"To those of You Who Rocked...We Salute You." October 28, 2009

Dear Family and Friends, So just to start things off, did you google earth Pau by chance. If so you probably have come to realize that is in awesome city that is super pretty. Sometimes when I catch a really awesome view it's about all I can do to not stop and just stare. Europe is such an awesome place. Everything is so old and just awesome.

Thanks again for the emails. Oh, yes it is much cooler now than before. Some days are still pretty hot, but it is not bad at all anymore. It is nice having that crispness in the air like you all described, but believe it or not the leaves have not really changed yet, kind of funny. I imagine that they will eventually though and when they do, it will be a sight to see, at least it should be. I'll have to send a picture.

Speaking of that, pictures I mean, the computer I'm on doesn't let me attach pictures to the email. It is definitely bugging. Sorry, I guess that means at least one more week without pictures. Sorry Sorry Sorry. If it makes you feel better I don't have very many good ones anyway haha.

We do get to watch general conference at our chapel here in Pau, which is great! Most of the sessions are brodcast here on Sunday, so that will make a great Sunday. I guess we have the option to watch in French or English. We will hopefully be watching in French because that means we will be watching it with an investigator. If no investigators come we will be go out to the lobby and watch it in English, because I hear it's better that way. I am so excited for conference. I love conference anyway, but I'm sure it will be even a bit more special as a missionary. I'm just a bit sad that they don't have real donuts here (they call them donuts but there not the same). They make up for it by having other amazing pastries.

So here is a cool little story that happend a couple days ago. We had a missionary night for a ward activity where people could bring friends who had questions about our church. It was also something that we could bring our investigators to. The only amie who came was Françoise, one of our amis (meaning investigator). She was a bit sick and has been having troubles lately, so we gave her a blessing. I did the first part (in french) and Elder Moon did the blessing part. It was really really cool. After that as we were walking back to where everyone was gathered for the ward activity. She was talking to a member whom she knew, that was in the room with us for the blessing. Françoise was asking her if what she was feeling was because of the blessing. The member, like a champ, said, "Of course it is. They hold the priesthood." Françoise later decribed it as an sentement de bien être, meaning a feeling of well being. It was so amazing to see that effect of the priesthood. It was such a testamony builder for me and I'm sure for Françoise. She, by the way, has been investigating the church for about four or so years now. She knows it's true. It is just hard for her to put that knowledge into action and follow all the commandments. She is way awesome though, along with all our Amis.

Well thanks again and I'll write to you again in a week

Elder Ritter

P.S. I know that packages are expensive so you don't have to send one for October If you don't like; really I'm not just saying that. I love them to death, but they cost a bunch. But yeah just candy(milkyway, twix), oreos peanut butter. I dont know, stuff like that I guess. Um and for birthday pretty much the exact same stuff and maybe a tie or two. Oh and this Friday I will be able to see if the Dearelder package has finally arrived.
Love you all Soo Sooo much,
Elder Ritter

Elder Ritter defrosting his refridgerator on P-day. You can see in the background many pictures on the wall. They are pictures of Scripture Heros. The words on the wall say " To Those of You Who Rocked... We Salute You!"

September 21, 2009

Wow, what a great week you have all had. I am so excited to hear about little Benjamin's birth and all. I got the pictures, et il est très minions. I hope all is still going well with him. I'm sure it is. Congrats Megan and Ty

I am writting this e mail for everyone in the family, so go ahead and distribute it out because I think i'll just be repetitive if I send people individual emails.

Okay and first of all I must say that you all are looking very good. I mean it! I got all the pictures you sent mom and really you all look very heathy and fit. Good work; keep it up. Oh and Jana and Joey seem like a happy couple. It's exciting. In fact, It seems like such an exciting time back there and it is too bad that I am missing it. I would love to be there. but as it should be, there isn't anywhere I'd rather be than right here in Pau.

I want to thank you Mom, Dad and Amy for the care package. I went to Toulouse on Thursday for my medical visit, that everyone has to have to live here, and because of that I was able to pick up the package that you all sent me. It's funny because the Dear elder one still has not arrived maybe it will be here by zone conference in a couple weeks. I must say though that I never thought that Snickers, Sour Patch Kids, Oreos, peanut butter, and mustard could make me so happy. It's weird how it can do that, but really i am so thankful for it. It was greatly expensive, but I would say worth it. Speaking of packages did you ever get the package that i sent home about two months ago now when I was at the MTC with like scriptures and t-shirts and stuff? I hope so. I just didn't ever hear about it. Thanks again though and I also really enjoyed the pictures. I love getting pictures. I imagine that you do too. Sorry none today, I forgot my camera. I'll try harder to send some next week though. Because now that I think of it, You have like seriously no pictures of me as a missionary, sorry. I did try once. I'll try again.

Sweet wheels, Amy. The maxima is sweet. Cody would approve. He had a maxima too. I thought you said it was blue though in one of you emails. mom, but maybe I mixed that up with the Blue Lagoon. It seems to be a real nice car from what I can tell though. So what is to become of the Blue Lagoon?

Also, weather here is cooling down. It is nice. We even wore our jackets a couple days last week so that's a good sign. It's been rainning the last three days which is kind of a nice change. Oh that reminds me, it was rainning one day so after we bought some umbrellas we were heading to meet one of our amis (investigators) and we meet this cool guy from Gab Africa. He is here studying physical science. His dream is to live and work in America. He seems really smart and way cool so maybe he will be one of you students in the future, Dad. He wants to be a patrolem geologist, I think. He is cool and we are hoping to set up some rendez-vous with him soon.

I'm doing good and you all seem to be doing great. I am so excited for all of you especially Megan, Ty, and big brother Scotty.
Bonne semaine, Je vous aime et à le prochaine

Elder Ritter

P.S. Ty I liked how you sent me part of the letter in french. That was sweet.
And dad, it was a bit hard to understand some of the things the translator used but I just figured it was my lack of French because for the most part it was pretty legable.
Et Megan Bonne rétablissement I hope you are feeling well I am super proud of you. Thank you again for being such a great sister.
Alright I love you all-thanks again,

ciao
Elder Ritter

September 8th, 2009

Thanks for the Email. Sorry that I did not write yesterday. It was because we had a Zone Development Meeting in Bordeaux. It pretty much turned our to be the longest day of my mission with the least amount accomplished. There is a story behind it and it all started with waking up at 4:45a.m. so we could catch our train. We got to the gare (train station) 5 minutes before the train was to take off. There were two trains like the one we were to take. The thing is, we only saw one and we didn't think there would be two of that same kind since they are a nicer type of train and kind of rare. So we hopped on what we thought to be the right train, but turned out to be a train going in the opposite direction. We realized our mistake just seconds after the doors shut and the train started going. So to make this long story short, after three seperate trains, two diffrent buses, and a tram ride, we made it to our Zone Development Meeting an hour and a half to two hours late and the meeting was only scheduled to be three hours long. It was fun, but the day didn't end there. We finished the Meeting, had interviews with President and got ready to head back to Pau. The only problem was we didn't make it back to the gare in time to catch our train back because the tram to the gare was broken. So we got to wait for another two hours for the next train back to Pau. So finally after the waiting, we got on our train and rode home in a super hot train car and arrived back in Pau at about seven o'clock. It was a long and crazy ride for an hour and a half of meeting, haha. It was fun though and it's at least fun to recount. I'm glad there were four of us to share this expierence. Me and Elder Moon and also Elder Smith and Elder Borhen who are the other compainionship in Pau with us.

Now to respond to questions. I live on the third floor of a one room apartment and when I say one room I mean one room not one bed room. It is small but big enough and it is fairly nice at least compared to some other apartments I have seen here. It has become home and it has all the things it needs to feel like a home in terms of cooking and sleeping. My address here is 33b avenue du 18éme R.I. #21, Pau France. I hope that is right or can at least get you to it by google earth. It's possible that this time next week I won't be here though. Transfer calls are this Friday. Crazy, because that means I'm already done with my first transfer pretty much. Wow, time goes by fast.

It is much cooler here now and getting cooler every day, which is awesome. I have taught quite a few lessons by now. We teach around ten or so each week whether it be investigators, members, or less active\ recent converts. I love teaching lessons even though it is hard to get what I want to say to come out sometimes. OH and yes sometimes we get invited to lunch or dinner by members, probably like 5 or 6 time now. It's sweet. Letters are forwarded to us as soon as they get to the mission office not like packages. By the way I didn't get the dear elder care package yet and they brought packages for those who had them to zone development yesterday. That must mean they do take quite a while to get here.

So pretty much that story about Montbeliard sounds very familiar, Dad. I had no idea how big of a deal summer vacation was, though until school started again just this last week. The ville felt like it transformed and it feels like it is now crawling with people. It's crazy, but great at the same time because the work has pick up already because vacation is over.

It is too bad everyone there is sick. Hopefully you are all over it by now or are at least getting a bit better. So glad to hear about the Cougar victory. GO Cougs! Also, thanks for trying to send the root beer. It was a valiant effort and I understand haha. Well, I hope I responded to everything you asked. All is well. Thanks for the emails again and I hope you all have a great week.
Elder Ritter

Email Dated August 31st

Bonjour
I absolutley loved you letters it was great hearing form all of you. It sounds like there is a lot going on, school, weddings, potential not weddings, birthday parties, Megan and Ty returning home. It sounds pretty crazy actually.

père merci pour m'ecris en français. Je l'ai compris tous. I can't wait until I can write as much as you did in your email, dad. In terms of comprehension, I am much better, but I still have forever to go, it feels. My speaking skills are also improving slowly. I'm not as worried about it as I was though. I can kind of communicate and I know that it will take a lot of work on my part and eventually it will come. From what I can tell, I think the french you wrote was good. I can't wait until Christmas time. I should be much better and then we can talk a bit in French. That is a cool thought.

Mom don't worry about the camera memory card that was lost in the mail. There were a ton of awesome picture, but it's all good. I have a few hard copies of the best so don't worry too much. Maybe I'll send the hard copies home and I'll try and figure out how to emailing my pictures. That does sound like a better ideal and I bet its possible. I'll find out probably for next week. By the way I have been thinking about it and if its not too late peanut butter does sound pretty amazing, and I guess ill be okay to not drink rootbeer for two years haha. You all are the best though thanks for thinking of me enought to put together a package. For the package system here, pretty much, the packages go to the mission office in Toulouse and every three or so weeks when we have zone confrence or transfers, President brings the packages and we get them from him. So that's how often we have a chance to get our packages. With how fast time passes here its not too bad of a wait at all, actually. Seriously get my bed ready I'll be home before you know it. I'm almost done with my first transfer. That's crazy, espically since we only have 16 total.

With the begining of the school year comes the fall and I am so excited for fall. It has already started to cool down a ton and it is amazing. I remember when I liked summer. That was when I didn't wear a tie and all the people I hope to teach were not on vacation. So many people are gone for the summer here in France. They love their vacation time. So with the cooling down of the weather and people returning to Pau, the work should pick up and that is an exciting thought.

Life is good and getting better and better each day. I miss you all so so so much and can't wait to reunite, but as it should be, I would not rather be anywhere else than here, right now. Keep me in your prayers I'll keep you in mine and once again you are all so awesome. I love you so much words can even describe.
bon semaine,

Elder Ritter