December 12, 2011 pictures



Elder Lindstrom and I having fun with pomegranets (spelling????)



Some deer meat that we got.  I fixed some of it and man was it good!

The family that called you on Thanksgiving that I was "betting" with that I could have pumpkin pie.  They are so funny!

December 12, 2011

Hey there.  What is going on?
Hello again!!!  This will be the last email you get from me while I'm on my mission.  CRAZZZY!  Man, another good week out on the old mission.  I had my outgoing interview with President Smart this week.  He said, "Man, if this was a business and I could have you stay, I would be asking how much would it take to have you stay."  Meaning money-wise, but he said that is not how it works.  He told me, "I know you have this work down and you know what you are doing.  You are a good example to everyone else and that you have been a good leader."  That really answered a prayer of mine, because a lot of the time I feel like I'm not meant for this job and to have your Mission President say that meant a lot.  He is a good man.  We think a lot alike and he is so cool.  We talked about a lot of things and he is 100% called of God and I love him so much.  He wants us to come see him when I get home.

Sunday I had to give a talk in Sacrament meeting and that was fun because it was Elder Lindstroms first talk and my last on my mission.  The youth speaker didn't show up, so we had to take all of the time.  Elder Lindstrom took like 13 minutes, and so that left the rest of the time for me, which was like 25 minutes.  They told me I only had to talk for 17 minutes and somehow I talked for over 20 minutes.  That was way cool how I got to fill up all of that time and it was so good.  I love it when you just feel the Spirit working through you.  So many people said goodbye to me and it was crazy to think I have no more Sundays left on my mission.  Sad thing!

We got to teach a lot of lessons this week and it was so nice to be able to do that for a change (before he came to the area there wasn't really anything going on as far as the work).  I love you all and I will see you soon and I will tell you everything else when I get home.  Have a good week and I love you guys.

Elder Rice

December 5, 2011

Well this week was a good one and the Lord's hand was in it the whole time.  We started out this week with having some people to go and teach, but that didn't work out, so that is never good.  Just like it says in Ether 12:6--that "ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith".  Then this weekend we had to help some people out getting their OYM's (open your mouth), which means just talking to people.  So, we helped get their OYM's for them because we had ours, so we got theirs too.  Then on Sunday we had a lady come up to us and tell her that her granddaughter was going to be coming with her non-member husband, so that was way cool.  We got to know them and they both said yes to the lesson.  The last 3 weeks we have picked up a new investigator each week, and they have all been part member families, so that is good.  Someday they will be able to go to the Temple and be sealed with their wife and kids.  That is the best thing to tell people about and they all love the idea of it.  That is something I like to share because my family means the world to me. 

This week I was at a lesson at the Church and the Bishop wanted to talk to us, so we went in his office and he asked us to speak my last Sunday in the mission.  So, I have to give two talks in 2 weeks---that is not cool and they are not the same topics either.  I have to plan two talks, but that is OK.  It is good for me.  I think I am going to just wing my homecoming talk and let the Spirit direct where I should go with it.  That is what I keep feeling inside to do with my talk, but we will see.

Something else that happened this week was that we have a baptism to come back for again.  We were going to have to the baptism the 1st Sunday, but the girl that was going to be baptised said that she had some health problems, so it didn't work out.  Man, Satan really works hard to not let people get baptized!  I have said that it is really hard when we teach someone one day out of the week and for only an hour at the most, and then Satan has all the other time to work on them.  So that is something our mission is having a big problem with and I have said that from day one, but no one gets it at all.  There are some ways to get around that, but I'm just a DL and I have no input in the big things that go on with the mission, but, hey, whatever. 

So that is my week.  I can't believe that I only have 1 more email left.  That is crazy to me.  This week we have a lot going on.  The ward is picking up it's work and we are teaching a little more, so it should be a good week and a good one to finish strong with.

I'm going to miss teaching people about the Gospel and seeing them change their life.  It is the coolest thing to watch.  The testimony that I had when I came out is not the same one as now.  I know that the Lord is at the head of this church and we really do have a prophet still on the earth today, and that Joseph Smith was and is the way the church was restored, and that the message we share brings greater tidings of joy to the weak and feeble that know not where to find the truth, and that the Book of Mormon is another testament of Jesus Christ.  It shows that we have a loving God that wants everyone to hear his Gospel so that we can live with him again, and that families are ordained of God and that we are all a big family.  I know that the Bible is true and it testifies of him and that he really does love us.  I say this in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Well, I love u!!!!  Take care and I will see you soon.  We can talk and I can tell you some of the stories.  I love you lots and have a good week.  One more week left for email!  Well, tell everyone Hi for me and take care until we meet again.

Love,
Elder Rice