Look to the Lord in all things

Hiya Mum, Dad, and Family

I can't believe that school is out already. That is so crazy. It just
seems like yesterday that I was graduating. It also seems as though
all Kendra and Kynsie do is party!!! Let's see Mrs. Pierce; she taught
me a lot. Helped me to love English because she made everything fun
and interactive, and yet kept things on track. Here in The Mission we
talk a lot about being human and finding common ground with the people
we meet. Because by doing this we are able to relate to the people we
meet and then bear personal testimony to them and help resolve their
needs. That is something Mrs. Pierce did. She was human with the
students. Just a few thoughts. Sorry for not sending pictures....I am
really bad at it. I have pictures I just forget to send them.

Well these past few transfers have gone by so quickly. It is a bitter
sweet moment right now though because President has asked me to go
back to Huddersfield Zone as the Zone Leader again, but I will be in a
different area called Meltham. It is a small little village but a
great place. I am excited to be back in the Huddersfield zone but
gutted that I have to leave the wonderful York Zone. Leaving all the
people I have met is so hard. But I am excited to get started again. I
will also be area booking again. My companion's name is Elder Cottrell
from Utah and he is a great guy.

These few transfers I have had the opportunity to train Elder Bailey
but I have learned more from him. To be completely honest with
everyone I have had a hard time due to "not seeing success" but what I
realized is that I have seen loads of success. I have see the Lord's
hand in all things. Elder Bailey and I have taught and testified to
many people and each of those times the spirit has testified of the
truthfulness of the beautiful message we share. I know again that I
have had he blessing and responsibility of planting many seeds for
missionaries to harvest in months and years to come. This email I
wanted to change up a bit and take a step into the past. By doing this
I hope you all who read this will be able to take a peek into the many
miracles that I have seen. I have truly seen the Lord's hand in this
work.

When I left the Huddersfield Zone I prayed for peace and assurance
that I would be able to not be so stressed and that my new companion
and I would be able to find, schedule, teach and progress people to
baptism. Well we got here and we have been able to do just that. As a
result of the prayer I have been able to see Sue and Eloise progress
towards baptism and I know that they will be able to make it to the
waters of baptism.

I was struggling with words coming to my mouth in Huddersfield. I
prayed that Heavenly Father would open my mouth and work through me.
There have been many cases where I have opened my mouth and words
which have not been mine have flowed from my voice.

Elder Bailey and I really wanted to find a family to teach so we
fasted and prayed for he opportunity to find a family and that we
would be able to teach and schedule them for baptism. We found the
MacInerney's. They were a family of 5. They were very open to us and
our message. We were able to teach them a few times and then schedule
them for baptism. On multiple occasions I know that he spirit
testified and pierced their hearts. I know that they will a few years
down the line will be found again and they will accept the restoration
of the gospel into their lives.

Sue was a former investigator. We went by and taught her once and we
didn't think she was interested in the gospel at all. We decided not
to go by again. Then we walked by her house one night and we both felt
inspired to knock on Sue's door. She opened it and let us in right
away. She explained to us that she felt like she had been missing
something since she had stopped meeting with the missionaries. It has
been a long journey and it is not yet over but Sue now believes that the
church is true and she has progressed so much. I know that Sue will
accept the invitation of baptism.

We many times prayed that Eloise would get an answer to her prayers.
We have taught her basically everything that we can. She loves coming
to church and loves the feelings she gets when she prays and reads the
Book of Mormon. She has come from not believing in a God to almost
being a full fledged Mormon. Haha. She one night was on a walk and
prayed to Heavenly Father that she would get an answer right at that
moment. As she finished her prayer she ran into two of the YSA. They
exchanged a conversation, hugged and left. Eloise then told us that,
that was the answer, that it was not mere coincidence. As time passes
she will too enter the waters of baptism.

These have just been a few of the wonderful instances where I have
been able to see Heavenly Father's hand in all that we have done. I
know that this work is true and Heavenly Father answers our prayers.
Sorry for such a long email. I love you all and hope you are well.

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

Love, Elder Tyler Rife

I'm thinkin'...

Another last minute selfie just because Mom wants a picture!  

That goofy missionary!!! 

I'm really thinking this because Tyler sent this one and only picture 2 minutes after he sent his regular email.
Just about the amount of time it would take to take a quick selfie! 
Just sayin'! :)
Guess I can ask him in about 21/2 months!!!

Arise, Arise, Arise - Monday, May 23, 2016

Hiya Mum, Dad, and Family, 

To start off I don't know why Grandma has missed the past few weeks. I made sure she was on this time. I haven't got the letter you have sent. I will probably get it today or this coming week. I can't believe how talented my family is. I wish I had some of these genes. haha. Kylee, Kinley, and Mila have really come far in their dancing careers. Haha I can't believe Tanner and what he did with his cake. Oh the good stories that go on facebook. Remember mine about the sandwich and asking the random guy to make it. Yeah I know you guys weren't too happy about it but I look back and I laugh so much. Mum, we have been telling you this. You are an amazing MUM!!! And person. You do so much for everyone. I am happy that you were able to get that award. You really have done so much for us, and especially for me. I love you Mum. As for Flash, I don't think he has left the family.....You still have 6 kids, who will eventually have families. I don't know if he has visited Kinley and Mila. But he might just stick with the family. I really like that poem Dad. It really is good. I have always been impressed by the talent that you have. I love reading your poems. I have tried doing something similar but haven't been able to come up with something like yours. 

This week has been good. Elder Bailey and I have been working hard this week and to be fair it doesn't seem like we got a lot done but when looking back I feel like we have accomplished a lot and we have great plans for the coming week.

We have been doing a lot of finding lately. Many people have rejected us and it is hard sometimes, but then you also look back and I see all the people that we have been able to bear testimony to and we are going to see them very soon. So hopefully something comes out of it. 

We finally contacted James again. He is the Born Again Christian who is friends with David May. We taught him for a little while and then he got in a car accident. Well he is doing better now. We set up a lesson and we planned to teach him the Plan of Salvation. Well we got past the first point of living in the Pre-Mortal Existence. He just knows his stuff. But This next week we have planned to bring a member who knows his stuff as well. James hasn't been reading, because of his accident, so we are planning to invite him to read and pray again because we know that bible bashing will go nowhere. So we will bear hard core testimony and invite him to start reading the Book of Mormon again and pray about the truthfulness of the message we share. He will be great. 

Eloise unfortunately won't be able to make it to her baptismal date this week. She decided she wants a little bit more time to figure out if it is true. So she is working towards the end of June. A miracle happened to her this past week though. It was so cool. She went on holiday to Sweden. Well we got a text from her telling us that her flight got cancelled, but she was getting really stressed out so she decided to read Mosiah 2. She remembered it was a reading that we gave her a few days before. So she read it and said that she felt so peaceful as she read it. We explained to her that it was the Spirit and said that it was Heavenly Father telling her that the Book of Mormon was true and good. She is well on her way. We are seeing her on Wednesday and will hopefully help her work towards baptism. 

Sue is still doing good. She came to church again and is loving it. The sisters have been seeing her and we have been seeing her as well. She has still been struggling with reading the Book of Mormon but we gave her a children's book a few weeks ago so we are going to have her start reading that. That is what she is missing. She believes it is all true but the reason she isn't getting a desire is because she hasn't been reading the Book of Mormon. So we are just trying to get her to read now. The way we are going to do this is teach about the importance of the Book of Mormon and bear testimony of it. Hopefully she will then start reading. 

Good things have been happening. Love you all and hope you are all well. Keep dancing. 

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

Love, Elder Tyler Rife

Man!  That missionary of ours hasn't sent us ANY pictures for FOUR WHOLE WEEKS!!!!

I'm going to have to get on him!  He knows his Mamma likes pictures! :)

Shortly after adding the last four weeks of emails to Tyler's missionary blog...
YES...I've been four weeks behind!!! :0
 I got onto facebook and was wonderfully surprised to see a video. It was shared with us by an investigator that  Tyler and his companion Elder Bailey have been teaching. So much fun!  She mentioned that the elders thought it was a boring video but that to a mother they could have been sleeping in the video and their mother's would enjoy watching it!!!  She is absolutely correct!  I sat and watched and thoroughly enjoyed!  I even took a couple of screenshots as the video played!  Hey at least they are pictures!!!  Sue also mentioned that she would take care of our "lack of pictures" problem!!!! :D
THANK YOU Again Sue for brightening our day!  

Teetering on the edge of everlasting life - Monday, May 16, 2016

Hiya Mum, Dad, and Family

Time really has been going by so quickly. I cannot believe it. There is so much to do and so little time. But I guess like they say take life as it comes and continue to look to the Savior....I don't know if they actually say that but whatever. Haha. I haven't got the letter yet but I should be getting it very soon. I'm glad FHE is going So well. I love FHE. It honestly is great. That is interesting about Dad's roots, but super cool as well. What Mum...you have been lying to me??? I have been telling people that you went to school with Donny, because English people love the Osmonds!!!! Oh my gosh I am going to be held accountable for lying to people now!! Just kidding but really. Happy Birthday Tanner. I can't believe that you are an old man now! We will have to catch up on loads of things! I love ya brother.

This week has been good. First you gotta give me credit for my email title. I will explain it. So many people we are working with have been teetering on the edge. Just trying to get an answer. 

Sue for one. She is so amazing. Sue has been meeting with the sisters as well to kind of help her a bit. We thought that it would help her because the sisters can go by whenever they want to see Sue. We were only able to see Sue once this week and then at church. But she informed us that she hasn't been reading because it is confusing. So we gave her a children's Book of Mormon and committed her to reading it. We were able to bear testimony of the power which comes from reading the Book of Mormon. I truly know that it is the word of God. I also know that when we read it, it helps us to know of the wonderful gospel, which then leads us to seek and inquire of the Lord to know if it is the word of God. I have received an answer that the Book of Mormon is true and my testimony is strengthened every time I read it. I learn something knew everyday and I love that Book. Sue is just on the edge. I know that if she reads the Book of Mormon she will receive a solid answer that it is true and that will then lead her to make more promises with our Father in Heaven.

So we have told you about David May. He is a less active member but is working on coming back. He is amazing as well. We lost contact with him for a little bit but finally got in contact with him. We taught him the Plan of Salvation and I am pretty sure he taught us more. David knows so much about the gospel and he knows it is true. 

Eloise came to church on her own this week. It was so crazy cause she was like "can I come to church this week?" and we were like "haha yes of course". When she came to church this week she got fellow shipped so well. She was just going to stay for 2 hours and she was going to come to our class but the YSA were amazing and just treated her like they had all been friends for life. She ended up staying for the full 3 hours and she loved it. Eloise is working towards the 28th of May to get baptized. She has told us hat it all makes sense and that it makes her happy but she just doesn't know yet if it is the right thing to do. I think she is just afraid about making he commitment which is understandable. But we are just trying to help her understand that baptism is just a gate to many more blessings. I have a good feeling that she will get baptized. Cross our fingers and pray like none other. 

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

Love, Elder Tyler Rife

Happy Mother's Day - Monday, May 9, 2016

Heya Mum, Dad and Family,

 

It was so nice talking to everyone. It seems like you all have changed loads and become better. I was so happy to see everyone. It seems like FHE is paying off, it really does bring everyone closer. Something that was mentioned in Sacrament this week was we need as families to do more than just have family prayer and family scripture study. Satan is working really hard to tear the family apart and he is giving it his last hurrah because we know that the "times are nigh at hand". Seeing everyone always lifts my spirits. Sounds like everyone is staying busy and having a good time.

 

Miracle story. Elder Bailey and I were walking home one night and this guy stopped us! What?!!! That never happens!? Yes this guy stopped us and said that he needs help sorting his life out. His name is Tony. We talked to him on the street for a little bit and then asked if we could come over the next day. So we did. We went over and he told us about all the things that he is going through and how he wants to change his life. So then we shared some Mormon messages with him, the "Because He lives" one and talked to him about the Atonement, we kept trying to share the Plan of Salvation with him but it kept going back to the Atonement and the Addiction Recovery Program. So we explained to him that the Church provides things that can help him change his life and we explained that the messages we share changes peoples lives as well. We then talked about how baptism is a way for us to be cleansed from sin and have a fresh start. We invited him and scheduled him to work towards the 11 of June. We know that it is soon but we also know that Heavenly Father is a God of miracles. He may not make it for him to be baptized that day but he may be able to change his life around. We are excited to see him again.

 

Well Eloise and Susannah are the only two left talking to us. They have stuck it through. We are almost finished teaching them. They have come to church are reading and praying, they even attended a baptism. And they are still struggling with receiving an answer. We have a feeling they are afraid to give up some of the things that they like to do as students. So our plan with them is to finish teaching them the commandments and invite them to make a decision whether this is something they want to do or not. I know that they have felt the spirit testify to them that this is true as well, they just have to decide to decide. They are great people.

 

We have been seeing many many miracles but I think the greatest miracle was something I realized myself. I was pondering last night some things. I was thinking of all the things that I could have done, which I still have a lot that I could have done. I also realized that although I don't have much time left, I still have time. I need to use that time to the fullest. I am not finished with this work. I still have a lot to do and a lot to become. I also realized that maybe I wasn't seeing the full picture. I was too worried about what I could have done and didn't see that maybe just maybe Heavenly Father has been using me to his purposes. Heavenly Father's plan for me maybe wasn't to baptize England...all though that would have been nice....maybe it is just to plant the seeds for others to harvest. It is so simple, I completely missed it. But now I see the big picture. I made a deal with myself that I am going to just keep going, and I am not going to look back. There is so much that I need to do and I need to rely on Heavenly Father more. I really do love the Gospel, it has helped me so much. It is amazing. Love you guys. If there is anything you need let me know.

 

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

Keep on Truckin' - Tuesday, May 3, 2016

Hiya Mum, Dad, and Family,

First to answer your questions, I do know Elder Davis Crabb. He was
such a great guy. He was a really good example to me and a great
missionary. He was one of my first Zone Leaders almost 1 1/2 years
ago. Crazy how time has gone by. Preparation day was changed to
Tuesday this week because of bank holiday, so the libraries were
closed yesterday. I will be skyping Kynsie's account at12 noon your time if
that is still okay. I still need to find a place to skype though.
Don't worry about me I am fine. However, last week I got a really bad migraine.
They don't happen very often and really usually I am just able to take  
some Tylenol and it most of the time makes it not as bad. However, this  
week I haven't been the best. You know the saying...You are burning the 
candle at both ends?  Well I did that.  I was worrying too much and
stressed out trying to help people from our teaching pool that have dropped
off the radar so I was very stressed and was exhausted to the point that I was 
up throughout the night throwing up and very sick to my stomach. Some of 
it was probably food poisoning but my whole body just feels like it can't move 
right now. I am doing good though. Elder Bailey gave me a blessing and I 
have been resting. I think the problem was I realized that I don't have all the
time in the world and I realized I needed to be better so I pushed myself
beyond my capacity. But please don't worry I am doing good now. I just keep 
on truckin'.

Tanner you stud you! You are having so much fun in Student Government
aren't you. That is really good. Student Government was one of my
favorite classes and things to do. But remember as well to put the
most important things first. Which is family. I didn't realize this
until I was well into the mission. I found out that my family means
the world to me. I wish I would have treated everyone better than I
had. Family is the most important thing that we have. We gotta stick
together. Every week it sounds like you are all very busy and enjoying
life. Getting really involved in life. But don't get so caught up in
life that you forget to smell the roses. I can't believe Provo High is
moving. Where to? Goodness gracious...first Grandview and now Provo
High. Where are my schools going?!!!

This week has been a little bit tough, but Elder Bailey and I have
just been truckin'. Elder Bailey is such a good missionary. He really
doesn't deserve me as his trainer. I have so many imperfections, I
have learned more from him than probably he from me. Unfortunately a
few of our investigators have dropped off the radar. We haven't been
able to contact some of them which is pretty annoying but on the
bright side we still are seeing miracles.

Sue is absolutely amazing. The past few days we haven't been able to
contact her. Please pray for her. We think something is wrong with her
Mum. But we figured out something very important with Sue. So she
unfortunately isn't going to be baptized on the 7th of May, which is
so sad, but she told us that she will one day. She explained to us
that she knows everything is true. She has taken bits and pieces from
other churches and put them all together and then she realized that
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has everything that
she already believes. She knows that she needs to get baptized and she
knows that all of her questions will be answered eventually but she
said right now she doesn't have the desire. She said she has been
praying for a desire and thinks maybe it is just because she isn't
ready. We also believe it is somewhat social as well. We have been
taking members  by but I still don't think that she feels like she is
part of the Ward. So our plan now is just to help her gain a desire,
which will come over time. Sue is such a wonderful lady. I know that
she will enter into the waters of baptism. Maybe not for a little bit,
but she will.

We also are still working with Elosie, Becca, and Susannah. They all
have been to church now and really really enjoyed it. They were
atheist. We have been teaching them about God and about who He is.
They have been reading and praying. We took Serena and Matteo Bortone
(a brother and sister in the ward) and we taught them the Gospel of
Jesus Christ. They took it so well and really enjoyed it. They said
that they had questions answered that they didn't even know they had.
Well we then asked them if they believe that God is their Eternal
Father. They said yes. They said they believe it! Hallelujah. That is
probably one of the best feelings ever. Hearing someone say that they
know Heavenly Father lives, when before they didn't know. I was
smiling the whole lesson, they probably thought something was wrong
with my mouth! We taught them the Restoration again and testified to
them that we know that the Church of Jesus Christ has been restored to
the earth. The next step for them is to find out if Joseph Smith is a
prophet and if The Book of Mormon is true.

We honestly have been seeing success. This week has been a very
humbling week for me. I have learned a lot and have realized that I
need to be way better. But I am so thankful for my testimony of the
Gospel of Jesus Christ. I am also so thankful for my family. Because
without you all and the Gospel I don't know where I would be. I love
you all and am excited to skype with you.

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

Love, Elder Tyler Rife
Sorry no pictures....I have really slacked on pictures this week.