Day 34

So how did this week go?

This week was good, but slow... 

What was your favorite moment?

When we taught the couple in the letter I sent to dad.  

Yesterday (Sunday) we were supposed to have ten investigators at church between the two sets of missionaries here, we ended up with only one. We had a couple here in swift current that was so excited to come to church, I was on exchanges and we found a couple that we talked to for an hour and a half, we taught them the restoration and the plan of salvation. They loved everything that we said and told us they wanted to be at church, we gave them a Book of Mormon and committed them to read it as well.. and they didn't show up. I called the woman and she seemed a little down. She said they were busy and wouldn't be able to come to church. She said they were in the middle of some personal issues and she didn't know when they could meet again. It kind of broke my heart. So I'll just be following up with her as soon as I can.

Favorite missionary moment?

Same.

Meals that you ate at someone elses home?  :>

We had two this week, they were the greatest thing ever.

How did your sunday discussion go? (the one you bullied)

He wasn't at his house.. 

What are your neighbors like?

We don't really talk to them. Missionaries don't have a great rep. in this town because of some things that have happened in the past. 

Have your written Tyler?

I have not, I'm not sure of his email

Have you gotten to know any ward members yet?

A little, it's a branch with only about thirty to fifty members that come regularly.

Do you go to ward council meetings?  Our sisters do...

They have one once a month, and we have one elder from each companionship go.

What is your bishop like?

our branch president is nice, he's only been in about three weeks longer than I've been here, he's about thirty and he's very busy.

Are there any other missionaries in your area?

Yes, kinda, they are about thirty minutes away but we see them often because they are in a small town of about 900 people.

If not where is the closest set?

Are you writing to any missionaries?

Some, mostly a few that I met in the MTC. They seem pretty nice.

How did the cookie idea turn out?

Did your newspaper advertisement bring any success?

I'm not sure if they have published anything yet, and we haven't been able to make cookies yet.

We are working on service opportunities and we have been able to do a few, we helped move a family with the other elders and the guy is really prepared. They haven't been able to teach him yet but while we were there he had us throw away all of his R rated movies on his own accord.

Day 26

So you will have to tell me all about your first week there. 

 This week has been pretty slow, my companion and I have been brainstorming ways that we can improve our standing with the branch so that: one: we can help the branch become more missionary minded, and two: maybe we'll get fed more ;) so any Ideas would be appreciated, as of now we have put an article in the paper here in swift current to advertise our service, we're planning to make cookies for the branch so that they'll love us, and include a sweet note to make it personal, we thought about birthday cards but we aren't sure yet. We're trying to find more investigators so we are contacting all the less actives that we can, and all the former investigators that we have. we've contacted a few, and we bullied one into an appointment for next Sunday. Other than that we are trying to talk to everyone we see, it's hard sometimes, but it's been going better, 

our day to day life is usually wake up and study till eleven, I do have a facebook out here, we are supposed to proselyte on there for one of our slow hours everyday, It's ok sometimes. then we have lunch, we try to find people to teach in the afternoons and we have dinner in the evening. at night we usually go try and contact less actives and former investigators, we get home at night and plan on what to do the next day.

 How is the weather, not 100 like down here, I assume.  

 yesterday it was seventy five.. so a little cooler than Idaho weather in mid summer. I love it. Canada is green, humid, windy and flat, but I like it anyway... 

 Do you have members feeding you or are you on your own for meals?

One of my favorite things about being a missionary is that I only have two cares in the world, working hard to bring the gospel to everyone and what to eat for dinner.. so that's pretty good.

My companion is very selfless, he takes care of himself and then does service for me so it makes it hard to serve him back. Although I did make Gyros the other day, they were alright. ;) before I got here he bought a bunch of food for us so that I wouldn't show up and have nothing. We're budgeted about two dollars a meal, so if we plan right than we are usually ok

Everything is more expensive here.. it's crazy

Day 19

I stole this picture off his facebook page.  Its from the building where they email.
 Elder Allred is photo bombing in the background on the right. 

We were emailing at the same time and so the conversation went like this:

so where are you?
Swift Current Saskatchewan

can you go to the temple since its close?
yeah maybe once a transfer

conveniently the elder that was here before lived in california and left his Sorel boots and a coat.. So great right!?

 nice, do they fit?  That's awesome about the temple
yeah they're a size eleven so they're perfect

where is your companion from, name?
I am companions with Elder Allred, he seems like he works hard, he'll be a good trainer, he's from south jordan utah. We are about ten hours west of the mission office. Elder Allred claims that the farther the area from the mission office, the more President Thomas trusts us.. I don't know if I told you, but Elder and sister Menlove are in the mission office, his brother, President Menlove was my branch president in the MTC. In Swift Current we have a small branch of about fifty, I'm excited for baptising the rest of the town, it's similar to emmett Size

That's great, how long have you been there?  How long has Elder Allred been out?

three days, and he's been out about seventeen months

Day 14

This was an email we received from the Winnipeg mission office letting us know the missionaries arrived safely.   Good looking group of missionaries!

Hello Families,

 

Your missionary arrived today in the wonderful Canada Winnipeg Mission.  They look terrific and we are excited to have them serving with us.  They arrived on time, but immigration took them a while.  They were hungry so we fed them right away “taco in a bag”, and  ice cream.  We gave them several hours of training.  Tonight they enjoy a wonderful ham dinner.  Then we are off to a baptism of a young man about their same age.  We will teach them our mission song and get them to bed.  Their day started pretty early at the MTC, so they will be really happy to get to bed tonight.

 

Tomorrow there will more training and they will get their first mission assignment and be sent to all parts of the mission.  They are excited to serve the Lord and we are exciting they have come to join our ranks!

 

We love these elders already and thank you for sharing them with us.

Ryus is in the back next to tallest elder

Ryus' former Seminary teacher's parents are serving at the Winnipeg Mission office.  
He relayed an email sent from his parents.

My parents say he is doing great in Canada.  The first night his district got to Winnipeg they took them all to a baptism.  My mom said it was a few minutes before the meeting was to start, and it was a little loud.  Without being asked, Ryus got up and went to the piano where he began quietly playing prelude for the meeting.  My mom said everything got a little more quiet and much more reverent.  She was very impressed with him and said he is doing great.  

He also has an uncle at the MTC who served at Ryus' branch president.  Here is a partial letter from his uncle's wife.  

I have to tell you how impressed I am with Elder Peterson that (Ryus' Seminary teacher)  knows. He is a dynamite Elder and so on the ball.  (Branch President at MTC) was asked to have two Elders give the prayers for a Fireside they held there on the 4th of July. He asked Elder Peterson and Elder Dotson to give them. They were so excited and did a super job! Elder Peterson has told us how much he loves Rob and how much he felt Rob helped him prepare for his mission. They are so excited to meet you. Elder Dotson is such a good Elder and has been Zone Leader with Elder Ringger. They are both great together! Elder Spell is more quiet, but when he has something to say in a district meeting, it is full of insight. This group of five are all winners. We love them and are already sad to see them go. They are going to love Winnipeg! They are going to love you!  They all sang the closing song at sacrament meeting and they just brought tears to my eyes. They did an accapella version of "Priesthood Power." Actually the song was so off key that they started to chuckle and you know thats why I cried. Even if they don't sound fabulous they sang with pure hearts and they are such good boys!

Day 13

So is Elder Spell also going to Canada too? 

Elder Spell is going to Canada.

Have you had any General Authorities speak to you?

No General Authorities have been here to speak

When you teach your teachers does it feel like selling?
Some things feel like selling, I notice I'm not afraid to ask for commitment. Maybe sometimes I've pushed a little too hard. We've taught our teachers as they act as investigators, all of the ones we taught (5 plus a real investigator) Committed to baptism. The one who was actually an investigator had other missionaries working with her too, so it may not have been us. She's a little black girl, 4'9 from the ground, married and thinking of going to school down here.

Have you noticed anything that you need that you forgot or missed?

 I got the package, Wendi sent me great things. 

I  think my favorite scripture is probably still first Nephi 1:1. (subject to change) I'm so sad that you are going to girls camp, I would have been able to call from the airport early early tomorrow. 
 (I [Andrea] was going to Young Womens Camp this morning and gave him the cell phone number of my tent companion so he could call at 4:00am the next morning, but somehow, we didn't get connected)


I volunteered to sing in the choir, it was a lot of fun. All of my teachers have been simply amazing. Goodness, I'll have to write more letters, I find that the time is never long enough. I'm a little nervous about going in to the field, it is scary. Random fact, My mission is the LARGEST MISSION IN THE WORLD. Crazy right? Its sixteen hours across and longer up and down. The time is far spent, I'll have to write and send more, thank you for the addresses.. I have to go help my comapanion go to wells fargo. so I'll ttyl

Love your son.

Ryus

                            From Aunt Wendi's gift package- MMMMMinnionaries

The district from the MTC