Bryce and His Missionary Journal

One thing that Bryce did not like to do was write in his journal. Even when he understood the value of writing, he would make comments in his journal of how much he didn't want to write. The irony was that he was actually a very good writer and made many profound analogies. One of his last emails home talked about finishing his journal and finding out that the other Elders had written 3 and 4 journals in the time he wrote in one. "You would be proud of them mom" was his comment.
I have been typing up the journal to send to Bryce's brother in Japan. He has wanted to know what Bryce was doing when he had been out the same amount of time, etc.
Today I was typing his April 2, 2007 entry. I knew when he began that he had a dream that it would be something revealing. He always wants to dream about snow and snowboarding but this one was different.
2007 April 2 So it is 6:30. I just woke up and I think I may have had a dream with significant meaning.
Hopefully I will remember why as it started with me riding in the back seat of a taxi. Later as we drive along I find myself singing with a terrible squeaky high pitched voice. Then I find myself walking around some houses in a suit with a suitcase or possibly a guitar, singing now in a deep pleasant voice. I am on top of a hill and I can see the ocean. The tide and the waves look big. So I walk down towards the ocean to get a better look. When I get near the bottom the tide is really high and gets me a bit wet so I hurry up the hill to avoid getting wet from the next tide. But the next tide is even higher so I continue to rush up the hill. The next tide even higher and rising at a rapid rate. By this time I am rushing up the hill as fast as I can but the next tide is a monstrous wave and it blasts me high into the air. As I fly into the air and realize my situation, the only thing in my mind is the R.E.M. song “It’s the end of the world” I am completely calm as I prepare to die, and then my dream is over. I later have a dream where I am learning how to surf. It was a strange dream maybe it means nothing, but I felt strongly that I needed to remember it. I think it could possibly have something to do with death obviously or possibly the 2nd Coming. Something to do with being ready perhaps. Then maybe the surfing part is after this life. Who knows. I don’t think I have ever written down a dream before today though. Interesting.

Bryce's journal has made me laugh and cry within minutes of each entry. He writes funny poems, comments about the people of South Africa, says stuff off the wall and then ends with spiritual insights. It is clear that he loves those that he teaches. It is clear that his testimony continues to grow and be strengthened with
each month that passes. He is just beginning to understand the power of goal setting and charts a course of self improvement. ( April 2007).
This is a picture of Mdoda. He is now on a mission for the LDS church. Bryce had just come from hearing General Conference when he had this dream and he was so happy to see Mdoda, Nceba, and Zolanie. Lunga had put in his missionary papers. Bryce was seeing the fruits of his labors and it touched him deeply.