LETTER FROM RYAN #22 07.28.14.

This week was crazy!

Don’t worry I'm still alive! So much has happened this past week.  I’m sure you have heard of the Typhoon that hit the Philippines. Yes, it hit my area really hard. We got a storm alert that said if you live in certain areas (my area) be warned and evacuate.  

Everything is fine. I have been living without electricity for two weeks and they said we won’t have it for two more months. It is difficult because we can only teach some of our investigators at night so we are still adjusting to the new schedule because of curfew at 6pm.

We have only been focusing on service for the past two weeks. We didn’t return to actual missionary work until yesterday. Your package was perfect timing because we have been wearing normal clothes and I’ve been just wearing my “Duck Dynasty” shirts each day. We got to buy a giant machete to help clear debris.  I’ve been carrying it around everywhere I go and asking people if they need service. It’s super cool!  We found so many people through our service. There is no way we would have found these people without the service opportunity.  One person who we helped went to CHURCH!

Sincerely,

Elder Ryan Hernandez

LETTER FROM RYAN #21 07.14.14.

This week was another great week! 

I feel like each week I'm always saying how fast the time is passing, but it’s super-fast. I have been in the mission for five months--holy smokes. We are half way done with Elder Tamayo's training. He is such a stud. One thing that I have learned is how addicting reading the Book of Mormon is. I can’t imagine a day without it. This week was great, although Elder Tamayo was sick for a day. Poor guy was puking his guts out. We had a workshop for trainers and trainees in Legaspi, so that was fun.

One of our investigators is super cool! His name is John Paul, he was a referral from the branch president in the town over. After we invited him to be baptized he said, “Okay if I’m going to be baptized on that date I want to be taught 3 times a week and I want more reading assignments in the Book of Mormon”! WHAT? THAT IS CRAZY! We have enough trouble getting people to read it, let alone ask for more. He loves pamphlets too! Every time we give him a pamphlet, not only does he read it 10 times, he also shares it with his friends. He said after his baptism he wants us to teach his friends. That is absolutely awesome. He is super busy with work and he has to work on Sundays, so stay tuned.

This week was great, challenging, but amazing. I’ve finally gotten to a point where I can eat as much rice as a Philipino. I don’t think you understand but that’s actually like a big accomplishment. Ha-ha

I love it here so much! Love you guys so much!

Elder Hernandez

LETTER FROM RYAN #20 07.07.14.

Hey everyone!

This week was another crazy week!

 We taught this one really old guy, I mean old!  During the lesson I thought he was going to die because of his chest problems. During the middle of the lesson I thought he wasn't breathing. When we went back to check on him and he saw us coming, he got up and started walking away. We walked up to his house which was about 15 yards away and he was gone?  There was no possible way that could ever happen? An old man somehow managed to run from us. I thought it was hilarious!

Another night we went tracting because we had no appointments. We found another old guy. It was

kind of late so he said "just come back tomorrow". We get that all the time when we are trackting.  "Just

come back tomorrow."  With him we could feel that he was really sincere about having us comeback.  The morning we went back, he let us in and we started talking. He knew the Bible very well. He started talking about Adam and Eve. We felt he needed to talk about the "Plan of Salvation".  We started talking about the Book of Mormon. He LOVED IT!  At the end of the lesson he said "I don't know what I'm feeling but I feel like this is true".   He said he would read the Book of Mormon and that he is searching for the truth. His name is Jose he is 83 years old. We scheduled our next appointment for tomorrow.  He said to come in the morning because the Jehovah Witnesses come in the afternoon. Ha-Ha. He said "I let all religions come here so I can know".

It was just a great week.  Sometimes at night my legs are just dead from walking so much.  It's the rainy season now! Thank Heavens! I get cold at night and it's the greatest feeling ever. I've been really starting to expand my cooking ability. Ha-ha I really have no choice!

 I've been studying more and more in the old BOOK of Mormon you sent. It's so awesome. I'm super excited about the package. I think I'll get itWednesday. Last week was the fourth of July and it was our zone training so the entire zone gets together. We have 26 missionaries in the zone.  All of the Americans got up and we sang the "STAR SPANGLED BANNER" of course.

Keep praying for miracles. They totally will come but you have to work hard to get them.

Love you so much,

Elder Hernandez

LETTER FROM RYAN #19 06.30.14.

Hey Everyone! 

Happy Birthday to Haylee, Cortnee, Jeanne, and Denny

Another great week! Training is the best. As a joke, you are called “Tatay’s” or Dads in the mission field. Sometimes I honestly feel like one ha-ha. This week was great. So busy! I can’t believe that this week is already in JULY! That’s insane!  I feel like the days go by so fast.

Sometimes during the day though, it seems not so fast. For example, we go to 6 investigators and they say to come back another day or I’m eating or busy, and stuff.  Then I look at my watch and I have an hour and ½ until lunch.  Okay, let’s go tracting. You literally put so much faith on the line and say “Okay Heavenly Father please help us”, then Bam, we find a new investigator.  It’s so cool!

Each week, I feel and learn, more and more why I was sent here. One thing that I’ve learned is that everything that has ever happened to me in my life has prepared for this work. Which is super cool.

Please send pictures, I love them.

Love you so much!

Elder Hernandez

LETTER FROM RYAN #18 06.23.14.

WHAT A CRAZY WEEK! 

This week was absolutely insane! First off, I had to say good bye to Elder Andrada. It was sad. I then had to go get my trainee!!!! His name is Elder Tamayo. He is a stud and he is so excited about missionary work. 

I was kind of nervous about being a trainer because of the whole language situation. But if I have learned anything, it’s that who the Lord calls, he qualifies. That is so true. I really had to step up my game because now I lead the companionship, the lessons, everything.  It’s like overnight I learned how to understand Tagalog and teach. IT’S SO CRAZY!  We had one lesson with a less active family. It was about faith and trust. After the lesson, I stopped and thought "was that really me?"  It happens every day. This has really forced me to really put so much trust in the Lord. The blessings are incredible!

My favorite lesson was probably on Saturday with Jonel. We had this plan to teach him about the priesthood because he just got baptized. We needed to get him ready to receive the priesthood.  We always teach him at our branch presidents’ house. We got there a little early and the family said that he was on his way. Then the branch president walked in. You could tell that something was wrong and he looked super stressed out. He sat next to me and started telling me about his problems. How he has to support so many people and  support two missionaries. I was trying my best to console him. Then Jonel walked in. We were about to start the lesson then the sprit prompted me "Elder Hernandez, you can’t teach about priesthood, you are to teach about trials" I thought, “Okay, let’s do it”. An act of faith, then I started the lesson. I opened my scriptures to the first page I turned to. I felt, “this is it”, it was in Alma and after we read the verse, I literally saw the transformation of the branch president.  It was like going from super depressed to someone who was gleaming with joy for all the trials he’s facing.  He then asked if he could share some experiences about his trials. I felt prompted again, let’s share another scripture about the promises of blessings. I flipped my scriptures again, there it was again. I knew this was the scripture I needed to share.  It was perfect! I have never seen a more tried people in my life.  I have never seen so much faith in my life. These people are amazing!

The baptism was awesome! It was ON THE BEACH!

Love you so much!

Elder Hernandez

Go USA FOR THE WORLD CUP. 

(I would say Philippines but they are not in the World Cup!)

LETTER FROM RYAN #17 06.16.14.

Hey guys, sorry this has to be quick. This week was awesome! We had a black out all day today so literally this is the first time we have gotten a chance to email, sorry it’s so late.

 Elder Andrada got transferred and they called me to be a TRAINER!!!!!!!!! What the freak! I AM TRAINING A MISSIONARY.  THIS IS SO CRAZY! Honestly, it was the craziest thing. I have to go to Legaspi for two days to pick him up and go to all these workshops. It’s going to be so much fun!  We bought a cake today in celebration of finishing training!!!!!!!!! Ha-ha

Today we got special permission to go to work early because of the blackout.  We went to teach Jonel one last time with Elder Andrada and we had a testimony meeting. SO POWERFUL... everyone gave their testimonies and all I can say is... “If you have problems, there is someone who always has it ten times harder”. If I have learned anything here so far, in training, is that the church is true and what it really does for people. I thought I had problems before the mission?  The people that I’ve met here would kill to have the problems I had.  Jonel is doing great, his baptism is on Saturday on the beach!

So sorry that this is so short.  I love you so much.  DAD, HAPPY FATHERS DAY! Expect something in the mail.

Love you all so much!

Elder Hernandez

LETTER FROM RYAN #16 06.09.14.

Another solid week!

 

Man it’s awesome. Jonel has his baptismal interview this week! Mark said he didn’t want to be taught anymore... his family is like super anti.

 

This week was great! We had a family home evening for the entire branch. It was awesome because we had all of our investigators there. We had all these things planned ready to go. While we were in the middle of family home evening, “BAMMM” black out.  We had 6 black outs this week.  During the day, they are not that bad. In the night......it’s like sleeping in a sauna.

 

We are entering the last week of the transfers so we will find out this Saturday what is going to happen to me. Kind of scared honestly but super excited. Sorry no pictures this week.  Today we had our district activity and we got a new elder into the district. He is from Compton, no big deal or anything but he only plays for the BYU football team. He played behind Kyle Van Noy.... I told him that I was the biggest BYU football fan that has ever lived (if you don’t believe me just count how many times I was on ESPN this season) we became like best friends. Still proud to admit I’m undefeated in ping pong.

 

MARLEE HAPPY BIRTHDAY tomorrow and Happy Anniversary! Marlee and Tyler are in Texas?  Marlee where is your loyalty to California? Hayley how’s the big apple?

 

How was DISNEYLAND? How was buzz light year and toy story? Mom maybe one day you will beat me. Chad always finds a way to sneak past my scores. Chad how is the work going?

Dad got a new suit for FATHERS DAY! You’re the man. There is not a day that goes by where I don’t think about you Dad. I truly didn’t understand how blessed I was to have you as my Dad.  I love you so much. You're my inspiration to keep going. Sometimes I feel like I am turning more and more like you as the years go on. I know if I grow up to be anything like you, then that means I’m going to have a great life & hot wife!  You’re the greatest example of a priesthood holder. I love you so much!

 

Love you guys so much! HAPPY FATHERS DAY everyone.

 

Love Elder Hernandez

 

LETTER FROM RYAN #15 06.02.14.

WHAT AN AWESOME WEEEEKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK!

So many awesome things happened! First, THE PACKAGE CAME! I don’t think goldfish have ever tasted so good in my entire life... seriously... and I think I got Elder Andrada addicted to Chex mix... and all the missionaries in the apartment are so jealous of the music.  IT’S SO AWESOME! The BOOK of Mormon is so SICK! It honestly is so different, although it’s the same words you are literally so focused on the story. I brought it to church and all of the members were looking at it like, “what the freak is this”? Because all of their Book of Mormons are just the normal Book of Mormons that the missionaries gave them when they were taught. Yes Mom, I put the sign up right by my desk and they loved the vials. When I gave them to the branch president, he looked at me like (I don’t know really how to describe)  but it was like he was a little kid at Christmas.  He loved them so much.

 

Seriously, I can’t believe it’s June. That means I am at the 4 month mark. HOLY SMOKES! Transfers are coming up soon, so it’s getting kind of scary because I love this area. So we'll see.

 

This week was so awesome. Jonel is such a STUD!!!!!!!! During class on Sunday I sat next to him, and when I grabbed my scriptures, I turned to D@C and he said “there is more”? and he said later... well l want to read it all haha. He is so excited to get baptized.  On Sunday we had a plan to visit a less active member of the branch because we have been teaching his daughters too. He lives next door to the branch president.  We were going to ask if president could join us… so when we went over.  There was JONEL and our less active! Ha-ha I guess they just go over there and chill on Sundays and talk about the church super sick. I am going to try to put this in perspective for you.. The Branch President's family, the Ramada's, love missionary work like none other. Like Texans like their high school football. So every time we teach Jonel we teach him at the Ramada's house because he is like their son.  The family honestly teaches more than we do. 1) This is a 10000000 times more effective 2) it helps because I don’t know Bicol ha-ha but it’s really cool how the branch is really taking him in like a brother.

 

A different experience was super humbling. We have been working with a different less active and we have been getting him ready to go to the temple to be sealed to his family. We have been going through the interview questions and then teaching a lesson based on the question. so last week we came to tithing. Probably the biggest wakeup call ever in my life. First off he is super poor, no electricity poor, where we bring our own flash light to the lesson, and I don’t think he has a job but still goes to church. Here we are teaching and during the lesson I taught the promised blessings from tithing. After that he said “Elder that’s so true I know I need to go to church and pay tithing”. “But what if I don’t have a job, then what”?  In my heart I wanted to say... “It’s okay you don’t have to pay tithing”. “Here is money for food, and a new house and stuff”.  I wanted to give him everything. But it’s God's commandment. I don’t think I’ve ever seen so much faith ever in my life. But it really opened my eyes because my entire life I paid tithing, and I always heard these stories like "I got a check in the mail" you know those tithing stories. My entire life I was thinking “where is my check in the mail”. I always paid tithing. But man I didn’t realize the blessings I truly had. I have parents who never had to worry that if they paid tithing that they wouldn’t have enough money to feed their kids, clothes, and other things. Truly one of the most humbling experiences in my entire life.  Love, Elder Hernandez

 

LETTER FROM RYAN #14 05.25.14.

This week was awesome!

So many things happened this week!  I’ll first start with Jonel, one of our investigators.  He is 17 years old and he is a stud. He is so interested in the Book of Mormon, we found him through a member of the ward who recently left on his mission. So one day we are walking to his house so we can teach him and one of his friends (also a nephew of a member of the branch) asked if we are going to his house to teach. We said, “ yes”, and he asked if he could join. We said, “OF COURSE you can”! We were teaching the plan of salvation and HE GOT SO INTO THE LESSON, IT WAS AWESOME!  He was so involved asking all the right questions. We gave him a Book of Mormon to read and HE IS in Omni. He just finished 2 Nephi. His name is Mark. He told me that he loves the book. He wants to finish before Jonel.  Jonel is in ALMA already! It’s so crazy he has only been reading for a couple of weeks. They are so awesome and we teach them together because they are really close friends.  They both went to church on Sunday so it was awesome! THEY are both so excited to get baptized!

Sunday, was an awesome day. We had a 1 day mission for the branch. We put everyone in companionships and split up all the missionaries so we can cover more ground and sent everybody   into the field.  We went tracting for two hours. I was with a member and Mark, our investigator. We found a family.  I LED THE LESSON IN PURE TAGOLOG and I understood them. It was amazing!  My understanding of the language has increased tremendously. Each day I can see the progress. I'm trying to speak as much as I can. Sometimes it’s hard because the other elders try to talk to me in English because they are trying to learn English.

This week was a really good week. Although challenging at times, but very rewarding. Time is flying by and it’s going so fast. I feel like that I just got here yesterday.

Funny story, here black outs are kind of common. We have a black out about twice a week. Luckily, most of the time, we aren’t even at the apartment. But this week, as we were having personal study,   “Bam,” blackout... so we just grab our flash lights and keep on reading.  It’s so awesome, but the hardest thing is the heat. If no electricity, there are no fans... Worst feeling ever!

TYLER, Congratulations on graduating from law school! You’re free! Not from the loans. Just kidding, but from the endless hours of study. I am so proud of you!

I can’t believe Jacob Hammond just graduated.  I feel like everything is happening so fast!

Hayley how is New York?  Chad and Anna keep going strong with the business!

I love you all so much! We’re working hard! Missions are definitely the best! My new goal for scripture study is read the standard works. I’m almost done with the New Testament and almost done with the book of Mormon, again.

I love you all so much!

Until next week, Elder Hernandez.

LETTER FROM RYAN #13 05.18.14

HEY Everyone! What’s going on?

Another week down and time is going by so fast. It was so awesome to see you guys last week in our Skype session. This week was a successful week. I can’t believe that I am almost done with my training. 

Something so cool happened this week. As we were tracing, we knocked on this one door, and a lady came out and let us in. She spoke English to us. I WAS LIKE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! FINALLY I CAN UNDERSTAND SOMEONE! We then taught her in ENGLISH! Probably the greatest thing ever! It’s so hard to teach her because her husband is never there. One of the challenges we are facing is that it’s a very traditional society.  The fathers wake up super early go, to work,  like at 6  in the morning, then don’t get back home until  7 or 8 then they go to bed  at 8:30 at night. Therefore when we go tracing, and the "nanay" or wife lets us in we ask is there a man here. They always say he is working, or he left. We then ask when we can come back sometime and they say that he works in Manila. It’s not that uncommon for the father to work in another city because that is where the work is. We are trying to think of ways to combat this whole situation.

I feel the branch is finally coming together and uniting. We’ve been trying to strengthen and serve them as much as possible. Next week we are having a one day mission for the entire branch. We are giving Book of Mormons and pamphlets to everyone and then they are going tracing with us for two hours! The English class is really helping. When people see us, they say, “I want to learn English”, and then we say we have a free English class at our church! All you have to do is come. The language is slowly coming. I’m trying to forget English; it’s kind of detrimental to the whole cause. Especially because now that we have 4 elders at the apartment and they speak to each other in Tagalog.  So I’m trying super hard to study and to speak as much as I can. I feel bad for Elder Andrada, because during lessons, I know what we are teaching about but I have no idea what they are talking about.  Then all of sudden, he looks at me like (okay it’s your turn to talk now) in my brain I think you crazy man! Elder Andrada says my Tagalog has really improved, which it totally has. When I read in Tagalog I can understand and comprehend.

Time is moving so fast. One of the people we have been teaching is Jonel.  He is 17 years old and was basically given to us to teach.  His best friend in the branch just left on a mission and ever since then we have been teaching him. He is super awesome. He loves reading the book of Mormon.

I love you guys so much keep on praying for me!

Yours truly,

Elder Hernandez