A letter from Elder Ferguson to my Brother Tom (his uncle)

Letter From Ryan's Uncle Tom- 

We were reading in 1st Nephi today as a family and were reading about Nephi being led by the spirit. I noticed for the first time a couple of things that I hadn't before. The first being that when Nephi was trying to talk to his brothers about going back to Laban again he said 

2 Therefore let us go up; let us be strong like unto Moses; for he truly spake unto the waters of the Red Sea and they divided hither and thither, and our fathers came through, out of captivity, on dry ground, and the armies of Pharaoh did follow and were drowned in the waters of the Red Sea. (1 Nephi 4:2)

I started to think about the phrase, let us be strong. And how was Moses strong?  His words were strong. When Jesus spoke the winds and the waves obeyed. It was his words that they obeyed. The strength of our words is important. As you speak to your investigators you know you can bring the spirit or push it away by he words you choose to use. Also know that The Lord will give you what to say when you need to say it. 

The second thing is after Nephi says he was led by e spirit not knowing beforehand the things he should do. He goes on to say. 

7 Nevertheless I went forth, (1 Nephi 4:7)

When its right to do something if the spirit tells you what to do you do it no matter the consequences. Think how your life would be different had your parents not followed the spirit multiple times.  

Well, work hard, have fun, and be obedient. 

Love you,

Uncle Tom

Reply to the letter from Ryan:

Thanks, that's great advice. We spent a lot of time talking about that in the MTC. They say that one of the best ways to receive guidance from the spirit is to be obedient. In the MTC we actually gave a lot of priesthood blessings in my district, and one of the other Elders said that while he was giving one, he left out one word he felt he was supposed to say, and he sort of got cut off. I'm really starting to appreciate how we need to follow ALL of the promtings of the spirit, as quickly as we can, as best as we can.

           Elder Ferguson

A letter from Elder Ferguson to Our Family

INSERT  (I just googled his address and found a picture on "street view" of the address.  I don't know if this is correct, but I'll ask him.  -Amy

I'm going to be here for at least 2 transfers (three months) so Elder Gabler says to send you the address of the flat. 

Elder Ryan Ferguson

Flat 2, 8 Kingscliffe Street

Manchester

M9 4PG

ENGLAND

This is a little faster than email, but I would still think email is better. Although I can write longer letters because I don't have a time limit in the flat. I forgot to bring my camera to send emails again, so I'll send you all of my pictures next week.Instead of always sending a new email, could you just reply to old ones? That way I can keep all of my emails from you in one conversation. 

I'm in the Ashton Zone in the Middleton Zone. We're in the Middleton ward. 

Point A is where their apt is Point B is Where their area is.

The people in the ward are super nice. They feed us almost every night. 

 The bishop's wife wanted to email you, but I forgot to give her you're email address, so you might get an email from her next Sunday.

 They don't have any pianists in this ward, so they've been using CD's for almost a year in sacrament meeting. They say that the CD's are horrible. They've decided I'm not allowed to ever leave their ward because I play the piano. 

There's a less active lady in our ward from Nigeria that gives us ramen noodles, but they have a different name and they're from Nigeria. That's pretty much all I can think of. Bye!

(Ryan likes Ramen Noodles, so I think that's a good thing.)

Elder Ferguson

Elder Ferguson & His new Companion

A letter to my brother Tom from Elder Ferguson (just before he left the MTC) July 22, 2013

My MTC companion is Elder W is from Boise. He's ninteen and I think he was living in Rexburg for the last year(ish) working at a quail hunting place. He's in the Leeds mission now. 

I play the piano a lot. We didn't have a lot of free time at the MTC or anything, but when we went to the mission home, they had me play for about three songs and my mission president was really excited about it. When he announced where I was going, he told my bishop that I played the piano. As it turns out, they don't have anyone who can play the piano in our ward, so I am going to be playing every Sunday. I'm having a good time and trying to be obedient and stuff. so yeah. :)

Elder Ferguson with Sister & President Preston

From a Sister in the Mission office.

This is part of a letter I just received from the mission office.)

...Just as a side note, your son has come to one of the most historic missions in all the world.  England is called the “Cradle of the Restoration” because of all the new and deeply faithful converts who immigrated to America from here.  

Also, he arrived just in time for the first-ever British Pageant called “Truth Will Prevail” to be held on the grounds of the Preston, England Temple starting 31 July 2013 through 10 August 2013.  

All of our missionaries get to attend.  

Secondly, President Preston and his wife will be taking all of the EMM missionaries on a one-day tour of historical places in England—the Liverpool Docks where these Saints sailed to America; River Ribble where the first baptisms took place; and then on to Downham where early missionaries preached.  Elder Ferguson will be telling you all about these activities, I’m sure.

Best regards, Sister O (EMM office)

I just got a couple of emails from Elder Ferguson.  More short, sweet and to the point. I got another short email with PICTURES from the mission office!  I am awaiting permission to put them on the blog.  As soon as I get the word it's ok I will.  One of them is of him and his Mission President & wife, and the other one is of him and his companion.  

-Amy (Mom)

I'm in the mission field now. My new companion's name is Elder "G."  (I'm not sure if I'm supposed to include his actual name)-Amy's insert)  He's German, but he speaks really good English. I couldn't even tell he was German until I noticed the weird letter on his name tag. I'm having a good time and stuff, so yeah. Bye.

You have the right address. But just don't send me letters. It takes them a long time to arrive, and it's much easier just to send emails. And packages are super expensive. 

-Elder Ferguson

Ryan sent us a quick email today to let us know he will be leaving the MTC on July 24th (Wed) so he won't be emailing us until Monday.

2 weeks in the MTC

Wed July 17, 2013

From Elder Ferguson:

My companion's name is elder Wilkes, he is from Idaho. I'm awesome. Nothing is hard for me. I'm going to the MTC for two weeks. You can give my friends my email address and my blog thingy, that's why we put my email on the blog. I'm having fun and stuff. I don't have enough time to write emails to all of the kids, so just read them this one. I went to the Preston Temple today. I forgot my camera cord in my room, but I'll send you pictures later today or maybe next week. 
Bye

This is a 9 min. video about The Preston England Pagent.

This is taking place right near the temple and the MTC.
I've heard it rumored that the missionaries in the MTC at the time will be IN the pageant.
I'm guessing Ryan will NOT be in this Pageant because it will start a few days after he leaves the MTC.
Ryan's so sad about that.  (Singing and dancing are, as most of you know, are his favorite things!  lol)
http://youtu.be/U-cCKA01Qio

This is a video of The Preston England MTC -

 I don't know when this was filmed, but it's pretty cool.

It's 21 min. long  .

I don't know when it was filmed, but it's pretty cool.  

http://youtu.be/Tti62NHiHis

 July 10, 2013

     We woke up and made it to the airport about 8:30am.  We got him all checked in and said our goodbyes right before the security line.  Everyone got to hug Ryan goodbye and then we just watched him go.  

This was the flight tracker we got to watch him fly there.

July 11       ( 1st Email from Ryan)

                     iimm hheerree  

                     ii  ddoonntt  kknnooww  wwhhyy,,  bbuutt  tthhee  kkeeyybbooaarrdd  iiss  ttyyiinngg  ddoouubbllee  lleetttteerrss.  II  mmaaddee  iitt  hheerree  ssaaffeellyy,,  pp  ddaayy  iiss  oonn  wweeddnneessddaayy,,  ssoo  tthhaatt''ss  wwhheenn  ii''llll  mmaaiill  yyoouu  aaggaaiinn.  HHooppeeffuullllyy  tthhee  kkeeyybbooaarrdd  wwiillll  wwoorrkk  nnoorrmmaall  nneexxtt  ttiimmee.  TThhaatt  wwaayy  yyoouu''ll  aaccttaauullyy  bbee  aabbllee  ttoo  rreeaadd  mmyy  eemmaaiill.  ssoo  yyeeaahh.  bbyyee.

                    2nd email / same day

                     Never mind, I guess it works now. The plane trip was cool. It really took about ten hours, but it sort of took about 20 because of the time change. I got all of my lugage and stuff. There were a whole bunch of missionaries leaving from the same airport as me, and we were all going to manchester and leeds. There was also one sister who is going to germany, but she's like a test subject or something. So yeah. I'll probably actually have something to tell you about next week, but I sorta just got here. Bye.