As members of this church we have been sent to the areas that we live to spread the gospel to our corners of the world. Elder Funk teaches in the above scripture what we must do to be successful in this mission. We must humble ourselves, be obedient and then listen to the voice of the Spirit. In doing the first two (being humble and obedient) we qualify for the Spirit more fully. As a missionary I had the blessing of learning these principles as I worked each day.
It is a great blessing to hear how this is being learned by my daughter also.
Greetings to all - you rock my socks off!
This week has been splendid. Very busy and very awesome as usual. For all who are curious, I am just beginning my 5th week in the field. How crazy is that?! Some days feel so slow and others go so fast.
What have I learned this week? I have learned a lot. I have learned that I write way to much. My journal is almost full, so being sent a new one would be really nice. Thanks family! I will send mine home to be put in my chest. No peaking/reading... I'll know if you did.
Life has been crazy! And I am finding that most often what I am grateful for is food: Tortillas, Peanut Butter, Ice Cream, Milk, Pizza, Dinner Rolls, Chocolate Pudding, and many other tasty treats.
I am also increasingly grateful for the ability to exercise in the mornings. I really like burpees, and I would encourage anyone who's up to the challenge to try a couple burpees. They are crazy awesome killer ninja moves! (Nathan, that means you!) (Burpees are what allow me to eat desert at every dinner. )
Anyways, enough of my worldly talking and on to more spiritual relations...
Have I told you life has been crazy awesome!?! I've learned tons this week. Being on the Lord's errand is such a blessing. There are so many awesome families in the ward where I serve. One of them is the Vuyk family. Sister C. Vuyk is the best! She is such a strong, spiritual woman. When we visited her on Tuesday, the spirit was so strong in her home. Like I said, she's the best. She is my favorite!
Also on Tuesday, we had the opportunity to teach a part member family by the name of Archuleta. We are working with the husband. He is so cool, and he's been through a lot, but he knows that his family is important and he knows that God is where he will find the most happiness in his life. So he is taking the discussions with us. We are going to share the Restoration DVD with him, his wife and their three daughters this week. I'm excited! (Ps. Is Kirby Heybourne in the Restoration DVD as Oliver Cowdry?)
We also talked with Sister More, the Relief Society president. She is a really neat lady. This will be her third time serving as Relief Society president. Can I just tell you that Visiting and Home teaching are SOOOOOOOOO important!?! - Especially with Less Active and Part Member Families. It's through the members that we missionaries get the most work done. We need you!
Wednesday was awesome! Did I tell you I really love food!? We got to have breakfast as a zone with Stake President T. Brown. YUM! We had muffins and little quiche's and fruit and almond coffee cake. m,m,m! So good. I could have eaten 3 helpings, but I didn't want to out eat the Elders so I didn't. Then we talked about being pioneers and being an ensign to all nations.
Thursday, Sister Zvirzdin and I had the opportunity to walk while our car had its oil changed and tires rotated. I really like walking. It is great! It's not always the most effective method of travel, but it does wonders for the soul. Sister Z and I played one or the other while we walked. It was a good get to know you activity.
We visited Sister Hamby a lot this past week. She's been struggling with some family drama, so we have been going to cheer her up and remind her of her blessings.
It was so cool because on Wednesday, we visited with a Less Active sister named Cindy R. She is so great! She has decided that now more than ever she needs the gospel in her life. It was the coolest miracle ever. She wanted to order a copy of her patriarchal blessing and she came to church on Sunday with her sister. Sister Z and I were like: YEAH!!! WOOO!!! YEAH!!!
On Saturday, Sister Z and I tracted the Hilltop Apartments. What an adventure! There is one floor that is called the rejection floor. It is my favorite floor. Anyways, while we were tracting we met some sisters from Somalia. They are Muslim, but they were so cool. They allowed us into their home and gave us juice. Then we talked about the Muslim religion for a little bit because we really have no idea about it. It is so skewed what the news shows about the Muslim religion. They are really respectful and loving.
Saturday was a really crazy day too, Our appointment with Kevin fell through because he wasn't feeling well. And then our lesson with Chris was interesting. I can't tell if he is really interested or if he is just taking the discussions because his in-laws want him too. He is a cool guy though. He's seen countless miracles in his life that makes him want to know who God is and what his purpose is in still being alive.
It was really testimony building because our lesson with Chris was watching the Restoration DVD. I really felt the spirit and definitely know that Joseph Smith was a prophet called of God. And I know that he saw Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ as an answer to his prayers. How cool is it to think that Joseph Smith saw Heavenly Father!? I can't even imagine it. It must have been so humbling.
Okay, something really cool I learned during Gospel Principles. (Did I tell you Brother Robertson is amazing!?) Anyways, (Dad you will relate to this and can correct my Spanish interpretation of the spellings) Brother Robertson shared an experience from his mission in Brazil. He said that he and his companion were walking near a throng of people listening to a man preach from a microphone. And as they got closer he began to bash Mormonism. He got right up in their faces and held out his microphone so they could speak and Brother Robertson's companion only asked the question: "Do you know God?" In the Portuguese language and also in the Spanish language there are a couple of verbs for the word know two of those is saber and conocer . Saber means to know knowledge ie: to know that 2+2=4. Conocer means to know intimately. Anyways, in John 17:3 it says, " And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent." In the Portuguese translation of the Bible, the word know in this scripture is translated in a form of the word Conocer. So, when the Elder asked the preacher, "Do you know God?" He was asking the man, "Do you know God in an intimate way?" I thought that was so fascinating - especially with my love of language. So I would ask all who read this, "Do you know God?" I know I definitely don't, so that is one of my new years resolutions, to come to know God.
Another really cool thing that I learned in my personal study on Thursday was about the Plan of Salvation. We all know the general outline of the Plan of Salvation, but do we realize that it is personalized to each of us? I found that out while I read my patriarchal blessing. It talks about my life before I came to Earth. It talks about my life on earth, the trials I will face and it gives me the tools that I will need to combat those trials. It also tells me that if I endure well and use what I have been given that I will be able to return to live with my family in the presence of God in the Celestial Kingdom. I was like, MIND BLOWN! So, I would invite all who read this letter to review their patriarchal blessings to see how their Plan of Salvation is playing out. I would also encourage all who haven't received their patriarchal blessings to get one. They are such a tool in guiding your life towards our righteous desires. I am so grateful that I have my patriarchal blessing and that I can read it over and over and learn about my life as a Daughter of God here on the Earth.
I am grateful for the opportunity to serve a mission, and I am extra grateful that I am finally starting to grow into my Missionary Shoes. When it says "grow a foot or two" in the primary song, it wasn't kidding. I am constantly growing and stretching in the gospel and as a person. I will say it over and over again, Missionary work is HARD WORK! It leaves each of us drained by the end of the day. But isn't it such a blessing that the Lord will only give us what we can handle. He strengthens us and carries us when we can't carry ourselves. I am learning so much as a missionary.
Three things I have learned while being out:
1) Members mean everything. They are our support system. They feed us. They gather referrals for us. They take time out of their busy lives to come with us to lessons. They pray for us. They pray for our investigators. They are awesome! Kudos to you all!!
2) It is so important to be bold. Talk to everyone. Knock on every door. Be an example.
3) We "Serve with all [our] heart might mind and strength." Every morning, we say daily recitations including D&C 4. They are our spiritual and physical affirmations for the day. Each time we say them, we grow stronger as we remember our purpose which is to "Invite others to come unto Christ".
I love you all and I hope you are all in good health and standing with the Lord!
Love,
Sister Bryans
May each of us continue to do what we can to bless our brothers and sisters in this part of the vineyard.
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