Loving my Mission!

So I am now in the Cortez Branch. It is a huge area to cover. We walk and bike a lot, but sometimes need to take the car because of time and distance. I love it. We cover the Hispanic neighborhoods and it is so fun. They always have fiesta music playing and it makes me so happy ha-ha! I am always in the mood for chips and salsa. Everyone thinks we’re crazy for walking around in the neighborhoods and warns us to be gone by dark. We always are safe, don’t worry. Everyone is so nice. Sunday was so hard for me. I am trying to learn Spanish, but I am not as patient as I need to be. I am learning a lot but sometimes I just have no clue what's going on.

At the beginning of the week, we were teaching a lady. We taught the lesson.  (I helped. When it comes to lessons, I know what to say) but then she just started talking so much. I had no clue what she was saying. I was lost- so lost! I felt bad, but I just started praying that I would know how to help her. I had the feeling to explain how the gospel blesses families again. So I did. My companions didn't know what I was doing, but the spirit was so strong. After what I said/tried to say she completely changed. My companions later told me she was explaining all the problems that get in the way of going to church and following Christ but after I reminded her of the blessings, she was willing to change and put God first. It was really cool.

We also found a woman named------- this week. She is so prepared and is asking all the right questions. She is progressing and I love her so much. She can feel el Espiritu Santo but doesn’t know how to explain it. It makes me happy when she says that. I love helping people!

We are in Bradenton, so we have the beach and an island in our area. We went across the big bridge on our bikes and it was beautiful. I even saw some dolphins. I thought of Grandma. It's beautiful.

It is so hot here and our AC doesn't work very well. I am constantly sweating- ew ): I am so glad when people let us in and give us water. It's so hot I can’t believe it. There are lizards everywhere and they're so cute. 

I don't know if I told you this, but I have seen 3 alligators in the wild and a few more that were not wild. It's crazy!

We teach English every Thursday. It’s so cool to hear how it is helping them. One man came up to us this week and told us that because the missionaries were helping with him with his English, his boss at work gave him a dollar raise. He was so grateful! It's awesome. It also is helping my companion, Hermana Jahnel, learn English. I just love helping people.

Being in a branch is hard. Nobody really knows what they are doing. In our mission, we are not allowed to visit members unless there is an investigator there. It makes it hard to get to know the members and ask them to go to lessons, but it is okay. We are working hard to get to know them at church and through our ward mission leader.

My companions are so great! Hermana Jahnel and Gibson have both been out 9 months. I thought it was going to be weird being in a trio but I love it!! We all get along so well. They are helping me and teaching me so much. Every day they compliment me on my dedication and thank me for my hard work and example. We are learning from each other. It makes me feel good. I think I am companions with the best missionaries in the field (seriously, I think Pres. put me with them so I can have the best training). They always remember our purpose and always have a smile. It is so great.

One thing Hermana Jahnel told me the first day has stuck with me and it has helped me a lot. She said "hoy es el mejor dia de mi mision" (today is the best day of my mission). I repeat it to myself every morning and every day is the best day (:

We all stay positive together and I love them so much!!

It rains about once a day here- and when in rains it pours.

I am so grateful for my umbrella. Haha. It only rains for about 10 min though then it is nice and sunny. We have had good timing and been inside mostly when it rains. I hope our luck continues.

As far as anything I want… Pray for our investigators. Pray for our members. We are doing all we can and the rest is up to the Lord. We are just trying to find all the people he has prepared and is preparing.

Love you all,

Sister Bryan