Live, Love, Laugh & Pizza :D

Its hard to believe that another week has passed.  It is interesting how having a missionary out seems to open your eyes and ears to missionary work everywhere.  I had the opportunity to visit with the Elders from Cottage Grove, while visiting my mother.  One of the Elders was a convert for about 4 years.  He shared his conversion.  As a freshman in high school he started to attend seminary.  By the end of the year he had decided to be baptized.  His mother decided that the family needed to join together or not join at all.  Finally all of the family were ready except his sister.  One night his sister couldn't find her retainer.  After the entire family had looked and been unsuccessful, her mom told her to go to bed and they would find it in the morning.  She went to bed and prayed.  She told the Lord that if she could find her retainer that she would be baptized.  The next morning she woke up with the retainer in her hand.  The whole family was baptized shortly after.  He now serves a mission and his sister is planning to go soon.  I loved this story and what a blessing for this family.

What follows is Elizabeth's latest letter.

Hello there to my wonderful family and friends -  How great has this past week been? AWESOME!!! 
Let me catch ya'll up from p-day last.  
     Missionary church is really weird. The Sisters went to Music & the Spoken Word. It was actually really enjoyable. I've decided that the song Fum Fum Fum is an okay Christmas song. Also you should check out the Kings Singers. They are really good. Relief Society was really good. Sister Niell Marriott was our speaker. Then we had a new sisters meeting. (lol) Can I just say it was really funny. The MTC mission mom reminded us to be modest and told us we have to shave our legs. =P (I don't like shaving.... it's too much work.) She was really cute, "Float down the stairs - don't bounce." I have a really hard time following that recommendation because I like to be fast. Sacrament meeting was really cool. At the MTC no one is assigned a talk except for the presidency and wives. Everyone else gets randomly selected from the audience. This week's topic is Faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement. If I have to share anything, I will use scriptures from Ether 3, Alma 32 and 3 Nephi 11 and then I will bare my testimony.  
     Our evening devotional was the Church Christmas one. Did you all get a chance to watch it? What was your favorite part? I loved when Elder Nelson showed his grand kids - especially the little boy with the wink. ;) 
     Then we watched the Character of Christ talk http://www2.byui.edu/Presentations/transcripts/religionsymposium/2003_01_25_bednar.htm   given by David A Bednar. I have decided that everyone needs to serve a mission just for this talk. It is amazing! I can't even describe what it was like except amazing! There were so many wonderful things he shared with us. Don't be the Cookie Monster (Mosiah 3:19). The Character of Christ: 1) Accept that God exists. 2) A correct understanding of character attributes and perfection of God. 3) Knowledge that our life course is in line with God's will. He also told us not to take notes but to write down our feelings. Finally, "True conversion is turning away from the natural man and turning towards Christ."  
     Monday, we talked about stress. That was fun. especially since we were all feeling slightly overwhelmed during the weekend. We also taught a woman named Sydney Y. as a district. :D It was a lot of fun. She is of Scottish descent and loves doing family history work. She was a really cool lady. She started reading the Book of Mormon and wants to be baptized.  
     Tuesday, Sister Heintz and I taught Sam (our PI). We taught her about the Atonement and then commit her to be baptized. I wish she wasn't just a teacher reliving one of their old investigators. Although, it is interesting how much love and effort we have had to put in to teaching her and working with her.  
     mmmmm.....we also began reading the Book of Mormon with a specific question in mind. I bought a missionary copy of the BoM just for that purpose. I haven't even gotten 5 verses into the 3rd chapter of 1st Nephi and I have found so many interesting things about my personal question. I would encourage all of you who read this to take on the challenge. It's a lot of fun and a wonderful spiritual experience. (Elder Bednar actually suggested it. He's such a wise man.) 
     Tuesday, Sister Heintz and I also got to teach a woman named Hely (Hay-lee). She is Guatemalan. She is soooo cool! She has so many questions. She loves the Bible. But she loves her husband Jose more. The spirit in that woman is just so magical.  
     Our Tuesday devotional speaker was Elder Cook. He reminded us of how our mission calls are made. We are called to the Mission President, to the People in the Mission and, sometimes, to the Mission itself. I liked what his wife said too: "Your voice becomes His voice; Your hands become His hand; Your calling becomes His calling. You represent the Savior." I thought back to the story Elder Uchtdorf shared with us about the statue of the Savior who's hands couldn't be replaced. http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2010/04/you-are-my-hands  
      Anyways... Wednesday, we had an interesting lesson on Revelation. Brother Clancy said, "Revelation should be spelled Revelaction." Because you have to do something with it or it means nothing. He also shared a really cool Christmas BoM tracting exercise. I'll have to write you a letter to describe it. PS. Did you get my letter?  
     Oh! I have some jokes for you: What's red and bad for your teeth? A brick. What's brown and sticky? A stick. What's green and has four wheels? Grass - I lied about the wheels. and finally, two muffins were sitting in an oven. One looked at the other and said, "It sure is getting hot in here." The other muffin freaks out and says, "OMGosh a talking muffin!!!!!"  
     I didn't hear any laughter. :( I'm sad now.  
     I really like our gym days. :D I got to run around in circles. Of course, "No jogging dates." It's kind of sad really that they have to worry about that. But it's always fun to run behind the Elders. ;) Just Kidding!!!  
     We had a really ninja in-field orientation experience yesterday. Can I just say I love Spanish blooded men. They are soooo wonderful. I also really love hands on experiences. Again this is another thing I will have to write in a letter. Sorry!  
     OH!!!! Today I got a package. Guess who it was from? Liahona. The DeGraff's sent me cookies and a cute little note. I was like?!?! WHAT o.O <3 <3 <3 I was so excited.  
     We leave the MTC on Tuesday. There will be 33 of us heading out. HOLY CRAZY right?! I  
     Nathan, one of the Elders in my district reminds me of you. His name is Elder Sewell.  
     Anyways, I have to go. Email time is over.  
     LOVE, 
Sister Bryans 
Ps. Check out DearElder.com and write me snail mail.   

We hope your holiday preparations are going well, and that the Lord will bless us with opportunities to share the great blessings that we have received in our lives.