February 27, 2017 - Week 88

Mom,

Hey fam, what´s goin' on?? I always laugh cause I can never keep track of when you guys are in Utah and when you're in Nevada. But I guess the majority of the family now lives in Utah, so it makes sense why you guys spend more time up there than here. Grandma sent me a picture of all the snow that you guys got in Fallon, and it's so crazy how it brings me back to the countless snowy days in Fallon that I had throughout my time there! Its been 3 years since I've lived in Fallon in the winter but it still feels like yesterday.

Here in Guamuchil we´re currently in the middle of a 5 day celebration called Carnival. Which is the Guamuchil-equivalent of Mardi Gras. Obviously, much much less chaotic, but it's still pretty big news in the city. Some of the biggest artists from Mexico come here and perform and all the people here get pretty pumped for it. We obviously cannot go, but it's been interesting to see the buzz about it. This week was still really good though.

We found a woman to teach who also has 2 daughters. They have a very good orientation with the things that a good person should do, but still have yet to find if there´s something more that God wants of His children. We told them that we would gladly help them to find out! We´re in a similar situation with another lady. She has great questions and really sincere desire to know the truth, but has been receiving heavy opposition from her loved ones. All of them should have very great conversions.  We feel good about all of them, as well as the others we are teaching who all continue to progress well.

Today for Pday, we got together with Elder Christensen and Elder Hale, and ordered some pizza, made root beer floats, and played card and dice games. We had to go through a little bit of searching to find root beer and dice but we got it all. It was a lot of fun, and I learned some great new games that I'll have to teach you guys when I get home!! Mom, I was also thinking that something that might be fun to do as a family when I get back would be doing a huge puzzle together. I remember doing that on a few occasions and it was a lot of fun and a great time to catch up!! I thought of that randomly the other day, so I wanted to tell you before I forget haha.

This week we also had interviews with President Myers, and a special zone meeting with him. I can't tell you guys how big of a help he and Sister Myers have been to me, and really to the whole mission. I'm sure they were sent here to change and impact the lives of many people, they have such a special and fun spirit about them!! We're super blessed to have them here.

Big congrats to Adrienne and Matt on the new baby!! Teddy has 2 cousins in the Ciudad Obregon mission that will be anxiously waiting to meet him lol.

Well, I hope everything is swell with you guys!! It makes me so happy to hear from you, I love you all. Have a great week. 

Lots of love,

Ryan

February 20, 2017 - Week 87

Mom,

Hey family, how are you doing?? Wow all sorts of bishoprics are being reorganized haha. There was one other here in our stake that also didn't have a bishop for almost a year. It really does change the mentality of a ward. That's funny, I was actually thinking to myself yesterday, ¨I wonder if Bishop Ludlow will still be bishop when I get home, probably so.¨ I didn't even know Brad Stokes had moved into our ward, but I'm glad he did, he´ll be a killer bishop no doubt. 

So how was the rest of your week? You guys telling me about moving Tommy and Courtney reminds me of how bad moving sucks haha... But it sounds like they are in a killer new spot, which definitely makes moving a lot more enjoyable. In my last area, I lived in a total dump for 6 months, and here in Guamuchil the house is superr nice, which makes moving a lot more enjoyable, haha. Here it's been such a positive experience, the ward has improved greatly and we are having really great success with the members and the investigators, everything´s going well and it makes me lose track of the time. 

So this week we found this man who is interested in the church.  He understands really well and asks great questions, on Friday we invited him to church and he informed us that he wouldn't be able to because he has to go to a surrounding area every Sunday afternoon. We were kinda bummed about that, and then on Sunday morning he called us and told us that he had actually thought it over well, and that he would arrange his schedule so that he could go to church with us, and he went! R and O also went, and it was a really beautiful service. The  missionaries spoke, I chose to speak on the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the Plan of Salvation. 

The weather here has been pretty crazy, on Saturday we got caught in a rain storm, with a vicious wind, which chilled us right to the bone and left us soaking wet haha. My clothes, believe it or not, are actually holding up pretty well though. Hopefully they can last for another 3 months. Another funny experience from the week, was that Elder Beecher and I had to go into the secretary´s office in the church to get something out for the new bishop, and so he lent us his key. We went in, and shut the door behind us, commenting on how weird it was that there was no doorknob on the inside of the office, only another keyhole. We got ready to leave and tried opening the door with the key we used to get in, and it didn't work!! So we realized that we were locked inside that tiny, dark office and no one else was in the building, and we had the only key to open the door inside with us. Luckily, we called other missionaries, slid the key under the door, and they let us out. But that was like an hour and a half later, and of course the hounded us relentlessly, lol.

So to answer your questions, that picture that Sister Lee sent was from a few weeks back. I have seen her a couple of times though, she seems like a nice girl and hard worker. And as far as summer plans, yeah that sounds chill, I really don't care what we do, I will love to do whatever it is with you guys!! I would like to know where everyone will be on the dates of June 12th till whenever I go up to Utah. I will also probably need to do some serious replenishing of my wardrobe haha. Other than that, I'm totally open to whatever! Its getting really close, kinda crazy huh. 

I want to share a scripture with you guys before signing off, something good to consider for all of us. 

O how great the holiness of our God! For he knoweth all things, and there is not anything save he knows it. And he cometh into the world that he may save all men if they will hearken unto his voice; for behold, he suffereth the pains of all men, yea, the pains of every living creature, both men, women, and children, who belong to the family of Adam. And he suffereth this that the resurrection might pass upon all men, that all might stand before him at the great and judgment day. And he commandeth all men that they must repent, and be baptized in his name, having perfect faith in the Holy One of Israel, or they cannot be saved in the kingdom of God.

I love you all so much, hope you have a great week, always in my thoughts and prayers!!

Love,

Ryan 

Feb. 13, 2017 - Week 86

Mom,

Whats up family!! How are y'all doing? So Mom, yeah to answer your question, I don't know this for sure, but traditionally the missionaries go home the day of transfers, so that would have me flying in to Reno on June 12th! Not all that far away huh?! What summer plans are you planning??

So this week was super great for us, Elder Beecher and I are opening the area here, which just means that we started from scratch with no investigators. But we worked really hard this week and found some great new people and many of them went to church!! Another really noteworthy item from the week was that there was a bishop called to the ward yesterday, after like 2 years that they've gone without a bishop. So we´re starting with 4 missionaries, a new bishopric, and all of the members are very excited. So we should have some big news from the ward in the weeks to come!!

It's been so fun to be here with Elder Beecher, because we are just constantly laughing and joking, but also working really hard. He is from Saratoga Springs, Utah. It is funny and really a blessing because we decided to room together at BYU this fall and then we became companions, so we are having a really enjoyable time together. I've really been blessed with great companions being great friends throughout my whole mission. 

During the week, we had a meeting in Los Mochis with Pres Myers and we talked a lot about the teachings of Gordon B Hinckley and his optimism. I think it's incredible to see how optimistic Gordon B Hinckley was. It's something I would really like to be able to improve on, you and dad were always great examples of that to me too. Being optimistic requires great faith and hope, which requires diligent study and prayer. I think that's a goal that I want to have, to be more optimistic.

So what new plans do you guys have?? I'll be really curious to know what becomes of the renaming of our street. Hopefully we get a sick new street name haha. I hope you guys keep killing it in school and work and in life!! You're constantly in my prayers and I love knowing that you're all good!!

All Love from Guamuchil!!!

Ryan 

Feb. 6, 2017 - Week 85

Mom,

How are you, Mom?? So it was groundhog day? I forgot about the existence of that holiday haha. They don't talk about it here, but today is some sort of national holiday which means a lot of things were closed and kids didn't have classes. 

So to start off with the big news.... During the week, President Myers called us and told us that we will now have two companionships of missionaries here in our ward instead of us being the only ones, and that Elder Christensen and I would be staying here but that both of us would be receiving new companions to be able to lead them around the area. So we found another apartment for 2 people, and yesterday we were told who are new comps are. I am now companions with Elder Beecher, who has been one of my best friends in the mission since day one , when we arrived together! I am super excited to have this time with him, and still have Elder Christensen so close in the same ward!

So this week also was really good with all of the work. Some of the highlights were that three investigators came to church with us yesterday. They are very fun to teach because they have good questions. They liked church and plan to come back next week! One is an architect who stopped us in the street and told us he has a friend from another state who talked to him about the restoration and wanted to learn more. They are all sooooo smart and have real intent. I don't know if I'll continue teaching them, because Elder Beecher and I are opening the new area in the ward and I'll be leaving the investigators that I had. But I'll remain in close contact which is good.

It's great to be reminded of that grand miracle and answer to our prayers and fasting with your progress. I'm very grateful to have a loving Father in Heaven who knows us all on a personal level, in the words of Nephi, "that the tender mercies of the Lord are over all those whom he hath chosen, because of their faith, to make them mighty." 

I hope you all have a great week, and know you're all in my thoughts and prayers!!

Love,

Ryan