Really?! Bryce's Missionary Companion

Dear Wynette & Kim,  I couldn't help but think of Bryce today. 

We were invited by our Area President, Elder Carl B. Cook, to the Pretoria Stake Conference for the splitting of their stake and sat on the stand with Elder Cook, two Area Seventies and two mission presidents and their wives. 

It was an amazing birthday present to me when Wade Baldwin was presented as the new bishop of the Pretoria 2nd Ward! I'm sure Bryce was there!

We received this email and picture.  This was Bryce's mission president who is now the liaison for all the mission presidents in Africa Southeast and West Africa.  It was wonderful to see the Baldwins!  Great news about a great "kid". 

What's It All About?

Today I received an email from one of Bryce's companions.  He is coming to Utah.  Just when you think you are done meeting people from his life....someone new pops up.      I am grateful for these connections but have seen a pattern of funk after each encounter.  It reminds me that Bryce is no longer here.  You would think that things would change as each year passes and the memories would seem fuzzy. 

When Sis LaPray and I first arrived in Port Elizabeth, Elder Christensen was a green new missionary and that was the only opportunity we had to work with him, but I do 
remember one experience that I thought I might write about.  On one occasion Sister 
LaPray decided that she wanted to fix a special lunch for the district after district 
meeting.   She thought it would be nice to do Mexican food, something that was rare in 
South Africa.  She found that good tortillas were difficult to by and so indicated as we 
were preparing our taco's.  Being among a bunch of Elders, she was shocked when Elder 
Christensen indicated that they were really quite easy to make.  She was so surprised that 
she questioned him and then they spent quite a while as he taught her ways to cook and 
bake.   I couldn't help but think what a fortunate girl would be the one who he chose to 
marry and assist in the kitchen.  Unfortunately this accident will preclude this 
opportunity, but fortunately the gospel plan provides opportunities in the hereafter to 
continue this great experience called life.---
This was sent to us after the funeral.  Something that I didn't even know about Bryce.

Last month we made a trip to Colorado.  We were on a train going to Silverton when a beautiful lady came up to me and said she knew me.  We tried to make the connections and exhausted most possibilities.  She wanted to figure it out and I was ready to sit down when my sister  noticed her jacket and the name of our hospital.  She told me that she was a Chaplain there with her husband.  I don't know how she could have possibly remembered me from everyone since 2009 but I knew that she sat beside me in the hospital comforting me on Jan. 7th.  It was a happy reunion and opportunity for me to thank her once more for her service.  Small world isn't it?  

Bryceisms

I am going through all the letters I wrote to Bryce on his mission.  Here is a typical Bryce stunt that I reminded him of...  Nov. 13, 2005:  Bryce recorded the funniest message on Kira's answering machine.  He tried to cry but it was more like laughing that something had happened at home and could she please call.  He called three times with a message wanting her to call home.  What he really wanted to know was what kind of car she had just bought. 
Another short excerpt that I wrote to Bryce about him being gone on a mission:  I was cooking bacon for your dad's breakfast and thought....good thing Bryce isn't here.  He would not be happy at the smell.  Then, when I was done and put it away, the thought came--I don't have to hide this cooked bacon in the veggie section because Bryce isn't here to eat it!!  See....you are missed. 

Things That Bryce Randomly Wrote

I am cleaning out Bryce stuff.  The time has come.  Here are a few jewels from his notebooks.
An Amazing Observation by Bryce Christensen:
When you are in a car and your are the passenger and there is a song you like on and you say," Hey...I like this song".  The driver almost always turns the volume up.  And you feel like saying, "Hey...all I said was I liked this song--not blast my ears out"...but most of the time you politely clench your teeth and take it. 

READ THIS!!
Dear person reading this if you are not Bryce ( which is a good chance you are not because I am Bryce and don't plan on reading this again). .. This notebook of my ideas will most likely not make sense to you.
.....so my apology if you can't get a hold of me and the ideas in this book remain random nonsense.  Maybe that's the way it was meant to be and maybe you are supposed to make your own sense out of things in this book but if you know I happen to be around or if you thin you can find me ...get a hold of me and let our journey of my past ideas begin.
Yours truely, Bryce Christensen

Cheese--a short story by Bryce
"Cheese and lots of it!" replied Mr. Scower.  "Wonderful wonderful cheese....um Mr. Joshua what are we going to do with all this cheese?"  Why Mr. Scower , were going to do the only thing that can be done with cheese.   "And what is that?" replied Mr. Scower.
"Cheese bombs."  What?   said Mr. Scower.  "CHEESEBOMBS"!  and the best ones the world has ever seen at that.
"Oh that's just great" said Mr. Scower. 
The End
The Return of the Cheese
Scower hand me some sharp cheddar cheese cologne.  There's ladies around.  "Yes, my Lord".  Thank you....this stuff really gets you the women.
Oh...here they come now. 
Oh Mr. Jordan, you're so handsome, said some lady.  Oh Mr. Jordan you smell so good.  Here's a million dollars. 
The end

Once when I was little my little brother Dallin had this pirate sword and he would always hit me in the lip with it.  So my mom one day took the sword and cut it into many pieces. 

Journal...Something Bryce Loved to Do--Not.

Sunday Nov. 27 2004  This is my journal.  Better write some stuff in it so mom's head won't explode, you know how it is with the
exploding and the brains everywhere. 
  Dec. 5, 04  This is my journal.  Ha! Ha! Ha!

What Makes Memorial Day Important?

12 Sept. 2008  Well today we had our last Zone Conference.  It was me, Carroll, Donoho, and Warren.  Elder Young and his wife were there and spoke.  It was freezing.  I didn’t know what would happen when I bore my last Zone testimony.  Sister Young kept talking about things we should have done by the end of our missions and just before I got up to bear my testimony I thought of all the things I had learned, seen, felt and experienced on mission.  It was hard for me to get words out and I was crying.  It was weird.  I usually don’t get emotional and when I sat down afterwards, I felt a distinct warmth on my shoulders and back as if someone had put a warm blanket on me. 

Memorial Day is a great time to reflect and remember.  For behold, this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors.  Alma 34:32

Mother's Day call

I always loved the call that came on Mother's Day from our missionaries.  Since we don't have any current missionaries in our immediate family and Bryce is as close as we get, I thought I would post something he said that applies to all of us.  It means a lot to me.
August 18, 2008
honestly dont worry about anything for my birthday you have already done enough.... way more than you need to. I know you love me and I dont need a package or money or anything to tell me that. In fact yesterday when I was teaching gospel principals... it was about service and I mentioned how when we serve we love the person we serve and they love us in return, I mentioned how I could think about the person that has served me the most is my mom and how the person that I loved the most in return was my mom. This also tied in with my talk that I gave during sacrement meeting on obedience. it is by obedience that we are able to gain eternal life, the greatest commandment is to love God,  If we love God we will keep his commandments,we do that by serving others, when ye are in the service of your fellow beings you are only in the service of your God. Its amazing how closely related Service, Love and Obedience is.

Happy Mother's Day to us!

Elder Ronny...and his growing family

March 7th, 2014
When Bryce died 5 years ago, Elder Randrianirinaniarivo began to correspond with us every Monday while he was still serving as a missionary.  Even after his mission, I would receive an email on Mondays ( that was the day we would always hear from Bryce when he was on his mission).  We received this on Friday and it is still fun to hear from him when he will randomly check in on us. Here is his letter ( pretty good for someone that speaks French). All prayers in his behalf and his growing family would be appreciated!!!!!
To be honest with you Bryce was also my best companion he has taught me a lots he was so humble and willing to help. 

whene I am talking to people about my mission most of the time I alwasy talks about my experiences with my trainer who made me the kind of missionary that I was. I will always be greatfull to you because you have taught him in the right way and I know he is whatching over you everyday of your life. I am still listining to the CD who has the talk that Bryce gave the one that you send to me. Every time I am thinking about him I just imaging in my minde his smile and him encouraging me say Elder Ronny you will be fine so don't worry, when things goes hard he always cheer me up.

I really enjoyed serving with your SON he is the best.

Here in Madagascar All is well my family and I are doing good we are wainting for our second baby she/he will arrive in jully this year. my son is know two years and old time is going fast. 

My self I am still unable to find a job that can last so that I can provide for my family. like now I am doing nothing save job hunting its been four months now because the contract that I had before took an end. But anyway I will be able to find job and provide for my family, sometime I say to myself that life is hard but thats when I remember what Bryce said Elder Ronny you will be fine so don't worry. this comming month because of my calling I will be able to visite the Temple so I am very excited about that because I know I will recieve more strenght when I got to the House of God. Please pray for us here.

Bryce and James and snowboarding

Snowboarding always makes me think of Bryce. He was a natural on the slopes. He would be looking over a map on the gondola ride up to the lifts, planning out all the runs he wanted to do. I don't think anything ever got him as excited as snowboarding. We would get off the lift and he would be making his way down before Willy and I could even get our feet strapped in. It was hard to keep up, and sometimes he would lead us to hills I wasn't exactly comfortable with, but he pushed me to get better. There was one time that it had recently snowed quite a bit so there was a lot of fresh snow. One trail through the trees that we liked to ride was taped off. Bryce didn't care and lifted the tape to go under it. As soon as he did he sunk into powder up to his stomach. Willy and I laughed but Bryce didn't seem as discouraged as you might think, and he struggled his way through this trail while Willy and I took the main run and met him on the other side of the trees. I think about Bryce often. He was such a good friend and a good person, I wish I could have told him how much he meant to not just me but to everybody. He was a truly unique and special person and I'm glad to have had his influence in my life.

The Color Gold

This is a post I read today from a beautiful friend of Bryce's.  I just love her.

You see this nerd with the big glasses probably spitting all over his cake.

That's Bryce.

We met in 6th grade homeroom.

It was an art class.

We ended senior year 

in a cooking class.

I spent so much time teasing him

 he'd sit in the school weight room lifting trying to come up with ways to get back at me.

This guy went to South Africa on a mission.

I got letters and stories.

When he came home I was ecstatic.

Bryce had that personality that was so good to be around.

He had a calming affect on me. 

He cared a lot about his friends.

He saw more in me than I had in myself.

'Jessica now when you feel like nobody cares you can call me and I will tell you how special you are. cause Jessica you are special! and I am here to let you know.' 

We spent the night walking around school finding our new classrooms, picking out our new seats, planned a date for that weekend.

That next morning bryce was hit by a semi on his way to school.

This experience was more than heartbreaking.

Every January 7th I go to Bryce's family's house with flowers in hand and visit for a couple hours.

We celebrate his life and the memories we have.

They are amazing strong people.

When I reflect back on bryce's friendship and this experience 

I know that Bryce came in and saved my life.

He gave me more than I could ever repay him.

Family Information Sheets

None of the kids liked filling out these sheets each year since 1999.  You can see changes in Bryce as you see his form from his Jr. year to Sr. year and final year after he returned home from his mission.

 

November 2008

Christmas 2008

What can I say about Bryce?  He was one of a kind.  We miss him every day.

Five Years...but whose counting

Bryce's Journal
30 Dec. 2008  Well, I've been snowboarding 5 times this season.  We got a few feet in the mountains this Christmas week.  I even went snowboarding by myself once.  It wasn't too bad.  I went to 2 family parties.  I got a weight bench for Christmas.  I built a jump at Willy's to a picnic table but it wasn't much fun so we made it just a jump.  Willy would push me and I did front flips off of it.  Yesterday I I bought a 2002 Toyota Rav 4 for $4,900.  we got a way good deal on it but by the time we do all the needed repairs and things to get it road ready, it will be about $6,000 which is still a dang good deal for what we got.  I love that car.  I need to name it.
31 Dec. 2008  Well yesterday I went snowboarding.  I drove the Prism up by myself.  It does pretty good up the canyon if the roads are good.  I met up with Ben and his brothers there, did about 5 runs on Saddle Back with them and then they had to go so I

rode the Terrain Park by myself the rest of the day.  It was really fun.  I did a way cool trick on the C-box to flat box.  I did a board slide and slid a 360 degree while I was on the box and rode away so smooth the very first time.  It must have looked so cool.  Then my new bindings came and I put them on.  They are soo cool.  Every day that passes, I love my car even more.  I need a name for her.  I weighed 180.4 lbs. this morning, butt naked. 

Bryce's Talk Before Going to South Africa

This is Bryce 5 years ago at Christmas time wearing his great DI find...a girl's club jacket from England.  He got home from South Africa in time for the holidays.   It has been a time of reflection and remembering.  There is just something about 5 years being gone that seems significant...and then it will be the ten year mark, etc.
 It is interesting to see how our thoughts about Bryce continue to flow.  I sometimes wonder if we lived in a different house where all his scratch marks, doors in the cupboard that don't close right because he would hang on them as he decided what he wanted to eat, and his room that yells at me every time I enter were all gone ---that  my thoughts would not be jolted as much.  Sometimes I just have to stop and remember things.  It is as if he is reaching through the veil and saying...Mom do you think about this or that? 
Today was a day  like that.  I went down and got out his letters to the Mission President where  his letters home and  journal pages were included.  I never did finish all of it.  Some things are still too hard.  This was the find of the day...his talk that he gave before leaving for South Africa. 

Learning ....

Nov. 6, 2006

I am awesome and not very humble yet but I will work on that and then I will be awesome for reals.  

Jan. 28, 2007

Near the end of the day nothing special had happened and I was just thinking how nice it would be to be home.  Then our last appointment with Thando and Bubela made me glad to be on mission again.  It happens alot where I just want to be done with mission, and then Heavenly Father does something to keep me here. 

Jan. 28, 2007

Then we went and hung out with the sisters...it was kinda weird.  their fun and African. They have B.O. so that's not fun.  I'm trying hard to learn how to be hard core, by being friendly and not thinking bad about others and situations.  I think it's working some.  I am more happy to be here and I think others can see a change in me too.  I felt good about being a missionary today. 

Companions, Almost Home, and Will I Adjust?

Sept. 2008
Bryce served in 8 areas, had 14 companions with 9 being from Africa and 5 from elsewhere. He was companions with Elder Nyzungu from Zimbabwe in the MTC in Johannesburg for 3 weeks. Elder Shipp from Virginia was his trainer in Port Elizabeth-Kwa Dwesi for 12 weeks. Elder Baldwin from South Africa was his companion for 6 weeks in Kwa Dwesi. Elder Later was his companion in Port Elizabeth-Walmer for 6 weeks and Elder Robinson for 9 weeks (from St. George, Utah) . He went to George and had Elder Faerch from Johannesburg for 9 weeks. He went to East London and had Elder Marelmela from Johannesburg for 6 weeks and then Elder Nielsen ( his greenie) from American Fork for 19 weeks, then Elder Andriandrisoa from Madagascar for 6 weeks. He went to King Williams Town and had Elder Mdanda from Durban for 6 weeks, Elder Thethe from Lesothu ( only missionary serving from his country) for 6 weeks, and Elder Randrianirinaniarivo from Madagascar for 6 weeks. He then went to where he really wanted to go and that was Capetown-Langa with Elder Bean from Lindon, Ut. for 6 weeks. He is finishing up in Port Elizabeth--Kwa Nobuthle where he began with Elder Ekeya from Uganda for 5 weeks. 

 Elder Bean and I have been working with crazy less actives and we take time to reflect and think about all the crazy people we work with and their problems, all the insane things we see, feel, and hear. We can really see first hand the damage that Satan can do. I am so grateful for the circumstances that I am in and for the opportunities that I have. The people here need the gospel so badly but they just can't seem to get it. Satan has blinded them so much, led them sooo far from the path. It is so great when we are able to see lives change, to see people's countenance change. I think I'm going to have a huge culture shock when I get home.

I Am Thankful For Prayer

May 26, 2007 It’s interesting that the Sunday I spoke just before leaving to my mission
here in South Africa, I was assigned to speak on prayer. Something that would seem
so simple. Now 8 months later as I look back at all of the investigators I have had or
that other missionaries have had I can link back almost all of their progression or not
progressing to prayer. Just the other day we met an investigator who we have been
seeing for a few months. We committed him long ago to read, study, ponder and pray
to know if the Book of Mormon and the Church were true…as we do with almost every
appointment. I asked him –Ryan, did you pray about the Book of Mormon? Ryan said
yes but he didn’t get an answer. Well Ryan, when was the last time you read the Book of
Mormon? About a week or two ago. Than I think to myself, no duh! You didn’t get an
answer. It has occurred to me that sincere prayer is something that takes up most of your
day or even most of your week or month. Every time someone is not progressing it’s
because they are not sincerely praying. That means they are not studying and learning
about the church or thinking about our message. 

I remember Neeba, my first baptism, when we taught, how he was excited and asked questions. When we would come back he would bring friends and type up reports about what he learned from his study of the scriptures. He received answers to his prayers because he was sincere and put forth effort. It’s difficult to get everyone to do that. It’s great to see the progress of the people I worked with in my first area. Neeba was baptized in Jan. just before his 18th Shortly after that he received the Aaronic Priesthood. Then he baptized a good friend of  his and taught his two younger brothers and brought them to church each week as well as his mom. He gave us referrals like crazy and asked  us for Book of Mormons to give to people he was sharing the gospel with. He brought friends and family to his house for us to teach. He went to the temple to do baptisms for the dead even though he could not afford the 8 hour trip. He has now receive the Melchezedik priesthood and is preparing
each day to serve a mission; When he turns 19…this is someone who 6 months ago had
not heard of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
Archie whose wife and daughter had been members for 1 year was baptized just the last
week or two before I left Dwesi. He now has the Melchezedik Priesthood as well and
is the Young Men’s President. There are so many good things happening. Those good
things happen because of sincere prayer and action on answers and promptings to those
prayers. The better we can master communication between us and our Father in Heaven,
the better we can fulfill our purpose here on this earth and the better we can help others
fulfill their purpose. 

 Oooh, mom and dad…mission is crazy. I’m still the same Bryce, but I’m different. The gospel is so simple..but it’s so complicated. Things are so easy, but they’re so difficult….it is a great thought. I meet so many crazy people all the time and see the strangest things. It just happens so much that it doesn’t even faze me.
 It’s crazy to think about the relationship we all had in the spirit world and what we were all like, and what we all did to be blessed with knowing and accepting truth.

Nativities

Bryce could not leave the Nativities that were placed around our house during Christmas alone.  He was always rearranging them.  One day I stopped to look at one that was in the entrance way of our front door.  I noticed Baby Jesus was under his nativity set and that everyone above him was in peculiar groupings.  They were all wondering where Baby Jesus was.  I had to take a picture.  Later, I found Bryce had gone around and taken all the animals from the different sets and placed them in a circle surrounding one of the Baby Jesus.  I was wishing he would just leave the sets alone but now I am wishing I had taken more pictures of his arrangements.  He had too much time on his hands!

Missionaries Who I have Given a Hair Cut

Just some trivia:  Bryce gave at least 48 haircuts while on his mission.  He kept meticulous notes of who they were, where they were from and how many times he cut their hair.  Here are some of the places they were from:

 

Goals and Skateboarding

11 April 2008
Since we can hear the conversation of our landlords constantly I decided to listen to them while I brushed my teeth.  They were talking about what they would do if they could start over.  I decided too.  I don’t want to have any regrets.  If I want to do something, I’m going to do it so I don’t feel like I didn’t live up to my potential.  When I set a goal I’m going to accomplish it.  I’m going to eat better and less, work harder and smarter. 
Today we tracted into this home.  This guy skateboarded so I talked to him about skateboarding and then got his sister involved and they were so happy to hear about the restoration.  It was cool. 

Oatis the Board

Bryce had a love of boards as you know.  He decided he wanted to make his own longboard because he has a lot of Fife blood in him and wanted to save money and make it his.  He had a few rough starts and failures but he persisted and finally had some boards that he really liked.  We had a home teacher that was wonderful to always visit us and encourage Bryce and Dallin to get their Eagles.  He took them flying in their first plane rides for aviation merit badges, etc.  When Bryce showed Dave ( our home teacher) the long board, he offered to spray the board with the lacquer because he owns a woodworking shop.  It turned out really nice and they were both happy with the results.  Bryce promptly gave it the name Oatis which was his nick name that he gave himself and used for a lot of things ...he liked to name things.  He loved that board.   Bryce went to South Africa and his longboard, Oatis was left in his spot in the garage.  I loved seeing it there and being reminded of Bryce.  When Bryce got home, all the things that happen with family and get togethers, etc. happened and Oatis continued to hang.  Then came the snow and snowboarding.  Bryce never got to ride Oatis again, as far as I know.  We continued to leave it hanging.  One day, I got an impression that I needed to give Oatis to Willy.  I knew he already had one of Bryce's boards so I dismissed it.  The thought continued.  I could hear Bryce saying to me...Mom! Give Oatis to Willy.  I told Willy I would give him the board in the spring...or summer.  I guess that wasn't good enough because one evening Willy came to visit and I knew I had to give it to him then.  I cried after he left but I knew that I needed to do it.  Willy has never said anything but one day not too long ago when the weather was good, I saw on Willy's facebook a message to one of Bryce's friends ..."Hey Weston...how about us going longboarding?" It made me smile and I think of Bryce when I see guys zooming down the street on a long board with their hair flying behind them.