December 12, 2011

Hey everyone-

updates...

I am still in Arlington and just loving it. It is really cooled though, the other morning it was 29 degress, I have never been in a place this cold. My new companion is Hermana Moya from Ecuador and she is so awesome. She is teaching me tons of spanish.

So here is a cool story...

Last night we were going to go have a lesson and one of the members, Hermana Martinez from Bolivia came with us. As we were driving over to the lesson, I asked her how long she had been a member and she started telling us her conversion story.

She grew up in La Paz, Bolivia and down there, growing up they are told stories about their ancestors.

Their ancestors always believed that someday a 'white god' or "veracocha" would come. They grew up hearing stories and teachings of the 'white god' that was supposed to someday come to their land and they were told of the signs that would come as well. So when the Spainards came many people thought that they were the 'white gods' because of their skin color and also because they had a book that talked about a 'white god', the bible. Well, turns out they were not the 'white gods' as many of them thought. Hermana Martinez then said that when the missionaries shared with her about the Book of Mormon, about how Jesus Christ came to the Americas, that it was a story she already knew...it was the stories she grew up hearing from her grandparents and now, she had the actual writings of the stories they used to tell her, contained in The Book of Mormon. She then bore a strong testimony of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon. The car was filled with the spirit. I have always known The Book of Mormon was true but in that moment, my conviction for it just grew. The reason why the work down in Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Mexico is so quick is because they have all heard the stories of the Book of Mormon growing up. The book of Mormon is True! Jose Smith was a Prophet called of God and the church of Jesus Christ, the same one he established has been restored and is on the earth today.

!Que Bonita Es Esta Vida!

I love you all.
Cubo
RR

ps photos from DC

November 28, 2011

Hola a TODOS!

So let me tell you this, the weather here in Virginia is wild, the last week it has been in the high 60's and I am feeling so grateful everyday. Words cant even explain it, I have had so much fear for the snow and cold, but it seems as though someone is looking out for me.

This week we had a miracle....We found her on Thanksgiving day, we were knocking doors and she was the third door we knocked. Her name is Ana and she is from El Salvador. She let us in and told us she had been alone all day and was sad. As we sat down we noticed that she had a pass along card(we give them out to people) which had a picture of Jesus taped on her door. We were talking about it and she began to started to tell us her life story. This woman is incredible, she has had trials that I cant even comprehend. She almost lost both of her sons in a random shooting, and she herself was almost killed twice, once by her husband who shot at her 5 times but every bullet missed, then he killed himself, and another time by a bomb which blew up the building that she was in but she made it out alive. I couldn't help but think, as she was telling us all of this, how incredible it is, that she had this picture of Jesus hanging on her wall...this picture of him, with his arms extended out, reaching towards us, with the marks on his hand...how incredible it is the love and hope that I saw in that picture in that moment. It was not by chance that we knocked her door that night, it was not by chance that she was alone and let us in, none of it was by chance, none of it is by chance. We were meant to be there, to help bring her more hope, more love, and more peace which comes from the atonement of Jesus Christ. We went back to her house two days later, shared with her the Restauracion del evangelio de jesucristo...she told us she knew it was true and could be baptized in 15 days. Like I said it was not by chance.

Another crazy thing this week was we had the despidida de la Hermana Balsley (the farewell fireside for departing missionaries). I cant believe that the time has actually come for her to go home. We have been companions together for almost 5 months. She has become one of my closest friends. I am gonna miss her tons. Its just crazy. But I'm stoked for her and for after the mission when we can play out in Hawaii together...for days.
I love you all and miss you all.

Cubo,
RR

ps today for p-day we went to DC...so silly, I love that place. Pictures to come next week.

November 14, 2011

!Happy Birthday Parker BabyGirl!
Love, Rachel

Family,

We have been working really hard to find people. It just seems like there aren't too many people willing to listen to our message. It is super hard and frustrating when you see people that need the gospel, that need the comfort and the peace that comes from it, but they aren't willing to listen. I just want so badly for them to listen, to feel it, and to recognize the love that our heavenly father has for them. I pray that someday they will feel it and accept it.

This week was a silly one because our car broke down and we were on bikes. Now, normally i would love that, during the summer riding bikes was my favorite, but this week it was in the low 40's and it even was raining one of the days. I was so bummed...never in my life did I think that I would be in Arlington, Virginia, in November, riding a bike through the cold rain....in a skirt! There was a moment or maybe a couple, were I thought to myself, 'pounders beach, sunshine, Hawaii' haha. I just wanted out of the situation so bad. I had a really good talk with God for the 45 minute bike ride back home haha...I realized in that moment how naive I was, I mean, Jesus Christ suffered everything, his burden was so much heavier and deeper than mine ever has been, his walk was alone, he didn't complain, he never murmured, he just did it, because he loves us. I learned some good stuff that day. And you know what, I also learned the Lord always has a plan for us. Because we were riding bikes, we stayed in the Arlington area and we knocked some apartments that we normally would not knock(because we had knocked them the previous month). Well, we were knocking and found a family of 4 from El Salvador. They are so good, and they want to learn more. This work is incredible, I mean honestly, it is not the work of man, it is the work of God, he provides the way we go, the words we say, and prepares the hearts of the people. This is God's work. I'm stoked! I love you all.

Cubo
RR

November 7, 2011

Hello Everyone!

So this week was really a good week! We spent a lot of time out looking for new investigators and also getting Erika stoked for her baptism.

I have a crazy story to tell you all about when we were tracting...we encountered something that I never thought I would have to face....

We were out knocking doors and we knocked this one door in particular, a boy opened it and I heard his mom say come in (in English)..we figured we might as well try to get a referral for the English missionaries, so we went in. It was a family of 4 and they seemed really nice. They had us sit down and gave us some juice, we talked for a minute about what we did...and then the mom said that they had talked with many many Mormon missionaries and that she herself is a missionary for her church. She went on to ask us in a very condescending way, "now I like to ask all Mormons how they found there church, you all were born into this church right?" I told her that I was, but like anyone else who believes in something, I had a specific moment when I was converted to the church, when I knew it was what I believed in. She then kind of smiled. Let me just say this, the feeling in the room was really erry..next thing we know the dad is rummaging through a box and he pulls out these two pamphlets that were written by a pastor named Billy Graham..all I could think was oh shoot.haha. The Dad says to us, "you know what, we have seen a lot of missionaries, in fact a few years back we had a couple of Elders ask us if we knew if we had any Vietnamese neighbors...I told them that we did..(then he laughs) and then I told them that I wasn't going to tell them where they lived because I think you all are a bunch of liars, convincing people to a lie!" Then he pulls out the pamphlets and says, "You know, we believe that if a man walks into a bathroom, sees this pamphlet and reads it...then walks outside and gets struck by lightening, and dies, he will be saved because he read this pamphlet and accepted Jesus." The feeling in the room was just really different and we just wanted to get out of there. Hermana Balsley quickly bore her testimony and we were going to leave. Then the mom asked me, "have you even researched your church, I mean really researched it and looked into it from an outsiders perspective, do you even know what you believe?" I said the first thing that came to my mind...I told her, "You know what, I have done all the researching that I need. We believe the Bible to be the word of god and the Book of Mormon and have read the Book of Mormon, I can testify that it is another testament of Jesus Christ, and I say that because I know, because I have prayed. I received a witness of its truthfulness from the holy ghost..and that is direct witness from god...so you know what, I don't need to do any other research, because I know that the mistakes in this world come from man, not from God, so thank you for the juice and your time you all have a good night." In that moment, I felt that confirmation once again from the holy ghost, that the Book of Mormon is true. How incredible is that :)
I am so grateful to have this gospel in my life. I know that it is true.

Now for some good news....Erika, la Colombiana, fue bautizado! pues! So sick! She is incredible and I am so happy for her. She truly was ready. She has an incredible story. She has been looking her whole life for the right church, she has never been baptized because she never found the right church. Then when she came to church about 3 weeks ago, she knew that it was where she needed to be, she told us that there was a different feeling there, than in the other churches. We taught her and 4 weeks later she was baptized. How incredible is that! She is going to be such a strong member.

That is all the news from this week. Hope you all know how much I love you and pray for you all.

Cubo,
RR

pictures are from Erika's Baptism...sorry they are blurry.

October 31, 2011

Hey everyone!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Let me just start of by saying this...it SNOWED! Yeah, it is official, I made it to winter. Who would have thought that I could have done it. It was so cold and all I could think about was how nice it would be to be back in Hawaii haha. But I am learning now to cope with the winter so that is good since I have heard its gonna be cold here till May.

Uhm, other news, I made it through another transfer and I am still in Arlington with Hermana Balsley which is sick because I love Arlington and I love Hermana Balsley. Its truly the best thing ever because I can honestly say that I have found a best friend out here on the mission, its just good and I am stoked.

So yeah, there isn't too much news right now, we are still teaching Erika, from Columbia and she is getting baptized this week. Also we had a ward Halloween party and a family that we are starting to teach showed up...I'm so stoked for them, because they are so so good.

Its really incredible, I think the biggest thing I have learned this week was how much the Lord has blessed me to be in the right places at the right time. I was just thinking about it Saturday night when we were driving home from knocking doors, and all I could think was how blessed I was, how lucky I am to be apart of this work, and how lucky I am that the Lord trusts me to be out here haha. I mean we are literally nothing, we are just instruments in the Lord's hands to do his will...and I am so lucky that he is working with me. All I can do is keep doing all that I can so that I can better help his work progress and I know that he will guide me, because I have already seen it happen so many times. I know that is true with all aspects of our lives, as we do all we can, as we work hard and stay close to him, he blesses us, because really, he just wants to give us these blessings, he wants to show us miracles, he wants to give us everything. I love reading in Mathew 7 when Jesus is giving his Sermon on the Mount and he talks about how much better the gifts are from our father that is in heaven. He is just waiting for us to ask for them, to work for them. I know that is true, I know that he loves us and that he will give us all that we need.

I love you all.

Cubo-
RR

October 24, 2011

There has been a lot of things going on the past couple weeks, and to be honest, I don't remember a lot of it haha. It seems as though everyday we are out finding tons of new people, talking to new people, teaching new people and a lot of the times, they just never seem to really want to stick to it. That is the hardest part...meeting people, talking with them and seeing how much they need the gospel in their lives and seeing that they want it but then they turn from it because they are afraid of the change. Its interesting how we are always so afraid of "the change", afraid of doing something new, or stepping out of our comfort zone, or leaving something, someone, or some place behind. We find ourselves running away from "the change" or even the very thought of it, and we fail to recognize that ''the change" is actually the best thing we could do for ourselves. The change towards living the gospel of Jesus Christ is at first different and sometimes hard, but it is so worth it. We gain so much perspective from it. The beautiful thing about it is that, it is a constant, it is a knowledge, it is a peace of mind. I love the gospel for that, I love my mission because I have gained that perspective, that although at first going on a mission was the last thing I wanted, now, I know that I never want to live my life without the constant peace from living the gospel of Jesus Christ. I know that although in my life I will go trhough many changes, I will always have that love of my heavenly father and that peace from living the gospel.

Other news...

So this month has be the month of Hispanic heritage so there have been tons of events going on in honor of that...this last week we went up to the temple to an event with a couple investigators and it was so much fun! We got to see some Peruvians singing, and puerto ricans and the Bolivians dancing along with the El Salvadorians and the Paraguayans...it so easy to get that Hispanic pride, haha. I love this culture, I love the people, I just want to go travel all over central and south america (Grom, you down?).

We are teaching a woman named Erica, she is from Columbia, and I love her haha. I have decided that Colombians have the best accents that I have ever heard. Erica is going to get baptized on the 6th of November and she is so ready for it. She spent a lot of her life looking for a church, she attended a lot of churches, but the first time she came to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints she knew this was where she wanted to stay.

So yeah, everything out here is moving along, the work is going good, the spanish is coming and it is so funny when it doesn't haha...oh well, I know that as I continue to do my best, the Lord will bless me. I have already seen it so much. I love you all tons and I hope that everything is going well.

Cubo,
RR

Papa Wally- Good luck in Africa and be safe and Love you...say hi to caroline for me:)
Granny Jo- Love you
Barnes Family- you all are the best

October 17, 2011

So this Sunday Marily was confirmed into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints! She is so good, after her confirmation she went and sat down with Hermana Hernandez in the pew and I just couldnt help but smile. Hermana Hernandez is the Relief Society president and she is the most christlike person I have ever met.... so charitable, she knows that the gospel is more important than money, work, time and she lives it. Well all I could think when I saw Marily sitting next to her was how similiar Marily is to Hermana Hernandez. Marily loves the gospel. Im sure I have told you all this but I am going to say it again...I am so humbled by the hispanis people and the people of the ward that I am in. They are so good, so willing to share and give. Most of them are converts to the gospel and its incredible because they just have an eternal perspective. If we could all have that eternal perspective and always remember it. I've heard before that we are to live in the world but not be of the world and you know, looking back on my life I would say that there was a good period where I was living in and I was in the world. I had allowed myself to be consumed in the pettiness of it all, I was making petty decisions, trying petty things, and using petty words. I was blinded by it all, But you know what, pettiness is not happiness. I think the greatest deciet that satan offers is that pettiness brings happiness, that wickedness is happiness or that the world is happiness. I see out here, the eternal view of it all, the larger picture. That everything we do, that who we become is for a purpose. As we develop ourselves, as we give of ourselves we truly become better and happier people. The people of this ward, they know that to everything they do there is a temporal consequence but even more a spiritual consequence, and so they devote themselves to the spiritual aspect, to the giving, to the serving others because they understand what the greatest gift of god is, they understand what true happieness is, it is the love of god, it is eternal life, it is living with our familes forever. When I think of the love of god...man! That is something unimagineable, something that words cant even explain, a high that is better than anything else. And the wild thing is that all we have to do is do all we can, and the Savior helps us make up the difference, we just have to try to master ourselves, to line ourselves with being obedient to the Savior, to work hard and to give more, and he will give us the rest. He will help us along the way as we turn to him. Just keep that eternal perspective. I love you all and miss you all.
Cubo
RR

ps-
a photo, me and hermana Balsley in DC.
We spent the day with Hermana Maria de Marylnd(really de Paraguay) She works in DC at PANHO or WHO. She is the best!

October 11, 2011

Marily got baptized!!!

This woman is incredible, she is 23 years old and has so much faith. She is such an example to me. Sunday she showed up to church and she said to us, "where do I go to pay my tithing?" She hadnt even been baptized at that point. She just knows, she knows this is the gospel of jesus christ and she is going to live it faithfully. When she came to her baptismal service she was all dressed up, none of her family came, not even her husband, because they didnt want her to get baptized, but she said, "my family isnt here but I dont need them, I know I have something more here". She bore her testimony after she was baptized and was just saying that she wants to go out and share with others this message because she knows that it is true. Man, I am so humbled I cant even explain it. To have the conviction of Marily, its incredible. When she got out of the water she had tears coming down her face and she just embraced us both in a huge hug, all I could say was 'somos hermanas para siempre'. I know that Marily, Hermana Balsley and I will be connected forever, we were meant to meet eachother. I am so grateful to get to play a small part in this grand work that the Lord has. I know this church is true, I know that the Book of Mormon is true, and I know that sometimes, it is hard to live having this knowledge because we would rather do other things and not have the responsibility of knowing what is right, but in the grand scheme of it all, in reality, we are so much more blessed to have this knowledge, to know that God loves us and there is a plan, to know that we can mess up and the Savior will always be there to pick us back up. I am on a mission haha...that blows my mind. I love you all. Think of you often.

Cubo
RR

October 3, 2011

Hey everyone,

Welp, things out here in Arlington are really really cold. I guess with October came the cold. It was 45 degrees the other day, cheeeyup, Im not stoked about the winter. I guess it is a canadian wind coming through...gullp.

Anyways, everything has been going really good, we just are out working hard. Marilee is getting baptized on Sunday, I am so happy for her, she just knows the truth, she knows that this is the church of jesus christ and she is stoked. Her family isnt supportive of her baptism, but she said after seeing conference, that it doesnt matter, she just wants to get baptized.

Oh, how sick was conference? I dont think I have ever sat through all 4 sessions in my life, and I think I didnt know 4 out of the 12 apostoles, but it was incredible. For the first time in my life I realized that there is a prophet on earth who guides and directs us. Thomas S. Monson, is a prophet of God, how lucky we are.

I loved Elder Uchtdorf's talk, how powerful and incredible is God, he created everything, uncountable universes, the mountains, the ocean, and us...we are so little in comparsion to the vastness of his creations, and yet, all of us creations were created for us. I think a lot about that, how much God loves me, how aware he is of me. Everyday, I see a miracle, a tender mercy, and I know that he is aware of what I am doing. Another thing that hit me was how important it is to have our priorities in line, this life, right now, is only our time to prepare to meet god, to better ourselves,to become as close to Jesus Christ as we can. I long to be like Jesus Christ, to gain charity, to have true perspective. A scripture that I read pretty much everyday is Alma 7:23 "And now I would that ye should be humble, and be submissive and gentle; easy to be entreated; full of patience and long-suffering; being temperate in all things; being diligent in keeping the commandments of God at all times; asking for whatsoever things ye stand in need, both spiritual and temporal; always returning thanks unto God for whatsoever things ye do receive." I strive for this. I know that as I do my best and rely on the Lord, I can become more as my Savior, more humble, more gentle, more giving. Life is so much better when you have all of those things, it is so much more peaceful and easy.

Cubo,

RR

pictures-me and hermana balsley in DC

September 28, 2011

Dear Family,

So we had a sick experience last monday at the temple with an investigator, her name is Marilee. She is so incredible, so faithful. She has always had a strong faith in God and in the Bible. She originally had a baptismal date for the middle of September she fell out of contact with us for a couple weeks. Last week though we saw her and she told us about how she had a concern with the plan of salvation. She has always felt that there could only be a heaven and a hell, and nothing in between (Im not gonna lie, that seems so sad to me, I know that God loves every single one of us because we are his children, he would never want us to suffer.) Anyways, so we took her to the temple visitors center and watching finding faith in christ, then we went and taught her the plan of salvation again. We talked about how much the Lord loves us, how he sent his son to provide a way for us to return, we talked about how he would never want to lose a single one of us, how merciful he is and his plan for us is. After we shared all of this we asked her what she thought, the spirit was so strong she said, pienso que este es real y...voy a bautisarme. October 9th Marilee is going to be baptized she has a true testimony that this is the gospel of jesus christ, that God loves her and has a plan for her, she knows that through baptism she can live with her father in heaven again and with her family forever.

Oh how merciful the Lord is, how giving and loving he is. I cannot get over it, I think a lot about why I came out here on a mission, it was to give back to God what he gave me and the ironic thing is, I find that I cant do this work without his help. I will forever owe him, because without him I am nothing. He is always giving, always providing the way for me to progress, to be better, to do his will, I am so humbled by him. Its so crazy to me to think about how blessed I have been since I have come out here. I have gained such a greater perspective on my life, on the things that I want, the person that I hope to become. I am truly blessed. I love you all so much.



Cubo,
RR

ps..some pictures....temple, Me and Mysha, my MTC district, Hermana Balsley y Yo (we got free pizza one night)

Sept. 19, 2011

Aloha Family,

Let me just start off by saying, man I miss Hawaii! I woke up three days ago to go running and it was 49 degrees outside....I mean really, already, its only September...how I pray this winter goes fast haha. I made it through my first transfer and am stoked that I get to stay here in the city for at least another 6 weeks. It is just so sweet to be living where I live, so close to WashingtonDC and to the heart of Arlington, I really love it. So this past week, we have been working really hard, trying to find solid investigators. Its hard because so many people are willing to listen to us(Si, pasense, quiero eschuchar las palabras de Dios, quiero escuchar), but when it comes to actually acting and coming to church or praying they lose interest. That's so sad to see because they have the answer right in front of them, all they have to do is pray, or read, or come to church, make a small commitment, try it out and...they just don't want to do it. It has really made me think super hard about how important it is to progress in this life, to work hard, to know the truth and to have a purpose. Life is so easy to get caught up in, the things that are unimportant are made out to be "so vital" by the worlds standard. When we take a step back though and think about what is most important, it is not work, the beach, having a nice body, being better than other people, partying..The important things are the gospel, the relationships in our lives (families and friends), the person that we become. Life is more than the world, more than the vain, repetitious things, we are human, so its hard to see it, but there is so much more joy and happiness to come. Now is our time to prepare ourselves, to learn and to grow and to better ourselves, we cant take the good things forgranted. I am so grateful for this new perspective that I have gained out here. I am starting to know who I want to be and who I need to be. I love the people out here, I love speaking spanish, I love knocking random doors of different people and just learning something every time, I love silly people, I love being exhausted because I haven't napped in months, I love that somehow I am still waking up at 6:30 in the morning, I love how blessed I have been, I love this gospel, I love Jesus Christ so much its almost silly. And I love you all.

Cubo
RR

September 12, 2011

Family-

This week has been a really long week haha. So yesterday we were suppose to have a baptism of this couple, Luis and Carmen, we have been teaching them since the second week I got out here. They are so incredible, however, they just werent ready. It is interesting, one thing that I think I have learned this week is that there is huge difference in having faith and acting on your faith. You have to have them both, have faith, read the scriptures and then keep the commandments, go to church be willing to have not just your heart open to the gospel, but follow it. I have faith that they will get baptized, its just a matter of them truly committing. On the other hand though, Sunday (their date to be baptized) we went out and tracted for about 3 hours and found 8 new investigators...so sick. It just goes to show that there are people out here in this world that want to know more, they are willing, they just need to be found. Another thing that I have really been pondering lately is the concept of Eternal life...its such a huge concept, but I dont know, it amazes me. My perspective of life has changed so much in the last 4 months and my reasons for doing things have changed too. I think I have come to see that the person I become here and the skills I attain they are coming with me in the end. This life is so much more than being a great surfer, having a great body, being really good at watching tv, or mountain biking or skateboarding...those things, I dont think they will mean that much in the end. I think it is the knowledge you attain, the love that you have for others, the strength that you have, those are the things that I feel like are more worth developing...granted I still want to have a great body and be really good at bodysurfing and I enjoy all of those things haha. I guess I am just saying that I have come to see that there is so much more than this, this life is just a small part in the plan. When I explain this life I think of the word "prueba" or trial in spanish. This life is a trial, a test, to see what we are going to do and if we do well, do all that we can, become our best selves, become closer to our Savior, we are going to be able to experience the most unattainable joy, a joy that here we cant even imagine, the best high ever(gullp). I just know there is so much more and I know that I want to do all I can now to always progress, to become who I am supposed to be. I ponder a lot about who I want to see up there in the "los cielos" with me and you know it is all of you. The thought of a single one of you not there makes me sick. I picture it now, its just like hawaii, with hukilau and pounders as my backyard and a golf course as the front yard and a nice little cheap beach house...and all of you there with me, my family, my friends, everyone I love or have come to love...I want you all to be there. I just know that now we have to do all that we can so we can all live in Hawaii together for eternity haha:)
I love you all and am missing you all.

Im about to get out on my bike and tur it up out hurr in Virginia haha
Run dem' streets.

Cubo,
RR

September 6, 2011

This week...lets see, I don't even really know where to begin. So we have an incredible new investigator, her name is Ana. She is the sweetest woman ever. She never lies and is like the only investigator I have ever encountered that actually calls us to tell us she needs to cancel or move an appointment back (the other investigators just don't show up or don't answer the door haha). Anyways we taught her the first lesson on Saturday night and the spirit was there so strong. We were sharing with her the story of Joseph Smith and as I started to talk about how he prayed, I shared the first vision. As I was saying it, she started reciting the first vision when Joseph saw Moroni...how incredible, she knew the words of Joseph smith, they had touched her heart, she is ready. She then said that the verse in James 1:5 is a scripture she had been looking for, for a while. It is so amazing, she is looking for the exact same thing Joseph was looking for, the exact same thing every person in this world is looking for, for the truth. She now knows how she can receive an answer, how she can find the answer. It is so humbling to be apart of this great work, cause truly that is all I am, a part of it. The Lord has a plan, he knows who needs what and how they are going to get it, all I can do is try to be as obedient, focused, faithful and willing so that he can mold me into the tool that he needs to do the work. Its interesting to think about this, but I had a thought that hit me the other day, right now, I am exactly where I need to and am supposed to be in my life. How crazy is that, to know, to know that the Lord has set aside this year and a half for me to be right here in Virginia. Its so funny cause sometimes, I think if I had it my way, I know I would be in Hawaii, but somehow, I ended up here, somehow, through it all, I made it out on a mission (even when I wasn't so stoked to do it). The Lord allowed me to find a way around myself and my thoughts and got me on this mission. I am humbled. I love you all so much. Thank you for being my family and my friends, you are all so dear and important to me.
Cubo,
RR

ps..Shelbs, shelbby, shelbster! I need your address..porfavor. te quiero mucho

August 29, 2011

Well....its been an exciting week out hurrr in Virginia haha. First an earthquake then the hurricane. So the earthquake hit on Wednseday (I think). We were just sitting in the apartment and all of a sudden the whole building started shaking...Me and Hermana Balsley were saying, 'is this really happening', yeah it did. It wasnt serious at all where we are, but I did hear it put a crack in the Washington Monument just 5 miles down the road. So then, later the next day, we get a call from president saying that there is going to be a hurricane comming our way and we needed to get a 72 hour kits ready. We went to the store and apperently everyone in Virginia had already been, there was no water..the store had been raided haha. Saturday afternoon, the hurricane was supposed to hit. That morning we went out working and found a lot of people(because everyone was home). Then at about 4, it started pouring and there were some heavy winds, but really it wasnt bad here at all, so we just kept going as if it were a normal day. We were super blessed that day to find a lot and get a lot of lessons. So in all everything is good. Uhm, something I have been thinking a lot about lately is how important it is to have faith, and to humble ourselves. We went to a home Saturday night and someone asked if we had ever seen a literal miracle. I had to think for a minute and I told him of one. And as unexplainable and incredible it was, he still was like 'no I mean like seas parting or water into wine type miracles'. All I could think was man, open your eyes, there are so many miracles everyday. Its just a matter of allowing yourself to see them, to feel them, to open your heart and your eyes. I remember being out in hawaii and looking at the sky and knowing that that was a miracle. I think it is kind of silly to ask God to show you a miracle when he already has shown us so many. I mean we are here, on an earth, breathing, living, learning. That is all a miracle. How great God is. I am finding myself more and more humbled everyday to know that everything I have and everything I can do is through him. Without him, we are nothing. I just hope that I can do my best, that I can be meek enough, humble, peaceful, loving , obedient enough so that he can mold me into what he needs me to be. I know that through him I am able to be here, to be happy, to have a family, to learn, grow, to speak spanish haha, through him all is possible. Through him we find true happiness, peace and love. If we can all just humble ourselves, be kinder, be more giving, less focused on ourselves and more on helping others,more loving. Loving you all, missing you.

Cubo
RR

ps... HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOMMA!!! you are da' best in the entire world.

August 22, 2011

Another week has come and gone...it is so crazy how quickly time goes by out here...haha, there were so many sick things that happened this week. So many miracles everyday. Im sure I have told you all this before, but I am so humbled by every person I meet out here. Every person inspires me to be better, whether it be that they were just really kind or they shut the door in our face, I just want to be better. I have been really trying my best to just become the person that I like, to just be simpler, nicer, patient, all of it. To be kinder, more loving, more giving, more patient, more faithful. Life is so much more fun and better when you are loving others and not thinking about yourself. I cant believe sometimes how selfish I have been in my life, so focused on what would make me happier, what would make me look better...when really it had nothing to do with me! I just am so grateful to know that there is so more, having an eternal perspective really changes everything you do. Anyways, I wanna tell you all about a sweet lesson we had on Sunday. We are teaching this girl Mari. She is so faithful, so intune with the spirit. So yeah, we were teaching her the first lesson and I was talking to her about the Jesus Christ's life on earth. I told her how he was baptized and read with her from Mathew 3:14-18(i think)...in the last verse of that chapter the heavens open and Jesus recieves the Holy ghost and then God says behold this is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased. I told Mari that I know that when everyone of us are baptized or follow the example of Jesus Chirst, God says that about each of us, because we are his children and he loves us. You could just feel the spirit in the room and she was stoked when she heard it. Its super interesting cause its one of those things where I said it, but it came totally not from me, it came from the spirit. And after it was said it rocked me. It hit me so hard last night, that God is our loving heavenly father. He created each and everyone of us. He love us unconditionally, he crys when we cry and he worries over the same stuff we do, and he wants us to be happy. He wants the best for us and he has a plan for us. I know that. I know that families can be together forever. I know that this gospel is true. I know that we have all been given so much and blessed so much, and I am grateful forever for that. It is interesting how for so long I felt like I shouldnt have to sacrifice my wants for anyone or anything, momma, out here, I am so willing to sacrifice hawaii, friends, home, because I know that I have been blessed. I know that Jesus Christ died for me, for all of us, and I know that not a single person should go on living this life without being able to feel the peace that comes from having faith in him. That is why I am here..although hard at times, it is so much greater than me and I am growing more than I have in a long time. haha. Loving you all, missing you all.
Cubo,
RR

ps...I may have accidently bought a cheap guitar out here :) shorry, I needed it so bad haha and let me tell you this much, it has brought so much joy, en verdad. Love everyone of you. Ashley-enjoy utah-be good. David-same to you..love you(need your email). Katie-enjoy being home with mom. Boofy y Seth- be safe in africa. Matty- happy birthday. Lindsay- get buck. Mom- you already know everything:) I love you more than words can tell and miss you siempre. SHELBY WOOD!!! i lost your address :( email it to me rapido por favor, mi amor. love ju

August 15, 2011

Hey,

I dont even know where to start haha. There has been so much that has happened. I have been speaking a lot more spanish and meeting a lot of incredible people. There are people from all over the world here in Arlington, and everyone here commutes to DC for work. The Hispanics we teach are from all over too, Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru, Mexica, El Salvador (KANELLE), Guatemala, Puerto Rico, the DR, Argentina...thats all that I can remember for now, but yeah we teach and meet people from everywhere. Uh, so right now we are teaching this man Luis and his wife carmen. He is from Mexico and she is from Peru. They are legit, during lessons, whenever she has a question about the Libro de Mormon, he will sit there and testify that it is a true book, that completes the Bible. Yesterday we were teaching them and talked about covenants, Luis goes to his room and brings back a letter he wrote to God..he wrote it in a contract format, he wrote it this month last year. He wouldnt tell us what was in it but said that He wanted to fulfill the contract. He is so faithful and so humble. We took them to a Baptism last night too, it was the first baptism Ive seen since katie got baptized I think, I dont think I understood the importance of people being baptized truly, until last night. Baptism is that step that brings people closer to Christ and allows them to always have that guidance. Last night I was pondering a lot about it, its so incredible, we have it so easy. Christ did everything that we couldnt do. All we have to do, is follow him, have faith, be baptized, try our best. Anything that we are unable to do, he makes up the rest. We are so lucky to have someone who loves us so much. Another thing I have been thinking about is how lucky I am to be meeting the people I meet. With every person, I find myself wanting to be better. In 3 Nefi, when Jesus Christ comes to the Americas, angels minister to the people and Christ says that these people, the lamanites have more faith so they are able to see more miracles than the Jews. The people that I am teaching have this faith, they are humble and ready to learn. I am so blessed to be apart of this. I love you all so much and miss you.
Cubo,
RR

ps...Matty, happy birthday, hope your face gets better. Lindsay, go to waiamea and think of me...Caroline and Seth, good luck with Affrica...David, call Heylee...Ashley be good in utah...Katie.., yeah, love you haha. And momma, you da best

August 8, 2011

Dear Family,

So here it is, I am in Arlington, VA out searching for Hispanics trying to teach them the gospel. haha. My companion is awesome. We have so much in common, she likes to surf and we have some similiar life experiences. Her name is Hermana Balsley, from Hollister California. She has been out in the mission for just over a year. Its so sick, we get along super well. This has been quite an adventure. The first night here we stayed with the mission president at his house and he took us to see the Temple and the Lincoln monument. It was all so cool, the temple here is beautiful. Its kind of surreal that im here in the DC area. Anyways, so me and Hermana Balsley are kind of white washing this area, we just go out and knock doors, like crazy. Its so awesome. We work super hard and it is so rewarding when people are like yeah, come back and teach more. The Hispanic people are incredible, they are so humble and so in touch with the spirit. We have had some really sick lessons, its so amazing how the spirit works, its like even though I dont know what is being said a lot of the time, when the spirit is there, I can feel it and the investigators feel it too. Its the universal language. So cool story, we have been praying to find a family, and Saturday night we were going to visit a less active member, we had a GPS but we got lost haha. So we got out and started knocking, we knocked every door and they were all white. Then I saw a 7/11 and I said lets go tract in there. So we did. It was about 8:55, we were standing in the parking lot for like 20 seconds and this car pulls up...its a hispanic family! We talked to them for a little bit (by we I mean i bore my testimony and Hermana Balsley talked). We asked if they would like to hear more and the father said yes. He gave us his address, number, name. So stoked. The milagro of the day. Oh and than after that, we were trying to get home but we ended up getting lost, out by the pentagon and the capital haha..so silly...just a little joy ride. Yeah, so things are going good, just working, looking for people, teaching. Its so crazy the stoke that comes from the gospel. Its like when you have the spirit with you, everything is just good, no matter how many doors are shut in your face, life is still good. The spanish is coming, its slow, but its coming...sometimes i have no idea what is being said haha, its all good though, I can bear my testimony and pray like a PRO. Ive been thinking a lot lately about how I ended up being out here, today I found my answer. I was reading in Moses 5 about Adan. There is a part where an angel appears to him and asks him why he is offering sacrifices to the Lord. Adan humbly responds, i know not save the Lord commanded me. A veces in life, we dont know why we are doing the things we are doing, but as long as we are obedient, and have hope, the Lord will bless us. He guides us always. He loves us so much, and only wants what is best for us, which is for us to be eternally happy, how sweet is that. All we have to do is have hope and follow him. In Moses 6, the Lord says to Enoch, Walk with me. That is all it takes to be humble and to walk with him.
I love you all so much.
Cubo,
RR

ps pictures next time maybe

August 2, 2011

Welp, here we go. I leave tomorrow at 10 am. Heading to DC, a straight flight. I should be there at about 4 pm. Im not gonna lie, Im really nervous, I wish my spanish was better, I wish I was better but I just have to have faith. The MTC has been really good. Hard at times but for the most part really good. I was so blessed here, to be able to learn and grow. Ive been pondering a lot lately DC 4. In verse two it talks about serving with all your heart might mind and strength. Ive been trying to decide what that means to me and I have come to this conclusion: serving with all my heart means to love the people, to devote my love to them and to the savior, to give all that i can to those I teach and to the members in the ward and to become selfless, to charity and to be diligent. Might is to work, to focus myself, push myself even when i feel tired and feel as though i cant go on. Mind is to be thinking about the work, to not let things distract me from the people, right now, nothing is more important than what I am doing now, no person, no place, just doing the Lords work. Strength is to continue walking, to continue knocking. I hope that I can be what the Lord needs me to be. I know what is expected of me, I know what I expect. All i can do now is live up to that which is expected. I love you all so much. I will be calling you tomorrow and i cant wait to talk to you. Hope all is well.
Cubo
RR

Shelby- you are my hero, just so you know. I lost your address but I have a letter for you. I will send it to you from DC i guess. Love you.
KC Barnes- email me maybe if you want to, I need to hear from my favorite cousin
Granny Jo and Papa- I love you both, hope all is well, thinking of you.

July 26, 2011

Hola,

A lot has happened this week. We had an amazing talk by an emeritus seventy member and his sweet wife spoke. She bore testimony of how much she loves the book of mormon and how it is an essential tool to life. I honestly can say that I am in love with the scriptures. Its been a new development but I love reading, haha, I love the scriptures.

Something that hit me this week was in Mathew, Jesus is eating with the sick and the sinners and the scribes are saying, why is he sitting with the sick and the sinners...then Jesus says, they that are whole need not a physician but they that are sick basically saying he has come to help those that are in need and are willing to humble themselves and come to him. He truly is my savior, the savior of the world. All it takes is for us to humble ourselves and come to him and he always, always forgives. He has so much love, so much compassion, and faith. I strive everyday to become more like him. Another cool thing that I read was in Mark 10:29-30...I have moments where I miss Hawaii still. When I came across this I knew that I was were I needed to be. I have been given so much, the Lord has blessed my life incredibly and so it is my responisbility to give what I can back, to share with those that are in need. I just am grateful for this gospel in my life, Im grateful for the knowledge that I ahve been given.

Okay, other stuff that happened this week: flight plans are here, I leave august 3 at 10am for DC. So i will be calling home at 7 am california time, keep your cell phone on you; last night at 2 am we got evacuated from our dorm because the fire alarm went off haha, it was the silliest mayhem you'd ever see. All kinds of sisters running around in their robes and garments in panic bahaha, so silly. I just went on the grass and slept, 15 minutes later, we got let back in. Uhm, that is about all the excitement I have for you. Things are just sort of winding up here at the MTC, im trying to learn as much as I can and be as efficient as I can. Im nervous to get to DC, the real stuff begins, Im excited to teach in spanish, I know that me learning this language has been a miracle, I mean 7 weeks ago I knew nothing and now I can teach and talk to people in spanish. I cant wait for the adventures in DC. I love you all and miss you all too. Nonie, happy birthday, I love you, I think of you a lot and hope you know what an example you are for me.

Cubo,
RR

July 19, 2011

Hey everyone,

I dont even know where to start right now, mostly because the weeks here seem to fade into one and i feel as if I have forgotten everything that has happened here (meanwhile the clock for my time to write is running, gullp). I miss you all and hope you are all doing good. Im excited for David and Ashley to get to go to Utah. Im stoked that KC is back, miss that lil' guy, although now im sure he weighs twice as much as me. Tell him he has 18 months to get better at ping pong than me, im sick of beating him at everything haha. So this week I was thinking a lot about priorities, about what is most important in life. I've decided to try and make some changes that have really helped me and will help anyone who implements them. I have been looking at everything that happens in my life and finding the good things in them. Some would say finding the light amongst hard or dark things. This has helped me so much, things become easier, and more beautiful. There is so much light in the world, so much good. It can be found in books, music, being with family, trials, sadness, happiness all of it has light, all of it has good to take from. Its just a matter of recognizing that good, seeing it, and storing it. It gives a whole new perspective on life. There are so many things in life that are more important than myself, and that is something that I am starting to see. Mom, people are so much more important, you all are so much more important than what I want and what I need. I would give anything for you all. I keep thinking about dad, about his quote "...If i have the love of this people than that will be enough". I've been thinking about what kind of missionary I want to be. I dont want them to feel that I am pushing baptism on them because that has nothing to do with why I came out here. I am here because I know that Jesus Christ is our Savior. That he died for us so that we can be whole, so that we can find comfort, so that this life doesnt have to be as hard. I have felt the Atonement in my life, I have felt myself sadness before and then be snatched by the Saviors hand. Everyone deserves to be able to know that, to feel the love of the Savior. I hope to share that with them. The biggest thing I want coming away from this is to have gained a love for the people. I once heard that to love another person is to see the face of God, oh how great that is. I love you all, I think of you all and pray for you all.

Cubo,
RR

Kerissa- write me

July 12, 2011

Hey family,

I now have 3 weeks left...not that Im counting down or anything haha. This place is incredible but Im not gonna lie, Im ready to get out into the field and just start working. This week has been really good. Ive been learning lots of spanish, speaking lots of it too. Another thing that I have been doing a lot of is beach volleyball, minus the ocean, esta bien. Its so nice to be able to get outside after being in class for 6 hours. Uhm, lets see, Ive been thinking a lot about a lot of different things this last week. The first thing is the idea of trial of your faith. I was reading in Ether 12 about faith and how you recieve a witness only after the trial of your faith. I think throughout my life I have had many different "trials of faith" each one I seemed to handle differently,the times when I turned to Christ, when I stayed strong were the times when I was able to handle these trials. They were the moments when I found myself being comforted. Mom, you always have told me that its not the trials that we face but the way that we face them, I feel like I now truly understand what you meant when you would say that. I remember that night in Hawaii when you and I were sitting at Temple Beach looking at the moon and just talking about life. I was so lost then, and I remember expressing to you how angry I was about dad and grandpa and life. Your answer was to stay faithful, while I ignored your advice at that time, it has always been something that has stuck with me, no matter what stay faithful. I think that is the thing that eventually got me back on track, was your faith. Another thing that I have been thinking about is perserverance, not just perserverance but patient perserverance. Grandpa was always an example of this to me. I feel so honored and lucky to have been able to be so close to such a strong, humble patient man. He truly was so giving, and so patient. Anytime when I start to think that I cant do something, I think of grandpa and I just grin and do it and always it ends up strengthening me. Mom, I just want you to know how much I love you, your faith, how grateful I am for grandpa everyday of my life, I am not lying when I say sometimes I feel so close to him out here. The gospel is true, there is not a doubt in my mind. I will can not deny it. I love in JS History verses 1:24-25, although I did not have the same experience as Jose Smith, I feel as he does, that I cannot deny the truthfullness of this gospel. I cannot wait to get out to the field, to help others have the same joy that I have recieved from living the gospel. I am a personal witness that the Atonement can make you whole, and make you free. I have found peace in this. I love Jesucristo, I love you all. Thank you for being there for me. Next week I will be getting my travel plans so I will let you know when I will be able to call you at the airport, hopefully Boofy is there. Matty and Lindsay, I love you both hope all is well. tell parker baby that I love her. Granny Jo and Papa Wally, I think of you both frequently, I hope you know how much I love you. Granny Jo, Happy belated Birthday. To everyone else, I love you all.

Cubo,
RR

Kanelly y Cloudia- por favor me escriben, les amo
Kerissa- baby gurl, where are you?

July 5, 2011

Hey everyone,

As of tomorrow I will have been in the MTC for about 5 weeks...let me just say this, the MTC is amazing, the spirit is so strong here, I have learned a lot, but I am so ready to get outta here haha. I just want to go to DC and start teaching people, start speaking spanish, start loving the people. I am stoked for that. So this past week was really cool. On July 2, we had a patriotic fireside, we had a speaker(one of the District Presidents at the MTC) he has served as an advisor under 6 presidents. He talked to us about how the spirit of the Lord is in liberty. He spoke a lot about how special our country is, how lucky we are to have a nation founded on religious freedom, a nation where the restoration of the gospel could come to past. After his talk we got to go out and watch the fireworks from stadium of fire. It was kinda funny cause we were all caged in the MTC walls, watching the outside world haha. When I really think about this place, we are in a safehold, a place where the spirit is so strong, a place where we can learn a grow, a place where we are able to come closer to Christ, to follow him, the outside world is going to be a reality shock for me in that regard. Another really neat thing this week was Mission Conference, the MTC presidency spoke to us. One of my favorite talks was by President McIff, he shared a poem with us, ´Calf Path´ by Sam Frost. Its about a calf who treads a crooked path through a field, people see a clear path so they continue to walk this crooked path, for years and years, this path is walked, eventually it becomes a road, paved, and people continue to drive the road. I think that life is a lot like this, we see a paved crooked road, we see others walking on this road, so we decide to walk it instead of seeing that there is a faster straighter path, and that to me is following the example of Christ. It is an easier path, a happier path. Through Jesus Chirst, through faith, we can be changed, and a changed person can help change lives, can help change the world. Ive been thinking a lot about pride, about this gospel, people can know without a doubt that the gospel is true, but if they are not willing to have faith than that knowlegde easily becomes nothing. Faith is essential, humility is essential, not spending all of our energy on the things of the world is essential, and following the straight path is essential. The gospel is either true or it is not, there is no middle ground, there is no crooked path that you can walk, it is a straight pathway that can be followed through faith, repentance, humility, patience and perserverence. I love this gospel, I know that this church is true. I know that Jesus Christ died for my mistakes and for my shortcomings. As I put my trust in him, I know that he will help push me the rest of the way, when I feel I that I cannot walk any further. I am grateful for you momma, for your unfailing faith and obedience, for your example. I love you all, I pray for you always.
Cubo,
RR

Clark S.= I dont know if you will see this but I always see Espen and the other Kid that went to your high school and I think of you and then I think of Ping Pong...hope you are doing good.
Kerissa= baby girl where you be?
Heyleeee= I need you address, write me.

Love you all

June 28, 2011

Hola,
I have so much to tell you all about and so little time gahhh...this week was amazing, I felt so spiritually uplifted. We had some incredible people visiting the MTC for the New Mission Presidents Seminar. Mom, remember Elder Sybrowsky? His dad came and spoke, the spirit was overwhelming. He spoke about why we are here on missions and with the strongest conviction in his voice and tears in his eyes he said, "Dont you ever hold back, never, ever hold back. Even when you feel discouraged, keep knocking, keep walking and the Lord will guide you." It was incredible. I know that I was sent here for this time, for this purpose, to serve the Lord in this mission, this is my time, my time to come to know Christ, and to walk with him. Another amazing thing was we had a devtional in which 7 apostles sat up on the podium...Holland (my man), Scott, Oaks, Nelson, Anderson, Ballard, and Bednar. Elder Bednar talked, the neatest part about it was at the end he told us, all 3000 missionaries in the MTC, "I envoke upon you every spiritual capacity that you will need to perform this work". To hear an apostle of the Lord, promise that, to give that apostalic blessing, it has given me added strength. As I continue to do all that I can, to give all that I can, to work as hard as I can I the Lord will help me and bless me. This week has helped me come to recognize more Eternal Perspective. There is so much more to this life than here and now, there are eternities. I remember how back in hawaii, it was so easy for me to caught up in "my life, in ME", but all of that means absolutely nothing because there is so much more. (Read DC 76 if you all get a chance) The only thing that has brought me true, happiness, even joy is being obedient, forgetting myself and thinking about others. This life is not, nor has it ever been about the "things" that matter, it is the relationships that matter. I cannot emphasize that enough. It is the relationships in life that are important. I love you all, miss you all.
Le amo,
RR

Kevo and Jman-I saw Brother Martins at the mission presidents conference....he said, "kimberly werent you in my eternal marriage class? I thought you were getting married haha" gulllp, thought you might laugh at that.
Wes-I miss you, love you thankd fro writing me.
Momma- you are the sweetest in the world.

June 21, 2011

Hey everyone.
This week has been really long, there have been a lot of things going on, lots of classes, lessons taught and lots of spanish. We have been teaching lessons to an investigator (a teacher playing one of her investigators), we talked about the plan of salvation and how families could be together forever and then asked her to be baptised and she said yes. It was so amazing, even though it was pretend, the spirit was still there and I was stoked. I cant wait to really get out and teach people. Lets see, so I have two companions, Hermana Taylor(DC) and Hermana Griffith(Florida), and one roommate, Hermana Duplesis (she is buck haha). Hermana Taylor is from Utah and so silly, I love her. Hermana Griffith is really shy and quiet but super faithful. Hermana Duplessis is from canada, always optimistic, stoked on the gospel and she is on her way to honduras today. She is also really strict on the rules which is a good thing and a hard thing. One night at 10:15 which is quiet time(according to hermana duplessis it means no talking) Hermana Taylor had to blow dry her hair and it was 10:10...hermana duplessis shook her finger at her and walked her outside, she told her that there were way better hair dryers in the bathroom, I walk in the bathroom to see hermana taylor in her robe, squatting under a hand dryer, across from her was a sister from china doing the same thing and flossing at the same time. Oh, the sight of those two will forever be in my mind, so so silly. What else has happened...I got called to be the coordinating sister for my zone, the language is coming more and more, I find myself wanting to write things in spanish instead of english. It is amazing how much the Lord blesses those that are doing all that they can, the more obedient I am the more I learn. So this upcoming week, we are having the new mission presidents come in which means lots of apostles are here at the MTC. Tonight we have a devotional so we will probably have an apostle speak. Last night I heard a talk from President Eyring, he was talking about not putting things off till tomorrow. It is so interesting, I spent so much of my life waiting for tomorrow and now that I am here I realize how important it is to not put anything off. The gospel is true. I am so grateful that I am here, even though i still miss hawaii this is the place where I need to be. This is the hardest work but it is the most rewarding. I love you all, I miss you all

Cubo,
RR

PS: Kerrissa- where are you?
MOM- Pday is on tuesday love you and I am writing you a letter now (i only get 30 minutes on the computer)
David- there are elders going to McAllen next to my room...made me think of you

June 14, 2011

Hey,

This week was wild, it went by so fast...the week did that is, the days take forever but the weeks fly by. I have been thinking a lot about how much the Lord loves his missionaries. He provides a way for us to be able to get so much accomplished in one day, he gives us the best teachers, he gives us the spirit. This work is hard, but also extremely worth it and so rewarding. I have come to a realization that it is essential that I be patient. The Lord knows what I need and when I need it, he WILL NOT let me fall. Everytime I feel like I am struggling a small miracle happens, I will read a scripture, meet someone, or teach an amazing lesson where the spirit is just overwhelming. I have found that the best way to face hard times is by working harder, praying harder and studying harder. I cant explain it, it just works, the Lord blesses you when you are doing all that you can to be obedient to him.

This week we sang a hymn at a fireside and the last verse really resonated with me.
"Do what is right, be faithful and fearless; onward press onward the goal is in sight.
Eyes that are wet now, ere long will be tearless, blessings await you in doing whats right."
I have thought recently about my struggle in deciding to go on a mission and actually following through on it, I am so glad that I am here, that I stayed faithful. This is were I need to be, the gospel is true. So many people deserve to be able to hear it.

I sat with the president of the MTC on sunday and ate lunch with him. We got to talking a lot about my life and Dad, he shared with me a scripture in DC 84:87-88. It talks about how the Lord will be with those missionaries, he will be on the right and on the left and his spirit will be in our hearts and his angels round about me. President Brown said that it wouldnt surprise him if dad was with me while I am out here. I like to think grandpa is with me as well. I know that as I do all that I can, the Lord will not allow me to fail. Be humble, be obedient and work hard, do all that you can and the Lord will help you with the rest.

Love you all, Cubo,
RR

Higgy- I need your address so i can write you! write me again, por favor?
Kerissa- Where are you?
Kevo- And you? where are you?

June 7, 2011

Hey,

So I guess I made it through the first week haha. Its been long, I feel like I have been here for at least three weeks, those first two days were a blur haha. This experience has been a roller coaster of emotions, it is the hardest work that I have ever done but also the most rewarding. I have gained more knowledge in the last 6 days than I can even explain. The language is coming quickly, I find myself speaking spanish to go to sleep haha. To be able to feel the spirit like I can in the MTC is amazing. I feel so close to my Heavely Father. It is amazing for me to see so many faithful young members here in the MTC, over 2000 young men and women, most of them young men, the faith that they have, and the humility, I have never seen it before. And there are a lot of kids here from BYU Hawaii, its wild.
On sunday night we had a fireside and all of us sang "called to serve", the spirit filled the room. We started the song off slowly and then gradually got louder till the last verse when we all stood up, 2000 voices booming, "onward ever onward...!" It made me think of my experience here, I started out ready to preach the gospel but being more reserved because I am afraid of saying something wrong, but the more I learn and study and understand the language I feel myself wanting to share the message of the gospel with everyone. This gospel is true, I know it is, I cannot deny it. I have prayed about it and the Lord continues to answer my prayers. He loves us so much. That is the beautiful thing about the gospel, that we can pray about it, to know if it is true and he will answer us. "If any of ye lack wisdom, let him ask of God" James 1:5. Never waste a moment not knowing if this church is true, the time is not worth wasting.
Remember to always have faith and to always, always be humble. Those are the two most important things I have learned, to be humble and to have faith. This is His work. I am so honored to be here.

I love you all, I miss you all.
Cubo,
Rachey


-Boofy, I got your letter, I will join the choir, I need your email or address or both so I can talk to you. I love my companions, hermana taylor is buck, hermana griffith is so sweet.
-Lindsay and Matty love you both like none other, love your child. Matty the coordinating sister in my district is from New Brunswick and a convert, got baptized in 2008, made me think of you, love you.
-Mom, you are the best, thanks for writing me, love you. tell everyone I miss them.

I will send pictures soon...

"I got a bumper sticker on my chest that says no regrets, no regrets"

-mason jennings

Imagine this....

You get a thorn stuck in your foot, and it hurts,
but you keep walking because you have a ways to go,
after a while it doesn't really hurt that bad,
so you leave it.

Then you begin to realize that it is still there,
the aching becomes noticeable again,
so you begin to pull the thorn out,
as you pull, it hurts,

but it is a good hurt, because you know that soon the
pain won't be there anymore.
After the thorn is removed,
the spot where it was still aches occasionally,
but not as bad as it once did, and a little while later,
the pain just kind of disappears.

You remember where it was and what caused you to be in pain,
and now you know to look out for thorns.

I think the atonement is a lot like this.

Here we go.

Just Thinking

Time is winding down. Im nervous, scared and excited. I've never made a commitment like this (at least not one of this magnitude) and frankly the fact that I am leaving what i want and still have to do behind is adding to my feelings of nervousness and making me more scared. The unknown has a tendency to scare me and i have done a good job of avoiding it, haha. See, I love my life the way it is, I have so much that I could be doing, school, making money, enjoying being selfish while I still can (i know that one sounds immature, ha).

But I know that despite all my worries and anxiety, this is what I am supposed to do. I know I am suppose to serve a mission. I have been given so much from God and now I need to do all that I can for him and for those who are in need of the joy that he has given me, of the comfort that he has provided me.

I sometimes feel like Alma the younger, just in that I experienced a moment of being born again, as we all must, and like Alma, I felt that "My soul hath been redeemed from the gall of bitterness and bonds of iniquity. I was in the darkest abyss; but now, i behold the marvelous light of God. My soul was racked with eternal torment; but I am snatched, and my soul is pained no more."(Mosiah 27:29)

I remember the moment I chose to go on a mission, it was back in december 2010. I was sad, lonely, and unsure my life at the time. I decided in that moment that I needed to pray, so for the first time, in probably months, I got down on my knees and I prayed. I read my patriarchal blessing and I knew in that moment, that I had to leave Hawaii (the only place i ever felt like i was home).

When I prayed, I prayed for comfort and for a knowledge of what I should do. I felt for the first time that there was someone listening to me, someone who knew me and what I needed. I felt a warmth in my body and comfort in my heart. And I felt prompted to read my patriarchal blessing. From there, I was guided to follow the admonition given to Nephi in the Book of Mormon. To go and do as the lord commands.

So I left, and now I am going, faithfully, to serve a loving God, who gave his only begotten son, so that people like me could know what feels like to really stand up.

Here I am standing and ready to walk, however many miles the Lord needs me to and however many miles those in need of the gospel need me too. Because they deserve it.

Change is Hard I Should Know

A friend of mine once told me to never settle.

To find what you are passionate about.
To find someone you love.
To find peace.

They told me to never settle.

Never settle for mediocrity because its easier,
never settle for staying because you are afraid.

Change is a beautiful thing.

I love music, it makes me happy, makes me sad, makes me think, makes me wanna dance. I just cant seem to get enough of it.



Something about this man is beautiful. maybe its the beard, maybe the beanie, maybe the voice
also...

I am obsessed with Natalie Norton's photography. I am an admirer from a far.
She is so talented and such an amazing woman. Not to mention her pictures
remind me of home.

Check her out: http://natalienortonblog.com

Momma

This may be cliché, being that today is mother’s day, but I love my mom.
She is my best friend, she is a confidant, she is so understanding and loving.
She is a musician, a mother, a sweetheart,
a lover of animals, of people, of trying and of giving.
She never judges and always forgives.
She is patient, understanding, so selfless, so beautiful,
sweet, kind, gentle and quite frankly, one of the bravest
and strongest women that I have ever encountered.
She preserves through any trial with one hand holding her family
and the other clinging to the gospel.
She has faith insurmountable. She knows God.
She knows of his love for her and for her children.
She is a woman of peace and of love.
Always wanting to make her children happy,
willing to give all that she has to each one of us.
Willing to sacrifice her own wants to help us attain ours.
With that being said, I love my mom, no matter how cliché it my sound, I love my mom.

is there a way to fix something that could have been the sweetest?
or is it all too late?
someday i hope to figure this out.

'For one human being to love another: that is perhaps the most difficult of our tasks; the ultimate, the last test and proof, the work for which all other work is but preparation.'

For the first time in 4 four years I am jumping forward into the unknown. I know what is most important. I know what I want in life and I am getting it. Those times when I feel weak, when I feel sad, when I long for what I once had, I cannot allow those things to affect me any longer. I find comfort in the scriptures, especially in 2 Corinthians 12:7-11. Our weaknesses, our trials, they make us stronger, they humble us so that we turn to the Lord and in turn become stronger than we ever have been. I have faith that this mission will turn me into a better person. That I will be blessed for it in all aspects of my life. I have faith that I will land back on my feet, or even better, back in the hawaiian ocean.

today, im feeling a little blue. I guess I am feeling a lot a bit blue.
need to hang in there.

And Just a side note for me to remember:

I gave all I had, I was open and wanted it to last.
I was told no. I was told to leave. I wasnt good enough.
Priorities were different from what they should have been.
I was always waiting, waiting for a call.

Don't blame me

I have to stay focused. I have to continue on in this journey no matter how scared or insecure I may feel. No matter how much I long for my home in hawaii and my friends there. I have always had the tendency to give up, BUT, not this time, because I know this is what i need to to do, for me, for the people in Washington DC, and for the Lord. I never have thought of myself as being good enough to serve a mission, because i have made so many mistakes, but it is time to put the past in the past and remember that with the lord on my side, i will succeed, I will grow, I will be blessed. I know the gospel is true and I cant deny it. so here it goes, me, no longer lingering on the past but looking to the future and the growth Im about to experience.

Why Not?

"O my brethren, if ye could be healed by merely casting about your eyes that ye might be healed, would ye not behold quickly, or would ye rather harden your hearts in unbelief, and be slothful, that ye would not cast about your eyes, that ye might perish?"

Alma 33:21

why not look a little deeper, why not pray a little harder, search a little longer, and listen a little more?

Pascal's Wager

I've been thinking a lot about Pascal's wager. A lot about how hard it is to believe in something that isnt right in front of you believing in something that seems irrational. Pascal basically says that it is in our best interest to believe in God because the rewards of living an obedient life are far greater than those of not. i spent a lot of my life believing in and living Pascal's wager.

There was a moment about 5 months ago, when i came to realize that this theory that I was living by was no longer a wager, I was living something that I believed in. I prayed and prayed, I left things, people, hawaii, my home, which I loved, and I decided to dedicate 18 months of my life to go on a mission. It is all because i knew that believing in God was very much rational. I knew that the book of mormon was true, i knew that God was listening to my prayers, therefore there was no way i could go on living as if God was "maybe" real. I could not deny it any longer and i knew that if i continued to put off what i believed I would become unhappy.

It took me hoping that God was there and living like he was there to truly realize that he IS there..

Being a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, you come to realize that two things are essential, that is faith and humility. It takes faith to trust in God when you don't know and humility to seek him out, to pray and to listen.

Grapevine Fires

Somedays, I wake up and I think to myself, "man i wish I coulda' done better, I wish i was a better example, stronger, more obedient, more humble and more patient. I wish I had been sweeter and more giving, more loving and more fun" I guess now is the time to do all of those things, to be all of those things. To accept the things that happened and fix myself to be better.

I hope they call me on a mission, oh wait, they did

Well it is now official, I am going on a mission. I have been called to serve in the Washington DC South Mission, Spanish speaking. I report to the MTC June 1. I cannot explain the roller-coaster of emotions I have had in the last 5 months. I left hawaii, my home since I was 17 to come back to Modesto, a place where the constant reminders of tragedy and hardship have occurred. Why did I leave hawaii, because I knew I needed to change, I knew I needed something more in my life, I needed happiness. I found that in the atonement of jesus christ, I found that in the love and support of my family, I found it in the scriptures and in prayer. I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is true, I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God called to restore this church, and I know that President Monson is a true prophet today, who receives modern revelation. I know that anything is possible through prayer. I love this gospel and look forward to sharing it with those, like I was, who are in need, searching, hoping for something better.

What is a good friend? I grew up in a home where the most important thing was the relationships that you create in life, and I used to think i was a really good friend and with relationships in general.

My dad always used to say "I cherish relationships and know of their value and if all the success I have is the love of these people than it is enough."



I've made a lot of mistakes in the past when it comes to friendships and relationships. I have taken people for granted, I have been selfish, I have not been open or trusting. A lot of these mistakes come with the complexities within myself. I have spent most of life trying to learn how to trust people and how to let them in without being fearful of them abandoning me.
It is time for a change, I love my friends and those who I have spent time with so much, irregardless of how i once treated them, I hope that they know i care. And I am going to be better.

Just a side note for me to remember:

I gave all I had, I was open and wanted it to last.
I was told no. I was told to leave. I wasnt good enough.
Priorities were different from what they should have been.
I was always waiting, waiting for a call.
Don't blame me

Winter Winds

As the winter winds litter London with lonely hearts
Oh the warmth in your eyes swept me into your arms
Was it love or fear of the cold that led us through the night?
For every kiss your beauty trumped my doubt

And my head told my heart
"Let love grow"
But my heart told my head
"This time no
This time no"

We'll be washed and buried one day my girl
And the time we were given will be left for the world
The flesh that lived and loved will be eaten by plague
So let the memories be good for those who stay

And my head told my heart
"Let love grow"
But my heart told my head
"This time no"
Yes, my heart told my head
"This time no
This time no"

Oh the shame that sent me off from the God that I once loved
Was the same that sent me into your arms
Oh and pestilence is won when you are lost and I am gone
And no hope, no hope will overcome

And if your strife strikes at your sleep
Remember spring swaps snow for leaves
You'll be happy and wholesome again
When the city clears and sun ascends

And my head told my heart
"Let love grow"
But my heart told my head
"This time no"

And my head told my heart
"Let love grow"
But my heart told my head
"This time no
This time no"

Come What May and Love It

ONE MORE...brings back bittersweet memories, still love it

Good Stuff

I've been listening to this band since last December and just continue to fall in love with their sound.



And this....I dont know why, but i love her

General Conference

"'Healing blessings come in many ways, each suited to our individual needs, as known to him who loves us best. Sometimes the healing cures our illness or lifts our burdens, but sometimes we are healed by being given strength, or understanding or patience to bear the burdens placed upon us.' All that will come may be clasped in the arms of Jesus. All souls can be healed by his power all pain can be soothed, in him we can find rest unto our souls. Our mortal circumstances may not immediately change but our pain, worry, suffering, and fear can be swallowed up in his peace and healing balm."



We are often faced with struggles and trials, through the Savior these trials can be eleveated. Rely on the savior, know him, love him, and you will find peace in times of trial.

Where I'd Rather Be

I miss the ocean, I miss bodysurfing, I miss going to the beach early on a saturday with my friends and just being tan. I miss my home in hawaii, I have grown up there the last 4 years and it is where my heart is. I will be back soon.

"Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ prepares us for whatever life brings. This kind of faith prepares us to deal with life's opportunities—to take advantage of those that are received and to persist through the disappointments of those that are lost. In the exercise of that faith, we should commit ourselves to the priorities and standards we will follow on matters we do not control and persist faithfully in those commitments, whatever happens to us because of the agency of others or the timing of the Lord. When we do this, we will have a constancy in our lives that will give us direction and peace. Whatever the circumstances beyond our control, our commitments and standards can be constant."
Dallin H. Oaks

Anytime I begin to falter, to question, to feel inadequate, I remember that my faith in this gospel is key, that as I continue in faith and trust in the Lord, and go and do, that my inadequacies will melt away, my questions will be answered and I will stand tall.

2 Nephi 4:16-35