Where's Waldo?

hiya family! :)

 

HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO TAN TAN THE LADIES MAN!!! I am sending a happy birthday letter to you...it just hasn't gotten in the post yet! Mum, Grandma have you guys gotten your Mothers day card? Tanner tell me about how your birthday went!! You are getting so old!! I can't believe it! What film did you watch? Kylee, I wish I was there for your dance recital, but I know you did awesome because I saw your picture and you looked beautiful!! :) I just have a few favors! So this past week, I have had to dip into my personal funds quite a bit. We have been traveling everywhere and with me driving it has taken quite a bit of money...to the point of being broke! ah not good. So could you guys put money in so it doesn't go into debt, I will get all the money reimbursed but I won't be able to put it back into my bank account. Could you also maybe just make sure in the future that my account stays full with about $150. I will not be taking money out for quite awhile now!

 

My new companion is Elder Smith. He is from Missouri, near Joplin. We actually were in the MTC together so that is cool! He is a good missionary and I know that good things will happen while we are serving together. There are 4 of us in the district and although I am district leader I am a normal missionary doing all the normal things! Which is amazing!

 

This week not much has happened. Carl is still doing good and Caroline is still doing good! But unfortunately all of our other investigators have either dropped us or we have dropped them. Which is sad but good to start completely fresh again. So as a result of that Elder Smith and I have done loads of finding! But within the past 3 days we have found about 10-15 potential investigators! They all seem pretty solid. We were able to turn 3 of those into new investigators and are starting to teach them now. Their names are Janet, Roan, and Danny. They all have a desire to find out the truth and said that if they found out it was true they would be baptized. So keep your fingers crossed! We were knocking doors last night and weren't having much success...we were knocking and doors were being slammed in our faces. This guy was walking by who had a red striped shirt on and so I said something about wheres waldo and all he did was started laughing. We then got into a conversation and he asked us...he asked us what it is that we do. We told him and he seemed really interested and when we asked him if we could come around and share the message of the Restoration, he said yes and was really excited about it! His name is Kurt, so hopefully we will be able to start working with him as well! Good things are happening and I am really excited for this new experience with Elder Smith. I loved that thing you emailed me about change...it is completely right! Change is good, success only comes from always changing, learning, and growing! I love you all I love this missionary work and I love my Savior Jesus Christ. I miss you and hope you are well. Miracles are happening and I will update you on miracles in the coming week. I love you all.

 

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

 

Love, Elder Tyler Rife

I thought that since Tyler didn't include any pictures this week I would include the section of our letter that was emailed to him. It was the part that Tyler said he really loved about change...

Hope he sends a picture or two next week.

I LOVE it when he does!!!  :)

Change Is Inevitable -- Embrace It

Only when you embrace change can you find the good in it. You need to have an open mind and open arms if you’re going to recognize, and capitalize on, the opportunities that change creates. You’re bound to fail when you keep doing the same things you always have in the hope that ignoring change will make it go away. After all, the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. Life doesn’t stop for anyone. When things are going well, appreciate them and enjoy them, as they are bound to change. If you are always searching for something more, something better, that you think is going to make you happy, you’ll never be present enough to enjoy the great moments before they’re gone.

Well son, it was exciting to hear about the changes that have come to you during this past transfer.  You get to learn how to get along with a new companion/personality and at the same time you get to start taking on some leadership responsibilities.  This change brings lots of opportunity for growth and learning.  Your opportunity to positively influence and motivate others has grown significantly.  Remember they Saviors leadership pattern… he was a shepherd not a sheep herder. People followed him because of His love, understanding, and example.  He invited change and obedience by reaching out in service and compassion.   It’s time for another Stop, Start, and Continue exercise.  It’s time to think about how you want to be remembered as a missionary and a leader.  It’s time to think about what you liked in people who successfully lead and then make plans and choices that will help you to be the type of leader your Father in Heaven wants you to be.  We pray for your safety and success.  Let us know about all of the changes and how you are feeling about life.  Also, where is your companion from?  What are some of your new responsibilities as a district leader?  How many people are in your district?  And….any other exciting news you can think of telling us.  J  Have a fantastic week and know we LOVE ya , miss ya and are ALWAYS praying for you.

Love you lots,

Move and Dad

Here we go, here we go again! - Tuesday, May 12, 2015

Howdy ya'll oh wait I'm in England...Hiya mum dad and family,

I loved seeing you guys on Sunday! It was nice talking with you all and seeing how the family is doing! It looks like everyone is doing really good and loving life! Well I basically told you all what has been happening so this email probably won't be that long! First off...HAPPY MOTHERS DAY MUM, GRANDMA, KATELIN, AND ALL THE OTHER MUMS OUT THERE!!! I love you all, and everything that you have taught me and done for me! Alright here is the bad news for the transfer...Elder Barendse is leaving me and I have been asked to serve as a district leader. But the good news is that I am still in Bridlington! :) But good things will be coming. Miracles will be happening! I am serving with Elder Smith, he was in my district in the MTC so that will be good!

Carl's baptism was a success! He was baptized and confirmed a member of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. And it was so good to see him take those steps out of complete faith to come closer to Jesus Christ! He loves the gospel. You can just see it in him. His love for Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ is just beyond comprehension. He knows and trusts in prayer and says he is praying all the time. He also just did missionary work yesterday so that is so amazing. He told us that his friend is looking at a bunch of different religions and so he told her about "Mormons" and gave her a Book of Mormon and told her to read it and find out for herself. Carl is just so solid!

Caroline was excited to see you guys as well on Sunday. She is doing so good and loves coming to church. She says she feels good. She can't see a change in herself but I think she really knows the good that is coming from the gospel coming back into her life. She too is doing missionary work. She is helping her parents come back into re-activation and is doing a really good job at it. Miracles are happening all the time. I will let you know more about what happens with her parents as we continue to work with them.

Lately we have just been finding people who are willing to listen. It is slow but they are coming and I know that we will be able to see more miracles as long as we are obedient and diligent in doing the work of the Lord. I love you all and hope you are doing well. Let me know if you need anything!

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

Love, Elder Tyler Rife

Carl's Baptism - May 9, 2015

Can I just say....WE LOVED hearing from this boy on Mother's Day!

He is doing great and seems soooo...HAPPY!  

May is full of miracles - Tuesday, May 5, 2015

Dear Mum, Dad, and family,

First things first....I have forgotten every week, but now I won't!  ON sunday if it is okay I will be skyping @ 7 English time and I think 12 Utah time! I know that is right during church but it is really the only time that is available for me! I can only Skype for 40 minutes so you will be able to make it back to Sacrament if you want! Be there or be square! :) I hope it is okay for you all! So many things have happened this week! Congrats to Morgan! Elder Turner my MTC companion doesn't live too far from Auckland New Zealand! I am still learning to get my license, it is different on the opposite side of the road but it isn't as bad as I thought! And the guy that is teaching me is very good and very patient! I was able to pass my theory test so now I am just waiting on a practical driving test. Now for the miracles of the week...although I think me driving and not causing chaos is a huge miracle! :)

Bob-We were walking home from church and Bob stopped us. He tried "bible bashing" us abut we were just really chill with him and kind of turned his own questions and comments on himself. Well in the end he turned out to be a really cool guy...we asked if we could come over sometime and he said "Yes, why not". We went over and taught him and he is really open to knowing more. We are excited to work with him.

Carl-We have been preparing all week for Carl's baptism which is May 9, 2015! He is really prepared and we have had the opportunity to see him progress towards this wonderful date. His testimony has grown and my testimony has grown with it. Now we are just sorting out the details. He told us a miracle that happened to him. He has had a hard time with smoking. He finally gave it up but he told us that on Thursday he was having a horrible day. He said he pulled a cig out to smoke and he lit it but he couldn't take a drag! He said that he almost came to tears, because he was able to feel the spirit so strongly. Carl put the cig down and he said he felt complete peace. He felt good and happy! He knows that it was the Holy Ghost warning him. He is so prepared, Heavenly Father has helped him so much to come to this point.

Caroline-WOW! for a moment I thought Caroline was going to drop us. she was giving up. But we had a really good lesson with her about doing everything in Heavenly Fathers timing, we watched with her the Mormon message continuing in patience! Well we prayed and she left. We then got a text later from her about how she has finished 1st Nephi for the first time in her life! She was really excited and ever since that lesson her attitude and whole countenance has changed. It is amazing how Heavenly Father works.

Speaking about how Heavenly Father works in mysterious ways. About a month ago Elder Barendse and I ran into 2 girls, Melanie and Melisa. We had a good conversation with them and asked if we could meet with them again. They told us that they were leaving for a month but would like any leaflets that we have. We gave them Mormon.org cards and a Restoration leaflet. Well we then lost contact with them. One week ago we ran into both of them again. They told us they looked at Mormon.org and read the Restoration leaflet and want to know more. So we taught them about the Atonement and gave them a chapel tour. We then felt impressed to invite them to be baptized. They said yes...we want too!! We have taught them again and they were both still wanting to find out more and more about the church. Miracles are happening.

I can't tell you in words how much I care and love the Gospel and my Father in Heaven and Savior Jesus Christ. It is all 100% true. I know it! I love the Atonement. The Book of Mormon is true. Joseph Smith was a prophet, he did restore the truthfulness of the church to the earth! How do I know this? I will quote Brother Larsen (Tyler's Seminary teacher from Provo High) on this "I already know it because, I have been taught the truth my whole life" and because the Holy Ghost has borne a confirming witness to me that it is true! I love you and hope you are all well. Moroni 10:3-5 Alma 37:6

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

Love, Elder Tyler Rife

I LOVED his simple but sweet testimony at the end of his email. 

It is such a blessing to have a missionary serving our Heavenly Father.

No pictures again this week but HOPEFULLY tomorrow when he emails 

some will be included with that email!  

And...

for those of you who read this far, 

I'm so sorry for being SLOW in posting these last two weeks.  :)

I'll try to be better.  

Life sometimes just happens!!!  

:)

On the road again - Monday, April 27, 2015

Hiya family,

Congrats Kynsie for getting into the Photograph class. You are really good at taking pictures so I think you will succeed!! Sam is already back!? That is so crazy! She just left! WOW. Your week sounds like it has been good! You all are amazing! I love you guys!

Well this week went by so fast and now we are on the road again! It is weird how fast the week always go. So many miracles happened this week. Miracle after miracle! We have been so blessed! First off, Carl is just so good! He is just loving the Gospel of Jesus Christ and has grown so close to him. We have been able to see him through to the end. He is still looking forward to being baptized. Unfortunately he is working on  the 2nd so he is still being baptized the 9th. But he is ready and his testimony is so strong. We actually had him teach with us this week. He bore very solid and strong testimony about knowing that Heavenly Father answers prayers and how He loves each and everyone of us. I was just so amazed at the power of his testimony. He really knows what he is doing and is so excited to take more steps closer to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.

We had a miracle this week. Well we have miracles every week but this was so good. So about 6 weeks ago Elder B. and I contacted a girl, she was pretty interested but was leaving town. We gave her a restoration leaflet and we went our separate ways. Well last week we ran into her sister and she told us Melanie was coming back into town. She said she would set up a time to meet with us. Well nothing happened and then we ran into them again and set up an appointment. We met with them yesterday and the spirit was so strong. Melanie told us that she is really interested and that she read and studied about Joseph Smith and wants to know more. She told us that she wants to start over, and feel peace and hope. We then were prompted to invite her and schedule her for baptism! immediately she said yes and told us she really wants this! WOW, she was just given to us! We are going to start working with her more and we are really excited to see her come closer to Heavenly Father as well!

We are teaching so many others who hopefully as we are obedient and put Heavenly Father first we know that things will happen and we will be able to witness happiness come into their lives! This is so amazing, being able to be apart of a work so powerful, to know that the true church is on the earth. Knowing that there is so much more to what we have now. Having hope, and true happiness! I love this. I love you all and hope you are all well! If there is anything I can do for you let me know!

Love, Elder Tyler Rife

Sorry no pictures this week. But I will be emailing on Tuesday the next two weeks because of bank holidays.

Another week has passed and we are ready to go!!

Dear Mum, Dad, Family

 I am glad to hear that everything is going well!! Everything here has been going good as well. For driving I have to pay about $100 which equals out to about £80.

Well another week has passed and we are ready to go....we are standing here outside your door, inviting you to be baptized!! (sing it to I'm leavin' on a jet plane!) :)

You know I have learned something life changing this week. As I was thinking about it, a quote Dad gave me last week came to my head. It was given by Alexander Graham Bell, he states: "Sometimes we stare too long at the door that is closing that we see too late the one that is open."

This is what has been happening...I have been staring at doors closing and haven't noticed the doors opening. I got bummed out because some people who were progressing have stopped progressing. We have lost contact with some people who were so prepared and not that many people have wanted to talk to us. I was thinking what is happening.....What have we done wrong? Then I thought, I'm stupid...I have to rely on the Lord. So I decided to fast! I fasted for a miracle that day. I had faith that something would happen. It started getting later and later! That night, I came into the flat and nothing had happened. I was thinking why didn't anything happen? I prayed and fasted for a miracle but we didn't get one! Why didn't we get one?

The problem in the world today is people are all too focused on receiving a big answer, or miracle, something that is undeniable, and they don't get it...and then they wonder why and blame God. But we know that by small and simple things, great and marvelous things are brought to pass! (Alma 37:6) I was so distracted by wanting a huge miracle and looking for a bolt of lightning to happen with someone who we have been working with, but I didn't see the small miracles happening, the doors that were opening!

This week miracles happened!!! I missed them until I looked back and saw them. There were a few miracles that happened. First, is I think... one of the best!!!  We have been working with Caroline for a long time. We have been trying to help her re-build her testimony and help her know that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ love her so much. Well after 8 weeks of working with her I think we have gotten somewhere. We were at church and suddenly she shows up!! What a miracle! She told us that she knows Heavenly Father loves her and we can see her testimony has sparked again. She knows what she needs to do next.

Next, Carl made it home safely and is doing really well! HE has not smoked for a week and a half now! How amazing is that. He is really looking forward to his baptism on May 9 but today we are going to see if he wants to move it to May 2!

We have also met so many good people who have been prepared to receive the message of the Restoration. Emile who walked up to us and asked us who we were! Julian who loves talking about God!  Ryan, Tia and Zoe who all want help to quit smoking!  So many things are happening but the problem was I wasn't seeing them. But now I know that Heavenly Father did bless us this week! He really does answer our prayers but we have to remember it is after all we can do and it is in His time.

I invite all of you to keep going, put in all that you can and trust in Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. Stop looking at the doors which are closing and go to the ones that are opening. I love you all and hope you are doing well.

God be with you till we meet again. On our way. #10sof1000s. He lives!

Love, Elder Tyler Rife

Elder Rife and Elder Barendse "knocking"!  :)

So fast

Dear mum, dad, and family,

 

Wow what a week! It went by so fast!! I can't believe it, it feels like just yesterday that I was sitting here emailing you, and now here I am again. Your spring break seems productive and relaxing. England had something similar...they call it half term. There were so many people out, with it being a nice week and on the beach, and a carnival going on there were so many tourists...not many people originally from Bridlington, but good things happened anyway. I am glad to hear everyone is doing so well and good things are happening. So the new elder is Elder Gurney...he is actually from Provo, except he went to timpview!! He is pretty cool. He goes home in June! Kendra....he is home in June!!!!! He is a nice guy.

 

Well for me this week is has been fast but very very tiring. For some reason I have just been exhausted this week...it has been really weird. But good things are happening all the same. I learned this week from preach my gospel in diligence. It says something to the effect of diligently working even when you are tired...and you will find joy, and happiness. So I have been trying really hard to work even when I am tired, and honestly it works....As we work, we forget about ourselves and the days just fly by.

 

Many things have happened, good and bad. Carl is still progressing really well. He still has a big desire to be baptized. He is away on a business trip but we are trying to stay in contact with him as well as send him reading assignments. He is going to watch General Conference as well. Carl also has done something that has been a big step for him. He has been having a hard time with smoking, but he has gone away to sail a ship for the business that he is in. We asked him to keep working hard to pack in smoking but he then said well I won't have a problem because I am not taking any cigs. Elder Barendse and I sat so amazed and happy for him. He said it will be hard but he is just going to have to deal with it because he won't be able to buy any on the ship. We are so excited for him and have seen him come really far.

 

Becca and Poppy on the other hand have said that they want to wait to be baptized. We have tried resolving all their concerns but the truth is, they told us they just don't want to commit right now. So we decided we will still work with them but not as much. Until they have a desire to commit, they won't progress anywhere. Well we are still praying for them.

 

Caroline is finally going to come to church and she is doing amazing! She is even doing missionary work and is inviting one of her friends to meet with us!!! How cool! Her Mum and Dad are also less active, they have been really cold towards the church, but she asked them to have a meal with us!! WHAT!!! They haven't seen missionaries for 10 years! This is a miracle!!! We are so excited!

 

We have been finding quite a bit this week and have been running into some pretty crazy characters! It is weird how many different names we have been called! haha...in the past week I have been called really bad names, a salesperson, a police officer, an agent, and a criminal! We are also famous...apparently we are all over facebook, a member told us that somebody posted about how the mormons are knocking on peoples doors!! So heck yeah for us! I'm facebook famous!! :) We found this week a really cool family. They are very kind to us and we are hoping that we will be able to start working with them more to help them come closer to Christ.

Well miracles are happening in little old Brid! I am so thankful for the Atonement of Jesus Christ and this gospel. It truly is amazing!! Keep being awesome! Love you guys and Miss you guys.

 

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

 

Love, Elder Tyler Rife

Not sure what this son of ours is doing---

I think just being a little goofy and having some fun in England!!!

Being very serious as he stands next to this character 

as he shares the Book of Mormon!  :)

I heard Tyler's email being sent to us at 4:52 AM this morning and I laid there thinking, "Go BACK to sleep....Go BACK to sleep!"

BUT...

I just couldn't!  The more I thought about Tyler and perhaps being able to chat with him for a minute or two, I just had to get up and try!  Forget about Sleep!!!

It was soooo fun getting his response that stated, " HEY how are you doing?"

I asked him how he was doing and if things were going good?
his response....

"I honestly am doing really well, I am not going to lie, sometimes it is hard but that is apart of the mission. But I honestly am doing good.  I miss you guys!" 

He has always sounded good and very positive in his emails and in the letters he sends home but it was good to hear this as he kinda REALLY talked with me.  :) 

We continued conversing for a few more minutes and then as I was typing a message to him (and of course I'm a little slower... come on a lot...slower in responding than he is) his message to me popped up...

"Well I have to go!  Bye Mum, I Love You!  :)"

 

I remember when our daughter Kynsie was out serving her mission there were many times where I just would ache inside to see her/visit with her.  The same as occurred with Tyler.  Today was one of those times!  :)

So grateful for the gospel of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. A loving Heavenly Father and his son Jesus Christ who suffered all for us that we might be happy. I'm very thankful that a young 14 year old boy went into a grove of trees to pray and saw God the Father and his son Jesus Christ and that later that same boy, Joseph Smith  restored the gospel in this dispensation. I'm very thankful for a living prophet, Thomas Spencer Monson that leads us and guides us today.  I LOVE my family... and lastly today... I'm grateful for ALL of these wonderful missionaries who are sharing these wonderful truths with others. May our Heavenly Father continue to bless them.  

Now, my experiences today have made me so excited and I'm

LOOKING FORWARD to Mother's Day when Tyler will get to call/skype with us!  

It is really right around the corner!!!  :D

HAPPY EASTER, AND GENERAL CONFERENCE! - Tuesday, April 7, 2015

Hello Family,

Tanner you are becoming quite the cook aren't you! You will have to make me food one of these days! You should make your own little cafe. Kynsie I haven't been able to send a birthday card so this is it to you! HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MAY ALL YOUR DREAMS COME TRUE, HAPPY BIRTHDAY FROM ELDER RIFE TO YOU! You have to sing it as you read it! Sorry to hear about the washer, hopefully it gets fixed! It sounds like you all had a very fun Easter! I did too, it was amazing, being able to hear from the Prophet and Apostles and being able to go see people to help them come closer to Christ was just wonderful! I love General Conference. I had so many questions that were answered straight forward and clear it was amazing.

Well for the week, it was transfers again, and I am staying but Elder Manwaring is going...I'm going to miss him, he is such a good missionary and a wonderful teacher. What happened this week. Well to be honest loads of things and it honestly has been quite a stressful week but very eventful all the same.

Carl - We taught Carl and WOW he is just doing so amazing. He is progressing so much and loves learning about Jesus Christ and His gospel. It is so amazing seeing him progress and change. We talked to him about the temple and about Priesthood and he is really excited to receive the blessings that are there for him. He is doing really good. He loves Heavenly Father and knows that he can rely on him!

Becca - Becca has had a desire to be baptized and has felt the promptings of the Holy Ghost and knows that Jesus Christ died for her. But recently she has had concerns which are scaring her and making it so she doesn't want to be baptized. What Elder Barendse and I have been trying to do is take her back to the feelings that she has received when the Holy Ghost has testified to her that this is all true. We know that as we rely on Heavenly Father we will be able to be vessels in which the Holy Ghost will resolve her concerns and she will again have a desire to be baptized. She knows this is true, she just needs to feel it again. We are praying for help that Heavenly Father will work through us.

Caroline - We have been working with Caroline for some time now, she is a less active and she doesn't believe that she has a testimony. So we have been trying to work with her to re-ignite the testimony she does have. Because she does have it, Satan is just trying to make it seem like she doesn't. After weeks, Caroline finally knows she has a testimony and she knows she has to come back to church. She wants too, she is just trying to get up the courage to come back but I know in time she will. Caroline is amazing.

General Conference was definitely amazing. I loved hearing from the Prophet and Apostles. I had so many questions and they were all answered 100% and so clearly. It was just so wonderful. I Love conference. I love this gospel and I love my Savoir Jesus Christ. I know the Atonement is real and I have been able to use it so many times, it has carried me. Jesus Christ is there. I hope that you all use the Atonement because it truly is amazing. Jesus Christ is there for you, he will not leave you alone and he loves us. He will not let us Fall. I love it. Well I love you all and hope you are all doing wonderful. If you need anything let me know!

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

Love, Elder Tyler Rife

Elder Rife and Elder Barendse with Carl

Elder Rife and Elder Barendse with Caroline