I am so excited to come home but I am also torn. It sounds like every
one has been really busy this week. I haven't got the letter yet, but
it is probably waiting at the mission office for me. Well we had so
many miracles this week. I have really seen the Lord's hand in all
things.
Ah I am going to miss Carol and Thomas so much. They are so good. From
the time we first met them they have been so willing to learn. I have
seen a huge change in them. They are happier and it just seems
brighter in their home. It is amazing how the gospel can literally
change someone's life. Carol and Thomas came to church again and they
loved it again. They are getting to know people and are really fitting
into the ward. Meltham ward has done such a good job fellow shipping
them as well. Carol and Thomas say that they have been really feeling
good about the things that they are learning and that they believe it
all to be true. They are working towards September 3rd to be baptized
and they feel good about it. Carol is just trying to work off
nicotine. It was cool because she told us that she sold all of her
tobacco to her friend so she doesn't have any temptation, now she is
just on these nicotine inhaler things so we are going to help her get
off those now. They are doing amazing and I know that will get
baptized.
Ken is hilarious. This man will be remembered mostly for his laugh and
his happy personality. He could be talking about something really
morbid and still be able to make someone feel happy. Ken wasn't able
to come to church this Sunday, but we don't know why. But we are
almost done teaching him the lessons, now we are just trying to help
him make the commitment to attend church weekly.
We have a cool story this week. So we were finding one day and we
street contacted a man and his daughter. Well the man was not bothered
at all and the daughter didn't say much. So we left. Well about an
hour later we get a text from Olivia, she explained that we just spoke
to her and her dad and that she looked on the church website, liked what she
saw, spoke to a missionary online and got our phone numbers. She told
us that she wants to learn more and wants to be a member of our
church. So we met up with her and taught her. The lesson went really
well. She said that she felt good. We invited her to church and she
said that she didn't know if she could make it. Well Sunday came up
and she showed up. She loved church. She then texted us later and told
us that she felt a burning in her heart and can't wait to learn more.
She is scheduled to be baptized on the 3rd of September.
Joel is doing amazing. That man was definitely prepared to receive the
gospel. He was able to pass the sacrament this past Sunday and he did
an amazing job. Joel is doing so many good things. He is getting ready
to go home teaching now and go to the temple. Joel is ace.
Well this is really hard. I miss my family and I am excited to be home
but I feel as though I am leaving home again. I am really torn. My
heart will always be a Yorkshire Man. Whilst I have served the Lord in
the blessed land of England I have gained a very strong testimony. I
know that the work which I have been able to participate in is the
work of the Lord and it will continue to move on. I have had the
opportunity to witness miracles and see the Lord's hand in this work. I
will forever remember the people that I met, they are all now apart of
my family. The experiences that we had have impacted my life and has
changed my life. I have come to love my Saviour Jesus Christ I have
been able to experience the power of the Atonement in the lives of
many including myself. The Atonement is real and it works. Jesus
Christ did die for each of us. He knows us individually. I know that I
have a loving Heavenly Father. He knows me and has never given up on
me even though sometimes I have given up on him. He has a plan for us,
which allows us to return to him upon faith, repentance, baptism,
receiving the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end. This plan also
allows us to live with our families for eternity. For this I am so
grateful. It brings me so much joy to know that I will be able to
spend eternity with those I love. As I have had this great opportunity
to testify of the Restoration I myself have come to know that the Book
of Mormon is true and that it is the Word of God. Joseph Smith is a
prophet and was called by God to Restore the truths to the earth which
were once lost. I know that this church is true. I came to England
thinking I was going to convert everyone I met. But the greatest
convert was myself. I didn't realize this until really a few weeks
ago. I do know that this church is true and I won't deny it.
I love you all and look forward to seeing you in a few days.
God be with you until we meet again. On our way. #10sof1000s. HE LIVES.
Love, Elder Tyler Rife
I have re-read that last sentence over and over a few times...
"I love you all and look forward to seeing you in a few days."
Wow!!!
I get butterflies in my tummy every time I read it! :)
The two years that I wondered if they would ever pass...have!!!
It is still hard for me to really comprehend that my missionary IS REALLY coming home.
Tomorrow night about this time we will only have an hour until we can put our arms around our boy and feel his love and speak to him in person. It warms my heart. I'm not sure there are words to express how I really feel.
I'm so every excited I can hardly stand it and yet too there is a part of me that kinda feels bad that this chapter of his life is over. It has been a wonderful two years for him and us as a family having him out serving our Heavenly Father in England. He has learned to LOVE the people and through him we have grown to love these people too.Our family has been VERY blessed over the two years he has been gone and my heart is so full of gratitude for this.
Thank you to all of you who have shared this journey with us. We have appreciated your love and support for our son. May we all continue to serve and share the gospel in whatever ways we can and continue in our journey of returning to live with a loving Father in Heaven and his Son Jesus Christ.
ONE WEEK is now ONE DAY!!!! :)
We are just a little excited!
The morning we took Tyler to the airport to leave for his mission, I woke up to seeing this on our bathroom mirror. I convinced him to let me take a picture! :)
Heavenly Father has certainly been with us through this wonderful journey.
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