First full week of 2017! Last weeks email

Dear loved ones,
First and foremost Happy New Year! I love you all and I pray this year will be filled with joy and excitment! (:
I had a very good week. But it seemed to drag on forever. Most likely because we were all waiting for transfer call which was Saturday  night.
To prevent any impatience or jumping to the end I'll tell you about that first. I got a phone call from  President Lee Friday morning as we drove to zone conference. He gave me a calling to serve as an STL (basically a female zone leader) he didn't say where however but I knew I was being given transferred. Saturday night the moment of truth I have been assigned to Normandy, it is the Jax West Zone. I am so excited and nervous and ahh! And to add fuel to the fire! Sister Thomas is also being transferred. She is going to Whitehouse, I'll give y'all a moment to ponder that, and surprise I am going to be her STL. O.o didn't see that coming. Oh and the final year crazy? Our area is being bluewashed. For those unfamiliar with mission expressions that means the sister are out and it is now an elders area. Yup. 6 elders will be serving in Dunn Ave. Wow!
I am very excited and a little nervous for this new transfer. I am ready to try new places but at the same time it's hard to leave Dunn Ave. I have truly loved serving here and all the miracles I have been blessed to be a part of. I was so blessed to be able to have a part in 4 baptisms in this area. The first was Richard Lord, he had been found prior to my getting here and I helped teach commandments before his big day. It was an amazing way to start my mission. Then there was Micheal Evans, I taught him for 6 months and I was with him all the way to baptism. I will never forget the best phone call ever when we heard him say he was finally ready. And that he didn't want to wait any longer. It was an amazing experience. Then there was Josh Buckey, if any one was prepared for the gospel it was him. Teaching him was a testimony builder that truly we are reminding them of what they already knew. His baptism was so touching, and the family support he has is so great. I know one day his family will also be ready for the gospel. Finally there was Paul Yeager, his was an experience I will not forget. I remember picking the street he lives on to knock, and it was hard. Sister Saxton hadn't wanted to knock that night and was a little discouraged. And all we seemed to find was rejection. And then it truly was a fourth floor last door moment. He was our final house and he asked for a Book of Mormon. He set an appointment and although we had him taught by the elders for his benefit I am forever grateful we persevered and had the faith to find the one. MIRACLES!!! And I know that there are so many other good things that happened while serving here, and I may never truly see the fruits of my labor but I hope I made my Heavenly father proud of all I did.
Otherwise not much to report. We got a new theme for the year. It is so powerful and moving. It is One by One. Have the faith to find the one. It has nothing to do with a number of baptism and everything to do with our hearts. I love love love love this theme. There is also a beautiful song that is a part of our theme it has the same title and the words are by Elder Bednar. I invite you to look it up!
I love being a missionary. Sometimes it's hard, I have seen some hard moments pass me by but all in all, it's been amazing and I am so blessed. I love the lord. I know he lives, he knows you by name. He invites us all to come to him one by one. Xoxo
Sister Bryans
The themes photo. #THEcutest!

Final Dunn Ave Sunday selfie.

O.o crazy oh and the cute scarf came from a sweet grandma sister who was very concerned about the sister missionaries being out in the cold. Love

We went by the beach. And yes it's cold here... the hat came with the scarf, too cute.