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

February 4, 2013

Hey Mom and Dad,

Things are going so good here and it seems like it will be a great transfer. My new companion is Elder Kay and he is from Snowflake AZ. He actually came out with me so we have the same amount of time left... :) I am not district leader, another area is now.  So it’s nice I don’t have as many calls and I don’t have to make time to do all the numbers part of missionary work; we just go out and do it. We have been having a lot of success in the area now and have found a few more investigators. We have been teaching a lot more which is nice because of the bitter cold. Although we have gone tracting and I think it’s the first time I have actually lost feeling in my face... Wind off the lake sucks so much; but I still love it out here.

So we are having a shorter transfer this one because the changes that took place with the MTC and how long they stay there now, so my return date has moved up a week earlier and I will see you a whole week earlier now.  But don’t worry I’m still focused Dad so I have been working really hard and trying to stay warm... just like you and the truck.
So it’s good to hear about Alyssa now there are so many new nieces and nephews I get to meet. I am very excited to get to know them even better now.

Nothing is set in stone with school yet, I’m still thinking of what I want to do but I’m sure I’ll get it figured out soon.  Don’t worry I have been pondering and praying about what I need to do for school whenever I can; now I’m just searching for the answer. 

Well I hope that you can help the Eddings out a lot dad. You are the perfect ones to do so. I guess it’s really going to have to be up to the spirit and letting it guide you at all times with them. I’m sure that you will do great. They are a great family.

Love you all and hope you have a great week.

Love,

Elder Ryan Furtney

January 29, 2013

Hey Mom and Dad,

Things are going great by the lake but we are not teaching too much... we’ve basically been tracting a lot. Amherst is pretty set in their ways but we have found a few people. We are still teaching Lucy... the one I have been teaching since I got here but we are struggling to get her to church.  Other than that, we do service for a lot of people and things but no solid investigators except Lucy.

Well, today its up in the 50's but Ohio is so weird because it was 20 a few days ago. It has been so much colder this year than last but it hasn't been way bad; I think it’s just because of the lake. We have transfers this week and I’m staying but I’ll be getting a new comp.  So I’ll tell you a little about him next week when I actually know who he is.  

We haven't had to do much snow shoveling this year surprisingly, even though we have had more storms than last year. Don’t worry Dad, this area is going great and I’m enjoying it; just not a ton to write about. Oh and I’m still losing weight so hope I can keep it up. Sorry I don’t have a ton to write about but maybe I’ll have more in the coming weeks.

Well, love you all so much.  I’m doing great and surprisingly pretty healthy with everyone around being sick.... more than half of our mission has had the flu so I’m pretty happy so far not being sick.  Although not too much to do when we are stuck inside our house haha. Well, have a great week!

Love,

Elder Ryan Furtney