So
this is my last week here in the MTC!!! I leave Monday morning on a 2 day
journey to Mozambique! I leave on the 20th and arrive on the 22nd! Yay! The
travel office can't really tell us much about our Visas other than that we
haven't been reassigned, which is a good sign! We have received our itineraries
and so we most likely have our Visas! They tell us that "No news is Good
News!" Meaning that if there aren't any hang ups, they can't tell you
anything! So yeah... That's all I know! But I sent home a picture of my flight
itinerary! So take a look at that! My layovers are sick!
So
on Tuesday, July 7th, we had a Devotional in which he spoke about the importance
of the First Vision in conversion. He said, "The First Vision is Sacred
and Precious and Important. It is a gift. Give it as such." Super good
talk! He also said, "You don't have to believe the missionaries about the
First Vision, Ask God; He was there, and He'll tell you!"
Then
on Friday we got to watch the Broadcast of President Packer's
Funeral. And that was a really neat and sacred experience. As I sat pondering
before the funeral, they had the Mormon Tabernacle Choir singing, and as I
pondered, I could imagine the hosts of heaven singing and rejoicing that One of
the Lord's "Noble and Great Ones" had returned home, having
"fought a good fight". Allan F Packer, M. Russell Ballard, Dallin H.
Oaks, and President Monson all spoke. It was really neat, something I've never
seen before!
On Sunday we got to hear from Richard I Heaton-
The Administrative Director over the MTC! We heard from him a few weeks ago,
but this was part 2 of his talk! This time he taught about the Book of Mormon,
and it was really good! One thing I got out of it was, "Don't let your
testimony become insincere and common place. Don't let your testimony lose its
flavor and zeal." So that was really good. He said that you can and should
always be praying for a renewed testimony of the Book of Mormon. That after a
while you may not feel of the truthfulness of the Book, but you can ALWAYS pray
for renewed faith and a testimony! So that was really good!
Just
a quick "Holla" at my girl Kaitlyn Ray for that sweet package! Thank
you so much! It meant a lot to me that you were thinking of us missionaries out
here! And thanks for the gum that I'm not allowed to eat... Haha! But we are
definitely going to race those cars that we got!
So
this week, Mom sent a package, and within that package were some Ping Pong
paddles and Ping Pong Balls! Booyah! That very second, we cleared off our table
and began the Zone 7 Ping Pong Tournament! Needless to say, Elder Larsen is
really good at Ping Pong. And it doesn't help that the table is literally 4
feet long.
I
see Elder Hofeling and Elder Gurr just about every day! Elder Hofeling lives
just a floor above me, so I go up just about every night and say goodnight! So
this week we're going to film our testimonies and send them home for Brother
Bazzell hopefully! If it all works out! I haven't been able to send videos
home, but with the Lord's help, all things are possible!
So
Congrats to Sister Kinnaman on making it to the Brazil CTM! That is awesome!
We've have quite a few of the Elders in our zone receive their visas and have
left for that CTM! I have also met several people here that are going to the
same Mission as Sister Kinnaman! So they're going to say "Hi" for me!
Also,
Elder Watson should be coming in tomorrow! Good news, Elder Hofeling and I are
hosting! So there is a slim chance that we could pick him up from the curb and
bring him in! Fingers crossed!
Also,
Happy Birthday! Happy Birthday to Grandma Starr! How does it feel to be 50
;) Same to you Grandpa Boushley!
Well,
that's all I got this week! The next time you hear from me, I'll be half way
around the World!
I
pray for all of you, and may the Lord bless you in all of your endeavors. I
have a testimony of prayer. I know that prayer is mysterious as well. I know
that the Lord is has blessings in store for all of us, but all we have to do is
ask for them. We don't always get the answer we want, and they don't always
come in the format that we may expect, but be patient. Answers do come.
Sometimes answers to our questions come as the Sunrise, bit by bit, piece by
piece, until it is as bright as the noonday Sun. Never give up. Never lose
faith. The Lord will bless you as you humble yourself and go to Him in prayer.
I testify as a servant of the Lord, Jesus Christ, that God lives. That He loves
His children. I testify that Joseph Smith is a prophet of God, just as Abraham,
Noah, Moses, and all of the ancient prophets were. I testify that we have a
living Prophet today. That God has not left us alone. That we have a mortal man
that receives revelation on behalf of the whole world, from God. His name is
Thomas S. Monson. I promise you in the name of Jesus Christ, that you can pray
about the Message of the Restored Gospel, and that you will receive an answer.
I testify that the Book of Mormon-Another Testament of Jesus Christ, is the
word of God. That a man can become closer to God and Jesus Christ by heeding its
council. I testify of these things, and do so in the holy name of the Savior of
the World, Jesus Christ, Amen.
If
I forgot anything in my letter, just let me know and I'll address it in my
email home on Saturday.
Last
week to send me Dear Elders! Don't be "Fubecas!" That means
"Slackers!"
Elder Ryland Rash
Note from Parents: Ryland's flight itinerary
Tuesday - Ryland flies from Salt Lake City to Dallas. He has a 3 hour layover in Dallas. He then flies to London arriving at 1:00 PM on Wed in London. He then has a 6 hour layover and leaves London 7:00 PM on Wed and flies to Johannesburg, South Africa arriving on Thursday morning around 8:00 am. He then has a short layover and then flies to Maputo, Mozambique. Also, Ryland says that they are only speaking in Portuguese now. he said that he has picked up the language pretty quickly....we will see next week when he finds himself immersed in the language.
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| Elder Rash |
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| Elder Rash and their makeshift ping pong table |
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