Lift up thy Head and Rejoice

My family!

I love you so much. I can't believe this is my last email that I will send in the mission field. What a miracle and a blessing the last 2 years have been. Of course as you know, it is very bittersweet to be in this spot. Looking that next week at this time I'll be with you, but at the same time be leaving behind the people and places and experiences that have changed my life completely. Alma 8:15 "Lift up thy head and rejoice, for thou hast great cause to rejoice for thou hast been faithful in keeping the commandments of God". That's what I have to remember. I have been so blessed to be here, and I have found so much purpose and fulfillment in life through the Gospel. What more could I ask for?

Briefly, I'll tell you how our week went. We taught Gabriela Talamantez a couple of times, and things are going really well with her. I have such high hopes for her. We had committed her to read the Book of Mormon the last week, and we asked her this week if she had read, and she said yes. We asked where she was, and she had read 135 pages of the Book of Mormon. What!!!??? That was awesome. We asked her to come to church, she said she would, but they had a camping trip this weekend. So, she didn't come yesterday, but she committed to come to church this Sunday. We're going over on Friday for a lesson so we can fellowship her with someone from the Relief Society, and she wants to make me choco flan for my birthday! Woot. We taught Pati Vallesteros a quick lesson on Thurs, her little boy gets really out of sorts and cries a ton all the time, so it was hard to teach her. We biked from Commerce City to the northern part of Denver that's in our area on Thursday as well (It was like 100 degrees out too. Crazy! Sympathy for LV missionaries). And we taught a former investigator named Lilia and her daughter Liliana. They are great, and they've only really been taught by one other set of missionaries. Lilia said she has no intention of changing religions but she loves listening. And so we taught her and her daughter. She said her daughter really liked what the other missionaries taught. Lilia actually opened up to us a lot. It's amazing how the Spirit can work in lessons, even when I can't speak the language that well, to help get the feeling of the questions I'm asking across to the investigator. And she opened up. She told us her sister died last month and she has questions about the afterlife, and she is sad she never got to say goodbye on good terms to her sister. We will teach the plan of salvation the next time we go. We taught Sergio that night as well. We're hoping to continue teaching him and help him realize the importance of the restoration. We found an awesome new less active family. Familia Valero. Gilbert and his wife se retiraron de la iglesia a long time ago, but he wants to get back into it. He has several teenage children. And one time we went over there this week, his daughter Jenny was there. She totally shot down all of her dad's concerns about going to church. She was so interested in the church, and the sad part was that I don't even think she remembers anything about the church. How much gets lost when parents choose not to set the example. Anyway it was so cool that that night we were there for Jenny. We got her contact info for the YSA elders, and she is super interested in  to church and improving her relationship with Heavenly Father. We are teaching the Platas still, we've lost a lot of contact with Jessica, I hope we can get it back. No news on Azucena and Marcos, we also need to get in contact with them. We're praying we'll be able to help  people this week to progress, and not just listen. It's a fight, but it's the Lord's will that he has people that will progress.

Riding with Brother Bermudez (Ward Mission Leader) in his 2 seater truck!

The sisters are in the English ward that covers our area!

The sisters--some of the best missionaries I know!

In closing, at the end of my mission I want to share some of the lessons I've learned:

1--Charity is the only way. Without it we are nothing. If I try, and try, and try, and I have not charity, there is no point. I can try to do the Lord's work my way, but in the end, I'll find no value in it. Charity is the only true way of a disciple of Christ. In charity, there are times when we walk alone, and times when we shoulder the burdens of others. Charity is a taste, a miniscule sampling, of what the Savior went through and how he expressed his love during the atonement. Charity is everything.

2--Work. Work makes everything easier and so much more fun. It makes life more interesting, it makes us more useful, it gives us happiness that nothing else can. We do not labor for that which is of no worth. Worthwhile work is the key to a successful life. 

3--Smile. A smile is such a powerful tool. If we smile, it can turn every situation into a comfortable one. 

4--Being happy, and a positive attitude is a choice. If we choose to be positive, everything is great!

5--Loving without judgement is the only way to win someone's heart and friendship. Judging shuts everything down, and pure love softens and opens the hardest hearts.

6--There is something remarkably powerful in unity. The zion principle. One heart, and one mind become the most powerful thing that a group of people can do.

7--Commitment is a step to conversion, and a gift of power to us. Commitment is a measure of success. Commitment is the only way of a disciple of Christ.

8--The scriptures can become our best friends. We have to get to know them, but then they will become the Lord's counsel to us in the moment we need them.

9--Desires are so powerful, and an essential part of our life. If we can learn to sacrifice, control, and shape our desires--if we can ultimately learn to give them up, we become instruments in God's hands. Desires are a part of the way we will be judged.

10--Love, pure love is not an easy task. It is work, and it takes work every day. Sometimes self-sacrifice is the only way, but when we can learn to love someone, we can learn to succeed. Love is the way. The only way. Pure love (charity) is painful, it's lonely, it's hard, but it is the ONLY way we will find success and be able to return to God and have him say to us, "Well done thou good and faithful servant".

Above all, my testimony has been magnified powerfully of the atonement of the Savior Jesus Christ. He is the source of all blessings, comfort, and power we need in this life. He sacrificed all. He bled from every pore. He suffered body and spirit. He felt the pain I feel, and every single other person feels. He paid the price for sin and felt every ill feeling of guilt or shame or separation from God that we do. And He didn't deserve any of it. I will forever be grateful to my Savior Jesus Christ for His atonement. And for my God, for allowing His only begotten son to condescend and suffer infinitely for the rest of His children. The atonement is everything we teach. The atonement is the fount of every blessing. The atonement has saved me. Christ has changed me. I have become someone who may not know the most, or may not be able to do the most, but I have become willing to submit to the will of my Father. I love the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I love the power of Faith, the gift of Repentance, the miracle of Baptism, the Gift of the Holy Ghost, and the marvelous and inspiring principle of Enduring to the End. I love the perfection of the Plan of Happiness, it is such a perfect plan. God in his infinite wisdom gave us a perfect, fool-proof way to find happiness. All of it centers on the atonement of Jesus Christ. Without Him we are nothing. I am grateful for the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is a blessing. It is true. Joseph Smith was a prophet of God, he had a literal mantle placed upon him to restore the keys of the priesthood and the church of Jesus Christ once again to the earth. 

I love God. I know beyond anything, and more than anything that He loves us. That is a fact. It is something I will never be able to deny. I have felt his love, and it has changed my life. I love the blessing He has given me to be a missionary. I am a representative of Jesus Christ. I have been set apart to represent Him and as such I testify in His Holy Name that He Lives! I know it. I will forever be changed by the knowledge He has given me, and the opportunity to represent Him. I love Him!  With all that I am and with all I can give, I will forever serve Him, my Maker, my Savior, my Friend. 

Love,
Elder Logan Bryan

Quickie

Well Familia, 

I have no time due to some complications with the library, and cleaning our apartment. Anyway. This week was great. It was hard, and it was exactly what we needed at the same time. 

Daniela, still doing awesome. Azucena and Marcos, bailed on our appointment, and we haven't seen them since. Yadira, we've tried contacting them so many times but nothing. We're struggling to find investigators that will progress, but I have faith we will find them. We found a lady named Sonia from tracting, and it was a miracle we were able to find her, and we found miracles as we taught her tambien. She had a concern about God the Father having a glorified perfected body of flesh and bone, but when we retaught it to her, she said, "Oh yeah, I guess that makes sense since Jesus was the express image of his Father". By the way, before I forget, I confirmed Daniela in Spanish.  So Sonia was awesome!  And the temple was good. We had an awesome breakthrough lesson with Hno Plata, Jessica's dad. That was amazing too. I love being a missionary. I wish I had more time to testify of the blessings and miracles it is. I love Christ! 

Love,
Elder Logan Bryan

Last Temple Day on the Mission (July 21, 2013--10:30am Session)

My second family, the Kaisers, joined me in the temple!

Other Missionaries attending the Temple

Baptism and Sealing!

Me, Rita and Allen Collins, Elder Anderson

What a week! It was amazing familia. On Monday or Tuesday night I got a letter from Allen and Rita Collins (Cheyenne, WY) inviting me to their sealing this past Saturday at 1pm. President Toombs gave us permission along with Elder Anderson and his companion, and we got to go to their endowment session, and their sealing. 

Elder Orejuela, Daniela, Me

Daniela was baptized! Elder Orejuela baptized her, and I confirmed her. It was a neat experience, and I know she totally feels a part of the ward family.  We taught Daniela several times this week, and it was so cool to work with her and help her prepare for the baptism. She wants to be a missionary very badly, and I know she'll prepare to serve a mission and stay active. 

This week was also full of teaching. We taught 20 lessons this week, 14 of which were investigators. It was an awesome week. It was cool to reach our goal again. It makes such a difference when we commit ourselves to the goal that we set.

One of the biggest tender mercies this week was Azucena and Marcos, her husband. We took a member with us to our lesson with them on Tuesday, and it was such a good lesson. We were a little bit apprehensive about Marcos because we hadn't met him, and he walked in as we were talking with Azucena. But, Marcos sat in on the lesson, and we ended up talking to them about the problems they were having in their lives. Marcos said he wants to improve his marriage, and his relationship with his kids. We talked to them about a marriage and family centered in Christ is the only way to true happiness in a family. It was a spirit-filled lesson, and Marcos told us afterwards that all that we had taught him made a lot of sense to him, and they really liked it. We have another appointment with them on Tuesday, and we hope they will progress.  We needed to teach 5 lessons yesterday to reach our goal of 20 for the week, and again, we saw miracles. We had 2 lessons before dinner, and needed 3 after dinner. So, we set up 3 for after dinner, and got to our second appointment and they weren't there. We were bummed, and decided to try some other potentials near the trailer, so we did, and we set up an appointment for the next week with one of them, and we needed to go soon, so we biked back past the appointments trailer, and they suddenly pulled up! It was a miracle, and we were able to teach Pati, and she is very willing to learn and grow her faith. We see miracles all the time when we commit ourselves to the Lord, and we were able to see that yesterday just like we do every week and every day if we look for them. 

I'm so grateful for my mission, and for the wonderful miracles that I have been able to see and help happen. The Lord grants us the blessing of doing His work, and blesses us so much in return. I love my Savior. He is so keenly aware of everything that we need and want in our lives. He will grant unto us our desires. I hope and pray my will can be His, and that I can help others feel of the arms of His love encircled around them. I love my mission!  

Love,

Elder Logan Bryan

Week 2 Andando en mi Bici

Que transita por tus venas?

Sorry for the terrible slang, but that's what I learn down here in C-City. Just kidding, I just laugh at some of the slang that I learn. I learned that one way to say "peace out" in a pretty slang way is "te bañas!" Crazy huh? Well this week has been a pretty dang good one. We set some really high goals this week, and we didn't achieve them, but that's why we set goals, to help us work towards doing better. We found 7 new investigators again this week. It's been really good. Elder Orejuela and I have been changing the way that we work here in Montevista. Many times, people will tell us they're busy, or to come back another time. Many times we can't enter the home because there isn't a man there. But, we can sure pray and teach outside. So we do now. We invite the people to talk outside with us for a few minutes, and we have opening and closing prayers with them, and teach them parts of the missionary lessons. It's been really good, and it's been an awesome opportunity to teach people we otherwise wouldn't have been able to teach.

Daniela is doing awesome! We taught her a ton this week, and there were some crazy miracles and things that took our hearts and our prayers for a roller coaster, but I'll tell you more about that when I get home. If you'd like to start making some questions for me about things I told you I'd tell you about when I got home, that might be a good idea, because I just don't remember all the things I've said I would talk about later. It has truly been a week of miracles. Familia Vasquez, who I talked about a while back that we were teaching them how to do member missionary work, had Hna Vasquez's friend over for a noche de hogar on Monday. It went awesome, and Hna Vasquez invited Yadira, her friend, to listen to the missionaries (us). She said she did want to do that. So, we had a lesson with her on Thursday morning with Hna Vasquez. So despite a few rough patches in the lesson, Yadira accepted the invitation to be baptized, and we set up a lesson for yesterday. Yesterday we taught her again. We taught the first lesson, and showed her part of the restoration video. It was really good, and it was awesome to be able to see her feel the power of the message. In the end, she accepted the invitation to be baptized on July 13th. Woohoo! Daniela is getting baptized this Saturday at 11:00 am. She chose Elder Orejuela to baptize her, and we're stoked. It's going to be such a good baptism, and she is way excited too. She's so ready. It's been such a good experience to be able to teach her.

One of the coolest new investigator stories we found this week was a lady named Asusena. She is from Mexico, and her family all live there still except her, her husband, and her kids. Recently she had some family members die, and she isn't able to go back and see them, and it's really hard for her. We testified of the gospel of Jesus Christ, and the power it had to give us knowledge of God's plan for us so that we can find peace. She loved it, and we're going back tomorrow in the afternoon. One of the coolest experiences of the week was teaching Jessica Plata last night. We'd been trying to be able to meet with her for a long time, but never have been able to. Last night, we were supposed to visit her family. In fact, we had confirmed it, and reconfirmed it. But when we got there, her parents weren't home. We had Hno Bermudez with us (our Lider Misional), so we could go in and talk. So when we got in, we didn't even know she was home, and so we talked to her little brother. After a while, she came out into the room, right as we said the opening prayer to teach Angel, her little brother, a lesson. After the prayer, she was just standing there, and I asked her if she wanted to sit down, and she said that she did, and we ended up teaching pretty much just her. She shared with us why she wanted to change her life, and what she needed to do. Hno Bermudez shared his testimony and his conversion story, and it was EXACTLY what Jessica needed to hear. She said she has been confused for most of her life with religion, but she wants to grow close to God, and she is willing to get baptized when she knows for herself it's what she needs to do. It was just a miracle that everything worked out the way it did. We had never taken Hno Bermudez to the Platas, and this day, he happened to be with us and it was exactly what she needed. The Lord works miracles in his work!

I love being a missionary. It is without a doubt, the best thing I've ever done. I've had the blessing of testifying of Christ, and of helping people grow close to him. What a blessing. Christ is the center of all we do. He is the mark. When we find we are losing hope, or direction--in my humble witness, I know He is the source to which we need to turn. I love the scriptures. What a marvelous blessing they are to me. They have become my friends. My source of comfort. In reality, they are a means to help me realize and come to know more my divine friend, Jesus Christ. They testify of His love, and His power available to all of us who are here on this earth. I am so grateful to my Maker, my Savior, my Friend. He is the fount of my every blessing. He has indeed calmed my troubled heart. He has stilled the raging tempests. He has been my firm foundation. I love Him. 

Love,

Elder Logan Bryan

Monte-Beast-a

Buenas Tardes Familia!

Esta semana tuvimos milagros y desafios, y esta semana que entra, vamos a ver milagros cada dia.

Daniela is progressing really awesomely. We taught her several of the commandments this week, and she loves them. The first commandment we taught is obedience, and when we teach obedience with the Spirit and they understand and commit to it, the rest of the commandments make sense and are easy for them to follow. That's how it worked with Daniela, and when we taught the rest of the commandments this week, like the Word of Wisdom, she had no problem in accepting and committing to live them. It was awesome. We're set to have her baptism on June 15th, and Elder Orejuela will be baptizing her!

We had a miracle this week on Tuesday. We were walking to our appointment that we didn't feel like was going to be there after teaching Daniela. So we walked by the library, and there was this lady sitting down looking pretty down as well. We passed her and I felt like we should talk to her, so we stopped on the sidewalk across the street, and dared each other to go talk to her. While we were stalling and Elder O made a call to our next appt, this lady came up to us, and asked to borrow our phone to make a call. We said sure, and after she was done, we asked to talk to her. She said she used to be religious but not anymore. She told us her name was Cynthia, and that three weeks ago her boyfriend and basically husband, even though they're not married, was killed. We asked her if we could talk to her on a park bench nearby and she said sure. So for 20 minutes after praying with her, we testified of the love God has for us. We testified over and over again that God loves her and has a plan for her, and He has a way for her to find happiness again. She thanked us, and asked us what we think happens after this life. We told her and testified again, and asked her to please listen to the missionaries who cover her area (she doesn't live near Commerce City). She promised us she would give them a chance. We prayed for her, and for her daughter too, and then she left after giving us her real name, and her phone number. It was such a tender mercy to be able to testify and help one of God's lost daughters. I felt so much love and sympathy for her. I wish so much she could feel the Love God has for her. It was a tender mercy of the Lord. I love testifying of God's love.

I'm sorry I don't have more details, but this next week will be full of them. I love you so much. If there is one thing I have learned on my mission, it is that God truly loves us. He does. More than we could ever imagine. More than we can feel. When our hands hang helplessly down, He loves us. When we have lost all that we feel we can, He loves us. When we fail, and fall, and falter, He loves us. When we waver in our love for Him, He still loves us. I have felt it. And I feel it strengthen me. I know God loves me. And the essence and base of that love is the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Because God loves me, He sent His Son. Christ loves me too, enough to suffer both body and spirit and drink the most bitter cup known to man. I love Him so much. I know God Lives, and I know God Loves! 

Love,
Elder Logan Bryan

Montevista Este

Aqui estamos, en Commerce City. I'm still with Elder Orejuela and our area got split. There will now be a Montevista Central area, and we are now on bike! Crazy. We're the only Spanish area on bike in our entire mission. We're going to tear it up though. Crazy miracles happened this week. It was awesome. I'm so excited about Daniela. It was some of the most frustrating, and some of the most rewarding days of my mission. What a blessing.

So this week, we saw lots of miracles and blessings. Sunday was one of the most frustrating days of my life. Not to be down, but absolutely nothing worked. We tried like everyone! And nobody panned out. Tuesday we met with Rosa y Alondra and it was a good lesson. I love the question, if you could ask God a question, face to face, what would you ask him? It is a question that gets you to know people's questions of their souls right away. With Rosa, she wanted to know what church is right since there are so many. Alondra wanted to know what her purpose is in life. We taught the restoration and it was good. I don't know how much is going on in their lives, but it was great to teach them. Rosa is getting treated for cancer, and they go through rough times--Alondra is a madre soltera. I pray they'll progress, but they are no longer in our area, they're in the Central area which is Elder Diaz (my old comp) and Elder Sarmiento.

Daniela! So we taught Daniela first on Thursday, and then on Saturday. Thursday's lesson, we read 2 Nefi 31 with her, and she loved what it talked about. When we invited her to be baptized, she said she wants to, but it's something she wants to take so seriously, she doesn't want to rush into it. So we tried to resolve the concern, but ended up leaving the lesson frustrated because she is so golden and wants to do what God wants her to do, but she doesn't want to commit to be baptized for him. So I prayed, and tried to figure out what to do to help her, and we taught her again on Saturday. The first thing we asked her after starting the lesson was, "So we talked about baptism last time, and how have you felt about it?" She said, "It's funny because I've been praying about it, and I don't really know why, but I feel like I should be baptized before July!" What? It was a complete miracle. I'm so excited for it. She is prepared, and we're teaching her again tonight.

Well family, I have to go, but the time is nearing the end. Not that I'm trunky. I feel sometimes the furthest thing from it. I talked to Elder O yesterday about how missionaries are joking and poking fun at me because I DON'T want to go home, not because I do. It seems weird. But I will give it my all. Giving my all is the only thing I can do because any other way is doing my mission in my way, not the Lord's. I'm so grateful for the miracle, the blessing, the sacred grove my mission has become. And it will continue to become such for the next 6 weeks. I love the Lord. With all that I have, I want to and will continue to love him.

Love,
Elder Logan Bryan

Feliz Cumple Mamá!

I love you mother! I thought about you several times yesterday and prayed you would feel my love for you. I love you with all my heart.

This week was magnificent! We taught 20 lessons, and found 7 new investigators. I think things are really starting to pick up in our area. It was a good area, but I think things are going good and things are starting to heat up. One of the investigators we found last week is named Sergio. He is awesome. We had an appointment with him this past Monday, but he no-showed. But on Saturday, we were driving by his trailer and he was walking, and he stopped us and was super friendly. He shook our hands through the windows and it was awesome. He asked if we wanted to come and talk right then, and we said of course. So we went in and talked with him. He had read what we had left him--4 times. What?!!
He is awesome and we had a good talk about the Book of Mormon. After the lesson, his family that lives in Alamosa came up and surprised him by visiting him. He wanted to introduce us to his wife and kids, and he told them, "These are our new friends!  And they're friends of God too." What a cool experiencia. I love Sergio. 

Daniela is doing well, not too much to report on her. She graduated this week, so we'll be meeting with her way more frequently this week. We found some really good potentials while doing service this week. We met a guy named Jorge, and helped him do some landscaping at an apartment complex. While helping, 2 ladies were carrying a fusbol table, and we went and helped them. They're from Idaho, and just moved here. They said they knew a ton of Mormons in Idaho, and we have an appointment to meet with them tomorrow at 12 noon!  

Elder Orejuela and I are doing really well. I love the work! We had one of the best zone conferences I've ever had this week. President showed us a video of clips from talks by Elder Eyring and Elder Holland about missionary work and the atonement. Powerful. I was crying. Also, I gave my departing testimony, as well as Elder Mckay. It was awesome. I am sorry I don't have more time to email the long one as it is usually, but I spent most of my time talking with you guys. I love you!!!!! 

Love,
Elder Logan Bryan