Ryan's Letter 4/29/08

Well family things in the beautiful city of Nottingham are fantastic. We projected a lady last Saturday for baptism. So she will be getting baptized next week. She is so good, so much desire to know and learn about the Book of Mormon, she knows it is true. Her name is Susan. Other than that things in our won area are kind of slow.
But I have really started taking to my new calling. I never realized how crazy and hard a life as a zone leader was. I definitely have very recent felt the burden that weighs on any person with such great responsibility. I just need to move quicker, I feel almost as if I am dragging behind and not getting up to speed as fast as I should be. So that is an absolute huge focus of mine this week. I love this work and all, but I never imagined this side of the work. I guess its just something that can't really just be explained, thank goodness I have a good companion that can really show me how its done, I have been playing following the leader, but unfortunatley I am not in a postition where I should just be following him so much. I am really good at doing my own things sometimes and when it comes to a one on one basis, but when it is just thinking and pondering how to handle a whole zone I feel like I struggle. I need to rely upon God more. I know that God did not call me because of the skills I had or have, but who I CAN become. And I know that whom the Lord calls the Lord qualifies. So that wil be a huge focus of mine this week! but it sure has been an adventure. I hope to improve quicker so that no one is affected by my "newness" for lack of a better word. But don't get me wrong I love it and I think I can fill the shoes, I love even more the great oppurtunity I have to serve other missionaries 100 % of the time. And while doing that I am serving God. It is just new and different. Well so today we are playing football, so we can prepare for mission football in two weeks. So I guess it is drawing nigh to call home again, and for pretty much the last time until right before coming home. But i don't count Christmas. Well I dont think I will need a phone card they aren't very expensive here. And I will try and sort a good time to call. So hopefully everything will work out fine. It should! Well how are things back home, everyone ok! oh and dad you'll never believe it. I know how to drive a manual. Did I tell you thats all we drive here! I think its cool. I have leanrned in the past week! Well I love you all and thanks for the good stories. Cool Passover story, and Mom thanks for keeping the picture updated, I will write Brandon his birthday letter today! Hopefully. I actually won't be in my home today I am on exchanges with several missionaries the next couple of days. It will be crazy! Love ya, Elder Ryan Lee

I actually won something!!!

Today on Mix 107.3 they were giving out tickets to the Journey with Heart and Cheap Trick in August to the 10th caller. I can't believe I won!!! Of course I felt old when I tried telling my kids (who were sitting in the car when I called) what I won, and they're saying "Who are they?" But anyway, I think I'm more excited because I actually won something fun and different than what we normally do.  Chris and I are also going to see Lion King in July. Both boys will be gone at different camps a good portion of July, so this is turning out to be a fun filled summer of different things for us. Can't wait!!

Passover in Iraq

So on Sunday 21^st of April the Base Jewish Chaplain held a Passover dinner for non-Jewish personnel here on Al Asad Airbase. I attended along with two other members from our LDS congregation. It was a very interesting experience. When we arrived we all put on the Jewish skull cap (I forget what it is called). We were seated around a large table that we pre-set with many symbolic foods for the dinner. The whole dinner experience is a teaching tool. It is a symbolic journey from slavery and suffering to freedom. As each item is consumed a prayer or song or recitation is given that reflects on some aspect of the Jewish condition throughout its history. The recitations began recalling the time when Abraham call from the land beyond the Euphrates. We all reflected on the fact that we were sitting very near the Euphrates at that very moment. It does sort of add a little something special to the experience. Early in the meal the foods are bitter herbs to remember the bitterness of slavery. Unleavened bread is to remember the haste with which Israel fled Egypt. The lack of leaven represents the removal of bread early from baking so that it could not rise. Slowly the foods become better and better to reflect the elevated status of a free people. Wine or grape juice is consumed while leaning to the right. This is a symbol of freedom since in the older ages the wealthy would lay on there side while eating. The right side is to protect life. This is for medical reasons since leaning to the left could result in fluids going down the wrong pipe. I thought this interesting as the right is a symbol of Christ who saves lives through his sacrifice. All in all it was a very unique and fun experience. I think there are many things that could enrich an Easter meal if take from the Passover. In the end they are really about the same thing, God’s mercy in saving mankind from bondage.

Princess Kayla

Had to post this picture of our cat who thinks she's a princess. But, she's so pretty, you can't help but agree with her.

Fun Topiary

We had a craft night again. It was a lot of fun. It's so funny how so many people can do the same project and each one can look so different.  This is mine. Good thing I didn't make it any taller. It barely fits where I wanted it.  Overall I'm pleased with how it turned out. I didn't post my project last time, so needed to be the first to post it this time. Hope all of our projects go like this. So far I've finished them the same night. Love those kind of projects. Thanks Melanie for the awesome project. 

Letter from Ryan

It has been quite an experience having Ryan on a mission and seeing or more like hearing how much he has grown there. He blows me away everytime I read his letters. He seems so in tune with Heavenly Father and his mission there in England. Here is his last letter. (unedited)

well so if you havent noticed already i am transfered. crazy i know. but you will never guess where i got transfered to. NOTTINGHAM. again. so i am in the same house i was before but i am in a different room, becasue i am not the district leader there anymore. but for some reason they gave me a different calling. they have entruseted me with being a zone leader. wow! it sure is quite humbling. so know isnstead of being in charge os a few teams i am in charge, along with my companion Elder Baker, 3 districts. wow! but it is ok becasue i have a comp to be able to help me. instead of being on my own! well so this is cool i guess funnily enough elder baker was my zone leader when i was here last time. it will be tons of fun, i am really excited to see success here! well so also i am driving now zoneleaders do get a car. so now i will get plenty of practice. good thing becasue i need to learn how to drive a stick. oh and mom gas is nothing there here, if converted to american dollars is about 9 dollars a gallon! wow! that sure is alot. well so i dont realy have anything to new other than my exciting and rather humbling information and we dont have much pday left so i will proably go now. i do want you to know that i am just telling you this because it is informative, NOT to boast. i recognize that this is Gods work. And this must be the best thing that he thinks i can do to fulfill my purpose to invite others to come to Christ. well thanks for all your love and all your prayers i am really feeling there work on me! Love you all tons Elder Ryan Lee

Brandon's part

So, Brandon was in the school play Annie, Jr. OK I wasn't suppose to record it. But, with Chris in Iraq I figured this would be the only way he could see it. I only recorded Brandon's part which wasn't very long. This was the best part. He played Bert Healey. He did pretty good. Could tell he was nervous. He tends to rock from foot to foot, and he almost forgot his lines a couple of times. Overall it was a good job though. Better than others, but I'm biased.  (Kyle did the recording by holding the camera high, so it's a little shaky)

Going BALD!

Well, The portrait by my brother has called to the fore-front my aging process. Yes, I am getting old(er) and it is manifesting itself. My eyes need things held away a little more each year (though I see 20/15). My bones, joints and back ache more and more. And yes, I am losing hair. This began in earnest when I, and my sons, bleached our hair while Lia was out of town one year a while back. We did silly things like that to shock and surprise her, just for the fun of it. Well, this time my years were catching up and my knowledge of bleaching was fundamentally lacking. I ended up over doing it and I noticed with in days, and so did others, that I was a bit thin up front. I think I just advanced the natural process a few years. I had to take several photos of myself for my brother to paint my portrait. A key element was that I get good top lighting to create shadows. Well the down side of that is that the light penetrates to the scalp where hair is thin. The result was a whole lot of photos that essentially made me look bald. I have to thank my brother for at least not making my hair disappear completely like it appears to in most of the photos. I realize now that I will likely take after my grand father on my mothers side unless my thinning slows down dramatically in which case I will appear more like my father. In either case I will be thinning more and more. Now, I am not opposed to the whole bald thing particularly for many folks who look just fine like that. I unfortunately am not one of them. Those photos were hideous and I am not just saying that because it is me and we all see ourselves worse than others seem to (natural human insecurity). I also have a small head and this fact is greatly intensified by the lack of hair. Well I guess I need to start getting used to it now or go join the "Hair Club For Men". Getting old is bad enough but when you feel like a kid in so many ways it seems kind of worse because you know you are not. I guess that is why I like fantasy literature, because reality bites.

My brother in law painted this portrait of Chris. It looks just like him!! Good job Spencer!!!

Spring Cleaning my yard

Yesterday I was reminded of one of the things we loved about our house when we were looking.  Our yard. We love how it had all the beds built in.  We did notice that it would need some work later because there were quite a few open areas in it. But, it was still beautiful. Yesterday my sister and brother in law came over to show me how to split hostas and the decorative grasses which I had a ton of. So, I pretty much redid my beds by splitting what I had. My brother in law Spencer cleaned up the beds in the front yard, while Laurie and I did the splitting. It looks so clean now. I can't wait until everything grows now. Shouldn't be long and my yard is going to look gorgeous. We split so many hostas, along the fence we alternated the blue and green ones. I know you can't really see the changes right now in the pictures, but they're there.  It is going to look awesome. So, once everything is out, I will post new pictures and I'm going to have a party and you are all invited!!! Just let me know if you want to come and I will send an invite!!! We'll barbecue and eat out on the deck, that I love. I love my backyard and am so glad we moved here!! Thanks again Spencer and Laurie for your help. Will miss you next year. 

Houston in April

So, I just returned tonight from Houston, TX. My sister Bonnie and I flew out there Saturday morning and flew back home today (Monday). Very quick trip. It was good to see my family even though it was a short visit. Fun getting to see my nephews.  So, at this point in my life I am grateful to be an AUNT to young ones. But, glad to be a MOM to older ones. I love being able to be around babies and little ones, but love the freedom we have now.  Anyway, aren't my nephews cute?

My house

I had a request for a picture of my house, so here it is. I didn't quite get the whole thing. I was taking pictures for other reasons. We love our house. Would love for anyone to come see it in person. 

Ryan's most recent pics!

Ryan's letter 4/1/08

Well this week has been quit good. unfortunately i dont have any new prospects to report, but i do have a very exciting story. Well this actually happend last night. So mom you will be able to tell elder pattersons mom this story. unfortunately we didnt take a picture. well anywasys so we were late home last night. and since we were running late past our curfew you know what they say. the spirit doesnt protect you. so we actually were leaving to go home, and we were walking to our bikes and there were a group of chavs surrounding our bike trying to cut the lock. probably about 5 of them. so we were yelling at them and these ones didnt leave when we yelled so we actually had to face them. then ..... they just like surrounded us and and started to fight. well it wasnt pretty, i mean we are big guys, so they threw a punch at elder patterson and they missed and then i never seen anyone get so mad. he just started going on and just waling punches. i know not very christlike but it was self defense. so they got a few good hits on us, but we scared them off, unfortunately elder patterson has a black eye, but battle wounds are the greatest. the best part was when like 3 or 4 of them and so i like had to single handedly take them all off of him. it was way intense, almost like it was a movie! Well that was exciting, but atleast we have a story to tell our grandchildren. well so anyways we are ok. and just in ccase you were wondering what day it is. i believe it is the ......

oh yeah the first of april. April fools day. sorry this is all we could come up with at the last minute. it never really happend. Well anyways we did have a good week, we had to baptisms on sat. Shelley got baptised and boy it was alot tougher than i thought it would be. apperently a memeber like said some things to her about missionaries being baptism happy, and like are you doing this for yourself? it was not easy to fix, but she is way good. she actually wrote her testimony down on paper for me, kind of like her conversion process, but less in depth, so i will send it to you to read. but it is way cool. well so other than that i will answer questions from mom now. So yes i did have a different coat, that is becasue when i first came out i couldnt ride a bike with that monster jacket, so i bought that one for 3 quid at a charity shop. and it has lasted me ever since. it is hidious(sp?) but it works i guess. so mom i actually do need something. just some more degree deodorant and anti persperent. i dont like the selection in this country. well so yes we did have some weird snow flurries but we do not get that very often, the last two days have been beautiful. so i am healthy and happy. i am very excitied for general conference this weekend. mom here are some facts about elder patterson. he has a rediculous northern utah accent. wow! he sounds like a redneck. um he is not too shy about talking to people. he has great faith in doing this work. He is not prideful, and is very willing to submit to my will. haha. i dont alwyas like that though because i can be very indecisive sometimes. and i like the input of others. um lets see! he is not very homesick which is good! ok that is it. i cant think of anymore! well i hope you all have a great day, you are all in my prayers!
Love
Edler Ryan lee