The Bicycle Adventure

So, we have Elder Blanky finally on the plane for Arizona!  He is way excited to finally get to his home away from home for the next two years.  

After arriving in the Scottsdale/Phoenix area, he must buy a bicycle quickly.  Elder Blanky decides to head to Wal-Mart.  The place of everyday great deals.

To Elder Blanky:  "Isn't that bike a little small?"

Response:  "The bike I got is so small...  haha.  Everyone who sees me just laughs and feels bad!  But, it's the biggest one I could find.  It gets me from point A to B.  My quads are getting a good work out at least!"

Hmmmm....

Mom didn't have to worry about him getting enough to eat once he was there.  Missionaries mostly cook for themselves.  Ryan is a pretty good cook in the kitchen.  So, no worries really.   But, he was treated to a fine meal (better than at home) by some LDS ward members...

Bacon wrapped dove, anyone????

From Elder Blanky:  

"So the other night we had dinner with the "S" family and we had trout, salmon, halibut, rockfish and one other fish I can't remember.  Those were all caught in Alaska a couple of months ago and they were so good!  Then Brother S. brought some elk steak and some bacon wrapped dove out!  Oh, those were amazing too..."   So, there you have it.  No more worries about him getting enough to eat!

What's with the hat, Elder Blanky???  Doesn't look like a "Chef's hat"...

 Oh, maybe in Arizona.

 Back to the Bicycle Adventure...

Bike #1 went back to Wal-Mart.  Then, Elder Blanky found a "big bike that works great for me" and bought Bike #2.  That great deal ended up like this...

So, a couple hundred bucks later... #2 goes to a bike shop, where Elder Blanky gives the following story.  "I broke the freak outta my bike.  I was so mad because it was sooo fast!  I felt really fat too because I broke the seat and bent it bad enough that it couldn't be repaired.  But, we took it to a nearby bike shop and the owner felt bad for my fat A, so he just gave me the biggest bike he had free of charge!"  What a nice guy with good intentions.   But for some reason, that bike only lasted a week or so and the hunt began again...  Next, #4.  Mom gets a phone call from Elder Blanky asking if he can purchase a new bike from the mission home.  Evidently, the mission president will sell him the best bike ever that will last two long years.  Ha.  We will see.  Still need a picture of that "perfect" bike.

So, there is the story of the missionary that was out for one month and went through three bikes and on a fourth... It has to be some kind of mission record.  In fact, he is well known around the mission now... That Elder Blanky!

On the missionary front, there have been a couple of baptisms in the first month out.  A great way to start a mission...  The Lord continues to bless Elder Blanky and his family beyond measure.  Now, hopefully, bike #4 too.