Another bites the dust...and another one down and another one down!

Hiya Mum, Dad, and Family, 

I  haven't written Mrs. Drake yet, but I am still going to. I need to do way better at writing letters! Well I love all the pictures!! You all seem like you are having fun. I love seeing your happy smiling faces! The Piano Guys thing was really good. I watched it and WOW, it was very good. They all have amazing Testimonies. 

So another transfer has bitten the dust!!! I can't believe how fast it is going. It seriously just seems like yesterday that the transfer started!! I am still in Leeds and I am still serving with Elder Jeng, except we are moving flats so I will send you our new address next week. In the mean time you can send everything to the mission office!!! :) 

This week I have learned quite a bit. I have learned about seeing people "through Heavens Eyes" as the song says. I have also learned that I need to put more effort into the work. I have made covenants with Heavenly Father, and part of those covenants is feeding His sheep, with all my heart, mind, might, and strength. Any suggestions on how I can become better? I would appreciate them very much! 

Well, Talia is still Talia. She still is going through loads of things, but she is well on her way to changing her life. She got a job and she is applying for University, which is very good. She is putting in loads of effort. She is still reading the Book of Mormon and Praying, but I don't know how much she is taking in. Lately she hasn't been showing much interest in the gospel, but I think her desire is still there. We are going to see her on Wednesday and hopefully we will be able to help her re-gain her desire. 

We are working with a Lad named Sam. Well Sam is super cool. He studies Religious Education and loves religion. He let us know the reason why he studies it is because he wants a relationship with Heavenly Father and wants to know he is there but doesn't know yet. He is really confused. Elder Jeng and I both bore our testimonies to him and the Spirit was so strong. We scheduled him for November 21st and he is really eager to learn and to come to gain a relationship with Heavenly Father. He is just super busy all the time so it is hard to catch him in, but I know that he will gain a testimony as he reads the Book of Mormon and prays and he will be baptized on the 21st!

We are also working with a guy by the name of Nick. Well you take one look at Nick and your initial judgement will be he is a very bad guy. Haha. But Nick is the kindest guy ever. He has a degree, he is an architect and an artist. He has a big family and loves them so much. We knocked on his mother's door while he was there. She wasn't interested but later we met him outside and he was really interested. He said he doesn't know what is out there but wants to know. He wants to believe that he will live with his family forever. He is such a good guy. We haven't been able to see him for a few days but he has a very open mind and is a very deep thinker. He is a great guy. We scheduled him for the 28th of November and he said that if he finds out that this is all real he will do anything to come closer to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.

Well so many good things are happening. They may be small, but it really are the small things that matter. It is the small things that then turn into great and marvelous miracles. Miracles are definitely happening. I am learning, my testimony is growing and I know that I still have loads of room for improvement. I know that as one exercises faith, the little seed of a testimony grows into a magnificent tree which bears delicious fruit. The Atonement of Jesus Christ is real and it works!! I love this gospel. I love you all and hope all is going well. 

God be with you till we meet again. On our way. #10sof1000s. HE LIVES.

Love, Elder Tyler Rife

"Please find enclosed a picture of your son Elder Rife having food at my house for tea with his companion Elder Jeng."

We received a very sweet email sent by a member from Leeds In West Yorkshire, England early this morning along with this picture. (Both Steve and I were ready to start our day bright and early...as we were standing in the kitchen, both of us checking our phones to see if Tyler's weekly email had come today since we didn't get his email yesterday because of transfers...Bro. Clarke's sent us his email right before we got Tyler's email for the week.) What a fun surprise and such a choice blessing to hear from someone who works closely with Tyler that he is doing well and serving our Heavenly Father faithfully.

Thank you Brother Clarke!

       "WHY BELIEVE? WELL BECAUSE IT ONLY BRINGS YOU HAPPINESS....COME ON PEOPLE!!!! :)"

Elder Jeng and I in front of a War Memorial for WW1 and WW2

Cutest Entry Ever! This just makes a Mom's day HAPPY! - Thursday, October 22, 2015

Kylee was thrilled and so excited to share this with us when she got home from school!

The smile on her face was just BEAMING!!!

 I had to post about it so I will remember this.  Things like this are worth remembering and just make a Mom's day Happy!

Kylee has recently gotten an email address at school and she wanted us to tell Tyler about it in our last email to him.  I think she was wanting to be included in as a recipient of his weekly emails.  

She was a little disappointed to say the least this past Monday when she didn't get his email to our family in her emails so I explained to her that perhaps we would need to address this with Tyler and that perhaps he might send his weekly email to her the next week. 

Well...Thursday she shared the exciting news after school with us that Tyler had emailed her! She was so EXCITED!!!  :)  I ran down stairs with her and she opened the email up...

 Mon,Oct 19, 2015 at 5:40   

  

Hiya love

Kylee                                                                                                   

How are you my dear sister? I love you so much! What are you doing in school and in dance and everything? I want you to know I miss you and that I love you so much. I am doing really good here. England is so much fun. I wish you could see all the amazing places and things! Tell me all the good things that you are doing! Love you. I miss you! 

Love your favourite brother on a mission 

Elder Tyler Rife

This was her repy...

  Thu, Oct 22, 2015 at 10:57 AM

.tyler
                                                                               
I love you sooooooooooooo much

To say the least....A Big brother sure MADE his little sister's day!  

Thanks Elder Rife!  We LOVE ya!

Kylee and Tyler hiking to the Y 

June 26, 2012

Life changing experiences - Monday, September 19, 2015

Hiya Mum, Dad, and Family, 

I know I say this all the time but I absolutely love getting emails from you all and hearing all about the week and the crazy things you are all up to. The weather has been crazy too....but weather in England is always crazy. haha. I haven't received Tanner's letter yet but it probably will come within the next couple of days. Before I forget, the mission office has asked us all  to let you know that Christmas parcels need to be sent to the mission office by December 1. Don't worry about sending anything! It is too expensive! I will be happy with just skyping you all on Dad's new skype! haha ;) Tanner I am so proud that you are doing good in Swim. You will definitely have me beat! I miss ya man! Kylee you just seem to be doing everything. Giving talks and teaching FHE. Wow everyone is growing up too fast. I loved what Kinley said. I miss those two girls as well. I love you all. I am glad to hear that BYU won and Provo High. Definitely miracles, and life changing experiences. 

I have had some life changing experiences. They  aren't too big but to me they have definitely changed my life. Well I guess everything that has happened on the mission has changed my life. It is crazy how much I have learned and all the things I will still learn. 

I told you guys about Stacey last week. She is having a hard time, she drinks quite a bit and really likes it. So we had to push her baptism back to the 30th of October. She still has some concerns and is feeling as though she isn't ready for baptism. It is hard for me to communicate because she doesn't speak much English and Elder Jeng sometimes has a hard time translating. I guess that is where the Spirit has a huge role. Although she doesn't understand the Spirit definitely bears testimony to her that what we are saying is true. She says she feels really good when she reads and prays and when she meets with us. "And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things." -Moroni 10:5

Talia came to church again this week. Lately I have been feeling like she doesn't actually want to change but I have been thinking wrong. She got a lift home from church by a member. The member rang us and told us when she got in the car she asked if she could come again next week and if he could give her a lift. She then started asking all sorts of questions. We taught her that evening and the Spirit was very strong. She says she believes that Heavenly Father is there and that he cares for us. She feels good when she is around members of the Church. She told us that she really wants to change and that she thinks that this is the way. We can't schedule her for baptism due to some other issues but she is definitely on her way. We have had quite a few good lessons with her this week. I learned not to be quick to judgement. I think that has been a problem of mine for a long time. I judge people all to quick. Talia is really cool though, Tracey, the lady that emailed you is a member that has helped us out so much. And has helped us loads with Talia. I think that the progress that Talia has shown has come down to the members. Do all you can to be member missionaries. We all have such a great influence on the lives of people we meet. Heavenly Father prepares people for us. We are missionaries by design (everyone is a missionary). There are Children of Heavenly Father who are confused, feel rejected, are lost, they all need help. We are the help. Heavenly Father does use us as instruments in His hands and when we recognize that we are instruments in His hands we will see miracles happen. We will see many people change but the biggest change we will see will be in ourselves. I love you all and hope you are doing absolutely amazing. Keep strong. Bear testimony every opportunity you get. This Church is true. I know that Heavenly Father loves us. 

God be with you till we meet again. On our way. #10sof1000s. HE LIVES. 

Love, Elder Tyler Rife

"This camper is probably the coolest camper in the world. So we decided to knock the door. This guy walked out and immediately I thought oh know another door in the face. We got chatting and he is really cool. His name is Nick and we were able to set up a return appointment with him tonight! Wish us luck! :)"

"Lunch with Talia and Bernard and Tracey. Very good! :)" 

More to learn

Hiya Mum, Dad, and Family!

I always love hearing about what is happening at home! Everyone seems to be having a good time and loving life. I am glad to hear that BYU won and Provo High won. That stinks that Tanner Magnum pulled his hamstring. Do they have a good back up? Well this email will unfortunately be probably a bit short. By the way I got Mum and Dads letters. Thanks so much. I am still waiting on Tanners. I will send letters this week! Sorry I have been bad at it again. I will write to Mrs. Drake as well. That is so sad to hear. 

As for our week we are doing so much. we are still teaching quite a bit. But some people have dropped us. It is sad but hopefully they will someday want missionaries back. We are teaching Stacey still. It is funny because I haven't actually had a chance to teach her for like 2 weeks. I have been on exchange every time we are about to teach her! But from what I know she is still wanting to be baptized. She expressed some concerns this week about not being ready for baptism but I know that as we rely on Heavenly Father we will be able to resolve her concerns and she, if it is Heavenly Fathers will, will be baptized on the 24th of October. She is really cool and says that she feels good when she comes to church, and when she reads and prays. She feels at peace. Well that is obviously the Holy Ghost. I think she is just scared to make the step towards baptism. But I know that eventually she will be baptized. 

I told you about Talia last week. She is really cool. She has had some issues with the law so she can't be baptized yet but she is working towards it. We met her through another investigator who oddly enough dropped us. At first Talia wasn't too interested but then she became more and more interested. We have talked about how she can live with Heavenly Father and her family and how she can start over. We showed her the "Becasue he lives" Mormon message and she loved it. She said that everyone always looks so happy and she just wants to be happy. It is going to take some time and I may not even see her get baptized but she really has a desire and I know that she will eventually get baptized. It is something that she wants to do. I know that she has felt the spirit. 

We are also teaching the University students still, except only two of them are still meeting with us. They are really cool. They still have loads of questions and it will take some time with them as well but they are so interested in the Gospel and what we do. Jack and Jessica are the ones that we are teaching. Jack is really cool. He said that he doesn't know if he will be Mormon because he is happy the way he is but he is still interested in hearing our message out....well Jack you are hooked and now we are just reeling in slowly haha!! No, but really they are super cool. They ask loads of good questions and we are going to finish teaching them the Restoration this Friday. 

We have been finding a lot this week again. It has been hard but I think we have done okay. We have found loads of people. We found this guy named Rick. He is very interested. Unfortunately he is sick right now but he said that we could come by in a week. We have also found another guy named John. He said he used to be religious but has sort of lost his faith. He said if he could get it back it would be good. He said we are good Chaps so we could come around again. They are both really nice and I think they are both pretty interested in the Gospel.

Well It has also been an interesting week because I feel like I am learning a lot. I have had many thoughts and one of them has been I only have 10 months left. What am I doing with my time and with the Lords time? I feel like I have to learn something more. I will take Dads advice and I am going to continue studying, pondering, and praying. I know that there is something more I need to do in the short time that I have. I know that Heavenly Father will help me along the way. I will probably keep you updated on the things I learn. I love you all and hope you are all doing absolutely amazing. Know that I miss you and I pray for you always. If there is anything you need please let me know. Keep doing good and being good. Heavenly Father does bless us as we are obedient.

God be with you till we meet again. On our way. #10sof1000s. HE LIVES. 

Love, Elder Tyler Rife

"All the Elders messin' about last Preparation day."

The Miracles and blessings

Hiya, Mum, Dad, and Family, 

I absolutely loved conference! It was so amazing! I had so many questions and every single one was answered in the sessions that I was able to watch. I didn't get to see Elder Durrant because I assume it was in the Sunday evening session and in England they play it late at night so missionaries can't watch it. But something cool I was able to watch Sunday Morning in Chinese. Haha didn't understand one word, but luckily there were subtitles. I will have to wait until it comes in the Ensign. I loved conference though. I did receive Dads letter in the post last Monday. Thank you so much. It was very inspiring and brought a smile to my face. I know I am bad at writing letters but you know I love getting letters from you all.  How is Sister Rawcliffe doing? I am glad to hear that Provo High won again!!! :) Finally they are doing good. It sounds like the week was very eventful. Who is the Given guy? I want to see him! Kynsie be careful!!!! I need to meet him first. Remember that I have to talk to him face to face on Skype before!!!! If it doesn't happen be prepared for the fire indignation of the wrath of your little brother. I can assure you there will be weeping and whaling and gnashing of teeth! hahaha. Just kidding...but seriously tell me more about this mysterious guy. I love you all! :)

As for the week. We are doing loads of things. I was on exchange with Elder Stirling in Wharf Valley. It is a very nice place with loads of elderly people. Finding was fun and it was good to be able to learn from Elder Stirling. Elder Zheng and I had a hard week of finding, we weren't able to find many people. But it is just a little bump in the road. We will find loads this week. We are teaching a decent amount of people. There are a few who I just want you guys to know about and the miracles that we are seeing. First at General Conference, a man by the name of Allan came. He is investigating in the church and the cool thing is....I found him and started teaching him in Leeds 5 with Elder White. It is just so cool to see him and how far he has come since the last time I saw him. Shows that Heavenly Father plants seeds in the hearts of his Children. We never know how much good we do. But our efforts are never wasted. So always bear testimony, because it will reach deep into the hearts of everyone you meet. All because this Gospel is true. 

Stacey our Chinese investigator came to General Conference! That is why I watched it in Chinese. It was so cool though. She said she still didn't really understand it but I know she felt something special or she would not have come. She is doing really good. I was on exchange when we taught her so all I know is that she is still doing really good. She really wants to know more and wants to know about the history and background of the church. She is reading the Book of Mormon and Praying. 

We are also teaching these University students who are so cool. Their names are Fraiser, Sam, Jack, Emily, Jessica, and Taylor. They are so cool. We just met them on the street and set up a return appointment. We went by and they were so excited to see us. They are not too religious but are very open to the idea and say they love visitors anyway. We were chatting for a bit and they just started asking us so many questions. At first they were trying to make us contradict ourselves but by the end their minds were blown. You should have seen the looks on their faces. They were in awe at everything we were explaining to them but yet it was all so simple. It was about the creation and obedience and prophets. We went by a second time and they said they all came up with a list of questions to ask us. But then some piped up and said that we need to teach them...well that is exactly what we are doing now. They are so cool.

We tried by Alzbeta and instead of catching her in we ran into her house mate. Her name is Talia. She was telling us about how bad her life has been and how she just wants to change. We told her that the message that we share will help her. She said she will do anything to be happy. We invited her to General Conference. Without teaching her anything she came and at the end told us that all of it made sense and loads of things stuck out to her. It was so good to hear. It is going to take loads of work to help her but I know that as she relies on Heavenly Father she will see a significant change in her life and will be happy. 

Miracles have been happening. I have learned this week to treat each person as a person. All to many times we treat the people we meet like objects, we use them and we don't help them. But as we have been able to truly help some people I have felt the Saviours love for me and for them. It drives me to want to be better and help others be better. This Gospel is true. It changes lives. Heavenly Father is there and he loves us. Jesus Christ did die for us. We have a living prophet on the earth today. If you do not know all this yet...do as the Prophet and Apostles invited us, Pray, study and ponder the scriptures, and obey the commandments. I love you all so much, I do miss you but I love this work and it is true. 

God be with you till we meet again. On our way. #10sof1000s. HE LIVES. 

Love, Elder Tyler Rife

Sorry no pictures....I slacked :(

Ohhhh how I just LOVE this sweet missionary of ours!!! 

When Tyler's email came in this morning I was awake and up trying to encourage Tanner to get up for his swim practice!  (Sometimes it is just soooo hard to get up and know that you have to go jump into a FREEZING COLD pool!  This morning was one of "THOSE"mornings!!!)

Anyways....

I quickly scrolled down to the end of Tyler's email and saw his comment about "sorry no pictures...I slacked :( "

I decided to quickly email Tyler back to see if I could catch him!

"Hi Tyler! Ya there???

I quickly scrolled down and saw no pictures!   Man you DID slack!!!!  I'm just kidding!   I LOVE Ya anywho!  Know I'm just kidding but yes I do LOVE them.

Love MOM"

Tyler responded with saying..."I know I slacked.  I realized this morning that I didn't take any pictures!  haha"

Then within a few short minutes I got this response 

AND...

A PICTURE! 

"I got a picture! :)"

I asked him if that was a picture of them watching conference and he said,
"no, it is of us emailing everyone!  Haha, I seriously just took it!"

He really LOVES me and knows how to make his Mom's day! 

Just decided to share this on his blog!

Have a GREAT MONDAY all!  

I know I will!  :)