Airplane ride, New Companions, Texas, and Baptisms

Texas is the best place on earth. It's fantastic here my and so are my new companions- and yes I am in another trio but it alright cause they're sweet guys- are Elder Loumeau and Elder Orme, the Zone leaders here in the Lake Austin Ward in Austin. Man I have no idea where to start. Alright from the top I was able to do a few approaches at the airport. They went well. With one I met the Mayor of South Ogden. It was sweet he was in his skater\tennis shoes and tee shirt. It turns out he was a member for 30 years going off to a committee in San Antonio. Then on the plane I talked to a pharmacist salesman also a member. Then we touched down in San Antonio and at the luggage claim. I talked to our pilot from our plane and introduced him to our church. We met our Mission President President Cutler, went to his house ate. After We got to the Alamo and got proselyte there, again sweet. We did get to tour the Alamo because it closed right when we got there, But still it was cool to be there. So that night me and my group of 18 other missionaries sleep at the Assistants to the Presidents house and two other apts. I then got told about and shipped up to Austin Texas, Gods country, to meet my new companions. The moment I got here they put my luggage into the apartment, ate and we went proselyting and teaching people for the rest of the night. To be continued...


... So over the last few days I have taught around 20 different lessons. We constantly just work all day long and never stop. If an appointment fall through we knock, from 6 o'clock in the morning to 10:30 at night So we are in the ghetto here in Austin and there are a ton of humble people that like to here about our message so get to teach a lot lessons. Some of the success stories are that we just attended a baptism for another companionship yesterday and we now have two with dates to take the plunge.
Anyway like always love you all But the time is up.

Ryan

P.S. A little explanation about the title. The Texas pride here is everywhere. So we were driving down the freeway on our way to Austin and there was a big Street sign that said "Don't mess with Texas", it was hilarious

Leaving

Hello everyone,

For all ya all that don't know I am Going to Texas TOMORROW!!! at 9:45 and will be arriving there at 1:45 Texas time I don't know what time that is here, you do the math. But, this week has been awesome I have some really cool experiences at the RC (Referral Center- which is a place where people can call up or chat using the number off of the pass along cards or off of mormon.org and talk to the missionaries about any questions they have about our church, it is basically the only place us MTC missionaries can do actual missionary work) But I have two experiences. The first was I logged on to the chat and I was talking to a lady that was once a member of the church but had gone inactive. Anyway I was talking to her and she was offend a few years back stopped going to church and stopped praying and reading the scriptures and basically came to a point where she was no longer happy. Well I gave her two talks the Supernal Gift of Prayer by Richard G. Scott and Thou Shalt Not be Offended by Elder Bednar. She read them on the spot and then I got to commit her to go to church. The end of this story kinda sucks because I set up a return appointment and she never showed but I still got to show her the path and it seems like she was going to follow it. Also I got to talk on the phone to a lady from Missouri ish area that just had a baby and was searching for a new church. Well anyway an Hour and half later I had explained the doctrine of our church, got her to take a Book of Mormon, and go to our church for the first time. So anyway the church is progressing and we are bringing in lost sheep. For all my family members I'm going to be calling the house when I fly out at 9 o'clock ish depending on how every thing works out and hope to hear from everyone. Wish me luck I have to practice my airport approaches.

See Ya all latter

Easter letter

Hello everyone

So first i would like to say that i am sorry to hear that both Uncle Buz and Grandma Arnold passed but at least we have the knowlegde that we will see them again. So there is no need to worry.I am glad to hear that lani passed her first test with flying colors. Tell her to follow her uncle and pass the rest of them with flying colors... actually don't tell her that, cuase then she will fail them and i will feel bad, test were never my forte.

But...I GET MY FLIGHT PLANS THIS THURSDAY and will soon be in the field, which is fantastic.Um.. passed that, i regret to inform you guys that my pantry is full over here and it will take me at least two weeks to eat it all. So there is no need to send any food items anymore whereas i wont be able to fit them in my suitcase. Now small items of fabric can be sent if they arent from the 80's, you know what i mean Christy and everyone else that knows what that means...ties.

Raschel thank you for you helping me out w/ facebook and i thought note in the toilet is keind of funny but what do i know i have been in the MTC for a month now and it has distorted my sence of humor.Any way love you all BYE

PS amber i am glad you not dead i was begining to worry

Conference- We are all Nobodies

Hello everyone I hope you all watched conference it was an awesome one. I think Elder Hales and President Ucdorf’s talks were my favorite. And my favorite quote from it all was “… We are all nobodies…” (Neil L. Anderson) I have definitely figured that one out the hard way here at the MTC. Other than that there really isn’t all that much to report. I leave here in 3 WEEKS though which will be great. I love this place but I am ready to go out into the field and talk to real people and teach them our Mensaje (message). One of my companions just figured out that he is leaving a week early and I got to say I am kinda jealous, I know I can still learn a lot here but I am ready to get out there and teach.Anyway con amor Elder Loveless

First Lesson in Spanish

Hola everyone,Well everything is going good down here at the MTC. Honestly there is not much to report. Spanish is coming. This week we are supposed to teach the first lesson in spanish. It is amazing what can be learned in less than a month with the lords help. Thank you for all you for the letters, love, packages, and, support. Well thats all for this week i love you all see yeah

L Tom Perry, First Hotdog and Another Elder Named Ray

Hello,

Not much has changed here at the MTC. I think I am digressing in my Spanish abilities though. Or at least it seems that I losing what I have already learned. Oh well, when I get out I will know enough to say hello at least. Alright I have some big moments at the MTC but I want to talk about home first.So I am glad to hear that grandma Arnold is doing well and I am also glad to hear that she remembers who I am. Last time I went over there she didn’t remember me at all. Don’t tell her that though she’ll probably send me some hate mail. Nah, the I am doing fine here and I am glad to hear she is still kicking, OK don’t tell her that last part either Um… tell her that I love her.

I hope Jimmy and Lani found all their candy on St. Patties Day

OK so some big moments of the MTC#1. So every Tuesday Night we have devotionals. Usually members of the MTC presidency or clerk talk to us but… last week we had L Tom Perry and his wife give a talk. They talked about companionship Unity and it was Bueno.#2 And this is a big one, My companion Elder Taylor at his first hot dog and 3rd ham sandwich in his life on Monday.# 3 This morning while doing laundry and then again about twenty minutes ago while i was at the temple doing a session I meet another Elder Loveless, but wait it gets weirder. His name is Joshua Ray Loveless and my name is Ryan Ray Loveless. It turns out that he is grandpas brothers grandson from sandy. And he is named after Ray Loveless our great grandpa. Its cool trust me. Any way time is short so Talk to you later

Ryan,

Yes the food is the same and we are a very "musical" group and everyone in our group has a very light sense of humor so it is fun.

Saint Patty's Day Email From Ryan

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Alright so this letter might be short. I just spent most of my time setting up an address book for everyone, but everyone should now be getting the emails. Anyway everything is going great here and there isn't much to report. We had movie night on Sunday and watched Legacy. As for the work.... Spanish is coming slowly but surely. I can now pray, bear my testimony and I am starting to be able to put sentences together. I can definitely feel the Lord working with me because I know that there would be no way I could have done so much on my own. I hope everything is going wonderful. Again I thank everyone for all your love and support letters and packages, again especially mom. On that note Mom, just keep in mind I have no way to refrigerating anything. Even though i do love cream cheese. Any way I love you all.

Ryan

P.S. If their is anyones email that I don't have that want me to send them email send it to me.