Pictures-Ole!

Ryan said that working for Chipotle would be his dream job, except for the fact that he'd get fired right away because of "instead of selling....I'D BE PIGGIN'!!"

Week 13: Crankypants.

Hey Mom and Dad,
So it sounds like it was a fun weekend with camping and fishing. It’s funny because just yesterday while we were walking my companion and I were talking about what some of our favorite things to do are and talked about our perfect and guess what I said…. Yep camping at the lake, riding bikes at 5 a.m, just the feeling and smells of camping that I remember going with grandma just take me back but that time will be here soon enough when EVERYONE can go camping again! Let’s go my first month home. Deal? Deal.

So this week was a crummy week. First off I woke up one morning with a really bad sore throat, which stuck with me for a few days, I’m over it now but it was bad! I just caught like a three day virus or something; my body was so sore and achy, had a lot of flem, it just wasn’t a fun thing especially when we went out biking in 100 degree weather, it was garbage, I felt like garbage but I stuck through it can’t believe I survived but I did. Another thing that happened this week was everyday it seemed like either Elder Morales or I got a flat tire on our bikes. Sweet Dedra it stunk! Plus we have to go buy stuff each time to repair it. It was just a Satan week this week. The worse day though was Friday. We were biking (mind you I was still feeling like poo) for like 10 miles to visit someone and it was 10 miles of pure hillage the whole stinkin way! But we were biking up this MASSIVE hill, better yet let’s call it a mountain, Mt. GINOURMOUS, and when we were probably half way up this mountain we heard this big POP and then pssssssssssss….. I looked and Elder Morales and I said don’t tell me… he ran over like a nail or something and it just dominated his tire. Not cool nail….not cool. So we then had to walk all the way up this hill then down it and up another hill then down and so on and so one. It was 100 degrees out I was sick and my legs were starting to shake because I was getting heat exhaustion but stupid me I still kept going. Luckily the house we were going to were members because we were eating lunch with them that day and it was too much farther from where we got the popped tire but it was not fun. I was a cranky pants like Whitney would say the whole time we were walking. So that was my week, oh and better yet when we were riding in the car with the other Spanish Elders we went to go get gas because we were below E and the little latch for the gas tank opener wasn’t opening haha it’s kind of funny now because its already happened but French it sucked while it was happening. So we tried starting the car to drive it to dealership which wasn’t too terribly far and guess what happened…… Uh ya car no start which make a Ryan upset. So we had to push the car a quarter of a mile to the dealership. I’d like to listen to someone who had a worse week than I did because I’m pretty sure I’m the winner for the crappiest week award but it just adds to my testimony. Why would the adversary work sooo hard to beat us down and to try and keep us from working? Because he knows how important this work is that we are doing. He knows it’s true so he’s doing everything in his power to try and prevent it but he’s just fighting a losing battle for himself. “Nothing will stop the work from moving forward.” I didn’t get too terribly frustrated this week because I know that all of these struggles were worth it and were going to be worth it in the future. So Sunday rolls around which was yesterday and we were waiting in the foyer and it just seemed like an army that walked through the doors just one right after the other, we had a lot of our investigators show up to church. It was such a blessing and sooo rewarding to see that all of our struggles and all of the trials that we went through this past week were worth it. “Today’s trial is tomorrow’s testimony.” How true that is. Through these past 3 months now I’ve been able to be apart of miracles, just absolute miracles, which has just strengthen my testimony even more and it just has solidified it in my hear. Se que Jesus es el Cristo. Se que Jose Smith esta un profeta de Dios.Se que El Libro de Mormon es verdadera con todo mi corazon. Se que nos Padre Celestial vive y tu hijo vive. Se que el evangelio es verdadera y es muy muy importante y muy especial. Yo dijo es cosas en el nobre de JesuCristo. Amen.

My testimonay in Spanish. I love all of you soo very much and I wish you the best weeks ever! (Or at least better than the week I had ) Keep on keeping on!

Much love,
Ryan

Week 12....12 weeks is THREE MONTHS!!!

Hey Fam,
How’s everything going? Everything here is well…..everything. Things aren’t too bad, it’s kind of slow going but it’s still going. We had one of our investigators his name is Manuel, he came to church yesterday and was so excited to go home and to tell his family about it. I told Manuel after church I said, “Uno mas clase,” (man my Spanish is bomb) and he got really really excited so I kind of felt bad because I was just kidding but he’s all kinds of fired up about church and being baptized even! He’s come a LONG way since last transfer. Elder Law and I went there every now and then but he wouldn’t do anything, we’d tell him to come to church, he’d say yes then he’d be a no show, said he’d read on his own, Newp, said he’d pray everynight, Nice try. Just all these promises that he would make with us he would never do but now he’s reading, he prays every time we come over which is a HUGE step for that small man (he’s like only 5’ 2”, so dad it could be worse) but he came to church yesterday, we fellowshipped him with a couple in the branch and he and his family went to FHE last night with the couple and we didn’t even know about it! So he’s pretty much boss now. He’s a hoot too! Oh he even quite drinking so the loser boozer side of him is out the door. So things are going really well with him. We have a few others that are doing magnificent it’s just a struggle to get people to church because most of the Mexicans we teach don’t have that much money and they have to work on Sundays so that’s probably the hardest thing to see for me is someone that embraces the gospel sooo much but just can’t make it to church because they need the money, but the everyday good out weighs the everyday bad hands down. I’ve loved my mission so far, I guess because I just love people. I love watching them, talking to them, helping them, and seeing what walk of life they’ve come from. I’ve heard just absolute nightmare stories and for me to be a light in their life brings me a lot of happiness and it’s helped me through the mission process and it’s helped time go by faster because I love what I’m doing and the people I serve. It’s a blessing in itself to see others being blessed by the gospel. It’s fun, I love it, it’s da best.
Oh before I forget could you also send me my Fighting Temptations CD, my Josh Groban Christmas CD, and any Disney CD that I have, they should be either in my car or on my CD case that I have beside my desk. That would be awesome if you could do that, I love Mo Tab but I need a little bit more rhythm and spice in my life.
It’s sweet to hear about your callings. Both major responsibilities but I can’t think of anyone more qualified than me peepa and mama! I’m proud of you. I have told you lately that I love you both too? I really do! Both of you SOO much! Thank you for raising me, for taking care of me and giving me fooooood I like that last part. And just thank you for loving me. I wouldn’t be where I’m at and I wouldn’t be going where I’m going without your guidance and support and this goes to the g-rents too. I feel so blessed to have so much love and support behind me and this also goes to the g-friend too but I’m so lucky to have all of you and this goes to the g-friends parents as well….freak you know what this goes out to everyone! Thank you!! I love you all sooo dearly and appreciate you all soo much. Each and everyone of you have a special place in my heart and I want you all to know that! I hope that you all have a good week and I will be sitting in this seat again next Monday! (Hopefully with a few baptisms to talk about! We’re close!)
Ok love you all!
Hasta Luego,
Ryan

More pictures!

Ryan getting his "posterity tie" from Elder Law, his first companion!

Ryan's new companion-Elder Morales....it looks like Ryan found someone taller than him!

Just kidding! Noone is taller than Ry-Ry!

Elder Morales and Elder Lawter in front of the San Diego Temple. Amazing!

They call this the 'transfer pinata'. They put the names of all the people getting transferred out into the pinata, along with some candy, and broke it open to find out! Kind of a cute idea :)

Hello Everyone,
How's it been? Things have been going pretty well, just adjusting to the new apartment, riding a bike (wearing a helmet too, jee helmets I never knew how dumb helmets looked), getting use to my new companion so it's been a big change from last transfer. I'm glad that your getting my letters, for some reason I always pick the bi-polar computers that are dumb but atleast there's the good ol' postal service! So how's everything back in Missouri anything exciting happening? Nothing much here I feel like I don't have any real good stories but I'll tell you about a woman that we've been seeing. Her name is Ramona, we taught her when Elder Law and I were companions and she was really nice but didn't think that she would go anywhere, we just thought that she was being nice to us. So anyways, Elder Morales my new comp. and I have been seeing her every week and she's made some huge strides! We met with her one day and I had the feeling to share 2 Nephi 31 with her so we did and she started to tear up and said "This book, this chapter was made for me, I know it's true, I've prayed about this and I'm going to get baptized." To hear this from her was nothing short of a miracle. She's been going through alot of struggles with her daughter and her daughter's boyfriend so things haven't been going to well so she said that our timing, our message is perfect. We were sooo stoked after we heard that, so when we went back we shared Alma 32 that speaks about the parable of the seed, and once again she said "this is for me, this was written for my eyes." Such a blessing it is to see the Spirit enter in to a heart of a person, there's nothing more powerful than a person who finds out that the church is the true gospel of Christ. Almost makes me want to cry. So it's been a really good week. Progression is wonderful to see.
Oh while I'm thinking of it so I don't forget could you (if you can find it) send me the flash drive that I had for school, or in non-technilogical terms the memory holder thingy, that'll probably make more sense to you. What I'm gonna do is transfer my pics onto that so A.) I don't have to delete the pics off my memory and B.) I won't have to go buy a new memory card. So if you could find that, that would be awesome!
Oh how's the temple going in Kansas City? Have they broke ground yet or anything? What's the good word? I kind of hope they delay it a little bit so i can go to the open house! Speaking of temple I got to go again last week! I don't know if I told you that in my last letter but it was awesome. Once again. That's all.
How's the Kearney football team doing by the way? Football's crazy out here! There seriously is no one out on the streets because of the Chargers and the football games. All the missionaries dread football season becuase no one will talk to us or do anything because they're so wrapped up in fooseball. Gay but not suprising. How are the Chiefs doing too? As long as they win at least one then it's been a good year!
There's really not much going on in El Cajon alls we do is work work work but it's going pretty fair. Funny story actually, there's alot of Jehovah's Witnesses out here so we get to deal with them alot and their die-hard believers and I guess it was all over the news but a Jehovah's Witness Priest or something hi-jacked a plane so when ever we're talking to someone whose Jehovah's Witness we just manage to slip that into the conversation.
Eating's going good, do I look really skinny in my pictures or something? Both you and Whitney have said something along the lines on if I'm eating enough. Don't worry this boy gets his fill, especially at members houses (they're a little too generous at times) but I think it's just from not working-out that I look way skinny. I went out and bought me a pull-up bar to stick in the doorway so hopefully I can get back to where I was. Clothes are good too, laundry's sweet because we have our own washer and dryer so if I ever need something washed I just make my companion do it then. I'm diggin our compaionship. Spanish is going pretty rough though. It's at the point where I'm so frustrated because my Spanish is limited that I just want to learn it all in a day. I'm usually pretty patient and I know it's going to take some time but French it stinks sometimes to not know the language but I'm not complainin, just workin.
It's crazy that we have 8 missionaries from our ward! I didn't think that we had that many! Let's see there's Yours truely, Barry, Troy, Chauncey, the Simpson girl, Brian, another boy I can't remember his name, but whose the other? That's soo cool though. Hopefully there will be more coming up thanks to your mission prep class for the deacons Dad! It's really neat to be around so many missionaries! Weird at sometimes but very neat.
If there's any advice I have for this week it's just to smile. Smile during everything. Smile when you're going to work, smile when you wake up, smile when you get mustard on your shirt, just smile :) "Nothing is ever as bad as it seems." It will make a difference. I promise you!
Welp family I hope and pray that you have a good week! And that you smile every chance you get! I love you all sooo very much and appreciate ALL of you too! Take care and don't forget to smile! :)
With all my love,
Ryan

PICTURES!!!!

I finally got my (Ryan's) scanner working! So here are the latest pictures that he's sent me:

Sweet dreams cute boy!

Ryan and a yummy treat called Island Ways. He said that the real reason for sending this picture was to remind me of how good lookin' he is. Yup, he's still Ryan!!

"Is this, is this real life?"

Ryan with Elder Ulrich and a couple that had just been sealed in the San Diego Temple.

Elder Lawter and Elder Ulrich

He calls this his "new boss shirt."

Yup, another email-less week. Dang it, Labor Day!!!!!

Back to normal this Monday (hopefully.)

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SIKE!!!!! Got a surprise one!

Here is Ryan's weekly email. Once again, he had computer issues. So he printed his email off and mailed it to us....Good Job Ryan!!!!!

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The softball team Ryan is talking about in this letter is the team Ryan and Whitney were on last year. Ryan was the pitcher and Whitney was the catcher.

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Troy and Chauncey are brothers and they just left on their missions this week.

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Hey Everyone,

Geez it feels like forever since I've been able to email home! Stupid computers. It's lucky I'm a missionary or else I'd have some choice words for this hunk a junk.

So how's everything going? Well ya as you know by now which I don't know how you do, it kinda stinks because what I was going to tell you, you already know but ya I'm on bike with a new companion. His name is Elder Morales, he's a pretty cool guy, he's from Provo so he's kinda weird sometimes but he's not too shabby. Our apartment is pretty nice too, it's got it's own washer and dryer so that's a huge plus! Oh our other companionship that is living with us is driving me insane in the membrane! One of the Elder's is new, fresh out of the MTC and he shows it! The dude will not shut up about himself, me, me I, I.....one of those guys. I'm lucky, actually HE'S lucky he's not my companion, it would be a long transfer for the both of us. Everything's well though. Being on a bike is fun, it's hot and hard a lot of times but at least I'll be lookin like a black man with my tan after the transfer.

So I got your package yesterday. Thank You! I love getting pictures from home, makes me feel like I was there. Jessica sure looked good, looked like you all had a good time, especially putt-putt golfing 50 times. Dang it! Wish I was there. Oh well, I'll catch other weddings of hers. Ha Ha, ya don't show that to her or Aunt Ann. Totally a joke!

So it sounds like the softball team is suckin big time! Well, when you lose your STAR pitcher and catcher then your bound to lose, you can't find that kind of chemistry between a pitcher and a catcher if it hit you in the head. I bet you don't find a lot of pitchers and catchers that kiss each other either, we're just the perfect duo! Fo sho!

It's awesome hearing about Troy and Chauncey, you'll have to send me their addresses so I can write them and see how everything's going with them. I'm glad I'm already through with that going to the MTC process. Not a fun time saying goodbye. At least now the clock is ticking and July 2011 only gets closer and closer.

So I was reading in the last Ensign and there's a talk by Elder Holland about Joseph Smith and his trying time in the Liberty Jail. This talk is one of Whitney's favorites and it's quickly becoming mine too. It's such a good and uplifting talk. It focuses on our trials in life and how we can make those "prisons" of ours into "temples" and take a lot of good from bad situations. Some of the most inspiring and comforting words written to me are found in section 121, so when you get a chance, sit down and read his talk, it's really good. I've read it a few times before because critic "Whitney and Nielsen" gave it two thumbs up, but it never hit me as hard as it did until I read it first when Whitney printed it off and sent it to me and second, it was in the Ensign. Warmed me right up and gave me a sense of comfort and determination to make my time away from home a temple. I've been thinking lately about that and it's amazing how attitude can change lives and make miracles happen. There's always going to be rain and gloominess on the underside of a rain cloud but if we're able to put ourselves above that Debbie-downer state (no offense Debbie Purdy, or any other Debbie's reading this) and put ourselves on the other side of that cloud, where the sun is always shining and it's a state of happiness and peace then our lives will be that much better and nothing will ever break that happiness. So, I choose happy....being a "happy dwarf" instead of "grumpy dwarf". If you get the chance look at that talk in the recent Ensign and read over section 121....it's way good!!!!!

Well, I'm glad I FINALLY got an E-mail out, I hope it gets there safe and sound!

I love all of you who are reading this because it shows that you love and care for me as well!!! Take care and "keep on the sunny-side, always on the sunny-side".

With all my love,

Ryan

No Email this week :( Boo hoo!!!