23 Lessons this week!!!!

Hey Mom!

So we are pretty much awesome!  Well, no, not really...we just had an awesome week!  23 lessons in one week.  The average is about 10 or so.  We we were way stoked about that.  The Rodgers are are doing good.  Still struggling a little bit, but overall they're good.  We have another family that I'm not sure I told you about or not, the Houstons.  They are doing great!  And the husband, Chet, who used to not like us too much has really warmed up to us and he's been to church every week for about 3 or 4 weeks now.  I lost count! 

Sounds like everyone is doing awesome!  And yes, I think I know who Taylor Swift is...I think...well maybe.  I'm not sure!  Anyways, glad to hear Nicki is doing good.  How is her basketball?  Did you get the pictures I sent?  Hope you like them.  I didn't realize I hadn't sent pictures since Wenatchee.  Ooops!  My bad!

Well, I love ya'll tons!  Tell Den I say hi!  Miss you guys a lot!

Love, Elder Ririe

Emmy gets baptized!

Hey Mom,

Things here are great!  We had Emmy's baptism on Saturday.  She was super scared of the water but it all worked out fine.  Not much else going on at the moment.  I'm just really trying not to "check out" too soon, but it's all good.  I love it out here!  And I especially love the people here...they're great!  I'm so glad that I came out here on a mission!!!  We have a few people we are working with and our teaching pool is getting smaller, but hopefully we'll have a few more people to teach this upcoming week.  I can't really think of what to write about, everything feels like a blur lately.  Trying to remember some of your questions.  My knee is doing okay...we'll just have to wait and see on it.  The weather goes back and forth from sunny to cloudy, but it's ALWAYS cold (14 right now).  The other question you asked......same ole same ole.  I'm trying!!!!!  I still haven't heard from Sis. Futi and the kids, so I'm not sure what's going on there.  We haven't heard from Russ, but we did talk to the Elders that are teaching him about two weeks ago and all seemed to be good.  Thanks for ordering the study materials for Sis. Sosa.  That will be awesome for her!  She just found out her mom has cancer....that's not so awesome  :(
Awesome for Hunter on his ordination.  Tell him to email me!!!!  You wanted to know my agenda for the week.....Agenda = teach more people!!!  I'm trunkee outta my brain but trying hard!!!  You asked what's one of the first things I want to do when I get home (and I'm only saying this cuz you asked!!!)  Sleep and lose 30 lbs!!!!!  That's awesome about Nicki's team!  Tell her congrats and to email me!  It's easier for me if I can just email them, but I don't have their addresses.  Send them to me please!  Let Den know I miss him a bunch too!!!!

Love you guys and miss you a ton!

Love, Elder Lance Ririe

Just Awesome and Icey!

Hey Mom and Den,

Things here are awesome!  Holidays as a missionary aren't really holidays, but instead of going out to party for New Year's we were able to watch missionary movies at the Emmerson's house.  Great family!  They have some funny stories about Elder Yancey that were fun to hear about.  So that was pretty fun.  Emmy is ready to go for Saturday.  We're really excited for her, but she's still really nervous.  We transferred Russ to the missionaries in his ward and he's still going strong.  Kinda disappointing that we can't be there for his baptism, but we're excited nonetheless.
Um... let's see what else is going on lately.  Oh, a guy we're working with, Jimmy Tungate, who has been meeting with the missionaries for years (actually met them back in the Glenrose ward of all places) but he's one big step closer to getting baptized.  We're just waiting on approval from Salt Lake for his baptism and then he'll be good to go.  I've never seen someone so eager to get baptized.  He's put so much work into getting to this point in his life.  It's just awesome to see!
Well, I love you guys and miss you tons!
Love, Elder Ririe

Talk to you soon!

Dear Mom and Den,

10606 N. Windham Ct
Spokane, WA  99208

I figured you would want that first!  ;)   Thanks for that card.  I got it and Sis. Engstrom called me and told me she got the package and should be dropping it off to me later today. 

Things here are pretty good.  Elder Bernards is a really good guy....mostly quiet and keeps to himself.  I hope after a little bit he starts to warm up and starts talking more.  The wards are good.  We spend all day at church from 7 am to 6 pm and lots and lots of meetings.  LOL...enough to give you a headache after sitting for so long, but we have lots going on here with one person on date for baptism in each ward and a few other people who are really close. 

The first is Emmy Rodgers.  She's 9 and she's really excited about being baptized.  Next is a guy named Russ and we put him on date for baptism last night for the 5th of February.  He's an awesome dude who is like a spiritual giant!  Then we have the Houstons, and Chet (the husband) is really close.  You can tell he's always absorbing information and thinking a lot.  Great family!!!

We live with the Hallers.  Nice folks, really nice.  Their house is filled with all sorts of super expensive stuff and I feel like I'm always going to break something, so I just usually stay in our room because I would HATE to break something! 

That's really all I can think of right now.  I love ya tons and I'll TALK to you soon!!!

Love, Elder Lance Ririe

Happy #22 To Our Favorite Missionary!

Happy Birthday Elder Ririe!!!
We LOVE you!!!

Birthday Snow!

Hi Mom and Den,
Loved the birthday package!  It was legendary!  I don't think I've taken the hat off yet!  Good birthday so far and the holiday was good.  A little lonely, but I guess that's just how it goes sometimes.  Got the package and the letter...both were good!

It's not snowing anymore right now, but we should be getting 6 - 9 inches tomorrow.  It's crazy how it snows here...just dumps and dumps.  Then it gets cold and icy.  I think its like 22 degrees right now.  That's cold!  And yes, since it's P-day I'm in shorts and sandals.  (Sis. Crump can verify!)

We had another slow week.  People really didn't want to come outside with the cold or they weren't home for the holiday.  Not sure.  But the good news is that we have the nativity this week and we get to sing outside for three 4 hour shifts during it.  Funny cause I really can't sing, so my thought was that between me and the cold, people will be rushing inside.  Ha Ha

Love you guys tons!

Elder Lance Ririe

**** BREAKING NEWS ****

WE HAVE A RELEASE DATE!!!  HE'LL BE HOME MARCH 7TH!!!!!!!!