Dear Moneen,
We are so grateful your son is in our mission. He is doing really well. It is wonderful that we have two countries in our mission. They are so different from each other. He will enjoy serving in Belgium. it is a beautiful country.
Elder Leash's new address is:
Jan Persijnstraat 20/B3 bus 1
8500 Kortrijk
Belgium
He arrived in Kortrijk last Wednesday. We look forward to talking with Elder Leash on his birthday. It is our tradition that we call on the missionaries' birthday and sing Happy Birthday and let them know how happy we are that they are in our mission.
Thanks for letting us have your son for two years. We'll do our best to take good care of him.
Ryan's Entire Mission
ryan is in the far right corner
Ryan at a Zone Conference...
Ryan and President Brubaker
eating raw fish -- eeewww
Ryan at temple - day before MTC drop off
handsome guy!
Ryan and President Smith
getting set apart as a missionary
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Monday, July 26, 2010
I love my mission!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
July 18, 2010
Dear family and friends,
Important items first, my address:
Kluizenaar Straat 13
5641 H.E. Eindhoven
Netherlands
Love your letters!!!
Wow! Danielle is off for two weeks in Utah for EFY!! That will be a lot of fun for her and a good experience! The reunion sounds like it was a lot of fun! I didn’t realize it was back in Etna. Who all showed up? I really like the game you played about stuff you don’t know of each other; so you went to the loony bin? :) My heart really goes out to the Hiett family! They will be in my prayers. I got Tracy’s letter and I will write back very soon! That is an amazing story about the elder who lost his hearing, very inspirational! It sounds like everything is going really well that way :)
Things are going very well this way also :). We almost reached Standard of Excellence this week! Ummm, I’m working hard, and as I’ve heard so many times about mission, it’s one of the hardest things you will ever do and yet also the most rewarding, I can’t say I’m feeling the full affects of that statement yet, but I’m definitley starting to understand it more and more with every passing day! I love the work I am doing and the ppl I am being able to serve and try to bring to the gospel! It’s an amazing time!
Now, for some specifics! We have had a great week! We finally got some investigators to church! Caroline was able to come this week and it was great to be able to share that first Sunday with her and to walk her through it. As it turned out, we had two come to I was able to fellowship and translate (one speaks only English) etc. for her and I think she had a good experience; better yet I think she felt the Spirit!!!
Our other investigator is Ramses and he is from Kuri Sao and is 33 yrs old. He has some mental issues, but I really do love him! It was interesting. At one point during the lesson in Priesthood Quorum Ramses was apparently feeling the Spirit because he got up and randomly yelled “Praise Jesus!” I don’t think he got quite the reaction he was used to because he has a P.K. background.
On a more personal note, I’m still learning lots about the scriptures, I had not idea how much I would learn. I’m also learning how to work with difficult personalities and about being personable. I’m so grateful for this time to search and in so doing better myself
My companionship is leading the district in our personal goal numbers – it makes me feel good to work hard and to not abuse the trust that our mission president has put in me and also the success the Lord has sent our way. I feel very blessed – thank you for your support!
A few notes:
Mom, thank you for the pillowcase – I love it! Here are some answers to your questions:
1. The weather is crazy! It is very hot and yet very wet also. Today was an especially odd day with very strange winds and many trees that blew over!
2. The Netherlands lost the cup – yes – but they haven’t been in the finals for 37 years!
3. For my birthday…maybe a tie! Some pictures of family.
4. The food is still buttery and a lot of sandwiches, but I think my body is getting used to it.
5. I am learning a lot from my companionship and I am grateful to be working with him.
6. Please thank Ian for his crazy eagle story!
7. One of our investigators is close to baptism; he has a problem with smoking and ‘blow’ cocaine and we are working that through.
Thanks mom for your last remarks about your testimony and your prayers on my behalf. I am so grateful to you and dad for pushing me to be the best I can – for encouraging me to go on a mission; I really am so grateful.
I love you all so much~!
Ryan
Dear family and friends,
Important items first, my address:
Kluizenaar Straat 13
5641 H.E. Eindhoven
Netherlands
Love your letters!!!
Wow! Danielle is off for two weeks in Utah for EFY!! That will be a lot of fun for her and a good experience! The reunion sounds like it was a lot of fun! I didn’t realize it was back in Etna. Who all showed up? I really like the game you played about stuff you don’t know of each other; so you went to the loony bin? :) My heart really goes out to the Hiett family! They will be in my prayers. I got Tracy’s letter and I will write back very soon! That is an amazing story about the elder who lost his hearing, very inspirational! It sounds like everything is going really well that way :)
Things are going very well this way also :). We almost reached Standard of Excellence this week! Ummm, I’m working hard, and as I’ve heard so many times about mission, it’s one of the hardest things you will ever do and yet also the most rewarding, I can’t say I’m feeling the full affects of that statement yet, but I’m definitley starting to understand it more and more with every passing day! I love the work I am doing and the ppl I am being able to serve and try to bring to the gospel! It’s an amazing time!
Now, for some specifics! We have had a great week! We finally got some investigators to church! Caroline was able to come this week and it was great to be able to share that first Sunday with her and to walk her through it. As it turned out, we had two come to I was able to fellowship and translate (one speaks only English) etc. for her and I think she had a good experience; better yet I think she felt the Spirit!!!
Our other investigator is Ramses and he is from Kuri Sao and is 33 yrs old. He has some mental issues, but I really do love him! It was interesting. At one point during the lesson in Priesthood Quorum Ramses was apparently feeling the Spirit because he got up and randomly yelled “Praise Jesus!” I don’t think he got quite the reaction he was used to because he has a P.K. background.
On a more personal note, I’m still learning lots about the scriptures, I had not idea how much I would learn. I’m also learning how to work with difficult personalities and about being personable. I’m so grateful for this time to search and in so doing better myself
My companionship is leading the district in our personal goal numbers – it makes me feel good to work hard and to not abuse the trust that our mission president has put in me and also the success the Lord has sent our way. I feel very blessed – thank you for your support!
A few notes:
Mom, thank you for the pillowcase – I love it! Here are some answers to your questions:
1. The weather is crazy! It is very hot and yet very wet also. Today was an especially odd day with very strange winds and many trees that blew over!
2. The Netherlands lost the cup – yes – but they haven’t been in the finals for 37 years!
3. For my birthday…maybe a tie! Some pictures of family.
4. The food is still buttery and a lot of sandwiches, but I think my body is getting used to it.
5. I am learning a lot from my companionship and I am grateful to be working with him.
6. Please thank Ian for his crazy eagle story!
7. One of our investigators is close to baptism; he has a problem with smoking and ‘blow’ cocaine and we are working that through.
Thanks mom for your last remarks about your testimony and your prayers on my behalf. I am so grateful to you and dad for pushing me to be the best I can – for encouraging me to go on a mission; I really am so grateful.
I love you all so much~!
Ryan
Saturday, June 19, 2010
testimony of companioship unity~!
6-7-2010
Dear Family and friends,
I decided to start copying some things out of my journal and sending that with a little note – this will save me on time and I can still let you know what is going on. One of the missionaries told me about this. On Sunday we brought the sacrament to two members, then we went finding for the rest of the day – it was a terrible day for finding. I have no idea why. We did, at least plant some seeds. Some odd things happened: a lady who lost her teeth, but wears a metal bar device fell off her chair and stumbled out of church as if she had been drinking. She has many physically challenging limitations, but she is often so very happy! Later, toward the end of Sacrament meeting an autistic boy in the ward got up and after mumbling a few words, very quietly, and then yelled “BBBBOOOOO” very loudly into the microphone, leaving us all temporarily deaf.
Guedo Arts, the elder in the ward who practically owns the wards invited us for dinner! That was exciting. He teaches gospel doctrine and I am intimidated. Well, that was a wrap for that day.
The following Sunday was solid in that we had stake conference and we went to Belgium and listened to Brother Bednar and Brother Packer speak to us. Brother Bednar addressed us with thought, or rather council, from the Lord on how we often don’t know how much something we do can affects those around us and then he told a story that involved Brother Packer. Brother Packer then finished the story and had some similar thoughts. It was a great stake conference! Haary, the old Dutch man who helps us so much, took us to the conference and we were packed in with two others, but we made it. We had a member referral to follow up on and had a very friendly conversation with this person.
My comp and I have been going to the centrum – shopping center- to find people. We don’t always have a lot of success, but we are still trying. We also went to the older sisters’ houses, and the one sister who never comes to church. She actually is the lady who gave us the old juice the other day. Holy Cow! She is a character. She really is just a bully – bottom line. She called us asking to have us over to answer some questions she had while studying the scriptures and she is essentially inactive so we went. We knock on the door and she then tells Haary (our member helper) that she needs to go grocery shopping and that he will take her and that we need to break this pile of sticks she had in the backyard while they are shopping. I am not suicidal, but I did question her and asked her about the scripture study and she flipped out! She got right up in my face – eyes ablaze, spit flying everywhere – I don’t even remember what she said………………………….we broke sticks. She ended up buying us some food and we did (bible bash almost) talk over the scriptures, very interesting appointment!! I am very scared of her!!!!!
We did go over Stephan’s house and he has a 1 year old. He is begging for religion for his family. He is pretty promising, we will see. We shared the Book of Mormon and taught the Plan of Salvation as his father just died. A great day!!!
I will have more for you soon, but I will share with you that I know the Lord loves us I have such a strong testimony of companionship unity. My current comp and I were not on the same page for some reason and our day was not clicking. So right there in the town square I told him that I felt that we needed to have a ‘heart to heart’ so that we could get the Spirit back together with us. We did and it completely turned our day around. It was amazing!!
I love you all,
Elder Leash
Dear Family and friends,
I decided to start copying some things out of my journal and sending that with a little note – this will save me on time and I can still let you know what is going on. One of the missionaries told me about this. On Sunday we brought the sacrament to two members, then we went finding for the rest of the day – it was a terrible day for finding. I have no idea why. We did, at least plant some seeds. Some odd things happened: a lady who lost her teeth, but wears a metal bar device fell off her chair and stumbled out of church as if she had been drinking. She has many physically challenging limitations, but she is often so very happy! Later, toward the end of Sacrament meeting an autistic boy in the ward got up and after mumbling a few words, very quietly, and then yelled “BBBBOOOOO” very loudly into the microphone, leaving us all temporarily deaf.
Guedo Arts, the elder in the ward who practically owns the wards invited us for dinner! That was exciting. He teaches gospel doctrine and I am intimidated. Well, that was a wrap for that day.
The following Sunday was solid in that we had stake conference and we went to Belgium and listened to Brother Bednar and Brother Packer speak to us. Brother Bednar addressed us with thought, or rather council, from the Lord on how we often don’t know how much something we do can affects those around us and then he told a story that involved Brother Packer. Brother Packer then finished the story and had some similar thoughts. It was a great stake conference! Haary, the old Dutch man who helps us so much, took us to the conference and we were packed in with two others, but we made it. We had a member referral to follow up on and had a very friendly conversation with this person.
My comp and I have been going to the centrum – shopping center- to find people. We don’t always have a lot of success, but we are still trying. We also went to the older sisters’ houses, and the one sister who never comes to church. She actually is the lady who gave us the old juice the other day. Holy Cow! She is a character. She really is just a bully – bottom line. She called us asking to have us over to answer some questions she had while studying the scriptures and she is essentially inactive so we went. We knock on the door and she then tells Haary (our member helper) that she needs to go grocery shopping and that he will take her and that we need to break this pile of sticks she had in the backyard while they are shopping. I am not suicidal, but I did question her and asked her about the scripture study and she flipped out! She got right up in my face – eyes ablaze, spit flying everywhere – I don’t even remember what she said………………………….we broke sticks. She ended up buying us some food and we did (bible bash almost) talk over the scriptures, very interesting appointment!! I am very scared of her!!!!!
We did go over Stephan’s house and he has a 1 year old. He is begging for religion for his family. He is pretty promising, we will see. We shared the Book of Mormon and taught the Plan of Salvation as his father just died. A great day!!!
I will have more for you soon, but I will share with you that I know the Lord loves us I have such a strong testimony of companionship unity. My current comp and I were not on the same page for some reason and our day was not clicking. So right there in the town square I told him that I felt that we needed to have a ‘heart to heart’ so that we could get the Spirit back together with us. We did and it completely turned our day around. It was amazing!!
I love you all,
Elder Leash
Saturday, June 12, 2010
June 3, 2010
June 3, 2010
To everyone who loves me~!
I love it when you tell me about the talks at church mom! It sounds like you get a ton out of them. And two sacrament meetings; mom must really miss Cottage Park ward!
Notes of interest:
I can’t get used to the raw fish here…I could only get one bite down – the texture is just too slimy!
Our bishop is from Australia and he is a really nice guy! He served a mission in Indonesia, so he is a big help as far as missionary work. We are over at his place for dinner this upcoming Monday. Yes, our investigator from Kenya DOES want to get baptized…yippee!
Let me say again that I love my area, Eindhoven. The longer I get to stay here the better! My companion that is leaving the mission will soon come by with his parents and I look forward to that!
We have worked really hard this week! This area is doing o.k. work wise but we are trying to turn it wound. It’s actually the 5th largest city in Holland, I had no idea! A random fact you want to save mom from; Eindhoven has the most crime out of any other city in Holland, more than Amsterdam – go figure. Anyhow we love working hard her and I love being a missionary and simply helping people, it’s an amazing call!
I love you lots!
Elder Leash
To everyone who loves me~!
I love it when you tell me about the talks at church mom! It sounds like you get a ton out of them. And two sacrament meetings; mom must really miss Cottage Park ward!
Notes of interest:
I can’t get used to the raw fish here…I could only get one bite down – the texture is just too slimy!
Our bishop is from Australia and he is a really nice guy! He served a mission in Indonesia, so he is a big help as far as missionary work. We are over at his place for dinner this upcoming Monday. Yes, our investigator from Kenya DOES want to get baptized…yippee!
Let me say again that I love my area, Eindhoven. The longer I get to stay here the better! My companion that is leaving the mission will soon come by with his parents and I look forward to that!
We have worked really hard this week! This area is doing o.k. work wise but we are trying to turn it wound. It’s actually the 5th largest city in Holland, I had no idea! A random fact you want to save mom from; Eindhoven has the most crime out of any other city in Holland, more than Amsterdam – go figure. Anyhow we love working hard her and I love being a missionary and simply helping people, it’s an amazing call!
I love you lots!
Elder Leash
Sunday, June 6, 2010
drinking mold spore/juice concoction
5-19-10
Dear everybody,
Things are very good. Yesterday was our district meeting, after which we went on exchanges – I stayed in Eindhoven with a new comp. and it went really well; I felt like I was about to get a confidence boost out of it because I was the one calling the shots and taking charge. It was really fun!
We went and did some service for an older lady in the ward. This went great right up until I saw the expiration date on some juice that Elder Brockbank had just drank. He felt kind of sick for a while as we finished up the project she had us on but soon felt fine. As we had finished we were about to leave and she stopped us and insisted that we come in and have some “tootjes” – sweets l.o.l. We went back in and Elder B., Henry, myself and the elderly lady all pilled into her tiny kitchen, at which point she pulled out ‘you know what’. I figured “no problem”, I’d just have to shake some down, but then she served us our three big glasses of juice and I noticed bits and chunks of mold floating in mine…eeewww I couldn’t fo it, so I motioned for Elder B to dump ‘em while I distracted her, so I told Zuster Lusdt that I needed to use the bathroom but that I thought she was out of toilet paper. Upon arriving in the bathroom we saw a whole role – at which point, for some reason, she got really upset.
It all worked out though when we got back into the kitchen our glasses were empty and I suddenly remembered an appointment we were almost late for before she could refill our glasses or pull something else out of her ancient food storage. Luckily none of us had to get our stomache pumped and we made it in one place.
Later that day we had an amazing day on the doors of the college campus. We knocked at maybe 15 doors or so and we had some great talks and then some numbers and follow ups. I felt so blessed. The work is good; I LOVE my mission!
5-22-10
The day before yesterday I gave my first blessing. An investigator of ours from Kenya named Caroline told us during an appointment that she needs surgery – though we did not get details about that, but she was very emotional about that. In any case, we sang some African hymns to try to confort her and shared some scriptures and then gave her a blessing. It was a last minute and I didn’t expect it at all so I know that the words I spoke come from Heavenly Father; I certainly didn’t have any time to think of words before hand, which was good. It was a warm experience for both of us, Caroline and I, because obviously she was receiving a blessing and I was exercising my priesthood. I felt the Spirit strongly and I know she did too because she was crying when we had finished. I just thought I would share that with you. I’m still good, fat and happy preaching the good word.
5-24-10
This morning was transfers. It was a big surprise and neither my companion or I expected; Elder Stringham is going to Amertart and I have a really young elder that noone knows about. I hear he has red hair and is very skinny – this is the big news. I received a wonderful letter from Grandma Thack yesterday. It was great to hear from her.
Here are some random factoids about life in Holland/Belgium:
-butter is spread on everything!
-lots of fatty foods.
-drink juice with everything and get offended if you don’t drink it.
-insane drivers
-hair styles are crazy.
-if your house stands alone without being attached to another, you are well off.
-everybody talks and thinks in a literal way.
-nobody is afraid to hurt somebody’s feelings.
-racial diversity
-small cars
-love their sweets
-beautiful architecture
-million ways to say goodbye and go through them each time you say goodbye
-lots of tulips
-rabbits in place of squirrels
5-27-10
Great news!!!! Yesterday was the first day with my new companion. We went to say hi to Caroline the investigator – our lady from Kenya. We shared the story of Paul and receiving those baptisms and then we felt the Spirit and asked Caroline to get baptized. She agreed! Words cannot describe how estatic we were. We actually got the first baptism date of the mission for this transfer. This was a real gift!
We are going to get a lot done here, and I will have more good news for you really soon.
To all, I love you very much! Same address, don’t be afraid to write!
Or email:
Love,
Elder Ryan Leash
Kluizenstraat 13
5641 HE Eindhoven
Netherlands
Dear everybody,
Things are very good. Yesterday was our district meeting, after which we went on exchanges – I stayed in Eindhoven with a new comp. and it went really well; I felt like I was about to get a confidence boost out of it because I was the one calling the shots and taking charge. It was really fun!
We went and did some service for an older lady in the ward. This went great right up until I saw the expiration date on some juice that Elder Brockbank had just drank. He felt kind of sick for a while as we finished up the project she had us on but soon felt fine. As we had finished we were about to leave and she stopped us and insisted that we come in and have some “tootjes” – sweets l.o.l. We went back in and Elder B., Henry, myself and the elderly lady all pilled into her tiny kitchen, at which point she pulled out ‘you know what’. I figured “no problem”, I’d just have to shake some down, but then she served us our three big glasses of juice and I noticed bits and chunks of mold floating in mine…eeewww I couldn’t fo it, so I motioned for Elder B to dump ‘em while I distracted her, so I told Zuster Lusdt that I needed to use the bathroom but that I thought she was out of toilet paper. Upon arriving in the bathroom we saw a whole role – at which point, for some reason, she got really upset.
It all worked out though when we got back into the kitchen our glasses were empty and I suddenly remembered an appointment we were almost late for before she could refill our glasses or pull something else out of her ancient food storage. Luckily none of us had to get our stomache pumped and we made it in one place.
Later that day we had an amazing day on the doors of the college campus. We knocked at maybe 15 doors or so and we had some great talks and then some numbers and follow ups. I felt so blessed. The work is good; I LOVE my mission!
5-22-10
The day before yesterday I gave my first blessing. An investigator of ours from Kenya named Caroline told us during an appointment that she needs surgery – though we did not get details about that, but she was very emotional about that. In any case, we sang some African hymns to try to confort her and shared some scriptures and then gave her a blessing. It was a last minute and I didn’t expect it at all so I know that the words I spoke come from Heavenly Father; I certainly didn’t have any time to think of words before hand, which was good. It was a warm experience for both of us, Caroline and I, because obviously she was receiving a blessing and I was exercising my priesthood. I felt the Spirit strongly and I know she did too because she was crying when we had finished. I just thought I would share that with you. I’m still good, fat and happy preaching the good word.
5-24-10
This morning was transfers. It was a big surprise and neither my companion or I expected; Elder Stringham is going to Amertart and I have a really young elder that noone knows about. I hear he has red hair and is very skinny – this is the big news. I received a wonderful letter from Grandma Thack yesterday. It was great to hear from her.
Here are some random factoids about life in Holland/Belgium:
-butter is spread on everything!
-lots of fatty foods.
-drink juice with everything and get offended if you don’t drink it.
-insane drivers
-hair styles are crazy.
-if your house stands alone without being attached to another, you are well off.
-everybody talks and thinks in a literal way.
-nobody is afraid to hurt somebody’s feelings.
-racial diversity
-small cars
-love their sweets
-beautiful architecture
-million ways to say goodbye and go through them each time you say goodbye
-lots of tulips
-rabbits in place of squirrels
5-27-10
Great news!!!! Yesterday was the first day with my new companion. We went to say hi to Caroline the investigator – our lady from Kenya. We shared the story of Paul and receiving those baptisms and then we felt the Spirit and asked Caroline to get baptized. She agreed! Words cannot describe how estatic we were. We actually got the first baptism date of the mission for this transfer. This was a real gift!
We are going to get a lot done here, and I will have more good news for you really soon.
To all, I love you very much! Same address, don’t be afraid to write!
Or email:
Love,
Elder Ryan Leash
Kluizenstraat 13
5641 HE Eindhoven
Netherlands
Monday, May 24, 2010
May 17, 2010
May 17, 2010
Dear Everyone,
How is everyone? Life here was crazy earlier on this week, my companion enjoyed it, but things are still pretty new so it was not my favorite week, but with zone conference and zone p-day back to back…I did get to know a lot of the people in my district! Zone conference was very cool because we had the departing missionaries bare their testimonies and it was moving to see how much their mission meant to them and how much it has helped them grow and mature and how they have been able to help other; a real testimony booster for me and the work I’m doing to be sure! Well, after our craziness earlier in the week, we came back Thursday and we did our weekly planning that we didn’t have time for earlier in the week and while we were planning my companion and I baked some chocolate chunk banana bread for some of the ward members who help us a lot. We made three loafs, but somehow only two made it out to the ward....lol. We had ward conference yesterday and the stake pres came, of course. It was very nice because while I was on splits in Brada, I actually had dinner with our stake pres. and after dinner we went to a memorial service for those who died in WWII - he insisted we go to, so in any case, I got to know him and his family pretty well!
What else....... I chopped off all of my hair yesterday (myself and pretty much butchered it lol) and I have been packing on the pounds also so know I don’t have to worry about keeping the girls away! But don’t worry mom I’m still healthy! Oh and warm too! Don’t worry :) Well, transfers are in about a week and I’m starting to get a little nervous just because I love this area! I love my comp too; - we are getting along great :) As far as work goes it was a little slow to start out with just because of the crazy schedule, but we came back and been making some amazing strides with an investigator of ours from Kenya. Her name is Caroline and we have gone through the Restoration and the BOM with no real issues which I feel is a miracle in and of itself, but she also reads the assignments we give her and she is really sweet; I always look forward to our appointments with her!
Today we are out on our bikes because Haary is taking a much needed day off (at age 80) and so we are on bike:/ lol this wouldn’t be as much of a bummer if it wasn’t hailing out lol so I got all decked out with a sweater and my rain slickers and regretted it not 5 minutes later just because of all the layers I had on I started sweating like crazy and it was a really gross feeling and anyway, in sum..........I love missionary work! I can’t believe I am already coming to the close of my first transfer! Where did that month and a half go?! aah!
We have been doing much service lately just because it is that time of year, so lots of yard work etc. We also have been getting a lot of blessing too which I feel so privileged to take part in! Its funny because I was just talking to my companion the other day; I definitely feel the spirit while we give blessings, but often after those we have given a blessing to have been crying, and just seemed overwhelmed by the spirit and my comp and I have come to the conclusion that because we are doing what we are supposed to and because of the calling we carry we almost always have the spirit with us -- what a blessing! Yes, things are good here :) I’m alive and well or rather fat and happy ha-ha (really immersing myself in the culture ;) and I can’t complain! I love you and miss you lots! Please write!
Elder Leash (Ryan)
Dear Everyone,
How is everyone? Life here was crazy earlier on this week, my companion enjoyed it, but things are still pretty new so it was not my favorite week, but with zone conference and zone p-day back to back…I did get to know a lot of the people in my district! Zone conference was very cool because we had the departing missionaries bare their testimonies and it was moving to see how much their mission meant to them and how much it has helped them grow and mature and how they have been able to help other; a real testimony booster for me and the work I’m doing to be sure! Well, after our craziness earlier in the week, we came back Thursday and we did our weekly planning that we didn’t have time for earlier in the week and while we were planning my companion and I baked some chocolate chunk banana bread for some of the ward members who help us a lot. We made three loafs, but somehow only two made it out to the ward....lol. We had ward conference yesterday and the stake pres came, of course. It was very nice because while I was on splits in Brada, I actually had dinner with our stake pres. and after dinner we went to a memorial service for those who died in WWII - he insisted we go to, so in any case, I got to know him and his family pretty well!
What else....... I chopped off all of my hair yesterday (myself and pretty much butchered it lol) and I have been packing on the pounds also so know I don’t have to worry about keeping the girls away! But don’t worry mom I’m still healthy! Oh and warm too! Don’t worry :) Well, transfers are in about a week and I’m starting to get a little nervous just because I love this area! I love my comp too; - we are getting along great :) As far as work goes it was a little slow to start out with just because of the crazy schedule, but we came back and been making some amazing strides with an investigator of ours from Kenya. Her name is Caroline and we have gone through the Restoration and the BOM with no real issues which I feel is a miracle in and of itself, but she also reads the assignments we give her and she is really sweet; I always look forward to our appointments with her!
Today we are out on our bikes because Haary is taking a much needed day off (at age 80) and so we are on bike:/ lol this wouldn’t be as much of a bummer if it wasn’t hailing out lol so I got all decked out with a sweater and my rain slickers and regretted it not 5 minutes later just because of all the layers I had on I started sweating like crazy and it was a really gross feeling and anyway, in sum..........I love missionary work! I can’t believe I am already coming to the close of my first transfer! Where did that month and a half go?! aah!
We have been doing much service lately just because it is that time of year, so lots of yard work etc. We also have been getting a lot of blessing too which I feel so privileged to take part in! Its funny because I was just talking to my companion the other day; I definitely feel the spirit while we give blessings, but often after those we have given a blessing to have been crying, and just seemed overwhelmed by the spirit and my comp and I have come to the conclusion that because we are doing what we are supposed to and because of the calling we carry we almost always have the spirit with us -- what a blessing! Yes, things are good here :) I’m alive and well or rather fat and happy ha-ha (really immersing myself in the culture ;) and I can’t complain! I love you and miss you lots! Please write!
Elder Leash (Ryan)
May 24, 2010
Dear everybody,
I haven’t read your emails to me yet just because i want to make sure I have a little bit of time to fill you in on what is going this week. Well, lots to fill you in on! I’ll just touch on them briefly because I have a letter headed to you as we speak that will give more details BUT today was transfers and I am taking over Eindhoven and another elder is coming here; I can’t remember the name at the moment, but he is apparently a hard worker, but a very young elder also :/ lol we are in for a lot of learning and growth this transfer! Both of us -- he has only been in the land 4 transfers!
I always get so stressed when I have email time lol the question mark is not working for some reason. Today we had a ward picnic and we had a lot of fun! It was really good for me to develop more rapport with the ward and we also got to play a lot of games including my first go at rugby! I had a blast! Oh, another thing that happened that you will hear more about in my letter is a blessing I was able to give to an investigator of ours! That was a first for me and I felt really privileged to be able to give it, a great experience!!! I am very excited for my new companion, of course im going to miss Elder Stringhambut it will be good to be able to get more experience of my own and kind of step out of his shadow so to speak. This week is going to be very busy! My comp Stringham is still District leader and we have to go do some interviews in Heerenfein tomorrow and then we have a lot of appointments with the ward and investigators to say goodbye and what not so we will be VERY busy tomorrow and then Wednesday is transfers and Elder Kettler that is his name - he will come down here and we will get to know etc and then we have a few appointments already for the rest of the week also :)!!! Busy is good!!! Did you get my email last week or any of my emails for that matter....? How about my letters have you been getting any.......? Well in any case, all is great here and let me know if you are getting my emails etc!!! I love you very much,
Ryan
MOM DAD BOO BOO,
Mom can you try remember to put stuff up on the blog, I know it’s a lot to ask but it helps A LOT and I would appreciate it very much!!!! Did you get those pics I sent you......? Please that would be a huge help!!!! Well you have a letter coming your way also so just know that and that I love you and anything you can put up on the blog would be great! Love you three very very much and pray for you every night!
Love,
Ryan
I haven’t read your emails to me yet just because i want to make sure I have a little bit of time to fill you in on what is going this week. Well, lots to fill you in on! I’ll just touch on them briefly because I have a letter headed to you as we speak that will give more details BUT today was transfers and I am taking over Eindhoven and another elder is coming here; I can’t remember the name at the moment, but he is apparently a hard worker, but a very young elder also :/ lol we are in for a lot of learning and growth this transfer! Both of us -- he has only been in the land 4 transfers!
I always get so stressed when I have email time lol the question mark is not working for some reason. Today we had a ward picnic and we had a lot of fun! It was really good for me to develop more rapport with the ward and we also got to play a lot of games including my first go at rugby! I had a blast! Oh, another thing that happened that you will hear more about in my letter is a blessing I was able to give to an investigator of ours! That was a first for me and I felt really privileged to be able to give it, a great experience!!! I am very excited for my new companion, of course im going to miss Elder Stringhambut it will be good to be able to get more experience of my own and kind of step out of his shadow so to speak. This week is going to be very busy! My comp Stringham is still District leader and we have to go do some interviews in Heerenfein tomorrow and then we have a lot of appointments with the ward and investigators to say goodbye and what not so we will be VERY busy tomorrow and then Wednesday is transfers and Elder Kettler that is his name - he will come down here and we will get to know etc and then we have a few appointments already for the rest of the week also :)!!! Busy is good!!! Did you get my email last week or any of my emails for that matter....? How about my letters have you been getting any.......? Well in any case, all is great here and let me know if you are getting my emails etc!!! I love you very much,
Ryan
MOM DAD BOO BOO,
Mom can you try remember to put stuff up on the blog, I know it’s a lot to ask but it helps A LOT and I would appreciate it very much!!!! Did you get those pics I sent you......? Please that would be a huge help!!!! Well you have a letter coming your way also so just know that and that I love you and anything you can put up on the blog would be great! Love you three very very much and pray for you every night!
Love,
Ryan
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