Transfers!

So im getting transferred! I'm pretty sad because I absolutely have loved Roswell and we've got so many people that I'm sad to leave. And so many people who are either on date or just right around the corner to being baptized! But that's alright I know good thinks are ahead! So I'm going to Dalhart, Texas! It's about 2 hours outside of Amarillo! 

 This last week was really good! So on Wednesday we had a lesson with Lupillo and his wife! And they both want to be baptized, but his work schedule stops him from coming to church most Sundays. So pray that he can figure that out! Then we drove way out and had a lesson with a member whose husband and all her extended family are strong catholics and have no interest. It was pretty sad to see because she wants them to have the gospel so bad. Made me grateful that my family has the gospel! 

 On Thursday my testimony of Joseph Smith was insanely strengthened. We went to this lesson with these nonactive members and they start bashing Joseph Smith saying they won't read the Book of mormon because they couldn't believe God could pick a man "like Joseph Smith." All the sudden my chest like burned in me and the spirit just testified so strongly to me that Joseph Smith was a prophet called of a God. And I was able to bear that testimony to them and after they said they would read the Book of mormon! 

 On Thursday we also went and helped one of our inactive members with Christmas! We were able to help his kids out and leave a super strong message about Christ's Atonement. Super amazing! 

 Christmas Eve and Christmas were way good!! Thanks to everyone who sent me stuff haha. We had Lunch and dinner both days so now I need to go on a run haha. But really we were so well taken care of and the members were so good so that was awesome! It was rough to teach anyone though because they were all out of town haha. 

 Then on Sunday, we went to get Hermano De La Hoya (the inactive member we've been working with) to church and he said he'll see if he can. So we start the meeting and he wasnt there. I was way bummed. But then right as we started the sacrament hymn he walked in!! Ah it made me so happy see him there. Then we sat with him after and he gave us a hug before he left and with tears in his eyes he told us how grateful he is for us. 

 Then I had to say goodbye to a bunch of people. Super sad but one experience in particular. When i said goodbye to Margaret, who we've been teaching, we ended up sitting down and talking. She read 2 Nephi 31 for us, so we talked about baptism but then I had the impression to read Christ's baptism. So we did and talked about authority with her. She said how some people don't get it because because think they can just get baptized and that's it then you're done. So she understands haha. So I invited her to be baptized. And she looked at me, then looked around and said "well I was raised Catholic" and that was SO AWESOME cuz she usually tells us at the end of our lessons that she's a practing catholic and not looking for anything, but this time she said WAS a Catholic. So she told us she would keep reading and pray about being baptized! She already knows the book of mormon is true. Then, as I was saying goodbye and leaving she grabbed my hand and thanked me so much for everything. Then she said "you touched my heart and changed my life, so you did what you were supposed to do here." And gosh that was just such an amazing experience to have. 

 Thanks for everything everyone! Talk to ya next week! 

 Love, Elder Ryan

1. The Barnes 

2. Margaret and Mauricio 

3. Sword 

4. The Polar Express

5. Bullet Strap 

6. Christmas Eve

Julian is getting baptized

Hey everyone! Such an awesome week this week! Taught some sweet lessons, I'm finally feeling real comfortable in a lesson AND on the street in Spanish, and Julian is on date to be baptized! 

 So on Tuesday we had District council and then some exchanges. The exchanges were amazing! We taught two super fun lessons. My favorite was this lady who didn't understand why Jesus Christ. She loved God, but thought Christ was more of a prophet and a good man, but not our Savior. She didn't understand why we needed him. So we read 2 Nephi 2 with her and it was one of the funnest lessons I've ever been in. Seriously as she read specific verses in that chapter, she just looked up with Joy as she figured out for herself why we need Christ! She had the biggest smile on her face and it was seriously so amazing to see her find joy in that! 

 So on Wednesday we found someone named Domingo. He's way cool. We started talking with him and he said he used to meet with two sister missionaries, but they didn't speak Spanish. And this guy understands no English so no idea how that worked out, but he still had a spanish Book of Mormon so that's sick. We taught him the Restoration and it went super well! I'm really excited for him. 

 On Thursday we made some awesome street contacts. This one guy we were talking to, Rick, was super cool. We were just talking to him about cars, and then he opened about how his son passed away at an extremely young age. So we were able to read some scriptures from Moroni 8, and promised him that through Baptism, he could be with his son again. He loved that and is super interested in talking some more. 

 Friday we had a phone lesson with someone who really wants to come to church, but she said she's too afraid of someone breaking into the church and shooting people. I would say she's crazy, but there was just a shooting at Walmart here like 3 days ago so really ya can't blame her. Then we had an amazing lesson lesson an inactive member, who has such a strong testimony of the Book of Mormon! It was cool to hear him bear witness, even though he doesn't come to church. 

 Sorry I know I've written a lot but Saturday is the good day. So there was an English baptism, and we got Julian, someone we're teaching, to come to it! His wife wanted him to go change his car tires, but he lied to her and said the store was closed so he could come haha. Maybe not good but also super epic. Anyway,I kept offering to translate for him, but he said he doesn't need to understand the words because he can feel the spirit strongly. So that was amazing! And then, later that day, we went to his house and put him on date! So Julian is getting baptized on January 15th! So pumped! And then he came to church on Sunday too which was a huge relief. 

 All in all I'm so happy for him! I'm really sad because I'll probably be transferred in about a week and a half, so I'll miss his baptism by like 2 weeks haha. But that's okay! Well sorry for the longer email everyone...

I love yall and have a great week! 

 Love, Elder Ryan

A guy named Lupillo who we're teaching. And then Hna and Hno Ortiz! They're legends

Woohoo!

So honestly this week wasn't too crazy and I'm writing this way late so it'll be short and sweet. I know that breaks most of your hearts haha. I'm only writing this week for my mom so I love you mom haha. 

 This week was cool in that one of our families, the Ortiz family, just totally took over. They told our whole branch that they need to do better, and that missionary work is there job, we're just supposed to help them. So we've driven around with them and they've just taken us to their friends. So amazing! We have a bunch of families telling us friends to visit and stuff so next week should be great. 

 One lesson we taught with the Ortiz family was to an inactive member. He threw his Book of Mormon away and claims to be part of the Catholic church now. We all bore testimony and the spirit was sooo strong. It didn't change his mind, but it grew my testimony of the Book of mormon even more. 

 We also taught Donna and had a sweet lesson about Jesus Christ and his importance in the Plan of Salvation. Would highly recommend doing a thorough study of 2 Nephi 2 by the way! It's awesome. 

 Also one of the English missionaries had a baptism for someone on Saturday! That was fun haha. 

 Anyway short and sweet haha. 

Love yall! I'll talk to ya next week! 

 Elder Ryan