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

 

April 15, 2013

Hey Mother and Father,

So surprise, I am actually going to be staying and Elder Kay is leaving! Ha don’t worry I was very shocked when I heard it as well. I’m am really excited and should be here till the end but we will see. So I got called to be district leader again so that should be fun. I’m pretty excited for the upcoming transfer but it could be interesting one as well, and I hope I get a good companion.

So for sure my departure date is the 13th, I asked President Vellinga and he said it was for sure. I think it is possible that they will send you an email to see where you want me to fly into. You can keep the homecoming date the 14^th; it should work. I’ll just have to pull a talk from out of nowhere. So that is a really good spot for the temple. I am so excited for it but it will be a while.

Oh so we are, of course, still teaching Jeff and his family.  We were over there last night and they said that they are already making plans for next year to come out on vacation to Arizona and Utah that would be so sweet and they seem for sure that they want to. They are doing amazing and are so very close to accepting the gospel and the baptism challenge. I think they are all really prepared. 

Well say hi to all of the family. Not too much else to report on but I love you all. Have a great week.

Love you all

Love,

Elder Ryan Furtney

April 8, 2013

Hey Mom and Dad,

Sorry about not writing... I was in a bit of a hurry and didn't see an email so I headed out. Life here is amazing and we are having a ton of success. Jeff is doing amazing and so is his family but sadly I won’t be here for his baptism. Oh, also he is still trying to overcome smoking so we have to move his date. Elder Kay is training so I will be out of here in a week and a half. I’m pretty sad that I’ll be missing it but I’m definitely going to keep in touch with him.

Oh, quick update as well our date that we are leaving was moved again and is now on July 13th. What day is my homecoming do you know?

So I was super excited to here the temple get announced. I can’t wait to see a temple in Cedar it will be so cool. I could totally tell that he was going to announce it ha-ha. So do you know where it is going to be placed? So two of my favorite talks were Elder Perry’s and Elder Bednar’s but again I loved Elder Oaks’ as well. There were so many good talks though and President Monson's is always inspiring.

Hope Jesse doesn’t make a fool of himself at prom... ha-ha but that is so sweet that the papers have begun. I bet that he will go to Ohio! Ha-ha and he will love it. 

Well love you all and hope that you all have a great week.

Love,

Elder Ryan Furtney

March 25, 2013

Hey Mom and Dad,

Our week went very well and we are finding more people to teach. It’s been a pretty cold week and we have a bit of snow today as well. A storm came out of nowhere so we have to deal with the cold for a little longer. I can’t wait till spring actually starts here ha-ha. Easter should be good we are spending it with the other missionaries at a member’s home but then we still work too. Jeff is doing really well and his whole family should be at church next Sunday... it should be a packed one. It has been a really great week and even though it was cold we have had fun and had success. We found two more investigators yesterday and Jeff and his son came to church. Jeff just quit smoking and he is progressing great and should be on target for his baptism. If he keeps it up he should make it. Well I don’t really know what else to report on but Elder Kay and I are doing great and enjoying this ward a lot. Love you all and hope you have a great week.

Love,

Elder Furtney

March 18, 2013

Hey Mom,

 It’s good to hear from you and all the news of the family. The work is going very good here and we have still been having a lot of success. We are still teaching the minister and he is doing amazing. His family is starting to meet with us and they are enjoying it too. Except the wife is a little reserved and not as excited but we will get them there.

Things are starting to warm up here just a little although this morning we had some freezing rain so not to much of a change. I believe I have been seeing things starting to bloom and bud, so I’m pretty excited. Once it warms up I will again enjoy being outside ha-ha. 

I hope that you had a good birthday. I hope that the family is doing well. Hopefully Eric will find that job soon.

Well the work is still going on and I still love every minute of it. Love you all

Love,

Elder Ryan Furtney

March 11, 2013

Hey Mom and Dad,

 It’s great to hear from you.  It sounds like it will be a great birthday month for the Wray family like it always is. Hope everyone has a Happy Birthday!

Well, I can tell you that I am pumped for general conference; feels like it just happened but it’s back again. It seems to me that Dad is getting a lot of chances to speak ha-ha. Soon he will be back on high council if he doesn't look out ha-ha. So I hope you know that I am super jealous of the St. Patty’s day dinner. I love that meal so much ha-ha.

Ya, so things have been going really well here, we have Jeff the former minister who is doing so well. He is so prepared to receive the gospel. He came to church this past week and loved it and we have just been having a lot of success in the area. It’s always good to have some success and then when the weather warms up time will fly by. Again though I don’t have much to report on but I hope everything goes good this week.

Mom, I hope you have a very HAPPY BIRTHDAY! LOVE YOU! Say hello to everyone for me.

Love,

Elder Ryan Furtney

March 4, 2013

Hello Mom and Dad,

I have been doing well and really loving how our area is doing. We are still finding a lot of people and it’s pretty exciting to see. There are transfers this week but we are both staying another one together so it should be good.  We are getting another set of missionaries in our ward so that will be 8 in all... it’s pretty crazy how many new missionaries are coming out the next two transfers.  The Ohio mission has been pretty bad for the flu but I haven’t gotten it. 

It’s great to hear about the family. Sounds like it was great weekend for both of you. Hope Ron and Tina are doing well.  Sorry I don’t have much to report on this week and not much time either but I love you all.

Love,

Elder Ryan Furtney

February 25, 2013

Hello Family,

Things are going great here by the lake. Weather is warming up and once that happens time is just going to fly by although it already is doing that. We had a really good week and we have been teaching a man who has been so prepared. He told us that when he saw us walking up to his house he was just going to tell us to leave but then he had a feeling he really needed to talk to us. He was so open and is so great. We see him on Wednesday and I am really excited. It is always so great to see Heavenly Father prepare the hearts of His children. The elect are all over, we just need to open our mouths. Other than that I’m just excited to see the changes that are coming next week with our huge transfer coming in. It should be pretty exciting.

So Lake Erie freezes over pretty good but they don’t have a ton of shipping in the winter but I’m sure it picks up in the summer.

 I think that’s great for Jesse. Need to start preparing right now though. Oh and a lot of my stuff probably won’t be great unless he wants some ugly shirts haha. Summer makes my shirts look like crap haha. But most of my stuff he can use…like all the little stuff should be fine. But that is really exciting I can’t wait to hear where the little dude is going haha.

So Alyssa told me the same thing about the temple that would be so cool if it happened. Oh and Dad you can tell Uncle Grover that I’m not putting off BYU-I.  I just don’t know for sure what I want to go into.  If he has some info that he could send me for that, then I would like to look into it. Probably should send it in a few months though not right now… Still staying focused! :) Well thanks for the letter and I love you all!

Love,

Elder Ryan Furtney

February 20, 2013

Dear Mom and Dad,

 It’s good to hear from Dad but... I never got an email from Mom; oh well, I still love her! :). It’s been a great week although it was bone chilling all week. I decided that I hate wind with a passion. Dad, I can say that I love to hear when converts are doing well. It’s always great news to know that they are still living the gospel and it actually helped them in their lives. I definitely can say that I focus way too much on the present and I have been trying to keep an eternal aspect in mind at all times. Well, yes, from what I have heard, it sounds like winter has been much worse there than here. We have only really been cold in February and it’s not those kinds of temperatures.  haha. But it is always good to know that you are safe. Hopefully your work continues sending you down to Vegas.

 So Uncle Grover wants me to come up there to BYU Idaho... hmmm I don’t know; I would have to think and ponder on that for a while. I have thought about that before for a major but still I’m trying to decide. I’m mostly trying to focus still so I don’t have tons of time to think about it but I will when I’m home.

Oh so my new release date is July 11th as far as I know so I would be flying home on the 12th. But if anything changes I will let you know.  I love you all and we are doing great here in Amherst.

Love,

Elder Ryan Furtney

February 11, 2013

Hey Mom and Dad,

Well Ohio has had one day of warmth but it’s now dropping again and should be snowing tonight. But for the most part it seems like this winter has hit its low point and should be warmer from now on... When I finally was getting used to it; except that wind... That stuff just flat out sucks.  None of my winter stuff stops it and layers don’t do much either but I’ll live haha. I’m doing great though and the work is moving forward. I am really enjoying Elder Kay and we have been having some success this past week. Oh and yes elder Kay was in the MTC at the same time as me but he wasn't in the same district but we know each other from just serving in the same zones all the time. He is a soccer player as well so we get along really well.  Yep and we will leave the same day as well so it’s great to be with him. We found 3 new investigators and they all seem pretty solid. We are teaching a lot more lessons now but tracting is still there too haha. It’s been pretty fun though, and I really love this work so much. I have really noticed how much that we are just the instruments in this work and Heavenly Father is really just guiding us to his elect. This week we were stopping by a less active and no one was there and so we were driving out when I remembered there was another less active in those apartments. So we turned around and went and found his door... we knocked and ... nothing haha, but as we went back to the car we ran into this lady who was so ready (she had just come from her friends mom’s house who had just died) and even though at first she wasn’t too interested, we had a prayer with her and she then opened up. Now we have a return appointment with her and she is so interested. It’s so great to see Heavenly Father just work through us. It has really shown me His love for all His children. 

 So it’s great to hear about the work you did for Grandma. I guess that explains why I have been thinking so much about her this week. Can’t wait to hear how everything else goes once you finish all the other work for her. Also tell Alyssa happy birthday for me if you can. Also it’s great to hear about Dad and Julie; hope everything went well there. Too bad I wasn't there to help with the move... :) although I think I’m ok with it. haha. I feel like I have done more moving of people out here than I ever did or will do in my whole life haha. Oh also I forgot to bring my camera but next week I will send a few pictures. I haven’t sent any for a while. Thank you for everything and I love you all. Happy Valentine’s day!

Love,

Elder Ryan Furtney