Elder Bryson Ryan -Texas Lubbock Mission: 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