April 19, 2010

Mom,

So thanks for the update from Elder Sudbury. I am glad to hear that all is going well for him. If you get the chance to write him, let him know that I would like his email and that all is well with me.

So things here in Rivne are still very busy. We are working hard with only two and the results are paying off. We had a baptism this week! Nastia, a 14 year old girl who has waited for six years to get permission, was baptized on Saturday. She is absolutely incredible and it is truly fun to work with her and to be strengthened by her example and testimony. She has come to church for six years, since she was 8, but wasn't allowed to be baptized until now. She had an especially hard week with family who has been telling her that she is doing the wrong thing. Her testimony in Christ is solid though and even with an inactive member grandmother who is now проти(against), she finally had the opportunity to be baptized. It was such a spiritual experience and I am so grateful to have been a part of it. Yesterday I stood in the circle as we gave her the Gift of the Holy Ghost. It is truly incredible.

We have another investigator, David, who is 17 years old and has some really big exams coming up (remind you of anyone at home?). He was at the baptism and I really hope that he continues to work towards being baptized himself. His sister Sveta, is a member and she has been great at trying to help and support him and I feel that he is progressing well.

We have a young family that we are teaching too - Nina and Alexey. They are recently married and they are so solid. They come to English class, but we have been teaching them for about a month and I feel that they may be baptized soon too.

There are others that we are working with too and each one is different. Some of them know a whole lot and are just afraid to act, while others are young and haven't lived very spiritual lives but they are looking for peace and knowledge. They are all progressing differently, but it is truly a miracle to see each and every one of them grow. Even with my limited knowledge of the language, they are all so patient and willing to help and I do my best each and every time we meet them, to help them come just a little closer unto Christ. This work is truly the Lord's work and His hand is in everything. We see miracles everyday as people find us, or as an investigator realizes something, or even just in conversation with the members. The Lord is in control of everything and as we put our faith in Him and do our very best to be diligent and obedient, he is so willing to bless us. I have a strong testimony that our Heavenly Father and our Savior Jesus Christ love us so very strongly and all they ask is that we do our best. As we do so, they send blessings of peace and comfort, or knowledge, or love, and we feel Their love in our lives even more. I know that this is the true Church of Jesus Christ. He lives and he leads this church through a living prophet, Thomas S. Monson, and through living apostles. This gospel is true. The Book of Mormon is the true word of God and He has given it to us so that we can bring those blessings into our lives. Jesus Christ is the Savior and the Redeemer of us all. He suffered in Gethsemane and He died on the cross at Golgotha so that we can be free from sin and He is Resurrected so that we can live with Him again. I know that I don't deserve the things that He has given me, but Christ's love is perfect and each and every day I feel it. I am trying so hard to become just a little more like Jesus and as I do my best, He helps me to do things that I could only imagine.

I love you very much and I am very thankful for your love and support. I know that you are sacrificing a lot so that I can be out here and I am truly grateful for that. Stay strong in the faith and I know that these next two years will be one of the greatest blessings of your life, as well as mine. The Lord is always ready to support you and as you remember that and ask for His help, it will come.

Love
Elder Ryan Jones