September 26, 2016 - Week 66

Family,

Hey whats up ya´ll !! How is errybody going with school and work and everything? We are now officially in fall right? Big shout out to all the pumpkin flavored sweets that will be eaten in these weeks. It sounds like Matt´s surgery went well. That's super cool that the ward, and his family and friends could all give him and his fam a lot of support in a moment where I'm sure it is much needed. Definitely some blessing for them living such great lives. 

So this week was really great, to start, Diana and Alejandra were both baptized on Saturday and confirmed on Sunday! They were both really happy as were we and the rest of the ward that was supporting them. Its always a race trying to get everything prepared for a baptism, usually with very little time. It can be stressful finding clothes, cleaning and filling the font, making programs, inviting people, and doing interviews. All things that the missionaries have to do here haha. Then on Friday, in the middle of the craziness, there were a few other wards in our zone that were preparing an activity and needed us to hunt down a bunch of stuff last minute. So it got pretty hectic but at the end it all worked out and all parties were very happy. But the happiness makes it all worth it at the end !! Rosario and Yered were also able to attend the services and are preparing for their baptisms on Saturday. So we are fully prepared for another week of busy preparations, but lots of joy at the end of it!!

As far as the other investigators that are doing really well... We have this family we are teaching, that is Rosario and Lupita and their 2 daughters. They're both really smart and enjoy talking with us. We told them about general conference this week after teaching them about living day prophets and they seemed very interested at hearing what the prophet and apostles have to say. Really I think that this is one of the best 4 weekends in the entire mission because of general conference. I really have been counting down the days since the last one 6 months ago. A blessing that I never realized back when I was at home, but I did realize that the homemade cinnamon rolls were a blessing now that I don't get to eat them while watching GC. haha.

So how do you feel, all your children will now officially be 18. You got them out of childhood, and without any of us being arrested. (That you know of) I'll see if I can't get a felony now when it counts being an adult ;) No but in all seriousness, you've done a fantastic job as a mother. I notice it now more than ever being far away from you and although I could never thank you for that, I want you to know I am sooo grateful for you and dad. I love you both very much. Also very happy 18 th to Alyssa, go live it up kid and get ready for the next one back at BYU!! Well I love you all so much, have a great week! 

Love,

Ryan 

September 19, 2016 - Week 65

Mom,


Hey what's goood everyone?? Wow I'm hoping that as you guys read this that you're not feeling as much heat as I am!! Haha I keep waiting for it to cool down a little bit, and it has a little bit, but it's still reallllly hot! How is the weather in Fallon and Utah? I was talking to Elder Osborn the other day about when it snowed on Tommy´s birthday. I've really loved having a comp that can relate to a lot of common experiences from growing up. We are starting our 5th week together and I'm on my 17th here in Navojoa. So we will see what happens going forward!


So this week we saw a lot of really cool things. I told you about Alejandra last week, and this week we also met her cousin who is also planning on being baptized on Saturday if all goes well! And then yesterday we had two investigators who showed up to church after awhile without going and they told us that they did what we told them to do (pray, ask for guidance, repent, study scriptures) and that all of a sudden their lives got a lot better and that they want to be baptized. We were very surprised but obviously it was a very pleasant surprise! But wow, it was really incredible to listen to their sincerity and desire! The gospel works, and they are living proof.


So during the week, with the Mexican Indepence day falling on a Friday, we kinda got to see a 3 day, whole weekend celebration. To answer your question, yes the food was incredible and very very abundant haha. We had a stake activity on Friday night, and it had a really great turn out. I was thinking about it and it has been a very indescribable experience to be here for 15 months and see and experience the Mexican culture. I think the most special part about experiencing a culture is seeing the passion of the people who so very much love all the traditions and history of their country/family/etc. I was thinking about it and I've worked with people from Mexico, El Salvador, Guatamala, Peru, Honduras,and even Korea. A pretty wide variety, haha. And it also makes me gain a greater appreciation and love for my own culture and traditions that I've been accustomed to for so long. But it was really neat to see such a great tradition up close and see how special it was for the people here.


Well it sounds like you're gonna have a lot on your plate in these days coming up. Matt and Adge's family will definetly be in my prayers and thoughts this weekend. Mom I'm also glad that you could get a functioning phone, I kinda forget what it was like to have the world in the palm of my hand lol. I'm super glad to hear that you're all doing great, you all make me so proud! I love ya´ll! Have a great week!!


Love,


Ryan

September 12, 2016 - Week 64

Dearest Family,


How is everyone doing?? Today we have had a pretty relaxed Pday, we actually went bowling again which is pretty fun. I had never really played much at home, but now I'm pretty good. I bowled a 167 today haha. And last week was full of ups and a few downs but it ended up really great. I'm glad to hear you're keeping yourself busy as well, the time seems to fly by when we have a lot of things to do, something I had always heard and now I am really starting to see that it is 100% true!


So I'm gonna tell you a little bit about our week! So many kids in this area have been sick and incapacitated in these past few weeks, and during the week it hit my companion. He had the flu for like two days so we were pretty limited on time spent outside the house. Then later in the week we started working really hard and found some great people. But it was so weird, 5 of our best investigators had to leave town this week for a variety of reasons. it was disappointing, because a lot of them couldn't go to church, but we did have one who went. Her name is Alejandra, and all of her family are members, except her. She just moved here from Guadalajara (Think the distance from Reno to Phoenix) and she is ready to be baptized. It was amazing how the Lord put her in our path and prepared her and is helping us meet our goals that we set. She will be baptized next week!


Later in the week, we had a conference with like 75 missionaries and were able to listen to elder Jose Fernandez from the 70, who told us about his conversion story and how we can help so many kids like him to find true happiness in their lives. There were also many missionaries there that I don't normally see, but we got to see them and catch up, which was a positive. I saw missionaries who are finishing their missions, who were still relatively new when I first met them, which was really weird. I've made some awesome friends in the mission, that I hope to keep up with for a long time.


Did you tell me where Thomas Robertson is serving his mission? Is it Japan? Wow, that's really cool, it´s great to see other kids leaving and knowing that they're getting themselves into a whole lot of great experiences. So when my comp was sick it gave me a lot of time to study and to think of all the ways that the Lord has blessed me, and then people around me in these months as a missionary. We usually don't have so much time to think and reflect, but it was a nice little switch up. The mission has been, and I know it will continue to be a blessing in my life forever.


This week coming up is the Mexican independence day, my 2nd one here in Mexico! Its the 16th, this Friday. Our ward is planning an activity and It should really help us to get our investigators out there and meeting the other members. And its always a huge plus when food is supplied, and fortunately, that will be the case at this event lol. It really is so hard to believe that yesterday marks the 15 year anniversary of 9/11. I was only 5 but I still do remember that day, and running into your room and seeing you crying and then hugging me.


Well family, I'm doing great and loving the work. This week, a hurricane hit the Gulf of Mexico, and we saw some of the effects, mostly just rainstorms, but the streets were all filled with water. So at 8:45, Elder Osborn and I treaded through knee level water to get back home as the rain drenched us from above and just laughed at how it was such a unique experience to be having! I hope you know I'm doing great, and I do miss you all and love you all. Thanks for the support and undying love!


Love,


Ryan

September 6, 2016 - Week 63

Mom,

Wow, what a week! I'm super tired and a little bit exhausted from the heat, but today we´ve been able to rest a bit, and get ready for another week. So it´s already Labor day huh? Did you guys make it up to Midway at all for Swiss days, or when will the next Midway trip be? It feels a little weird to be missing all of these patriotic holidays haha. The Mexican independence day is actually coming up in a week or so, so that will have to suffice for the next few months lol.

So how is the whole 5k planning going? That sounds like something that's right up your alley. I'm sure your keen planning skills are helping you get everything organized, I'm sure it has a lot of moving parts to it, but it will also turn out great. What else do you have going on in school? Do you feel like a vet this time around in the HS level classes? It is funny how a little bit of time really can help us feel a lot better in a new task. I have no doubt that you're a popular and effective teacher there at Oasis.

This week, it was really nice to have the opportunity to fast, knowing that I was one of many joining in for uncle Matt. Wow, they have a tonnnn going on, but the Lord will bless them tremendously during this time, I have no doubt! 

So this week was really busy, and tiring, and hot, but it ended up having good results. we are working with a lady named Rosario, and her granddaughter. They are neighbors of a member, and they just started showing up to church. They have their fair share of difficulties, but I guess everyone does, right? We are also working with some of the family members of the lady who just got baptized last week. We have also been working with some of the less active members in the ward. There was actually this day a few weeks ago, when I was still with Elder Chichia, it was raining sooooo hard, and this family called us into their house. They then told us that they were members and just hadn't gone to church for a long time. But for the 3 weeks since then, they've come to church every week, with their whole family. 

Today we all got together as a zone here in Navojoa and played volleyball and ate some pizza. There's been a lot of changes in the zone, so it was fun to get a lot of people together and get to know each other better. This week we are going to have a zone conference, but there will be an Area 70, the stake president, and the mission president there, so we´re really excited to hear from such spiritual giants, but a little nervous as well to be honest haha. 

Well, I hope you guys have a killer Labor Day, enjoy the moments as a family and know that you're all in my thoughts and prayers. I love you and miss you all.

Love,

Ryan