by Miguel and it was SO awesome--my hair is blonde and I love it again :) He did it just like I loved it in the states.  We then spent the rest of the night with him because we could tell something was up.  He ended up telling us everything--everything he has passed through and exactly how he had felt and I don't remember details cuz the rest of the week got worse haha I just remember bawling with him and Hna Johansen and giving him hope and counsel and it was wonderful.
We then (the 4 of us in our house) didn´t really sleep because we wanted to make our Zone and investigators feel special and made them all personalized Valentines and goodies.  So that was fun!

Tuesday we had a great District and Zone meeting and the elders loved the brownies we made (thanks mom :) ) and the valentines.  We then dropped off Oreo truffles (Caity Jones remember us last year?! :) ) for Miguel and Mayra and valentines for them.  It was so fun--I loved being able to spread my love more so.  We then had a good day and in English class, Miguel brought us beautiful white roses and it was such a fun class--teaching them about love, relationships, we taught them the Barney song bahahahaha, and then shared a wonderful message from the scriptures.  After English, we were talking to Miguel and he told us what happened to him after work.  He went by the house only to find Alvaro throwing his clothes all over outside, with his suitcases packed and thrown out the door.  All of his belongings were thrown all over the pavement outside and his sister was crying and Alvaro was yelling, etc and kicked him out of the house.  Miguel asked a store owner nearby to watch his things so he could come to English class.  What?!  We went with him to get his stuff and try to call the bishop but no one was home and so here we were at night in Guayaquil, Ecuador with Miguel kicked out of his house and no where to stay and no friends, lugging his huge suitcase filled with everything he has down the streets.  He started laughing at one point and turned to us and said, "Hermanitas, this is not just a boulder--this is a mountain!!!"  haha I have no idea how he could keep his humor or great attitude at a time like that and we wanted to pay or buy him food, etc. but he wouldn't accept it saying how much in debt he was to us for teaching him, loving him, and being his support.  He didn't even charge us for our hair on Monday.  We finally just had to leave him because we had to be home and he told us not to worry that he would find a hotel.  Wow.

Wednesday we had a few lessons but everything else fell through--we ended up going so crazy we invited a dog to be baptized cuz he was the only thing close by or willing to listen.  I know...I know... so Wed in the morning I cried during comp study singing Because I Have Been Given Much and we both cried during the prayer but we had faith that a miracle would happen and the blessings and fruits are to be seen.  We just kept thinking about Miguel.  Also, I loved the scriptures in Alma 31:32-38 about prayers of faith and miracles happening.  There is an awesome kid that just moved into our ward who is SO willing and wanting to help us--he always went out with the elders in his area and it was so awesome to visit with him.  Wow.  Kids like that inspire me.  We met with Miguel and he was ok--he told us, ¨Despite so much that has happened to me, I feel calm.¨  It was amazing.  We also taught his co-workers because they were all curious about our religion.  He slipped away and I grabbed his BOM and slipped in 20 dollars so he could pay for one more night in the hotel because he had no money, no food, no place to stay, and no support other than us.  I felt it was the least I could do.  He ended up calling in the nighttime and said, ¨Hermanita Bryan, el Espiritu Santo hizo un milagro!!!¨ and I started busting up laughing telling him how excited I was for him to tell me what happened.  He said he was in institute and opened his scriptures and found the money.  He started crying and just thanked us and I can't even describe how much Hna Johansen and I were happy and amazed all at the same time on Wed.  That soon ended when Elder Rubio called me to tell me that Pres was canceling Miguel's appt AGAIN.  We were fuming because we had asked them to verify this for 2 weeks and they ended up canceling again and both Mayra and Miguel had planned to take off for the interview.  We felt sick and descepcionadas, etc.

So needless to say, Thursday was not our greatest day.  We went to go to Miguel's work to talk to him and he and Maryra were SO excited to see us and talk about the interview and Mayra saw my face and knew exactly what had happened.  Miguel sunk to the floor when we told him the news and asked us to leave him be for a while, he needed to figure things out and it was more horrible than we had thought so as soon as we left, Hermana Johansen and I just burst into tears and we were bawling and sobbing in the middle of the street.  Haha I´m sure that was a sight to see for everyone who saw us but we couldn´t help it--we felt so broken.  We then had the most hilarious and horrible rest of the day--remind me to explain about the most embarrassing lunch I´ve ever had, etc.  We were just praying that Miguel would be ok and still maintain his faith.  He did end up coming to  English which was a miracle and we ended up having a lesson with him and when he told us what he did the rest of the day, he said, ¨Fui a comprar una cola (and then he looked right at me and said) y adivina que mas....Adivina...(at this point I just said nooooo cuz I knew he was referring to cigarettes).  He started smiling and said adivina!  And then he smiled and said, ¨CASI¨.  When he said Casi, I almost exploded from happiness and unbelief and just was SO happy and knew that his conversion had sunk in and that he still had faith and his testimony and HE DIDN'T SMOKE!!!!  Even in that situation!  We had a great lesson with him and related his story to the pioneers and he said ¨But sisters, the pioneers received miracles and blessings right when they were about to die or lose ALL hope or faith, right?!  We agreed.  He then said...I still have faith!  So what's going to happen to me?!!!  Oh no!¨ hahahaha wow We busted up laughing and just felt so grateful for the blessings and truthfulness and incredible testimonies people who really are converted can have.

Friday we had a great lesson with Julio and he said he would come to church and then we met with a new guy, Ronald and both me and my comp felt guided in finding him and it was a sweet, neat experience.  It´s amazing what happens when the Spirit is with you--that is the key to life and to the mission and everything!  We also had interviews with Pres Amaya on Friday and it was the first time I left an interview down and confused, etc.  I don't want to go into detail but it was great until I asked about Miguel and we are getting so much opposition from personal feelings, opinions, etc without them even interviewing or knowing him first.  I understand that Miguel has to wait to be baptized but we feel like it´s not fair to not even give him a chance to be interviewed!  A lot of things going on but we trust in the Lord and know that He makes all things just right in the end.  Also, it's our job to support our leaders and that has been SO hard lately with everything because they try to make us baptize people who aren't ready or don't want to come to church even, but refuse to even give Miguel an interview yet! But we know that it's for a reason so we just have to remember that and stay strong! :)  
Friday we finally found Jacinto at home again and we had the most scary experience I´ve ever had on my mission.  Jacinto is lost and has let himself forget the feelings he felt and be taken over by a dark presence and Hna Johansen walked out the door and I was just in shock and she looked at me and said, ¨FREAKY STUFF MAN!!!¨ hahahaha We then proceeded to walk away quickly and freak out for 30 minutes until we realized what had happened, how grateful we are for the Spirit and the truthfulness of the Gospel and how the adversary won´t win.

Saturday was a good day and Fabian accompanied us and he is such a stud--he is already a missionary and it's amazing to be around examples and people like that.  Wow.  We had a few great lessons and were able to share the love of Christ and then after English, we both felt really nervous like we needed to go find Miguel so we started walking towards his work and right before we were crossing the street to go over there, who would cross our path but him?!   The Lord is incredible.  He was walking to find us because he wanted to tell us he had been reading the BOM in Spanish and English and received an answer.  He said, how many years did Lehi and Nephi have to wait in the wilderness??  We said woooo muchos!!!  He said exactly.  And do you think they liked it??  No.  And how many trials did they have to go through??? A ton!!  But what were the promised blessings?  A promised land and blessings of the Gospel.  He said if they could do it why can't I?  I have decided to wait and to wait in Ecuador.  I´m not going back to Colombia.  Not without being baptized and he was SO happy.  He then found a place to live and felt like the Lord was finally blessing him poco a poco!

Sunday Hna Johansen and I gave talks and I gave mine on Choosing Eternal Life through going back to the basics.  I used pieces of talks and then the NOE program and my own testimony and I loved looking down at the people I love in our ward here and seeing their smiles and trying to help everyone--this work and Gospel is incredible and it gives us so much room to improve and work and be better and feel of the Lord´s love for us.  I then got an ear infection later on in the day that KILLED so that was fun.  I bought some meds though so no need to worry or go to the Clinica Kennedy--haha I´m so done with that place!  But we´ve figured it out that just about every 2 months I get sick here so you know--something to plan for :)
Miguel accompanied us yesterday and our last lesson was with a less active wonderful lady and her son who come to English sometimes and she is SUCH a sweet, beautiful, amazing person and there was such a sweet spirit present.  It was wonderful for both her and Miguel to relate and share testimony and for us to bear sweet testimony.

The Gospel is such a sweet thing.  I know that the Lord requires a lot of us:  a lot of patience, waiting, faith, hope, trust, work.  But I also know that He has given us everything and that we are here to progress and He is molding us into who He needs us to be.  I testify of the importance of having the Spirit in our lives and of feeling--really FEELING charity and how that changes one´s heart.  I love being a missionary.  I love being able to mourn with those who mourn.  Although this week was crazy and we cried and worried and prayed more than we have in forever, it was such an incredibly amazing experience to realize that all this heartache and deep emotions we were feeling were 100 percent for someone else.  Someone else that we loved and that we didn't think about ourselves, our lives, our families, nothing like all week.  Wow--the Lord helps us that is for sure and charity really is love, and is pure, and changes lives.  I´m trying to pray for that gift and be worthy of it and try to keep improving my abilities to share that with others.  Although numbers are focused on here and I know their importance, it´s been so neat these past couple of weeks to try and feel the Spirit and really try to do what Christ would do if He were here right now.  He focuses on the one and still makes time for other things but this week we learned what it means to focus on the one.

I LOVE missionary work, I love the Gospel, I know families can be together forever.  I know the Book of Mormon is true and that it changes lives.  I know the Holy Ghost really can be our companion.  I know that through prayer one can develop that close, loving relationship with our Father in Heaven.  I love and miss all of you so much and pray for you!!

Happy Presidents Day!!

Love you!!!
Hermana Bryan

Us making Valentines!

Our Streets --like lakes and swimming pools when it rains super hard!

Get that Corn Outta my Face!

Hola Familia!!!  

So this week has been wonderful and hard too like always but what a difference it makes when your companion is amazing!!!  Sis Johansen is from Chandler, Arizona.  She knew the Hyers cuz she lived in the same ward as them at BYU.  She quotes Nacho Libre all the time so I´m sure you can already see this is a heaven sent companionship haha (hence the title of my email) really though sometimes we laugh because we are the same person.  We have the same sense of humor and it´s just great to go through the trials of the mission with her!  It makes all the difference in the world.  I feel so blessed by my Heavenly Father for this change.  She had a rough couple of transfers with her comp too so we both feel like we can finally breathe, that we´re tired but not emotionally drained all the time, but that we both need to re-gain who we are because we lost a little bit of that these last transfers.  It´s dumb how much comps can affect you and then you have to pick up the pieces and find your true whole self again but so wonderful when you CAN pick up the pieces and breathe and find that person and missionary again!

Tuesday the Zone Leaders had me share my testimony for the zone about how we had been working and finding new people because we had found more than almost any other area and it was a nice opportunity to share the simple truths of missionary work and the gospel.  The Lord blesses us for even just opening our mouths and getting out the door and getting to work!  Also the Spirit being present is the whole key to missionary work.  We are NOTHING without the guidance and company of the Spirit.  We also gave Elder Rubio a belated bday gift and it was hilarious cuz I put it in the heart bag you gave me, Mom and he started freaking out and yelled NOO when we tried to give it to him and almost ran away.  He came back and Hna Johansen was shocked cuz that was her first impression of him hahahaha.  I love making him embarrassed--he told us it was the bag that made him react that way and so we have decided to do a heart themed gift almost every week now bahahaha.

Wednesday during personal study I was reading the 4th missionary talk that Dad sent me and I started crying a lot because it shared exactly how I was feeling and answered my questions or doubts about who I´m trying to be and how I feel.  Wednesday was kind of frustrating and disappointing because ever since this new change, everything has been failing and falling through and now all of a sudden, Jacinto changed and doesn't want to be baptized, etc.  what?!  We are trying to figure out what happened.  So because everything has been failing, we have been contacting SO much and it's so tiring but the Lord blesses us each day for working and being happy and staying strong in the work!  

Thursday we had SUCH a wonderful comp inventory--I love Hermana Johansen!  We were meant to be comps and I feel like my total self around her.  We had a wonderful English class and we just love Miguel!  He is getting tired of waiting though and we just want him to be happy.  He told us and asked us afterwards why the time with us always goes by so quickly?!  We love him so much and he was willing to get fired from his work to try and have his interview--wow but once again the mission office couldn't do it.  This whole situation has really really bothered me and Hna Johansen so badly because supposedly the mission wants to meet our goal of baptisms right? Well we have a beyond golden investigator with a strong testimony waiting to be baptized and nobody is doing anything to help us get him baptized!  And poor Miguel has been waiting for forever!  He has so much patience, faith, and hope and is doing so many wonderful things in his life.  I can´t help but think the Lord is trying him.  Supposedly Pres is going to interview him on Thursday (3 days from now) so we are fasting right now for that and that he will be able to finally enjoy these blessings in his life.  PLEASE pray for him!!!  and that the mission will help us with him.

Friday was INCREDIBLE.  Miguel took off the whole day because he thought he was going to have his interview and we felt so badly about that and especially because we know he hates being home and with nothing to do because of his horrible brother-in-law and also he hates feeling alone.  So we passed by his house and he came home right at the same time we went.  We apologized for everything and offered him to come accompany us all day if he wanted to and he said he really did and that would be wonderful.  We were so excited!  While waiting for him, I wanted to give him the article ¨Waiting Upon the Lord¨ by Elder Hales so I asked him if he had the Liahona I had given him.  He got surprised and embarrassed and said no but he had already read it so it was ok that he got rid of it, right?  I didn't answer and he said he had used it to clean the windows and then asked, is that bad??  He then saw our reactions and started busting up laughing and pulled out a binder with his stuff and each Liahona had a different sheet protector hahahaha we love him so much.  We asked him what he had done after English the night before and he said he came home and started reading the BOM in English to practice his English but still feel of the Spirit and also practiced his prayers in English.  Who does that?!  Wow.
So he accompanied us and it was incredible!!!  I´ve never even seen a member be like him.  He jumped in on contacts and especially in lessons in sharing his feelings about the church, eternal families, the blessings that can come from being baptized, and his favorite scriptures, etc.  I couldn´t help myself but each time, I started smiling SO bigly and proudly and unbelievingly!  He found the perfect scripture in D&C 6 when we were with Jacinto about not fearing to do good and we could just tell he loved feeling of the Spirit all day even though it was very tiring for him haha.
We then went to the temple with him in the evening to show him the grounds and have a lesson and prayer in the waiting room area.  He could feel the peace and Spirit and we told him a story and lesson about trials and motivation and he said he was going to keep waiting and pushing because he wants this so badly.  It was so neat to be there and watch him feel of that special Spirit the temple brings.  He is just so amazing and invited everyone to go with him to institute or to a FHE or to church, etc.  We´re always so amazed and feel so blessed to know him.

Saturday was a fail of a day hahaha Hna Johansen started keeping a list of all the things that went wrong that day cuz it was just so funny. haha  We had a bad lesson to start off the morning, Pizza Hut failed times 4 for lunch, we had dog attacks like always, weird creepy guys who profess to be the perfect teachers and have Osama pics on their calling cards, almost sprained my ankle, etc. haha It was a funny day.  But ended so amazingly.  We went to Miguel's house to have a FHE with him and Mayra and supposed to be Jacinto but Jacinto wasn't home.  So we decided to just do it anyway.  We had to wait outside in the rain for his sister to get home and he kept apologizing and then when they got home, Mayra's RM super rude and ungrateful hubby entered and he was so dumb about everything.  He locked himself in his room and then left and never says anything to us, etc.  He is ruining their lives and treats them like crap all the time.  But we didn't let that bother us!  We entered and tried to dry off our feet on the mat and Miguel searched in his suitcases and brought out a towel and asked us to remove our socks and shoes so he could dry off our feet for us.  We got really embarrassed and suprised and he said that Christ did it so we should let him do it.  Wow.  Words don´t have description to the meaning and feelings we felt seeing him wanting to serve us in that manner.  Marya ended up drying our feet and each and every toe.  Wow--what incredible people they are.  So Christlike and they really are converted and live the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  They loved 17 Miracles and were bawling and it was so sweet!  Miguel wouldn't let us call our taxi and he got soaked doing it and he just kept apologizing and apologizing for his brother-in-law but we told him we don't go there for his brother-in-law!  We are there for him!  and for Mayra!  We came home and just wanted to cry and cry thinking about he and Marya--the best people I´ve met and they have to go through SO many things right now and it doesn't seem fair!  I know the Lord will bless and provide, but man sometimes it´s like, how long is it going to take??  I love him and Mayra so so much.  He kept telling us how much he loves us and I just can´t ever stop praying for a miracle in his life!  I trust in the Lord and in His timing though.  Miguel and Mayra Sarmiento are some of the most incredible, loving, Christlike people I´ve ever met and have changed my life and heart forever.

Sunday was wonderful because the talks were exactly what Mayra and Miguel needed to hear.  They also talked to the bishop about their home situation and the bishop is so fed up with Alvaro´s attitude and is going to tell him like it is.  I´m glad they have the ward's support and help in this.  Also Mayra shared her testimony in Relief Society and reminded me of Nephi when he says oh that I were an angel...she said that she leaves the BOM out at her hair salon and each customer always ends up staring at it or asking a question so she shares her testimony and then encouraged the ward that we can always share the gospel but there comes a time when they need to refer to the missionaries!  We were like..what?!  How is it that these two people are so so strong and valiant despite their difficulties?  There was also a neat experience in our Gospel Principles class where a mom of a member stood up and started crying thanking us for the examples the members set and saying how much she´s been able to feel and see in our church and families and it was incredible to see how much that affected her and has touched her life!  The Gospel changes lives and it´s something and a change you can see and feel.  What a blessing!

Well today is our 7 month anniversary!!  Crazy!  I miss you all like crazy and love you so much!  Please keep praying for our investigators and program and I am always praying for you.  I´m so grateful for your examples and love.  This church is true.  Christ lives and loves us.  The blessings of the Gospel are not replaceable and cannot be found in any other church or any other part of the world!  The Lord is waiting for you with His loving, wounded hands ever outstretched and all we have to do is come!  I invite you to do so and live in a way where you can help others do the same.  I love my Savior and I love my Heavenly Father and am forever indebted to them and grateful for this opportunity I have to share my love and joy and testimony with everyone here in Ecuador.  I love this quote-- ¨We are the followers of Jesus Christ.  And we have been followers and have loved Him for a long, long time.  Nothing is more important than working and sacrificing and enduring for Him.¨ I bear testimony of that!  

I love you!!!  Never forget that :)

Love,
Hermana Bryan

Me and My Companion, Hermana Johansen

Hermana Johansen, Miguel, Me

Me, Miguel, Hermana Johansen