Hola Familia,
Sounds like everyones been kept on their toes this past week with all the crazy weather!!! A lot of people were telling me here and some even called to see if "my family" was ok. So I hope nothin too bad happened but man I saw some of the pictures and it looks bad.... I guess its all proving that the scriptures are really true! and I think some people are starting to realize that now...This past weekend Ramona had its annual rodeo!!! YEE HAW!!!!! So we took advantage of it and set up a booth haha Ill attach a picture to this email to show you all cuz im pretty proud of it...it looks way legit doesnt it!? (There's actually a funny story to the picture with my hand on my face which ill tell one of these days cuz its kinda hard to explain typing it) But there was a big rumor around here in San Diego I dont know about anywheres else but that the world was gonna end last Saturday at 6....haha oh maybe he ment next year haha...someone told me that the same guy came around like 20 years ago and said the same thing and told his congregation this and then his prediction passed I bet he was like "Crap not again! I thought I had it this time for sure!" ha but we had a lot of people actually really scared about it and a lot of people came up and asked us about it at the rodeo and usually everyday we hear about it. Quite frankly I dont know how people believe these clowns. If they would read the scriptures..they would know...there would be no confusion as to rumors like that. Just like that if they would actually read the word they would know that "But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only." (Matthew 24:36) Christ talking about when He will come again in His glory. There is safety in the scriptures. Especially for a world that it filled with false rumors, turmoil, wars, rumors of wars, disease, violence, families being torn apart, drugs, just nasty stuff like that. I gave a talk in Sacrament meeting in church this past Sunday and spoke about the importance of the family and how we can strengthen it and its only through our preparation can we truly be ready for the storms of like. Preparation being; reading the scriptures everyday, praying in our families everyday, listening to those men authorized from God to lead the world, and just doing all that we can to strive towards to goodly in the world just as the 13th Article of Faith states: "We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul—We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things." It the goodness of the Gospel that will give us peace. It the sacrifices to be better that will protect us from the evils of the world. And its the diligence on His word and His church that we can be guided and know the purpose of it all. I'm sittin by a kid right now here at the library with his headphones BLASTIN some heavy metal junk, I bet if I were to yell at the top of my lungs at him...he wouldn't hear me. God is not the same way...He still speaks to us and gives us all the tools that we need to succeed but He's not going to yell at us so that we can hear if we got all the static of the world jammed in our ears that we can't hear the quiet whisperings of the Lord's spirit. Just block it all out. That's why the world is what it is and that's why the people are confused and wondering purposelessly because they're channel is plugged into the world (and the volume is at max
) and not into the channel of God. What a pity to have this free important channel that everyone can have a subscription to...and not use it....it's sad but the saddest part is that it's all too common. So in your lives..dont make it common. Block out all the static generated from the world and listen to that still small voice. I've seen the blessings from the fruits of the Gospel and they really are life changing! So the choice is up to us...Follow God or follow the deceiver...there's no other direction. It's my hope that we truly do follow God in all things not just when it's comfortable or when weve got no other hope but "in all times, in all things, and in all places." And its the eternal blessings that come from this sacrifice that are far better and more rewarding than anything we could ever dream of.
Have a good week and truly put these words to thought because of a representative of Jesus Christ I know that they are true with all my heart.
With all the love,
Elder Lawter

Hey everyone!!!

Things are going pretty good here!!! We've been having a lot of small

successes a little bit at a time. You know when Elder Hill and I first got

here it looked like our backs were up against the wall and that we were bout

ready to take a climb on Mt. Kilimanjaro....aka tall..or so I hear... but

it's been amazing the support and love of the members and even people that

we dont even know just wrapping their arms around us and taking us in like

we were their own. We have dinners pretty much like every night...which has

it's pro's and con's especially since I'm headin home next month but you can

tell that the members just already love us and I'm sure it's the same for

all the missionaries passin through here in Ramona. But as I've started to

come down to "my last days" it's been kind of a surreal thing to overcome.

There's a lot of emotions definitely coming on a mission and leaving home

but I think there might be more emotions leaving your mission then going in.

My mission has been an experience un like any other. It's been filled with

ups but then again it's been filled with a lot of downs and trials but

through it all looking back it's seemed that I've forgotten the little

everyday trials and can remember only the miracles, the joy, the happiness

of it all. Most of the progression that I've done in my life has been

here... on my mission...so how can you be disappointed with the results. But

I've been thinking a lot of the word enduring and not only to endure but to

endure it all well. There's a lot of things in our lives that we "endure" so

to say...maybe it's enduring through sorrow, maybe grief, maybe a person,

maybe a chick flick for us guys (momma mia) and maybe a kill everything you

see movie for the girls (no such thing) because we want to make the person

who we go with happy. So if these things deserve the terminology as endure,

sacrifice, give up something...then why do we do it? Why do we subject

ourselves to these kind of things. Maybe it's just cuz we're weird and like

to have sucky times....or on the other had because we know what lies on the

tomorrow of endurement..."the greener grass on the other side".  When the

Prophet Joseph Smith was incarcerated in the Liberty Jail during probably

the climax of the persecution the Saints faced in Missouri and at probably

so history says one of the worst winters recorded it brought the Prophet to

the point to ask where God was...why was there so much suffering? and when

was it going to stop? and then the answer came "My son, peace be unto thy

soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment; And

then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt

triumph over all thy foes." The answer didn't come right away...but the

answer did come and at the time that it was needed the most and at a point

that everything seemed hopeless. And that is when He delivers. At the time

when we really need Him the most. So my mission has been a lot of enduring;

with spanish, investigators, and a lot of unseen factors too but through it

all I've felt the Lord's hand for sure in my life and sustaining me more

than ever but on a bigger sense to everyone that is passing through times of

trial and suffering...never give up or never give for it's after the trials

of your faith that you receive the witness. And as the Apostle Paul said

"Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things,

believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things" (1 Corinthians

13:7). It's not easy...nothing in life is easy or is it suppose to be easy

but with the peace and serenity of God it's possible and not only possible

but bliss after it's all said and done. Remember the promise the Lord gives

and take that and run. So think again what Paul said to his son "Thou

therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ".... and "If we

suffer we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us"

(2 Timothy 2)

All is well. Trust in God and always trust in good things to come.

All my love,

Elder Lawter

 

So I hope that everyone... well all the mothers future or current had a good

weekend! I know it was a good meeting in Sacrament last Sunday for all the 5

moms that we had haha actually there was a few more but all in all I think

that we had around 20 or so people at church... I liked it...it just seemed

like a nice little family but it also indicates that there's much to be done

here!

Im actually just gonna start right into to my little spiritual thought

because Ive only got like 15 min left on here before it kicks me off so

it'll be short and sweet but I was reading through the last chapter of John

in 21 the other day and it just hit be like a train how powerful this

chapter is. So background on it all this is after Christ was crucified and

I'm sure the apostels were like well what next? The Man that we've followed

for all these years and worshiped is gone so what do we do now? Well they

went back to what they did best and that was fishing. There were 5 of them

that went Peter included and they couldn't catch anything that night...not

even a turtle and lo and behold there was a man that appeared on the shore

and told them to throw their net and the other side of the ship and so they

did and the scripture said that there were so many fish in the net that they

couldn't reel it in...it was just to heavy. So one of the disciple looked at

Peter and said it's Him...it's our Master that we've been following this

whole time...so what does Peter do...He cannonballs it into the water and

starts Michael Phelpsing it towards his Master. And when he gets there and

the other apostles the Risen Lord already has breakfast made for them...It's

amazing even after His mortal ministry He continues to perform miracles and

looking outward to His fellow men. And the part while they were eating is

the part I kind of wanted to focus on...and this is what the scripture says

starting in verse 15 "So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter,

Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea,

Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.He

saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He

saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him,

feed my sheep. He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest

thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest

thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest

that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, feed my sheep." Peter already

knowing when Christ says something 3 times He means it but of all the things

that we tells His chief apostle He tells him...leave everything behind:

fishing, relaxing, everything! and feed my sheep! Then He later goes on and

says "Follow thou me" As many miracles that happened in this chapter

occurred I think this is the greatest one because after we see the Apostle

Peter turn into one of the greatest witnesses of the Risen Lord that this

world has ever seen. And it's my prayer that we do the same..The Good

Shepperd wants His sheep to return so that's why He continues to give the

commission to feed His sheep...There are plenty of people that need our help

constantly and we were either born in this Gospel or privileged enough to

hear and accept it to simply share it and bless others who stand in need of

it. "When thou art converted strengthen thy brethren." and as we do I can

promise that the Spirit of the Lord will come upon us and we will feel it

more strongly than ever before if we yet feed His sheep.

Have a good week and know that I love you all!!!!

Much love,

Elder Ryan Lawter

Happy Mother's Day!

 

Hi everybody!

How's it goin!? Hope everyone's doing really good!!!! Things here well they've been pretty boring and low-key.....yeah...that's a lie....so like I was telling you all Elder Bednar came to the Sweetwater stake during stake conference and just belted it! It was sooooo good!!!! He talked about finding a testimony a lot and how a testimony and conversion are similar and not so different. He told us that a "testimony is knowing the Gospels true however conversion is being true to the Gospel" and our conversion grows out of our testimony. Something else that really struck me was that he said a testimony is not enough to get through especially in this world and in these latter-days but rather it's just a beginning or a foundation to the defense of the adversary but we need sooo much more to combat it all. It was just an alll around stud conference! Elder Bednar is such an awesome guy and just feeling the spirit while I was there was incredible!!! So on to more news...I think I touched on it a little bit last week but Elder Perry came down and the reason was I'm sure because our mission got two more stakes from the Carlsbad mission...the Poway and Peneskito stakes and so there was a need for around 40 missionaries and so guess who's up north in a little podunk town called ramona population 46.....1564 if you count livestock haha it's not that small but compared to San Diego I thought we got lost and found ourselves in the beautiful town of Holt,Missouri....close enough though. It's really cool here you know I was soooooo sad to leave my last area in Bonita with all the people that I got soooo close to and the time we had together but being here I'm really excited! It really does seem like home just open fields cows instead of pitbulls...cowboys instead of gangsters... horses instead of cars....hmmm hmmm hmmm home sweet home! I stayed with my companion Elder Hill which is good we kept our car which her name's whitney...she's perrty... were in a little tiny branch still spanish but this place has a lot of potential I feel our old area had 4 with a baptismal date and we had 5 at church the past week so things were rockin but I know the Lord has sent Elder Hill and I here for a reason and I tend to found out what that reason is in the short time that I have left but it's all good...im the district leader over 4 companionships including mine so there's a lot of work to do but it's just time to put the shoulder to the wheel and push along...maybe even literally up here... but I'm excited to be here rep it out the last few weeks of my mission! So that's the boring up dates haha man im pooped!!! we had to close our old apartment down and move everything because there's not going to be anymore elders living there so it was a long night and day...it's still been a long day!!! but its all for the best cause and Im still soooo happy to be a missionary!!! Best decision of my life to give the blessings that I already have. President Hinckely said Serving a mission isn't a sacrifice because you receive soooo much more than you sacrifice.... and I know that to be true without a doubt I love this gospel and I love my mission sooo much!!! It has meant everything for me more than anyone i'm sure but it's the same cause were all engaged in so be converted and "when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren." Have a great week everyone!!! love you all sooo much and I will talk at cha next week!!! Oh since I forgot last week thank you all who sent me cards for my birthday and a little letter in the book that whitney put together it meant sooo much to me to see all of those names and words of encouragement....I feel love people and Im sendin it right back at cha and too Happy Mother's Day to all the mamas!!!! Have a good day on Sunday!!!! Love you all and take care!!!!

One Love,

Elder Ryan Lawter