Week 30 - Transfers: staying or not?

February 6, 2017

So, I don't think I'll get transferred, looks like I'm  gonna have my 5th transfer here.. hahaha. President just called my comp to tell him he has a new assignment for him. He didn't tell him what, but President only calls the Zone Leaders.. so it looks like he will leave, and I will stay for 7 and a half months here.

Anyways, this week was AMAZING. I've been really down on myself with how my area is just doing, Ok. Also its been tough lately to work! But this week we finally got to get out and really work. I wanted so bad to have some success after this crazy transfer that we have had. We worked hard, practicing everything we have learned from the changes, and I fasted this weekend for a good turnout!

Sunday came and, BOOM. We set up for 7 Investigators to come, and we had 9!! We had a Baptism, Jessica, and now her family all has dates to be Baptized in 2 weeks. Rocio came and is ready for her baptism this week. Emanuel (Another Investigator) came and is really excited to be baptized in 2 weeks. Also another lady showed up, shes married and has a family of 6!! 

Attendance here normally is about 90. 170 people showed up!!!! Also the other missionaries had a baptism as well, plus 7 more investigators. 

In other words.. The Lord answered my prayers, but WAY more than what i was expecting!! 

I was sad yesterday, because I thought Iwasn't  going to get to see what happens with all these people, but now it looks like I'll be here!!

Thanks for all your prayers, I love you all, and until next week

Elder Ryan

Mom edit: he actually did get transferred :) near the end of our email back and forth, he announced that he was actually going to be transferred. Not sure where. We will have to wait a week to find out!

 

 

Week 29 - Changes

January 30, 2017

Basically, the mission changed a lot this week. If you want to see the changes im sure theyre on lds.org. We have been given lots more freedom now, in our teaching, schedule, and way that we work. That was the purpose, I feel, of the changes that were made.

This week Daiana wasn't baptized, she left on vacation with here fam, we will have to see this week. Also we have a Lil investigator, Jessica, who we are hoping will get baptized this week also.

One focus has been taking the spirit to the homes of the investigators, and being Worthy Vessels to take it there! Really we worked a lot on that this week, and the spirit was in a lot of homes and lessons that we had. We also could see in people eyes this week as they acepted the spirit into their heart! It was incredible.

Just want to leave my testimony on changes. Life is always changing, and there are always things that come and make us change too. Trust in God. He Has A Plan. And 90 percent of the time we dont know what that is. Keep Reading, Praying, and going to church! And trust in him. When you make a mistake, learn from it and move on. So many elders here have complained about different changes that have been made since I've gotten here. But life is a lot easier when you think "What was God trying to teach me" Rather than blame him for all of your problems. We have to change to become like him, and a lot of times he has to send things your wayto change you.

Trust Him

Love you all. To my nephew Griff, You're so stinking studly and cute!!! 

Elder Ryan

Week 28 - God is with us

January 23, 2017

First, WELCOME TO EARTH GRIFFIN BRENT HURST!!!! Woohoo 2x Uncle now hahaha.
Congrats Tay and Ronnie!!!! So excited for that little blondie you've got there!

There's not much to write about this week. If all goes good, we should be having a baptism for Daliana, an investigator we have that reads and prays more than any I have had, this sunday!!
Elder Santos is doing sooo good!!! Really! I'm so grateful to hear him teach every week. I have never heard such a powerful testimony!! Even just doing little practices, his testimony just is a wave of the spirit. I know his Dads calling on the other side of the veil, is to accompany him here.
Just want to leave my testimony that I know without a doubt how true this gospel is! Really, I just see too many miracles everyday, too many that I cant deny that someones has influence over it all. God is with us, just have to look for it.
Love You All!!
Elder Ryan

 

Week 27 - Elder Santos

January 16, 2017

Well I've completed 6 months.. wow haha.

Not gonna write a whole lot, we didn't work this week, I only want to ask every that they Keep Elder Santos and his family in their prayers. His father passed away this week, but he has decided to stay on the mission. He's doing a lot better thanks to some incredible experiences we have had this week.

I love you all and hope you have a fantastic week!

 

Week 26 - 6 months!

01/09/16

Wow, 6 months this week already!

Well don't have that much to write about this week. We found a Family of 6 week!! They are interested but most important, they're Married officially! For those of you thatdon't  know, thats soo hard to find here in Argentina! They also came to a ward activity on Friday!! They couldn't come to church because they went on vacation, but we're exited to see what happens.

Also we started working with the family of some recent converts, and they acepted baptismal dates yesterday!!

Other than that, its just hot. hot. hot. and just a little more. hot.

I feel bad for not writing a ton, but thats my week, Work, Families and Heat haha

I hope everyone is doing well and enjoying the New Year!! Write me if you want, I love hearing from you all!

Just a last experience, is the power of fasting and prayer. We prayed and fasted a lot this weekend to see some miracles. And at church we had 3 new people show up that we had never even seen before, and now we are starting to work with them!!

Anyways, have a great week, All of you!!

Love you All!!

Elder J Ryan

 

Week 25 - New Years Eve

01/02/17

New Years in Buenos Aires: Drunks, Fireworks, Parties, Fireworks, and more Fireworks!

Seriously from 12am to about 3am on New Years, I didn't sleep...there were so many!! But it was so cool! My whole pension was just lit up by the lights of all the fireworks!

Other than that, heat. I've given up on being dry or non sweaty. Its literally 24/7 heat. Midnight to the middle of the day.

Anyways Happy 2017!!

So the only big news, is that my Padre, Elder Saez, after 3 transfers together, went home. It was weird seeing all the process of a missionary finishing their mission... haha

My new comp is Elder Santos. Elder Saez was the oldest missionary in the mission, 28 years old. Elder Santos is next at 26 haha. One elder told me im bound to be comp the the "Patriarchal Elder" (Or oldest elder) until I finish my mish haha. He is a stud, andI've  already learned sooo much from him, plus he looks like and can dance like Carlton from Fresh Prince haha. He's from Brasilia Brazil, and has been here 18 months.

I've gotten some questions about how is it going with sharing 30 Books of Mormon per week. Well because of our mission, all of the area South America South doesn't have Libros de Mormon... so we can't share that many for right now haha.. oops

One thing I absolutely love about my comp is his desire to find teach and baptize families. Already in one week we have found 5 families!! Im so excited for this transfer and the faith we have in our area!!

Love you all!! Have a great year 2017

Elder Jordan Ryan

 

Week 24 - Christmas

12/26/16 

Well, I'm not gonna lie, It did not feel like Christmas!! Haha But it did rain, so I figure thats the closest to a White Christmas that I'll get. haha Also talking to the Family was awesome!!

Really I don't have much to say in this email, giving that I just talked to my Fam haha, but tomorrow is transfers!! Elder Saez is going home tomorrow, and Elder Santos is coming. I haven't met him yet, but I know he's coming haha

Really don't have all that much to talk about, CONGRATULATIONS, to my brother Jaydon and soon to be sister Kallie!! So excited to see you two take this next step in your lives!! Love you Two!!

I love you ALL!! one last Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year!!

Love Elder Ryan

 

Week 23 - Repentance

12/19/16

Happy Birthday to my little brother Bryson last week!! Also Happy Birthday to my big brother Ronnie!! Love you Both soo much!

Really nothing much is happening here new. As for my investigators, they're all doing good, just stagnant. Lately we have 2 new investigators at church every week, but the problem is that the ones who came the week before don't come, so no one really progresses. Right now we are basically running across 4 areas trying to work, its been difficult. The most we are trying to do is maintain the investigators we have until we are no longer a trio.

I believe I've already mentioned our missions focus is "Repentance". This week while studying it and how its a process I realized sonething. It's not just a process for ourselves for different individual sins that we commit, its literally our whole lives. Repentance is the process from changing ourselves to be ready to meet God. Any effort you make to do things a little better is Repentance, not just trying to stop doing a specific sin. Our lives are processes of repentance, so that one day we will be able to recieve the blessings that we can reach after this life

I love you all soo much!! Have such a good week!

Elder Ryan

Elder Layton 

 

Week 22- Repentance is a gift!

12/12/16

Well there's not much to talk about this week, basically we tried to work 4 areas as one companionship and it was difficult, but we still got a lot done.

As for my investigators, Jimena is apparently moving to Bolivia, Marcela couldn't come because she had to visit her family, Martin didn't come and we still don't know why. But Vanessa came with her sister, we think that now that school is over for them they'll  have time now, so we have lots of high hopes for them!!

This week went by really fast. And right now I can't even really remember all that we did haha, but something we have been trying to  do more and focus in more on is repentance. Every missionary in the Book of Mormon starts off with repentance, and so we started inviting more for people to repent. And it worked haha. I thought we'd sound crazy, like standing in the street yelling REPENT!! hahaha but no, it actually helps the investigator open up more and talk. Its been great. 

Also I've been studying more about our own personal repentance, and how necessary it is to do every day!! It really isn't a bad thing, repentance, its one of the best gifts we have, made possible through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Don't Ever be scared to repent.

Alright thats all, Les Amo Muchisimo!! Tengan una Buena Semana!!

Y Feliz Navidad!!

Elder Ryan

 

Week 21 - Flood the World with the Book of Mormon

12/5/16

Alright. Love hearing from you all, if Idon't  respond I'm sorry, but I try haha. 

Anyways for those of you that don't know this is the plan of my mission. Our president had a revelation: "Flood the world with The Book of Mormon", and he put a goal that we need to  share 30 BOMs every week, and it only counts if you get their name, address, number, and fix an appointment. Honestly, its hard.

Some weeks me and my comp would get as high as 25 but normally we get like 15. But this week we finally went hard, and got 35!! Honestly we've had so many blessings from it!! Sunday we had a really good investigator named Jimena come to church, we are really excited about her, Marcela didn't come, but weve still made lots of progress with her, we had another man named Martin show up randomly. Never met any member or missionary, but came to church Sunday and is interested!!

Really the Lord blessed us because we did what our president has asked us. He could tell us to do anything and we will be more successful because he is the man called to run and oversee the work in my mission.

Also an elder finished his mission this week, because he has to start school, and now his comp is with Elder Saez and me. So I'm back in a trio haha. His name is Elder Bateman from Washington. 

Alright more next week, hopefully I can think better my mind just isn't working right now haha

Love you All 

Elder Ryan

 

Sharing Book of Mormon

 

Elder Culebro (The elder who went home)

Week 20 - Changes, Divisions, Chastity and Prayer

11/28/16

So this week, we finally got Marcela to the church!!!  And also something has changed in her. She's so open with us now, likes to joke with us, excited about going to church, AND about trying to get an answer if this gospel is right!

That's about as far as we've got with investigators, we have about 7 other solid possibilities, but too early to tell. Other than that, this week was just a bunch of divisions. First with Elder Layton, which really pushed me because its the first time I've had more time in the mission than my comp I was with.

Later in the week I was with Elder Millar, my new Zone Leader. It was awesome. We had so many weird experiences, but the best was that we had this one lady telling us we know nothing of the Law of Chastity, because we're not married (We were explaining to this woman she had to get married) And I pulled out a pic of my family, shared my testimony of how happy we are because my parents are married, and also Taylor and Ronnie in their marriage, and she stopped critizing us and listened!!

We also had to cement a ceiling in the Villa Oculta, that was hard, because gravity was against us (I think I included a pic). 

Just want to leave my testimony with the power of prayer. I don't know how many times the  Lord answers my prayers, EXACTLY, Every single day. I know he's with us!!

Love You All!!

 

Week 19 - Do Your Part

11/21/16

First off, Happy Birthday Tomorrow to my fav little Niece!!! Te Amo Tyn!!! 

To be honest there's not much to write about at all.

I think this might be the hardest that I've worked this week. We were extremely diligent and obedient in every thing we did this week, and it was so easy for me to talk with people, and I Loved it!!!

At the end of the week we had 7 really good potential investigators!!! We set good plans to get them all to church... And not one came.  The ones we went to take to church, told us they couldn't go, and also the others that members went to find, couldn't go either. That really sucked, not going to lie at all. You'd think with 7 really good investigators, one would come, but no. 

That was really disapointing, but afterwards, Elder Saez told me, I don't feel sad or bad at all, of course I feel sad they didn't come, but we worked hard, simply the investigators didn't do their part. 

Which is true... But I still didn't like it haha

But honestly I felt really good this week from what me and Elder Saez could accomplish

Alright I know this is email is short and kind of boring, but theres not much to write, I love you All!!

Elder J Ryan

Week 18 - Time Is Flying

11/15/16

For transfers, Me and Saez both stayed, So I'll be with him till he finishes this December!

The heat and humidity is really starting to pick up, and its terrible! I've never had my hair feel so thick frizzy and nasty! And it just is always messed up and I can't do anything about it.

So this week, we didn't do anything, Saez was really sick. So we stayed in the pension 3 days, and on the 4th we took him to the hospital. He has bronchitis, and was coughing up blood. So yeah we didn't do much... I watched the districts like 200 times, colored a lot, read all the Book of Mormon and Pearl of Great Price, started reading the bible, studied the crap out of my spanish books... It was a long three days hahaha

Yesterday Saez started feeling better, so we visited our converts in the little time we had, just in case we left.

So yeah, sorry its a little boring. Also, Sunday was great. I've had a lot of sad feelings because I didn't feel at home here for the longest time, and I had been praying so hard to feel at home, and to love the people.

Than, when I sat down in sacrament meeting, I looked to the front, and saw Jairo was about to bless the sacrament. He had a new suit on, and was wearing the tie I gave him. And I think I felt for the first time, the joy people talk about when they baptize someone. I was overwhelmed, almost cried to see him about to be able to bless the sacrament. Afterwards I was looking around at all my ward members and realized I know them all and have a good relationship with them, and I instantly felt at home, and felt a huge love for these people. It was a huge blessing and answer to my prayers. 

Also, I saw Hermano Martinez at church!! haha And I played soccer with him last week!!

Well, thats about it, Love you All

Elder J Ryan

Hmna Roxanna -basically my Argentine mom

A banner we use to share the Book of Mormon

My setup in the pension

The Chileans teaching us to make completos!

 

Some random pics I got sent from Graciela! Thank you!