December 21, 2009

Ryan's letter:

Subject: 369 DAYS 'Till Christmas!

Dear Family,
This week has actually been pretty hard for me, this is my last Christmas as a Missionary. But I am soo excited to be able to be teaching the principles of the Gospel during this season. Elder Haines and I can just feel the potential here in this area, there are soo many good people here in Loomis. I am also very happy to be the proud brother of one of the winners for dressing up at school. Just so you know, Kristie and Jen, I have been faithful in wearing my Santa Hat this year, at least as much as I can. As a matter of fact when Elder Derek Sommer came into the Mission he asked me if I was wearing the same hat that I used to wear in High School.
Our work is really picking up now! I am most excited about a family that we tracted into right after Thanksgiving. Matt and Stacia have been so nice to us every time we visit with them and they finally agreed to let us come and watch a movie with them this Wednesday. I have such a good feeling about them and I know the gospel can really help them.
This past Tuesday while sister Moss was making cookies in the kitchen, she slipped off of her stool and broke her hip. She has been in the hospital since then but is now starting to get better. It has been hard to live there at her home without her and we hope to get her back before Christmas, so your prayers would be appreciated. They are hoping for a full recovery, but it is going to be very hard for her. She has done so much for us and really the only way we can help her is through prayer.
I had another great testimony builder this week while we were teaching Irene Deen. We were reviewing the Restoration with her and her home teacher turned and asked me to tell the story of Joseph Smith. Again as I quoted the first vision I felt the Holy Ghost bear witness to me that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ really had visited their prophet here on this earth to re-establish their church. It is so wonderful to be able to feel that witness again and again. One of the best parts of being a missionary is being able to just focus on the basics every day. There is so much to learn.

"Preach the first principles of the Gospel- preach them over again: you will find that day after day new ideas and additional light concerning them will be revealed to you. You can enlarge upon them so as to comprehend them clearly. You will then be able to make them more plainly understood by those you teach."

Hyrum Smith


Well I love you all!! Merry Christmas!!
Elder Allred