12/20/2011

 Hello people!!!!

 

How the heck are you guys?! MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!! From the MTC...5 days before. But Merry Christmas none the less!!! I pray that everyones Christmas is wonderful this year. And the only way it will be wonderful is remember our Savios, Jesus Christ. So, it's up to you! Do you want a good Christmas?

This week has been awesome! We are teaching lessons by the Spirit now! We got a baptism commitment and We are getting new investigators and Im loving it! but check this out...One day, I had the worst day. I couldnt even construct a regular sentence. SO BAD! The next day, the best day Ive had so far. Isnt crazy how God works? I was humbled. He makes you realize the need for Him and truly humble yourself before Him before progressing! GREAT lesson I learned! Oh, we had incredible talks this week. Sister Elaine Dalton..AMAZING! Elder Heaton...AMAZING!!! Im blessed. Truly blessed to hear these servants of the Lord talk. And this week, Im hoping for 2 more! Elder Holland or Elder Uchdorf would be so cool! Cant wait!! Check back next week for details!

Christmas this year is going to be different. Its going to be hard not being with friends and family, but this Christmas is a Jesus Christ Christmas...and isnt that how they all are supposed to be? We are going to have sacrament meeting with the WHOLE MTC! Thousands of people getting the sacrament. I cant wait! And we get 2 movies. Im really pumped!!!

Okay...the following is a true story that might be the best part of the MTC thus far.. Read carefully. Friday. Fantastic day. We got a new elder in our district only for the weekend (thats not important though) Anyway, he needed to practice piano because he was going to play in his ward. So just he and I went while the other two Elders went back. We were supposed to be back by 1:30 but didnt get back until 1:45. I thought of an excuse. Anyway, right when i walked in, elder carver said "what took you guys so long?" I went on to tell him how President Brown (the mtc president) stopped us because he heard us playing. He asked us if we would play in the next devotional because we sounded so good. I told them that Brown said that we can have 7 people singing. Elder carver was super excited. Elder Ham just about peed his pants. Well, there were only 3 of us singers so they went and recruited 3 others to come and sing. At this point, i wasnt expecting this little prank to last this long but it was too funny so i kept it going. Next thing I know, we were practicing our parts and practicing singing this. I have no clue how i wasnt laughing, but I held it in! They were saying stuff like "Guys! we are going to be famous! theyre going to broadcast us to all the MTC's!" and "When we are judged, God is going to play back this preformance and he is going to be so proud!" and "Guys..we arent good. WE are going to have to skip dinner and study to practice!!" Well...I was going to keep it up all the way to the devotional, but i didnt want to skip classes and study time. So, I told them it was all a joke! Elder Carver actually said "No, youre just kidding! Nice try! I cant wait!" He really thought that I was kidding about pranking them and he kept practicing. Need less to say, they were mad. But I was happy. One of the funnier things ive done in my life and! If only you guys could have seen it, you would have been proud!!! :)

 

Well, other than that, not a lot going on. I am scuba diving in the scriptures right now. the pages look like a journal and coloring book! Im proud of it. Language is still getting better. and oh...IM LEAVING SUPER SOON!! I dont feel ready, but definately ready to get out of here and help the people waiting for the truth! There is something special about this work! I dont have anymore time so no shout outs. But if you want to write me, then go ahead!! I could always read some love! ;)

 

Anyway, I have to fly. Have a wonderful day, week, and Christmas! I love you all. Thanks for the support, love, and prayers! God is real. and Jesus Christ lives!!

 

Um Abraço,

Elder Lakey!!

12/13/2011

 Hello family, friends, and family of friends!

 

Is it December? I dont even know. Word on the street is that Christmas is in like 12 days? Sheeesh!! Crazy. As I type this, snow is finally falling in the great Utah! Its super pretty! Does anyone else have snow? Are your Christmas vacations started?

Whats new in the life of Elder Lakey? Well, first of all, I finished the Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ on Wednesday. I started it when I got here so a little over a month! Not too bad! I love loved it! Read it!! What else? Oh, we got Sylvestro, an investigator, baptized this last week!! We got a new one yesterday and he is a Pastor and knows the Bible very well. This is going to be harder, but we will kill him with Love and the Spirit!! Nothing else has been different really. Sunday for Fireside, the BYU Mens Chorus came and did a Christmas program thingy. It was super good and really fun to hear some Christmas songs. I am still trying to speak Portuguese all day every day. Some days are better than other but its coming along. I feel like I've jumped up a little bit this week. I think I had a really super spiritual lesson this week. I felt the Spirit. I sometimes get down on myself because I cant get the exact sentence I want out, but then I think "DUDE, Ryken, Shush up!!! Its been less than 6 weeks and you are TEACHING in a completely new language!!" It amazes me when I stop and think. God has blessed me with SO much learning its incredible! I have to admit, my brain is completely fried at the end of the day, but thats how we learn. And Im loving it. Another thought I had this week..."Ryken, you leave in 3 weeks" HOLY GUACAMOLE!! I will be teaching real people in real Brasil in 3 weeks! Thats nuts! Time is flying by. I dont know about you all, but ive been gone for a month and a half now. That blows my mind!!! Elder Ham got a hammock in the mail this week. We set that up and take some nice relaxing breaks at night. I love it!! Elder Carver is still here. Still no Visa. Maybe today? We will see. Im really hoping for an Apostle tonight. Theres a good chance that I will hear from at least two more before I leave. I am blessed immensely! I love my Heavenly Father. I love Jesus Christ. I love this work. There is nowhere on Earth that I would rather be. Seek Him. You will find Him and He will bless you!!

 

SHOUT OUTS:

Adam- Dude, that was awesome! Thanks for sending me some stats and sports updates. Brandon Roy? Crap. That sucks. Oh well, they will pick it up. And I think this week Im not going to do a written one. I dont have time. But thanks for the updats on you. Keep it up. There are people out there waiting for you to talk to them. Not a doubt in my mind! Keep it up and you will be out here in no time!

Nicole- Thanks for the DearElder! I loved it. And yes, I remember the homemade pizza..HAHAH!! Thats awesome about the 2 seventies that came! And you could have kept "Elder Nicole Allen" You can put whatever you want there! haha Hopefully you read this today or something but drive home safely! And, dont scream too loud when you see Chewy! ;)

Reagan Lacusta- I have no clue if you are reading this. I hope you do or someone tells you too but... I met someone that knows you! From good ol' Medicine Hat! Elder (something) Dola! He is tall. He is pretty cool! But yeah..connections!

Qile- Thanks for the letter Bro. Ive got one coming your way. Im sorry I havent written you back. Its busy around here! Its coming, I promise!

Brynn- Girl, hows the bloggy coming along? Keep it up! Please and thanks! :)

and..JACOB!!!! Welcome home!! Someone please tell him to read this! Cant WAIT to hear from you! I cant wait to get get those that you planted a seed. You are amazing bro!!

I think thats all...Im sorry if I forgot someone. Nothing against you, just major brain overload and not much time to write these things!

 

So, I need to apologize at this time. Why? Because I probably send you all the same thing over and over again. I can never remember what I write. You may get bored of these and I apologize. One of these weeks, Im going to have something crazy spectacular to say! Nothing more to say I guess. You all are in my prayers. I pray for you daily. I hope you all are happy and safe! Remember to smile and never forget your Savior, Jesus Christ! He lives. Also, you all are amazing for what you do for me. What you have been to me in the past, and what you still continue to be for me now. I love you all! Never forget it!! Have a fantastic week this week and I look forward to writing you next week!

 

Um Abraço,

Elder Ryken Lakey!

12/06/2011

Ola amigos! Tudo Bem?

  

Shout Outs:

Tom Lakey- Thank you so much for the packages you send me! I cant believe you would take the time to do that but I thank you from my heart! They make me muito feliz!

Emma- I sent you a letter. Why is it not there? bummer. I wrote another, its coming too.

Ashley- Yours is coming

Ami- And so is yours.

Adam- FINALLY!!! Thanks man. Yours is on the way.

Tomas- Thanks for the emails. Institute teacher? Shoot son! Love ya! Keep up the hard work.

Allen Family- Oh. My. Goodness! Thank you so so so much for the package! I wasnt expecting that so I kinda flipped...majorly! And thanks to each of you for writing me. I love you guys!

Kirsten- Let the best state win... :) Oh, and the better of the football teams.

 

Well, its already been another week. 5 weeks already? Wowzers! This week was incredibly hard for me. Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday i was very down. But of course, God to the rescue!! The weekend was fantastic! Want to know something Ive been doing? Okay cool, I will tell you. Ive been speaking in Portuguese all day every day. We do English fasts. No english!!! SOOOOO hard, but rewarding. I love it. One day I will get it. I know it!! :) I finally got my suit dry cleaned. I smell better now! I ripped it on a seam though. Will I sew it? Probably not. It isnt too bad. Maybe I can show you when I get back in two years! Our district is so small! ITs weird having a district of 3. I think Elder Carver will get his Visa today and leave next week. Elder Carver and Elder Ham are now sleeping in hammocks made of sheets. Its pretty cool but Im a good boy! ;) Im sorry there isnt a ton to talk about. I know you all are expecting something crazy awesome, but nothing new. Its all crazy awesome!! Every week is the same. Oh, I think I will get some pictures printed out and sent your way. Brynn- Please put them up on the Bloggy! Kthnxbi! Oh, two fast sundays down! 22 more to go! I recommend to anyone counting down...count fast sundays. 22 sounds better than 700! haha

 

Could someone let me know whos in what bowl games and who wins? What about the Heisman race? Please and Thanks.

Guess who I ate lunch with this week? Oh the MTC President. I was scared he was going to make me give a talk or something. Also, the Christmas Devotional was good? Did anyone watch it?

If not, let me tell you something. There is a new thing the church is doing. They made movie things!! Go onto LDS.org and look at the new videos they made. I watched a couple. They were way good! They are all Bible stories..SOoooooyou non-members can watch too. Especially in this Christmas season!

 

Is it Christmas season? I have no clue. Doesnt feel like it. Feel like a cold day. But we sing Hinos de Natal (Christmas Hymns) during class. Thats fun to sing in Portuguese.

 

OH MY GOSH! Why have I not told you this Mom...My best friend here, Elder Nielsen, went to BYUI and I know that I met him there. He doesnt remember. Thats not the important thing...UNCLE KENT CLEANS HIS TEETH!!! Way way cool. I find connections here all the time.

 

Temple was good again today of course.

 

Oh yeah...maybe you want to know that..... I RECEIVED MY ELECTRONIC VISA!!!!!!!!!!!! Yeah, I will be leaving this country in approximately 6ish weeks. Meaning I could be in the MTC for close to 11 weeks..but thats alright, more training! Im grateful I got it. Scary, but way cool!

 

Entao, familia e amigos, teem um bom semana por favor. Eu amo voces. Muito! Eu sou grato por seu oracoes. Eu sou grato por seu amor. Deus vive. Ele tem muito amor para todas pessoas. Eu nao posso esperar ver voces em dois anos. Por favor escreva mim!!

 

So, family and friends, have a great week please. I love you. A LOT! I am grateful for your prayers. I am grateful for your love. God lives. He has so much love for everyone! I can not wait to see you all in two years. Please write me!!

 

Its true.

 

Um Abraco,

~Elder Ryken Lakey

11/29/2011

Ola minha familia e amigos!!!

 

Im alive!!!! Cool, huh?!

 

 

SHOUT OUTS!!!

First of all, all you that have written me and not recieved a letter back..they should be there! I spent more than a few hours writing letters. 9 to be exact..So I thought they would have been there but Im sorry they havent. Theyre coming. IF I have to be patient for yours, you can do the same! ;)

AMI - Thank you for all the updates on the Ducks and on your life. Your life sounds crazy..but guess what..God has given us a tool to help all the stress..What do you think that is? PRAYER and the comfort of the Holy Spirit! Its true. Youre amazing. Thank you for all the Dearelders!

STEPHANIE BLACKHAM - In your letter, I told you I would probably never see Elder Heiner. I lied.. I TAUGHT HIM A LESSON IN PORTUGUESE!! Yeah, it was incredible. I even got a picture with him. He will probably tell you about it.

NAVI VOLCY - I know you might not be reading this but I pray you do. Someone please tell her to read this because I met your brother!!! Yeah, I ran into Elder Volcy. It was way cool! I see him all the time now!

BRYNN- That picture..yeah, that was really from Elder Christensen. He is so funny! Hope you liked the Love Story!

JANICE LONEY - Thank you for your uplifting words. Im so grateful for them. Keep following the Lord. Your words help me a lot so thank you!

NICOLE ALLEN - Thank you for the letters. Im glad to hear your Thanksgiving was good. Mine was awesome! Keep it up! :)

 

 

And now about my week. It has been an up and down week. Last Tuesday..I was priviledged to hear an apostle of God speak. Elder D. Todd Christofferson. He talked on how the Joy of Christ will swallow up our afflictions. It was so powerful to see him. He also thank us for our efforts. It was cool! Then Thanksgiving I heard words from ANOTHER apostle of God. Elder Russell M. Nelson. Wow. IT was amazing. I actually liked his wife's talk more than his. She talked about 4 examples of real life situations where humans gave up their humanly life to serve God. One example was her husband. He was the first one to preform open heart surgery. The text books told him never but he listen to the Lord and followed the Spirit. Now look at how many lives are saved because of him. He then put that career down and served God as an Apostle. WOW!! Then He talked on Thanksgiving and Giving Thanks. He told us the Hallel= praise. And went into a whole bunch of definitions and stuff. I loved it. He also told a really cool story about the him opening up the church in Russia. It was way awesome!! We didnt have sandwichs. It was a normal Thanksgiving dinner..but the food wasnt the best. We also did a service project making 8000 injury kits. Yeah, it happened in a few minuntes. We made this HUGE assembly line thing. It was So cool and we all sang hymns while doing it. I LOVED it. Then at night, we all got popcorn and watched 17 Miracles. It was soo good! I hate to say this, but it was probably the best Thanksgiving Ive had. Yeah, the day is for Thanks, not food or football. Dont get me wrong, I LOVE those, but giving thanks was SO cool! I will be ever grateful for this Thanksgiving. But...I also missed everyone so bad. The last few days ive been coming down with some major home/frind sickness. Oh well, It is being swallowed up with the Joy of Christ! I love it here. I do I do I do!

I was released as Zone Leader. Shortest lived zone leader but it was incredible. I learned so much and I know why I was called only for a week. God works in mysterious ways. He does! Oh..sooo...Elder Valdez and Elder Christensen are gone. Yeah, they both received their visas and are now gone. Last night like 20 people sang God be with you Till We Meet Again in portuguese! SO COOL! My district is a whole 3 Elders. With one probably leaving in a week or two. Please pray that Gods will be done. And that I will have the comfort that Gods will is being made manifest about my Visa. Mom, You might want to look through my travel packet and give the travel agent a ring. Thats what my district said they did.

Lessons with the investigators have been pretty good. I had to meet new ones because of my new companions but its been alright. The language is coming a lot better. I can teach lessons now, so that must mean something good I guess. Check this out: Yesterday, we went into a lesson planning on talking about Chastity and Heaven. The spirit told me "Heck no! He needs to gain more faith and read the Book of Mormon" I told him a bunch of stuff and he felt my love for him and he is going to read it!!!!!

Last thing: My district and another Portuguese district did "The Tower Challenge" we ate a whole tower or Frosted Flakes. It was like 65 bowls! and we drained it! It was so awesome. I have a picture.

 

I love you all. Please pray to God. PLease read the Book of Mormon. It isnt my invitation, but it is the Lords invitation. Im just His mouthpiece. I pray for you all every. single. day!!!

 

I will leave you with something an old man told me in the Temple today "May your life be wonderful"

 

I love you all. Be good and be happy!

 

Loves,

~Elder Ryken Lakey