BRYAN'S TRIP TO S.L.C

I had been home from my mission about a month when I received a message on my answering machine from one of my old investigators in the Philippines, Bryan Borela. The message left cold chills all over my body. Bryan was a super strong Catholic who wasn't really looking for anything else until he met his girlfriend, Nana, who is a strong member! She turned him over to us and we started teaching. He had tons of deep doctrinal questions that sometimes I didn't even know the answers too. Of course the spirit was there to help us know exactly what to say and how to handle his situation. He started reading and studding the Book Of Mormon which naturally brought more questions. His girlfriend Nana would attend all his lessons and with her strong testimony we had some really powerful lessons. I will never forget when we taught Bryan the Plan Of Salvation, it all made since and he really felt the spirit. With prayer, my companion and I excitedly planed to extend a baptismal date to Bryan. Our next lesson is when we would extend that life changing date, but before we could even bring it up he dropped the news.... He was leaving to work in New York for four months. Not knowing what would happen over those next four months we didn't extend the baptismal date. We finished the lesson then said our good-byes. It was hard knowing that some one so close and that had made so much progress was leaving our teaching pool with out baptism. I would most likely be transferred when he got back to the Philippines so we exchanged numbers and as corny as it may sound said good bye with a lump in my throat. We continued to pray for Bryan even though he was thousands of miles away. I transferred from that area as did my companion, and then eventually the big huge transfer back to America. Oh man, was that ever a hard transfer. About a year latter from Bryan's move I was now home spending time with my sister Mindy in Arizona. My parents called with the exciting news. They put the phone up to the answering machine and pushed play. It was Bryan's voice and he said, “ Hey Elder Ogden this is Bryan from the Philippines. I'm just calling to let you know that I returned to the Philippines and was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I just wanted to call and thank you.” he went on to say he had since come back to America for the second time and left his phone number so I could call him back! With my mouth wide open and my heart betting fast I wrote down his number. A great feeling of accomplishment numbed my body. This last Monday Bryan flew into Salt Lake City where Marc Price (my mission companion), Ashley Goodwin ( my Friend) and I waited with signs to welcome him to Utah. We had an amazing day touring temple square. A Filipina missionary was our tour guide and she made sure we didn't miss a single attraction. Through out the day people asked how I knew Bryan. Once again the feeling of accomplishment swept across me as I replied, “ I was his missionary.” He told us all the exciting news that he will be marring his long time girlfriend Nana in the temple this coming February, (that will be one year exactly from the day he was baptized.) We stayed at my companions house that night spoiling Bryan with the new Wii games and showing him how great of a state Utah really is. We don't always get to see the end of every story and we get frustrated or mad! We lay out that big question WHY, But I know Heavenly Father can see the end of every story. He will finish it His way and in His time. I took him back to the airport on Tuesday and once again said good-bye with a lump in my throat, but this time knowing I would for sure see him again!