Life as an Uncommon Elder

So, no update on the teeth. I find out  on Wednesday .   We have an investigator right now who is SUPER AWESOME!!! She's met with us nearly every day and is learning super quick. I can't wait to see where it goes. Maybe baptism?!?!   Miss you all. Sorry for the short update.   Love, Elder Ryan

This week has been mostly normal. Not many downs, but not many ups.   The work is steadily increasing in the area. All of the investigators we started with have dropped off, and we now have some absolutely amazing people that are choosing to learn about the gospel of Jesus Christ.   This week I haven't had any real noteworthy experiences or insights. So just remember, God loves you. He put you here to succeed and wants you to return to live with him. Aceept Christ as your personal Savior and follow his teachings.   Love you all!   Elder Ryan

This week has been pretty good. I've had some awesome and humbling lessons where I was the only Vietnamese speaking missionary. Both of them were referrals, both of them I felt the spirit so strongly, and both of them made me feel really inadequate as a servant of the Lord. But I have found strength in the testimony that can be borne by the spirit that we truly can't say in words, and that we can only convey if we are living worthy of it. In conference we were encouraged to all step it up and live the Gospel. I hope you all can find one way to increase your faith and follow the counsel of L. Tom Perry and reach out to 1 person by Christmas. Love you! Elder Ryan

This week has been a great week! I don't have a lot of time to write a post for this week, so this will have to do. I love you, I miss you, and I hope you're developing your relationship with God. Love, Elder Ryan

Sorry, this is a week late. This week has been a week of change! Whoo, I think I might be used to change now...   I'm now in Springvale, re-opening the area for Vietnamese missionaries. I have an English speaking companion, and lots and lots of work to do. There is definitely not a lack of things to do, it's just a matter of the best way to get it all done, build up the program here and make the area viable to assist the Vietnamese in the area to come closer to Christ. Unlike in the city, there are several barriers present (like translation services) that I now have to figure out a way to overcome. There are lots of different things that are new. In the city, the church space is convenient and easy to give directions to. Here the chapel is more conventional and kind of out of the way. The public transit here isn't as frequent, so we're on bicycles (which presents a problem of it's own).   So this week, I think I've lost some weight already, my bod...

One of the best ways I've found to get out of negativity, is to ignore it and move on to something more cheerful. Presently, it's the song, "Jesus Wants me for a Sunbeam." It's such a simple song, without deep doctrinal content, but it brings such a spirit of peace to my mind. Sometimes that's what we need. A quite and peaceful distraction from the noise that's around us. Challenge for the week, look for quite moments to notice the beauty of God's creation. Sing a hymn or song that reminds you of your relationship with God. Read the Book of Mormon at least 5 minutes a day. You will find more enjoyment in life. :) Love, Elder Ryan

So this last week has been a week of overcoming, and I'm not ashamed to say that it hasn't been easy. I love my Heavenly Father, I love Jesus Christ, and I love the Holy Ghost. Without them, I would literally be nothing. I am not a perfect missionary, nor am I a perfect person, but I know through Christ's Atonement for us, I have received strength. Emails in the mission are always a plus. Letters are even better (but I don't expect people to waste money on postage).  At this time, I'd like to make a declaration of my faith. I don't really care if you don't agree, but it helps me to put it out there. I know that Jesus is the Christ; the anointed of God to come and cleanse us from our sins. I know that we have a loving Heavenly Father who knows us intimately, and we knew him before this life, and through a concerted effort, we can know him again. I know that the Book of Mormon is true. I know it, I know it, I know it! I know that Joseph Smith was a...