January 14, 2013

Hey Mom and Dad,

Well, we just had a pretty warm week actually. We were up in the 60's one day but it’s back down to 20's now.  It was nice while it lasted--I loved it although I knew it wouldn’t last forever. Sounds freezing there though luckily I’m here.  haha.  Things are going really well here though and we have been finding a few more people to teach.  Hope it keeps up. We haven't been tracting too often but we are out for a little each week.  

Ah, so you saw our Christmas card for the mission office ha.  It’s a pretty nice tie I would say. haha. Ya, it’s crazy how many missionaries are in our ward now haha.

 Well, I hope that you have a great time with Eric on his birthday. That would be way funny if Arlee had her baby on Eric’s birthday.  Well, sounds like you are doing pretty good with the Christlike attributes.  Hopefully it goes well and I know I learned so much from it.  I have grown a ton from them and hope that continues. Well, have a great week.  Sorry I don’t have a ton to report on.  I love you all.

Love,

Elder Ryan Furtney

January 8, 2013

Hello Beloved Familia,

Things are going really good here and it’s kind of warming up again.  It sounds like Utah is getting hit with the cold; hope it doesn't last for too long.  I’m sure we will get some cold very soon. I would say it feels colder this year than last year but I wasn’t near the lake last year either so that might be why.  

Well, that is really cool Mom that you are working on the Christlike attributes. I just recently restarted and have been making a little notebook of my favorite scriptures and quotes for each attribute and also other parts to each attribute.  It took me about a week to get just through Hope and now I’m working on Faith and Charity; so I’m excited.  It really has helped me to grow so much.

Well, we are still teaching our same investigator who finally made it to church and really enjoyed it.  We are struggling on finding in Amherst and Vermilion... the two cities in our area. So mostly we would work in Lorain but now that we have so many new missionaries coming out, our area got split and now we just have two towns.  We now have 3 sets of missionaries in our ward and this is just the start of the influx. Actually, we haven't even got any 18 year olds yet.  That will be next transfer.  We had a couple of missionaries waiting for Visa's so they got sent here.  So in our area we really have like no members…they live mainly in the sister's area.

I am sad I missed the baby blessing but I’m sure it was great.  We are doing great here and really enjoying the winter so far. Thanks for the email. Love all of you and hope everyone is doing great. Have a great week!

Love,

Elder Ryan Furtney

December 31, 2012

Hey Mom and Dad,

Yep, so we have today as a p-day but we will work tonight -- not tracting or anything -- just member lessons and service. We were stuck in our apartment on Wednesday because of blizzard conditions. We got about 6 inches of snow and then another few inches the next two days, but that was not bad at all. The cold was the bad part... it was about 18 last night while we were tracting and I could feel it. My knees were starting to get really stiff.   I guess I’m getting old haha. It wasn't too bad although I think it’s supposed to get pretty bad the next few days. We have done a ton of snow shoveling... in fact, it’s all we have done… haha. I think I might join Dad in the countdown till March -- that sounds fine to me.

So, ya, my Skyping with the family in California was great and they are all doing great. I was pretty surprised to see Eric with a beard but I guess it’s out of laziness.  Dad bought a razor for him for Christmas... haha.  Oh, and Soren is big now -- it is crazy -- I was so surprised but everyone was great... and it was really good to see them. They did ask about my days and they were pretty surprised to hear what we do it each day.  haha.  I didn't get to talk a ton about the gospel other than that.  Julie was laughing too because I have the Midwest lingo down… she was like -- you are speaking like an Ohioen.  It was funny.

Well, not much else to report at the moment.  I love you all and hope you are all doing great.

Love You!

Love, 

Elder Ryan Furtney 

December 18, 2012

Hey Mom and Dad,

So I am so excited for Christmas this year; it’s going to be a great one. I got the package and the letter.   Thank you so much for everything! We are still figuring out all the Skype stuff but just be kinda ready at any time.  We will probably try to do it from the noonish to 3:00 pm area. Sorry, I know that’s a big timeframe but we were not able to go to church and figure it out this week because of some sickness; but we are both good now.  So I have been emailing Jordan since he got out and he seems really excited.  I’m way excited to know what place he is serving in.

Oh, so we have an interesting Christmas tree.  I’ll probably send a picture to you when we Skype.  I don’t have a ton of things to report on at the moment but I will have stuff to talk about on Christmas.

I’ll see you all on Christmas and, if I can, I’ll send an email of what time we will be calling. Love you all!

Love,

Elder Ryan Furtney