Email from Tuesday August 25

Hey Family,
Pretty much I hate this computer place. It is hard to write, the computer is slow, and as you know my e mail doesn't always get to you, but okay here I go.

I did not write yesterday and am writing today because I was at a zone conference. It was super sweet and it totally pumped us all up to get out and do some missionary work. So yeah that is why today is prep day.

So my companion is named Elder Moon. He is super cool and is from the Salt Lake area. He is a good trainer and is very patient with me. He went to the U of U for a year before his mission, but I am slowly converting him to BYU so its all good.

Hmmm, okay so Pau is a magnificent ville. The view in some areas is awesome. It has rolling hills completely covered with thick green trees and bigger jagged mountains in the back ground. It really is so pretty. Day to day life consists of a ton of walking. We do alot of street contacting as we go from one place to another and we also have done some door to door, which I actually really kinda like. It's kinda fun. Oh and the Ward here is awesome. There are about 100 active members and even more inactive members so we have work to do there. But the active members are awesome and take care of us. It really is a great ville the only concern is the heat, haha. It was probably 105 F the other week, but I think that is how all southern France summers are going to be. Luckily we had a lot of Rendez Vous that day so we could get out of the sun. We are teaching about 8 investigators off and on. It's hard to get a hold of them in the summer because everyone here goes on vacation so often in the summer its crazy. But it's almost September and I'm excited for it to cool down and for everyone to get back home so we can teach more and knock less. Even though door to door is pretty cool. I think that's about it about Pau.

So pretty much last week's letter was this letter and a ton of complements to you all for having a great summer and loosing 30 lbs. dad. That's awesome.

That is sweet about the 2001 maxima. Send me some picks. I would love to see them, Amy. Oh and I bet its fun being back in school y'all. Like really, it kinda does seem nice and relaxing. I loved school especially college and especially looking back on it.

Well yeah, I'm doing really well and sorry again for not getting the e mails to you. I hope you are not all mad and or worried about me. I really do love being here more and more each day and my French gets better and better each day, which is super exciting.

Best of luck. I love you all and I hope I talked about everything you asked about. If not, it's because this e mail thing is kinda overwhelming right now. This keyboard and slow computer is a bit frustrating (haha). I love you all

Elder RItter

Oh, also, in my email last week, I said if you would like to send a package, things that would be nice are: candy bars like snickers, oreos, yellow mustard, sodas like they don't have root beer here its crazy, um and stuff like that. You really don't have to but a taste of home is always nice.

First P-day email

Dear Family; First of all I must say that the key board here is so weird. The buttons are all in different places. It might take me a while to get used to it, haha.
Thank you for writing me. Like always, it is good to hear for you all. I am so glad to hear that you two had a great cruise. It sounds nice. Pretty much, Pau is pretty sweet. It's pretty big and kinda small at the same time. It reminds me of where they filmed the Jason Bourne movies. The houses are all cool like that. I like it here, but like you said, Dad, it takes some time to get used to. It's really not too bad. I just wish I could understand what people are saying to me. I hope that that comes along. I'm sure it will. It's already started to get better. I like it here, but the work and stuff it is super hard, even more so than I thought, but it will be so sweet when I can speak French. Oh, the Ward here in Pau is amazing too. They are super nice and patient with my "not so good" French. Yeah it's too bad we didn't get to speak last week. Sorry about that. The traveling was messed up and the phones where all weird, but at least we have email. To send packages and letters, just send them to the mission house. It might take longer, but it is safer to get to me in case of transfers and stuff and it doesnt take much longer.
Well it sounds like all is well back where you are and things are going well here. It's just an adjustment period and oh, it IS an adjustment. France is so much more different than I thought. Like for sacrament, there were bagettes in the tray, which was sweet! There are six in our district, four specifically in Pau and for the most part we are tracting to find investigators. so I get a bit nervous trying to talk to people when I know I can't understand them when they talk back, but that hasn't stopped me yet haha. Well you all have a great week I love you all and want to thank you all for all the prayers and letters and stuff. You're the best.
Love

Elder Geoff Ritter

How to Write to Elder Ritter

Oh and by the way my mission president allowes us to email friends so we dont take too long to write letters so you can tell people to email me but also that I might not respond right away because I have limited time each monday to read and respond. I have an hour and a half which is much better than the MTC but it still goes by fast. So yeah, Tell them to email me if they want or if they prefer write me at.

La Mission Française de Toulouse
4 rue Allaric II
Compans Caffarelli
31000 Toulouse
France

Thanks again love you much and just to reassure you I am doing great. I'm glad to hear, though dad, that it gets better. Love you all keep praying for me and I'll keep praying for you bon Semaine!
(See email address at the top right)

Elder Geoff Ritter.

Elder Ritter's First Photo from France

We got an email from Elder Ritter's (aka Geoff) Mission President and his wife. Along with that was the above photo. Here is the email:


Dear Brother and Sister Ritter;
We were so pleased to welcome your son in the best mission in the
world, the France Toulouse Mission! He is doing fine, and he will be
working in Pau for his first transfer. I enclose a picture of Elder
Ritter with my wife and I just before he left for his area.

We are grateful that you have made the sacrifices for him to be able
to come. We assure you that we will do all that we can to make his
mission a wonderful, joyous experience that he will remember and
cherish for the rest of his life.

Should you have any question, do not hesitate to contact me.

May the Lord bless you always.

President Michel J. Carter
France Toulouse Mission