I'd like to think I'm the mess you'd wear with pride

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