June 10, 2013

Hey Family,

Wow that was some really exciting news. Congrats to Alexia and Jake that so cool to hear. Well it’s good to hear that I will be home for things now ha-ha. 

So Jesse is going down south that is really cool. I just took a look at the area on the map... Looks like he will have some good stories when he gets home. It doesn't look like he will be gaining as much weight as I did on the mission. In fact, he is probably going to be walking all the time. So that is a bit of a surprise it seems like a lot of the call have been in the states but looks like Jesse needs to find some people down south. Jesse will get the language down quick just rely on the lord for help. Start studying now too. 

So Jeff's baptism is this weekend and it should be really good. Still just setting up all the little stuff for it but I am really excited. Elder Kay is coming back to do the baptism and then confirmation is the next day. He is really excited for it and it should be great. I definitely am going to stay in contact with this family. They are some of my favorite people that I have taught on my mission. Really other then Jeff's baptism we don't have much going on but everything is going great. 

It’s starting to get humid so I’m not to excited but oh well. Jesse there really isn’t anyway to prepare for humidity but prepare. Ha-ha it will be hard to breathe the first few days your in it. Love you all!

Love,

Elder Ryan Furtney

June 3, 2013

Hello Wonderful Family,

Things here are going really well. It’s been warm and not super humid yet. I have been enjoying the weather so far. We have been biking a little bit more. So there have been a few days where the sweat is just everywhere. It’s a bit nasty but oh well that's a part of the mission. 

Me and my comp are doing good and just been trying to find some people to teach. We were able to start setting up Jeff's baptism and he is super excited... so am I. His family is still investigating but are not moving at his pace and you can tell that he wants them to. They are saying they know it’s true but there isn't much of an urgency so hope that changes soon. 

Thank you for the card by the way. My birthday was about as exciting as any other day but we did go out to eat and enjoyed a good dinner.

It sounds like the callings are going well. Dad hasn't shown up in any crazy costumes yet has he? Hope he doesn't embarrass you too much mom. Ha-ha.

Well that is really good news that Kent got the job Alyssa must be pretty excited. Well thank you for all the updates. It’s great to hear from you. Tell everyone I love them!

Love,

Elder Ryan Furtney

May 28, 2013

Hello Mom and Dad,

Thank you for the birthday wishes. For my birthday I’ll probably just go eat out somewhere. I will be looking for the card thank you.  

So my tooth is not in too good of shape. I thought that it would have made it till I got home, but it has been getting a little decay inside of it and finally broke a bit off so now I’m just getting it fixed so nothing gets infected. But yes I probably should have gotten it fixed a while ago but I didn't think it would have broken ha-ha. Sister Vellinga said that she called you and she was just glancing over the notes about me and then Dad answered and she almost called him brother Furtney ha-ha. She is funny; luckily she saw Wray right before that ha-ha.

 So it’s weird to think that Jesse is graduated but it’s really cool. Are his papers sent in? 

Thank you for telling me when my homecoming is, once you know my topic you can send that as well so I have a little prep. And yes, I will probably be sound asleep on the stand but hopefully Matt takes all the time so I can just bare my testimony and go back to sleep ha-ha. 

Jeff is doing so well. He is off smoking and is totally ready for baptism. Now we have to work on the rest of his family so that should be interesting. 

So Lorain is going to be my last area. Transfers are this week but I’m staying. So that makes it 9 months in my last area. Wow that is a long time but I have enjoyed it so much. On Sunday a speaker got sick so Elder Metcalf and I (another elder in the ward) both were asked to give a quick 5 minute talk, mainly because we are both leaving soon. It was good and surprisingly it wasn’t even that scary ha-ha.  It’s weird how a mission can change you in that way.

Well thank you for everything and I should be getting my tooth fixed sometime this week. Love you all 

Love,

Elder Ryan Furtney

May 16, 2013

Hey Mom and Dad,

Things are going well here. Not too much of a difference so far, but on the bright side is that Jeff is doing really well. It looks like he will be done with smoking this week so he will be ready for his baptism! We are still doing lots of service and teaching.

The humidity is back! NOO!  I’m not excited to start sweating like crazy again but oh well. I knew Dad would love not having to change a sprinkler again. That is always an upside to rocks.

Well I really enjoyed talking to both of you last week. It’s always good to see you. Also, when you know my homecoming talk date, could you send that to me so I can send it to one of my old comps... he is planning on being there.

Oh, by the way, yes, Jesse you will have to have your hair pretty short... My scar is showing all the time out here...But when I get home just beware... the hair is going to get long ha-ha. 

Well I really have nothing to report on but I Love you all.  And hope you are all doing great, and have a great week.

Love, 

Elder Ryan Furtney

May 6, 2013

Hi Mom and Dad,

The week was really good. We did a ton of service... Dug holes for trees. Which we will be planting the trees this week. Moved a member in the ward... Always fun. And also did a few other little things throughout the week. Also we met with Jeff a few times and he is doing great. We are working with him to be baptized on June 15th with his wife and mom. Also, this Saturday we should be going to Kirtland with them so I am super excited! We had other teaching appointments but the most important part was with Jeff. 

Jesse is finished with his papers already. That is sweet. I hope he isn't too worried about the interview President Rau... I mean all he does I quiz you on preach my gospel and if you fail he will just give him a few lashings. Ha-ha. Jesse will be a great missionary... He knows a ton more than I did when I was his age. So graduating already... hmmm that is weird to think about but it is really cool.   \

So we will probably just call after our dinner so it will be about 4 your time. We can Skype again so I am excited to see you all.   I will see you on Sunday.  

Well love you all have a great and wonderful week.

Love,

Elder Ryan Furtney

P.S. I know I'll say it on Sunday but I love you mom and HAPPY MOTHERS DAY!!!! You have done so much for me and I am so grateful! LOVE YOU!

 

April 29, 2013

Hey Dad, 

It has been a while since you have written but you are probably right if I heard from you ever week I may go insane... ha-ha just kidding. It’s great to hear how you and the family are doing. And of course I am always grateful for everything you do for me even when you have to send in those checks.  I am doing good here though I don't really need anything now but look out when I get home ha-ha. So time just flies by out here it is crazy that this month I will be having my last zone conference... I always look forward to zone conferences. But really time goes by way too fast. You said it yourself when I was in high school that the mission would come up quick and, guess what, it did. And then you said it would go by even quicker and of course you were right again... Maybe one day I will listen..:). I feel I understand the difference between the two. Now I just hope that it sticks that I stay converted. My biggest fear going home is going back to my old ways. I don't want to do that! 

 So you must be some good teacher if they keep calling back to that calling. It’s probably because they thought you would come back as Peter or some other person in the New and Old Testament. Maybe even a Book of Mormon too. Ha-ha I was thinking Abinadi (you're about that age right?) ha-ha.

Well Jeff and his family are still doing well and I can tell he understands it; he is just having the hardest time kicking the cigs... Those things are killer to this work.

I’m enjoying being in leadership again but of course it adds to the stress at times. So far it hasn't been too bad though. 

Thank you Dad for everything you do for me. Also for being a great example to me as well. I love you

Love,

Elder Ryan Furtney

Jesse,

So Jesse heard you have a girl friend huh? I’m pretty surprised but it will give you some experience... But remember my favorite quote by Ritchie Stubbs. "All you’re doing is spending your money on some other man's wife!" All I can say is that I have learned this quote is 100% true in all aspects.  This quote applies mainly to before the mission, of course, because once you get home its date date date.

But enough with that, how are you doing? Is school treating you well? Are you doing your best to prepare for your mission? It’s really important and I promise the preparation you put in before will help you to have an easier transition into the field. And of course always be careful of the situations you are in with your girl. Everything that people tell you about what Satan will put in front of you as you prepare to serve. I learned that for myself and promise you that it’s tough to get through. But you will do well and you’re a great kid... Yes I know you’re not a kid but I call everyone kid for some reason now ha-ha. Love you and do everything you can to prepare.

Love,

Elder Ryan Furtney

Hey Mom, 

Things here are going really good. We are still teaching Jeff and his family and they are doing really well. Just need to help them get over smoking and we will be good. He is an amazing person and is going to do so much good for the church over here. Sadly he didn't make it to church this Sunday but only because he had a messed up back from the day before.

My new comp is still doing good he is just adjusting to missionary life still, but soon enough he will be there.

Robert's wife Heather, (who I don’t know if I ever told you about her because they were not married tell after I left, they were still dating) has set a baptismal date for the 18th and seems that she will make it so that was really cool to hear. Hopefully I’ll get to come back and see them go through the temple together. It is really amazing to see how your converts are doing.

So I am over 1 set of sisters and 3 sets of elders (one of those sets includes me) which all adds up to 8 Missionaries. It’s just our ward so it makes it easier to do things in this district. All of the missionaries are under 6 months except me and one other so its pretty strange, all of them are really new but they are the best to learn from.

Well we are also beginning to get some really nice weather here as well. I actually am starting to enjoy tracting again ha-ha.

Is Eric still looking for a job up in Seattle? I’m surprised he hasn't found one yet.

Well thank you for all you do for me and I love you so much. Also I already set up a place to skype so when do you get out of church? I'm trying to plan it all out. Thank you

Love,

Elder Ryan Furtney

Aptil 22, 2013

Hey Mom and Dad,

 I am really glad to be staying here, although it will take a little work to get Jeff and his family there but it is going to happen. They are an amazing family and I am really grateful to be able to teach them and become good friends.

So my new comp is Elder Shupe; he is from Holiday, Utah.  He has been out in the field for about 3 months so still pretty new. He just came from Bryan Ohio, and so I got to hear a lot about how Robert has been doing, and it seems that he is doing amazing.

I’m going to be sending a lot of my winter stuff home so I don’t have to haul it around anymore. So be expecting a package soon. 

 So I hope that Alyssa gets a girl too. She can’t be in this family and not end up with at least one girl.

Well hope the papers go well, there is nothing better that Jesse can be doing after high school than being out here in the mission field. So ya there are so many visa waiters in our mission now it is ridiculous ha-ha. We had maybe 1 out here before the announcement and now we have a least 15; but state side isn’t too bad especially if you come to Ohio because then you get to go to Kirtland... well at least if you come to this mission ha-ha. 

Well the weather has been pretty great here the past few days. Not too much to complain about and I don’t mind the rain anymore. It just makes it green here so that is ok with me. Everything is starting to bloom so now it doesn’t look like death here ha-ha.

Thank you for the email and it’s always good to hear from you. Have a great week and love you all.

Love,

Elder Ryan Furtney