Week 14 - Learning to Listen to the Spirit

10/17/16

First Baptism!!!! But I'll talk about that later. 

So I don't have much time, but to sum up my week, we officially have the new villa Oculta, and inside is a building called the Elefante Blanco.. its interesting and if you care to know more you could probably look it up and see how "fun" it is haha

There have been a lot of protests lately, dont know why, but we've had to leave the villas some days because there were fires all over the streets. 

I had to go do Immigrations this week, and before I left I thought, I should take my handout English book of mormon, but turned the thought away. Later I met two professional Bball players (Argentine Professional) and after a long and good talk (Theyre from the states) I realized I didn't  have a Book of Mormon, only Libros de Mormon... I learned to listen to the spirit because I could have given them a book they could have read!

Graciela is doing awesome we should baptize her this week!

And, after mispronouncing the baptismal prayer twice, on the third try Jairo was baptized!! wohoo! Honestly was so great

I've been reading in the end of Alma with all the wars and Moroni, honestly this is my favorite part of the book of mormon!! I hope we all have the courage to stand up for whats right like moroni!!

Les Amo Todos!!

Week 13 - 3 months!

3 Months... holy cow so crazy, I feel like last week I was packing my bags... weird

Anyway first off- whats been happening. There's a new Elder who's training in my ward!! His name is Elder Layton (His family settled Layton) from Idaho. He's also really tall, and it feels good to be able to help someone with spanish!!

Also I got some letters this week, the offices brought them to me, but not the package haha sorry. But I loved them, thanks soo much!!:) Made my day. 

Jairo is going to be baptized this week!! I have faith. He really is so strong in the church. He already goes to mission prep, and seminary, and institute, and mutual, and attends church every week.. We also showed him the full movie of the Restoration this week, and he told us a story of how his grandma started bashing our church, and he bore his testimony to her and I've never been prouder.

We have a new investigator who has been to church twice now, she's from the area we just got added on to ours. Her name is Graciela, she's really nice, but we just have to hope, maybe we will be able to baptize her this week. 

Really, I've had some pretty rough times with everything, and I've been on my knees a lot trying to find some answers, and this week they came. Elder Garcia (The new missionary for Elder Gutierrez) was telling us about how one day he realized, its literally a commandment to be happy, and idk why but I just made myself be happy, and I was. I stopped thinking about the negatives, and just focused on being a missionary with a good atitude, and it changed everything in the matter of 2 days!!

Also I feel I've come closer to a stronger testimony in the book of mormon. Here's a quote that I loved this week fromElder  Holland: "No wicked man could write a book such as this, and no good man would write it, unless it were true, and he were commanded to do it."

I know this church was restored through Joseph Smith. And that this is THE Church of Jesus Christ. Not A church, but HIS church! And we have the opportunity to share that, everyone! How great is that? Just a thought, never take for granted the knowledge we have.

Love you all,

Elder Ryan

Week 12 - Time is Flying!

Two transfers down, and one down in the field!! Time is flying, its scary!!

I'm still with Elder Saez, but my roommates Elder Coltrin and Andrade both got transferred. They're gonna give me and Elder Saez their area, which means we will be in charge of 4 areas!! Parque avellaneda 2 y 3 and Villa Piletones, and Villa Oculta. 

Sadly, Elder Gutierrez was transferred, and so was Elder Soto!! And basically every other friend I made here in my area... But I played soccer with the new elders today and I like them. 

Concerning our investigators.. still just Jairo, we find a ton, but they never go to church or do anything, still looking.

This last week was weird, we didn't get to do much proselyting. We had to help a bunch of ward activites, Conference, We were a little sick this week with allergies (Elder saez was pretty sick, I was just a little) Also, Elder Soto got really sick this week and we had to give him a priesthood blessing, very crazy week.

Also in a ward activity a turtle peed on me..... 

So conference was awesome, I wish I could type up something about each speaker!! 

I can't say much right now about them because I have to listen to them again in english, but the spirit was awesome there!! I'll write more of my thoughts next week. 

During the conference on sunday, in between sessions, we had to prep a baptism for some hermanas, but when they filled the font in the morning, they left the drain open.. so we had to fill it with buckets of water to try to fill it up in time for the baptism, it was a pretty funny sight. 

Thats about it this week!! I love you all!!!

Week 11 - Challenges and Service Projects

Hola Todos!

Basically with my investigators, Jairo doing well, just have to wait for him to be ready, so were visiting him a little less. Ricardo, Lurdes, and Gary we cant talk to because their building owner is a drunk and hates us. 

So our zone was almost last place last week in giving out books of mormon, so president called us in a conference call and kinda animated us, to do better. And this week we were 2nd in the mission

On friday we did a zone activity where we all went to some areas that needed help, and shared books of mormon. Now how this is the statistic, you have to gift the book and get their reference. And in an hour and a half we did 41!! I did three, and 9 together with E Aguilera and Gutierrez, we three went together. 

Something I've done twice this week is a Dan Jones.. It's where you stand in public and just preach holding the book of mormon high. I did them on collectivos and it works, we've gotten references!! Its so scary but you can feel the spirit direct your words. 

We got a new investigator this week, named filiberto, he's trying to find the right church, and we got his reference from a less Active.  During the lesson he asked for a priesthood blessing and we gave him one. But when we went to get him for church he couldn't go, and then an evangelist stopped us and told us all the things wrong with our church, and we almost missed sacrament... 

Thursday night we were chilling in my pension, and all of a sudden there were sirens, gun shots, and ambulances in front of our pension. We ran and turned off the lights and hid in the kitchen on the floor, basically laying on each other (There's four of us) Don't know what happened but after five minutes the street was silent. 

And for those worried about my safety, I'm fine, honestly. 

Friday night we had to go to the ZLs church because E saez had to interview an investigator. And the interview went till 9:15 and we couldn't get back to our pension in time, so we had to stay with them in their pension again, haha they ordered us a mountain of asado, french  fries, chorizo... oooo sooo goood

Saturday we had a big service project by the church, painting fences and planting plants at a hospital. I saw E Jensen, Justice, and Leavitt, all are doing awesome!!

Thats about it, Love it here, its a new adventure every day . I'm so lucky to be in this mission, all the elders are so close, and we have so much fun teaching this gospel together, love you all!

Les Amo un Montòn!! Lean el Libro de Mormòn TODOS, si tienen un testimonio de esto, todo serà bien

Elder Jordan J Ryan

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!!!

Week 5 - Last letter from CCM

Hola Todos!!! 

First, happy anniversary Taylor and Ronnie!!! Love you guys and I absolutely LOVE your family that you have started!! So this is my last time emailing from the CCM!! But that also means you won't hear from me until the 29th, I think that's my first P day in the field.

This week was pretty good, I had my first Cockroach encounter... SO BIG! it was in IP (IP is where I teach a mock investigator) And all of a sudden you could hear something moving across the floor, and when we looked down... a cockroach, and I had to kill it. Those things dont die! I had to stomp on it 3 times. 

Also we heard a fire fight in our classroom while doing personal study. We all of a sudden heard a bunch of gun shots hahaha

Also Proselytismo!! First off, the horses walk around like stray dogs, its messed up, they just are chilling in yards and in the streets, haha. This was a new area, because you only get two times in each area, and we went knocking door to door. This area was harder because it was a lot more city, like I was able to get mcdonalds for lunch, (so good to get a little american food). The city is a huge change from the suburbs, its poor in the neighborhoods and pretty nice in the cities (well nice for Sur America). Anways we found this dude Fernando and his wife while knocking doors, And He Let Us In!!! so lucky. For the first thirty minutes he was talking, and I literally didn't understand anything, he just kept talking about The Cuban Blockade, Kids in Africa, Kept making fun of us for not being able to understand, and Donald Trump. But then all of a sudden, Don de Lengua, I could understand everything like the flip of a switch! And then he realized I could understand him and we started getting some where.

We then started to share the Book of Mormon, and when he saw the aztec pyramids in the background of the picture of Christ, he went off about God being an alien and all the miracles like Moses dividing the red sea is because the God (An alien) can give them more power over there mind. And Jesus Christ also had this ability. And that Sodom and Gommorah was a nuclear strike by aliens..... And the CCM hasn't gone over how to handle this scenario quite yet. hahaha

Anyways, I had the strongest impression to talk about the preisthood, and finally I got my opportunity to talk. so I told him, "We believe in this ability or power that you have talked about, it's called the priesthood. It's the authority of God, to use his power for his will. By this power, Moses split the Red Sea, Christ and his apostles performed Miracles, Sodom and Gomorrah was destroyed, and this power was lost from the world after Christ. But, its been restored, and a normal man, if he follows Christ and his commandments, and is worthy of it, can Have this power!" 

Before he could respond his wife came into the room and kind of ruined the moment, but she invited us back this next Saturday for Empanadas! so we have a second chance before his information will be given to the real missionaries. 

We also ran into two teenagers, who spoke english!! Shared the story of the Book of Mormon and challenged them to read and pray about it, and hopefully they do. They kissed us on the cheek afterwards.. Honestly I don't know how this custom came about but its weird and I don't know how to avoid it.  

There is this missionary in the CCM who is a recent convert, 6 months ago. His name is Elder Morales from Bolivia. He comes to me every day asking questions about the gospel, and I've had the opportunity to teach him about different things. He doesn't know much about this gospel at all, but he knows its true, and he knows that the missionaries changed his life 6 months ago. He was brought to tears thinking he wasn't ready to go proselyting because he didnt know the gospel entirely. Its so humbling to see how blessed I am to be born into a gospel family. I've taken this gospel for granted in my life, to have the knowledge I have. And I've never respected anyone as much as Elder Morales, who doesn't even know anything beyond the basics, but knows it is true with all his heart, and he is for sure out here because he wants to share that.

We watched the Joseph Smith Movie, Prophet of the Restoration (Not the 20 minute investigator version but the real one). That movie almost brought me to tears. Joseph Smith is the leader of this last dispensation, and nothing can change my knowledge of that. He has done more for the church in our day, save Jesus Christ. I invite you all to watch the movie if you haven't, or watch it again

Thats it for this week, The latinos think I'm a goon here. I mess with them so much! haha I literally can say the most random stuff to them and get away with it because im a gringo, its the best haha

Week 4 - One month!

Hola everyone!!!! I can't believe I've been here a whole entire month!! Its flown by to a point that it scares me, haha

So this week in proselytismo (btw we get to go every Saturday while in the CCM) was slower. Not as many people to talk to, but I got kissed by some old Catholic on the cheek, weird, and we had our return appointment with Christian. At first we were praying he'd be home, and want to talk to us again. We rang his doorbell, and he came out instantly and led us through his house to his backyard which he set up drinks for us!! We talked for an hour and a half about all these different questions he had. It took so long because it took us a while to communicate sometimes, it was amazing!!

His wife kissed our cheeks when we left, because we had no idea how to stop her.. haha we will learn, we confessed to presidente just in case, haha he laughed at us. 

Sunday was our first sacrament meeting with the latinos, and it was fast sunday so it was testimony meeting. I bore my testimony in spanish and I think they understood, haha. Also these Latinos can't sing... at all. 

This week has been a lot of refocusing and intenser studying (I think that's a word). I sometimes want to kill my new latino roomates, one snores louder than you can believe and kept me up till 2 am one morning!! I finally threw a pillow at him, and was able to fall asleep before he could start snoring again haha

These new latinos like to play ball with me, I'm the tallest person here and one of two people who actually plays, haha its so entertaining to play them. There's this shorter Elder Lugo who is from Mexico who you can tell played a little bit before the mish, who's pretty fun to play with, and he's going to BA Norte. I sliced my hand open on the rim on a dunk, they hold the nets up with Zip ties, and it really hurt, but I'm good.

I need to tell you about my instructor Hermano Martinez. He's our nightly teacher, a seminary teacher, recently returned missionary, and when we go to the temple each Thursday he officiates our sessions. Honestly the coolest man I've ever come in contact with!! I'll get a pic with him later, hes the best!!

Thats about it from my claustrophobic priso.. I mean ccm haha

Also there's an Elder in my district named Elder Hurst, he's from Viewmont and played basketball there, and we realized we played on Hustle together, hahaha so cool!!!!

Hasta Luego, Les Amo!!!

Bird Poop. 

Not sure why he's kissing this fat tree...

His and Jaydon's missions 

More packages!

Week 3 - You don't knock, You clap...

Hola Everybody!!!

So this last week we went proselyting!!! Its such an advantage to be at this CCM!! I am so immersed into the argentine culture, I'm the minority so its helped me learn spanish so much quicker, and I've got to go proselyting in my area!!! (Well it was in the west mission, but who cares hahaha)

It was sooooo coool!!!!! First, the non spiritual stuff, we had the most amazing food!! Alfajores, Ice Cream, and churros, they do it better here.. hahaha

Also I've never seen a parrot before, and we saw a whole tree full of them!!

We were proselyting during the siesta, so people weren't out in the streets really. So we had to go door to door, and you dont knock, you clap... hahaha

Whenever someone saw us walking towards them, they'd cross the street... I guess two white hair americans isn't   appealing here haha. And when you would actually get close enough to say Hola, they'd act like they didn't here you. 

I was able to give my first BOM to a man named Brian, really cool dude, really interested. Towards the end we gave another to a man named Roberto, we might get to revisit him this Saturday. But the big deal was this man named Christian. We clapped at his house, he came out and we taught him about the BOM and we learned about how his daughter had died two years ago, and we got a return appointment this saturday!!! Hopefully it goes well, because this is our only opportunity to return (The CCM only sends you to a proselyting area twice).

I got your package!! thanks so much!! Also I tried to send a letter without a stamp... again... so I probably won't send letters till after the CCM

I've had to say 4 public prayers now... Twice in sunday school (Which is with all the Norteamercanos) to bless the Santa Cena, and once in front of the entire CCM at a fireside. I talked to Elder Hogan, and he said that usually people will only get chosen maybe once haha, but for some reason whenever presidente asks for a prayer he instantly says, and this isnt a joke, Where's Elder Ryan hahaha. and they have to be in spanish so its a little ride. All the older elders joked about it a lot because it was random, hahaha its so good tho

Tuesday I said goodbye to my Roomates, Paiva y Saeteros, I wanted to cry, I love them!! And even worse Elder Hogan, that one was hard. Although he pointed out we are in the same ward now, so we will see eachother enough after the mission, I'm so glad I got to become so close with him while he was here!

For two days there were only 11 people in our CCM!!! Not your normal experience for a CCM. Especially compared to the Provo and Mexico. Its such a blessing to have such a small CCM, we literally are all so close to our Presidente and his wife. We had an ice cream party with him, it was amazing.

I also got to play the piano once again!! Wasnt even rusty!! hahaha

The new people coming in have been so much fun to meet!! We just make it a blast welcoming them in, and we can actually speak spanish now so we can actually communicate!! hahaha

Once the whole new group gets here we will have about only 65 people here, because there arent going to be any new norteamericano groups (The CCM is closing in 3 weeks for renovations)

I'm doing so good!! Love you all and love hearing from you!!!

Hasta Luego!!

Elder Ryan

Saying good bye to Elders Paiva and Saeteros

Week 2 - Groundhog Day

HOLA everybody!!!

This was a pretty tough week, not gonna lie. But at the same time, its amazing. 

Most of the time here we pretty much do the exact same thing that we did the day before. Estudiar de Idioma, Personal and Comp study, just same thing every day. Sometimes we have testimony meetings with our district, and they're always so incredibly strong!!! I love them!!!

We had a mock investigator for about a week and a half before we stopped lessons with them, and got evaluated. Turns out, the actors who were our investigators (who are our teachers) were acting as real investigators that they had on their missions!!! Once we found out they were real people, it was such a strong spirit! 

Sunday we got to watch The Testaments, and without fail, I cried at the end of the movie with Christ talking to Helam.

Yesterday our mission presidents came to visit us!! They have young kids with them. Their youngest, Johnathon, literally looks exactly like Brash Emery, but with Bryson's hair, straight mix of the two buds!! haha

I got your letters yesterday!! turns out a lot of peoples letters got here in under a week, which is really fast. Jaydon, I can't read yours... I'll piece it together when I know more spanish haha!!

It's so cool to have Elder Hogan here. He's still his same funny self that he has always been, but now we also have so many deep talks about the gospel and spirit. I'm so grateful and lucky to have him here. I think he leaves next Tuesday, which is gonna be terrible. 

This week we get to go proselyting!! I'm so excited to leave the pris.. err I mean CCM;)

I'm doing great!!! Its extremely hard, but extremely worth it, I love you all!! Hasta Luego!!

Elder Ryan

Thes are our room mates. Elder Paiva and Elder Saeteros! theyre amazing 

Paiva is the taller one