Second Letter

Dear Family,

 

For starters, I got dear elder letters from grandma annie, mom, and niki. So if you had any concerns, it worked. I also got grandpa pauls package filled with goodies. It feels great to feel loved. Also, shout out to Mili and Uncle Beau...HAPPY BIRTHDAY! For Mili's bday i celebrated with a scone for breakfast. For beaus bday I wore his tie that he gave me. I love you both. Oh, by the way, I love those byu shorts. Well, this is techniquely about the end of my third week here and life as a missionary is a rollercoaster. I feel Satan attacking me all the time. I had a little bit of minor anxiety problems in my life before the mission but satan is trying to make things so much worse. Sometimes I feel like the walls are closing in and Im trapped. It feels hard to breath and I'm scared I'm going to snap. My heart starts to ach becuase I begin to miss my loved ones. All of this happens at once and it is one of the most horrible things that I have ever felt in my life. I feel like satan and an army of those following him are coming down on me when this happens. It isnt a very fun time. I get really scared when it happens but I pray for Heavenly Fathers help. Satan must REALLY not want me out here serving a mission because I have never felt this attacked all the time. I telling you this so you can keep me in your prayers and to tell you that I love you all so much. Satan knows that and is trying to pull together whatever he can to hinder my mission. But I've been learning that Heavenly Father truly does love me and I've never before been so humbled in my life. What satan doesnt realize is that every time he tries to come at me with some kind of attack I'm only going to turn to my Heavenly Father which will only make me stronger! I know other missionaries have felt similar ways that I have felt so I know I can get through it. I take it as a sign that there is some great work that needs to be done in my life. If there wasn't, satan wouldnt be trying so hard to frighten me. I'm sorry I dont have a lot of time to write a longer letter but I'm trying to type as fast as i can haha. I love you all and hope that you all are doing great and are receiveing blessings. If i could go back in time I would have given all of you longer hugs before I entered the MTC and said I love you more. It brings tears to my eyes right now just thinking about it. It seems like I cry a lot  these days haha. I love you mom and can't wait to call you on mothers day. I also get to call you in about 3-4 weeks before I go to Argentina. I miss your blessings Dad! Zach and jack, I miss you so much and just know I think about you! Thank you for the pic jack. Oh and zach, i still havent gotten a letter from you!...Its called dear elder .com homie! Love you. If you want to know a little more of how I'm doing have Niki call you because I put a letter in the mail to day that I was able to write a little more. Once again I love you all so much and have so much more respect for those that have served missions. I am so blessed to be a missionary because I grow closer to my havenly father every hour of every day! Love you again mom, so much. Everyone please keep the letters coming. It really helps me.

 

Love, 

 

Elder Ian Nobmann Riddle #22