Sunday, July 7, 2013

Ryan Letter June 17, 2013


Dear Neuhaus Family,
We are so close to getting our first baptisms in Guayaramerin. This place hasn't had a baptism in 6months! We need to kill this drought. This past week we had 251 contacts and 25 lessons. We worked hard. And we didnt even get to work on thursday because my companion got super sick. I'm pumped for this week. Hopefully we'll be able to commit the two people that are sooo close to baptism here. I got faith. Just need a little action from the investigators and we're set.

Man, I've never hated dogs more in my life. I've ran away from more dogs here than ever in my life haha. There's freaking rotweilers and pitbulls everywhere and man they are mean!!! It's hilarious, my companion thinks it is super funny that I'm scared of them. I even had to kick one in the face the other day because it came running at us. Not gonna lie I felt like a stud ha. Oh and then the other day we saw some making love....we just looked, laughed, and then ran as fast as we could to the next street over because these people started looking at us like "what you've never seen that before?" it was pretty funny.

Talk about stress. Not about my own problems but others. This week we made a plan of action for one of our investigators who is an alcoholic, hopefully he sticks with it and breaks his habit. He's a great guy who has the desire to be baptized, just gotta break his trial. We have faith! I know all things are possible through Christ.

This week I got to see a MONKEY!!!!!! A menos activo flia in our branch has a pet monkey, how sick is that?! It was going crazy, I don't think it likes being tied up too much. It wouldn't let me pick it up which was too bad ha. And when the families son tried to pick it up it bit his finger. Not cool. OH and lots of people here have pet Parrots. They are tight! We find dead animals all over the road too. This place is too cool. Love the jungle, just wish it was just a little less hot! ha.
All in all I've been loving the mish. The language is coming along fine, I can teach half of the lesson now and let my companion teach the other half. I know this is only because of my faith in Heavenly Father and the Gift of Tongues. It's hard to be out here and away from you guys. I'll have moments where I imagine what each one of you will look like by the time I get back (I'm sure Dad will probably be bald hahaha) it's pretty sad. Just know that you guys are in my thoughts and prayers each and everyday. Only 22 more months til you get to see me! I've already got a pretty great farmers tan going, I'm sure I'll be crazy dark by the time my mission is over. Oh and I'm in great shape, I've never enjoyed working out in the mornings more. It kills all of my stress...and theres alot of stress out here.
I've never loved the Latino people more, I know that life here is incredibly hard. Some of the rules stink like I can't give the little kids a hug when they come up and grab my leg, I know that's all they want and need to make their day. But rules are rules. And when we are obedient to the rules we will be blessed so I gotta follow them cause we definitely need those blessings.
Last week I bought two soccer jerseys for 50 bolivianos. That's like $7.05. I love it. I'm falling in love with the sport of Futbol. My companion is good enough to play for the Argentina team, he turned it down because they play on Sundays, his dad played professional futbol and he saw how playing on sundays wasn't worth it. Big testimony builder. It's too bad I'm not in Sao Paolo, Brazil for the world cup next year. Theres rumours going around that the missionaries are gonna be able to go because literally everyone in the whole city will be there or watching the games so proselyting won't be possible. Jealous. ha.
Stay close to the gospel while you guys are in TN. I know that because of the gospel I am who I am today. Study the scriptures as a family and have family home evening each week. Only through Christ
can we acheive true happiness in this life.
Love and Miss you guys alot, Stay close to the Lord, he's the only path to happiness in this life.
Elder Neuhaus
On Mon, Jun 17, 2013 at 11:43 AM, <neusflash@aol.com> wrote:
Dear Elder Neuhaus,
 Sorry didn't write to you this week we didn't have a home computer.  We love you and were getting ready to go home to Tennessee. I hope this catches you well you still sitting at the computer so you know your mom loves you!
Have a great great week Elder!  We are so proud of you. Love you lots, mom

Sent from my iPhone

On Jun 17, 2013, at 8:22 AM, Ryan Neuhaus <ryan.neuhaus@myldsmail.net> wrote:
dear Laura,
It is freaking awesome! I will definitely let you ride it with me. I miss you and love you too!
Elder Neuhaus
On Sun, Jun 16, 2013 at 10:44 PM, <neusflash@aol.com> wrote:
Dear ryan
I think  it is cool  how you get to ride a motorcycle.
And if  you do  get a motorcycle you  have to let me ride with you.
 mark sent you a  letter then  Andrew pussed send and sent it to  the wrong 
persen.Ryan IIove you and miss you so much.

Love,Laura
 Sent from my iPad

On May 29, 2013, at 7:40 AM, neusflash@aol.com wrote:
Dear  Ryan, I have miss you so much .why do they call the MTC theCCM?we all love you! Do good!
Love ,
Natalie.                                            Sent from my iPhone

On May 28, 2013, at 3:21 PM, Ryan Neuhaus <ryan.neuhaus@myldsmail.net> wrote:
Hey Family,
I have had a good week. Only 5 more days in the CCM! Yay!!! ha.
Umm do you mind looking it up in the past emails i have sent you? i dont have much time to send emails and i have about 10 different people writing me right now so i'm trying to split up my time so that i can at least send everyone a line or too.
I bet that was still an awesome time. I'm jealous you guys got to be on the beach and in the water. I won't have that for another 23 months at least! Haha i bet brad was bummed out. I hope he was still grateful they got to go. He'll definitely treasure that memory like i treasure going to Spain with dad.
That dude is huge!!!! No steriods?!?! wow. Maybe i'll get that big by the end of my mission. 150 pushups and 300 situps every night so far :)
I went to the temple for the last time for 23 months today. Really felt the spirit. Put your guys names in the temple one last time today. I hope you feel the Lords love and blessings in your life each and everyday. You guys are constantly in my prayers. Teaching investigators has helped convert me to the gospel even more than i was before i came out here. ive realized that even if i dont baptize a single person throughout my entire person i need to be converted to the gospel more than when i was here.
I'm almost done with the book Jesus The Christ. Did you that Christ did not even know that he was the savior of the world until he was 30 years of age? He understood that he was Gods son but did not realize his purpose until he was baptized by John the Baptist. Incredible. Such an amazing book.
Spanish is coming along as it comes. I understand everyone no matter how fast they are speaking and I can read with a great fluid accent but coming up with words in my head is hard on the spot. I'm ready for a latino companion so i will be pushed harder everyday.
So far the mission has been everything I have needed and more. I am grateful for every opportunity I have gotten here and have made lots of friends. Tell Mom that I might have even found my next girlfriend when I get back ;) Hermana Adams. Really nice girl from Conifer, Colorado. She actually knew Jon Layne when he lived there.
Today we got to go to Pizza Hut. We managed to convince the Mission President to allow us to since it was our last p'day and we miss american food. Pizza has never tasted so good. Bought a watch, a CTR (HLJ) ring, and a Peru soccer jersey. Everything is super cheap here. It'll be even cheaper in Bolivia. 1 american dollar is 7 bolivianos.
I hope you guys have been enjoying your excursions lately. Sounds like you have had alot of fun. I miss you guys alot and tell everyone about you and all of your little adventures. Everyone thinks i'm just a little rich kid but i see how the Lord has blessed my life. I am grateful for the example you guys have set for me as parents and i hope to replicate that with my own family someday. I've had to give 3 blessings to sick people here so far. I've kind of played "doctor" here as well. I never realized this but by watching how you, bishop lifferth, and other doctors have treated people i've picked up some stuff. Maybe it's the Lord encouraging me to become a doctor like you. I dont know, we'll see. I have lots of time. People around me call me "Doctor Neuhaus" its funny.
Love and Miss you guys alot. Stay safe and live the commandments of the Lord. He will bless you.
Elder Neuhaus
On Tue, May 28, 2013 at 9:48 AM, Matthew Neuhaus <neusflash@aol.com> wrote:
Elder Neuhaus,

Hope you had a great week.  We really enjoy your letters.  I know you told us before who your companions were but I'm a little slow.   Can you tell me again so I can add it to the blog we have started for you?

This past weekend I took brad, Gabe, josh and Andrew to California.   I would have sent a picture of a huge fish but we didn't catch one.   We were 50 miles off the coast and saw lots of dolphins and sea lions.  We caught 39 fish, all small rockfish.  Brad only caught one.  He wasn't very happy.   It was fun though.

We spent Saturday morning at Venice beach.  They were having a powerlifting competition and the picture I attached is the kids with a world champion power lifter named CT Fletcher.  At one point he bench pressed 710lbs.  He is 52 now.  Oh, and he is 100% natural.  No steroids.  He was huge.

Other than that not a lot to report.  We are heading back to Tennessee in a couple of weeks.  About the time you get to bolivia.    I bet you are excited to get to the field.   Enjoy your last couple of weeks at the MTC and going to the temple.  You will miss it.   I'm impressed that you are reading Jesus the Christ.   Reading the books you have will definately help you be a better missionary and will strengthen you understanding of the Savior.

You are in our prayers!   Love you Ryan.

Dad





Matthew Neuhaus, DPM FACFAS
Diplomate, American Board of Podiatric Surgery
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Offices in Smyrna, Brentwood, Hermitage, and Lebanon

615-220-8788 office
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June 10-Arrival in Bolivia



Dear Fam,
 
Well It's good to finally write you guys! It's been two weeks! I am in Guayaremerin, Bolivia. Santa Cruz Norte Mission. I'm living in the Jungle!!! Woohooo!!!!! haha.I'm literally right next to the Amazon River. We aren't allowed to go anywhere near it though. President won't let us, too dangerous. Hopefully the new one we get soon will let us explore it a little.  It's been really hard but super fun. I'm gonna send you guys some pictures of some of the city. In Guayamerin the only mode of transportation is by Motorcyle.So us missionaries ride on the back of Moto-Taxis when we need to travel to the bank or central part of the city. So with this experience i have decided I'm definitely buying a motorcycle when i get back home. They're freaking fun!
 
Guayarmerin is literally on the border of Brazil and Bolivia. Here we don't knock on doors. We clap, like in Fiji! Then we yell out beunas tardes or whatever time of the day it is so they know that someone is outside. Some people I have met here speak Portugese so we can't talk to them. I don't think I will have the opportunity to learn portugese on my mission. Oh well, Spanish is a sweet language! There was one time this week I was introducing me and my companion, Elder Spitale, to a girl outside of her house and she just looked at me with a blank stare, turned around and ran. I was super confused. I looked to my companion and asked him if i said something wrong and he said no and then she came running back telling us that she didnt know how to speak spanish. Well hey, me too! ha. it was funny. The language is definitely harder here. THe people mumble words and don't look at you when speaking so it's hard to understand them. I have been teaching as much as I can but since my spanish is rough and limited right now sometimes people don't completely understand me. Thank goodness I have a companion that understands what I'm trying to get across.
 
My companion Elder Spitale, is from Argentina. He's a stud. Only been out in the field for 3 months and half of it has been here in Guayaramerin. He's not the best trainer since he hasn't been out here for very long and doesn't know a lick of english but he helps me as best as he can with my spanish. I love the way he teaches, he uses lots of examples and shares personal experiences so that the messages are simple and the people fully comprehend the message. Since he is from Argentina he doesn't always finish his words and he has a slight lisp. But i try my best and rely on the Lord to give me the gift of tongues so that I can speak with him and prepare the best lessons for our investigators. So far me and him together have set records for our zone. In the past 3 days we have had 102 contacts, 9 baptismal invitations, 14 lessons taught, and are working really hard. He's really happy to have someone willing to work hard as his companion because for the past 6 weeks his last companion was super lazy. This area baptizes about 2 per month. In the past 6 weeks they haven't baptized anyone. We are gonna break that drought soon. We are teaching alot of families and a few people who truly do want to change their lives. It's cool to see how someone can have such a desire to become a better person and fully follow the example of Christ.
 
The past 3 days have been the most bipolar days of my life. Never had so many ups and downs in my life before. There are moments where I just want to give up and go home because my spanish is so rough, however I know with fervent prayer and study Heavenly Father will bless me with the gift of tongues. I'm thankful that I grew up with the gospel in my life so that I can now have the opportunity to share it with the people of Guayarmerin. THese people literally have nothing. THis morning for breakfast we bought 2 3 liters of soda and a 6 pack of cookies for 22 Bolivianos. Thats about 3 american dollars. I told my companion we needed to start eating better and he agreed. So now i get to cook for us cause he doesnt know how. Last night I made some omeletes. TOnight I'm gonna try to make some quesidillas. It'll be fun to mess around with food and experiment with the stuff they have here. The soda here is called "Trinny" my favorite flavor is Papaya. I've ate lots of weird things already. I had a full chicken foot with claws and everything in my soup yesterday. Just gotta close you eyes and eat it. SO gross. Pero, I can now say I'e ate a chickens foot. Chevre!
 
This past week I have been called a liar, a devil worshiper, and have talked to some of the drunkest people I have ever met in my life. Lots of stuggles on the mission but I know it will all be worth it.
 
I hope all is well for you guys. You're in my daily thoughts and prayers. Be thankful for all that you have in America. You guys are so blessed! I love you and miss you, work hard and be obedient to the commandments of the Lord and he will pour out his blessings upon you.
 
Love you Guys,
Elder Neuhaus
Matthew 5:13
On Tue, Jun 4, 2013 at 2:17 AM, Matthew Neuhaus <neusflash@aol.com> wrote:
Elder Neuhaus,

Another week has gone by.  You said you were leaving the MTC this week.  We have been thinking about you and your travels.  Wondering what part of Bolivia you will start out in.  With your mission splitting this area will more than likely determine which mission you end up in.  Pretty exciting!  I hope you have a great companion.  Remember, there is no perfect companion.  Hopefully, he will be a hard working and obedient elder who will teach you well as you start your mission.  The Lord will bless you!  Enjoy every minute of your experience there.  Love the people.  Study the language, especially the correct tenses of past/imperfect and subjunctive.  Once you master subjunctive you will be fluent.  Give it a couple months.  You are fortunate that the peruvians and bolivians speak some of the clearest/slowest spanish around.  Wait until you speak to your first cuban/puerto rican or dominican, or even spaniard!  Then you will realize all spanish is not the same.  We look forward to hearing from you and learning about your new companion/area.  The real work has begun!

Not much to report this week.  Mom took the girls to San Francisco last thursday/friday for a quick girls getaway.  they had a great time.  We are packing up the Utah house and I will be taking a truck back to TN with the majority of our stuff this next weekend.  I will be driving with the twins.  Should be an interesting trip!  Life is an adventure.  Other than that life is pretty boring.  Emily is at EFY this week in Provo.  Brad and Andrew are doing Lone Peak Basketball camp and the twins start Tball this week.  

Love ya!

Dad

Monday, June 3, 2013

May 29 email from Laura

To: Ryan Neuhaus <ryan.neuhaus@myldsmail.net>
Sent: Wed, May 29, 2013 09:22 AM
Subject: Laura


Dear Ryan,                                     
I love you.I miss you so much. 
I'm glad the Langwage is easy.
Tell your Compandmen thank you
for the song.it is exited that you
alny  5 more days. I love you.

Sent from my iPhone

May 21 email from Nathan to Ryan with reply



On May 21, 2013, at 12:40 PM, Ryan Neuhaus <ryan.neuhaus@myldsmail.net> wrote:

Dear Nathan,
The MTC is awesome! Here in Peru its called the CCM. Its really pretty around here, I sent Mom and Dad some pictures of it, you should ask to see them. Most of my friends just left for their missions this morning so i'm sad about that. I only have two weeks left here. I'm super excited to be out! It's almost been a month....crazy! Miss you little bud.
 
Love you,
Elder Neuhaus
On Wed, May 15, 2013 at 9:41 PM, <neusflash@aol.com> wrote:
Dear Ryan,
I love you!  I miss you. I hope you are having a good mission. Tell me all about the MTC. You will be a great missionary, I know it.
Love,
Nathan

May 21 letter from mom and reply from Ryan




Hey Fam,
 
That's awful news! I've been trying to follow the news here as best as I can. Sounds like an awful tornado. Heard that a couple states have gotten into the gay rights movement. Our country is really going downhill. The Second Coming is close, I can feel it. We all need to stay as worthy as we can and prepare for the time that the Lord will come back and return to the Earth to bring Celestial Glory to those who are worthy of it. I have learned so much while being here. Jesus the Christ is my favorite book, I can't stop putting it down. It's starting to affect the time I put into learning grammar for Spanish. I love my Lord and am so glad to be serving him. I know that he will admonish many blessings unto you and me as I spread his word to the people of Bolivia that are humble enough to accept his teachings.
 
I love hearing about Brads basketball, he's such a stud. I hope his leg gets better and he continues to succeed. Everyone around here knows his name and that he's truly my best friend. I miss him alot.
 
Spencer. Spencer. Spencer. It's strange to think that by the time I will get home Emily will be 16...dating and driving...guess I'll have to really step it up as a big brother when I get back. Keep her away from boys. She's gonna be gorgeous.
 
Thats incredible. You should send me a video of it. Andrew is a stud. He'll be one of the best baseball players our family has, I know he'll be better than me for sure.
 
Natalie is a level 3 already? wow! There is a new elder here now named Elder Grover that did gymnastics for 14 years, he was gonna go do it in college but I think I heard him say he decided not to anymore.
 
 Laura...June 1st. That's a big day for her. I'll be sure to mark it down on my calender so that she will know that I am thinking about her. Proud of her... John 3:5
 
Twins/Mark/Tyler....sounds like they are growing up quick. Hurts my heart to not see them in these stages of their life. Love those boys.
I hope you (mom) and Dad are doing good. I'm sure the move is stressful. Pray to the Lord for help, he truly does hear your prayers. I know that you guys are following his will. You guys are great examples to me right now.
 
I heard about that! I hope I get to train him, that would be fun. I'm going to send you guys some more pictures of the things I've been up to out here. One of them is a picture of 4 ties I have bought. I'm not going to wear them because 3 of them are for Dad, Brad, and Andrew. They can decide which they want. They're pretty cool. Handmade by a member out here in Peru.
 
It's sad to hear about sister Monson passing away last week. Remember to keep President Monson in your prayers. He is a great man and I'm sure the passing of his wife has been hard for him. He is leading us by inspiration and revelation every day. I know that to be true.
 
Love and Miss you guys,
Elder Neuhaus
Ether 12:6



Dear Ryan, how are you? We love you and think of you often. We hope you have fully recovered from your sickness I'm sorry you had to have that happen. It sounds like you are really enjoying your mission, good to hear.
Yesterday in Oklahoma City there was a terrible tornado. It was 2 miles wide and on the ground for 40 minutes. It hit two elementary schools and 91 people are dead. Very sad.
Brad is working hard in basketball he did great in the last tournament but in the last game he did get his leg injured again, not as bad this time though.
Emily is still pretty upset that we are moving back to Tennessee. I think a boy named Spencer is part of the issue :)
Andrew just memorize the entire document of the living Christ I videoed it maybe we can send you the video he did a great job.  He is definitely the superstar on the baseball team, not a good team.
Natalie finished her last gymnastics session she is now a level III gymnast she will be excited to start again in Tennessee.
Laura is still just a sweet and happy girl she is looking forward to her baptism June 1.
The twins are finishing up preschool and learning how to read they also love to just have fun.
Mark is still the same little crazy self and Tyler is everywhere he is a speedy little crawler.
I have been busy getting everything packed and ready to go, it's a big job.
So proud of you and the service you are giving.
Oh and the big news of the week, do you remember Remington Lohmeyer from church?  He is going to be serving in the Bolivia Santa Cruz Mission,can you believe that!  He reports to the Peru MTC in October so maybe by the time you get to Bolivia you can train him. Anyway I think it's neat that someone else from Brentwood Tennessee will be serving with you in Bolivia!
Have a great week, work hard, and know  that we love you!
Love Always,
Mom

May 21 letter from Dad


Elder Neuhaus,

I hope you have had another good week.   It has been fun for us to get your 
letters.  It sounds like you are having a great experience.   

We are getting ready for the move back from Utah.   I think Emily is having the 
hardest time with it so far.   She has really enjoyed American heritage and has 
found some really good friends she doesn't want to leave.   As far as Nashville 
goes we have a contract on our little farm property and should have a new 
adventure ahead of us with that.   Looks like it will officially be ours July 1.   
Works out well because that will be our first day back in TN.

We heard this week that Remington Lohmeyer received his mission call this week 
to the bolivia Santa Cruz mission!   He goes to the Peru MTC in October.  Ill 
have to get you his address so you can write him a letter or two and help him 
know how to pack.   :) I'm sure he would love to hear about your experiences and 
get some tips about how to prepare.    

This weekend I'm taking brad, Gabe, josh, and Andrew to California to go 
fishing.   Ill give you an update next week and let you know if we catch 
anything.   Should be fun.  Wish you were able to go with us but I know you are 
where The Lord needs you in Peru. Keep working hard.   I was going to tell you 
to be sure to study the correct grammar and sentence structure.   Don't learn 
that from the people on the street.   You will be working with uneducated people 
and will develop bad habits if you do.   Make sure you learn correct Spanish so 
you can come back and test out of all the classes you need.   If you do you will 
realize you can speak better Spanish than the natives.   

I'm so excited to hear about your experiences.   Have a great week!   Enjoy your 
time in the MTC.   You are in our prayers.

Love ya,

Dad

Reply from Ryan

Hey Dad,
Well it's almost been a month away from home now. Seems like forever but also feels like no time has gone by at all either. The mission has been just what I have needed so far. Happy to be out here, I can already see myself growing up and maturing as a person.
I'm sure Emily will struggle, let her know that it's all going to be okay and that she has my prayers. I put all of your guys names' in the temple this morning. You guys are constantly in my thoughts. I hope Emily knows that the move is what is best for her at this time. Heavenly Father will help her with whatever she needs if she prays for help and guidance. Heavenly Father truly does answer prayers.
Last saturday I got to go on my first adventure. Proselyting. I went with an Elder named Elder Garcia. He is from Lima, Peru and just left for his mission this morning in La Paz, Bolivia. At first it was really hard because I was nervous to just approach someone with the little Spanish I knew. However, the Elder I was matched up perfectly for me. We were guided by the Spirit to so many different people. Sometimes we were called names because we were Mormon but it didn't phase me at all. At first I would only testify to someone of the lesson we were teaching or read a few scriptures but by the end of the day I taught an entire lesson to a lady and her daughter. Elder Garcia had me introduce us like he had every time we knocked on a door so I did and then he decided to turn the lesson over to me by saying that I had a message to share with them. At first I was taken off guard because I wasn't expecting it so I started off by saying "Yo no se mucho espaƱol, pero yo se que la iglesia de Jesucristo es verdadero..." and then I didn't stop talking. I listened to the needs of the two women and was guided by the Spirit to scriptures and topics I needed to discuss during the lesson I was teaching. By the end of the lesson I had committed them to come to church on sunday and read the Book of Mormon. Well the younger daughter, the older lady said she would come to church but wouldn't read the Book of Mormon because it was too big and she didn't like reading. So I just let her have a phamplet instead. It was amazing because she said that she had been a member of the Catholic church for 73 years. If someone really is looking for the truth I now know that they will accept it when they find it. That experience was a testament to me of the gift of tounges and that Heavenly Father prepares people for us and ourselves for certain points in our lives. 
Wow! I may have the opportunity to be Elder Lohmeyers trainer! That would be great! Get me his email or his parents and I will for sure write him. I can look back now and just see so many opportunites to prepare that I didn't take advantage of that I wish I did now.
I'm sure the past weekend has been a blast. Brad probably caught a huge fish and you guys have had aton of fun. I'm jealous. Did Gabe and Josh ever raid my closet? Those guys are good examples for Brad. He'll be around good kids while he's in Utah without the rest of you guys. I don't think you have anything to worry about with him living alone.
The Spanish is coming quickly to me. I understand about 95% of everything I hear and can respond about 70% of the time. Most of the kids in the CCM are saying that at this point they aren't learning anything new in spanish but I still feel like I am increasing. Any tips on how to become better at spanish so I will test out of the classes when I get back? I study vocab often, learn new words all the time. I also try to take advantage of every moment I have to talk to someone in my room, on the street, or just in the halls if they are Latino. They Spanish language feels natural to me in a way, I'm comfortable with it and people tell me I have picked up a good accent quick. My teacher says I should be completely fluent by Christmas. I hope that's true.
I've also heard that since the Santa Cruz, Bolivia mission is splitting into two parts it is now taking some of the Cochabomba mission away. What I've heard so far is that my mission will receive the southern part of the Cochabomba mission so now part of the Santa Cruz mission will have Argentina in it as well. That means the Santa Cruz Mission will have 3 countries in it. Brazil, Argentina, and Bolivia. That'd be cool if I got to see all three. But with the split to a North Santa Cruz Mission I'm not sure where I'll end up. Wherever I end up I will be excited to serve and meet all of the people. They are some of the most humble and loving people I have ever met. It's amazing to hear their stories and how they accepted the gospel. Most of the Latino missionaries are only 1 year members.
Last night all of my friends left for their missions. Elder Leavitt, Colton, Walker, Dority, and Hess are gone. I'll miss them alot. We all became really good friends during the time I was here with them, it's crazy to think I only have two weeks here left. Time has gone by quick. The mission will be short I have to take advantage of every second I have here. My testimony is growing each and every day. Joseph Smith and Jesus Christ gave their lives for this gospel, so I'm going to give two complete years of mine.
I love and Miss you guys alot.
Elder Neuhaus

Ryan with his MTC teacher