Be of good Cheer. The Future is as Bright as your Faith!!

Hermana Diez and Me at Conference!

Hola Familia y Amigos!!!  

Bueno, our lovely President changed the writing time to 30 minutes, so I'm typing and reading like crazy to try and get things in!!  Man I'm so nervous, hahaha, I hate changes like this!

Ok so Tuesday was an AWESOME day.  We felt like our prayers were so answered because we so expressed to the Lord us needing Him to help us, and He really blessed our day with new people, refs, etc.  I felt so grateful that day to be alive and know such wonderful people in my life and have such wonderful support.  THANKS!!!  Also, the bus driver didn't make us pay---awesome!  And our ZLs are AWESOME and so great.  It was a bit hard with our not-so-awesome DL and I was kind of crying and had to express my feelings and give machete with love to him in DM, but it will be ok.  We lovingly call him Elder Voldemort.  Is that horrible?  It's all good fun haha.  At the end of the day I was thinking about Condor (can't help it---fav area---and for the first time since leaving, I was actually grateful to be HERE) wow can you believe it?!!

Wednesday was Hna Diez's birthday and she felt way loved.  I was busting up laughing during our hymn in a lesson because it was the answer to my worries and fears and I felt happy again---the worst part about it is it was during a lesson and I left my comp singing solo and she was way confused!  hahahaha

Thursday I was pretty sad and down but the Hymn 148 again made me happy and lifted us up, and during a lesson with Janet and her 2 kids (Marcos and Melanie) the Spirit was so strong and there was focus and happiness and they accepted baptismal dates and understood everything.  It was amazing!!!!

Friday was a day of opposition in all things.  I was way sick and had no energy, etc and everything failed and everyone failed us and no one was home and no contacts, etc  fail.  And to top it off, at the end of the day when we had continued walking and trying and talking ourselves through the day, our DL asked Hna Diez if we set goals--like trying to see if we actually do things and if I'm actually training her---he is really degrading and that set me off the top.  Hard day.

Saturday, honestly I was so excited for Conference, and the morning session was awesome and the afternoon session for sure humbled me and called us to diligence, focus, and repentance.  I felt pretty down afterwards and so imperfect for this work, and how much I need to repent of.  Well we went out and it was another fail---no one home and everything failing us and I felt SO down not knowing why things are failing or what to do and how to make people understand that THIS is the answer to every problem!  I felt like my faults affected the work and I know that Satan wants us to feel that way, so thank heavens for MUCH PRAYER and for Sunday conference answers!!

Sunday Conference's Music and the Spoken Word was exactly what I needed to hear about being grateful for the little tender mercies the Lord sends us, and justamente I had read about that story in Numbers this week in my personal study.  Conference was AMAZING and the morning session I got so many answers to my questions.  It was so great to feel that happiness and inner strength and peace again, and determination to do whatever the Lord asked of me.  Such a blessing.

I love that in the conference everyone talked about having a change of heart, repentance, becoming who God wants us to be, serving with more dedication, hope, doing the will of God, being happy and grateful despite circumstances, missionary work (crazy awesome announcements!!!!), loving God, and loving others.  SUCH ANSWERS!!  

The answers to my prayers came from Elder Uchtdorf's talk, Elder Eyring, Elder Holland, and Elder Nash.

Marcos, Melani, and Janet came to Conference, and Marcos (only 10) had read all of 3 Nephi 11 and had memorized and understood everything!  It is amazing how elect he is!!!  Wow we were so happy!  Also, our first lesson failed us and I was like, you know what?  We are going to contact his neighbor because I had always seen a young guy very nice and working and felt we should talk to him. My comp, a bit nervous, literally jumped out from behind a wall in front of their door and announced so happily and yelling, "WE ARE MISSIONARIES!!!!" bahahahahaha I was trying so hard not to die laughing and smiled and smoothed things over, and we talked to them and turns out they always went to church and church activities when an old LDS neighbor invited them and loved the church, etc.  We are so excited to visit them!  Tender mercy for sure.

Then we got to visit some referrals from members and they were home, and got to know their challenges and awesome family and they are married which is huge here and we just felt like everything fell into place! 

So happy and such inner peace and strength and so grateful.

How grateful I am for a living prophet.  I love my Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.  I know that if we submit our will to theirs, everything will be ok.  I love that we don't have to worry and we just have to trust in them and have faith in their promises.  Love them, trust them, let's put Them first and SERVE FOREVER!!!!!!!

Hermanas Amador, Vidrio, Me, and Diez

Love you!!                                                

Love,

Hermana Bryan

Hermana Vidrio and Me

Happy October--WHAT?!!!!

Hermana Diez and Me at Chili's celebrating her 23rd Birthday!

Hola Familia y Amigos!!!  

Wow crazy stuff.  Lots of crazy feelings going on inside of me every day and I imagine that keeps going on till the end right?  haha nice!  BUT...

So Monday and Tuesday I stayed in Francisco de Orellana and man though I didn't eat or sleep because of my nerves, it was SO neat to see my converts and favorite members again.  Such a tender mercy because when I say goodbye to people one Monday in December, I was going to go to Condor, and felt sad about not going to Francisco but now I don't have to and the Lord provided the opportunity!!!  Tender mercy.  

I saw JULIO and he was so so happy and great.  He is a ward missionary, receives the Melchizedek Priesthood this conference and went to the temple!!!!! Then I saw the Diaz fam and it was SO fun and hilarious to be there, and then Christian.  What great people I have grown to love.

I felt so so alone on Monday and Tuesday---like I was with so many people but still so alone (kind of like how I felt before the mish--funny how it all comes back to you during times like this) and I was so nervous to train.  Tuesday we went to DM and it was so spiritual and great!!  It was neat talking to Christian because he said that in my eyes and rostro he can tell that I've grown a lot and am different and have many more qualities---how nice.  Also Elder Acosta in the DM said that he used Alma 7:15 the other day in a lesson and that I had taught him that and how to apply it with love months ago in Orquideas.  Tender mercy--wow didn't know he would remember that one practice like I do.

Tuesday night I went to the office to get my companion and was so so nervous.  I was the only hermana and 5 other elders because just a few came this time.  We waited for a while and then went inside with them to have a capacitation meeting with the assistants and then President.  I saw my comp and smiled so widely and was so loving and happy and she was the same!!  We had a wonderful training meeting with President and he reminded us of things I needed to hear again.  I felt the Lord's help and animos and strength and rededication.  At the end, all of a sudden he stood in front of my comp and looked at Hna Diez (like the number, haha, that's her name--she's great) and said, "Hermana, Hna Bryan is the most experienced hermana in the mission since she came," and then looked at me. Then he looked at her and said, "And SHE is your companion!"  She thanked him and then he said, "She has little time left in the mission and she knows that. You will be her last companion (I started crying then.)  Copy everything from her. Copy everything from her!  We have full confidence in her and hope that part of her stays here in you for the mission.  Take advantage of your time together."

Wow he made me feel SO loved and trusted and I felt so imperfect, and even though I had felt so imperfect and need to be better and need to focus and come back and give my all and all my heart again,etc I felt the Lord's love and President's love, which was such a blessing.  He then assured us that we will give accountance for what we do here but that the Lord will help us always.

Hna Diez in the nighttime told me that I was the companion she prayed for and more than what she hoped for.  I then told her that I, all last week, honestly prayed for a change and for animos and if it was Heavenly Father's will that we could change the ward around that he could give me a comp that wanted to do that with me and it would be easier almost to open the area and start over, etc. The call for changes on Sunday night was an answer to my prayers and thoughts, and training was so unexpected but the Lord knew that was what I NEED right now to end well and be focused and so busy and re-learn things I have forgotten.  How Heavenly Father knows us and what we need!!  

Wednesday was the busiest, best, most happy day ever!!!  I felt so focused and on top of the world having a comp with animos and energy and wanting to do everything.

Thursday was a bit rough desanimo wise, but the Lord always always helps me through!!

Friday was good but had another scary experience with opposition and the adversary's power and influence.  So glad we have the Spirit and Heavenly Father's angels.  I love Hna Diez´s prayers.  She is so great and always prays for everything and everyone and wants to do everything she can!!  

Saturday I finished Jesus the Christ!!  Loved it.  We had a great great comp study and I literally have felt guided by the Spirit in a few occasions this week to do an activity or ask a question or teach something that I hadn't planned and think she needs at that time, and precisely is what she needs or loved, etc.  Thank heavens for the Spirit!  I feel so grateful. 

Tender mercy was the Relief Society Conference!!!!!  How I love our Lord Jesus Christ and the Atonement and all the things they mentioned.  It helped so much center my mind again and crazy how much they talked about the heart and justamente the Lord had been preparing me all week in my study with being able to recognize how many times the BOM focuses on the state of our hearts, etc. It's all about the heart!!  It's all we have to give!

Sunday we had a wonderful comp study and we both were crying expressing our feelings about the mish and each other and how grateful we are for each other---we have only been together less than a week but already are really close---what a blessing!  The Lord prepared me to receive other teachings I had studied.  

I love something I found:  "Trusting in God's will is central to our mortality.  With faith in Him, we draw upon the power of Christ's Atonement at those times when questions abound and answers are few."--Ronald A. Rasband

Well, Sunday I was pretty down during the day and so so tired emotionally and physically and have felt so weighed down with changing the ward, reaching baptism goals, finding new people, putting dates, not getting lost, teaching my comp, fighting the inner feeling fight of going home and other stuff, etc etc.  Many things--and yesterday for the 10th time someone wasn't home and I honestly had NO clue what to do at that point.  I was out of ideas and juice.  We were trying to find someone named Marcos.  I stopped and prayed and fought desanimo for a few minutes as my comp tried to open a gate and I was looking at the maps, etc. Then tried to yell his name again, and as I yelled so loudly, "MARCOOOOOOS!!!!!"  I literally heard a playing voice in my head, or memories of pool afternoons, someone answering back, "POLO!!!!!"  and I busted up laughing alone in the street.  Thank heavens our Father in Heaven has a sense of humor and helps us fight desanimo! :)  We then found a family of 3---a referral from a member and we are really excited about it.

Pray that I can know what to do, and teach my comp, and we can find the elect and see baptisms and miracles!  haha Thank you.

I pray for you ALWAYS!!!  Write a list of questions for General Conference and I promise that they will be answered!  I'm SOOOOO excited!  It will be exactly what we all need!  I love this work--the church is true.  I love my Savior and His grace and His Atonement and I rely daily on Him and His sacrifice.  I feel very blessed and though it's hard at times, the Lord helps us through, always, and that's how it always will be!  He helps mold us and make us stronger and He knows what we need.

I love you!!!

Hermana Bryan

Never Alone

Bueno Familia,

No tengo mucho tiempo

PERO

this week was one of the hardest weeks of my life!!!!  BUT the good news is that the Lord gave me so much more strength than I thought I had.  My patience was tried like never before, charity, animos, many things.  BUT the Lord blessed me with charity that I didn't even know I had for my companion!!   What a blessing it was to be able to help her, love her, accept her, and silently suffer a bit and trust in the Lord.

Can't lie that I have felt more alone this week than ever but knew that I wasn't ever alone because I have all of YOU praying for me and loving me and supporting me.  The ward is hard---it's pretty desanimado right now and so I literally felt that I had left the celestial kingdom and arrived in outer darkness, hahahaha, sad right??  Literally.  

But I am determined to animate the ward again and the leaders and the members and let them know that we are different and have different attitudes and love and energy for this work.  Also we basically don't have investigators so we need to find God's elect and need lots of help haha.

Thursday during comp inventory my comp told me that I helped her remember who she was.  Who would have known?  Love works.  Patience works.  Not focusing on people's weaknesses and faults works.  Trusting in God works. Prayer and pouring out our hearts works.

Friday we got news that we had President's interviews so we went and he gave us a mini capacitation meeting and it was AWESOME--about gaining the confidence of the members and working with them, and he said that the way to do it is using what you brought here from your house.  That was an answer to prayers--I was determined to gain myself back again and not let anyone affect me or my personality in doing the work!  He also talked about comp relationships and the importance of unity and love and forgiveness and maintaining an eternal perspective.  It's all about that lately---eternal perspective.

In my interview he asked how I was, how my companionship was going and I told him and he wanted my opinion on a few things.  He asked about my life as a missionary and how I feel, and I expressed how GRATEFUL I am as a missionary to be here and love this work, etc.  He knew I needed to study a few things that I was just thinking about--it was awesome! :) hahaha He also asked if I had any questions for him.  My mind raced with a million questions, but I smiled and paused and thought, and smiled at him and said, "President, I have a million questions inside of me.  But any that matter right now, no."  And that was the truth and he knew it, and I'm pretty sure knew they had to do with the future, etc.  He then told me he had a question for me but didn't want to make me not focused, and he asked me if I was sure I wanted to go home in December.  He asked me if I was sure of that and didn't want to wait until January.  I was shocked---not expecting that.  I then said, "Oh President, I don't know, what do you think?!"  He was like, "OH NO!  I don't get involved with that." hahaha But said he only was asking to make sure to buy tickets this week.  I thought and told him yes, I was sure, December.  He said it was prudent to do that and get back into school etc but man, I was wondering why he asked that but felt good about my decision as we have always felt good about it.  In my interview with him I felt his love, I felt his fatherly love and care and worry and I was my total self, laughing, thinking, loving and trusting, and he thanked me a ton.  He gave me counsel to focus 100 percent and enjoy what I do and it was what I needed for what I was going through!!  What a blessing to feel that love from him.

Saturday cool experience eating in a restaurant and a family super curious was asking us questions and it was just SO normal for me to be eating and sharing the Gospel. hahaha Cool.

Sunday I gave a talk and got emotional about how much I felt joy and feel joy in this work.  Church was EXACTLY what we needed and the spiritual re-boost and awareness that Heavenly Father loves me and knows me.  I felt during the sacrament and obtained a testimony that Christ KNEW exactly what I was going through and how I felt, and I KNEW that He did and loved me and felt sad for that and was going to help me.  I knew it and it was something I felt so strongly.  

D&C 6:33-34 were for me this week and how to avoid fears and trust in God and give my all!  Also an article from the local pages here in South America about why there's an opposition in all things.

Well--got news today that I am training and basically opening a new area because I don't know my way around and don't know many people still.  We have a brand new ward mission leader I have to train as well, and starting from zero with a newbie.  Crazy trials! haha BUT I know that with the Lord, He will help me do it and handle it.  Pray for me and for my comp and for the ward leaders and members.  We are going to work with them to animate them and help them feel the joy of this work and find God's elect!  Just to find a balance will be the key :)

Aaaaahh!!! :) hahaha God knew I needed to be super busy during these last few months I think, haha.  

Well I love you all.  I know this church is true.  God lives and loves us. Christ suffered for us.  Missionary work is the best!  Trials are for our own good and growth and we just have to have faith in God and in His promises.

LOVE YOU!!!!

Hermana Bryan

Duran Duran

Welp Family,

The time had to come when the best months of my life would end and they did.  Way by surprise, but inside we had suspected this for a while and felt it.
I got transferred and am now in Duran Ward in Duran Stake.  It's about 45 mins from Guayaquil---super close actually and Hna Alvarez's old ward!  Also--Hna Johansen is in my zone now so that's awesome!
I'm trying to be strong and trying not to focus on the pain and the sadness I feel.  I know it just means I had so many wonderful experiences and eternal relationships formed that changed my heart and life forever.

To sum up my last week in Condor:

Tuesday we had a great study together and a good zone meeting---I made salsa etc and the assistants were there by surprise.  It was a great meeting and Elder Osegueda has progressed SO much as a leader!!  He has grown in love and concern.  I also was really struck by something I read about agency and future decisions, and situations we see here in the mission so I have made a list of goals for myself for after my mission that I'm really excited about.

Wednesday we went to visit Maria and we got there and she said that she had thought and prayed about it and felt like she needed to stay in her religion---that's what her heart felt, etc.  We were sitting there on the couch and had Kevin, David, and Cristian there observing everything.  She was being so sweet and soft about it and apologizing--I literally felt like she was breaking up with us. hahaha It was a horrible feeling!!  But we knew then we had to teach the Restoration, and the Spirit was very very very present in that lesson. Man I hope she chooses to follow the Spirit and be baptized and let go of her fears!!  She is great and would make a great member with her kids.
Also Wednesday Kevin was talking to me and told me how much he has felt different lately, and how everyone has said he has changed, etc and he recognized it finally.  He said he sees things differently now and his vision has completely changed---it's more of an eternal perspective and he feels things spiritually now---they affect him spiritually and said that one of the main things is that he has learned and had so much love grow in his heart that he never knew he had.  He said that is key.  He said it was all from accompanying us and I was way astounded at the extent of our influence on him.  What a miracle and blessing, and I just felt SO grateful to my Heavenly Father for planning all this and allowing me to be part of it.  Miracles in the mission.  There are no coincidences!

Thursday (my 14 month anniversary!) Gaby, Kevin's sister, accompanied us and we had a scary experience. haha Some creeper guy who called and wanted to visit with us and he has lots of problems and tried to get us lost going to his house,etc.  Poor Gaby, hahaha.  Also all week we taught Genesis and Karina and Eduardo.  I'm so sad I won't get to see that progress!!!!  I love them.

Friday I found out about some things that made me mad about Kevin's family's situation and other situations and decisions, and people not wanting to be baptized and I just felt like I don't have control, and I was frustrated I don't have more control over lots of things and would like to help the world---why don't people get it?!
Also realized I have to put God first in everything---before studies as well, and everything will be good but that includes dedicating more time to the things of the Lord.  Many things I recognized.

Saturday we didn't have a single lesson ALL afternoon!!!  But Karina and Eduardo put on a BBQ to fundraise their wedding and made 70 bucks, so we were excited about that.  They are SO ready.

Sunday was a great day.  We had lunch with Kevin's family, had a wonderful lesson with his mom and brother and sister.  We visited Angela and I know she will accept one day and I hope it's soon!  Visited Steven, Karina and Eduardo, and Genesis.  While watching a video about the temples with Genesis, I got so teary and just felt like everything would be ok and that (the temple and eternity) is what really matters.  I can't wait to go back there and find answers and feel the strength again and reassurance there.  I miss the temple!!!!  How blessed we are.

Well, then transfer calls came late at night, and I have to say I'm so grateful the Lord helped me to say goodbye to the people I loved, and to have seen so many miracles in that ward. Truly best months of my life.  I know many things are to come here, and I'm going to be strong and give it my all.  3 months!!

LOVE YOU!!!!  The church is true!!!
Hermana Bryan

No os Canseis de hacer lo Bueno

Hola familia and friends!!!

I love you all :)

I wanted to thank Hna Angulo and Hna Goering for their emails last week---exactly exactly what I needed and tender mercies for sure.  Thank you!!

So this week was pretty hard but also full of tender mercies.  I sound like a broken record saying that week after week probably. haha That's the way life and the mission go right?!  Awesome.

Tuesday at Zone meeting our ZLs Elder Osegueda and Elder Tibanlombo were totally making fun of my man/cracked/sick voice at the back of the room as I was sharing ideas and bearing testimony.  hahaha  Sad.  Also the hermano who lives next door heard me cough and he was like, "Oh YOU were the one who kept us up all night!  I thought it was a huge man downstairs dying or something!"  hahaha So sad.
Tuesday the Lord helped us get everywhere in time by sending us cars or members at the exact time we were somewhere to get us to somewhere else.  The Lord takes care of us!  Also David's birthday was Tuesday and we got together with the Fam Valarezo and all their fam and had a mini FHE about missions and celebrated---it was so cool :)  I love these people! 

Wednesday and Saturday we saw Stefania again and she knows it all and knows it's true, and just is not willing to exercise her agency accordingly yet.  Sad.  I hope the Lord gives her another opportunity because I feel like this is her time and she isn't taking advantage of it!
Wednesday we also had a hard lesson with Karina and Eduardo---we fought the Spirit a lot for it to be there and Eduardo wanted to contend quite a bit but then in the end, recognized the truth of our message and their need to increase their faith and the truthfulness of this message.  Also Maria is a new person---a reference from a member and we got to see her for a small period of time on Wednesday and the Spirit told me strongly that she needed to hear the Plan of Salvation.  Turns out her husband had died and she is a widow---how grateful I am for the Spirit!

Thursday we had a great planning session and comp inventory.  I had a cool experience in the mirror getting ready.  I looked at my reflection and responded in Spanish without even thinking about it to something my comp asked me, and saw my nametag and just had this mini revelation again, and an awesome, joyful recognition that I'M A MISSIONARY!!!!  What joy!!!!  I never thought I would be living this or experiencing this, yet here I am joyfully living this life as a missionary as it has become such a normal thing to me and my everyday life.  Love it.
I felt the Spirit's guidance and protection on Thursday----not getting on a bus, etc.  We had a really cool and strong experience with Elizabeth.  She is a reference that hasn't been able to meet with us much but we always feel really good with her.  Wow.  The Spirit was SO strong and the member who accompanied us never had accompanied us before but it was perfect--the Lord provided her company and testimony and I just had chills the whole time!  Elizabeth accepted baptism!!!!!  Even though she was a Catholic missionary and has trouble accepting why Jesus´s name is Jehovah and not God´s name---that's her big question and doubt and we've tried explaining with scriptures but she still doesn't understand----Stefania related a personal experience about praying and then accepting the answer if it's true, it's ALL true.
We are still gaining Angela's confidence and she is reading the BOM and being touched very little by little :)

Friday we had a strong opposition day learning to make correct decisions and learning how to make things work, and talk things out as a companionship and communicate more instead of just assuming.  I hate being human sometimes and how we have weaknesses and make mistakes, but it all helps us learn and grow! Lots and lots, and we are being prepared.  That is FOR sure.
Steven accompanied us on Friday!!!!!   He is so awesome.  He shared his STRONG testimony and how this gospel has changed his life.  Wow he´s incredible and his life has made a complete 180 degree turn.  He is already preparing himself to go on a mission and he's already a missionary!  I love his thirst for knowledge and doing the things of God and dropping whatever to go on visits, etc.  This is the joy of missionary work!!  Seeing conversion and the after-effects and fruits of this conversion!!!  What a blessing.

Saturday I woke up at 4am pretty dang sick---what else is new? haha My former infection hadn't left and I got another infection, but my theme all day was: Every trial is a blessing!  I felt like the pioneers with the sun so hot and strong shining down and me being sick and dizzy etc and just said in my mind, "If they could do it for Christ, so can I!"
The Lord has blessed us with a doctor here in the ward on the street behind us so she helped me out.
We had a lesson with Maria and I got really teary hearing the hermana who is her friend share her experience and testimony, and then she bore testimony of the missionaries.  She said we were angels and we do all we do and make sacrifices for Christ, and as she said that I looked up and saw the huge picture of Christ in their house, and in my situation felt that we won't be sick after this life and it's all worth it now and here---I accepted this before this life and now He is the reason why we keep moving forward!!  He made all sacrifices for us so why can't I?!  How I love my Savior and His grace.
Genesis---David's cousin is going great and is excited for her baptism and marriage.  Elizabeth prayed and got her answer that the church is true and described her feelings as feeling something strong in her chest and wanting to cry.  She was way excited!  Pray for them that they continue and remember their answers and can be baptized the 22nd.
Karina and Eduardo are so ready---they just need a paper to get married that seems like it will take forever so we are praying for a miracle.  Prayers are very welcome for them and their situation!

Sunday everyone came to church!!  Angela (which was a miracle because she was supposed to work but the hermanas persuaded her to come haha) and her daughter Adriana, Karina and Eduardo, Genesis, Stefania.
There was a talk given about missionary work and I loved what was said---I felt like the Lord was talking to me.  He spoke a lot about grace (wouldn't ya know!) and about not getting tired of doing good and keeping our attitudes up and high (which I needed reminders of as I'm tired now in the mish in many aspects but can't let that affect anything!)  He said, "This is the work of the Lord and the only thing that qualifies us for it, besides D&C 4, is His grace."  He also said as human beings that we are, we couldn't do it---it all depends on His grace.
He then talked about how many people pray for the missionaries and then said that the Lord doesn't ask many things of us, just a broken heart and a contrite spirit and a good attitude.  He quoted the scripture, "No os canseis de hacer lo bueno" (which I've read so many times lately--coincidence I think not!)

Sunday morning we were waiting for church to start and I was in the bathroom and I heard someone come in and ask Hna Alvarez if she was my companion and I said HOLA!  But thought it was someone from the ward, etc, and I came out and saw Marcela Diaz (the mom of the Diaz family from Francisco de Orellana!!!) She had come to visit me---tender mercy for sure.  Another tender mercy was going to a lesson and seeing Douglas with 2 other men doing visits in their white shirts and ties and recognizing how awesome it is seeing them every week in their white shirts and ties and Mayra in her skirts, and them paying tithing and preparing to do baptisms on Saturday, etc.  WHAT JOY!  Wow sometimes I overlook these things and then realize how blessed I am to even have this opportunity, and what joy it is to have been able to participate in a very small way in their conversion or their lives.  And how much I love them all!
I love that in 2 Nephi 30:8 it says God's work.  He works!  We are privileged enough to be helping Him in His work!

Today I found something that I LOVED in the mission handbook about dedicating a home.  It described 5 purposes of a home, and this is what I had and what I am determined to create in my future home.  What a blessing to be able to strive to create a home where:
1) the Holy Ghost dwells
2) family members worship the Lord
3) family members find refuge from the world
4) family members progress spiritually
5) family members prepare to have eternal relationships

Create a home like this! :)  There is so much joy and love that awaits us as we follow Christ and His example and share the Gospel with others and strive to be better each and every day.  Let us depend on His grace and then get up and get to work and do our part!!!  I love this Gospel.  It is true!  I love being a misionary.  I love my Savior.  So so much.  I know He lives and I know He loves us.  It is something I know because I have felt it, I have prayed about it, I have received answers, and I have lived this.  The Book of Mormon is true.  There is a prophet of God on earth today to guide us.  Heavenly Father wants to give us knowledge, guidance, and answers to our prayers.  Let us do our part to make that possible and have Him bless our lives.  He loves you!  Share the Gospel with someone this week :)

Love you so much!
Hermana Bryan

The Lord's Mouthpieces

Hola familia and friends!!

Well don't have much time so I will get going :)

Tuesday: we had a zone meeting and it was SO inspiring.  The Lord has prepared our ZLs now to take over and receive revelation and I felt the Spirit so strongly and it was exactly what we needed to hear.  What a blessing!  We then went to eat lunch at the RS president's house and it was so touching to talk to her and listen to her and hear about her service.  She told us that the ward loves us a lot a lot and that was very touching to hear from a leader and their perspective.  She then expounded on situations in the ward she would like us to be aware about that not even her counselors know because she doesn't trust many people.  Knowing those things is kind of heavy and I want to save everyone and have everything be ok!  Dang it agency :)
So Stefania was going to have her interview for baptism on Tuesday and we went by her house and she wasn't there.  We were like, man not again.  We called her and she didn't answer and then the Lord blessed her to answer the second time and she was actualy home but didn't hear us so we got to go to the interview and she passed and was set to get baptized!!!
Also Karina and Eduardo are progressing so so much and love the company of the ward missionaries :) What a blessing.
Also on Tuesday Elder Osegueda told me that he put Elder Garcia in my district and not the other way around haha, and so we are trying really hard to have charity and love and serve him and help him the best we can.

Wednesday I woke up SO happy!  I loved the scripture Alma 57:27.  Before lunch, we went over to Kevin's house to help his mom with her work and share a message with her.  She ended up opening up everything to us and crying and we were there to comfort her and set goals and she is great, and I just love love love that family!  I know things will be fine if she keeps working.  This has shown me that in hard hard trials, if I give up, I will spiritually go downhill and we can't give up!!  Ever!
We had burritos at lunch and that was so so awesome after a year plus of not tasting that :)
The Lord helped us meet our goals this day and we were SO tired but we can't get tired of doing good as D&C states! :)
We enjoyed Kevin's and Cristian's company and gospel conversations and insights, and it's been SO incredible to see their progress and hear their testimonies.  Wow!  Also this day we went by Ronald again because I had been feeling strongly like we should and he asked us why we came back and I laughed and told him sincerely I didn't know but just felt like we should, and he was way surprised and grateful and just thanked and thanked us for coming.  We will see if he progresses but at least we were able to comfort and bless his life in a very small way as Christ would do.

Thursday was a pretty rough day for me.  Satan is such a piece---he knows that he can't get me in any other way so he attacks my feelings sometimes.  I was super super down on myself for my weaknesses and have been SO beyond aware of them and was just tired of recognizing so many of them and trying to overcome them because I felt like no matter how hard I try or what I do or how many great intentions or desires I have, it will never be enough and I will never measure up. 

BUT
Friday the Lord helped me have an AWESOME study about grace.  I read the definition in the Bible Dictionary and some words and feeling stuck out to me and then I read in the April Ensign by Elder Bednar his talk about the Atonement and grace and it was INCREDIBLE and so helped me (pgs 15-19 especially.)  I loved Alma 31:38 and am a witness of that.  We will not suffer afflictions more than what we feel in the joy we experience.  In the mission there are lots of trials but lots of JOY and the joy swallows up the pain and sadness in an instant!  I was so touched by the mercy and love and grace of the Lord for us and how He considers His own trials as nothing, and thus, wants to help us in ours.  What mercy and love.  I'm so so so grateful for His grace.  I know that we can all receive it if we do all we can.
We then had a great day with Kevin's family, with Stefania that she totally totally resisted temptation and said she didn't even want to do those things anymore and had experienced that change of heart and conversion, etc.  We had a fight of a lesson with Angela and with the Spirit and are just praying she opens her heart and feels this and can be baptized.

Saturday we had the incredible blessing of being able to have a conference with Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the 12 Apostles.  Wow!  We got there and they had Hna Alvarez and I sit on the very front row.  I had prepared questions throughout the week and written them down--questions I wanted answers to and knew they would be answered but didn't know how powerfully.
First we got to hear from the wife of Elder Rafael Pino of the 70 and she was cute.

We then got to hear from Elder Rafael Pino and he was awesome!!  Something he said I loved was that if we look for harmony in our lives, we will receive sweet feelings to know what to do in our lives.  He focused a lot on having an eternal perspective of things so we can appreciate more and fulfill our callings in life.  He then did a mini example where he had an elder come up and as if he was finishing the mission he removed his nametags, took his mission handbook and asked some questions: What time will you get up the next day?  Will you study your scriptures?  What kind of TV or music will you allow?  What will you do?, etc
Some good things to think about.  He then told us to take advantage of our time and not lose it, and to convert ourselves to the Lord, Jesus Christ, and focus on our objective and we will see the blessings from doing that all throughout our lives.

Hermana Christofferson then spoke and then Elder Christofferson.  Wow he is awesome and has a great sense of humor too!  His hair was so so glowy white :) and he was just super smiley and warm the whole time.  We got to shake his hand one by one and he started off his talk by telling us how much they love us.  I could literally feel that when he said it.  He talked a lot about charity and service and how there is little defense against love :) haha so true!  He spoke a lot about the power of the BOM and the need to use it in all lessons and let it change these peoples' lives.  He talked about re-activation and old investigators.  He talked a ton about faith and how we literally walk by faith every day because we have no idea how our day will end or how each lesson will go, etc.  He said that when we act and walk by faith, the Lord will guide and provide for us, but that sometimes we have to start without knowing how it all will end.
I loved when he said that each time, it's more easy to perceive and understand the Lord's will, the Spirit's promptings and that we will be able to fulfill what we need to do with our lives' missions.
He then said that when they see our pictures and assign us missions, they feel the profound love of our Heavenly Father for us.  How neat it was to hear and watch him try to express that.  He then said, "You are not unknown in any way to our Heavenly Father.  He knows your desires, your worries, your thoughts.  He always takes you into account.  With TONS of confidence and trust, you can ask for His help and express everything to Him." 
His talk was based on 5 questions he asked from the audience of all us missionaries and he expounded on those.
He then gave us his Apostalic blessing which was my FAVORITE part.  He blessed us that we can perceive more than ever the love our Heavenly Father has for us, and that in these days we will be able to feel and perceive that and that He knows us.  He blessed us with a more profound faith and that the knowledge of that love that God has for us will help us get up, work, and continue growing and progressing so we can get to a point where our faith becomes a power that has capacity to change (reality or circumstances, he said.)  He blessed us with faith to be obedient, to get married and raise a family, to be faithful and then said that the saints with faith will be happy and will overcome.
He blessed us with spiritual gifts to be able to be better teachers, to give stronger testimony, etc and if it is our desire, we can receive the exact words and power that like Nephi, people won't be able to disbelieve or doubt when we teach.
He then paused for a long time and looked down and then up and said, "Some of you are wondering and asking if your service is worthy before the Lord, if He accepts your offering, if He respects your offering and if you are worthy.  If it is your desire to know, I bless you that you can receive your answer through a feeling that YOU ARE WORTHY and HE ACCEPTS.  There isn't a greater answer than knowing that you are worthy.  He is pleased and happy and you are deserving to be here."  He then asked us to imagine us kneeling before the Lord one day as He tells us He is happy with us and pleased for our service, and that that vision will give us the faith, strength, courage to continue forward forever.  He then mentioned Christ's grace and that it is sufficient to purify and sanctify us.

WOW.  I literally felt Heavenly Father's voice through Elder Christofferson answering my heart's deepest questions or concerns.  I was bawling and needed that answer, and felt the Lord's personal love and awareness of me and my situation.  How grateful I am for the priesthood, to have apostles and prophets on the earth today to guide and direct us and bless our lives and be the Lord's literal witnesses and mouthpieces.  I KNOW they are called of God.  It is something I know.  I testify that Elder Christofferson is an Apostle of God and everyone who heard him this weekend has felt that.  I know that God lives and He loves us and is aware of us and always blesses us with comfort and answers to our prayers.

Bad news of the week was that we were walking to go to the baptism and got a phone call (on our new cell phone they gave us yeaaahhh!!! finally have a cell) that Stefania had left and said she wasn't going to be baptized after all and just bolted out of her house.  WHAT?!  Crazy.  We have no idea what's going on with her but were too happy and filled of trust and faith and gratitude from the conference that we kept walking and teaching and know that it's the Lord's will.

Sunday was good--we have had oppostition with finding new people and finding people who want to progress.  Kevin and David and Cristian accompanied us and something really neat was talking to Cristian's dad and him expressing to us how much of a help we have been to his sons and their progress and testimonies and how grateful he is.  Wow.  We feel the same way for them!  It's INCREDIBLE seeing their progress and change and feeling them testify with the Spirit now!!  David gave us a ref of his cousin's wife and we went there and the Lord blessed us so much.  We went in there and she expressed to us why she wanted to hear the lessons again, etc and the Lord guided my words to extend a baptismal date for Sept 22 and she accepted and it was incredible.  David was shining with happiness and surprise and we just KNEW she is one of those elect the Lord has blessed us with.  We are so grateful for that!

Well I have to go, but I LOVE you all!!  Thank you for your prayers and love and thoughts.  I know this church is true.  I love being a missionary and am excited to continue in this work all throughout my life and throughout the eternities.  Missionary work is the best, and there is no other joy or happiness or love that quite compares.  Let this joy and light and love into your lives and make it contagious!  Love you all!  Have a great week!

Hermana Bryan

Opposition in all Things

Hola family and friends!!

First off I want to thank the DV Primary and Rios famiy for their awesome packages that made my day!!  THANKS :)

This week was pretty crazy full of emotions, experiences, trials and lots of opposition to make us grow.  But that's awesome right?  Because that's how we learn and develop into who we need to become!

Tuesday I was all pumped up and feeling the focus and strength of my prayers and prayers from all of you and lots of things happened to try and make me disconcentrated so that was a battle all day, haha, but I love that my comp and I share everything so we battled together :)  Also Tuesday I was SO beyond tired and basically wanting to fall asleep all day and in the lessons, and I was just praying during one lesson to please have the strength and the words to say with the Spirit, and I sat up and just opened my mouth and it was INCREDIBLE the strength and energy and Spirit and words I was blessed with as the Lord fulfilled His promise to fill our mouths.  Wow and as soon as my time was done, immediately my exhaust came back.  So Cool.

Wednesday was a pretty weird day and I felt SO beyond sad---like profoundly, and had no idea why.  Everything failed us basically and everything fell through until the night time.  And the whole day fighting this feeling and everything failing us, at the end just felt like why do we ever doubt?!  Heavenly Father knows everything and guides us.  He knew the PRECISE moment when Stefania would be home, when Moises would pass by with Morocho and we would be late or another lesson fall through and when we got to Angela she was JUST coming home and 5 mins before we would have missed her, etc.  Sometimes there is a divine reason for things falling through and He guides us with His Spirit and according to what He knows needs to happen.
Also Wed I got really teary thinking about Logan and my fam and felt really close to Logan in his mish and prayed for the trials you are facing, Logee.  I prayed that you would feel angels around you and feel God's love.
Also Kevin helped motivate us and shared D&C 20:31 and it was exactly what I needed to read that day!

Thursday I boiled water for my shower and it was SO nice to have a hot shower for the first time in months and months :) haha forgot about that.  My personal and comp study was just incredible that day and we understood so much more about the depth of the mercy and love of our Heavenly Father.  We had an amazing planning session and were pumped for Stefania's interview, etc.  We got there and she had left, texting her mom that she wasn't going to go and she wasn't ready etc etc.  WHAT!!!!  Not expected with our everyday visits and her faith and excitement about her change and baptism...so crazy opposition and shows how hard Satan works and how everything the whole week was failing and we couldn't fnd new people etc.  So we went and called her and tried visiting her house like all afternoon and night and nothing.  But it was funny how these experiences don't get me as riled up as before, we just trust in the Lord and that His will always will be done! :)

Friday was one of the hardest days OF MY LIFE.  I don't want to go into details but I finally understood the meaning of the word afflicted.  Afflicted body and mind--I was sick physically and afflicted mentally and emotionally and we felt all kinds of opposition for sure.  Hna Alvarez also felt the opposition and desanimo and Satan trying SO hard to get us down and destroy us and the good we try to do.  I have never felt so disheartened or afflicted in my life.  I needed extra help because normally I can just pray and talk about it and I'm fine a few mins later but this was deep.  I have never felt such a NEED for a priesthood blessng or divine help before in my life and was sitting on my bed just in tears needing a blessing and wishing Dad or Logan was there.  I called Kevin and he was at the temple working in the distribution center so unable to help but without asking, he went WAY out of his way to find someone to write my name in the temple and take it to the session that was being done and said he would help out when he got home. We went out to work and the Lord put his tender mercies in our path for sure.  He put every single Valarezo family in our paths to make us smile and laugh and cry and I felt like I found an answer to my prayers in D&C 132:49-50.  Then it was such a tender mercy seeing Cristian--ward missionary---his progress in testifying, giving us a reference, expressing how we have helped him, etc.  Then Kevin and Cristian gave me a blessing and it was so special.  The nerves, sadness, and afflictions and sickness I had been experiencing went away completely and Kevin told me exactly what I needed to hear from my Heavenly Father---it was clear, concise, and so very special.  Priesthood holders, PLEASE always be worthy and ready to give a blessing and magnify your callings and priesthood.  It becomes a huge blessing, and at times a need for us, women, to receive that divine help and strength and grace from our Heavenly Father through you.  I am SO grateful for the power of the Priesthood and for Heavenly Father's grace and mercy and love.

Saturday we passed by Angela, Cristina, and Allisson's house on the way to another lesson and it was so wonderful to be able to hear from their house Do What is Right playing!!!  What joy and love and the miracle of conversion! :)
Also we went to Douglas and Mayra and she broke down about the trials and pains of raising children and wayward chldren, etc and we gave her love and counsel and turns out in RS on Sunday the lesson was about that and she turned to us and said this lesson was for ME!!! :)  Love them!
Saturday was STEVEN'S baptism!!!!!  Stefania didn't get baptized but we are still working with her and hope this week or the next.  Pray for her!  Saturday was crazy because Steven came like an hour late to his baptism and he came in all huffing and puffing and apologizing and said,  "You wanna know why I'm late?!!" And I said, "Satan."  And he laughed and said yep.  Lots of opposition all week! But it didn't stop Steven.  It was so special to witness his baptism and his conversion and the baptism was very spiritual.  Kevin gave a powerful testimony, David and Jonathan spoke (love our ward missionaries), and the Bishop spoke and made an inside joke to me and Hna Alvarez which showed us he loves us and trusts us and appreciates us now, and then he welcomed Steven and then turned to us and said, "We will never ever forget Steven, and when we pass through the veil there will be tons of hugs of joy and memories and gratitude shared on that joyous day."  He was teary and just thanked us for serving a mission and coming to Ecuador and I was just crying.  I LOVE THE MISSION and love my Savior and love seeing the change in these wonderful elect of God.  Steven will serve a mission and be incredible.  He came to ward conference on Sunday in a suit!  I included a pic :)

Sunday was ward conference and it was incredible to see the results of ward visits and invitations that we had 290 peope there and 16 investigators (including Moises! :) ) Two more of our ward missionaries, Israel and Pablo got mission calls and I got all teary again watching them go up to receive their calls and remembering everything and recognizing now what that call means---a call and privilege and blessing to be the Lord's representative despite our human weaknesses, to participate in His work as His companion, to see His miracles, to experience joy, to become a better person and more like Him, so many blessings and experiences and eternity changing moments!  Wow.  What a blesing and what a miracle.
They are also going to Mexico!!!  CRAZY!!!  3 of them :) Israel to Mexico City and Pablo to Merida, Mexico.  VIVA MEXICO hahaha.
We had a wonderful lunch with the fam Valarezo and Kevin's dad gave the prayer so that was good, and they have prayed as a fam a couple of times this week---progress but they will come back.  We are working with Angela, Stefania, and Karina and Eduardo and praying lots to find new people because we need it, but have full faith and trust in the Lord that His miracles will happen according to our diligence and work and faith.

This coming Saturday elder Christofferson comes---what a blessing!  Well I'm out of time but I LOVE you!

This church is true.  The Book of Mormon changes lives.  The Atonement covers all pain, afflictions, and trials.  The power of the priesthood is real and God lives and loves us.  We can become like Him with His help.  Families are forever!!  What blessings we have.  Share this with those you know and love!  Change a life and experience joy! :)

Love you!
Hermana Bryan

Steven in his Suit!!!