Aloha!! 4/24/2017

Aloha friends, family and the random citizen deciding to read this for reasons unknown to us all. ;)

This was a long week but gone in a blink (yeah.. I'm pretty proud of that rhyme haha) I can barely believe it is Monday again. O.o 

Last Monday we went to the park as a district for fun outside games. Elder Leota taught us how to play rugby and we adjusted the rules to meet missionary standards. And I got to fly my butterfly kite, wasn't quite windy enough to keep it up... but it was fun nonetheless. In the evening we started working and it was good. We ended up contacting a few good people and felt pretty successful. That night Sister Tryon wasn't feeling so good so she rested during our district leader council phone call. But it was okay, she felt better in the morning. :)

Tuesday we had our first "Normaquana House" district meeting, and President Lee came as well because he's the best. Everything was so inspired! But I was feeling a bit discouraged by expectations I didn't seem to be meeting. Just as I was feeling to help most down Elder Aiken shared a thought from an Elder Holland talk about how God just needs people who love him. Photo 1.

 That was my pretty note. I felt comforted and at peace. Then we went and got district lunch, Mexican is always the delicious choice. I also felt pretty spoiled because some of the elders carried my cake pan and books to the car because "this seems heavy, and elders can carry this." Needless to say we have really great zone leaders. After lunch we were late for everything, so we went and taught a recent convert Maya, she's the cutest! I really love her, but her faith is really young and tender and she's been struggling in the gospel. But we had a breakthrough lesson with her! We taught the plan of salvation and her brother Lundon sat in on the whole thing and he loved it, it really touched his heart. We committed Maya to read the Book of Mormon everyday and Lundon asked if he could have a copy to read too. :D He's a real seeker of truth! In the evening we were able to eat dinner with Lindsay because she's the best and signs up to fill our empty Tuesdays. 

Wednesday we went to Orange Parks district meeting. And I felt like a mom because everyone is hurting on miles so we were shuffling all the sisters to the meeting, which meant we were just taking double the trips. Haha. I'm about ready to tell President to give all the STL's minivans because we're basically mom's anyway. ;) District meeting was really good. Sister Tui'vailala gave a training and it was so inspired, I felt like I'd received some really inspired council. Sister Tryon and I had decided to fast so district lunch wasn't a thing haha. And we moved right into trade-offs with the Oak Leaf sisters. I went with Sister Hoffman to Oak Leaf. We had a good time! We did lots of good service for less actives and part member families. And I just always feel good doing service! (: first we went and gave this ladies dog a bath he wasn't so happy but I didn't mind getting  a little wet. Then we went and helped a lady work on her yard (lol when you can't spell land scapeing.. or scaping... or skaping... ahh!) In the evening we ate with a cute young mom and then we went to scripture class. We ended our night with dollar ice cream cones and some talking about concerns. 

Thursday morning we traded back and ate panda for lunch. Photo 2. 

Then Sister Tryon and I did our weekly planning session. Before going to dinner with the Alexander's. I really like them, another way cute young family. And we tried a handful of less actives bishop asked us to hunt down. Oh and found this cute sign. Photo 3. 

Yup, our companion transfer goal is to stop and take pictures breaks :) Our night was spent searching for the one. 

Friday we went to the mission office for a new car! Exciting. We were there from 10-2pm, it took forever but gave Sister Tryon and I plenty of time to study. Right at the end we visited with the other missionaries still waiting on their car. Then we went to Orange Park for our tradeoff with those sisters. Oh and I finally got my drivers license BACK! Yay :) So I stayed in our area and worked with Sister Tui'vailala. She's such a sweetheart. We did a lot of finding and then went to Chick-fil-A for dinner with the Holmes. Sister Tui'vailala and I visited a lot and since she goes home in a transfer and a few weeks we discussed her life decisions, literally so stressful to think about haha. In the evening we were able to make contact with more sad less active members :( my heart just keeps breaking. And because we were both really tired we went to bed early!

Saturday we traded back. Photo 4.

 I was a bit emotionally unstable afterwards... so we took a quick nap. Then we went out for a bit and then went to dinner with the Duling's. They are such a cute family! We had sloppy Joe's, always a good choice. Then we went to the church and made and few phone calls. And I got a blessing. It helped me refocus and find a great sense of peace. Truly I am so thankful for the priesthood in my life. It's the BEST! On our way out of the building we found a frog so naturally Sister Tryon kissed it ;) haha photo 5. 

Sunday was a good day and a nice end to our week. After some beautiful church services we went home and did our planning before going to early dinner with the Robisons. They are such a cute old couple, like adorable grandparents! Love. After a very tasty lunch we started home for studies and passed a free library box and decided to leave a Book of Mormon with our testimonies in it. Missionary work at its finest. Photo 6. 

Then as we entered our apartment a lizard came too, so we set to work to both rescue and remove it from our apartment. It was a bit of a fiasco! And to succeed it involved moving both our washer and our dryer and crawling all over the rather dusty closet floor. Haha but eventually we succeeded! Sister Tryon was happier than I was about it. Photo 7. 

Naturally now that we had a lizard we had to try the ear trick, and yup it worked! Photo 8. 

I wasn't sure what I really thought about it.. but it was some good companion bonding. Haha. Then we went out and worked to find the one along with being able to see a few Less active members. It was a great day. :D 

I am so thankful for the gospel and the love and patience of Heavenly Father. I'm so thankful he answers prayers and that he holds onto us even when we're being stubborn. I know Jesus Christ is my Savior and Redeemer. This church is so true and it brings me more peace everyday. I love sharing it with others and if all I do is prepare their hearts than that is enough. I wrote my testimony in a Book of Mormon both for a friend and for a family member today. I am realizing that the Lord is trying to help me become a missionary and become who he needs so I can fulfill my purpose but like the strong and powerful trees I need the wind and rain and not just sunny days to truly become. I love you all!! Have a blessed week! 

all my love, Sister Bryans