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