Week 4

Ryan has spent the past 5 days in Arizona. He has already had some interesting experiences.
Here are a few highlights from his e-mail...

* The members here are so awesome!!  I'm gonna get fat! Everyone is so nice.

* Our area is huge, it's about a 45 minute bike ride to one of our areas, 25 minutes of that is riding through cotton fields. 

* We are over 3 wards, we spent 8 hours at church yesterday! It was ridiculous.

*  I think 50% of the members are hunters! I have already met 5 who are full time guides.

* My first day here...I almost died! A pit bull atacked me!! I was on my bike and it ran out and started chasing me, it went right past Elder Arndt and Elder Atkins and went for me! I peddled my bike so fast. It was nuts.

* We spent Saturday doing service for a lady. She has tons of animals. She has about 50 half llama half camel things, 38 dogs, 20 pigs and 8 ostriches, tons of chickens and at least 3 ponies. We helped her and this coming Saturday she is getting baptized!

He said he would be sending home a sd card today so hopefully in a few days I will have pictures.

a quick update...

I received a letter today!

Dear Mom,                                                                             Wednesday Night (02/20/13)

Hey mom, it's Ryan. I hope everything is going good back home. I made it to Tempe. My Mission President is awesome  He is a way nice guy and very funny too. My first day was so long but at the same time it went fast. I stayed at a members house last night. His name was Brother Jones. He is pretty old but very nice, we talked forever. Today I met my companion, he is from North Carolina. His name is Elder Arndt. We have a lot in common and we get a long very good. We live in an awesome house! We share with the Spanish speaking elders. It has been cold here. It is only 40 degrees and it has been raining.  We don't have a car, just bikes, Oh and my bike is great. We are just east of Queen Creek and about 45 minutes from Tempe. We are kind of in the middle of nowhere and I already love it here. I will write more on Monday. I 'm just writing to let you know that I am safe and good and that I love it here! and I love you too! Don't worry about me.
Love Elder Kirton

He's Arrived!

I just received word from the Mission President...

Ryan's has safely arrived in Arizona.

 The group of new missionaries that arrived in Arizona Tuesday

Elder Kirton in Arizona!

Week 3

I'm anxiously awaiting word from Ryan as to where he will be assigned. It was fabulous talking to him yesterday morning. He sounded really great! I watched his flight status on the internet and shouted for joy when his plane landed in Arizona yesterday morning at 10:01. He should have spent last night with members and returned back to the mission home this morning for meetings and to receive his assignment. He received a comment on this blog and I wanted to make sure and share it, so here it is...

Hello to all, I felt prompted to come on here and just say that Ryan is doing amazing right now. I have had the blessing of teaching him at the MTC. I have seen him grow and become a powerful teacher of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He impressed me by his humility and his maturity. Tonight we had a very powerful lesson on the Atonement and he shared his experience of what he went through with his sister. It was very touching and deepened my appreciation for the atonement and the Saviors plan for us. He is going to work miracles through the Christlike attributes he has. His family should be so proud and excited for this journey. He is going to bring many unto Christ. 
~ Brady Schvaneveldt

Half of Ryan's district left Monday morning. Most if not all of these elders were going to Texas.
He said they gathered Sunday night to say goodbye. He also said that he cried like a baby. It was very difficult to say goodbye as they have become such great friends. He also said that they sang "God Be With You Till We Meet Again" and at that point they all started crying.

A few highlights from his letters this past week

*Ryan had some heartfelt prayers answered and miracles happen, his reply,
"I love Heavenly Father!"

*He wants everyone to know that he loves them! He wishes he would have had time to call all of his family and friends Tuesday morning, but there just wasn't enough time so he wanted me to tell of you that he loves you! 

*He is encouraging his sisters and brother to teach their children the stories in the Book of Mormon. He said  to make sure that they are learning one story a week. He cannot stress enough how important it is to learn the doctrines of Christ.

* a final message to Richard and I...
mom! dad! do not worry about me!! go and do! what Jesus needs you to do!!

And now for some pictures...

Impersonating Elder Webb

Week 2

Counting today, Ryan has 4 days left in the MTC. He can't believe how fast time is flying by.
Last weekend, just as Ryan's teeth were starting to feel better, both he and his companion came down with the flu. They spent a day or two in their room recovering. They are both finally feeling better, however, a few of the other Elders in their district are sick now. Ryan said Elder Shepard was very sick a few nights ago. Ryan was asked to give him a blessing. He said he was scared, but the spirit was strong and it went very well. He was grateful for the opportunity. Ryan will leave the MTC very early Tuesday morning. He said  19 elders are traveling with him. Some are staying in Arizona and others are going to Texas. I am excited as he is allowed to call home from the airport. I am so excited to talk to him!

A few highlights from Ryan's letters:

* Ryan has come to love the MTC
* He has made some friends there that he is going to have a hard time saying good bye to.
* He said that a he and a couple of the elders have became good friends, almost like they have known each other all of their lives.
* He met an elder from Arizona who is an avid elk hunter. Ryan plans to meet up with him in about 2 years.
*Ryan is hoping that you can use Clorox 2 on colors, because he just dumped a whole lot in with all of his clothes. ( He said that their was a picture of colored clothing on the box, so it must be alright.)
*Ryan would like Richard to buy a cabin lot in Deer Springs. (that's a funny one, at least we know Ryan is still Ryan)
*He claims that he runs the MTC
* Ryan has learned so much these past 2 weeks. He is becoming more confident in Preaching the Gospel and he looks forward to arriving in Arizona and getting to work.
* He is grateful for all the letters and packages that he has received. He feels loved!

I didn't get any pictures this week, however, these pictures were from last week. At least we know that he is well dressed.

Week 1

Ryan's favorite scripture this week is 
Psalms 23:4
"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me."

Ryan has needed that comfort as he has been suffering with a tooth ache all week. Last August when Ryan was filling out his mission papers we had extensive dental work done that took several months. Finally his work was finished and he turned in his papers. Not long after, his teeth began hurting. I took him to a different dentist, he informed us that the other dentist had made several major mistakes. The new dentist fixed as many of the problems as he had time for. We thought all was well until the past few days when Ryan's teeth started hurting again. 
Ryan went to the medical office at the MTC and they scheduled him an appointment with his dentist in Sandy. A Sr. Service Missionary gave him a ride to the dentist yesterday. I was able to meet them there! The dentist had bad news, one of Ryan's teeth had abscessed and needed a root canal immediately. They scheduled him an appointment with an endodontist near the MTC in Provo. The Sr. Missionary took Ryan back to Provo and he did have the root canal yesterday. Ryan sent me an e-mail this morning and said that his tooth was still hurting, but with the antibiotics and pain meds he hoped to be feeling better soon. He will be back up here to the dentist Monday to have a crown placed. 
As Ryan was leaving the dentist, he turned to me and said, "Bye, I love You! I'm going back to my new home to be with my new family." Then he laughed and laughed. 

Some highlights from Ryan's letters this week
* I am spending about 12 hours a day in class. I am learning so much. We are teaching some investigators, it puts a lot of pressure on me, but I love it!
*Everyone in my district keeps getting mad at me because I get a package almost every day and about 4 letters a day, they don't get any.
* I have about 22 letters to write today to all of the people who have written me.
*My district is so awesome there is 11 of us, all elders no sister. We pretty much run our zone cause the zone leaders are all in my district.
*I'm so happy I am going to Arizona, Arizona is perfect!

Ryan didn't say anything about going to the temple, but according to the pictures, I'd say he went. Ryan has been able to meet up with several of his friends. Tod is in the same residence as Ryan so they meet together every night. 


Ryan, Kody and Tod (Kody arrived in Honduras Monday night.)

It looks like they found Elder Linton

Ryan and Elder Nick Linton

Ryan's district

A peek inside of the dorm. 

Ryan's district

Kamie asked Ryan to take pictures of his meals. It looks like he listened...
I've always wondered what the food was like at the MTC, 
Now I guess we all know.
I think Ryan is surviving on cereal, orange soda and powerade.

I also received a letter from one of the missionaries in Ryan's district. 
He had this to say about Ryan...
"I am so very grateful for your son and his charity and kind heart. I am the first of my family to head out on a mission and being the first I seemed to have forgotten a few things. Your son has taken care of me. I am so appreciative of him! He is a great young man called of god."     Elder Carroll

I got a letter!

I'm not going to lie, I've been waiting by the window for the mail man to show up. It was a good thing there was a letter waiting for me.

A few highlights from his letter:
Ryan's first sentence "Holy cow, this is so overwhelming!"
His companion is Elder Fry.
Tod was able to find Ryan's dorm and visit for a while.
He said he is learning to teach by the spirit and that it is very difficult.
He said it is much harder than he thought, but he will never give up!

Please keep Ryan in your prayers.