February 11, 2013 Holaaaa!!!!!

Ahhh what another amazing week here in Mexico!!! We were able to baptize again. We baptized two jovens Anakarina and Carlos. They are so great and so excited to be in the church and to now have the gift of the holy ghost. We are still working on getting the rest of there family baptized. Their dad is awesome and should be baptized in two months. The Lord continues bless us with families. We found a single mother with 4 daughters this past week and they were at church Sunday. Adriana and her 2 oldest daughters (twins) have a baptismal date for the 23. They are so awesome mom and dad they just read and read the chapters we give them and have so many questions. They are so awesome and cute. We also have a baptism planned for this upcoming Saturday. His name is Brando and he is 16 years old. His aunt and cousins are members. This past Sunday we gave him a challenge to pray during the sacrament to see if this baptism is what he needs to do and if it is what his heavenly father wants him to do. He did after sacrament he told us that he prayed and that he wants to be baptized this Saturday. So we are waiting to see if his parents will sign so that he can be baptized. Oh I gave another talk this past week. I spoke on how daily prayer, reading our scriptures daily and attending sacrament meeting weekly will enable us to stay firm in the gospel and endure to the end. There are a ton of less active members here so I hope I made my point that they have to pray, read the Book of Mormon and go to church. 

  No, I haven't had anyone ask me about my teeth and lets be honest my teeth aren't as good as Nate's, ha ha. So the language is coming. I still have a ton to learn, ha ha ,but this past week Elder Charles had to give an interview in a city about 30 minutes away so we had divisions. I showed the area and pretty much taught all of the lessons by myself which was pretty cool to see how much I have grown in my Spanish the last 8 weeks. Dad transfers are this next week but Elder Charles and I will be staying here because I am training and more then likely I will stay here another transfer after that to show the area. But I am more than fine with that I love Cosamaloapan it is home. Its weird it just feels like home now. I cant really put it into words. I have really come to love my converts and investigators and the members here. I think that has what changed everything for me down here and why we have started to have some success. Because Elder Charles and I have really started to love the people here and one another. I think that truly makes the difference with the spirit you are able to have with you and bring into the houses of those you teach. So this past week Elder Charles and I bought some hammockas and we have been sleeping in them haha. They are so comfortable in the heat. Everyone as hammocks down here so we thought we would do as the natives do. When in rome right. So I haven't said anything about the heat yet down here but it is flipping hot I am in one of the hottest areas in the mission and the most humid. We are always wet its weird lol.

 I am in 3 Nephi 20 now and let me just say 3 Nephi is amazing there is nothing better than reading the words and teachings of christ. I love chapter 18 and how it speaks of sacrament and pray. If you would like to read that, That would be awesome. I have been using some versing in there alot this past week and used some about prayer in my talk. We truly have to pray always and partake of the sacrament weekly. I found 3 verses in D&C 58 that I really like verses 26-28. Other than that I have been studying alot about how we all can recieve answers to our prayers. And what I got out of my studies more than anything is that we must  have the faith necessary to receive the answer. Faith is so important in this life and in all that we we do. In Jesus the Christ Elder Talmage talks a lot about the faith of the people Christ healed. Jesus Christ himself could not of healed the people he did if those he healed didn't have the faith necessary. I have been thinking about that a lot and if I really have the faith I need to have to do this work. I would like to hope so but I continue to try my best and put my trust in both my savior Jesus Christ and my Father in Heaven in all that I do. 

   I love you all so very much and I am so very glad for all of the emails you send me every week and the prayers that you all offer for me. I pray for you all every night and like I say often I cant wait to see you all in the temple one day. I know that this work in the work of the lord and that he is with me everyday here in Mexico. I know that this church is true with all of my heart and soul. I know that Christ is at the head of this church and that he lives. I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of god and that as we live by its precepts we will come to know our savior and gain a testimony of him. I love my heavenly father and I know that he loves me. I love my savior Jesus Christ and I am eternally grateful for the willing sacrifice he gave for me. I love all of you so very much and may god be with you till we meet again.

Love Elder Lehikainen

February 4, 2013

 Ahhh mi familia!!! This week was another great week full of miracles. The lord blessed as again this saturday and we were able to baptize Oscar!!! He is such a stud and I feel like he is my brother. I gave him a giant hug after I baptized him. He calls Elder Charles and I his best friends. He has set the example for his Dad,Mom and Sister and I hope and pray that they will take the step of faith and act as there brother and son has. We have another Baptism planned this upcoming sunday for the kids of Javier and they are so excited. We passed for them again this sunday and they were already walking to church in the rain and so excited to feel the spirit there again this week. We ended up having 6 investigators at church what a blessing. Growing up in the church I havent really noticed the spirit that is in sacrament meeting. But these past four months on the mission my eyes have really opened and that is propably my favorite part of the week.
  Dang so tyler is beasting at baseball atta boy. Work, Work, and Work at the fundamentals and you will tear it up bud never be satisfied. So the superbowl was a good one. I am glad the 49ers lost I dont like niner fans haha. So I have been thinking that I havent really told you all very much about my area and thought I would today. So Cosamaloapan is the name of my area and we have about 65 sq miles in my area but we stay near the city most of the time. I am in a cowboy town lol they grow a ton of sugar cane down here like a rediculous amount. It is kinda cool cause everyone is kinda involved in agriculture and I can talk to them about it and what you do for a living dad. There is a sugar cane plant in the next town over and the ash from the plant is always raining down on us. There are soooo many dogs here like a rediculous amount of sick and diseased dogs. They are always fighting in the streets pretty crazy. We saw 3 dog fights yesterday like big dog fights 4 on 4. I am never going to complain about the dogs in america again even charlie boy dad haha.
   Dang I am sooooo pumped for Colton he is going to be such a stud. His family is going to be very blessed for his willingness to serve the lord and I cant imagine how very proud his father is of the man he has become.
  Soooo this week I hit 3 nephi 11!!! Nothing is better than reading the words of Christ to us. This morning I was studying in chapter 14 and 15. I really love in the end of 14 when the lord is talking about where we need to build our house upon the ROCK. He is our rock and we must build upon him. When the storms of this life come upon us he will help us stand firm and we will come out of our trials stronger and firmer in Christ. He will never let us down when we put our trust in him. I dont know there is such a different in the people that truly want Christ and this gospel in there lives here. They will do what ever they have to for the opportunity to make it to church. Like Javier who walked to church in the rain with his 2 children.These people are truly putting there faith in the lord these are the people that truly want to have the lord in there lives. This kinda reminds me of President Eyrings talk this past conference. The lord is always there for us and when we can not feel him in our lives it is because we are the ones that have changed. This has helped me this past week. I have really been searching for the lord and what it is he want Elder Charles and I to do down here in mexico.
   Dad that is so awesome that the zwhalens have that. I cant wait for the day when we are all in the temple together. I cant wait to see you and mom in the temple again. That is going to be the greatest day in the world when all 8 of us our in the temple together. I love you all so very much and I know that families are forever there is not a doubt in my mind. I know that this church the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is Christs church on the earth again. I know that Joseph Smith is a prophet of God and that Christ restored his church through him. I know that the book of mormon is the word of god. I read it everyday and my testimony is strenghtened each and everyday by its wordss. I have a challenge for all of you. The next time you are reading in your personal studies read moronies challenge and pray again if the book of mormon is true. In preach my gospel it says to do so. Every once in awhile. I love you all so very much and may god be with you till we meet again.
love your son, Brother and friend,
-Elder Ryan Thomas Lehikainen

January 28, 2013 Week #6 in Cosamaloapan

 

"GOLDEN"

Happiness

 Hola hola mi familia!!! So this week was awesome!! Mari was baptized and I am so happy for her and her family. I told her and her husband carlos that a year from this day her baptism Elder Charles and I want to see both of them in white at the temple. They are so great and she definately is truly converted to this gospel how we all should be.  She says it feels so right and like she already knew the things that we were teaching her were right. bueno so we had a great sacrament meeting this past week. 4 of our investigators were at church and the young man Oscar didnt get baptized saturday because he wanted to wait and be baptized with his mom. The both were at church last sunday and we had a great lesson with them last night. And let me just say Oscar must have been inspired to wait because his mom is going to be baptized this saturday as well!! We had two more investigators at church this past sunday and they are so awesome. Javier and his son are so excited about the church. We actually met javier in the street and it is a pretty cool story. He walked past us and he said hello like everyone does here lol but we continued walking about another block and then my comp and I looked at eachother and we were like we have to turn around and talk to this guy. So thats what we did and he turned out to be a member a super inactive member but his son oscar and his daughter Anacarina are going to be baptized the 9th of feb. The lord has truly blessed me this past week. I have been really been trying to submit to his will in all that I do. Which is pretty hard for me I know at times I can be pretty proud and stubborn. But today I was trying to find what becoming as a child really means and I dont know if I found for sure what it means but one thing that I took out of my studies was that we must always be humble as a child is and truly depend on our heavenly father for all of our needs just as a child depends on its parents for all of its needs. So that is something that I have been working on.
  So the ward here is still struggling we have been teaching a ton of non active member trying to strengthen the ward. There are nearly 800 members here and only 75 that are truly active and the majority of them are women. It is saddening how lazing the men here are. The bishop and one of his councelors do just about everything. Dad what is the percentage for sacrament asistance back home? So we have really been trying to strengthen the ward because what good is it to baptize if the ward isnt going to help retain the converts. So we are going to have an activity in 2 weeks and we hope that it will help. We will have to wait and see. 
   So I have really started to miss the temple.....It was such a blessing in the MTC to be able to go to the temple cada semana. I definately think I took it for granted. There is nothing like it and I cant wait to see all of you there. That is going to be a great day. I definately wish that I could be there when emily and tyler are sealed but the lord needs me here in mexico :) I will definately be there in spirit. So I am in 3 nephi 10 in the book of mormon and I cant wait to get to ch 11 when christ comes. And I am just past half way in Jesus the Christ and yes it is still blowing my mind. After planning at night that is what I do till I go to bed read. Who would have thought I would love to read lol So D&C 50 is amazing and I really love verse 24. Oh 3 nephi 9 is awesome as well. Where are all of you in your studies? I love all of you so very much and thank you so much for writing me everyweek. It really does mean so much. I love you all so very much and I know with all my heart that the work that I am doing right now is the work of the lord and that he is with me every day here in the streets of mexico. It is such a blessing to be his representative and to be able to testify that he is our savior and that only through him and his example of baptism may we return to our father in heaven and live with our families for all eternity. I love you all and may god be with you till we meet again.
love your son, brother and friend,
-Elder Ryan Thomas Lehikainen

January 21, 2013 Week #5 in Cosamaloapan

A Very Special Day, Elder Lehikainen's first Baptism

Sweet is the work, bringing souls unto Christ.

hola hola mi familia como estan??  I cant believe that this week has already gone by but what a wonderful week it has been. MARISOL was finally baptized and I was able to baptize her. What a wonderful blessing that was this week. She was confirmed yesterday by Obispo and the spirit was definately there with all of us. Her mom Margarita who we have been teaching as well was there and she asked us after the confirmation why she filled so warm and peaceful during the baptism and during the confirmation as well. It was so nice to be able to testify to her that the feeling she felt was the holy ghost testifying to her. She is a great lady and has alot on her plate but I just have a feeling that she is going to be baptized here pretty soon. So we had another great week with Mari and Carlos and there family. They are so great and lately I have been thinking about the people here in cosamaloapan I am supposed to find. My friends from our pre earth life that werent blessed like I was to grow up in the church. I know that Mari and Carlos are two of those people. Last night we had a great lesson with them at the church and we were just finishing up la ley de castidad y diezmo but there was such a strong spirit there. We got on the topic of fasting and Elder Charles and I were able to share with them that they were and are an answer to our fast and prayers. That was and will be a tender mercy. She is going to be baptized this saturday. We also have another baptism this saturday and his name is Oscar. Oscar is great we have been teaching him and his parents. He came to church this past sunday without his mom and dad but he told us how great church was and how excited he is for his baptism. The lord has blessed me so very much this week.
   Dang poor Nate. Dengay or how ever you spell it has been a scare of mine because of all the musco bites. I will keep him in my prayers and yeah I have been thinking about how all of us can speak spanish that will be really fun. I have been thinking how great it will be to see eachother in two years and know that we have given our all to the lord and have truly become men of god. Como the sons of mosiah. Tyler you stud you are probably bigger than me know I walk and sweat so much I have been losing all my muscle haha and because most of my diet is beans and rice lol the weather here has been kinda crazy one day it will be crazy hot and the next day freezing. There is a saying here about the weather for this time of year "februero loco y marso tampoco" lol. I love it down here and the people.
  We had zone conference this past week and Elder Alonso of the seventy was there that was pretty cool. He actually interviewed my companion just to get a view of how the missionaries are doing down here. He gave a great interactive talk. He said we need to get everyone of our investigators to truly live the doctrine of Christ and once they start to do that they can truly become converted. Soo I am in 3 nephi now and it is like waiting for Christmas to get to chapter 11 and read the teachings of the savior. I have been reading Jesus the Christ as well and am about halfway through. That book is awesome and to be honest it kinda blows my mind. Today I was re-reading my patriarchal blessing. And it is crazy how things show themselves to us as we need them and are searching for answers in our lives. My patriarchal blessing talks a alot of things in my life but this morning I read a line that really stuck out to me it says ryan put your faith and trust in him. Ask for his guidance and inpiration and as you do so remember that you must trust and follow that inspiration. This morning that is exactly what I needed to hear and more and more I find that I must continually humble myself and put my trust in the lord. He truly is always there for us. I have been using alot of verses from helaman lately and I have really enjoyed helaman 11. I would love it if you would read it.
   I love my mission I love the joy that we are able to recieve in this life when we serve. Yesterday we gave 5 blessings and it made me remember that we are here to serve and love the people. I love my savior more and more each and everyday. I know that he died for me and I know that he lives. I love all of you so very much and may god be with you till we meet again.
love your son, Brother, and friend,
-Elder Ryan Thomas Lehikainen

January 14, 2013 Week #4 in Cosamaloapan

Elder Lehikainen and His trainer and AWESOME companion, Elder Charles

Feasting upon the words of Christ

hola hola mi familia!!! This past week was amazing even though we didnt have any baptisms. We had a family at church this past sunday and Marisol was at church as well. These past couple of weeks have been very humbling and I have really had to start really on heavenly father and our savior Jesus Christ more and more. So Elder Charles and I have been working very hard and we havent been seeing the fruits of our labors until these past 5 days. This past miercoles another baptismal date fell through with felipe and he doesnt really want to talk to us anymore because of his family traditions of being catholic and what not. So we went to our next lession after we found out he didnt want to meet with us anymore and that fell too. I felt like we needed to pray so we went behind this house and more or less poured our hearts out to our Heavenly Father. That is really when things started to turn around. We have started really working with the members oh and yeah we have a building that is a year old dad. So we have really started working with the members here and trying to bring inactives back into the ward. We have a new goal to increase the asistance by 10 percent every month and this week we went from 70 people in sacrament to 101. What a miracle and a blessing that was because the ward here is slowly dieing.
  So this family that was at church sunday the father is a member his name is carlos and he has been inactive for about 10 years. His wife Mari is not a member and she is going to be baptized this 26th of enero. She is soo awesome and they have 3 little kids. More than anything I cant wait to see them in the temple in a year and that is there goal as well after mari is baptized. After our first lesson last sunday I couldnt help but see them in white going to the temple and I think for now on that is going to be my goal to picture our investigators in white. We found another family last night there names are Ana Louda, Acerdo and oscar all three of them have accepted a baptimal date for this 27th and the same with them I cant wait to see them in white the 27th and a year from now. The son Oscar is 18 and he just gets it. He understands already why this gospel is so very important for alll of us in this life. We had another miracle fall into are laps we were having a lesson with one of our investigators named gui and her friend was there here friend told us about her neighbor named Alexis he is 14 and had been talking with the Elders before and we some reason or another he fell in the cracks and hasnt been meeting with the Elders anymore over these past 2 years. Anyways yesterday we went over and talked to him and his mother he is getting baptized this saturday and he and his mom told us that he wants to be a missionary some day. Marisol is getting baptized for sure this miercoles and she was at church. Every lesson with here we have been going with a member and that has really helped. Ahhh this week has been Awesome and my testimony has grown so much. I gave a talk yesterday and I spoke on faith, hope and charity. I tried to explain in my baby spanish that we all have faith in our savior Jesus Christ and that we have felt his love throught the atonement in our lives. Then I went on to talk about how this has giving us hope in this life and then I shared jacob 2:19 and it says after we have recieved this hope in our lives we must help those that are hungry and afflicted physically but we must also be charitable to thoughs that are afflicted spiritually and share the hope that we have in our lives with those that have no hope.
   I have eaten this soup called manuto and it is cow stomach soup and it tasted like a cow stomach haha I ate chicken feet this week and that wasnt that bad. President I am sure knows we dont have any hot water lol and the language is getting better. Last week in a taxi I had a decent regular converstation with the taxista that was pretty cool I felt like elder calhoun. I am doing great I love this work and I thank my heavenly father everyday for the opportunity to serve him and his children here in veracruz. It truly is a blessing. I have been reading Jesus the Christ and have been trying to come to know my savior more and more. I truly want to become his friend over these next 2 years and I want to tell him yea lord I love thee when I am able to see him again. I am in helaman 12 in the book of mormon and in nefi 16 in spanish. Where are you all lol? oh mormon 9 is amazing and you all should read it this week.
 I love this gospel I have to go but I want to leave you with my testimony that I know with out a doubt this church is true. That our heavenly father loves us so very much. That our Savior Jesus Christ died for us and he knows us. When we are in or having a hard time we need to remeber that he is always there. I love yoou alll and may god be with you till we meet again.
Love you son, brother, and friend
-Elder Ryan Thomas Lehikainen

January 7, 2013

Snack time

Elder Lehikainen outside his house in Cosamaloapan

  Hola Hola!!! mi familia!!!,
    So marisol bailed on us again ahhhh she left for 2 weeks to the port of veracruz but I think the lord is trying to tell us something but we still had a great sunday. We actually had been really thinking and pondering about how we can find a family to teach and needless to say fast sunday couldnt have come at a better time. So we fasted to be ablle to find 2 families this upcoming week and yesterday bishop had recieved 2 referances and we went and visited one of them last night with him. First let me tell you how blessed I am to be working with Bishop Rodriquez he is a spiritual stud and is so so so pumped for missionary work. So we had a great lesson with this part member family and the spirit was very strong. The husbands name is carlos and he is a member but his wife and 4 kids are not and I cant help but picture them in the temple with there children being sealed. We also have been teaching this man named felipe he has had a hard life but his heart is truly looking for what his heavenly father wants him to do. His family is very catholic by tradition and there has been alot of opposition from them. But last night the spìrit was able to touch his heart and he accepted a baptismal date for the 20th. Yesterday really got me pumped again for this work and even though we did not have the baptism we planned it was a great day. Elder Charles and I have been working really really hard. oh dad here is my usual day 1.Arise at 6:30 and until work out read and eat and shower until 8. second personal study until 9 and from 9-11 comp study then 11-12 estudiamos nuestro idioma. then from 12-9 we have lessons accept for 2-3 we have lunch with a sister. We have been really trying to squeezeas possible every day dad and a couple days this past week we have been running from lesson to lesson. The people here in veracruz are very opèn and kind but they seem to lack the desire to act. This upcoming week we are going to work on being bolder and I think that is what our heavenly father wants us to do.

    This past week was a little crazy they party like crazy down here during the holidays there have been drunks all over the streets and I am thankful for the promptings of the spirit to know what streets to walk down and what streets not to. Oh mom there has been fireworks everywhere haha like ridiculous fireworks on New Years and pretty much all week. We have been saying its almost like a war at night haha. It has been way fun I love it down here. But I have been safe and I know that the lord has one or many have his angels walking next to Elder Charles and I every night. Bishop has a dog and that has been a blessing. I have felt safe here every night.
   I have been studying more and more for our investigators every morning and trying to find scriptures that can help them. Scriptures that explain what we need to do plainly and simply. This past week I came across alma 5:26-29 it talks about we need to prepare ourselves quickly (pronto in spanish). I love that and if you would can you read alma 5 :) I also have been reading Jesus The Christ and I love coming to know my savior little by little. He loves us so very much and  I absolutly love testifying of him and the atonement he made for us. Oh this past week we gave about 8 blessings and mom and dad and the power of the priesthood is real when we have faith and the person recieving the blessing has faith anything is possible. Although I dont know the language very well still I can still feel the spirit and the spirit testifies the same way in every language. I love that and I love you all so very much. I am happier than I have ever been in my entire life and I am so very grateful for the opportunity to serve my Heavenly Father and our Savior Jesus Christ for these two years. I love this gospel and this church I know it is true with my entire heart. I can testify that the Book of Mormon is the word of god. That Jose Smith is a prophet and he restored the church of Christ back onto this earth. I know that my Savior and Redeemer Jesus Christ lives and I love him so very much. I know he died for us and I know because he died for us we can return as an eternal family to our heavenly father. I love you all so very much and I am so grateful for the support that you give me. God be with you ´till we meet again.
love your son, brother and friend,

-Elder Ryan Thomas lehikainen

December 31, 2012 Week #2 in Cosamaloapan

Hola hola mi familia,
    How is everything going at home I still cant believe that emily and tyler are engaged that is flipping crazy!! But tyler is an awesome guy and I am very happy for them. Do they have a date or anything like that planned? What temple does emily want to get married in? Mom that is awesome the new program for the youth I was interested to see what they were going to come out with and it sounds amazing. Rachels talk sounds like it was pretty amazing and I am sure she had some amazing amazing experiences in D.C. and I love that she talked about faith and how we all have to act and take that leap. That is the hardest thing to do to put our trust in the lord completely but when we do we come to truly know him and that is when we see his immense love for us.
   Soo didnt get to baptize yesterday :( We walked by her house (marisol) in the morning and she wasnt there for church so after sacrament we went back and she still wasnt there. So we finally got ahold of her after church and she said yeah she still wanted to get baptized and so we told the whole ward so she would be welcomed into the ward. So we walked over to her house around 7 and she said her mom wasnt going to make it then we shared a scripture with her in mosiah 18 and she still said no next week. Her mom waited until an hour before her baptism to say she wasnt going to make it ahhh. So we had to go to the church and tell the whole ward that it wasnt going to happen and it was raining so I felt even worse because they had walked to the church in the rain. But something cool happened when we started our sad walk home in the rain. A man named Williams who has been going to church but in the past didnt want to act and didnt have the faith to act drove by and oh he is a taxi driver anyways he gave us a ride back to our house. We already had an appointment with him for this wed.  But we were able to share a quick message with him and leave him with some reading to do. So more and more I am learning that the lord always has his reasons and it wasnt just coincidence that he was driving by and offered to give us a ride home. The lord truly does work in mysterious ways. We did have one investigator make it to church sunday her name is Erika and she came with her 1 year old son luis. We have been teaching her with her aunt who is a member and actually is endowed. She stayed for 2 hours and I know that she felt that special spirit that is in the church.

She has accepted a baptismal date for the 6 of enero. I am really excited for that.
   The language is pretty tough haha but it will come I need to be patient and it will come with hard work. We study 4 hours every morning which is pretty awesome I have been studying preach my gospel side by side (other side of heaven style lol) every morning for a half hour or so and then study in the Book of Mormon. Then we do companionship study for 2 hours because I am being trained and them we do language study for about an hour. Its pretty funny how much I hated studying before my mission and how much I love it now. These past 2 weeks I have come to love the teachings of king benjamin and his counsel to us. I really love chapter 4 and I guess that is the chapter for this week lol. This morning I was studying in practicad mi evangelio and I realized that I need to start being more real with the people here I need to share more about how much this gospel has blessed my life and how our savior Jesucristo has truly saved me. And how I have felt his tremendous love for me.

I will leave you with this testimony that I know our savior Jesus Christ died for us for your sins and mine and that he knows us, he knows the pains we go through each and everyday. I know that he lives. I know that the book of Mormon is the word of god and I am so blessed to have it in my life. I know that our heavenly father loves us so very much and when we are in need we can turn to him in prayer and he is always there to listen and to love us. I love all of you so much and may god be with you ´till we meet again.

love,

   Elder Ryan Thomas Lehikainen.

 

December 24, 2012 Veracruz !!!!

Hola hola mi familia como estan!!! Como fue el cabin. I can skype you all around 4!!! I dont know your skype info so I need you to add me my skype name is elderryanlehikainen so pleaseee add me =).These first few days have been crazy but I absolutly love it here in Veracruz my first area and my area for the next 12 weeks is Cosamalopan in the southern part of the mission. It is a great area and we have a baptism for the 30th I guess we baptize like crazy down here. We have a baptism once a week which is sooo awesome. We we with alot of referals because that is safer I guess and that is what the brotheren want us to do so that is what we are doing and with referalls it helps the members have a relationship with the new converts which is really good. We teach around 6 lessons a day and walk all day from lesson to lesson which I am not used to any more lol My walking legs are gone. But they will come back soon enough. I love it here the people are so loving and so very humble they have nothing but seem to give us the very best. We dont eat dinner with the members we eat lunch every day at 2 with them and the hermanas are just sooo giving they are really an example to me. The poverty here is kinda shocking I knew that I was going to a poor country but it is a little different living in it.  We are so very blessed to be living in america and to have a father who has an amazing job. Most of the families here dont even have hot water to shower. I dont know I just realized how good and how blessed we are back home it has really opened my eyes. The spanish here is not the spanish that they taught me in the MTC lol it is kinda overwhelming but it just takes time to get used to. Thank goodness my trainer is a stud his name is Elder Charles and he is from Arizona. He does most of the talking and teaching which is normal but I just want to help do my part and know what is going on lol Yesterday was better I was able to add a little bit in our lessions. The ward is great there is a ward here and there are about 85 members that attend regulary. So I lucked out and didnt have to bare my testimony mom but I taught actually my comp taught gospel principles and I added a few things here and there.  But Elder Charles says we do alot alot for the ward so I will talk or bare my testimony pretty soon =) Oh I blessed the sacrament sunday I hope they could understand me.

    So how have you all been how was the cabin? I bet you had a blast the pictures look awesome. Tyler how does my jacket feel lol just playing you look like a stud and you are so muscular now. Anyways I have been studying in preach my gospel more here in the field and reading in the book of mormon. This morning I read in alma 54-56 about the 2000 strippling warriors and what great men of faith they were. I was brought to tears as they spoke of there mothers and the reason the had there faith in there heavenly father was because there mothers had taught them to do so. I then looked at the CTR ring mom and dad got me and read what they inscribed in it ´´ryan trust in the lord with all thine heart love mom and dad´´ that is exactly what I needed to hear and to ponder about this morning and I just wanted to thank you mom and dad for raising me how you did because I have been raised of goodly parents and I know what I must do. Can you read that chapter this week guys that would be awesome if you did. The lord is always there for us with his hand out stretched we just need to reach back or jump and he will catch us. But by making that attempt we show him that we have faith in him and in his son Jesus Christ and we are blessed for doing so. I think that is one of the biggest things we do as missionaries is help the people act and once they act the lord blesses them and they are filled with the spirit and they cannot deny what they have come to know in there hearts.
    I cant wait to see and talk to you all tomorrow it is going to be AMAZING. I will leave you all with my testimony that I know our Heavenly Father loves us all sooo very much. He loves us so much that he sent his son Jesus Christ to this earth to die for us. I am so very grateful for that because I sin daily and without Jesus Christ comoing to this earth and performing the atonement there is no way that I would be able to return with our Heavenly Father and live with the family that I love so very much. I am so very grateful for all of you and may god be with you till we meet again.

Love you son, brother and friend,
                               Elder Ryan Thomas Lehikainen

December 20, 2012

Elder Lehikainen called us (his Familia) this morning from the Salt Lake City airport before his flight to Denver. From Denver he will fly to Mexico City and from Mexico City he flies to Veracruz Mexico. His long day's journey has begun and he couldn't be happier or sound better. It  was wonderful to visit with him and have his siblings all here to talk and catch him up on whats going on in each of their lives.

December 18, 2012

VISA DAY !!!!!!!! YAY!!!!!!! or YEEEEEE as Elder Lehikainen said. 
Elder Lehikainen called bright and early this morning with wonderful news,  his VISA has arrived and he has travel plans for this Thursday. He is so relieved that he has the opportunity to go to his assigned area to serve the people of Veracruz and share the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

December 12, 2012

Hey SOOOOO I went to the Mexican consulate yesterday so I can leave here any day. Ahhh Im soo excited.  Sooo other sweet news that has happened this week is I have my first baptismal dates and they are both from Mexico and Anita is from Veracruz. There arent any missionaries in her area right now and I know that finding and talking to her was one of the reasons I stayed here in the referral center. It is nothing short of a miracle. JoJo is from mexico city where the other half of my district are going and he is getting baptized January 10th. The lord works in his own way and I have come to realize that when we submit ourselves to his will we will be blessed and I feel like I have seen those blessings here in the RC. I am doing awesome needless to say my spanish is not the best by any means but that isnt what is most important being able to bring others unto Jesus Christ and I feel like my Spanish will get there as I study and do what our Heavenly Father would have me do and that is feed his sheep. So I have been studying the Book of Mormon and The New Testament at the same time recently trying to read 2-3 chapters from both a day. I love the New Testament and I feel like I am coming to know my savior more and more by learning who he was and how he acted. I love how much faith plays a role in everything we do and that has really been made evident to me in studying about Christ. In the Book of Mormon I am in Alma 42 and I love reading the counsels of  Alma to his sons. Alma 40 is awesome you should read it this week.

   I love you all so very much and I will leave you with a short testimony that I know with out a shadow of a doubt that this is the true church in the earth today and that Jesus Christ himself is at the head of it. I know that Jesus Christ lives, I know that Joseph Smith is a prophet of God and I know that because I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God. I know that our Heavenly Father Loves us so very much and he desires all of us to return back into his presence. I know that Christ died for me and you and that his atonement is the only way we can. I have felt the power of the atonement in my life and I love my savior even more so know because of it and I cant wait to tell him face to face how much I love him and how very grateful I am for all that he has done for me.I love you all so very much and may God be with you till we meet again.
Love you son, brother, and friend Elder Ryan Thomas Lehikainen

December 5, 2012

Elder Lehikainen and Elder Medina and the Man in the Red Suit. lol

Hey Pops its so good to hear from you I can feel all of your prayers and I am so grateful for them. I love you and I am so grateful that I have the family that I have. Don't know what I would do without everyone.  The RC is actually great I get to talk to alot more people about the church then I think any other missionary out there and the cool thing is that they are coming and talking to us. We do get some goobers on chats that want to bash on the church but is always nice to leave them with my testimony because no matter what anyone says about the church or joseph smith I know and I can testify that it is true because unlike any other church I have found out for myself. There is power in that and I have come to love it. Ok so here is what my normal day is. 1: wake up at 6:30 go run and do pull-ups and push-up oh and cant forget abs lol for about 45 min and then shower and make it to breakfast by 7:30. 2: from 8-9 we take chats from mormon.org. 3: we have personal and companionship study from 9-10:30. Then we teach if we have appointments until 2 when we have chats again then we can teach who ever we have planned then at 6 we have chats again. then we finish off the day teaching!! so that is a day in the RC.
   So we teach lessons either on Skype or facebook if they dont have a skype and we also email or talk on the phone with people from all over the world. I love talking to people and I love sharing the light of the gospel with others. This past sunday we met a girl named Monica from argentina and she is soooo ready for the gospel and to change her life. She has already started reading the book of mormon and prayed to know if it is true and if Joseph Smith was and is a prophet of god. She told us that she felt so much peace as soon as she asked her Heavenly Father these things.  We met this man named Scotty on chats as well and we have been emailing. He seems so ready for the gospel in his life and I know he needs it because all of us do.  It is sooooo awesome to be talking to real people and seeing changes in lives. We are able to talk to friends and family that are not members of the church.   I feel like the RC started as a trial of my faith and I was so bummed but now I love it and I hate having to go back to my residency and not talk to people on chats about the gospel and more specifically about their heavenly father and our savior, brother and friend Jesus Christ. My testimony I feel has already grown so much. When we are able to see our savior Jesus Christ I cant wait to look him in the eyes and tell him that I love him face to face and give him a hug. I know that he lives and I know that he is watching over us daily and when we feel down or when we feel we cant go on I know he is there behind us waiting for us to make the baby steps we need to make and he will help push us back on path and help us continue on. It makes me think of 2 nephi 31: 20-21 where it talks about pressing forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope and a love of god and all men. (I'll will let you read the rest lol) I love this gospel, I love my Heavenly Father for allowing me to serve Him.  May God be with all of you till we meet again. love your Son, Brother, and Friend,
-Elder Ryan Thomas Lehikainen

p.s. I dont know if I had you read 2 Nephi 31 yet but I went back and read it and it is soo amazing it is one of the two times or three heavenly father and jesus christ speak in the same chapter.

November 28, 2012

Elder Lehikainen (left) with his district. They trained together approx 8 wks and then left the MTC to enter the mission field.

Hola!! how are you all how was thanksgiving?? My thanksgiving was awesome Elder Holland and his family came and talked to us. He and his wife told us that we are all there adopted grandchildren and there is nothing that we can do about it he said agency does not apply today lol. I loved hearing his wife speak as well as him but I recently have realized that the wives of these great men are just as close to god as there husbands are and what sweet testimonies they have. My testimony has really grown this past week I was able to receive a blessing from President Wilkins (my branch president) on Sunday and he gave me a very sweet and heartfelt blessing. He talked about me having to trust in the lord and this temporary assignment being a trial of my faith. I truly felt the love of my heavenly father when president Wilkins placed his hands upon my head and I think that is one of the biggest things that I needed to feel. So I am doing alot better and my heart has changed about the referral center  and I think it is going to be a very big blessing for me. Another thing that helped me a ton was D&C 11 it talks about trust and trusting the spirit of the lord. I have come to realize how very important faith is through faith all things all possible and it all makes sense why it is the first principle of the gospel. I have started to study Matthew and I have noticed I dont know why I didnt notice this before but before or after every miracle Christ works he talks about how through there faith they have been made whole. I love in Matthew 8:10 when Christ is talking and he talks about faith. You should study it this week. I still love learning about Christ and I love how everything in this gospel related to him. In our devotional last night it the speaker talked about that and I have really been trying to do that so it really hit home I guess you could say.
  So I had my first chat on mormon.org today and it was pretty sweet. I was pretty excited to talk to real people that arent our teachers. I am in a new companionship with Elder Medina and Elder Tovar they are both native speaker and waiting on there visas as well elder medina in headed to veracruz with me. It is a blessing to be with 2 spanish speakers I think my spanish is going to improve tremendously. I love how much I am changing I dont even feel like the same person spiritually anymore. I feel as I even more better prepare myself here in the referral center I will be able to go out into the field running full sprint and I still am so excited for that.
  I got the fudge mom and the cinnamon roles and my jacket thank you sooooooooo much you know how I love your cooking. The food here at the MTC is ok but it is nooo where near mamas home cooking lol. I love you all sooo very much and I am so grateful for the family that I have and how close we are. I know that this is where I am supposed to be and I dont know exactly why the lord wants me here in the R.C. but I dont need to I will have the faith to serve him where ever he desires me to go because this day I choose to serve him.
love you  again and may god be with you until we meet again.
-your son, and brother
Elder Ryan Thomas Lehikainen

p.s. I get to use my facebook to look for people so if you see that I am on it is allowed lol and I am in alma 30 in my book of mormon where are all of you at even you Haley girl?

November 14,2012

.

Elder Lehikainen with one of his favorite teachers, Hermano Purnell.

Elder Lehikainen is on the bottom getting quite the workout !

Outside the MTC in Nov. Brrrrr...Mexico will be warmer.

   Hola mi familia!! Como estas? That is so exciting for Aaron and Brandi. I actually just got a letter from Brandi and the Boys and Emma girl yesterday it brightened my day to hear from them. Make sure to give them hugs from me and give baby Mary Donna a hug and a kiss for me. My companion, Elder Talmage, is great! He is the great nephew of The Elder Talmage. He has such a powerful testimony and I am very grateful to be his companion.
    This week I have been studying alot about baptism and the doctrine behind it. The first couple of weeks I was really gun ho about baptism almost like Elder Calhoun from the best two years and I kinda strayed away from that I dont know why lol. So this week I have been trying to get back into that and relay the importance behind why we are baptized beyond the fact that we are made clean from all of our past sins. Soo Monday I went back into Mosiah and ended up in Mosiah 18 ( the whole chapter is awesome and can you read it this week please and thank you) but in verse 13 it says " I baptize thee, Having authority from the almighty god, as a testimony that ye have entered into a covenant to serve him until you are dead as to the mortal body" this really touched me this is one of the reasons I am serving a mission because I promised I would serve my god when I was baptized by you dad when I was 8 years old. this isnt very applicable for an investigator (but it could be) but for me it is very applicable and I think it is for all of you as well. My whole outlook has really changed here at the MTC in the past 7 weeks and am so very grateful it has. This past Monday we were having one of our night lessons and we were teaching one of our teachers Hermano Galvez ( he is such a great man and I am lucky that he is my teacher, I will have to tell you about him some other day) anyways we were teaching one of his investigators he had on his mission named Christian and the lesson went well but not good enough and I was frustrated that one Elder  who is happy with just doing ok and being ok when I don't want to be just ok or average the lord doesn't need average missionaries he needs the very best and he deserves the very best. The sports mentality dad instilled in my brain as a young man has really helped because it is not ok to be mediocre. I'm a passionate person about whatever it is I am doing. I put my all into it or I don't do it and that is who I am.
  Like I said, last week I have been continually been studying the atonement and this week I went to Mathew, Mark, Luke, and john I don't know the specific verses or chapters except in Matthew 22 I love reading about the savior and learning more and more about him and what he did for all of us. When I am down lately I think about Christ and I know he is there with me every step of the way and what joy that brings me. I know that this church is true without a shadow of a doubt there are many things we can say about why this church is so amazing but personally I have learned that it is because Jesus Christ is the head and it is his church and that is all I need to know. I know that Joseph Smith had a genuine question for his father in heaven and that question was which church is true. I know that heavenly father and the son  came and appeared to Joseph Smith in the sacred grove. En la palabras de Jose Smith Vi una columna de luz mas brillante que el sol direcrament ariba de mi cabesa vi en el airre ariba de mi a dos personajes cuyo fulgo Y gloria no admiten discription uno de ellos mi hablo llamando me por mi nombre Y dijo senalondo a otro este es mi hijo amado escuchalo!! I know that brother Joseph is a prophet of god. I can testify that the Book of Mormon is true and I can testify that our Heavenly Father answers prayers. I know that Jesus Christ our savior our redeemer and our older brother took upon the sins of the world for you and I so that we can return to our loving heavenly father one day. I know that he knows me personally and knows the pain and the sorrow that I have gone through and continue to go through. I love my savior so very much.  I love you all so very much and I keep you in my prayers every night and throughout the day. Thank you for all the love you send my way through your prayers. God be with you until we meet again.

- Love Elder Lehikainen

November 7, 2012

   Hola mi familia!! como estan? How is everyone doing? you all must be busy I didnt have an email from anyone but alyssa today. thanks alyssa for writing me I love you. How was fast sunday? Did anyone besides Dad dan un testimonio? I was able to bare my testimony in spanish which was pretty special to me. I have been studying alot about the atonement I try to move on and study other things during my personal study but I always end up returning to the atonement. I guess I need to better understand it. I love learning more and more about the savior and what he has done for me. At times I have felt pretty down and alone but each morning I study the scriptures and I can feel the spirit and I know that my father in heaven loves me and I know that my savior Jesus Christ loves me. I have been thinking and talking alot with Brother Monson about the savior being more then our savior we should strive to become his friend. I have been thinking alot about that and how Christ is our older brother and it had me thinking that he is our biggest fan so to speak he is up in the heavens rooting us on every step of the way. This is one of the reasons baring my testimony this week was so very special. I can honestly say that I can testify that Jesus is The Christ and that he died for me and bleed from every pore of his body for me and for my sins. He knows what I go through and what all of you go through. Christ knows how it feels to be all alone he went through that in the garden of Gethsemane (sorry if I spelled that wrong) he did that so we don't have to be alone ever when we are going through a trial. He will always be there for us. sorry I am blabbering on but I am so passionate about the savior now and I didn't know that I was capable of it 7 weeks ago. The greatest blessing we of the MTC and going on a foreign speaking mission is that I have 9 weeks to become more converted myself and through that I can look my investigators in the eye with my baby spanish that I know and testify to them that whatever they are going through there is a way out of it and there is a way to happiness and I know for myself that the way is and can only be through Jesus Christ. ( I think that is in 2 Nephi 31)

  All in all I am doing great and I am absolutely loving the mission so far and I can not wait to get out into the field and invite others to come unto Christ. This is the work the lord wants me to do and I am so grateful for parents that raised me the right way.  Can you all read Mosiah 3 sometime this week I have come to love this chapter and how it talks about salvation comes through Christ. Who would have thought that I would come to love the scriptures the way that I have. In my Spanish scriptures I will have to send you a picture next week because I am getting them engraved right now but I have a whole system worked out and tabs everywhere. I have come to realize that there is a scripture for just about everything lol I have to ask you all again this week where are you in your Book of Mormon. I am in Mosiah 18 this morning and I just finished reading about Abinadi we all should dare to be as bold as he was. I love you all very much and would love to hear from you. God be with you till we meet again.

Love Elder Lehikainen
 

Oct. 31, 2012

  Hola mi familia, como estan? I loved getting the package you sent, mom, and I haven’t gotten Alyssa’s yet.  Yeah, I should, my estimated departure for Veracruz is November 26 but we will see when I get my visa. All of the mexican elders have to go meet with a chancelor in person so I might be headed to salt lake, vegas, or idaho here in the next couple of weeks.  This past week has been pretty crazy; Elder Dow left to Alabama until his visa comes for Peru and I am back in a trio with Elder Hill again....and Elder Talmage they are both going to Mexico City. Elder Talmage is very cool and is a baseball player as well so that is always a plus. My gospel Spanish is becoming pretty good and I can teach the first two lessons pretty well now which is kinda shocking. I know that it is the Lord’s hand because Spanish is pretty tough for me. But this past week we took a Spanish evaluation test and I scored the highest in the class which was very surprising.
  This week spiritually I have found myself coming closer and closer to my savior Jesus Christ. In my personal study I have been focusing on the atonement and how important it is for us as members of the church, even more so missionaries to testify of Christ and make known to the public our friends, even our family that is not active how very important Jesus Christ is in our lives. Even more important is how he paid the price for us, the ultimate price and then some. With a progressing investigator named Jorge this week I tried to convey the importance of that. We shared Alma 34: 8-10 and then went on to share in Luke 22. The spirit was very strong and even though it is just a teacher being a person from their mission I know without a shadow of a doubt that the

Holy Ghost testified to Hermano Beeston that Jesus is the Christ and he is our savior. That has to be the best feeling in the world for me the only way I can explain it is that it is like a rush of adrenaline, and this may be apostate to say but it is addicting and I love it. Last night we had Elder Clark of the seventy speak and the Tuesday devotional and he spoke on how we as missionaries can invite others to come unto Christ when we are in the field. He started off challenging us everyday to at the end of the day look in the mirror and ask ourselves how many souls have we helped come to know their savior today. He then went on to give 5 steps on how to teach them to do so. He started off by saying teach them the doctrine. Second, he said the center of our teaching must be the atonement of Jesus Christ. This touched me and I challenged myself last night that with every investigator I am going to testify of Christ and share my testimony of the atonement with them. Third, he said do not challenge them to do something that you would not do yourself. Fourth, help them learn how to repent. Fifth, he said make sure that they have the opportunity to gain a love for the Book of Mormon and always, always ask them how their daily reading is going. Reading the book of Mormon should not be a check, he went on to say it should be a heart changing experience.
  I want to end by testifying that I know that this is the church of god on the earth today and it was restored through Joseph Smith. I know without a shadow of a doubt that the Book of Mormon is the word of god in these latter days and it testifies of Christ our savior. I know that I am a child of God and because of this he has a love for me that I cannot comprehend. I know that Jesus Christ bled from each and every pore in his body for me and for you. I love you all so very much and I say these things in his holy name, the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Love, Your son and Brother
-Elder Lehikainen

October 24, 2012

  Hola mi Familia como Estan?  This past week we have had some really great lessons. Of our four "investigators" two of them are being baptized come the first of the month. The teachers play the roles of the investigators which is pretty cool. They play people that they taught on there missions and they are still in contact with today. But as we teach and pray for these investigators the people that the teachers are playing are being blessed which took me awhile to realize. It is amazing how the spirit works and how much he testifies of Christ and the love of our heavenly father in our lives. For the past couple of days I have been finding myself trying to keep my heart softened I don’t know if I told you but our district combined and so we have like 8 teachers and each one is different.  This last week I was sick with that throat thing I always get. Anway, I usually stray away from asking from help from others and asking for a blessing but this past Sunday I felt like I needed one so I asked Elder Dow and Brother Monson if they could. I think asking for and receiving a blessing for being sick is  just what I needed. Brother Monson gives awesome counsel as well and it was my interview with him prior to the blessing that made me want to receive one. In our interview first he promised me if I had the faith that I would feel better and that is hard for me sometimes.  I am trying to work on that because I want to have that strong faith but it cant just appear I feel that comes over time and continually working on becoming a more converted servant of the lord .Second he explained that (this is his own thought) sometimes when we are sick physically it opens up space in our soul to become weak and that is the time that the adversary can make us feel bad and bring us down. But I guess this time the faith was there because in 30 or so minutes after I felt peace and so much better.

   Last Night Elder Echo Hawk and is wife came and spoke for our devotional and they shared there stories with us. Elder Echo Hawk is a convert to the church which was a supprise to me and he baptized his wife at the age of 19. He has so much love for the elders that baptized him and he could barely speak there names. What really changed his life was football he sat the bench until his senior year. Going into his senior year he wasnt very active in the church. His priest adviser knowing how much he loved sports went up to him one sunday and told him he wanted to train him. So he went to work and won the starting QB spot. Before the season started he got hit in the eye with a football and was told that he would possibly lose the sight of his right eye I believe. So he missed the first half of football. During that time he made a promise with his father in heaven and said lord if I am able to have my eyesight back I will read ten pages out of the book of mormon everyday until I finish. He received is eyesight back won over the QB position and recieved a scholarship to play at BYU where he played free safey all four years. That is a cool story he went on to say but the best story in there is the story of his conversion things do happen for a reason and through losing his eyesight he was brought to his father in heaven. Elder Echo Hawk went on to read ten pages a day or more all four years of college.

  This really touched me it reminded me of when I broke my leg and how you mom challenged me to turn to the lord. I didn’t do all that I should have then but I know that that happened to me for a reason. I shared some of that with the branch President last night in our post devotional conference and I said at first I was pretty angry with the lord for letting that happen to me and when I look back now that is the best thing in the world that could have happened to me.

  The scripture for this week is going to be 2 Nephi 2 I have been studying this a lot this week and it talks about the plan of salvation. I hope you can enjoy it as I have.

I know this church is true, there is not a doubt in my mind. I know and I can testify that Jesus is The Christ he is our savior and redeemer. I can testify to you that the book of mormon is true it is the word of god and I can testify to you my family that families are forever and our family will be and I say these thing in the name of our lord and savior jesus christ amen.

October 17, 2012

Hola mi padres y madres,

     I have only been here for 3 weeks but it seems like I have been here for a couple months .Dad no my companion Elder Dow is going to Trujio, Peru and the other elders in my district are either going to Mexico City north west or Veracruz. We just combined with our sister district last night and no more Elder Hill. Half of our district left to the Peru MTC and that is why we combined. My esponal is muy mal at the moment lol but my lessons are getting there. You all know how much I hate to be bad at something so it has been very humbling but I have come to know that I must trust in the lord. As I have been struggling to learn the language I have found peace once I realized why I am trying to learn spanish. It’s not for me but for those people of VeraCruz that the Lord has prepared to hear his message. Once I finally understood this my lessons started to come right along. I finally memorized the first vision in spanish and as a companionship we were able to quote it to our "investigator" which was very nice. There is something about quoting and looking at the person in the eyes that enables the spirit to be there just that much more. In my personal study this morning I was in D&C 34 and I replaced my name in for Brother Pratt’s and It was very  inspiring. Emily and all of the family should look it up when you have the time. I have been studying alot about God’ s love for us as well and how we become refined through the holy ghost. I shared some stuff I had been studying about "baptism by fire" and the holy ghost with our district last night after our devotional and I though I would share it with you. I was reading in 3 Nephi 24 and I think verses 5 to 7 and it kinda hit me how through the holy ghost or the refiners fire and trials in our lives we are molded and cleansed to become the men or women that our Heavenly Father and our savior Jesus Christ desire us to be. Through time and refinement we all become closer to our heavenly father and become more Christlike by developing his attributes. Also this morning I ended up in 1Nephi 11:22-23 and it says  that the love of god or word of god is the most desirable thing to feel and most joyous to have in ones life. I know that this is one of the many reasons that I am serving a mission for my heavenly father so that I can be the tool in his hands so that some of his children may have is teachings in there life and feel of his love.I Love you all so very much and I am very excited for Emily and to see her here in the MTC. I know that this is the work that I am supposed to be doing and I KNOW that we are all children of our heavenly father and he loves us so very much. Yo se que atreves de jesucristo nosotros puedemos volver con dios por eteridad. Yo se que el libro de mormon es verderadero Y palabra de dios. Yo se que Dios ama todos personas en la tierra. Yo se que Jesucristo es el hijo de dios Y es nuestro salvador. Yo se que atreves de jesucristo nosotros puedemos estar limpio. Amen That is some of my testimony in spanish I dont know if I spelled some stuff right but I hope you can get some of it.

   I want you all to know that I can feel the prayers you say for me and that I know we can be together forever and I am so grateful for that gift and blessing our heavenly father has given us. I love your letters and I cant wait to get to Mexico and start teaching. God be with you until we meet again love your son, brother and friend.