Transferred- in and out in 6 Months

What's up? I got a call from my good friend Elder Udall telling me that I am being Transfered on Wednesday. Let me tell it stinks and is good all at the same time. I am ready for what comes because I know where I stand and who I stand with.

   The last 6  months of my mission have really been a turning point here. Life gets crazy but we got to hold on and stay to things that we know are true, and that is that Jesus is my savior, Joseph smith is his prophet, and the Church of Jesus Christ of latter day sanits is his full gospel and church again on the earth.
   Wakalo (New mission president) comes in on the 23rd and think it will be bitter sweet.      Shirt size is 17 1/2 .

From Elder Ryan Duron

the gift of faith, of miracles, and of laughter.

This past week should be called "Random Stuff Happens and Things Still Work Out Awareness Week." Between tornadoes touching down in the branch and almost having my bike stolen, miracles of the gospel of Jesus Christ never stop.

    After two months of working with an investigator, T-----, and trying to get her to come to church, we went with brother Hardin ( one of the coolest Southern members in the world) to invite her to church for the 100th time. Before we went in I prayed to my Heavenly Father that if she felt that this was true, then help her overcome her fear of no friends and being alone. The three of us went in and promised her that the spirit would be there at church and confirm the truth of this. She still was a bit afraid until her son came in and asked whats up. We said we are just seeing if your mom would come to church, but she does not want to go alone.  Her son turned to her and said "I will go with you." Then T-----, her son and her daughter went to church. I know God answers prayers, even in super small ways, he answers them.

    God has a way of keeping us awake and alert and reminding us who we are and why he gives us this gospel. A lot of crazy things have happened, like a 10 year old kid took my bike. We were riding around the  bad part of town when we were flagged down by some kids who asked if we could fix bikes. As I was helping them I turned my back on my bike, and  one of them hopped on and took off. I turned to elder Oblad, who was holding on to his bike with a kid in the seat trying to make off with it. Don't worry, we kept both of our bikes.

                        Trenton Branch Missionaries

   Plus a  tornado touched down in Milan, a town in the Trenton branch. No harm was done exept to some crops and a trailer was turned up side down.

  We have to trust in God and remember his ways are for sure not our ways. Read the book of mormon in 30 days-it's legit.

                   Love, Elder Duron  

 

Last of the Humboldt four!

This week man... this email is brought to y'all by word Muslim, the of game Pool, and the Restoration. But before we jump into that first things first. My good friend Elder Wells is being transferred so I am the last elder of the original humboldt four. That's right I have six more weeks here in Trenton which will equal a total of six months here.

   Sorry Mom. We are at the north east tip of the mission on the other side of the Mississippi (Response to whether or not his mom would see him cleaning up after the tornado in the many pictures that were going around). That is awesome that you are helping out those people in the Searcy Stake. Come to think of it I spent the first half of my mission in that stake...weird how fast the time goes.

 

    So this week started off with us walking the streets around 1030 am and getting thirsty. So we stopped into a gas station and met a man with a name that  I have no I idea how to spell or say. he offered me 10 bucks if could but it was of no use. He then asked  us if we were from the CIA, FBI, NSa ,or MI5 we told him we were  Representatives of Jesus Christ. He told us he was a Muslim from Jerusalem  and asked what church we were from. We said the chruch of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints. He then said "Mormons??? Then I have question for you". I said shoot. He said" how many wives can you have max?" It was fun and we got his phone number and plan on stopping by his place some time. 

  Then on Saturday we came out of an awesome lesson with a guy name Roland,  and as we went back to the car we saw a couple guys playing Pool and so we played with them. One was drinking pretty heavy that day, and challenged Elder Oblad to a one on one match where Elder Oblad beat the guy and we talked for a bit.

  Life is awesome if you use the gospel. It can be crazy but if we live the Gospel of Jesus Christ we can be prepared for whatever comes around. 

From Elder (Ryan) Duron

A Twister of a Week.

The past week has been exhausting  but good.  So that's crazy, no moving? well I guess Chandler will just have to wait.

   Well the cats out of da bag about the tornadoes. That is going on in the Arkansas side of the mission, so we r fine so far. The plan for a Tornado is to find a safe place, kneel down, and kiss the  ground good bye. JK. But I did serve in the area where the tornado hit in Cabot.

    The work has been good.  We met a man from Jerusalem. He told us of when he was a kid and he and his friends would play in the garden and the tomb of where Christ was buried. We also have been talking to some of the most honest people I have ever met.

   Life gets hard. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is easy. If we just stick to it and feel it, be real because this Gospel is real, then we will be able to make it through. I love psalms 23. One because it is legit, two because it talks about how we should trust in Christ; he is always there. I know this is simple- we sometimes make it a lot harder then it should be. If  we press forward with faith we can do it.

   So what letter r yall talking about? it will proably come today. That's right, Haley happy 16 years. That's  so weird.
from your son, brother, and missionary,

Elder (Ryan) Duron 

Letter From The Mission President

          Due to deadly weather in the mission last night, this may be the only letter we receive. Please pray for the people in Little Rock and the other areas affected.

Subject: Our missionaries are safe
Dear Parents, We want you to know that all missionaries serving in the Arkansas Little Rock Mission are safe and accounted for.  They have been asked to stay in their apartments today so you may not receive and e-mail from your missionary this week.  Some of our communities have sustained considerable damage so many of our missionaries will be involved in on going service to help those in need.  Thank you for your prayers and faith.  Sincerely, President Steven M. Petersen

A very short letter

 Hey how r things? Some of the coolest stuff has been happening. Found some new people and taught some great lessons.

   I am going to make this short because I am tired. Ahhh we found a 14 year old boy named Lake who is pretty cool. He called the church asking for a moive so we went and taught the first lesson and he has a date for the 3rd of May. The branch is getting so much better.

   Thanks for your letters and packages. I don't think that I'm boasting when I say I have the best family and friends a missionary could have. Thanks for all your suppport!!! I know this work is True.
 Love Elder Duron

General Conference and Miracles

Hey how's it going? Conference was legit! It blew me away! 

  This week we walked and walked and talked. We found some really good people.  Among these are Jimmy and Lauren. We set an appointment for Friday. We had a lot of stuff fall through on us that day, so we went off to see Jimmy and Lauren.  On the way I had a prayer in my heart that they would be home. When we turned the  corner, there was  Lauren's car broken down right in front of us. We pushed it back to her house where we had a great lesson,  and they have a date for baptism on the 26th of this month. I know God hears our prayers even if it seems like he doesn't at first. 
  

  Here are some people for y'all  to pray for: Leonard, Anthony, Jimmy, Lauren and Eber.

Eber was a miracle as well. One day we felt inspired to go check out a small town in our area called Medina (ma-dinea). We could not find anyone that day, so we were walking back to the car when this guy pulls up and says do you guys need a ride? We asked if he would like to hear a message about Jesus Christ. It turns out that he is from California  and he was talking to missionaries over there before he moved. He gladly let us come back and talk to him and his family.

    Things have gotten better and I have learned a lot of lessons out here, both for  physical  and spiritual stuff. It has got me thinking of who I want to be. I don't mean a cowboy or a solider or a Jedi. I mean who I want to be as a person. I want to become better each day and that only can be done through the Atonement of Christ -aka His Grace. 

   Love y'all
 Elder (Ryan) Duron