Letter #52: Year Mark

Wow… It is crazy to think that I am half way done… I feel like I went into the MTC just a week ago. Time flies so fast.

So for my year mark we went to a members house and we burnt one of my shirts. It was fun. I will send you a picture.

Than we went with a couple other missionaries (one of which was in the MTC with me) and we went to a members house and had a grill party for lunch. We had ribs, chicken, and steak. It was delicious.

This week we have been working really hard with a couple of our investigators. A________ is the closest one to baptism and wants to be baptized on the 27th. We are working really hard with her and taught her the Plan of Salvation this week. It is kinda difficult with her because she doesn’t know how to read, and she also has a strange accent that is hard to understand. But we have to explain things super simply so she understands. Her husband R_______ who has two years as a member is working really well with her. He is trying to learn Spanish so they can communicate better. But yesterday in Church, He blessed the baby and asked us to be a part of it. I’ve never been a part of a baby blessing before so that was a really neat experience.

Then we had a really cool lesson with our investigator A_________, we were going to finish teaching him the Plan of Salvation and we slowly shifted into the gospel of Jesus Christ and then he asked us questions about baptism and priesthood authority and so we taught part of the Restoration. The lesson went everywhere and not what we expected it to be but we followed the spirit and ended up teaching what he needed that day, He then told us that he has been taught a bunch of times in the past but he never understood some things until now. He said the last two missionaries didn’t make too much sense but they were both Latino’s who spoke Spanish and now its us two white guys and he finally understands. That made me what to stand up and dance! It is always a struggle with the language to explain things properly and clearly but WE DID IT!!!!

We taught this old guy named R________ about the Word of Wisdom and he said he drinks coffee every day but if its not good for you he will give it up. So he straight up gave up coffee and hasn’t drunk any since the lesson. Crazy. He is really cool.

Oh and we got our car back! I’m not sure if that was this week or last week. haha.

I’m loving this area! It is awesome. There are so many cool members and people here (and trees and hills) and a little bit of nature which is awesome. I’ve forgotten how much I miss nature and the mountains. I am in the only area which has real nature in it and not just city… which is pretty awesome. haha

I am so pumped for Christmas!!!!! We are going all out because it is our last Christmas (and my only one in the field). I am going to send a package home and you can’t open it till Christmas okay… Just wrap the box. There is something in it for all of you 😉

So my official go home date is the 22nd of November! They had to move it around because the changed the amount of time in the MTC So we can have thanksgiving together!!

I love all you and hope you have a great week!

(If you have any questions that you want me to answer send some to me.)

Elder Bryce

#HaNacidoUnSalvador

P.S. Ever since my year mark I have had Bon Jovi’s Livin’ On A Prayer stuck in my head…woah we’re half way there, woah oh we’re livin on a prayer…

😉