Sweet Moment

Again, I apologize for the lack of posting. I guess that's what being in college does to you. Anyway, let's get to it.

Excerpt from Oct 6th

"A few days ago i had one of the sweetest moments of my life. I was tracting when I was on exchanges in Manassas with my trainer elder LaRochelle! Really fun to be with him again. We tracted into this black lady. She had just moved their a couple months back and was feeling alone. When we sat down one of the first things i felt needed to be said was that God loves her. With that I said he knows you. He knows what you are going through. You are one of his daughters and he misses you. We lived with him before and he cant wait to see you again. It went from there, but as i was saying this, Tiana's eyes teared up and when I saw this so did mine.

His love the first principle of the first lesson that we teach for a reason. Every other doctrinal detail is secondary to that fact. Whether you are being a good person or not, his love never decreases. He may be disappointed like any parent when you do things that are wrong, but the love is the same."

A Message to Youth (and everyone else)

Our ward asked Bryce to send a quick message to the youth. Something they should remember as they're working through tough times. He had a few answers but this one was my favorite. I think it's good for all of us to remember.

"Recognize your individual importance and the love that our Heavenly Father has for each of you. It is simple but it still takes time to fully understand. Jesus did not die for the whole world as a group. He died for the world in a process. He went through each person, saw their face, and went through their life. He knows every joy, every pain, every triumph, every struggle. He knows how you felt after that boy said that mean thing to you at school. He knows how you feel when you strike out to lose the game. He knows how you feel when you feel alone. In times when you feel no one can help you, turn to your parents because they have that similar love for you. And of course, always turn to your Heavenly Father. Talk to him like you are talking to a friend. Because that's what he is. Our best friend."

 

"The Reyes family. Mario is on the top left. He's my boy."   -Bryce

Quote #2

"Isn't it great that I don't have to worry about girls, school, or a job for two years? This is the only time in my life that I'll have that. 2 years may not be enough..."

Transfers

Sorry everyone for the lack of updates lately. We've been in the process of moving and haven't had internet for awhile. But now, we're back in business.

Here are a few highlights of the last couple weeks.

First of all, Bryce had his first baptism two weeks ago! Her name is Alina and Bryce said she's doing great.
He also got transferred last week and sounds really excited about this new area. He will now be in Centreville with a new companion, Elder Gubeli. This is not far from where he previously was so his address has not changed. All letters just go directly to the mission home.

A few words from Bryce:

(August 25th) "I will say this though, I wish I talked more specifically about the church with my friends at home. It is something that has been such a blessing in my life, and I want it to have the chance to do the same for those I love. I think that this chance that I have to be here and proclaim truth is wonderful. I am truly growing in my understanding of the gospel and God's love for us. It is the first principle of the first lesson, but it so simply complex!"

(September 8th) "This week was the best week as far as the success we saw for the whole mission. And on transfer week, that's pretty sweet, but it wasn't all us. No no. On Sunday a guy named Blake walked into church in basketball shorts and a t-shirt (It's actually nice as missionaries because it's easy to locate). He sat down in testimony meeting. Then about 20 minutes later he bore his testimony on the spirit of the meeting!! Unbelievable. He stayed the rest of church and 12 hours later, we taught him a lesson and he has a baptism date set for September 25th! (I know, Happy Birthday to me). That's actually one of two happening that day for us. The second story will come next week.

I am really learning how to stretch myself. It is so easy to just relax and take things easy because so many missionaries do. Peer pressure all over again. I have decided that I am no just going to make the mission a good experience or something that I learn things from, or think fondly of,  but something that immensely changes my life in perspective and knowledge of our savior's sacrifice for me. The mission is as hard as you want it to be. My goal is to have it almost kill me.Then how great will it be to live!"

Bryce says: "There are deer everywhere here! They come into the neighborhoods all the time and are actually considered pests because they're overpopulated. Ha."

"Secadas. They are related to locusts and are so noisy all the time."

Learning...

(taken from his latest email)
We are now teaching a family of five in Vienna! Sonia Ackerman is about 25 years inactive to the point where she doesn't remember much. Her three kids are 16, 14 and 10. They are solid. We passed out "For the Strength of Youth" to them and they liked it. But Sonia is actually the cleaning lady for the Burton's and one day Sister Burton just talked about church and it led to this. It's amazing how something so simple can harbor eternal consequences.

Something I learned in the last few weeks that makes so much sense to me is the real purpose for the spirit world. I knew before, but it was still a little fuzzy. Once as I was explaining it I started to understand and found this coming out of my mouth. Life is not fair, and death isn't either, but God makes it fair. And he does it through the Spirit World. Then I thought, oh ya that's true! There were some spirit led words no doubt. You learn when you teach.

The mission has been great for me. You see things through a different scope and I like it. I am grateful for my education because I think it has given me a greater perspective. A specific class I took about the development of humans has led me to see people for who they can be rather than who they are. This keeps me positive.

We have been great. The mission is difficult, frustrating and wonderful.

I know that God lives and loves us. That's all you need to know to get through.

I will leave you with the answering machine recording of an old black inactive lady in our ward: "Remember that God loves you and so do you I. Shalom"

Zone Conference Pictures

A Few Things...

(taken from his latest email)

One of the hardest things I witness here is the people who are too smart for their own good. They learn by thinking rather than feeling. It's hard because unless they quit, they won't allow the feelings they have to sink in. The thing our church has is the spirit of our Heavenly Father which helps us to remember what was before this life. It shows us truth. When things are talked about that makes sense or are true, we are able to feel that. It's funny when people bring up anti things they read, that is contrary to the church, and when asked, the feelings they have are not peace but confusion. If everyone would just take a second, breathe, and ponder about the truth that is being brought forth, the whole world would be baptized by September.

I am learning about myself. I think it's important to know yourself before trying to teach others. Sometimes they happen simultaneously. More than sometimes.

more things:

-This one is scary. I called myself Elder Church for the first time on my mission. It's always been Bryce. I dropped something in the bathroom the other day and instead of saying, "gosh dang it Bryce!" I replaced it with Elder Church. Who am I?

-There are a ton of frogs here.

-I rode my bike for the first time!

-2 things that I say now that I have never said before: "Sorry ma'am, we don't work here..." and "Sir it's ok you can park your car there. We aren't in fact, cops, you can park here."

-The mission has caused me to retrogress to the peanut butter sandwich. Cucumbers and meat are too expensive.

I love you family! And everyone else who is reading, I love you too.