Dear Family (because I only recently got Alisa's letter that said maybe I should start my letters more warmly, and so I felt a little guilty)
Everything here is more or less good and wonderful. I did try to keep names off in case people didn't want their names thrown around but I agree that names help you know what's going on and first names aren't exactly well, specific. The boy is named Tom and to be honest I haven't heard from him like he promised so he might either be low-commitment or he's put it off but I'll make sure we at least phone him and see where he is. If nothing else we've warmed him to the gospel later in his life, but I think he and I would both prefer sooner than 'later on.'
The husband I guess I mentioned (I don't remember saying anything about them) is named Frank and we actually taught him this past week. We decided to just talk about doctrines on a specific subject because he is rather well-versed in Mormon doctrine but at the same time I'd say he's looked at positive and negative sources which makes it a little trickier. We talked to him about Pre-earth life and why we think that's important and also about the spirit world and why we think there are two judgments and how we resolve heaven and hell and then 3 degrees of glory. I didn't notice but Elder Shrubb said there were some times in the lesson where Frank just kinda paused, cause I suppose we made sense. His wife Kelly(I think) didn't join in or listen as far as I know but we have another appointment later this week and hopefully she'll listen in because I think this would interest her.
We also taught a lady named Nikki that other missionaries including E. Shrubb taught and we committed her to church which Elder Shrubb said she's never agreed to before, so hopefully that happens! I really hope we have other people committed to church Sunday because last Sunday we had 0 investigators, including our 1 investigator who was progressing(Lynne). Lynne was sick these past two weeks and we've been struggling to teach her still so at least for a little she's not really progressing but I think she is doing better so hopefully we can get her on the track towards baptism soon.
I'm excited about those CDs because music as you all know is like my lifeblood and that shouldn't have to change during my mission, speaking of which I bought a guitar at a ward auction. I can really only play it on P-days but I plan on learning a bit of guitar today and the rest of the time I'm still here in Kidderminster. I guess it's my present to all future missionaries here. The good news is that Elder Shrubb has been stuck in Kiddy so long he's likely to get transferred and not me which means more geetar time. Oh and we had a message from the post office or someone that there's a package for us so if that is the CD package, we'll get it today :D If not oh well I'll have something to look forward to.
We had an awesome Zone Conference with Elder Kapshka (Christa might know that name) cause he's the Area President of Europe and he taught us and me a lot about how real and valuable personal revelation is. I'm really glad I had that experience at the beginning of my mission because it's helped me redefine my outlook about it all, though I probably would have got more out of it had I had it later, and it may have also been wonderful if this was my last transfer. It was a really great Zone conference though and it's great to see lots of Elders again, especially from my MTC group.
Some thoughts I've had over the last week or so...
I found out lots of missionaries with Echoes footwear would get huge cracks in the soles rendering them useless in wet ol' England so I think it is good I got the Rockports, especially because they aren't uncomfortable really. I do appreciate the loving sentiment in trying to get me to buy them though, don't get me wrong on that account.
Do you or dad or anyone else know what the rules on customs are? I'm just wondering If I buy a backpack or new suits or anything that I actually want to bring back, along with souveniers how I should go about doing that. Just wondering if I'll have to declare customs on like anything that I'll actually need and use that I'll bring back or what. Not very concerned right now about that but If I do need to record those things or whatever it may be good to know.
On that subject I just remembered, did we have to pay for an extra suitcase at the airport? I don't think we did but if we did I would enjoy being compensated for that through my mission fund which I can either return to you or use here. But I don't think we had to.
On to more selfish topics, if you plan any big vacations during my mission, let me know what they are because I realized I'll probably really want a beach vacation of some sort when all's said and done here. Maybe Lagoona beach would satisfy me, but for 2 years without getting wet I think I would like a beach vacation at the end or near then. If you do do something like that don't rub it in.
I got lots of letters at zone conference I hadn't received due to them being addressed to the mission home/field whatever you wanna call it, so thanks for all of those, including the photo album, especially the picture where I look stoned. Thanks Alisa. I also got a letter from Ian which was really cool, and a letter from a girl(that's not my sister)! The only trouble with that last part, is I don't know who the girl is. So I get to write a letter where I have to say that. She didn't put it on the return address, and her signature is a mystery. I'd almost wonder if it was a girl except the handwriting is definitely a girls. What bothers me most is the signature looks familiar, but I didn't know a lot of girls at BYU so who really knows?
If you do put my Kidderminster address be sure to warn people that Transfers are short-notice so around the 5 or 6 week mark not to just keep sending letters here in case I do move. Just warn people about that now and when it gets close I'll say in my email to put that notice up.
But really I'm loving it all for the most part and things sound mostly good at home. Thanks for all the letters and packages and prayers and I can't wait to be back with you all! In like 2 years. Speaking of which, I'm pretty sure I went into the MTC on May 28th, and it's July 6th, so how do you figure it's almost been 2 months? Oh well hopefully that day will come before I realize it. Time is moving along now evenly I think, maybe it'll get faster I don't know. It certainly doesn't feel like I've been serving for too long, though I remember times when it felt like forever.
I think that wraps up this letter, I have 13 more minutes so I don't know how I'll spend them exactly, there might be another email.
Love,
Ryan
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