Bryson's been DUNKED!



The Irmo, S.C. LDS Church, Ciera & Barbara attended in S.C.



The MTC Girls...great reunion!

Sister Paxman and Ciera...Friends FOREVER!

Red, White, and Blue




One for Mom!



Sassy weather in the South



Brother Bryson and the Sistas

BRYSON HAS BEEN DUNKED! Not easily, but, it happened.

First off, I just want to point out that if I was a contestant on “Survivor,” I think this week would be the week that family comes and visits. So… pretty much they are wimps because I’ve still got to go 17 months. (Don’t be showing up on my doorstep or anything. That’d freak me out.)

So,  I hope everybody had a happy and safe 4^th of July! We had a ward breakfast that morning in which we had pancakes and bacon! YUM! After that, we had a “ZTM.” I think it stands for Zone Training Meeting. Pretty much, it’s like a pre-zone conference. Sister Derrick and I had/got to give a 10 minute lesson on “Unity.” We pretty much prepared it the morning of. It went pretty well though! And a lot of the Elders came up to us afterwards and thanked us. We talked about unity with your companion, district and zone. Then we talked a little bit about how this is a world-wide army with one purpose. We used the quote, “Forget yourself and get to work.” It was probably a lesson more for me than for anybody else.  Anywho, it went great!

For the 4^th of July NIGHT, we got to have dinner with the Couch family! They are the sweetest freaking people I’ve ever met. I told mom that Sister Couch, (Amy) is the most mom-like person I’ve met our here. She just wants to take us under her wing. She’s been through a billion trials throughout her life and with her family. She’s so optimistic though. Her and her husband/children are working to get sealed in the temple this coming November. Her husband was just baptized two years ago. They’re great! We had a BBQ and it was even their anniversary! So.. we had pretty much the best chocolate cake of my life. The kids did smoke bombs as their fireworks before we had curfew. Our curfew was early, 8pm, because of safety reasons. I didn’t get to see any fireworks L

I’ve got to say I laughed for a second when I read Corinne’s email this past week. They have a goal of 60 baptisms.. and our mission has a goal of 135 baptisms. It’s just interesting how different parts of with world have different people that God has prepared.

The other day we received a referral from the zone leaders. They had received it on accident, but it was in our area. LONG STORY SHORT, we went to the address. The GPS says, “arriving at address 403, on left.” Well.. we turn our heads to the left… AND IT WAS A HUGE PRISON!!!!!!!!!! We were freaking out. Hahahahah, it made us laugh though. We still aren’t sure what to do about that.

For all of you wondering about the NASTY cockroach from last week- he was found- and he was killed. (That is, if there’s only that one.) We definitely still have our eyes peeled. We saw him the other night when we got home at about 9, and there he was… on the carpet. We chased him around with a shoe and I might have screamed a little bit. But, next thing we know, he was dead. In my bathroom. On my towel.

It’s whatever.

This past week we also had MLC!!!! MLC is a BIG deal! I actually ended up singing a hymn, “Lead Kindly Light” with a couple of other missionaries. How do I get pulled into this stuff? Hahaha! Anyways, it’s all of the zone leaders and all of the STLs. We gather with the assistants and with President/Sister Holm for training. It was amazing. I could sit and listen to President Holm stories ALL day!! For example, he was talking about how a couple of years ago he took his private plane, (6 seater) with his 3 boys, (Jef included) and went to Guatemala for a couple of days. Long story short, they got to go to the “Waters of Mormon.” SAY WHAAA??? Ya. President Holm just talked about how the locals always called them the waters of Mormon, even though they didn’t know why. Not to mention the fact that President Holm is super humble about his money. He is definitely a business man. But, I LOVE hearing his testimony. He could go on for days, and I would still love each one of his stories. I like his quote, “We convert others by converting ourselves.”  So true.
The next day we had Sisters Conference down in Irmo as well! ALL of the sisters from the mission gathered. I got to see my good ol’ MTC buddies! It was good to hear about their successes too.

The other day we were knocking, and a guy opened the door. We introduced ourselves and he said “I’m Gay.” I didn’t know how to respond to that… so I ended up saying “Oh! My Uncle was gay. But, he still believed in the Gospel!” He slammed the door in our faces. We laughed about it afterwards. I guess we need to come up with a better response than that.

OK. TIME FOR THE BEST PART OF THE WEEK!!!!!!!

Dun dun dun dunnnnnnnN!!!!!!!!

BRYSON IS THE NEWEST MEMBER OF THE SIMPSONVILLE 2^ND WARD!!! Whawho!!!!!

On Saturday, the baptism was schedule for 11am. We got there at about 8:30 to fill up the font. We found the jumpsuits and looked for the biggest ones! We found a couple and pulled them aside. Bryson showed up at about 10:30. THEN DISASTER STRUCK!! None of the jumpsuits fit him. Like, not even sorta. Like… he couldn’t even put his leg in one of them. Ya. So….. we panicked. Brother Jone’s  went out to shop- even though we have no idea where. At 11, people were there and we still didn’t even have a jumpsuit for this guy. Then Sister Jone’s decided to go to Goodwill. LONG STORY SHORT; at about 11:45 the baptism started. He ended up wearing a white polo and VERY light khaki pants. I gave my 10 minute talk in about 2 minutes. (Pretty much I just shared a scripture.) Sister derrick didn’t give her talk at all, and next thing we know, Bryson is under water.

HE WAS BAPTIZED!!!

Yup. Then, we went about our day- and Satan decided to make each one of our investigators sick. So… it was a pretty sucky day, except for the fact… that… BRYSON WAS BAPTISED!!

I’m smiling even as I type this.

Well, we meet with him a little that night. Life was good, even though he was embarrassed about what had happened earlier that day.

The next day he was confirmed by Elder Kerr. The spirit was super strong and just amazing. (PS, I said the closing prayer in Sacrament. Proud of me?)

And ya. Bryson is just pretty much the coolest person to ever walk the face of the earth. It’s fine.

We were talking last night, after he’d been confirmed, and he said something really interesting. We were talking about testimonies and he said that our church says something that a lot of other churches don’t say. We say the phrase “I know it’s true.” He said that he knew it was true as well. He was crying, and the spirit was just SO strong. Dang. The Gospel changes lives.

I want y’all to look up the talk “Preparation in the Priesthood: I Need your help.” It’s an amazing talk by President Eyring!

All in all, it was another great week. My testimony was strengthened so much. I know that Satan is working harder than ever on the rest of our progressing investigators. We’re praying for their strength through sicknesses and for people to get home from vacations quickly.

I love you all so much. Not a minute goes by that I don’t think and pray for each one of you individually. Thank you so much for the prayers and letters on my behalf! They are appreciated WAY more than you’ll ever know!!!

I love you so much! Be safe!!

Mosiah 7:33

-Sister Belyea