12-23-13

Hola Familia!

Merry Christmas! And Happy Birthday Lisa! I hope you are all having a great week. This past week has been a little crazy, we had transfers and Hermanan Heninger went up to Cashmere, WA and i have a new companion. Her name is Hermana Pullens from Sandy, UT. She is great and we are having a great time here preaching the gospel and sharing with people why we have this wonderful Christmas season.

This week we had some good lessons and we still have some people who are working towards baptism. It is exciting to see people want to make that change in their lives. One really cool one was with a lady named Guadalupe. She was really shy at first and we couldn't get her to say much, but towards the end we were talking about the experience of Joseph Smith and talking about knowing for yourself and she asked us how she could know. Then we got to teach her that pray was a 2 way communication and that God would listen to her prayers. She had never really heard that before and then she prayed with us. it was so awesome!!!

Other than that we are busy finding and teaching!! Sorry this email is so short, but i will be talking to some of you very soon. I love you all and hope you take the time to read more about Jesus this week and start the year off and decide to learn of him everyday by opening your scriptures. It is unbelievable how close we can get to Christ when we are learning of him!

To close i am going to share the word of I Heard the Bells on Christmas day. The message it brings is so awesome.

Although it may seem like there is no peace on this Earth sometimes and that hate has overtaken us. Verse 4 is my favorite and that is why we are out hear as misionaries. To share the message that "God is not dead, nor doth he sleep:" and i know that indeed the wrong shall fail, the right prevail through Jesus Christ our Savior. Have a great week everyone!

Hermana Ray

12-16-13

Hola Familia!

Sounds like all is going well in Arizona. Mom I am glad you finally conquered the Christmas tree, because it isn't Christmas without one. Our house currently has three up. And I get to stay in Royal for Christmas!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am super excited, but sad because Hermana Heninger is getting transfered. She is Heading up to Cashmere Valley, WA. It is up North, i don't think she will have to worry of having a white Christmas. But oh well, it will still be fun. I will just have to spend it with my new companion and I have a week to make Royal feel like home before Christmas. Challenge accepted.

Overall we have had a really good week, no complaints. Had many of the people we are teaching are continuing to grow and learn and accept. As we continue forward i have no doubt that they will accept the gospel, now i am just working on the Lord's time table.

As a missionary, Christmas time is an interesting thing. We spend so much time focused on Christ that it feels very similar to normal time, yet everyone else too is more focused on Christ. That part isn't quite as normal. It is amazing to see the change in people just because it is Christmas. One family we were visiting said he wished that people had the spirit of giving year round rather than on Christmas. Yes that is our ultimate goal, that Christ like love and Charity, but every little spark of that helps.

We had our Christmas Conference and it was filled with fun! We had some great musical numbers that helped us feel the spirit of Christmas. One that hit me, was an Elder sang "O Holy Night" and besides the fact that i was sitting in a church building in church clothes, it was like a Sunday night at Grandma's house around the Holidays. We had good spiritual uplift in some of the stories and then music and of course later some fun. They told a story about the importance of teaching children the true meaning of Christmas and then related that to us as missionaries teaching God's children the importance of Christ. It was so interesting how it applied to us. I want nothing more than everyone to understand the true meaning of Christmas, he was born that we could live! Even his birth was for us. Not a single part of his life was selfish. After the devotional we watched a picture slide show from the mission and then they fed us some "Christmas Dinner" it was sooo good. Then, we watched "Monsters University" it was really weird! but fun. I thought it was a pretty good second movie. Then for Christmas we all got a big picture from when Elder Ballard came to the mission. I forgot to take a picture to send. maybe next time. And a book. Never have I been so excited to get a book for christmas! The real story is this picture...

12-9-13

Hola Familia!

It has been a pretty fantastic week here in Royal City! The people we are teaching are truly starting to let the message sink deep into their hearts and open their minds. It has been really cool. I also want to thank mom and Aubree Swann for finding Jannae a truly delightful going away outfit, i will enjoy pictures :)

It is definitely Christmas time, people are starting to put up lights, Doreen got her Christmas tree put up, and I have to listen to Christmas music in the car because it is the only thing that justifies the cold weather in my brain. I discovered fleece lined tights and i am in heaven!

Overall it has been a really good week! The people here in Royal City are truly fantastic! The missionary work is doing really well, they are a very involved group and it is just fun, it is a small town and they all care about each other.

This week, Hermana Heninger and I literally got thanked for all that we were doing for one of our investigators families. The husband came out and said that he was really thankful for what he has been doing. It was pretty cool, because this theme of gratitude carried on after Thanksgiving. Now if I even have the thought, am I making a difference i can look and see the face of Owen, Beatrice, Wendy, or Beverly and really see that God is watching out for each and every one of us. 

One really cool lesson we had this week was talking to Beverly. She is very concerned with where the World is headed and all the evil happening. As we were talking about it, we had asked her if she ever thought of praying for them. that was like a week ago, we went back and asked her if she had been praying for them, she said that she had and at that point she said you know what i have and i it has actually been helping a lot, Ed is a lot less worried for my health. She said it has been helping her heart. Then we asked if she had prayed and asked if Joseph Smith was really a prophet, and she said something along the lines of ya i have and pretty much every question was settled when we watched that film (restoration dvd) and no ordinary man could have written that book. Then she just kept talking like what she had just said was no big deal!! She is so funny. Overall as we talk with her, she is allowing me to really see it through her eyes, she shares her experiences with us, we can see the testimony building and then we talked about the Priesthood, Baptism, Christ's life on Earth, and then the Christmas Devotional, she was really excited to watch it! Such an awesome experience. It has been really nice to see our investigators learning on their own and coming closer to Christ. 

Since our training with Elder Richards, we have been teaching really simply and letting people build of that and it really helps us teach to their needs. It has been cool to see what happens as we focus on following the words of our leaders. 

The Christmas Devotional was good, and I was telling my companion that i missed out on doughnuts, but it doesn't look like i did, which is funny because it was a kind of crazy day yesterday. In a good way, we were running all over the place. Anyway we watched the last part of the Christmas Devotional with Wendy and it was really good. Elder Nelson's talk was so perfect for two of the people we are teaching. Anyway after it was over she made us Tortas! (Mexican Sandwich) and i thought to myself, well it isn't doughnuts but man it was so good! then to find out you didn't even have them made me laugh.

Overall I have nothing to complain about I am a happy servant of my Lord Jesus Christ "in whom there is no darkness at all." -Pres Uchtdorf. Which is comforting because it gets dark around 4:30-5pm here right now. I love you all, continue to be happy as we have this wonderful time to remember our savior Jesus Christ and his birth that truly changed our lives forever. Have a great week!

Hermana Ray

 

My favorite place in the house!

 

12-2-13

Hola Familia!

Looks like you all had a fantastic turkey day. Well I did too! Ate Lunch with one of the families in the ward and we used like real plates and sat around a set table... it was weird.. Just kidding. It was sure different than how we do it Ray style, but was really good! And what is Thanksgiving without eating something weird right? We went to the Wilhelms, Brother Wilhelm is our ward mission leader for pie later that night and to teach Owen and Brother Wilhelm made us try his bacon pumpkin pie. It wasn't horrible it was just weird, but I just kept thinking to myself, this is totally something my family would do! So don't worry you weren't forgotten. It was actually a pretty great day all around, we found 2 new people to teach and that was, for us, truly something to be grateful for. It was a great day and I got to reflect on what I was grateful for which is so many things that I just don't have time to write them all!

We also had another great family home evening with Wendy. Her little kids are so funny. It was great that as we talked about baptism and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, we were aided by two of the Gilbert (members) children. Grace, the newest member of our ward, explained baptism in the best 8 year old way she could (which was great, probably better than i would have done) and then Faith described the gift of the Holy Ghost, they did awesome as they helped us prepare and explain how to become closer to Christ.

There other big news coming out of Royal this week was the baptisms on Saturday. Jesus and MariaCruz Perez live in Royal City and the other sisters have been teaching for over 6 months. 2 weeks ago Jesus came up to me and said, Hermana did you hear? I asked him did i hear about what. with a smile on his face and a tear in his eye he told me that they were going to get baptized! So exciting, he comes to church every week pretty much since june or july. Their baptism was awesome and at the end, the other sisters learned that Daniel, one of their other investigaotrs had really prayed for the first time this week and after the baptism he said, "I am going to be the next one." then he asked the other sisters if he could get baptized next week. Miracles! he has been talking with the missionaries for over a year I think. This community is truely amazing and i can't wait to see the miracles that come from my efforts. The Lord allows us to be a way for the Spirit to communicate with others. What an awesome opportunity we have.

I started the Book of Mormon over again and it is amazing how much i have already learned. I am paying attention to every reference to Jesus Christ and if people would do that they would realize that it truely is centered on him and what he teaches. I don't know if there has been a page that hasn't made a reference to him. It is such a good book. Who would have ever thought that I would like to read?

I am really growing an appreciation for everything that i have because of the gospel of Jesus Christ, as i sit and listen to people, the gospel seriously answers their every concern. Sometimes they don't see it right away, but it is there. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is our plan while on this Earth to help us receive all of the blessings of His plan for us for all of time.

I read a scripture this morning while trying to understand the way the word "weak" was being used in the scriptures. The reference took me to 2 Corinthians 12: 9-10 and it says, "And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will i rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when i am weak, then am I strong." As we strive to be like Christ let us not be weighed down by our weaknesses, let us remember that it is part of the refining process. Let us rejoice that it is through them that we are made strong. I love you all and hope that you have a good week! I am so excited that it is Christmas times, and by the looks of it i might have my first ever white Christmas ever. Let us remember the reason for the season and share Christ message and love with others.

Love ya!

Hermana Ray

 

Happy Thanksgiving. Us with Doreen Iverson, our house mate!

 

11-24-13

Hola Familia!

This week has been another fantastic one! why? for so many reasons! Obviously because of my birthday, and we had a meeting with Elder Richards of the second quorum of the seventy, and we had some really really good work this week!

Thanks everyone for the birthday wishes they were fabulous! It was my Golden Birthday! 21 on the 21st! and when i looked at hte temperature gauge as soon as it got light outside it was 21 degrees! Must be lucky! And the cake from home was a very nice touch :) It was delicious and i got to enjoy it with a family in our ward and Owen, because we had a lesson with him right after we went to pick it up. Leti made me dinner for my birthday and it was awesome followed by chocolate and peanutbutter cupcakes and then my cake! It was a really good birthday. We got to teach a lesson to Ed and Beverly, she has been reading the Book of Mormon and said the more she reads the more questions she has, and that she wanted to know where this Joe Smith comes from. We told her we could start on whichever question and she said ok, sit down. It was amazing what can happen when people are looking for the truth, to simply find understanding and hope in a World that as she says is becoming hopeless. As she talked about things that were happening in the world she told us that she yells and hollars at the TV, maybe she should try praying for all of it instead. (i didn't really do her justice through my words, it was much more animated and comical). I told them i couldn't think of a better way to spend my birthday. Then i got told at dinner that I needed to go to Castletons because they had something for me, this is where I got my cake from home. Then that night we had a lesson with Owen and he bore his testimony of the Book of Mormon to us! It was awesome!

Earlier in the week we had a meeting with Elder Richards about teaching simply and how we need to be there to help people learn and make sure they know it. He talked about the 4 things that we need to know to be converted:

1. Jesus Christ is our Savior

2. Joseph Smith saw God the Father and His son Jesus Christ

3. The Book of Mormon is true

4. The priesthood power was restored to the Earth.

Seems simple enough, but if you aren't asking people questions, it doesn't spark them to think about these things for themselves. It was hard to realize that I may not have been helping people in the way they needed it, but this week i have tried really hard to apply that, and since we have done that, we have had some really really awesome experiences. It is fun because every lesson has become so much more personal and different. One of our investigators used an analogy to compare the celestial kingdom to Earth right now and the different people there are. It has deepened my appreciation for the way that the Savior taught through questions.

One of these lessons was with someone new we are teaching. Beatrice is a young mother with a lot on her plate. As we started talking to her, we weren't sure that she was going to be open to the gospel, she has some beliefs that are different, but for some reason she is always happy to see us and lets us in. Through questions we figure out that she had had a misunderstanding with some other missionaries about the Book of Mormon which gave us the opportunity to explain and invite. We also talked about a few other things that all came from asking a question and letting questions and concerns come forward. By the end, she said, well remember how i changed my curtains after the first time you came over. (which was something i had noticed and commented on like 2 weeks earlier). They were maroon and now they were white. She said after you left, I felt like I wasn't alone, it felt happy. SO i changed my curtains so it would be lighter and i open my windows every morning. We talked about the feelings and how it was what the Holy Ghost could do and then we tied that back into how we ourselves can bring that feeling into our own lives and homes and how when we read the Book of Mormon we can feel those. It was an awesome experience and the spirit was so strong! Almost tangible. And she doesn't realize it but she was the one who invited him to come in. 

Overall it was a week of happiness :) Lots of learning, lots of smiles and lots of growth for both me and those who are teaching me. As we talked with our relief society president we talked about what we are grateful for. As i am out here, i learn a lot and one thing i learned is how much i have to be grateful for. maybe for thanksgiving i will make a list. But i can share a few. I am so thankful for you, My family who i really love. That is really the best way i can express it, i couldn't have been given to a better family. I am also grateful that i can testify about the 4 important truths someone must understand to be converted. I know that Jesus Christ is my Savior. I know that Joseph Smith saw God and his son Jesus Christ. I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God and in reality Another Testimony of Jesus Christ. I know the the power of God has been brought back to the Earth again to bless each and every one of us. I hope you all have a great Thanksgiving and find the time to look at what is truly important and the many things that God has given us. 

Hermana Ray

 

 

Also i got to be the make up dummy at mutual this week...

My birthday cake

Thanks for these! they are heaven sent also the Nativity i love it

11-18-13

Hola Familia!

What an awesome week it has been! That's pretty much what it comes down to. Have a great week!

... Just kidding. It really has been an awesome week. The weather has been warmer than planned which is always a plus. Last Monday it was actually warm enough to run outside. We had 2 great ideas last week, go eat at La Cabana (Mexican place here in Royal) and go for a run. both great ideas but when you put them together, we were both ready to die! well... i can't talk for Hermana Heninger, she was probably fine.

This week at the Food Bank i had a good idea on how to help them Be better organized in the section where we help out. Which lead to us getting a demolition and cleaning project next week. It is such a great place to be and I love serving the people. We also had the chance to talk to a woman there who was helping out. Usually we don't talk to her a whole lot because we are super busy. This week wasn't to crazy and we started talking to her. By the end of our time there we had been someone that she could talk to, asked us for our phone number and said she might come to church, later that day she called us and asked us some more info. Later that day she sent us a text saying that she knew God had put us there at the Food Bank that day to talk to her. It was pretty cool.

Owen, who got baptized back in September is doing awesome. Since his baptism he had the opportunity to go down to the temple in Tri-Cities! He loved it! He is doing really well! he himself is a little missionary and will be the first person to jump in and help or offer a Book of Mormon. He has also been working on reading the new quad that he got for his birthday! it has been so fun to watch him! 

Wendy is doing really awesome. Her kids are adorable. Last time we went over was a combination of spiritual and funny. She was making some dinner and so we offered to help. She was making enchiladas. Thats easy right? She said to pour the sauce on and we did. after putting them in the oven, she asks. should we have put some tomato sauce in with our enchilada sauce... I have no idea, i have never made them before. i didn't even used to like them! She then says, oh man, they might be a little spicy. Then we realize that she bought the hottest type of enchilada sauce as well! Man... It was spicy, i felt so bad that it was and we all sat  there and were basically crying while eating it! But the meat inside was really really good! It was sooo spicy. I can handle some spice, but it burned! Definately a learning experience, and luckily she could totally blame it on us. But it was fun because we read out of the Book of Mormon stories with her kids and then after we had a really cool lesson with her. She has such a desire to learn. I think we will continue to have fun together and hopefully have great spiritual growth as well!

We had a really busy weekend. Running (sometimes literally) from place to place. The Lord has blessed us with work to do and the strength to do it. I love being a missionary!! Talking to people and helping them learn about Christ and inviting them to learn for themselves is the best way I could possibly be spending my time. At a meeting this week, a scripture was shared that goes along with something dad told me either in an email or before i left. It was in Alma 57:27 and it says, "Now this was the faith of these of whom i have spoken; they are young and their minds are firm, and they do put their trust in God continually." I thought about had Dad had told me about God putting his trust in all of these 19-20 year olds to bring his words to the World and how crazy that was if you really think about it. Well he has put his trust in me and i have put my trust and my life in his. It has been a really great week and i Know that God is a God of miracles and always will be. I know that He loves us and is willing to bless us when we are willing to follow him. Have a great week! I love you all!

Hermana Ray

 

Fall in Washington

 

11-11-13

Hola Familia!

Another good week coming at you from Royal! Included was the first snow of the Winter! It was like a fake snow it didn't stay on the ground for very long. But it is one of the only times yet that i have woken up to snow, it may have happened once or twice in Flagstaff, but not in November! 

Also Royal High School won it's first play off game and as the lowest seed knocked out the highest... And here... that is a big deal. just thought you would all like to know. That is like the biggest news coming from our area.

Since the Weather has cooled down, people aren't working as much. They can't because it is dark by 5 oclock! I know you think i am kidding but it is true! 

It has been a really good week and I am happy to say that I am happy. The Lord has blessed us in so many ways. 

One of my favorite experiences this week was when we were visiting a less active with 3 girls. As we were getting to share something with her i couldn't think of a good scripture, i decided to ask her, are there any topics that you would like to hear about or that your daughters are stuggling with. form that we launched into a discussion watching what we say and who we are. and what did i share with her? Mosiah 4: 30 and a quote that is probably on like a third of the teachers walls at MVT. About watching our thoughts because our thoughts become our words, our words become our actions, and our actions become our character... And our character is everything. As Hermana Heninger and i have been reflecting on our last week, we have noticed the importance of our actions and how they have influenced different people in our area. People do notice and I never want there to be a doubt on my actions or what I believe in.

We did service for Warren again. We have to show our love through action because he is hard of hearing and every time i try to talk he makes me start over, slow down, and pronunciate more. But we invited him to the dinner that our ward is having to celebrate the end of the harvest and i think he will come! He won't read anything we leave him because he says he doesn't like "our literature". One day Warren, one day.

I started rereading conference talks again and i am so excited. i love reading about what the living apostles and prophets have to say! Elder Hales said something about conference that i loved, and we could apply it to every meeting that we go to and who we are. He said, "we gather to hear the words of the Lord, and we return to our homes to live them." SO let us all go and live them!

Have a great week, I love you all thanks for your support! 

Hermana Ray

 

Just sorting clothes at the food bank

 

11-4-13

Hola Familia!

It has been a really good week this week. Halloween has come and gone and was a very fun experience as a missionary. Plus i get to stay in Royal City for another transfer!! As Doreen would say, "Oh Good!"

We had a super awesome experience with one of the couples that lives in our ward this week. We have started doing lessons to teach the members what tools we have and how we present them to other people so that they can think of how to present them to other people. It has been an interesting process as we try to think of people that they could share it with. Well last sunday we had a cool lesson with the friends of the family we were eating dinner with. After we went to have dinner and talked about how they are doing. The Whithursts are an amazing couple who are a huge example to the neighborhood they live in. Well, it was a good day and we set up a time to meet with the Whitehursts and have one of these member lessons. Well, we were calling to confirm the day of the lesson and she tells us she has a great story for us. After we had gone and visited Ed and Beverly (the friends) she had gone by a few days later to drop off some cupcakes that she had made. When she went over Ed was talking about how impressed with the missionaries they had been and that Beverly wanted one of them "books" meaning a Book of Mormon! That night we brought copies of the Book of Mormon and thought of ideas and brainstormed and showed some ways to introduce the Book of Mormon. I am proud to report that when we were sitting next to Sister Whitehurst in Relief Society yesterday, she turned to us and told us that the books had been delivered. To me this was exactly what Elder Ballard had been talking about. Members and missionaries both working hard together. We wouldn't have been able to have this awesome experience without each other.

Like pretty much everywhere we had a Halloween carnival and trunk or treat, but ours was actually the day before Halloween because the youth help run the carnival and it was easier to do on mutual night because the high schools around here don't have games on wednesday nights. We were so glad because that meant that we got to go! We had a curfew on actual Halloween, but we got to go to the activity. Almost all of the people we are teaching came and there were so many people there! It is getting to big to have inside the church. It was a great way for the church to reach out to the community. The trunk or treat is big here cause there are very limited places to go trick or treating. Wendy came with her four oldest kids and it was really fun! Wendy is super awesome and is a really good person who wants to know Christ, she has really come to see the blessings that are coming to her life. It is amazing! 

We also had some opportunities to do service this week. Warren is an old guy that we found literally in the middle of some pine trees. i think he planted them all himself. Anyways, we found him a couple weeks ago and had talked to him. Shortly after that was when the big storm hit that knocked out power. he lost some parts of his trees and talked about cleaning them up, we offered to help and he said there was a guy who usually did it for him. Well, the wind blows here.. pretty much all the time and he had lost a few more trees. We went by to see how he was doing and offered to come back and help, we set up a time the next day. He comes from a belief that he doesn't know if there is a God, he doesn't believe there isn't one and doesn't there is one. We set up a time to come back after making a comment like, "well if God is willing" and we said we would be there the next day. We also went the day after that, and both my companion and i can see that he has a warmer presence to him just by knowing that someone cares about him. It was cool, plus after i smelt like pine trees for like 3 days. 

Halloween itself was pretty good, we went home after dinner, but Sister Trihey fed us dinner. This couple lives in the ward but travels a lot for work. They are the nicest people ever and we always have a great time. She spoiled us and sent us home with a Halloween treat bag. She said there weren't any kids around to spoil so she had to spoil us.

Over all it is was a really good week. The work here in Royal is moving forward and i have absolutely no doubt that it is due to the awesome members and our dedication to try and be obedient. I have been doing lots of studying on being obedience and how it relates to my dedication as a missionary. As soon as you stop seeing it as rules you HAVE to follow, they aren't a big deal. As silly as some of them may be, they are all given under direction of the Lord.I found this quote by Elder Christopherson today "We can expand our freedom by perfecting our obedience" That is one of the projects i currently have, perfecting my obedience.  I love you all thanks for your love and support!  Have a great week. 

Hermana Ray

10-28-13

Hola Familia! 

Man is it a great week to be a missionary!

Work here is going really well, we are blessed with people to teach and members who are AMAZING! They are all about missionary work and everyone cares about every person of the community!

A few quite amazing missionary experience and then i will get to the most exciting part of the week! First we had a second lesson with a young adult named Dallas. After sitting down, we asked him how reading the Book of Mormon went. He told us good but he didn't understand lots of it. So we asked him what he read so we could help to try to explain it. He then says, "oh part of 1st Nephi, 3rd Nephi, and Mormon." It was so awesome to see someone receive a Book of Mormon and run with it. We talked a lot about study tools we have and how important it is to make sure we understand the content rather than just reading through. We then talked about the Plan of Salvation and how God is watching out for us and knows us. It was great! As we were explaining. Every once in a while we would ask if what we were sharing was making sense, he then would respond that yes, yes it does, it makes a lot of sense. I feel as if the Spirit is truly giving him the answers that he has been looking for. we are simply tools in the Lords hands to get him this information. He talked about how he wanted to know what we believed because there is a lot of evil in the World and you never quite know what is the truth. That one experience could have made my week right there!

But wait, there's more! We had an Family home evening with Wendy, someone we are teaching,  and her 4 oldest children. They were a little shy at first being in the home of someone they didn't know. But as I was saying before the members are amazing here! Pretty soon they realized that they were in a safe enviornment and truly began to shine. Her kids are ages 7,6,5,4 and they are generally a pretty roudy bunch (a very cute roudy bunch). Along with the Fieldings (who have 4 kids 7 and under) we taught the kids about obeying God and the Ten Commandments. For Wendy to see that her children were actually learning things and remebering about Jesus put a huge smile on her face, especially when we got to honor thy father and thy mother. It was a great opportunity to show how powerful learning from our families is. It is truly a blessing from our Heavenly Father to have such experiences.

I know you are all thinking how this email could get better, well here it is. This last Saturday we had a meeting with the entire Washington Kennewick mission. Why? Good question. Because Elder M. Russell Ballard wanted to talk to us. As well as Richard Maynes and our area 70 Elder Risenmay. IT WAS AMAZING!!!! When he first came in each missionary got an opportunity to shake his had, what an experience it was to have the chance to introduce myself to a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles! A living servant of our Savior Jesus Christ who has dedicated much of his life to Him. It was such a good conference. All of them gave talks that were truly amazing and I learned a lot from each and every one of them. I could sit here for hours and discuss all that was shared with us. But i received a witness of God's love, not only for me but every single person who has walked upon the Earth. They talked a lot about the fact that you will never teach those who you don't find, and that we need to literally talk to everyone! He also talked to us about member missionary work. He worries that as members are asked to do more that missionaries will feel that the members have more responsibility than we do and we need to let the members act and wait for them to give us someone to teach. He then said that we need to be the example and that if we are working hard the members will see that we love them and their area. He said with those efforts together, Members and Missionaries giving it our all, then we will see the miracles of member missionary work! So i will give Royal City my all. Since I have been here I have gained such a great love for the people here that I never want to leave!

Also from Elder Ballard, he said that we have to know the gospel to be able to share it. He said we don't need to know every detail there is but continually study the principles so that they are on our minds, and then share them. It is better to have a knowledge and share it with others. He said that they (the leaders of the church) are aware of Satan and what we are up against, but then he said... BUT, we also know the Lord. The Lord is powerful and he will always win over Satan.

Elder Maynes and Elder Risenmay both told stories about knocking one more door. Their stories were pretty similar in the fact that they were knocking door after door without finding much success. As they were finally getting ready to go home or start something else, they decided to knock one more door. And can i just tell you something? ALWAYS knock that last door! That night after the conference we had tried quite a few houses, it was dark and no one really wanted to talk to us. The last week here has been crazy for everyone with work. Anyway after knocking quite a few doors. we found ourselves in a group of 4 trailers that we have knocked many times. We knew one wasn't home. Another was busy and the other didn't answer, yes, leaving ONE more door. We had knocked on that trailer a few times, when cars were there with no success, but we decided it couldn't hurt to knock one more. As you can guess, she answered, let us in and we had a great discussion on prophets and the restoration of the church and she said we could come back again. Do i know where it will go teaching her? absolutely not, but God answers prayers and always has a plan for us even if we can't see it.

This week I have grown a lot, at least I feel like a different missionary. The importance of why i am here has really come to the surface. I have been humbled and served and enlightened by an Apostle of the Lord. My faith in the Lord has never been stronger in my life. I know what Faith is, I know it is real and that i have the Good hope in Christ that will anchor my soul (Ether 12:4). Looking for scriptures on faith? read Ether 12, it uses the word a bigillion times. I love you all and hope you are finding joy in your journey of life. We have the freedom to choose what our attitude will be in life. Choose to be happy!

Hermana Ray

10-21-13

Hola Familia!

This week has been a really good one! I don't want to make this sound like every other email you are probably reading, but our week has been focused on members and missionaries all week. Everywhere we turned! It is a really good thing. As missionaries we see the influence and difference of when members are sharing the gospel with their friends. 

This week has also been a lot of focus on the Book of Mormon. And it has been really good. I love it! yesterday at church, one young person from every family in the branch gave a talk on the Book of Mormon. Each and everyone of them was focused on a Book of Mormon story and how it has blessed their lives. It was amazing to see each and everyone of them personally apply it! After, the High Council man spoke on the importance of the Book of Mormon and how it helps us and our children be converted unto the Lord. I too have a personal witness of that as our family read the scriptures together and as i have personally spent time studying the scriptures. 

I am currently reading about the brother of Jared and his experience with the Lord. His faith was amazing! And later it says that someday people will have faith as the brother of Jared. Imagine having the such great faith that we can see the Lord! 

The work is definitely being blessed as we try to strive to be exactly obedient. I have seen the blessings as we have been finding trailers that no one knew existed and teaching people who before didn't really have any desire to talk to us, but some event in their life has brought them to a state of mind of asking questions. If we have the answers, great! There is nothing in the World that having a faith in Jesus Christ is made harder. Our attitude about everything makes a huge difference. 

We had a really awesome lesson where we talked about the love of God and how we, as people need to be going to church for that reason. Just so many cool, different spiritual experiences. Yesterday we were having a lesson and Marlo was saying the prayer. After asking the lord to bless pretty much every type of person in the world, he prayed for his family and for his job, not once did he pray for anything for himself, but totally for other people. I am continually stunned as i learn new things form people i am "teaching". It goes to show that we all need to continually learn so we can grow.

Any way... Back to member missionary work, we had a zone conference that was centered on member missionary work. We were challenged to go back and read Elder Ballard's talk and i really really liked it. The one from conference. the title is "Put Your Trust in the Lord" for me that was an interesting title. Like with obedience or pretty much any other principle of the gospel, it all comes down to putting your trust in the Lord. Anyway, we talked about how/what could help the members we are serving. Remember that: WE (as missionaries) are called to serve you as members in your area. You know the people, the culture, and what aspects of the gospel people are looking for. If you are trying to think of how to share the gospel, call the missionaries in your area, they will be happy to help. I loved when Elder Ballard talked about the "One". it didn't mean invite someone random, but that "one" person who is continually on the back of you mind. I know that I have those people and when he was speaking they came to mind mind as they often do. Start working to have the faith and strength to invite the "one". i Know that is something i struggled with before my mission. Elder Ballard totally got me when he was telling the story about people not praying for missionary opportunity in the fear of actually having one. I know and can testify that when a member works to bring someone to the gospel, and when that person begins to accept it, the person will understand just how much you meant to them to share the gospel with them. We have heard it over and over again in conversion stories of people being so grateful for the person who shared the gospel with them. Go find the "one" so you can be their one. Christmas is about a 2 months away, what better gift for the Savior. (I will get off my soap box now, i might return next week though)

I love you all thanks for the continued support you have shown to me! Have a great week

 

 

10-14-13

Hola Familia!

This week, we have felt really blessed. The Lord has definitely been watching out for us. I have definately witnessed His hand.

The week started out awesome when and appointment went through. You are probably wondering how that is awesome. Well it also managed to mess with our plans for the rest of the day. Because of that we had to really sit and think of where we needed to be, because obviously it wasn't where we had planned. After some thought, discussion, and prayer we finally decided to try someone back who had hung up twice when we tried to call. Obviously this is why what happened earlier happened. As we sat and talked with this lady we found out that someone had been prank calling her house and so she had been hanging up the phone to try to get the to stop. As we sat and explained to her what we did as missionaries she couldn't believe it, as we changed our focus to Christ and how he can help us in our lives, tears came to her eyes, she told us that no one had every really explained things about God to her in such simple terms. She had lots of questions, mainly because she couldn't believe that two 20 year olds girls would give up there life to talk to people about God. As we talked about trials and God, she explain some of the things that were bother her, and we got a chance to introduce to her the Book of Mormon. We also lent her a CD of songs about Christ, which she loved! there was the most powerful spirit there, stronger than I have felt the first time meeting someone before.

We ended up going back over last night and teaching her about the Restored Gospel and prophets. Again the Spirit followed and it was strong! She again couldn't believe that the leaders of the church were voluntary and that the church was teaching the same thing all over the world in different countries. It is funny, because we go on a lot of tangents, because she has a lot of questions. There is no better way to teach than addressing peoples questions and talking open and honestly with one another. She is so awesome and definitely just looking for more in her life.

Other than that there were many things that happened this week, but one other especially close to my heart was Leti. We have been talking with her quite a bit and the other day we went over and she was struggling with some homework, normally i would help her, but I had never taken the class before and didn't know how to use the program. We didn't want to distract her and so we just told her aabout prayer and how it can truely help us with anything. She asked us to pray for her that she could have help on her homework, so we did. We then encouraged her to pray and left. The next time we went by she had received a witness that prayer really works, she took our advice and said that it helped a lot and then she told us that she was planning on coming to church this Sunday and then she came! It is amazing what happens when people realize that they can talk to God and that he really does care.

So many other things that I could say, but I don't have the time as if i was sitting face to face with you all. But I have been Studying about Unity and the importance of being United in a common goal. As I study this i am in the war chapters of the Book of Mormon, and if anything witnesses to me about the importance of Unity with God and with one another it is those Chapters. Staying close and Unified with God makes us the winner, every time. As we try to be more like Jesus we automatically become more in Unity with God. He love us and he answers prayers, i have seen it, I know it to be true.

The other day i was asked if i personally believed in miracles. As an answer to that i replied absolutely!I God is watching out for us. love you all, and hope that you can find time to draw yourself closer to Jesus Christ. It will benefit you more than any other way that you could spend your time. As we get closer to him we can see the smaller miracles happening all around us. Have a great week!

Hermana Ray

We are supposed to change our toothbrush every 6 months (I think....), So, on October 10, 2013, i changed my toothbrush! Ah! What happens to time?!

10-7-13

Hola Familia!
Well, it was a short while since we all spoke last, but it has been a good few days. especially conference (that goes without saying). Life here on the Royal Slope is good. Busy because harvest is coming to a close and everyone is working to get their crops done. As a result we stay busy contacting people and trying to offer the help and service we can to this community.

Conference was really really good. I seriously just sat and absorbed the words. I loved that we had the chance to listen to the prophet and all the apostles. I honestly don't remember all of the talks, but what I do know is i can't wait to get a conference issue of the ensign to really study them and learn even more.

One specifically that i remembered was the talk on meekness. I don't remember everything that was said but i do remember that it was about being meek. Meek is one of those words that i hear often at church but it has never really sank in. as a result, i am going to start to study it. Hopefully as i study, it can sink in and start to become a part of me. I can't think of anything better.

Honestly i enjoyed seriously everyone of the talks at conference. I sat and enjoyed them scribbling a few notes. Everyone seemed to touch on various topics that related to almost everyone i know including myself.

I also remembered in a talk about imagine if the Savior were personally walking there beside you and put his arm around you. I think of how many times a friend or family member has put there arm around me and how it just makes you feel so good. Now to imagine the Savior of the world, someone so well known to the world and someone that i have a personal relationship with to put his arm around me. It made me smile just sitting there thinking about it.

Elder Nelson- "A child is never to young to learn and an adult is never to old to change" 

Family i love you all and hope that this conference you were able to hear answers to questions and receive a witness of the truthfulness of prophets and the inspired messages that were delivered. God live and he has sent those messages because he loves us and wants to help us out in this world.

The area is going pretty well, one really cool experience. We were outside making  some phone calls in between sessions of conference and we got a phone call from a number we didn't recognize. Answering made our day. Pedro, the man on the other side of the phone we someone we had run into probably like 4 weeks ago. It was really late one night, our plans had fallen through, it was too late to go anywhere else, but too early to go home. We didn't know what to do, we found a house off to the side of the road so we stopped. Outside we found a man (Pedro) who was carrying in some food. We sat and chatted for maybe 5 or 10 minutes and he said that he never knew where he was going to be because his work changed his location every couple of days between the 3 cities. He told us to try and call him later. He then walked us out to our car to make sure nothing would happen to us. Well we called him the next week and he was out of town. We told him to call us when he was in Royal. Well when he called us the other day it took us a while to realize who he was. He then said, I do really want to learn from you and change, work is just so crazy. It was really cool, after all that time, he had called us. His desire to learn and change had not faltered over that period of time.

Thanks for all of your love and support. Keep working hard in whatever you are doing. Don't forget that God is there and that he loves you. And as Elder Holland said, "If the bitter cup doesn't pass, drink it and be strong." I love you all and pray for you!

Hermana Ray

The other night we got home and my sheet had just gotten out of the dryer. When my companion came back into our bedroom this is what she saw!!!!

10-2-13

This week and a half has been awesome. we had a temple trip today so
our pday was changed to Wednesday. Suprise! But it was all really
good! I love going to the Temple. We had to drive through Pasco to get
to the temple and i couldn't stop thinking of the memories and the
experiences there. It is no joke that your mission becomes a part of
you and every area you serve. I am definitely becoming a better
person.
This last week has been really good. We had a lot of work to do and
that is a good thing. There has been some crazy storms up and so the
work schedule of the farmers has been changing a lot. Anyway, one day
we had such an amazing experience of getting to show 3 guys the church
building and talking about Christ. Every single one of them talked
about feeling the Spirit and have been very accepting of many of the
things we teach. I hope they can start to see that taking action and
trying to change will help them. It was just a really cool experience.
Along with that, we have really been working hard to have members in
the missionary work. And every time we have had a member with us the
Spirit has been so strong and it has been a really great experience
for me, i hope it has been like that for them as well. The power of a
personal testimony from a "real person" is just so awesome. They
instantly have a friend who has shared one of the most important parts
of their life with them. It has been really good.
General Relief Society Meeting was pretty awesome. The importance of
promises is huge, especially when they are promises with God. But one
part that really stuck out to me was when the story was told of the
hike and how the girl was so excited to hike to the top and ended up
being the last one up. For me that was a huge girls camp flash back. I
remember being put at the back and wanting to be up front running up
the trail but it has been recently that i have recognized the
blessings form being in the back of the group. Never before would i
have thought that being in the back would have helped me to grow and
be a leader. but that is exactley what it did. it taught me how to
observe and look at others to see how i could help. So, mom, thanks
for helping me be the person i am by putting me at the back of the
hike. that talk was like a reflection for me, and it was really cool
to hear.
I also had the awesome opportunity to talk with a man, who turned to
me and said, now i have a question. then he asked me a question and
about faith in Jesus Christ. He talked about his saving power and if
it was more of a solution than modern medicine. It was and interesting
question, but luckily i have seen the blessings of faith combined with
action. I know that whatever is Christ's will could be done. no
questions asked, but i also know that faith usually requires action.
It is hard to explain, but to be able to open up and express what i
know to be true, with no fear. I know that it was Christ who has
helped me to this point in my life. God loves us. He wants what is
best for us, but just like parents, that doesn't mean he will just
give it to us. Don't give up, continue to work for it, He won't let
you down. have a great week.
Hermana Ray
I know this has been short but I love you all

9-23-13

This week has been a pretty good one. The storm that we had last week was a lot bigger than we originally knew. I guess during the seahawks game on tv that night there was a tornado warning watch and we found that out like  or 4 days later... But there wasn't an actual tornado so that is good. the accompanying town had winds up to like 80-90 miles an hour.
This week was pretty good! Can't complain when i get to have so many spiritual experiences and help people grow faith in Christ.
I have been reading in the Book of Mormon (surprising right?) and I finally got to the point where Christ has come to the Americas!! So excited, i will soon get to read about Christ's teachings in the Book of Mormon that testifies of what he taught in the bible. I love looking up cross references that take you to verses that are almost word for word in the bible and the Book of Mormon. I have especially been focusing on the blessing of having the ability to understanding what i am reading. I have run into many people who can't read here or people whose reading skills are very minimal, and although i can't say reading is my favorite thing, i am say that i am grateful for my ability to read an now can see it as a great blessing. Something i think i definitely took for granted up to this point in my life. But slowly by slowly i am learning from the Book of Mormon.

Also cool experience form the Book of Mormon. Today was when Christ came to the Americas. When he came there was a voice that came and it came 3 times before the people understood it, but it wasn't the voice that changed. Every time, the voice was the same, it was loud or thundering, but it says the third time the people did open their ears to hear it. So, the Lord and Heavenly Father are always willing to answer, sometimes we just need to be willing to listen and "opening our ears" to be able to receive the answer.

We have had some really cool experiences here. During Harvest we do a lot of acting on faith because honestly it is hard to have set appointments because work schedules are totally dependent on the crops and the weather. The Lord is on our side and leads us along. The people here are super humble. Especially a lot of the field workers. I look at many of the people here and see their humble circumstances and am grateful for my parents who provide for me and encourage me to go to school and chase my dreams. Yet i have also been taught to work hard. Which is good, because the missionary work here is a never ending adventure.

We had a really cool experience this week with a church tour this week. We met Elario when his firend Eleno brought him to a lesson. He had many questions and opinions and we had a great discussion. We invited him to come see the church and come to the English classes there. He agreed and although we didn't actually get into the church, we had a great discussion with him. Our branch President told him about the Book of Mormon while we went to go grab some things and even though we were outside being eaten alive by mosquitoes (seriously my legs look like i have chicken pox.) we had a great spiritual experience. He said that since the last time we visited with him, about a week, he had had 4 dreams about our church and he figures that means something. He is excited to learn more and is super awesome. he even said if we ever needed help cleaning the church or is our car broke down and we needed help to give him a call.

Life is full of these little miracles if we are looking for them. i know that to be true. Thanks to all who send their love and support. it all helps. I love the Gospel, i Love our Savior and i Love all of you!! Have a great week!

Con Amor,

Hermana Ray

9-16-13

Hola Familia,
It has been another week full of walking working hard, and running from dogs...
Monday after i emailed we got to go on a tour of the Jerry Allred's
Dairy. It was actually really interesting. I am such a nerd. It was
fun, we got to milk a cow, i am pro.I am trying to embrace the farm
life. It is actually going pretty well.
We have had some great lessons and i have been thinking on the power
of a testimony. As we sit there and talk to people about beliefs and
about how we can grow our faith in Christ, it is reflected back to me.
If I have that faith in Jesus Christ than i can help them increase
there own faith. This week it has been the power of the Restoration of
the gospel. Twice this week as we were talking about the first vision
and telling of Joseph Smith's experience, they were actively
listening. One specific experience as i was telling the story and
holding a picture of the first vision. The lady we were teaching was
shelling green tomatoes, and she was putting them into a bowl. During
this time, she kept missing the bowl because her eyes were glued to
the picture of Joseph Smith seeing God and Jesus Christ. It was
awesome. It just makes so much sense to me that we would have a
prophet now. I love telling the first vision. Ironically i am much
better at telling it in Spanish and to tell it in English i have to
translate it in my head. The gospel is true! We are so lucky to have
the same church that Jesus Christ established when he was on the
Earth. I am so grateful that God loves us enough to let the church
come back to the earth and to call some one to lead and guides us.
One other great thing that is happening is the last few weeks i have
been getting compliments on my Spanish and i feel like i can have an
almost normal conversation. The just as i think that, i am humbled
enough to talk to someone that i can't understand at all. But i love
the Spanish language! Yesterday i became the translator in Relief
society, because there is a sister in the branch that doesn't speak
spanish, here husband has a calling in the branch and she is awesome
and goes to everything in Spanish and knows all of the women pretty
well, but i was asked to translate so she could understand and respond
to questions. It was pretty cool.
I know, i know, the only thing any of you really want to read is about
the dogs right? It isn't all that exciting. This week we just haven't
had luck with the dogs. One day we had one jumping all over us,
nipping at my hands, jumping in and out of the canal getting us all
dirty and no one knew who he belonged to!! ugh.... The next day, my
compaion got bit by a different dog, and it was at a place we have
been many times!! What in the world? Ya, luckily he didn't get her too
good. Then later that night we almost got bitten again! A dog being
chained up here is like being in arizona all summer and not swimming.
(Rare) To top it off, the day my companion got bit we got locked out
of our house! (and we don't get phone service at our house..) It was
such a crazy and adventerous day! we managed to break in though.
Hermana Heninger and i never fail to find adventure.
I also got to speak at church on Sunday in our English ward. Bishop
asked us to speak on how conference has changed our life.... At first
i thought he was kidding. We are both here because of the announcement
made in conference. But while i was trying to figure out what to share
i was thinking about how Grandpa calls the conference Ensign the
urimum & thumum. And then i got into the story of the Liahona. And i
decided that conference is like our liahona because it is guidance
given from the Lord, but it will only work according to our faith and
diligence. If we are actively looking for guidance from conference and
are faithful and obedient, we will find it. If we treat it like it is
just another thing to watch on tv, then thats what it will be. Buckle
up get ready, conference is coming. so excited!
I love you all i hope you are having as great of a time as i am! We
had a crazy storm last night that put all the power out in othello,
which is the neighboring town. It was crazy. horizontal rain and
lightning and for like 3 hours straight! So fun. Love you all, have a
great week and remember to be awesome!
Con Amor,
Hermana Ray

9-9-13

Hola Familia!

It again has been another great week of learning and growth. The Lord has helped me out more than I ever could have imagined.

The work here is slow but steady. Harvest is in full swing. It is a great thing, you are all welcome for the apples that come from here in Washington. Crazy thing happened the other day. We have been having some good storms this week, one of them had thunder and lightning like an Arizona storm and i was in Heaven... except when we were running down a hill full of puncture vine (like the thorns we get in our backyard, they are everywhere here!) being pelted by dirt. Good times, laughing the whole time we are running. Anyway after this rain storm, the next morning we woke up and were going to go for a run, until we looked outside and couldn't see all the way down our driveway! Granted our neighbors houses aren't super close, but we couldn't see anything in any direction. it was weird... surrounded by a white mist rather than being able to see farms for miles.

As i am learning the ways of rural missionary work, the Lord has surely blessed us. We find ourselves working and working and a miracle or spiritual experience always follows. sometimes we don't recognize it right away, but it always happens.

We have continued to get to know everyone here in the ward as we are here. Even people who aren't members of the church recognize us a new and ask us what happened to the Elders. It has been a good experience being in a town where everyone knows everyone. We were knocking doors in pretty much the only neighborhood there is here and many of the people who talked to us knew exactly who the 3 members of the church are in that neighborhood, where they live, and how nice they are. It was cool to see that the light of Christ and their example can help others see that light.

It seemed like everyone we talked to this week was talking about how the world is in a very sad place and all the wars and unfairness in the world right now. They said that if everyone was like us and out doing hat we are doing that this world would be a much better place and that more people need God in their life. DING! DING! DING! winner! i just want to tell them they are exactly right and we have a message that can help them do that! They don't quite connect the dots yet but they are moving in the right direction.

Yesterday was really good. we had a regional broadcast where Elder Hales and Elder Perry spoke and i got the important parts. Everyone that spoke stressed the importance of Family Home Evening and tithing. It was mentioned in all 4 talks. I sensed a theme, and if i am picking up themes in Spanish, you know it must be important! And it is true, we can receive blessings for doing these things in our lives. I can't say that i was perfect or that i was always happy to be at family home evening, but looking back up to now i can see how strong our family is and i bet it has something to do with always growing up knowing how important family is.

Later we taught a lesson in English and Spanish... At the same time. Owen, Darone, and Andres met up for a lesson and Darone is like the middle man. Andres understands maybe 30% English and Owen know maybe 3 words in Spanish. Darone speaks a jumble up of both so we took turns teaching parts of the Restoration in English and Spanish. It was definitely an interesting experience. 

We also go to teach the Plan of Salvation yesterday, and I Love the Plan of Salvation. It is a different view on the world, but to me there is no other way to view it. It really does give me hope for what happens after this life and my purpose here on the Earth. TO learn and grow and try to be like Jesus Christ. The man we were teaching had lots of questions, you could tell that he was thinking and evaluating his life as we were teaching him. it was so awesome. God is seriously like the ultimate puzzle master. to look back and see how our day was planned and how things literally fall into place and give us the strength and encouragement in our efforts. I am grateful for the opportunity i have to serve him and learn from people from all over.

The last little experience i want to share is about the power of a question. We had the opportunity to sit and talk to a girl about our age and as she began to ask us questions and we were open and honest about our answers (even if that meant that we had to say we didn't know) she began to open up and both chances we have talked with her, the questions get more and more gospel related as she becomes comfortable with us. I never would have thought that answering a question as simple as what i did before my mission or where i have served or simple questions about the missionary life could open people up to asking questions like how can i have a desire to go to church or how do you know what is actually right or what is just a belief and what you should follow? It as an awesome opportunity that kept me on my toes and caused me to reflect on what i know to be true.

I will leave you with a quote that i fell in love with this week. probably because i lifeguard or something.... "If you are drowning in the events of life, do not fear because your lifeguard walks on water"

I love you all! Have a great week! Love the Lord and Always Smiling!

Hermana Ray

9-2-13

Hola Familia!

Things here in Royal City are going pretty great. I have been so blessed and have definitely been counting my very many blessings.

The members here have continued to be awesome, every other day we have someone new coming up to us and asking us to tell them when they can come out with us. It is truly amazing! Members are becoming so active in the missionary work it is awesome.

Funny thing that happened this week, we were driving home the other night and i felt like i was in the star wars ride at Disneyland when you are going through warp speed. why? because that is what it looked like. There were a crazy amount of bugs! Not kidding!

So this week i have learned something that will likely impact the rest of my mission. We were having a training on talking to people outside of their door and how when we introduce ourselves people become really closed off really fast because they think we are trying to convert them. Well we talked a lot about talking about being representatives of our Savior Jesus Christ rather than being missionaries from a church. It totally changed the way i view talking to people. It opens up the conversation to Jesus Christ and it has really been awesome. As we were talking to people, we tried to make sure that they knew we were there to help. One man after we knocked on his door was very reluctant to be talking to us (as most people here right now are because of harvest, very busy) and as we were leaving, i asked him if there was any questions that we could focus on the next time we came back and reluctantly he answered and asked us about heaven and how you could know whose view or ideas about heaven were right. It was so amazing, it was one of those little miracles. Also on Saturday we found a neighborhood to knock!!  It was awesome! As we were going through, towards the end of our journey we knocked a door and a lady answered and as we told her about sharing messages about Christ she was very closed off, right after my companion asked if anyone she knew neeeded service and she said no. Jokingly (sort of) my companion said that we were really good at pulling weeds. She asked us how much that would be and when we told her free she thought we were kidding. It gave us a great opportunity to  talk about service and trying to be like Jesus Christ both in word and in action. By the time we left her door the entire attitude of the conversation changed and we were able to testify about the thing that is most important and that is Jesus Christ.

We had interviews with President Ware this week. It is always good to talk with him and have an opportunity to receive strength and guidance from others. We had a great chat and he motivated me to continue to learn and grow and be a better missionary in every way. We talked about talents and how we could use ours to become better missionaries and how the gifts of the spirit that they talk about in the scriptures are some of the spiritual talents that we can develop. And i don't think it is any coincidence that i ended up teaching gospel principles this Sunday on talents.

Another cool thing that has happened here is that our ward just sent off a sister missionary last week, and everyone knows this girl. It has been a huge opportunity to talk about missionary service and open up everyone to talking about Jesus Christ. She has been a great help to us here and she doesn't even know it! Plus in general, people ask us questions about our life as a missionary. People have been asking us questions, and it has been fun to talk with them and get them thinking about what is important in life.

The event of the week: Owen's Baptism!!! He has been working with the missionaries for quite a bit here and was baptized and confirmed yesterday. I think i have mentioned him in emails before, but he is really awesome. He was so ready to be baptized. His baptism was amazing, there were so many members there supporting him. The spirit was there and strong the whole time. The closing song was The Spirit of God and Owen had never heard it, well, i hope he made the connection to that song and what had just happened. There are almost no words to describe it but amazing. After, we were talking to Andres, one of Owen's friends that we are teaching and he said he only understood about 30% of it, since he speaks mostly Spanish, but he could feel it 100%. He said after he learns more that he would want this too. He had gone to both Darone and Owen's baptisms plus one other and every time his desire to learn has grown a little stronger. I imagine that when i am looking back on my mission that this will be one of those nights that i will never forget.

It has been a great week and I feel very blessed to be a servant of the Lord. Thank you all for your love and your prayers. Hope you all have a great week!

Love,

Hermana Ray