Elizabeth's Baptism! (December 22nd 2013)

Myself, Liz and Lisi

It all started with a Facebook message on November 27th 8:46pm "Hey, uh, so this is weird and everything but like say I was kind of curious about maybe becoming a Mormon.
Who would I talk to? Do I just like, call the church or something? 

Like idk I just keep seeing all your instagram pictures and stuff and I've never seen someone so happy because of their faith and it makes me wonder if maybe it'll make me that happy"
I can't even put in words how absolutely ecstatic I was when I got this message!
The following Wednesday (December 4th 2013) she was to be meeting with the missionaries in her area, that night I got a message from her saying "Guess what?!" with a picture of a calender and on it, was her baptismal date for the December 22nd 2013! I seriously jumped and screamed of excitement, I seriously had no words to describe the feeling, complete and utter joy would be an understatement. 

I went to one of the discussions and met the missionaries (Elder Gines and Elder Murdock and also Lisi who had been to the previous discussions and also baptized her today) had an amazing spirit filled lesson, and now today came!

Liz and Lisi both look so radiant in their whites!

She was so excited! Bursting out the seams of excitement even! After church, it was a case of "It's actually happening in a hour", she was scared she was going to faint or puke, I told her she would be fine! We got her ready and took photos, a whole heap of her family came! Which was so amazing! 

We had the opening hymn "There is Sunshine in My Soul Today" and her Great Aunt Lynne had the opening talk. The time was here!!! I braid her hair and tuck it down the jump suit, and walk out so I can get a good view of it all. I squeeze my way through and I see her walk down into the font, Both Liz and Lisi were so nervous! The prayer was said and she went down, all was good!... until her knee popped up, she came up and she had to do it again, I remind her to bend her knees. She goes down, she comes up and says "Did it work?", everyone clapped and smiled, there were tears from a few of us (of course), but there it is LIZ HAS BEEN BAPTIZED! (she will be confirmed next Sunday). I walk into the bathrooms and give her the best hug I can without getting saturated, there were tears! From both of us, she got ready and we went out, and now it was my time to talk, I talked about The Holy Ghost and how we can recognize it and how he is there to comfort us. I bore my testimony to her, I wanted my talk to be for Liz, she had tears with a massive smile on her face and thanked me afterwards, so I take it she enjoyed it. Some people bore testimony and then we closed up with "Amazing Grace".

I can't even begin to imagine how she must be feeling, but I am so proud of her and happy for her, I feel so honored to be a part of this journey. This will be a day she never forgets (or a day I never forget) and will hold close to her heart always, today her life changed and for a brilliant better. To help her come closer to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, to find that blazing faith she has, it is so wonderful! She is seriously a spiritual powerhouse! And will bless the lives of all those who come into her life.

I know that this church is true, and I'm so grateful for the gospel in my life. I know that Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father live, and that they answer prayers. I'm grateful for the Holy Ghost for the witness that it has given me of the truth of these things. I know the Book of Mormon to be the word of God, I know Thomas S. Monson is a called prophet of God and that Joseph Smith restored this true and wonderful gospel. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen. 

Brother, Savior, Redeemer & Friend (December 15th 2013)

Today in Relief Society, we had an amazing lesson focused on the Mission of Jesus Christ, we put pictures on the wall, and all reflected on how Jesus Christ has influences our life and how he has blessed us. 

This picture is so symbolic to me, today for me it means, as I seek Christ he will come, that He lives and loves me with an infinite love. He is there to strengthen, uplift and support me as I put my faith in him. 

This has been my main testimony builder over the past month with everything that has happened in my life. I'm so grateful for the testimony I have and it grows stronger and each day passes. I feel closer to him as each day passes and I look forward to feeling even closer with him as time goes by. 

I love Jesus Christ, my brother, savior, redeemer and friend. 

In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.  

さようなら Elder Wheeler! (December 8th-9th 2013)

Saying goodbye to Elder Wheeler, was the hardest goodbye I've ever had to say, but knowing he is now a full time missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, serving the Lord and doing what he has always wanted to do is so comforting! When he received his call to serve (September 8th 2013) to the Japan Fukuoka Mission, Reporting to the Provo Missionary Training Center Tuesday December 10th 2013. A wave of sadness and excitement and happiness all at once crashed over me.  That was 3 months ago, those 3 months have flown by so quickly! As each day passed, it got closer to him leaving, every day it became a little more real than the last, in the last week it seemed almost impossible to wrap my brain around while helping him pack and saying goodbye to all of his friends. 

But the day came, the day he would be set apart as a missionary (08/12/13) of the Lord and also his 19th birthday (how cool is that?! to be set apart on your birthday?!). He gave his farewell talk in his ward, which was absolutely amazing and completely him, he even gave his testimony in Japanese! He has been preparing so much. We took photos with friends, went to the second ward, headed home and prepared for the family birthday/being set apart dinner. 

I didn't want to leave his side the whole time, knowing it would be two years until I could hold his hand, have his arm around me, kiss him or hug him. I wanted to make the most of the time I had with him. After dinner we went for a walk with Jackson (one of his best friends) and when we got back home we had time to say our private goodbyes with hugs and kisses, talking and comforting each other and making promises about writing and sending letters while on our missions. It came to 8:25 I had been crying a little so I went to go fix myself up while he went and got changed into his suit. Afterwards we comforted each other again and Stake President was here to give him his interview and setting apart, We had our last long hug and kiss. I went and talked to his Mum (Lisa), we basically in a nut shell talked about how amazing he is and how much of an amazing missionary he will be and what a blessing he is to all our lives. Next thing we know, it's time for Jayme to be set apart, we have our last hug and kiss and then we all sit down and it happens, he is being set apart. I shed a few tears and felt the spirit so strongly, He was now Elder Wheeler, after that, we all stood up and he gave all his family (and Jackson) a hug, (me being the only person he couldn't hug because I wasn't family or male friend) after everyone was done, I shook hands with him and gave him the biggest smile, I gave a hug to Emily (his sister) and Lisa, and it was time for me to go, I gathered all my things (to stay at the Honey's the night) shook hands with Elder Wheeler a few more times, he said "I love you" as I was leaving and those 3 words meant so much to me!

Lisa picked me up at around 7:30 am and we headed out to the airport, when I got into the car, Lisa cave me the heads up that he was wearing one of the ties (it has "i love you" stitched into the back of it) I got him as part of his Christmas, Birthday, Farewell presents, I was so happy and it meant so much to me. We got there and walk in and I see him, I shook his hand and said hi, we then hung around with friends and family, and took photos while waiting for his flight. We all got heaps of group photos and said our last goodbyes, people started heading off and the next thing we know its 8:50 and time for Elder Wheeler to go through security, we got permission to go down to the boarding gate with him, where everyone had their last hugs and in my case hand shake with him and said our last goodbyes. There were a lot of tears from everyone and he headed towards the boarding gate, we were all saying "Sayonara!" and different things, and then he went through, waved at us all and said "Sayonara" and continued to walk to his plane. We all gave each other hugs to comfort one another, Elder Wheeler was now gone, this was the last time we would all see him for 2 years. But how wonderful it is to know in those 2 years he will be serving the Lord and teaching/serving Heavenly Father's children in Japan. 

We then watched him get on the plane and all waved to him as he waved back and then he was on the plane, we watched the plane take off and he was really gone. 

Launceston - Sydney - Los Angeles - Salt Lake City - Provo Missionary Training Center - Fukuoka, Japan

Ahead of him now are the two best and hardest years of his life and to call him Elder Wheeler is such a privilege, to know that someone I love is a representative of the Lord is so comforting! He is now safely in Salt Lake City and at the Missionary Training Center. I know as he serves the Lord with all his heart might mind and strength he will see miracles and receive blessings beyond his comprehension. As we both put our trust in the Lord, we will pull through this no matter how hard times might seem, Heavenly Father is always there for us, he hears and answers our prayers, he wants to bless, help and support us. I know it is through my faith in him, I received the comfort and strength I needed at this time.

Japan will be so lucky to have Elder Wheeler when he gets there in February, and I'm so excited to hear his testimony grow with him and to hear all his experiences as he serves the Lord.  

 "And it came to pass when they had arrived in the borders of the land of the Lamanites (the Launceston Airport) that they separated themselves and departed one from another, trusting in the Lord that they should meet again at the close of their harvest (at the close of Elder Wheelers Mission); for they supposed that great was the work which they had undertaken" 

- Alma 17:13 (Thankyou for this Lisa!)

Fukuoka, Japan Mission

2013 - 2015

Sincerely Jennadene Ryan 

My Mission Call (November 11th 2013)

I waited 3 months for this moment, after long struggles in receiving my call, my assignment was finally made on Thursday October 24th 2013. I had been told that it should come 2 weeks after my assignment was made, Thursday November 7th came and no mission call, Friday was a public holiday and no mail on Saturday and Sundays. Monday November 11th came, I woke up early, got ready and sat looking out the window waiting for the post lady to come. 8:30 am came and I ran outside to greet the her, she gave me a parcel pickup card and I wanted to keep it a surprise for Mum, but she was taking way too long to come home, I rang her and told her to get home quick so we could goo to the post office, she came home and we rushed down to the post office, I got there and waited in line, The lady took the card and headed towards where all the parcels are, I saw an express post letter and I was thinking "that better be mine" she picked it up and gave it to me, I thanked her and ran out of the post office towards mum and screamed "IT SAYS SISTER!!!". My mission call finally came! And this is one of the most amazing days of my life.

6:30 pm came, and it's time to open my mission call. We set up Skype with my Auntie Ann and called my two best friends Brooke and Peri, at home we had Mum (Jayn), my two brothers (Micah and Jacob) and my boyfriend Jayme (Called to serve the Japan, Fukuoka Mission, Report to the Provo MTC December 10th 2013). I make sure everyone could hear me and then began to open my call, as I started reading and I saw "Utah Salt Lake City" I was absolutely shocked and completely blown away! I almost couldn't believe this was real and actually happening!

Dear Sister Ryan, 

You are hereby called to serve as a missionary of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. You are assigned to labour in the Utah Salt Lake City Temple Square Mission, it is anticipated you will serve for a period of 18 months. 

You should report to the Provo Missionary Training Center Tuesday March 11th 2014. You will prepare to teach the gospel in the English language.

I am so incredibly excited about my call to serve! I've always wanted to go to Temple Square and what a better opportunity than to serve The Lord in a place I've always dreamed of going. 

I know that my call is truly inspired of a loving Heavenly Father who has a plan for me and I have been assigned to labour where he needs me to be. It is an honor and a privilege to be called to serve and I can't wait to be set apart as a missionary of the Lord. 

Sincerely Jennadene Ryan 

(Future Sister Ryan of the Utah Salt Lake City Temple Square Mission)