Tuesday, February 20, 2018

Week 84 - Elder Christopherson Visited the Mission

February 19, 2018

ELDER CHRISTOPHERSON VISITED THE MISSION!!!!

He served as a missionary here in our mission underneath his mission president, Elder Richard G Scott!

It was amazing, and he talked totally in Spanish!! He spoke perfect Castellano (argentine spanish) yet he still spoke as he always does! The latinos were so excited to hear his real voice in their native language.

He spoke of the organization of the 12 and the 70, and answered many questions. The common answer to almost every question, involved one way or another, the Book of Mormon.

As he finished, he left a blessing over the Mission, and I don't remember the whole blessing, but one thing he promised was that all of our prayers would be answered. And I can testify that the blessing was real!

The rest of the week was boring in comparison, but I can testify to all that there are living Apostles today. Shaking Elder Christopherson hand you could just feel that this man has something powerful with him!

I Love You all so Much, and I'll let you guys know next week how transfers go!!

Elder Ryan


Mi Lineage (Elder Smith - son, Elder Vega - grandson, Elder Campbell-Great Grandson)


The Frias Family


The entire Buenos Aires North Mission

Monday, February 12, 2018

Week 83 - EFY for my FIRST TIME!

February 12, 2018

This was a very... Crazy... Week! But its was so cool!!

So at midnight Monday night, the assistants called us to tell us that we would be going to EFY  the following day! (My first hahaha)

So with The Assistants, President and Sister Smith, and one of our District leaders we headed up to the campsite for the Church, and we spent the whole day Tuesday teaching the youth how to be missionaries now! They were all youth from my mission so I was able to catch up with lots of members that I had met! We were able to get over 800 references of their friends and family!! It was Great!!
Thursday we had Interviews with President! It took the WHOLE day, but the private moment with President is always just so great!

Friday we had a marriage! Ruben and Elsa's daughter (My converts in Jose Leon Suarez) was married finally to her Boyfriend, Diego! They still have some trials to overcome, but it was a huge step, and we were able to see Ruben and Elsa!!

That's about it for the week. We have been reading the Book of Mormon as a mission, and I realized that it's always to focus more on it, and I Love the focus it gives you in you're life, and helps you just realize what is important!

I Love You All!!!
Have a Great Week!!

Love,
Elder Ryan


President giving his sermon



The Campsite (So pretty)


The Elders at EFY


Dying in the HEAT


Deborah and Diego's Wedding

Monday, February 5, 2018

Week 82 - Air Conditioning and Some Wise Words of Advice

February 5, 2018

18 Months ago, President Smith announced that every apartment would be getting Air Conditioning. Well that came true for almost every Missionary, except me. BUT TODAY, That long wait is over!! Hhahaha I´ll be sleeping with a Blanket tonight!! hahahah

Anyways on more important matters, the work here is going good. Me and Elder Christensen are trying hard to get to work with the whole Zone. 

There wasn't a lot of work this week with investigators, but lots of progression with the Recent Converts. We decided to go and figure out why some of them had stopped coming to Church.

After learning about some of the frustrating reasons of why they don't come to church, I started to see the pattern of EVERY fallaway from the church.

Stop Reading Scriptures, Stop Going to Church, Stop Praying, and Satan then puts an idea in your head, the idea that maybe it's not true. And then you find out a possibility that some little thing to do with the Church isn't true, and Satan takes it over.

On the other hand, those who constantly Read, Pray, and Go to Church, have God's power. When one does these things with all diligence every day and week, instead of seeing possible faults in the Church or leaders, they see the UNDENIABLE fact and spiritual truth of all things.

Satan's ideas and conceptions are simply unclear. When one starts to fall away, they become unclear with everything and fall into his traps with ease. But when one Holds to the Rod with all their might, they see the world as it as, as clear as day!

It's not confusing why it's like this: If you go closer to the darkness, you will see less, and will often have to guess about what is the truth. If you get closer to the Light, everything will be clear unto you!! 

Christ is the light of the world, and if anyone denies it, or has doubts of it, only need to come a little closer to see how clear it all is.

Read your scriptures daily!! Nothing is more important in your day, Nothing! Pray Every Day!! The Lord should be your most trusted friend!! Go to Church!! Life's hard, and we pass through lots of things, take advantage of the opportunity to be lightened of your burdens.

You're not going to be perfect. Life will be better. 

For all those who are failing in some of these categories, or who may have some other bigger problems, to be honest it doesn't really matter. What matters is that you start NOW. 

I know that all these things are true, and I hope everyone who reads this feels the need, as I do, to come closer to Christ's light, and see how the world is, not how we "think" it is.

I Love You All!!!!
Love, 
Elder Ryan




Week 81 - President Smith and Superheroes

January 29, 2018

Well I have had a few requests to share the story more in depth from last week, when President did divisions with us. Since nothing big happened this week, Ill share the whole story.

So President advised us a few weeks before, that after we had our Zone Conferences, he´d be going out to work with the Zone Leaders.

So Last thursday, we had Zone Conferences from 9 in the morning until 3, and then we were supposed to go to only one appointment with President at 4 in the afternoon. But, the conference didnt end until 6, and so the appointment feel through, but President still wanted to do something, so we told him to come with us to our Family Home Evening with a Member family and a part member family (Roa) That we had been teaching.

President drove us in his car over to the members house (On the way we ran over a soccer ball that some kids were playing with...). When we got there.. nobody had shown up yet... so we left President with the members and ran out to find the Roa family.

We finally got there 30 minutes later, and had a lesson. LESSONS ARE SO NERVE RACKING WHEN YOUR MISSION PRESIDENT IS PRESENT. Anyways the objective of the lesson was to Invite one of the kids, Pedro, to be baptized. He hadnt wanted to be baptized yet because his Aunts are really catholic and are viciously against the Church.

When we got to the point of inviting him for that very weekend, President stepped in and said,

President: "Pedro, Who is your favorite super hero?" 

Pedro: "Batman"

President: "And what does batman do?"

Pedro: "He fights bad guys and does good"

President: "Yeah he is really Valient no?"

Pedro: "Yeah he is"

President: "Do you think Batman would be scared of doing what he knows is right? Even if others said bad things about him?"

Pedro:  "no"

President: "Thats right Pedro, and by being baptized you will be like Batman, and another super hero, who is even greater. You will be Like Christ. Did they say bad things to Christ as well?"

Pedro: "Yes"

President: "Youre right they did, and you will be Valiant as he was, and follow his example"

Pedro then accepted his Baptism. It was a very cool moment. It was like watching Michael Jordan come out of retirement hahaha. 

Afterwards President took us back to the apartment, and me and Elder Christensen almost died of just pure nervousness with President in one of our lessons.

So yeah, theres the story haha




Also, Mauro, Rosa´s husband, was baptized! 90 years old!!!



Week 80 - New Prophet!

January 22, 2018

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRIFFIN!!! I KNOW I HAVEN'T MET YOU YET BUT I LOVE YOU THE SAME BUD!

So, I'm not sure how many were able to watch the announcement on Tuesday, but how great it is to have a Prophet!! I hope all are looking to have the spiritual confirmation that he really is the chosen Prophet of God and of our Lord Jesus Christ! 

This week was a lot of work, and it just feels so good (Well my body hurts, but the spirit no haha)

On Thursday President came out on divisions with us!! SOO CRAZY!!

We were supposed to just go to one appointment at 4, but we had to miss it due to a meeting, so we took him to a Family Home Evening with the Roa family and another member family. I've been teaching the family since I arrived here in Garin, and they've slowly gone about being baptized. With President we were able to put the Baptismal Date for Sunday with Pedro, who for some reason had been very against it. And on Sunday, he was baptized!!

Keep going Strong, Love you All!! 

Elder Ryan



 Birthday of A Converts Granddaughter


 Baptism of Pedro Roa


Lunch at a member's house with Ruben from Jose Leon Suarez


Week 79 - 18 months

January 15, 2018

18 Months... wow hahaha that's weird 
So with transfers I have my new companion, Elder Christensen, from Smithfield Utah. He's Great! 
This last week was the beggining of a new transfer, so as usual, a TON of meetings to start off, but we were still able to help Rosa Viera be baptized (85 yrs old)
Her Husband Mauro (90 yrs old) will be baptized next week.
Her grandson Brian, who also is a recent convert, baptized her, but she had some difficulty in being baptized completely... So I jumped in and held her feet down as Brian put her gently into the water! Fun experience, she's very energetic and always is saying just the funniest little sayings like "Dios Mediante" (Through God)
Pondering on a lot of different things this last week, I just was thinking of how prepared we have to be in every moment. In all the history of the Church, anciently and presently, the Saints have passed through huge trials, and we just never know what will be in store for us in the days that we are in. So lets always be ready!!!
Les Amo a FULASO!!!!
Elder Ryan



Rosa Viera Baptism


Sister Missionary on the left is from Chile and she knows Jaydon

Week 78 - Not much to share but some Machete pics

January 8, 2018

Well this week was just kind of quick.
We tried working in 2 different areas, and it didn't go too well.... hahaha But transfers are tonight so I'll finally be having a companion, it's now been more than month.

I honestly don't have much to share.

Getting the news of President Monson was honestly a big punch in the gut. We found out the following day, and all the Missionaries could feel something weird that night. He was a great prophet for sure!!
Hope we can all study his talk and take on his challenge to study the Book of Mormon. 

I'll be staying here in Garin this transfer, and I'll be letting y'all know who's my next companion.

Love you all!!! Stay Strong in all that you do, and remember your standards

Love,
Elder Ryan



Week 77 - Happy New Year! 2018

January 2, 2018

Wow, a year ago I remember two Elders talking about how fast 2017 was gonna fly by, and I didn't believe them, but now that it's over, I can't believe how right they were!!

For all the questions to do with who is my companion, let me just draw a map so that's easier to understand. So week 1 and 2 of this transfer I was with Elder Ellis, but he got transferred to the Mission Offices in an Emergency. Then, Week 3 I was in a Trio with Elder Rushton and Elder Lucas. Week 4 I started training Elder Peeples from Highland, Utah, then he left to his real mission. Week 5 (This last week) I got put in a trio with Elder Stowell and Elder Reyes. Elder Stowell went home for medical issues, and it seems like I'll be with Elder Reyes (Rancagua, Chile) until transfers which are next week.

To sum things up, I'm on companion #6 for the transfer hahaha.

This week was kind of crazy after the video call with the fam, which went really well by the way. 
We didn't start to work until Thursday for the medical problems Elder Stowell was having. He went home on Thursday morning.

Thursday we went to a less active's house, that has started to come to church recently, and we set up the baptism for their little daughter Maria! She's such a sweet little girl and she was baptized on Saturday!

That's really all the news for the week, nothing has really happened to be quite honest haha

This last week I really try to put into practice EXACT obedience. Like in everything. I did it with my Assistant, Elder Dominguez. We both pulled out our mission manual, and highlighted every tiny little detail that we were doing wrong, and then we reviewed them every day. Honestly it's quite amazing how much the Spirit grows in just the little details.
And of course, its not like we were being disobedient, but it was a cool experience. I'm really trying to work on being as strict with myself as I can to be able to finish these last 6 months well.

I Love You All,
See y´all this year hahaha

Love,
Elder Ryan



Divisions with some elders


Ruben and Elsa came from Jose Leon Suarez to visit!!!! Ruben is 1st Counselor in the Elders Quorum, and Elsa is Relief Society President!!!


 Maria's Baptism


Week 76 - Merry Christmas!

December 25, 2017

Christmas Skype Call!







Week 75 - Craziest Week!

December 18, 2017

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ON LAST FRIDAY TO MINI ME!!!!

Well this week was just pure Craziness.

The beginning of the week was nice and chill, nothing really happened, until Wednesday Night.
We get a call from President. First Background Info, Elder Ellis was the Finances Elder, and he was VERY good at it. Well President said we needed to come in because the Mission needed his help for the day (Thursday). 

So we headed in, and the problems were worse than what President had thought, and he asked him to stay longer. Thursday I half helped in the Offices and Half went out on divisions with the Assistants. 

Friday they decided it was bad enough, that Elder Ellis needed his office companion, Elder Pereyra, (from when he was there) to help him. President told me I could go back to my area and work with Elder Pereyra´s companion.... IT WAS ELDER SMITH HAHAHA WOOOOOO!

So Friday I worked the whole day with Elder Smith in Garin!!

Saturday they told us to come back to the offices. They gave us the news that our companions would have to stay at least a week more in the offices helping out, and that we would be going back to our Zones in different arrangements. I am now in a trio with Elder Rushton and Elder Lucas for the week.

We spent the rest of Saturday in a car driving around Buenos Aires and Packing everybody up for their transfers. It was basically just a road trip with like 5 elders.

So Sunday I was in my trio with Rushton and Lucas, and we were working pretty hard in the afternoon, finding lots of new people. 

And we got robbed. 
And you know you have accepted the fact that you live in a messed place, when you don't even react anymore, and when you're not even surprised that you are getting robbed anymore. Hahaha. Elder Rushton was pretty scared hahahaha

Thats my event filled week for y'all 
(No, there was not that much actual missionary work that happened this week)
Have a Great One!!!


Love Elder Ryan



Elder Smith!

Office Companions: Elder Caron, Dominguez and Byers



Week 74 - Solid Week

December 11, 2017

I've given up on naming emails!

This week was a solid one. Not the best, but nothing to complain about.

Two of the Roa´s little girls, Emilce and Griselda were baptized! Finally, the family is slowly coming along, The Dad, Ramon, is still having problems over coming some things, but little by little the family is getting there!

We found a less active family, the Riquelmes, from Chile! The Mom is in pretty bad health, and is against going back to church because of some bad things that have happened, and how she has fallen back into some bad habits. We were able to read the Beatitudes with her, and she changed completely! She's gonna come this next week. Also her husband came on Sunday with some of the grand children. They are from Los Angeles, Chile, which is close to Osorno apparently. ¿La Conoces Jaydon? 

Only other big thing this week is that Elder Amaya finished his mission, but I got to say goodbye to him a few days before luckily!!!

Thats about it for the week!! Love yall!!

Elder Ryan






Week 73 - Transfer #13

December 4, 2017

So Transfers Passed, and I'm now with Elder Ellis from Texas! He is also a member of my Group!! Hahaha we are so excited to be companions. My area is still Garin!

This week was a pretty fun one. Last transfer we had a very good Zone, because all of the Elders present bought into giving their all, and the Zone had a TON of success, which we will also be recieving in this month! 

With transfers, about Half of the Zone changed, and so we had to help the new Elders buy in as well. And they Did!! Its been great here in the Escobar Zone! There are so many Elders bringing success to areas that are known as "bad areas". It's sooo Great!!

In Jacob 5:19-24 It talks about the Lord preparing even the most sterile parts, so that they give fruit!! And that every sterile part gave fruit, and lots of fruit. And when the servant asked how that those areas were giving fruit, the Lord said, "Counsel Me Not." 

These elders in this zone have realized the Lord has promised fruit to all. We just have to accept his will. We don't counsel the Lord, he knows ALL things, we simply listen to his counsel, which comes through the scriptures, and leaders such as Mission Presidents, Bishops, Stake Presidents, Apostles and Prophets.

These Elders were obedient to all these mediums from which the Lord communicates, and because of it, the Zone is transforming into a great Tree!

Listen to your Leaders, Study your scriptures, and Pray for the Lord´s guidance. There is always fruit waiting!! 

I love the Mission! I love the opportunities I have been given to serve! I love the Elders in this Zone, and I love you Alll!!! Have the Best Christmas Season!!! Light up the World!!! 

#IluminaAlMundo

Elder Ryan

(Sorry no pics, didnt take any. I promise more for next week Ma) 

J/K here is a pic I found:

The Secret behind the Grand Zone ChacaBOOOM

Week 72 - Happy Thanksgiving!

November 27, 2017

Well, I spent Thanksgiving working, and then cooking some meat and some pies at night. Thats about it hahaha.

This last week wasn't the best of the whole mission, but we were able to finish off the Month of November very well! The Zone had a very good month, and we hope we can have a better one in December.

Today is the first day of the new transfer, tonight we will get the news on what the what the changes are, so y'all won't know until next week sorry. I think I'll be staying here in Garin with Elder Ortiz another transfer.

Ramon and Librada Roa got married this last week!! It was awesome!! The family has had so many difficulties, but little by little they are all coming closer to the Gospel!!

I don't have much to share about this last week, it went by really fast, and there wasn't many good spiritual experiences to edify you all.... sorry.

But, I will invite all of you to participate in the Light the World campaign this Christmas season! It's a great way to spend the holidays, and I'm sure you'll find a memory that will bless you!! 

I Love You All, 
Elder Ryan

Asado for Thanksgiving

The Wedding (I let Ramon use my suit for the wedding and had to borrow another...No, the pants were not long enough!)

Week 71 - Jeronimo!

November 21, 2017

To the love of my life:

STOCKTYN HAPPY FREAKING BIRTHDAY! LOVE YOU SOOOOO MUCH!!!!! CANT BELIEVE YOU'RE ALREADY GONNE BE 3 YEARS OLD!!!!!

This week was really good with the Zone! They worked hard and were able to double their normal success!!! They found 125 new people, and now they have up to 13 planned baptisms!!

It's been awesome!!
On Sunday, Jeronimo was baptized! He is the 15 year old that went to give his testimony in the sacrament meeting! Added on to all the miracles that have happened with him, if you remember, his mom wouldn't give him permission to be baptized. 

On Friday he got home, and went right to his mom and asked her to sit with him. He told her, "Mom, I want you to sign so that I can be baptized. I have never been so sure that God has been answering my prayers, as I am now. I'm not going to move until you sign. Not to disrespect you Mom, but I know what is true now" He then bore his full testimony to her, and she let him be baptized!

His whole story is a complete miracle!! It is just another reminder to me that the Lord does all the work, we just need to have faith to know that the Lord is preparing EVERYONE for his gospel, and we simply need to find the thousands that are ready. The field is white ALREADY to harvest! We literally only need to find them that are ready, we already know they are there and that the Lord has already planted and grown the field!

I love you All!! Have a great week!!!
Elder Ryan!



The Trio


Baptism of Jeronimo