Homecoming Talk on Sunday - 29 June 2014

Elder Ralph's homecoming talk brought many family members and friends to church. Brian and Ruth with Daniel and Shawnee, Jessica Salcedo came as a surprise along with Ben's niece Hadlie. Doug Guptil and his family along with Br. Gary Sabin and his daughter Heather.

The "Jenna Face" made popular in the Ralph Family.

Getting everyone ready for the pix takes times and organization.

 

Finally a good shot of the siblings.

 Hadlie had her first meeting with her Uncle Ben. Not sure about smootching just yet.

 Doug Guptil and his family were there to hear Elder Ralph speak.

Rebecca Kozy came too!

 Gary Sabin (5th cousin???) and his daughter came to support the newly returned missionary.

Homecoming for Elder Benjamin Lowell Ralph - 25 June 2014

It's takes quite a while to get home from Brazil to Washington State. Elder Ralph flew into the SeaTac airport just after his brother Jonathan flew in from California to surprise him. Brian and Ruth and Daniel came to the airport along with  Rebecca Kozy. Rebekah and Samuel, Stephen and I had balloons and posters for Elder Ralph.

Candy poster always makes a big hit!

 

Hugs from Elder Ralph. Mom got the first one

Samuel liked to take pix.

Jon wanted to surprise every one...he did.

So nice to have Elder Ralph home after 2 years!!!





23 June 2014 -- Last messages from the Mission Field

Do you know what time I get home and everything? --- 11:10, Wednesday morning!
   Hey mom a bunch of people sent me e-mails saying that they are super excited to see me but I don't have a lot of time to respond so if you could send them all a love note for me and thank them for everything that would be great!
    We're gunna need to stop by Wendy's and buy a smoothie and fries!
11 elders are going home with me but I'm the only one going to Washington from my mission. If there are other Elders that are coming home from other missions, I don't know.

I just had my final interview with the Mission President! weird!
   Anything else that you think I will want to do just go for it!

Do you know who will be there???? Anyone can come! Kelly if she is there!
   I gotta get my talk ready too, haha. But I'll have plenty of time on the plane... too much time.

I wanna go to the temple when I get back deal...
 I'm going now, thank you for everything. I love you so much!

Elder Ralph

16 June 2014 -- A scriptural message

For my letter this week I will send you a scripture.

    3rd John 1:13-14

"13 I had many things to write, but I will not with ink and pen write unto thee:
 14 But I trust I shall shortly see thee, and we shall speak face to face. Peace be to thee. Our friends salute thee. Greet the friends by name."

Love it! :)
 
Are you excited to see me!!!!

Speaking of taking care of myself... last night I almost died! When I went to bed I was super, super cold but my whole body was hot, and I had a huge headache. I tried sleeping in a little ball the whole night but it didn't work. I got up several time to drink water and take medicine. and during the night I kind of freaked out. While I was laying there I started looking around and I noticed that I couldn't see anything, my hand in front of my face, light coming from under the door nothing! I started thinking that I was blind! But I managed to find the cell phone and I pushed a button to see the light from the cell phone light up the whole room. While I was laying there thinking that I would die of hypothermia I thought to myself... I want my mommy! haha, but lucky today is p-day so I got to take a little nap, but my heads still killing me! Love you!

Elder Ralph

9 June 2014 -- 2 more weeks

   

Well this week was really quite nice. One of my favorite experiences was with the Book of Mormon. This past month, during my personal study I have been a little different. I have been studying in topics according to the difficulties of my investigators. Or I've been trying to answer questions that I have. But to say the least I haven't been reading the Book of Mormon as I should have. But during this past week I decided to start reading it again from the beginning. And from the moment I started reading it through the whole week I have been feeling so much better, so much more energy so much more life and happiness. I know that the Book of Mormon really is the word of God and I don't want to go one day without reading it. It fills me up.
   This Sunday I gave a talk in sacrament meeting on Love. The branch is in need of a lot more love. I've been here for six months and I have heard a lot of stuff. Rumors, grudges, anger. So I talked a little bit about that, and how we need to improve as children of God. I liked it. It flowed.
   Yesterday we went to contact a referral from the ward of a friend of a member who accepted to receive a priesthood blessing, she and her daughter. It was an amazing. The spirit was so strong, after the blessing I didn't want to say anything. The experience was very marking. It was interesting explaining about a blessing to someone who wasn't a member of the church.
   I love being a missionary!

Elder Ralph

2 June 2014 -- a really slow week‏

     Well this week was kind of strange. We started out on Monday in Maceio, one of the capital cities of our mission for a zone conference. The President gave me permission to go to Maceio one day early so I could visit some areas that I already passed through. Going and visiting people that I was able to help recognize the truth. It was really rewarding and I felt like I really made a difference in the lives of these people. It gave me a lot of energy to work even harder to baptize more people. During our visit the mission secretaries called us to inform Elder Lira that he was emergency transferred and had to go back to Penedo to get his stuff and come back to Maceio to meet his new companion and to go to another area. That was a downer. I really liked Elder Lira. But we got another companion. Elder Bispo! I was companions with Elder Bispo for one transfer in my fourth area, Lagarto. And now we're back together again in the end!
     At the Zone conference, all the newbies gave their testimonies and all the oldies who are on their way home gave their testimonies, that included me. I didn't plan anything. I didn't have anything on my mind, just blank. But after a few seconds things started coming to my mind and I was able to give a decent testimony. To tell the truth I don't even remember what I said. But I think it made sense.
     My companion got really sick this week so there is really not much to tell.... But this coming week will be much better, you better believe it!
    Sorry I don't have a lot of time today, so this message will be super short. But know that I love you guys SO much and I can't wait to see you all!

ELDER RALPH