Aunty Melinda, Uncy Bob & Marty drop in for a Visit!

April 30

About Melinda, I promised I wouldn't tell but since she did first, I can talk about it. Yea, I got to see Schnookity Boo a few days ago. It was crazy! she called my Mission President and got permission to take me to dinner. The funny thing is that it was a miracle that I ever even got to see her and Bob. We had just gotten back from helping with a 5K run and were supposed to be at an appointment who NEVER cancels, but for some strange reason had cancelled that day. We were at our apartments for a couple minutes RIGHT when she showed up and...... yea...... it was definitely meant to happen.

Anyway, things are going very well with our investigators, less actives, and members. We have a baptism of an 18 year old awesome kid who REALLY wants to go on a mission its next weekend (May 12th), another baptism of a 13 year old either the same weekend or possibly one of the two following in May, and then another baptism for hopefully the 3rd or 4th weekend in May, and then we have gotten two more new investigators this week: an 11 year old girl and a 12 year old boy who reads to his friends from the book of Mormon. (By the way, feel free to share this stuff with Mom, I didn't tell her some of this in my e-mail to her.)

So yea! Looking forward to more awesome letters! Keep trucking and being awesome and ROCKING IT!!!!! Go to In-N-Out and get me a chocolate shake!!!

I love you!!!

                                               -Elder Ryan A. Bell

P.S. My favorite scripture is Romans 8:16-18. The theme of my mission is definitely BECOME.

Cool Miracles

E-mail to Dad April 16, 2012

Hey Pappy!

So great to hear from you! I am out of time so look for a letter. Maybe I will just hang on to this letter until I finally get one from you. ;)

This week, a couple of really cool miracles happened. I will tell you about one that I can remember (That's why we don't do drugs, man.)

On our phone we got a text message for a referral in our area. A guy wanted a Bible. So we got a Bible and chugged on over to this house and rang the doorbell, but no answer. We knock and then leave a note as is customary. It is a very nice day so there are a lot of people out on the street, so we decide to go and start talking to these people. We walk up to this guy who is sitting on a cooler in his driveway, watching his kids ride their bikes around on the street. He is extremely gracious to us and even offers us a drink. We thank him for his coolness and he responds "Hey, anybody with the name Jesus Christ on their name tag is a friend of mine." So we talk to him and we tell him about the Book of Mormon. He was so stoked! We gave him a copy and then explained that the Book of Mormon is ANOTHER Testament of Jesus Christ. He asks a lot of questions and was floored about it, wondering why the Book of Mormon wasn't next to the Bible at the Library or in stores and such. He kept saying, "Man, I was going to study in side but then I decided to hang out here and just watch my kids, and if I didn't I never would have met you guys and never would have learned about this book!" Sounds like a Seminary Video, I know. So we set up an appointment to come back and talk to him more about it and go on our merry way. As we walk away, we see the car pull in at the house of the referral that we originally were going to see. We run over to the house and talk to the people as they are getting out of their car. It turns out that the referral wasn't even real. CRAZY, right?!

Love,

-Elder Ryan A. Bell

I SAW THE SIGN!!!!

E-mail from April 9, 2012

It is I!!!! The Blind Kung-Fu Master!!!!!!

Once, again, many people have been critical about the kids we are working with getting baptized after their Mom, but I can attest, because I am a witness of the real change that has come over them! They told Elder Peterson and I in our first lesson with them that they really didn't want to be baptized and really weren't interested, but after hearing what we had to say, they decided to TEST out our words. From there, every visit, the growth and change that came over them was more and more apparent. They were truly converted! I would not have ever been comfortable with them getting baptized unless I KNEW they were doing it for the right reason.

LOVE is the sure sign of conversion! Whether someone just got the lessons or whether they were born a member, LOVE is the purest and surest way of showing our commitment and conversion to Jesus Christ. Now, we could go into depth about why that is, but that is something for another day.

But to state my thesis simply-

34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. (Read Alma 26. Pay special attention to those brought to "sing redeeming love." Why? What happens to bring this about?)

35 By this shall all men know (Sure witness) that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

And that is what missionary work is about, isn't it? Making disciples of people? Not necessarily just baptizing them; sure, that's part of it, but we, at the core are seeking to bring others to Christ, to get them to know him and to follow him. Love is the sign! Love is the means! Love is the way!

I would like to bear you all my witness that I have felt God's redeeming love in my life! Who could have supposed that God would have been so merciful as to have snatched me from my awful, sinful, and polluted state? How blessed am I not only to be out here on a mission, and to have the capacity to be serving; but to be able to behold the fruits of my labors; that is just gold added to gold! Let us take the counsel of King Benjamin and ALWAYS RETAIN in REMEMBRANCE our own nothingness, our carnal nature, our fallen, and pitiful state; then with this clearly established in the mind, let us ALWAYS RETAIN in REMEMBRANCE the majesty, power, justice, mercy, and patience of God towards us, unworthy creatures. As Jordan would tell us, "Are we not all beggars?" Do we not rely on God for EVERYTHING?! It's one thing to say and confess this fact, but for goodness sake- BELIEVE IT!!!! LIVE IT!!!!! Carve this fact into your soul so clearly that those you come in contact with will be able to sense it in your countenance!!

Have a great week everyone Love you all!!

Elder Ryan Bell

I'm Talkin to Everyone!!

Letter Home April 2nd, 2012

Had some great experiences this week, on of which I will try to relate to you briefly. I had an experience about following guidance. Sometimes, I am a pansy and don't talk to people because I am afraid of what they or my companion will think, etc. This week I learned a lesson which I will call, "You're a missionary, WHO CARES?!" When I come home, the only thing I will regret, in this regard is NOT talking to people; NOT doing my job, not being brave and bold, faithful and diligent, not magnifying my calling. I won't remember all the people who yelled at me or mocked me, I won't remember the people who I tripped in front of walking to talk to them, I won't remember the people who tried to argue and make me look like I didn't know what I was talking about, etc. I won't remember ANY of these people, and they won't remember me! But I will remember those who I DIDN'T talk to and I will regret it. Sometimes, we are so worried about saving face (Because of our pride) that we forget why we are out here- to save souls! Including our own!

So I have decided to talk to EVERYONE!!! Who cares if I look like an idiot to them, to my companion, to the people around me, etc. Seriously, that doesn't matter! So, now I ALWAYS talk to people in restaurants in front of large groups of missionaries, I even did it in front of my Mission President. When I am walking on the street and see people making fun of us, I still talk to them. Because I am a missionary! I will only remember or care if I neglected my duties.

Tell everyone to send more food!!

Love,

Elder Ryan Bell

Ever Wake up Ornery?

Sorry All I have been buried in work (gone for a solid month for training in Houston, Denver and 3 days in class in Salt Lake) but without further ado here are the updates from Elder Ry Ry

Ryan's Letter to Dad March 26

Pappy,

Utah's weather sounds like a woman- angry, kinda hot, but frustrating because it doesn't quite know what it wants. It's the end of the month and I am out of money, so no more anything until next week. I have been saving the last couple dollars all week that I had just to buy water today. It was hard because Ritter's had some dang good flavors this week and Ooh La La only has their Guinness cupcake for a couple more days, but I stayed strong! I hung on to my $5 and bought water! Which I will probably need if I want to continue living.

Do you ever just wake up ornery? Yea, that happened to me bad today. I woke up, slapped the alarm off and starting exercising, just looking out my window and thinking, "What the heck am I doing with my life, man?!" Then the people going to the bus stop stare at me and I stare back.

It has been a very bright and awesome week! 3 kids are being baptized on April 7th! YEA!!! It's cool that they are taking that step through the strait gate, but what has been even cooler is just watching the change take place within them, seeing them WANT to read, pray, keep the commandments, and learn more. They are so incredible and I am grateful beyond words for the chance to have been part of their conversion. How great is my joy! For I have been blessed to see the fruit of my labors! Anyway, that has been an exciting thing for this week. Things are going tough in some other areas, but hey, what would we be if we never had adversity? French- that's what.

Yea, I tried the coolest new restaurant the other day. It's called Spring Creek Barbecue. SUPER GOOD!!!!! I felt way gross after thanks to the stomach thing, but the food was fantastic! WE ARE GOING THERE WHEN YOU COME TO PICK UP MY CASKET!!!!!!!!! Tell everyone Hey!!

Elder Ryan Bell

Crazy week! I actually got a brand new $300 pair of dress shoes from a member on St. Patrick's Day. It was sweet! THAT DAY IS MY DAY!!!!! I had Corned Beef, Cabbage, Potatoes, and Cornbread with Donnie and Russ for dinner on St. Patrick's Day and I will tell you what- THAT was the absolute best meal that I have had on my mission thus far. Just so Irish and just SO FLIPPIN' GOOD!!!!!

YEA!!!!!!!

Elder Peterson and I saw some cool miracles this week and we have worked harder than we ever have in the weeks past. On St. Patrick's day after dinner, we both came home and were just.... down. We didn't have anything planned for the rest of the night and the night was young. I didn't know what to do for the people we had just visited, what I really wanted was time to just sit and think, study, and ponder. But I knew that we needed to get out. I suggested it and lacked answers on where we needed to go or what we needed to do. I called every member I could think of for us to go visit and start our Finding Hour, but absolutely no one was available. Yes, this lack of a plan made it even more enticing to just stay there and do spiritual activities, which isn't bad mind you, but gosh dang it, I'm a missionary! People are out there that need US! This is not what I was thinking at that moment.) But anyways with absolutely no motivation or drive I insisted that we need to just get out and leave. We were NOT going to waste any time on St. Patrick's Day; not on MY DAY!!!! So we just went. No idea where we were going, no idea what to do, facing resistance, Elder Peterson suggested that he felt we should go visit a less active member neither of us had ever met or really even heard of before- so we did. And that was Miracle #1 out of 4. They weren't going to let us in, but then after somebold insistence, they allowerd us to come inside. Then we talked, found out that they had requested no visits from the Church but had allowed us in, we discussed their concerns, and then after some inspired questions, we asked if we could come teach them the discussions, at first they said no, but then mid-sentence changed their mind and agreed to let us come back and teach them the discussions to get them on their spiritual feet. Anyway, it was a great night after that and we both felt WAY HAPPIER from working!!! Even though neither of us wanted to, even though neither of us knew what to do, we just went and did- and look what came of it! And more!

-Elder Ryan A. Bell

Jeffrey's Trip to Houston- Houston we have a visual!!!

So here's how it all went down the week Jeffrey went to Houston on a Business Trip and a planned stop to deliver goodies to Ryan whilst in town.... Captains Log Star-date Feb 21, 1130 hrs. After successfully landing in Houston @ George Bush International I proceeded to obtain transportation in a fully loaded Dodge Caravan (aka) Black Kidnapper Van... I headed into the Houston Mission Office to rendezvous with President Pingree for a quick tour of the office and then some lunch...  President Pingree was awesome to take time out of his busy schedule to meet with me...  Thanks Again for Lunch President P! We had lunch at Papa's BBQ I highly recommend "Pappa's" they have really good food and its cheap!! So after lunch we headed back to the Mission Office and  that is when sighting number one occurs... Elder Ry had just come from the Houston Temple and had just dropped by the Mission office and was on his way back to Katy as we passed each other.... I was clueless and did not notice but apparently Ry saw us!!! So I head to my Hotel and unpack all of the stuff I had brought down to drop off at Ry's Apartment office. I head into Katy to do a stealth drop off at Ry's Apartment Office... I made the stealth drop unnoticed and headed back into Houston... I spent the remainder of the week pretty much busy ... but, on Friday I had some additional time before I headed to dinner with some friends... So I headed back out into Katy to drop some additional gift cards to Ryan (The Boy is constantly Hungry!!) I made one last stop and grabbed a funny card to place the gift cards inside and to write a quick note... I planned to drive up by Ry's apartment and drop it off again in the Apartment Office but here is where it gets a little tricky... He lives in this huge apartment complex ringed by a ginormous black fence all around and when you drive in through the front gate you have to time it to get behind another car and follow them in... Once inside its limited parking and its only one way in and out of this place... So I hatch a brilliant plan to park on the side street write my card and them zip in and out for the delivery... What could possibly go wrong???? Captains Log Star-date Feb 24, 1530 hrs I find myself parked off the busy roadway on the side street next to Ryan's Apartment complex. I settle back into my seat jamming to some Country Music (Luke Bryan Ya All good stuff...) As I sit I notice the maintenance man cruising around in his little golf cart he does not appear to give me much notice so I a,m feeling like this is a good place to hide in plain sight... So the next thing I notice is some movement in peripheral vision.... Its the maintenance man cruising back the other way probably forgot a wrench or something.... More movement to my south no issue there just some other tenant.... Almost done with my little note.... when my peripheral vision makes out two very distinct objects.... two dudes in white shirts and ties and yep wholly crap!! its Ryan and his companion just coming out of their apartment!!! Kirk to Enterprise prepare to Warp set Phasers to Stun!! So I kinda lean forward and just verify what I am seeing is correct Yep no doubt its Elder Bell!! Okay he's looking scanning oh crap he looked right at me..... I just kinda slide back and down into my seat surely he has no clue its me the windows are blacked oh who am I kidding the kid has eyes like a Hawk..... So I sit and debate should I just gun it and head up the street or do I sit tight... I just sit tight he and his companion jump in their ride and head off!!! I just start laughing hysterically at how I had managed to park directly in front of his Apartment Building!!! Well so much for stealth approach.... I should have waited till dark oh well!!! So sighting number two!! I made the drop without any further ado and beat it back into Houston for a great dinner!! Well Ry it was good to see ya.... Hey, that's where my favorite Tie went...