April 22, 2010

Dear family and friends,

I’ve been in this country for ten days now. I really like the Netherlands and feel as if I have been in a daze for five of the ten days due to the jet lag. It is slowly getting much better. Upon getting to this country, we just jumped right into the work! The day of and until the next morning we were able to spend time with the mission president and his wife which was great. We did some quick paperwork, had dinner and went to a popular square out in Brussels, Belgium where we did some tracting! The architecture was just gorgeous. Most of the people I spoke with spoke in English just because it is a big tourist spot, but I caught a lot of French and that day I only spoke Dutch once. This first area is basically all Dutch though.

This area is called Eindehoven; a relatively big city – it is called the City of Lights. This city is built around the Phillips factory that was started here and it employs a lot of the city. Our area is quite big – it goes all the way out to Germany and all the way out to Belgium. It is fairly modern as it was burned down during WWII and they decided to rebuild it, and as a result we have seen some very interesting architecture; it’s fun though.

The flowers are in bloom; its awesome! They have tulips all over the place here! I love it and I love Brussels. Tomorrow I will be back in Belgium on an exchange with the elders near Antwerpen. I will be able to see a little more of the country, but more importantly I will be able to meet some new people and share some very good and important news!

The weather is amazing here! It is very much on and off for the first half of the day. It will be overcast and dark, but it will clear up and turn out to be beautiful the next day!

I really lucked out on my trainer. He is very nice and easy going. He is hard working and I learn a lot from him. I love out ward too! We have about 100 members or so and maybe 75 at church each Sunday – maybe a little less but they are all really sweet and welcoming people. They called me up on Sunday and I had to introduce myself and bare my testimony. It was a little stressful though because I had to do it in another language. They seemed to understand and that was success in my book.

By the time you see me I may be a fat boy – they do eat some fatty foods here …oh well that’s o.k. small price to pay.

As for the work: there is a decent sized centrum or mall basically and we do a lot of our finding there which is fun. This week we have been really blessed! We have three progressing investigators and others with a lot of potential. Of the P.I.’s we found an Asian family that has been really receptive and we are going back tomorrow when they will be cooking us some authentic Asian food! The have two children – 5 and 9 yr. old sons. Another P.I. that we found who seems to be really excited about the gospel is Woter. He is 21 and a really nice guy. I’m excited to see what happens with him! I also contacted another guy while on the bus day before yesterday. It was really a boost for me. We ended up having a great discussion and I ended up teaching him the first discussion and he was really excited about it. He understood my Dutch and things were great, and then he gets up to get off the bus and I realized I didn’t not get that contact info. I am determined to find him again…

I love getting letters and I miss and love you all!!

Elder Leash

Ryan's first letter from the mission field

April 19, 2010

Dear everybody,

I am really missing Dear Elder now, but its good to be able now to focus more!
The flight was good, but the jet lag - terrible lol. I’m still really feeling it, but I’m hoping it will pass here soon! My trainer, he is great! His name is Elder Stringham and he is from Utah . He has two transfers left so there is a good chance that I will send him home, but even though he is about to head home he is not trunkie at all! We are working hard, it is great! I think you would like him a lot! He is really nice and very laid back guy that just takes things as they come. I’m learning lots from him!

My mission president is great! He and his wife were very nice with us. When we got here they took us out to eat, went tracting with us and it was gorgeous everywhere we went! Some of the most beautiful architexture I’ve ever seen and I met a lot of great people! It was wonderful. I can’t really remember much of the first few days just because I was half asleep lol, but I’m beginning to acclimate now!

I think the Brubakers are French though I am not sure, they were serving in France when they were called to be Mission Pres so I know that they at least speak French! I love the country and people here and I KNOW that I will love it even more when I can communicate and understand things more fluidly lol, but I have to get going for now! Well I love you all and I will send a letter later today, hopefully filling you in a bit more -till then much love.

Elder Leash

My address:
Kluizenaarstraat 13
1516 HE Eindhoven, Netherlands

Leaving for Holland - April 12th, 2010

Hello Everyone!

This is where letters will find me after this coming Monday:

Elder Leash
Mission Home Address:87, boulevard Brand Whitlock1200 Brussels, Belgium Belgium General Phone: 027-369933


It is conference weekend! How great is it that I’m able to get to listen to conference here at the MTC? I’m very excited about it! I listened to the tape you had, no offense but the messages from Amy’s kids were the best! Danielle’s piano playing was also noteworthy.

I have to say that all the candy and food here in the cafeteria, combined with sitting on my bum all day is really started to get to me – I am feeling like a real blimp. I have my flight plans! I will be leaving for Belgium this Monday – my first area with probably be in the Netherlands because they speak Flemish in Belgium and they don’t want us to have a curve ball thrown at us for our first area.

Mom, did you like Julie Beck’s talk in the first session? I thought it was really funny how she essentially said to the women of the church to ‘buck up’ and stop being pampered! That was a real tickler. How about Brother Ballard’s talk? I know that talk didn’t just apply to the mother-daughter relationship and you were a great example to me.

It seems that all the talks were directed to family and influences in the home! There was a lot of wonderful advice (Brother Bednar’s among others) on that topic! I hope you were all able to see all the sessions!

I would have to say that my favorite talk would have to be Brother Eyring’s talk – you can feel from his words how strong and fervent his testimony is. He does really care about what he is teaching us. Brother Holland is always a great speaker, great sense of humor that doesn’t hurt.

Did you catch how President Monson said that this session was probably the best conferences to his talk he has ever attended? Wow, he isn’t a young guy either l.o.l.he has seen a few. The talk I needed the most was Brother Uchtdorf’s talk on patience. This is an attribute that I need to develop more of – I will start with his wise counsel. Anyway, I could go on and on about conference.

Thanks to everyone for letting me know you have been thinking of me! It is nice to know that I’m remembered and loved back home. I love you too!
Easter Sunday was great! Mostly because of conference, but your package was also great too. I’m jealous of Easter dinner at Grandma Rougher’s! I love her sweet potatoes. Four months to go for Megan …that’s exciting!
I’m really sad to hear about Uncle Mike’s fish Scrappy. That’s tough. Oh, I forgot I really appreciated Pres. Uchdorf’s talk and President Monson’s story about the young boy who had a brother going on a mission and how ‘they were both on their way to serve the Lord’. This made me cry!
Yes! Brother Rasband did give a very interesting talk as far as extending mission calls! Just another great affirmation to the importance and truthfulness of this work that I’m in!
It is definitely not easy, but worth it.

Here are a few items of importance:

I leave April 12.
I will call on Mother’s Day! Something to look forward to! I can’t wait!
I’m warm enough, don’t worry!
I’m healthy as a horse.
I’m getting mail.
You can keep me in your prayers – keep sending me letters and telling me you love me, you can give dad and Danielle a hug for me; dad give mom a hug for me!
I love you so much! I hope to hear from you soon! @

One week to send off!!!!

March 31, 2010

Hello everyone,

Our district is doing well; actually we are all in pretty good spirits! The new Dutch district came in day before yesterday so we are grateful for the company, but we feel good in looking at them and seeing how far we have come.

Mom, you have to tell Sister Ellis (Lyn) how sweet she is; I really appreciate her letters! So, I’m guessing Uncle Chris said is going to climb Mount Shasta??? Well, I hope he is tough enough (not everyone can be like dad and I). The climb is definitely not for the ‘faint at heart.’
As far as responsibilities in the MTC – they made me senior comp right away, but nothing since them. We do have service responsibilities every week; last night I was asked to be an usher for the devotional which actually entailed standing around for about an hour so I am getting off pretty easy. I’m grateful for it because it gives me or allows me to focus more on the language for now. We will see what happens when I get out in the field.

Thanks for the thoughts on the Lord’s tender mercies – an introspective view on how the Lord blesses your life always – this makes me feel so optimistic and happy! Thanks dad.

Danielle, you are fortunate to have mom and dad and the traditions they have in the home for us. I hope you can remember to count your blessings often!!! I like the part in your letter when you refer to “a cute new guy in the ward…BUT he hasn’t been coming to church every week so that automatically scratches him off the list.” This gave me the biggest smile! Good decision Danielle. I am glad to hear that you miss our “bonding sessions”. Love you tons.

Mom, thanks for the missionary articles that remind me to think about how I view my mission. I know it is a privilege to help the Lord and His purposes and to fulfill my own. I enjoyed the second message as well. I realize I have an amazing message to share; I’m learning how to share and serve in the MTC. I look forward to getting out in the field to share this. Thanks for including the things you learned from Lauri’s talk – I’m happy that it had such a good effect on you. Passing notes back and forth with Denise on the other hand….I don’t know mom. L.O.L.
I’m sure your perm looks good. I love the fact that you are making it a Sunday tradition to have Ian over! It sounds like things are going really well – new R.S. calling, weekly bike rides, all awesome! Good luck on your one week B.O.M. athon goes – trying to read it in one week sounds challenging, but doable. That’s awesome!!!!!!
Thanks for the Chia and chocolate chip cookies.

I love you,

Elder Leash

Musings from the MTC

March 24, 2010

Dear Family,

Mom – thank you for keeping up the blog…it is so helpful, and is keeps everyone updated on the ‘goings on. Things are going really well, it is becoming second nature to say how I am doing in Dutch now. I feel good about everything as a whole. To answer your questions about what I might need – ties would be o.k., but you don’t have to send any of the ‘CTR’ ties or bookstore ties in general as you usually do..l.o.l.

I get up at 6:15 every day, go to the gym, shower and to breakfast. It is a beautiful day, and we are going on another English fast, which is where we have to speak our new language, no English. These days are usually very quiet days. I must say that I love our schedule. I thrive on organization and planning.

Mom, yes the sisters are very nice! My comp and one of the sisters are a little too friendly at times, at least in my opinion. We don’t hear from the MTC president much, although he seems to be a nice guy. I am very impressed with our Branch President, President Laugherty. He has such a great spirit about him! He makes me really want to be a better person! The other day he pulled me aside; he didn’t say anything extremely profound - it was more feeling behind it! He said, “Elder Leash, I just want you to know how much I appreciate you; you always have a good spirit about you and all in your district testify to your diligence…you are a good young man.” Again not so much the words, but the sincerity behind it that meant so much to me; this makes me want to be a better man! You don’t have to put this in my blog.

The devotional last night was great as usual. Brother Robbins of the 70 spoke. Here are some things that stood out to me:
-anything we do for the Lord will be paid back tenfold – not a sacrifice, but an investment.
-fight fear with faith and love
-you can’t gain a testimony through the five senses,
-you obtain a testimony by doing!!
These were the highlights – my p-day is coming to a close…I will write after laundry, my work out at the gym, my spiritual work out with the scriptures…and then the temple (best part of my p-day) I love you.
Later,
Another devotional I was going to tell you about…our Director of Training at the MTC spoke – Brother Mark Jarmin. He and his wife gave us general missionary advice; his wife also spoke. He had some great insights. Here are the bullets points that stood out:
-forget yourself and go to work (classic advice, but key)
-commit 100%, I thought of this as not having one foot in the world and one foot in the work; I don’t need to keep track of who is in the world.
**the submission of oneself is all we have to give! Everything else in not ours to give!
-work, give time…I like this one a lot.
-mighty prayer – usually comes from trials – it cleanses the soul!
Mighty prayer=pouring out your whole heart to the Lord, baring your soul and pleading with the Lord!
It was a great talk!

Oh, you talked in your letter about blessings we do receive every day. I know we all take them for granted. Something that I’ve started that I’m going to try to make a habit of is in my journal, every night, writing/listing the blessings that I have received that day. I read a talk about this recently – I think it was Brother Bednar who referred to these blessings as the Lord’s tender mercies, this seems really fitting – to think of blessings as the Lord’s tender mercies.

Mom, Dad and Danielle – I love you three so very much and I just wanted you to know that! We are in the Lord’s course which is one eternal round that we are in together. I take great comfort in that thought.

I love you all very much!

Elder Leash

March 16, 2010

Dear everyone,

I am glad that you are enjoying my letters because your letters are definitely the highlight - the ‘top ten’highlights of my day! I know that the Lord is hearing your prayers on my behalf and I am thankful for that. I am very thankful for them!
I am really excited to be leaving for Holland in one month. I will be getting my flight plans soon so that is soo exciting.
Thanks for the scriptures and tips you sent on obedience! I can definitely see how important it is, especially in missionary work. I heard an analogy I really liked. Basically that obedience is like a kite – the rules that bind you also set you free and you can fly!~
Dad, thanks for your promise re: the Lamanites and how true growth comes when you think you can’t take any more! I know at times I will hit a brick wall…and then a great devotional comes along or I receive a great letter and I am renewed and things look a lot better.
Speaking of devotionals, last evening was our devotional and we were able to hear Quentin Cook. Most of what he said pertained mainly to missionary work, but I figured I might as well hit the highlights for you.
Sister Cook spoke first. She spoke of her love for music, that the Spirit speaks to her through music! I love this part: she said that she tries to link each Christ-like attribute to a hymn. Like this: Obedience – “I’ll Go Where You Want Me To Go”
Humility “Let The Holy Spirit Guide” and “Be Thou Humble” Patience “Be Still My Soul”

I enjoyed her appreciation of hymns. Each week we try to focus on one Christ like attribute to work on. I plan on picking a hymn each week to hum or think on whenever I can. Music is amazing!

Next, Brother Cook spoke: I thought it was very interesting that he said he had an outline or plan of what he would say, but on arriving he knew he should talk about something else. He had no notes! This meant a lot to me and testified of the fact that his words were an inspiration from Heavenly Father; his words were specifically for us, for me!

He spoke about D&C 112; he said that Pres. Hinckley told him it was his favorite chapter of scriptures! That all the apostles love this chapter (I don’t know about you, but I am definitely going to study it!) He said that in the verses 30-33 it talks about how we are teaching in the last days and this is the last dispensation. This is the time of gathering.

He also told an interesting fact: that he and President Holland served as companions on their mission! Imagine their presence on your doorstep!! Wow!

He gave an amazing talk; I am only hitting the highlights.
He closed and left us with a blessing. He told us of the sacredness of our call and he bore his testimony. In his blessing he said that regardless of what is going on at home, we are where we ought to be. We are blessing our families here and now and soon to come; that this mission will bless me all the days of my life! He spoke of the fact that even as an apostle he has doubts about his call and then said, don’t doubt yourself, I am adequate.
Then, he shared the 6 d’s: Doubt, Discouragement, Distraction, lack of diligence, disobedience and disbelief.

Don’t fall down this path – do not doubt yourself. I am so glad that I was able to have this experience! Wow! I love you everyone and I hope all is well!

Sincerely,
Elder Leash

March 9, 2010

March 4, 2010

Dear mom/family,

I was just reading my scriptures! It seems like the more I learn and read from them the more I realize how much more there is in them. Same thing happens with the language, the more I learn the more I see that I still need to acquire. The scriptures are beginning to give to me soo much more now than I have ever seen in the past…its amazing what is in them! I hope you are all taking advantage of these awesome blessings that I know people members take for granted so often.

Everyone knows about my past life as a body builder. They are asking for a lot of advice about body building. Yes, I am reading the thought book you sent me! Only a page a day though, if I start to read much more I begin to get homesick! Two days ago I read the last few pages and began to cry…if was if front of my roommates and I was extremely embarrassed. There is a lot of insight in it and I love it! Thank you so much, I know you worked hard on it.

I found my favorite missionary scripture. It is D&C 84: 77-88. In verse 77 it says that I need to be Christ’s friend as a missionary – it is a commandment. In 79 is says He sent me out to prove the world. In verse 80 he promises that if I am faithful as a missionary, He will not let me be weary in mind, body, limb, or joint. And that not a hair on my head will not be lost without Him knowing it. I take a lot of comfort from the fact that the Lord is keeping such close tabs on me.

There is an awesome image that I have put in my mind - that goes along with verse 82. I like to think of myself as a lily – growing, not turning to and fro with the ways of the world. Glorious in testimony, in the clarity that I need to have.
Verse 85 says that I should not worry or think about what to say and that if I’m faithful the words will be put in my mouth.
Verse 88 I love how this verse reads! Essentially it says that He will be with me protecting me; so not to worry mom – Heavenly Father and his angels are my bodyguards!

I am so grateful for my district – I honestly think that we are at least in the top 10 most unified district here at the MTC. I was really blessed with them all!
We had devotional earlier in the evening. It was Bruce Hafen of the 70. I received some great analogies and insight from him. Something that pertains to you all are two things he said would increase kids/teens changes of staying active and getting married in the temple; those being:
Marriage of parents in the temple 2) Parents who have a testimony

Way to go mom and dad! Boo Boo I hope you know that mom and dad have a testimony! I know they do! You ought to ask to hear it sometime. Here are some other gems: these are things about testimony: the pre-requisites for a testimony are: desire and worthiness. The analogy is of a stool. The reason are the one leg to hold it up. The experience is the other and feelings are the last leg of the stool. For a testimony, we need to find or have a reason to have a belief or know. The feelings include being receptive to the feelings we get and the experience includes studying it out and pondering on it – to test the truth of it. This analogy can also be applicable to love. If ye have not charity, ye are nothing!

Mom, sometimes I really do miss everyone so much, but I know I’m where I am supposed to be! Please pray for me to learn this language – it is very hard!

Much love,
Elder Leash