Elder Ryan Bird

Hey Mom,
Glad to hear from you as always and I can`t believe how fast time is going. As mentioned, this is transfer week. Elder Espinal is going to train in the area of San Geronimo (my old zone, but not my old area) in the capital. I`ll be getting a new companion who I still can`t pronounce his name correctly nor spell correctly. This is when most of you are thinking why I`m having such a hard time pronouncing a latino name. That`s when I now announce that I`ll be having my first haitian companion. I haven`t met him before, so we`ll see how first impressions go. I went on an intercambio in Bani with Elder JeanLouis, who is from Haiti, and I had a great experience. Haitians are pretty well known for knowing multiple languages, so its probable that my new companion speaks a little english. If not, I have a lot I can learn from him.
In the zone of San Juan, we started with 18 missionaries and 3 districts. However, an entire house got tested positive for parasites and 2 missionaries were transferred to the capital for treatment. One of those missionaries returned to the house in the other week and the other elder returned to Chile. So for some time we have had a trio of Elders here in the zone. So, this upcoming transfer should start the same, 18 missionaries and 3 districts. We`ll see how it goes.

I heard about how San Diego had cold weather this past week. Dad told me that he saw some hail. I found your comment about it being 39 degrees at 6:00 in the morning cause that was normal for us when we went to seminary during the winter. It was typically low 40`s going to seminary and I arrived as a popsicle. But at least it was only a 5 minute drive.

Sounds like its missionary call season. Dad told me that Mike Groesbeck got his call to the Phillippines. I`m happy for him and wish him the best. Who else do I know got their mission call?

Well, I left my agenda for last transfer in the house, so I`ll have to play it by ear. It seems whenever that happens things don`t turn out so well with my email home. I can at least say that lately things have been pretty crazy with transfer calls and today especially with organizing how transfers will go. In fact I`m still dealing with it because we have transfers at the end of the month, which means that not a single Elder has money for transfers. So, things have been pretty crazy here. But I hope all goes well without problems.

I`m currently ´temporary companions´ with Elder Tyler who also is from San Diego. I actually first met him when we had our last trip to the temple when I was in the San Cristobal zone. We took zone pictures and Elder Tyler was there in the MTC and took pictures for us. I talked to him and found out that he was from San Diego as well. There are too few California elders these days.

You did mention how busy I appear with zone leader responsibilities. Last week I had an intercambio/baptismal interview that I did in Las Matas and today I ended up paying (and will be reimbursed) for a wedding of the other elders here in San Juan. This also says why I currently am out of money. But, after transfers is when all will be well.

Anyway, I can`t say that I remember a whole lot from last week. We`re just keeping busy and working hard. Home all is well back home!

Love,
-Elder Bird
PS. I should be getting mail this week and will hopefully be able to write after getting mail

Hey Mom,
I'm glad to hear that Kara's surgery went well. That was something that was on my mind this last week. I didn't think about it too much...nor too little to show that I care about my baby sister. I'm glad to hear that your trip to Arizona was great. Was Amber's first impression of Kara having something to do with 'who is this cheetos cheese puff?' Did Kara's swelling go down before then? I do know of Kara's love for taking pictures. I still have on one of my camera memory cards the photos of our zoo trip with Chelsea in the San Diego zoo. I look at those whenever I pull out my old memory and Kara was the one who took those photos. I don't know if it's just in the Bird blood, but I've noticed that I too can take great photos...like Kara. Now, I can't be present in a photo and make it great, but maybe I'll get my good looks again after the mission, we'll see. I do have to say that I understand cold once again. I have to sleep in my pajamas here in San Juan rather than my gym shorts. I'll wake up freezing if I don't sleep in my pajamas. But you'll have to remember that freezing to me is about 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Maybe you can check Google at 6:30 in the morning to see how cold San Juan de Maguana is. It'll give me an idea of how warm blooded I've become.

Once again...another great question: What do you admire about the Dominican People? One thing that I've noticed about myself is that I'm a very terrible person at judging ethnicities and cultures. What I've been able to see for myself is something that I see on a person to person basis. I can tell you that Dominicans are darker that most latinos because they have a little bit of the black race in their blood (thanks to Haiti). So most people here have a sense of humor, which is great. Not to mention that other Elders have a pretty good sense of humor and joke around a lot.

I hope that answers your question, as mentioned, I'm a pretty poor judge of character. I've noticed that I just accept how things are. I do remember some of the great moments I spent with the members (fun family/church activities, Family Home Evening, etc).

I do have to say that this last week was pretty interesting. We had 3 intercambios last week and I was basically in charge of the entire week here in San Juan. I started with Elder Young who I learned is from Eastern Washington. Which city it is I've forgotten. I think he said he was from the Tri-Cities area-ish. He told me that he had an enjoyable intercambio and that he had fun (although it was a pretty uneventful day since all of our appointments fell). I do believe that this was the point of the intercambio though. He and his companion aren't getting along and I gave him a day off to enjoy working.

The following day the same happened with Elder Bremer who is from my group. One aspect of the 'campo' is all of the military checks for the guaguas. I remember thinking on the way to pick up Elder Bremer that the two of us would get passport checked since we're two americans...and that's exactly what happened. Which is funny cause it happened at a check that Elder Espinal and I pass all the time when we travel. I told Elder Bremer that that's probably as exciting as that man's job gets, so that's why he did it. Who knows though? I do have to say that I'm glad I had my copy of my passport.

Following this intercambio we had interviews in Azua. In this set of interviews President Almonte did something interesting. He basically told everyone what his plans are for the upcoming transfers. He didn't give specific details, but he did tell me that my companion will be going and that I'll be training a new Zone leader. But, things are open to change. It won't be the first nor third time that I've seen it happen in the mission. So, I'm a little stoked to see what happens for transfers next week. If I'm training ZL, I'll be the big cheese of this zone. At least I have Elder Grant as the 'ayudante' that I'll be calling every night and he'll just help me where I fall.

This last week we've also had quite a bit of rain. I've come back from working completely soaked....although I've had heavier rain here. I've worked in rain where I literally would be getting less wet by pouring a bucket over my head than the rain I was in. I just have to say that it builds character. My companion always tells other people how grateful he is when I say, 'Sure, I'm willing to go.' He talks to other missionaries about how great of a person I am (not to boast...just to say what he's said).

In this last week I focused on reading James E. Talmage's "Jesus the Christ" so that I could finish it and I did. So this is where I get to ask dad where he's at to see if my prediction was correct in that he would probably finish before I did. But I'd like to thank the Hansen family for having provided me with this book that I enjoyed so much. I may not understand nor remember everything, but it has inspired many things and cleared my understanding on certain points. I did mention to an Elder last week that I enjoyed reading a chapter in Jesus the Christ and later reading the actual New Testament chapters that have to do with those chapters. Not to mention that I didn't read all of the chapter notes, so there are still some passages that could brighten my understanding of the New Testament or some other topic/theme.

Anyway, that's all I got for now. I hope all is well back home and that you all are having an enjoyable week.

Love,
-Elder Bird
PS. Assistants should be delivering mail soon, so I'll get what letters out I can (when I buy envelopes) and sorry for the long delay for those who are waiting for a letter of mine.

Hey Mom,
Happy Valentine's day to you as well. I have seen a few things out here in San Juan that are Valentine's day oriented. I've seen a few decorations (not a lot) but enough to know that its at least known in this country. It was actually a year ago in Neyba when I went to a Valentine's Day Activity. The actual day of Valentines Day (I believe was a Sunday) all the members were saying something to the fact of "Feliz dìa de Amistades" (Happy Friendship day) or something like that. I was completely confused as to why they were telling me that, but I then remembered that it was Valentine's Day. Now, you'll have to forgive me that I don't remember what it is actually called in Spanish, lately some Elders have been calling it the literal translation of Valentine's Day, "Dìa de San Valentìn."

Well, you probably shouldn't be concerned about my practice with a whip, cause I tried again last week and about lost everything I was taught already. Maybe that'll be incentive to get more practice =P But I doubt it'll happen. This week will be even busy with things we'll be doing. This last week we had a handful of missionary exchanges and this week we have 3 planned. All of which I'll be staying in San Juan and being the big man already. We'll also have interviews this week with President Almonte in Azua. So its another thing we have to organize with our zone.

Tessa Walton is studying in Isreal? I remember that's what Emily Tueller did. Is Tessa studying Foreign Relations? I was just talking to Elder Young about the Walton family on the bus ride today (reason for the busride will be revealed later). When does Jordan report?

I do have to say that you have quite the question for this week. I do have to say that it is a little more difficult for me to see the growth of my testimony since I watch it grow, but I have received a comment or two in letters from people who have said that they can see my testimony growing. Now, I will say that I personally want to be a better person in whatever ward I'm in when I get back. I want to get to know everyone, participate more in social activities, and I can definitely say that I want to be a little bit more faithful in scripture studying. I can definitely say that some of my desires or priorities have changed for the better and I hope they continue to do so. I'd have to say the contributing factor with these changes are many including the number of times that we share our messages with other people and having just been a 'go and do' it person.

Anyway, this last week was a pretty interesting week. One thing that I mentioned to dad in his email is that I basically do the same thing week to week and can't figure out how my emails are interesting. I did have an intercambio in Las Matas with Elder Pimentel. This was our first 24 hour intercambio that we've done this transfer, and they are going to rise in the upcoming weeks. This entire last week I did have a cold which affected me during this day and the following. Now, it didn't stop me, but I did have to be quite humble with the affects that it had on my voice. But all is well now I am in good health.

Today we went to 'El Cercado' and decided to go hike a mountain. I've posted pictures and might I say how fast the internet center is here. I was able to post last week's photos and this week's in less than an hour. So I hope you all enjoy. We did have a fun experience with a crazy cow. I have a video of it, but I'll just hold onto that myself and wait for my infamous slideshow presentation for you guys to see it. Don't worry, no one was in any harm, we just found a little calf that probably had about 6 cups of coffee and a few energy drinks this morning.

This last week had a very special day for me...my 18th month marker. I only have 6 months left in the mission now. These next 6 months are going to fly by and I'll be home before I know it. To celebrate I ate a 2 pint bucket of ice cream from the local Bon store. I know Cam had a tradition to eat a Kilo of ice cream, I don't know how that compares to my 2 pint bucket. I imagine that his was more ice cream since I found that after eating 2 pints I could walk without any kind of discomfort or pain. But, who knows?

Anyway, that's all I got for now. I hope all is well back home and I wish the best for all of you!

Love,
-Elder Bird

Hey Mom,
Glad to hear from you and sounds like you're super busy with your calling. This activity you have going on sounds really great. I was wondering why this idea for an activity sounded familiar and sounds like you were able to pinpoint that it was something that we did for mutual once. I can't remember it specifically but it does sound familiar. It should be a big hit when it comes. But keep up the good work.

I have indeed been quite busy, most of which being involved with zone leader things. And this week it should get even busier since we'll probably be doing more missionary exchanges in the zone. So that should be fun and joyous. The thing that changed most when becoming zone leader is the number of phone calls I have to deal with and the length of them. And all of that happens outside of proselyting hours. So we'll see how things progress.

This last week was pretty eventful...and at the same time uneventful. With regards to missionary work Elder Espinal and I are still working at about the same. The branch out here needs some work and we don't have a whole lot of help from the members. Although I do believe that some members are a little more motivated than others to help out with missionary work and problems within the branch.

I started running during the morning. We have a longer road just in front of our house. So that's something I can actually do for exercise. I do have to say that I'm out of shape, but not as bad as I thought. Every Elder in our house said they wanted to do that, but I'm the only one who has, which is funny cause all 3 of the other elders came up with the idea before me. I have noticed that its helped me feel a little more relaxed during the day.

We had zone conference last week in Azua. I was asked to give what we call our "missionary objective" which in all reality is just an opening devotional. I apparently gave a pretty strong devotional and in the talks following me (from Hermana Almonte and the assistants) I was quoted specifically and President Almonte shared the story from one of the scriptures I used. I'd have to say that it was a topic that went well with what everyone talked about. I spoke on the importance of being a missionary and what our purpose is as missionaries. I guess in all reality that's what the point of the "missionary objective."

A fun little experience that I had this last week. We had a few minutes of down time and I got a little practice with using a whip. Something that is quite common here is to see a bunch of kids practicing using whips. I guess with all the things to do here, bullwhips are a form of hanging out with friends. I can't say that I'm real good at it, but I have the basics =D

This last week I did more focus on taking more pictures to show what San Juan is like. Ironically, this computer that I'm using froze up...except for Firefox. So, I can't send photos home this week. But when I do get to them, it'll be worth it. I work in a pretty big city, but in traveling between areas its a pretty big farming community. There are some nice pictures that I've got.

Anyway, hope all is well back home. Love and miss you all!

Love,
-Elder Bird