Week 10 - Divisions

Happy Birthday Brynn!!! Te amo Hermana!! Ten un Buen Dìa!!

First I want to ask you guys to send me any stories that you might have that I could apply to my investigators.

Alright, so my investigator didn't get baptized. Jairo, the day before, expressed different fears of being ready to us, but afterwards broke into tears as he shared his testimony of this church being he true church on the Earth. We then told him we would be ready for him at church if he wanted to be baptized, and he didnt end up coming to church.

We also stopped by four other investigators houses to get them to church, and all weren't home, wouldn't answer their phones. It was a disappointing day, kinda. 

Other things that happened this week, I went on Divisions with the Zone leaders again, but this time I was with Elder Ahumada, from Peru. It was a solid day, got a lot done. I love their villa (We worked in their area) Its a lot bigger and more dangerous than mine. And always in their villa I have drunks, and other people yelling things at me like, HELLO! or ¿Que està haciendo en mi Pais Gringo? (What are you doing in my Country Gringo) haha. There are some pretty racist people against me here, and yeah it kinda sucks sometimes.

Anyways we changed how we do divisiones. Now both companionships work in one area. And we both stay in the pension of whoevers area we are in. Me and Elder Saez thought we'd be going back to our own pension... So all we had that night were our proselyting clothes haha. Elder Guttieriez would only let me wear one thing of his. His chilean jersey and shorts, and he told me "This is for your Brother" hahaha

He took some pictures, I'll see if I can get them from him.

There are lots of weird things that happen to me cause I'm gringo. For instance, a dude came up to me yelling at me basically, saying, Do you support Trump or Hillary?? And proceeded to tell me why both are devils... I said "I'm from Switzerland" and he left me alone! haha

Food wise this week, I had this sandwich called a Chorizo, basically a big juicy sausage on bread and it costs 2 dollars so we bought it haha, and Mate, I can't drink the herb version, but I have had a lot of the packet version of it.

Pretty much it, I love you all so much, thanks for all you do for me and all you support!!!

Week 9 - Villas, the food, and the Book of Mormon

​Wow, already two months!! Finally I feel like I know whats going on here haha. 

Some things that have happened, I gave a blessing to one of the Hermanas, she injured her knee, sadly she had to go home for a bit, but she'll be back!!

We had a Conference for the Newbies this week, pretty much just means imI got to see all my buds from the ccm. Oh, and mom, sorry for the lackage of photos, but I'm too scared to take my camera with me proselyting or basically anywhere not on pday. haha

This week we taught 3 new promising investigators. 2 accepted a baptismal date, Mareila y Gisela (Cousins) and another we met through a Miracle!!

Me and Elder Saez were waiting in front of our capilla for a member who was going to go to a lesson with us. We have a new goal in my mission to place 6 Bom every day. And so my comp told me to place one, before I could even talk to a dude, he came up to me (Gary) and started telling about his divorce and how he feels alone. He knows the church a little because his cousin is a bishop in Bolivia. We haven't been able to recontact him yet because he hasn't been home, but we have high hopes for him. 

Jaero, the investigator who asked me to baptize him on my first night, is finally gonna be baptized this sunday!! woohoo

Thats about it for our investigators, we have tons, but the rest don't really do much ever. 

I've gotten a lot of questions about the food. All you need to know is its amazing. We have milenesa almost every day, its country fried steak more or less, and its a good thing I love it!! We had it 6/7 times one week!! Also they have lots of empanadas, pizza (but not like our pizza) rice, potatoes, and peruvian food like Lomos Soltado, y Arroz Chaufa. Peruvian food is my favorite, but Mama Feick cooks it better, haha. Also they have dulce de leche, and something isn't candy or desert if it doesnt have dulce de leche! Ah its the best!! I think its sweet condensed milk with a ton of sugar, ooo its so good!

The Argentines all look european, a little taller than other Latinos, lighter tone skin, and dark hair. Also there are a lot of Peruvians, Bolivians and Paraguayos. 

The culture here is a little weird. Like the mothers feed their kids wherever and whenever they feel like it.. including in the middle of our lessons.. and its normal here. 

Also I have to do a lot with safety. Wear a sweater so the robbers don't know about my shirt pocket. The clip on my clip on Plaque looks like a camera so I can't wear it in the villas. No watches in the villa, had a guy try to steal my last night haha. No cameras in most places, unless of course you want things stolen.

Also if you want to send me letters, please do so, I love getting them... but I wont be sending any because it cost me 300 pesos to send 2... thats like a ton for me if you dont know with my allowance hahaha

Also they are a little racist against the skinny, tall white haired gringo down here. Its kinda funny. They also know a lot of american swear words and will cuss me out, especially the drunks haha theyre pretty funny

The Language is going solid, honestly I need to work on it a lot, but I also feel pretty comfortable with it. 

Lastly I encourage all to follow the challenge of my mission president, and read the Book of Mormon in the time it took Joseph smith to translate it, 12 Weeks, or 8 pages every day. Really, if you have a testimony on the Book of Mormon, you will have the faith that every other principle in this gospel is True! and most importantly that if you Believe in Christ, You believe in this Book. and if you believe in this Book you believe in Christ (2 Nephi 33:10)

Love you All!!!

Elder Jordan Ryan

Week 8 - Wow the field is incredible!

Alright to answer your questions. Im in Liniers Parque Avellenda 2 y Villa Piletones. Haha the villas are dangerous, especially for a gringo like me, but seriously im fine haha, theyre are villas that are a lot more dangerous than mine here.

My companion is Elder Saez, hes a stud!! Hes from Chile, and is 28 years old... Hahaha yup 10 years older than me. He is even older than Ronnie. But he is like a kid at heart so its all good 

Argentina is great, we take buses every where and the driving here is the scariest thing ive ever seen, but its fun 

Right now were trying to find more investigators. President challenged all the DLs and ZLs in a meeting this week to give out 8 book of mormons a day And get a return visit with each one. Since Elder Saez is a DL, were trying to do that.

We are struggling to reach it... But its a little difficult, but in reality we have been getting a lot more citas and potential Investigators.

One experience this week was me and elder Saez were going at a house that we had recieved a reference from. after trying the doorbell 3 times we left, but i felt we needed to go back. And so we did, and met this new investigator Anahi. Not much has happened yet but we will have to see.

I love this place and i know im supposed to be here. Every time i walk through the villas and the ground is covered in trash and dog poop, i love it!! Yes i know, its weird, but for some reason i just love it sooo much here!!

Alright thats about all i can think to write, the spanish is coming along, just cant understand other people very well. Love You Alll!!!!

Week 6 - Arriving in The Buenos Aires North Mission

Your son is great! He has a great desire to go out and share the gospel, he also speaks the language incredibly well already.  Feel free to contact us if you ever have a question or concern.  

Dear Family Ryan,
We are thrilled to report that your son, Elder Ryan, has finally arrived safely in the mission.  He was picked up at the MTC, and after a brief tour of Buenos Aires was brought to the mission home for a luncheon, followed by an interview with the President.  You should expect to hear from your missionary on his next P-day which will be Monday, August 29th.  Thank you for your prayers and support.

President and Sister Smith

Week 7 - First area: Zone Liniers

Alright so much to write and not a lot of time to write. Anyways first off, I'm in the Zone Liniers, Parque Villanera and Villa Piletone.

My companion is Elder Saez! He's been here 20 months and is 10 years older than me... hahaha he is 28, hahaa

The very first night I was here an investigator, Jaero asked me to baptize him, and I would've yesterday but he is scared and wants to wait a week.

Honestly I'm having so much fun. I love proselyting in my villa. For those of you that dont know what a villa is, look up a picture haha. Theyre very poor and dangerous areas and I just love it haha. 

This whole week I've just been following my comp like a stray dog, not knowing what I am doing... haha, and he doesn't speak a single word of english... oh well

Lots of meetings this week, and I'm  struggling understanding. I can actually speak pretty well, spanish, but sometimes these people just say crazy things that I can't understand.

I went on divisiones con my Leader de zona, and el es un Capo!! (Stud) His name is Elder Gutierrez and he's from Chile (I think every elder, including my comp, in my zone is from Chile). Had so much fun and we got so much done! He's so sweet!!

A goal of our zone is to read the book of mormon in spanish in 1 month.-... that's 20 pages a day and it's so hard to read... hahah I'm done for.

Sorry this letter sounds so rushed, but I'm loving it here, all the missionaries are so much fun and I know this is where I'm  supposed to be!! hasta luego!!!