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
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
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
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.
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.
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