Transfer 3 Week 1

I'M NOW IN MY 3RD TRANSFER!
I'm no longer training and EVERYTHING is different! I moved apparments, I'm in a new zone, new companion, new schedule, everything, but I know I have a lot to learn from this transfer! 

My new companion is.... SISTER TURRO from Italy! She speaks Italian, French and Spanish! There is not going to be a whole lot of English tours this transfer I feel, but it will be a great learning experience, we have already taken a Spanish and French tour (and the French guy kissed me three times, I'm not used to the culture and I freaked out a little, but apparently I'll be sued to it by the end of the transfer... haha) and we have an Italian motor coach tomorrow!

Last Wednesday I was able to have dinner with Sister Gibson and Sister Reeve and it was so lovely! It made my week, it was a little piece of home on my mission and it was just wonderful! I have also ran into quiet a few people from home in the past week Vince Meixner and Talissa and Kade Triffit! Little things like this are so incredible! I love seeing people from home. Sometimes (most times) i forget that I'm actually on the other side of the world and I'll have these little moments like "Hold up, I'm actually in Salt Lake City Utah, at Temple Square as a missionary!" It's pretty funny... 

Being summer we have had a lot of anti's come to the square and it's not easy, not because they shake your testimony but because the Spirit just instantly leaves and it's a terrible feeling (seriously awful!). It really happened to me for the first time in the last week and I seriously just wanted to go out the back of the Beehive House and cry because it was such of an awful feeling, but before I had time to even react, Heavenly Father sent on this massive group of EFY youth and it was one of the most spiritually uplifting tours I have every taken! He is so aware! and knows exactly what we need to get back in tune with the spirit and get past those moments. Just this Tuesday, in my personal studies I was up to Alma 30-31 and the spirit told me that I would come across some anti's today and that's why I needed to read these chapters, it was crazy because the Spirit is always right and I certainly came across some anti's. We took the tour and right at the end they attacked! Sister Magidson and I were talking about it later and we explained the feelings we had when we walked out of the Beehive House. At the same place at the same time we felt this wrenching feeling in our hearts to "get out of there" "leave now". We walked around the corner and asked them if they had any questions being the nice missionaries we are and then BAM! They attacked... This was such a strong testimony to me that The Spirit is so loud in such a silent way. And now I truly know how to follow those types of prompting and have since that day. It has been so evident to me lately that Heavenly Father is so aware of me, that He knows what will happen and how I need to be prepared and how I need to be warned and different things. After this happened I remembered what I had read when I had been told that I would come across these types of people and took the time to read Alma 31:30-31 

 "O Lord God, how long wilt thou suffer that such wickedness and infidelity shall be among this people? O Lord, wilt thou give me strength,that I may bear with mine infirmities. For I am infirm, and such wickedness among this people doth pain my soul.
O Lord, my heart is exceedingly sorrowful; wilt thou comfort my soul in Christ. O Lord, wilt thou grant unto me that I may have strength, that Imay suffer with patience these afflictions which shall come upon me, because of the iniquity of this people.
O Lord, wilt thou comfort my soul, and give unto me success, and also my fellow laborers who are with me—yea, Ammon, and Aaron, andOmner, and also Amulek and Zeezrom, and also my two sons—yea, even all these wilt thou comfort, O Lord. Yea, wilt thou comfort theirsouls in Christ.
Wilt thou grant unto them that they may have strength, that they may bear their afflictions which shall come upon them because of theiniquities of this people.
O Lord, wilt thou grant unto us that we may have success in bringing them again unto thee in Christ.
Behold, O Lord, their souls are precious, and many of them are our brethren; therefore, give unto us, O Lord, power and wisdom that we maybring these, our brethren, again unto thee.
Now it came to pass that when Alma had said these words, that he clapped his hands upon all them who were with him. And behold, as heclapped his hands upon them, they were filled with the Holy Spirit.
And after that they did separate themselves one from another, taking no thought for themselves what they should eat, or what they shoulddrink, or what they should put on. And the Lord provided for them that they should hunger not, neither should they thirst; yea, and he also gave them strength, that they shouldsuffer no manner of afflictions, save it were swallowed up in the joy of Christ. Now this was according to the prayer of Alma; and this becausehe prayed in faith."

After this happened we met this beautiful old man who was so inspirational! and I'll never forget what he told us, it hit me with such force and I know it to be true, he said "With God on our side we are not defenseless and they are not invincible" - Joe Hardy. 

In the talk from the April 2014 General Conference The Prophet Joseph Smith By Elder Lawrence E. Corbridge  "Truth will always be opposed". And though there is opposition, they will never win, because we will always be stronger with the Lord on our side as we put our trust in Him. With faith in Christ all things are possible. "And Christ hath said: If ye will have faith in me ye shall have power to do whatsoeverthing is expedient in me." - Moroni 7:33 

The church is so true! And no matter what people do or ay against it, it will stand strong forever, because this is The Church of JESUS CHRIST of Latter-day Saints and it has been restored on the earth, never to falter. People ask me how I came to know, and just the way all personal revelation is received, I asked God, having faith and being willing to act upon the answer that I receive. I read and pondered and prayed and pondered and prayed and it is a continuous cycle and we are always learning more and more. But I can not deny the testimony I have, I have had so many incredible experiences and seen so many miracles, I've seen for myself how the gospel changes lives! And it will continue to do so because it is truth and when people ask "why are you doing this?" I simply say, "Because we as missionaries have the happiest message in the world to share with everyone, that Jesus Christ original church had been restored today by a modern day prophet,that God is our loving Heavenly Father, and that through the teachings of Jesus Christ we can have the greatest joy possible, and you can come to know this for yourself!" and it's true! You can come to know for yourself of the things I say in every email. Heavenly Father answers prayers and is so aware of each and every single one of us. He knows us, and knows what we need and how we can get it, we must turn to Him and he will bless us so much, the windows of Heaven will be unlocked and you will receive blessings and revelations beyond what you could have imagined

Stay strong and when hard times come put your faith in Jesus Christ and have joy in Him and His atonement, you are NEVER alone, He is by your side, only if you let Him be, don't run away or hide from His love, embrace it and share it with others. His arms of mercy are extended towards you, go to Him and I promise those burdens will be made lighter and will give you the strength to overcome everything. Have faith, faith is a principle of power and as we have faith just like in Moroni 7:33 we will have power to do all things. 

I love you all! Stay Amazing and Keep Smiling. 

Love, Sister Ryan xx

Photos

Dinner with Sister Gibson and Sister Reeve

Going out to dinner

Sister Magidson and I
in front of the Temple!

East 2 Transfer Conference

East 2 Transfer Conference!

Vince found me in the South Visiting Center! 

Talissa and Kade found me outside
 the North Visiting Center!

They have this WICKED set up at City Creek,

 if anyone knows me I LOVE Wizard of Oz and so you can imagine how happy/excited I was too see this.

Transfer 2 Week 6

I can't believe this is my last week of training, next week I not only will be in my 3rd transfer but I will have a new companion! So weird! Especially because Sister Magidson is the only companion I've had and I'm used to her being cold all the time and tearing her food all the time and we have our routine all worked out and how we do things, It will be weird having to adjust all over again! But that's what you get when your on a 35 acre thing of 200 Sister Missionaries, you don't really get to stay with your companion too long, 2 transfers at the most, 3 if you're REALLY lucky! But it's exciting and new, I look forward to seeing what next transfer has in store. One thing is you already know all the sisters (unless you're training, which I most definitely won't be). 

This week was full of miracles and events, I'm afraid I won't have time to write all about it because time is far spent, but I'll do my best.

Saving Korea: We have taken some incredible tours lately and some of which still touch me and I struggle to hold back tears talking about them or they give me just greatest feeling of the spirit. We had these beautiful Korean Families come to Temple Square and we took them around, we went to the Tabernacle and then to the Christus, we bore testimony about how Jesus Christ is always there for us and through him we don't have to feel like we are alone. One of ladies in the group asked "how do you know that?" with so much sincerity, you can see in her eyes how hungry she was to know so we testified about the Book of Mormon and how the Book of Mormon helps us know more of Jesus Christ and what He has done for us and how he helps us and knows us and wants to help us. While waiting for "God's Plan For His Family" we looked at the paintings of the Old Testament and I talked with her and shared more about the Book of Mormon (The Indroduction and Moroni 10:3-5) and she asked if it came in Korean and if she could get a copy and I said of course. We went through God's Plan, she was the only one that cried at the end and we went down stairs to exchange details and get her the Book of Mormon in Korean, just as we were saying our goodbyes she looks at me with tear filled eyes, clutching the Book of Mormon close to her heart and wipes away her tears and with the deepest sincerity she looks at me and says "I hope this can heal me" and I held back my own tears and smiled and said "It will".

Hastening the Work: I have a friend who is an actor for the church and he was a member present for a lesson of ours with a less active and he just got his mission call! Yesterday we were having a weird day, it was rainy and gross and it was effecting everyones moods, we were taking 10 minutes to sit down because we hadn't had time for lunch and we got a call from a desk in the North Visiting Center saying that Ben was here looking for us and we immedietly went from hald dead to as alive as possible and almost ran to the Visiting Center, we see him and he is waving and we come over and I immediately asked "where are you going?!" and he smiled and said "Netherlands/Belgium Mission, Dutch Speaking!" seriously so exciting! We can't wait to hear how it all goes, he doesn't leave for a few months but we are so excited for him! We saw him again today and he just went and got a Dutch Book of Mormon, haha so great! He is so excited. He will be an awesome missionary!

Biggest Flag Pole Tour in History: Here on Temple Square we have something called Flag Pole tours, which means every hour at the Flag Pole we have a tour! And so we weren't assigned but got a call to go help and we said, okay. We go out and there are 65 people there wanting a tour of Temple Square! Talk about a big lesson! So it was 4 sisters, Sister Ling (California), Sister Hadzick (Germany), Sister Magidson and myself. We got a microphone and flag and took them to the Tabernacle, Assembly Hall and Temple View. It was great and we taught and testified a lot. People had some interesting questions and some of them were almost Anti-ish. People left (they obviously couldn't handle the spirit) and then when we got tot Temple View there was a smaller group of maybe about 20, we testified about temples and eternal families and the blessing that come from making promises with God such as baptism and in the end we had this group of 6 college kids and they all wanted to learn more! and so they took 3 and we took 3, they didn't mind who went with who, they were all so lovely and you can tell they want to know more, they had so many questions and we are really excited to talk with them further. It was such of an incredible tour and latter on we had people coming up to us and just thanking us and saying how our testimonies of what we believe shine through our faces and they can see how passionate we are about what we believe. It was wonderful! Though it was a large group, we know we touched the hearts of the people and if they told us they wanted to learn more or not, doesn't matter, we did what we needed to do, we did what Heavenly Father needed us to do and fulfilled our purpose in inviting them to come unto Christ. It is the Lord's work, not ours and we may never see the fruits from that tour in this life but in the next we will. I have no doubt that when people see the missionaries in their home towns they will ask them more and learn more and come to know for themselves that the Book of Mormon is the word of God and everything we testified of today is true.

Alma Twenty-Six: Where do I even start! Unless you hear me actually talk about it, I'm not going to do it justice, the Spirit was bursting out of my heart this morning, I couldn't even contain it! I received so much revelation his morning! Mainly in verses 3, 15, 30-31, 35-37. This week my focus has really been that this is His work and not my work. This chapter has outlined that perfectly and I looked at it this morning in a completely new light. 

 3 Behold, I answer for you; for our brethren, the Lamanites, were in darkness, yea, even in the darkest abyss, but behold, how many ofthem are brought to behold the marvelous light of God! And this is the blessing which hath been bestowed upon us, that we have been madeinstruments in the hands of God to bring about this great work.

 15 Yea, they were encircled about with everlasting darkness and destruction; but behold, he has brought them into his everlasting light,yea, into everlasting salvation; and they are encircled about with the matchless bounty of his love; yea, and we have been instruments inhis hands of doing this great and marvelous work.

I loved these so much, people are in a state of spiritual darkness, they don't know where to turn or what to do, they are in a world that is so confusing and conflicting an don't know where the light is, but we as missionaries being instruments of the Lord assist in bringing them to the light of the gospel. 

Missionary work is hard, no matter where you serve, if it's Japan, Russia, Ukraine, Australia, Netherlands, where ever it is, missionary work can get tough and there are times when you feel weaker then others and sometimes you get anti's, sometimes you get someone who drops you, doesn't pick up the phone, doesn't answer the door, whatever it may be. Ammon, Alma, The Sons of Mosiah, etc. they all went through so much, they were in prison, cast out, tied up, spit upon, stoned, you name it! And this is what they had to say. 

30 And we have suffered all manner of afflictions, and all this, that perhaps we might be the means of saving some soul; and we supposedthat our joy would be full if perhaps we could be the means of saving some.

31 Now behold, we can look forth and see the fruits of our labors; and are they few? I say unto you, Nay, they are many; yea, and we canwitness of their sincerity, because of their love towards their brethren and also towards us.

We all go through stuff, but in the end this is what it's all about, saving some soul, in the end our labors and not few, sometimes it might feel that way, but we never know what seed we have planted, our labors are not few and no effort is wasted.

35 Now have we not reason to rejoice? Yea, I say unto you, there never were men that had so great reason to rejoice as we, since the worldbegan; yea, and my joy is carried away, even unto boasting in my God; for he has all power, all wisdom, and all understanding; hecomprehendeth all things, and he is a merciful Being, even unto salvation, to those who will repent and believe on his name.

 36 Now if this is boasting, even so will I boast; for this is my life and my light, my joy and my salvation, and my redemption from everlastingwo. Yea, blessed is the name of my God, who has been mindful of this people, who are a branch of the tree of Israel, and has been lost fromits body in a strange land; yea, I say, blessed be the name of my God, who has been mindful of us, wanderers in a strange land.

 37 Now my brethren, we see that God is mindful of every people, whatsoever land they may be in; yea, he numbereth his people,and his bowels of mercy are over all the earth. Now this is my joy, and my great thanksgiving; yea, and I will give thanks unto my Godforever. Amen.

Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ are so aware of us and love us so much! They know us individually and want to bless us with they're light and love that come from the gospel of Jesus Christ. I can tell you that I had the greatest joy I've had on my mission today because of this study I had. I wish I could put it in words, it made a difference in how I talked to people, made a difference in the way I bore testimony, how I looked at people. We are all children of God who need Him, just like a child needs their parent, we need our Heavenly Father and we need our Savior Jesus Christ. I have every reason to be so grateful for the blessings I have received, especially being called as a missionary here on Temple Square. I get to teach people all over the world! I get to help people come unto Christ all over the world. The Lord has not only given us a portion of his vineyard, but his whole vineyard! I know that I could not do this work if it were not for Him, just like Ammon,"Yea, Iknow that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in hisstrength I can do all things; yea, behold, many mighty miracles we have wrought in this land, for which we will praise his name forever." I see miracles everyday and I wish I could more accurately explain how much of a difference this made in my day, and will in my mission. Alma 26 is not about how to do missionary work, but the fruits of missionary work and has easily just become one of my favourite chapters in the Book of Mormon. 

"Therefore, let us glory, yea, we will glory in the Lord; yea, we will rejoice, for our joy is full; yea, we will praise our God forever. Behold, whocan glory too much in the Lord? Yea, who can say too much of his great power, and of his mercy, and of his long-suffering towards thechildren of men? Behold, I say unto you, I cannot say the smallest part which I feel." 

This is probably the most accurate way I can put it and I'm pretty sure I have a fair idea of how Ammon felt in this account. I am so grateful for the beautiful tender mercies and miracles I see everyday, I'm so grateful for lives we are able to touch here on Temple Square, for the Spirit that is felt here by all those that enter the gates of Temple Square. The Gospel of Jesus Christ changes lives, the Book of Mormon changes lives and is another testament of Jesus Christ. I can't put it any other way. If you are on a mission or preparing for a mission or just want to have an increidble study, I would invite you to read Alma 26, it is so enlightening and if you put  your heart into it, I know you will receive what you need from it. 

Stay Strong, Keep Smiling, Pray Always, Study The Scriptures, I Love You All! 

THE CHURCH IS SO TRUE! as we say here on Temple Square when something incredible happens and it truly is! 

I love you all and Thank you all for everything you do.
Love, Sister Ryan xx

Photos

I'm going to miss my little
 English Beauty so much!
 She goes home next week. 

 LOVE YOU SISTER WALSH!

 I always think of Alice from
 Alice in Wonderland
when she sings with all the flowers.

The Beehive House Garden,
 I love walking through here after a tour,
 makes my heart so happy!

Transfer 2 Week 5

IT FEELS LIKE IT WAS P-DAY JUST YESTERDAY! also TODAY MARKS 3 MONTHS SINCE I ENTERED THE MISSIONARY TRAINING CENTER!

Goodbye Sister Perez: This week wa sa little sad, our District Leader Sister Perez got really sick, she has been sick for a while (a week or so now) and it got so bad that unfortunately she had to go home, we all love her so much, she was an incredible District Leader and missionary. I really looked up to her and learnt a lot from her everyday we were together. Monday we went over to her apartment as a district and had pancakes for breakfast and then we had companion study and then took her to the airport. It was a sad goodbye, but she did what was best fro her and she did what the Lord needed her to do here on Temple Square. It was weird driving to the airport, I think it was starting to hit her how real this all was and how she would be a lone and not have a companion and that she has a family waiting for her to get home and everything. We miss her but we know she is okay and she will get better faster if she is at home. We went to Carl'd Jr and had fries on her behalf in rememberance of the amazing missionary she is and tribute to "fries always being the answer"
Sister Perez, if you see this, WE LOVE YOU!

New District Leader: Upon the goodbye of Sister Perez, we needed a new District Leader, we all had our guesses but we had to wait and find out from President and we were being told nothing! We were in a trio as well with Sister Baba and we had no idea what was happenig with her! We were on Desk in the North Visiting Center and I was talking with some of the Elders that came for their Investigator Lesson and then Sister Magidson called Sister Baba and I over, she told us what was happening with Sister Baba that night/the next day and then she had this dreaded look on her face and continues "they have called me as the new District Leader" WE KNEW IT! haha. Sister Magidson is now the new District Leader and it's her first time and she was so nervous and shocked and it was entertaining to see her reaction. Because we didn't have District Meeting this week, she needed to organize 2 for this week! But we have amazing Zone Leaders that really helped her out. It's been a couple of days and she is doing a great job! So proud of my compie, now I'm a District Monkey? I don't know someone told me today that's what they call the District Leader's companion... Doesn't sound right to me... but oh well! haha.

Heavenly Father Has Prepared His Children (Alma 16:16-17): This week we have met so many amazing people! and people who seem the less interested about the gospel are sometimes the ones who are prepared the most, we have met 2 new families to teach and we are so excited! #FamiliesAreForever! It's incredible to know that one day they will enter the House of the Lord and be sealed together for time an all eternity. We have met some incredible people in the Beehive House as well, ready to hear the gospel and have the lives changed in so many amazing ways through the gospel of Jesus Christ. Because the gospel truly does change lives! I see evidence of it as every day passes by. It sometimes get's hard when truly prepared people don't keep in contact or never pick up the phone after the first lesson or they some how drop off the face of the earth, but as an incredible missionary serving in the Fukuoka, Japan mission (Elder Wheeler) sent to me in a post card just last week. "no effort is wasted" and I truly do believe that. We just have to push forward with faith knowing that one day missionaries will find them again and because of the effort, planning, tears (sometimes), planning, teaching and everything we went through with them, they will one day accept the gospel and know for themselves it is true. It's not my work, it is the Lord's. I am not in control, He is and I just need to be the instrument in His hand "...To stand in His place. To say and do what He Himself would say and do if He personally were ministering to the very people to whom He has sent me..." - My Missionary Commission.

Which leads me to my next point

Inviting: Our purpose is to invite others to come unto Christ. Inviting is so key to everything we do! If we are not inviting/leaving commitments, we are not fulfilling our purpose. The last few weeks have been really faith based for me, I have really been doing all that I can to have the faith needed to see miracles everyday. That includes inviting people to learn more about the gospel. Sometimes it is so scary and sometimes we judge people because of how they look or act and judge that they don't want to hear the gospel. We need to always remember that we are ALL children of God and if they know it or not, they all need what we have, which is the gospel of Jesus Christ. This week I have been a lot more courageous in inviting people to read The Book of Mormon or to learn more and keep in contact with us or to let us send missionaries and I am truly seeing the difference, like in my email last week about Peter sinking when he lacked faith. I am seeing how my faith in these things is helping me walk on water and it's because I am being focused on my purpose as a missionary to invite others to come unto Christ, no matter who they are, where they are from, what they look like. Jesus Christ is the center of all we do. None of this would be possible or even exist if it weren't for Him and it is our responsibility to share that with the world! Not just as missionaries but for all those who know it to be true. 

There is no way possible that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is not true, there is no way on earth. I know it to be the restored gospel of Jesus Christ on the earth today. I know that Joseph Smith really did see God the Father and Jesus Christ the Son, I feel it so strongly in my heart and I can and could never deny it. The Book of Mormon is the word of God, I know it with all that I have and I will never stop bearing testimony of it's truthfullness and how it changes our lives! It brings a light into our lives that is not possible any other way. "I told the brethren that the Book of Mormon was the most correct of any book on the earth, and they keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to God by abiding by it's precepts, than by any other book" - Joseph Smith. I testify that what Joseph Smith said is true! I see it change lives and help people come nearer to God each day, I see the difference in makes in peoples eyes as even the mention of it bringing peace and joy into one's life changes peoples hearts. It is an honor and privilege that I have to share it all day everyday to people from all over the world here on Temple Square.

If I want anyone to remember anything from meeting me on Temple Square, in the Beehive House or anything, I want them to remember that I have a testimony of the Joseph Smith and that he truly did see Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, that it really happened and that I know with all that I have that the Book of Mormon is the word of God and that it changes lives.

I love you all, thank you for making it through my long emails each week. 

I appreciate all the support and love I get from each of you

Love always, Sister Ryan xx

photos

Saying Goodbye to Sister Perez

Saying Goodbye to Sister Perez

I covered West Gate for the first time!
 (The information booth that test's out to all the
Sisters on the Square where all the tours are, etc)
 .

 It was so much fun! Loved it! Especially because I had Pocky.

I made it! Shepards pie and it was delicious! :D

After Tim Tam Slam
(Sister Magidson's first one!) 

Temporary Trio with Sister Baba!

Transfer 2 Week 4

Hi Everyone! 

Eyes for Zimbabwe: We had an awesome Relief Society last week, we had the 3 ladies from Eyes 4 Zimbabwe come and speak to us (check them out, seriously, will change the way you see the world). It was so inspiring and uplifting and I really learned to just follow every prompting we receive no matter how crazy! Just don't be scared and do it! I forgot my notebook today so I can't put everything that I learned, but it was a lot and no words in my vocabulary can do it justice. But really the main thing was following the spirit and you will never go wrong! Faith has been a massive thing for me this week, I love the Beehive  House but sometimes it's hard because people don't often want to learn more from you and just go on their merry way like your just a "tour guide" which drives me crazy! because we are missionaries... but anyway... Sometimes it's hard because you start to think "What am I doing wrong?". I've been asking Heavenly Father to bless me with more faith and opportunities to learn more about it, this week I felt prompted to read from the New Testament and I came across a scripture that changed everything. Matthew 14:27-31 about Peter wanting to walk on water and then he does because he has so much faith and then went a single doubt crosses his mind he starts to sink and then yells for help, knowing Jesus Christ will save him and help him. I have felt a lot like Peter this last week, thinking "yeah, I've got this!" and then a doubt crosses my mind and I miss out on something great. It taught me such of an important lesson of "Doubt not, Fear not" (D&C 6:36). To follow every prompting, no matter how crazy, if it is good is of God and I need not to be worried about doing it because he will provide a way for me to accomplish the things He commands me to do (1 Nephi 3:7). I have noticed the difference as well as I am more attentive to the promptings I receive and act on them, it's really incredible. I see a massive difference in hazing that unwavering faith and sometimes it is so hard and it takes time and none of us are perfect, but when we do doubt and when we do start to sink, just like Peter, as we reach out and turn to the Lord to help us and save us, we will be helped and saved and can overcome all things.   

The Last Lesson: We had our last lesson with Jacque just yesterday and it all ended on such a spiritual high, She is a less-active now active and preparing to enter the House of the Lord and I'm so excited that we get to be there for it also! She is incredible and she has let the Lord mold her into what He knew she could become and she just radiates the light of the gospel! I'm so proud of her, she is not the Jacque we first met over a month ago, the gospel changes lives and it's so awesome to see. Every time we saw her she was different, she was happier, stronger, because she had a testimony of the gospel and knew that Heavenly Father loves her and knows her so perfectly and that Christ's atonement is so perfect! We all went out to the food court in City Creek for dinner and it was the perfect way to end everything, I'm so grateful Heavenly Father put her in my life, she is like my spiritual twin, all the things she felt I had felt when I was less active and now she is just incredible and I'm so excited to see what wonderful things she will do to change the world one person at a time, she has changed my life and I know Heavenly Father needed me to come to Temple Square for her, to help her and bring her back. "There are no such thing as black sheep, only lost sheep".  The church is so true! I just love being a missionary!

Miracles Upon Miracles: Mainly I just wan't to talk about my investigator Cory, his story is a long and complicated one and I won't say everything because there is a lot in to it, but basically he is incredible and has done a 180 with his life because of the gospel of Jesus Christ. I haven't really if all talked about him because it's been really up and down, like one moment its like yay! and then the next we are like "what are we going to do?" but now he is progressing and really making a difference. 

We met him May 1st, he was like "oh no you found me" and then we got chatting, we got a long and all was great! We met with him a few days later and turns out he wasn't exactly with it, if you know what I mean, we tried to teach and it was a disaster... we weren't even sure if we should meet with him again, but we did. I don't even know how it all happened, but we made a list to help him 1. Read the Book of Mormon 2. Pray everyday, 3. Get rid of any negative influencing media, 4. Make "Mormon type" friends 5. Get rid of all the drugs he had. He over time has done this and these 5 things have made a world of difference. We continued to teach the Restoration until he got it, we taught it many many many times. But everytime we met with him his eyes were clearer, he was calmer, he was becoming someone different. Last week he was in hospital because he tried to go all the way off the drugs, which when you've done it more than half of your life your body gets reliant on it and you get EXTREMELY sick! He got out of hospital just to come to a lesson and see Sister Magidson and I, he was still in hospital pants! We watched the movie He is Risen and it really got to him! He finally wasn't asking "why would He do that?", he was saying "He did all of that for me..." He finally came to understand that everything he felt Christ had also felt and he was pretty sick and sore and everything, I can't even describe it the way he did. He does this thing when he doesn't want you to see he has been crying he rubs his face and eyes a lot so his face is all red and he did that a lot! We bore testimony of the atonement and then told him to go back to the hospital. We are extremely bold with him, we have to be, otherwise he doesn't get it, before I met Cory I was like "How could you treat an investigator like that?!" and now I'm all like "Cory, answer the question, stop beating around the bush and get on with it", "Stop making excuses", etc. There is some serious tough love that goes on, but I wouldn't do it if it wasn't directed by the Spirit, and he knows that, which is so awesome. 

He has been reading his scriptures everyday and he prays every day, all day! He puts forth so much faith it's incredible! He is a different man and continues to change, but the best of all of this! (and there is a lot more that I just can't get into because it's complicated and long). We went to church with him this Sunday, we went to a YSA ward and it was Fast and Testimony meeting, we got there and we were late because we got lost, but there was another ward in like 50 minutes and so we stuck around. I never thought I'd day it, but I am so grateful we were late, because we went to the next ward and it couldn't have been more perfect! We explained everything and everything was incredible and then it was Testimony Time. 

All of a sudden he said "I want to go up there" and I'm like ugh, what do I do and then he said "do I just go sit up there?" and I'm like "ugh, sure, yeah, I guess, I don't know" and so he did, he was the 3rd person to speak and this is how it happened... "Hi, My name is Cory, and I'm a sinner" and then Sister Magidson and I are like "oh no..." and semi sink in our seats... and then! He starts talking about the atonement and how Jesus Christ suffered for us all because none of us are perfect and how he understands us perfectly and knows what we have been through and how it has helped him become a better him and talked about the sacrament and how important that is. He set the whole tone for the Fast and Testimony Meeting! After his testimony every single testimony was so accurate for him! There was Drugs, Conversion, Baptism, Example of Jesus Christ, Healing power of the atonement, Word of wisdom, Keeping the commandments, Book of Mormon, Humility, the Comforter, it was incredible! & after Sacrament meeting everyone came up and thanked him for his testimony and some guy (David) invited him to a BBQ and then to come back to church next week and everyone loved him and just wanted to be best buddies with him! It was one of the best Testimony Meetings I've ever been to! We left and then ran unto the local missionaries (who we have to teach with) and they are so lovely! They are Sisters and just so wonderful! I'm excited to work with them in teaching Cory. We set up appointments and everything is going incredibly. 

Monday night we found out something even cooler! One of the Sister investigators was also there at that same sacrament meeting, and she was going to be baptized this weekend but was iffy about it, after hearing Cory's testimony it was all set in stone for her. They have invited him to the baptism and also the friends that are fellow shipping Cory and it is just amazing! He is a different man and continues to change day by day. I wish I could write more eloquently to describe his change! He is clean off the drugs, he is happier, healthier, being a missionary everywhere he goes. It will take a while for his baptism to happen (because of other situations) but unlike before when we couldn't even talk about baptism, he admitted to us last week that he really does want to be baptized! That he really want's this. He has a testimony of the Book of Mormon, he always exercises his faith he is always telling us "keep with the faith ladies!" hahaha. He calls us "The Dynamic Trio"and is so heart broken that Sister Magidson and I won't be together after a couple of weeks he keeps saying "well, who is getting the kid out of the divorce?!". He is a great guy! I feel like I was sent on my mission for him. We just love him so much! He is like a brother to us and it has been increidble to witness the change in him. I can't wait for the day I get to see him in white, preparing to enter the waters of baptism, it will be the most glorious day! I know I'm only at the start of my mission but I can tell you, Cory will be the Miracle of my mission and it is just wonderful. He has changed my life and we with the Spirit change his. 

I testify to you that the gospel of Jesus Christ changes lives, and not just here but for eternity! my new motto is "One minute can change eternity" and it is so true! If Cory, being a drug addict who hated God for the things that happened in his life can change so incredibly with the gospel, any one can! My testimony of the atonement grows so much every time I see him. I have laughed and smiled many times, cried many tears and prayed to the Lord so much for Cory and really put forth my faith knowing He can change and he has done miraculous things! He knows this is God's plan for him, he knows this is what God needs him to do and understand that God has much greater things that he every thought possible in store for him. 

I really wish you could all see the difference he has made in just a month... I'm so proud of him and I can never deny that the gospel changes lives and I can't say that enough, because this is what it's all about. The Book of Mormon, Prayer, Faith, it's completely changed him! Because we was willing to put himself in it and just try it, to see if it works and he has found that it has. He is such a great blessing to me and I could never thank Heavenly Father enough for the opportunity and blessing it has been to be part of this journey with Cory. Knowing that Heavenly Father has trusted me with Cory's eternal welfare, that's a big thing! But I know I don't do it alone, I have my companion, the Spirit, Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father on my side, I have the greatest army to help in this wonderful work!

Sorry if I'm rambling a bit, but I'll finish it there. 

I love you all so much, I know that the gospel is true, that the Book of Mormon is the word of God and that all things are possible as we put forth our faith in Jesus Christ and in His Atonement. 

Thankyou for all that you do, for all that you say and I appreciate any inch of support I receive, it means the world to me, Thank you!

Love always, Sister Ryan xx  

Photos

Our less active now active!
 This was after our last lesson with her.

Eyes 4 Zimbabwe Cici

Eyes 4 Zimbabwe Lollie 

Sister Magidson, Me,
Jacque and Jacque's friend Maddie

I took this as we were walking home one night, so pretty!