Gobble Gobble!

Hope everyone walked up to the computer instead of wheeling up because of thanksgiving... hope it was a good one for you all! it was good here! I think we had like 5 dinners in a space of 2 days...let's see 5 dinner / 2 days = Ryan needs to go on a diet..... seriously..it's gross. On the bright side though it's freezing here! San Diego's making record lows and guess who's not prepared! haha before I came here I didn't even take a blanket with me.. I thought alls I need is a sheet and I'll be good..besides it's Sunny San Diego....how bad could it get!? Now I know for sure Heavenly Father has a sense of humor....to bad I'm the jack-in-the-box this time around....but it's all good...some have it worse so I guess I shouldn't be complaining.

So here we are again...as in olden days...happy golden days....Christmas! You all know what's coming too...of course from the missionary I'm gonna talk about focusing on the true meaning of Christmas but as well at the same time how we need to take advantage of the time that's been given to us. Take advantage of the things that we've been given. And especially take advantage of the people that we've been given because that is really what will make our season bright...sharing it with the ones we love and celebrating the One who loves us even more. I know it's a little early to get on the soap box but think about it as you get together with family, go shopping, jam out to rudolph in the car....there's a greater meaning to it all and when we realize it...that's when the true spirit of Christmas will enter into our hearts and will be one that we'll never forget!

Love you all have a good week and a good start to the holiday!!

Mucho amor!

Elder Lawter

Thanksgiving Pictures!

**Some of Ryan's captions were too good to not post!! 

We were cleaning this nasty nasty mex-a-house one day...I think I have 29 diseases now including mono, aids, and sticketodamanneosis....and others as well...

This is our ward mission leader Hno Perez...He's a stud but it was raining and freakin cold that day so thats my raining and freakin cold face!

This is my home girl...Her names Ana.. She invited us to a thanksgiving dinner one night at the nursing home where she lives...she's in a wheelchair because she's paralyzed from the waist down because her ex-husband almost beat her to death...it's a really sad story but she is soooo awesome!

The guy is the administrator at the nursing home and hes a member...stud member I should say hes just money...he gave us a ride one night in his infinity...ballin....

My companion stepped in dog turd hahaha "merry christmas ya filthy animal." -name that movie.... 

Happy Thanksgiving!

And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.

- Colossians 3:15

It's that time again!!! Thanksgiving time!! I've just been thinking a lot lately...especially considering the season and time were in right now but there's just sooo much to be thankful for. So what does it really mean to be thankful and to live in a spirit of thanksgiving? Does it mean for just a day? Does it mean for just the holidays? Does it mean just saying thank you a bunch? I was lucky and had the chance to go to the temple today and that kind of dawned on me that it shouldn't be just a seasonal thing...it shouldn't be put up like decorations and then just take it all down when the snow melts...Giving thanks from your heart is a constant thing... the Prophet Alma taught to "counsel with the Lord in all thy doings, and he will direct thee for good; yea, when thou liest down at night lie down unto the Lord, that he may watch over you in your sleep; and when thou risest in the morning let thy heart be full of thanksunto God; and if ye do these things, ye shall be lifted up at the last day." It's a nightly thing. It's an every morning thing. It's a daily thing. And if we let that peace of God rule our hearts and we give thanks for all that we have we will be a happier people. Elder Wirthlin said that "Living in thanksgiving daily is a habit that will enrich our lives and the lives of those we love." When it becomes we know that we are truly living in thanksgiving in every aspect of our lives..... I just wanted to let you know how grateful I am for all of you...my family, friends, whoever...I love you all and want to thank you for all of your support! I'm also way thankful for the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the blessings that have come from being a member of His church. Who knows where I'd be without it but I'd rather think of where I am with it. It's meant everything to me and for that I am truly grateful and for everything else that I have! I hope you all have an awesome week this week!! Just letting y'all know that I'll be goin on a seafood diet this week..meaning when I SEEfood...I eat it!!! so don't expect any pics till I lose the turkey or in my case all the pig stomach.

Welp I'd better go but have a good week all of ya, keep this spirit with you always and I'll be talkin to ya next week!!!

One love,

Elder Ryan Lawter

pics!

Ryan calls this smile his "Quorum of the 12 smile". He says it's not working for him and that he's gotta "show his grill." I think he's right.

Life is Good

God is great, the word is good, and people are crazyyyyyy.....
hey sorry about last week I guess it didn't go through...the computer here a
ruthless you've only got a specific amount of time and that's it so I was
rushin to get the email finished and sent out and I hit send literally like
a second before the computer shut me down...it was like some james bond
stuff... I figured it would've sent but I guess not....oh well you still
love me right???....good answer....
So things here have been going extremely well! They are finally starting to
pick up! This past week has been by far the week that we've been working
towards for a month or so now! We still had some heart-break still had some
stuff that happened that...well...wish it wouldn't 'ave happened but that's
the work right? That's life....Only thing you can do is put your head down
and keep pushin and keep pushin. Life's lessons are best learned when you're
going through them and consistently working through them instead of watching
them from the sidelines. President Uchtdorf said that..."When our wagon gets
stuck in the mud, God is much more likely to assist the man who gets out to
push than the man who merely raises his voice in prayer—no matter how
eloquent the oration." Our wagons get stuck in the mud more that we would
like and sometimes it feels like we're the only ones pushin it out but I
know for a certainty that were not alone. Through out my mission I have had
more ups and downs, forward and backwards, side to sides but I have without
a doubt felt the hand of the Lord helpin me pull my cart out and the
encouraging thing is that divine help isn't just limited to missionaries,
isn't just limited to a select few, it's accessible to all you want it.
"Jesus Christ, who by far suffered the most, has the most compassion—for all
of us who suffer so much less" - Neal A Maxwell....He is there...His hand is
sufficent...All we have to do is do our best and keep pushing forward and he
will take hold of the rest and when we least expect it...that's when the
cart will pop free and the burden will be lifted.
love you all keep strong and hold on! have a good week and take care!!!
much love,
Elder Ryan Lawter

Wiffle Ball in the city