Merry Christmas

Ive been pondering a lot lately on Christmas, the true meaning of it all. So often in life we get distracted by the glitz and the glam of it all, the lights, hot chocolate, the presents....but when it all comes down to it the most important is the gift given to us out of love by our heavenly father... 

16 ¶For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (New Testament, John, Chapter 3).

God gave us his son so that,  through it all, through all the distractions we could look to him, turn to him, follow him, and have everlasting life.  

Im so grateful for my savior, for the special day many years ago when he was born and i celebrate it with joy in my heart.  

The Paper Kites - Featherstone (Official Music Video)

Im a year and a half behind on my music so a few days ago I decided to jump into it and found this sweet band...im loving them these days

THE ROAD NOT TAKEN

TWO roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference

Tuesday October 30, 2012

Hey Mommacita!

 

Thanks for filling me in on everything...man, I cant believe it, time has really started to fly by the last two weeks, its so wild!

I can't believe that I will be home soon, and that we will all be together for the first time in a long time!  I'm excited. And I'm a little nervous as well ha ha, but I guess that comes with the mission, right?

 

As for the storm...nothing really happened, just lots of rain and wind, we still went out and worked and saw lots of miracles because of it...Angel and Lissette now have a date for baptism - the 25th of November.  It's kind of sad for me that I won't be there to see this one through, but I know that God will take care of them.

I think, momma, that this is going to be the hardest part about leaving the mission - that I won't be able to visit, to teach and to see these people.  I love them so much, they have become my dearest friends.  It makes me think about something that Matty told me right before I left... there was a point where I called him, freaking out saying, "Matty, I think I want to come back to Hawaii"...to which, in Matty style,  he calmly said "Rachel, you can't"... He told me that before this life I had made a promise.  I had made a promise with my greatest friends, in the pre-existence, that I would come down and find them, that I would share with them the gospel.  He said that if I didn't go, I would be denying them the gospel and breaking my promise - I would miss out.  Man, I am so grateful I came, because I can truly say I have met my greatest friends. I have been so blessed because of it.  I will forever be grateful for it, for this time, for all the it has given me, for the friendships I have made, for the growth I have received.

 

I am excited to get to hang out with you momma, ahhh, alone time with momma, lets just cuddle and watch movies ha ha...as for after the mission, I haven't really thought too much about what to do, I think I'm going to  need to go to Utah for a bit though at some point... so... road trip?

 

Well momma, I love you, I will write you one last email next week... I'm going to send a package home to you tomorrow with some books and stuff...but yeah, love you tons!

 

Cubo

Raquel

 

PS:   HAPPY BIRTHDAY PAPA WALLY...and thanks for the letter, love you papa and granny jo see you soon.

Monday October 8, 2012

Dear Sweet Momma---

 

Oh Africa, it just sounds buck wild.  I hope that you know how grateful I am for you, I am grateful for your willingness to always go and help those who are in need, grateful for your patience and perseverance...I just love you so much.  I'm excited for when all of you get home, so you can be able to enjoy in those comforts of home, not to mention all the American candy you want without having to travel to the embajada. 

 

As for me, this week was pretty sweet...I'm just kind of really tired to be honest.  We are just trying to work until we drop, which is the best way to work.  There truly is no feeling more satisfying than that of being exhausted in the work of the Savior.  The days when I am exhausted are the days when I know that the Lord is proud of me, and I hope that even after my mission I can stay that way, just doing God's work, serving others, being more focused on the eternal things than on the worldly things. 

 

I've been thinking a lot lately about that scripture in Mosiah... that the natural man is an enemy to God and will forever be unless he puts off the natural man and becomes as a little child, meek, humble, submissive.  I love that concept.  When I think of little children, I think of sweet human beings, who love all they meet, they see the good before they see the bad, they trust, they give, they help others, they are sad with those that are sad, they walk with those who ask them to, they are patient, they laugh, they listen to the counsels of their father, they try anything and most the time they do it with out questioning why, they walk and they go, they have faith and they are willing to learn, they can hear and feel the Spirit and they trust it.

 

Momma, that is what it is all about, I am excited to come home and be with you all but at the same time I am so nervous because I know that that's when the real test will begin.  When I will have to apply all the things I have learned out here.  When I will actually be in the world having to put off the natural man, finding the way to balance it all.  I hope and pray with all my heart that I can be as a little child, that I will always remember the things of eternal value instead of those of the worldly.  Something that Elder Holland or President Uchtdorf said I think, was that once we start this journey, we cannot look back but we must look forward and go.  Mom, I can not look back to my past, but I must go and always be a disciple of Jesus Christ because that is what is most important.  I know this Gospel is true, I have been blessed with that knowledge and testimony and will forever have the responsibility to share it and live it.  I'm grateful for it, for my Savior and for my family.  I am excited to be with you all and to begin the rest of the journey, the rest of my mission.  I love you.

 

Cubo

RR

   

October 1, 2012

Mommy!

Man oh man,

I'm glad to hear that everything is working our for the AFRIKANOS so that they can find their way back home easily...that is such a blessing.  I'm excited for you all to get going back home, there is nothing like it.  That reminds me of a song....I think it's called Home.  It says, "home, now let me go home, home is whenever I'm with you!"  It's wild how that works.  I have noticed that the moments in my life where I have felt lost or sad or confused, where it seems as though I can't continue on, the thing that always popped into my mind was the thought of you, or of grandpa, or of family.  In Hawaii, it wasn't so much my friends, but it was the thought of Matty and Lindsay and Parker...it was never the thought of 460 Albers Rd., but the thought of being with the ones I love, with the ones that know me.  Because it is through you all that I find my support, my peace of mind, my comfort. I am so grateful to my God, for each and every one of you and the promise He has given me that as I do my all, as I strive to follow my Savior I can have you all by my side and I can have greater lasting joy.  I am so excited for the family to all be together again to celebrate Gromzy and Shaybaby...it's gonna be the sweetest.

Right now, I am still in Fredricksburg, training Hermana Wallis.  Our area is ginormous so we have a car, thank goodness, because its freezing!  I heard this winter is going to be awful because the last, apparently for others, was really "warm."  I'm loving it these days though, out here there are tons of trees and so I get to see everything change, and it's just beautiful.  The work is progressing and I am just trying to work as hard as I possibly can to consecrate my work to the Lord.  I just want Him to be proud of me by the end of this all.  Momma, yesterday in sacrament meeting a man bore his testimony. His name is Don Dimas Rodriguez and he is just the sickest ever, I love him so much. He bore his testimony talking about how grateful he was for his missionaries who gave him the chance to have the truth in his life, to hold the Priesthood of God, so that he can bless his family and friends...I couldn't help but cry, knowing what a large impact this work has on others, knowing how grateful I am for the missionaries who taught you and for your willingness to accept it, knowing how grateful I am for the examples of Matty and Grommy and Boofy and Dad, for their willingness to participate in it all and how grateful I am for my mission, for how blessed I am and will forever be to have seen the lives of people I have talked to change and seeing my life change.  There is no greater peace or joy, no greater feeling than helping others and seeing them light up literally at finding the way back to their Father in Heaven.  I love my mission momma, I love you, I love everyone.  BE safe in AFRIKA.

Cubo

RR

PS: Check out the crazy chihuahua that always tries to eat me at the trailers.

September 24, 2012

Dear Family: 

We found on Saturday night a woman named Nina, momma, she is so sweet.  She is from Mexico and lives with one of her three sons, the other two live in Mexico with her parents.  She is working to support all 4 of them in Mexico.  It was crazy, as she let us into her apartment and we started to talk with her, I could just see how tired she was, how much she needed peace, the peace that comes from the gospel and immediately i thought of Mathew, when Jesus says, "Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden and i will give ye rest."  I knew, in that moment that I was in the right place, that there was no where else in this world i needed to be but there, with her.   So we began to share with her and well, the incredible thing about her is that in Veracruz, Mexico, about 13 years ago she had spoken with missionaries, read the Book of Mormon and attended church regularly.  She lost contact with the elders when she moved, but we invited her to be baptized and she smiled big and said yes, that she had gone to baptisms of her friends and that was something she was wanting to do.  There is nothing more special than that, than finding someone who has been searching.  I know momma, that this gospel is true, that it is the thing that brings us eternal happiness.  I love you so much and am so grateful for the example that you are to me.  Tell every one I love them.  Be happy, cause momma, we are so blessed!

 

Cubo

RR

September 10, 2012

Mommy----

 

Sounds like Africa is just buck wild.  Keep enjoying it, just think, how many times will you get to be secluded in another country.  I love you so much and am so grateful for all your support.  Everything here is going good.  Just working hard and trying to make God proud.  I'm really trying to just focus on becoming the best that I can especially now that time is a matter.  Man momma, I love my mission so much, I'm so grateful for the things it has taught me and the way that I have grown...this will forever be the best decision of my life.  I think anytime we chose to draw closer to the Savior it's the best decision of our lives though, it just brings so much more light and peace to us.  This may sound wild, but I find more comfort and peace in my life now as a missionary with non stop days than I ever did in Hawaii.  It just goes to show, there is a difference between happiness and joy.  Happiness is the momentary satisfaction, its the fleeting gratification, but joy, it's lasting, it's an inner peace and it comes by following the Savior...(now I'm sure there is a balance between the two in this life and we need to find that balance.) But I'm grateful for the time I have to follow the Savior, to walk with Him and share the gospel with people.  That's the only thing that can truly change people's lives...so momma, those people that you see in Africa, I know how badly you want to help them and although you cant bring momentary happiness to them economically, you can give them joy - so snag some pass along cards from the missionaries and go buck!  Give em out like Matty did when he had just gotten home and we were in San Francisco for Christmas.  Remember how he gave them to everyone...I always thought he was so weird but now, I get it.  

I love you momma.
I'm so proud of you.

Tell everyone I love them so much.

 

Cubo

Raquel

September 3, 2012

MOMMMAAAA!!!!!

 

I'm so excited to write you!  HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!

 

I couldn't wait to read my emails this week from you to hear about the AFRICAN ADVENTURES of you and Nonie!  That's gonna be such a fun trip!  I'm stoked you two are getting to play a lil bit.  So you are going to be there in Africa forever - haha, just embrace it, have fun and love the members. You should go out with the missionaries if you have time!  I love that you love the ward there in Africa, the Spirit you feel.  Its incredible, I love the gospel so much momma, but I Love it way more in Spanish, its so pure and true, these converts they know the difference between having the gospel and not having it and so when they have it, they share it, they feel it and they tell everyone what they love about it cause they know that that is the best gift in the world we can give those we love.  It's sick. 

 

Out here in Fredricksburg, we are just working really hard trying to find people.  The work is so much more different than before. It's good though, it makes me humble and rely on God more.  So the other night, we were out knocking on these trailers and it was late, we had about 5 minutes left so we went and knocked on the last door.  Right after we knocked it, this white kid came out and he smelled so bad, his whole trailer smelled like marijuana and the look in his eyes just looked empty.  In that moment, I told him who we were and asked if he had faith in Jesus Christ to which his response was a chuckle and a no.  I remember looking away right after that to grab a pass along card and I just felt fear, we gave him the card and left but I learned something from that experience that I wanted to share with you.  I learned in that moment how important the Spirit is to me.  How much I thrive off of it and when it leaves, it makes me sick, so sad and scared.  I was thinking about how before my mission, I had kinda lost that for a while, I lost the ability to feel and recognize the Spirit like that because I wasn't surrounding myself with the best situations.  Now, I am so grateful for my mission because it has help me come to see the difference.  I'm sure I've told you before that my favorite scripture is in Corinthians, where it says that by faith we walk not by sight.  Well I have come to realize, with the Spirit we can come to have sight, as we follow it we are given more and more, as we trust in it we are able to be in the right places at the right times to help those who need us.  Momma, the Spirit is so precious, we need it so badly in this life, and God knew we would need it, thats why He gave it to us.  I'm so grateful for it. I never want to lose it.   I'm grateful for you.  I love you tons.  Tell Boofy and Seth and Thomas Thales Sherry (and Cali) that I love them.  Enjoy the time you have with them. 

 

Cubo

Raquel
 

PS:  Katie Kat..Kiki, Katherine, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

August 27, 2012

Hope all are doing well this week. 

As for me out here in Fredricksburg, everything is going really well.  The work down here is way different than in the city, a lot more driving, less apartments, and there are less Hispanics, so you really have to go searching for them.  So we knock a lot of trailer parks which is just buck wild haha, so many different people, we are definitely in the south now haha.  It's so wild, so many silly stories there,  I remember watching on NBC Dateline once this documentary about the people who live in the Appalachian mountains and how there are so many that struggle with illiteracy and drink mountain dew instead of water cause its cheaper, and well, I've met a few people who come from that lifestyle, and all I want to do is give them the gospel and help them overcome it all, but its so hard to help them realize that the truth is right at their door...

 

Knocking on doors, you get to meet so many different people with so many different things happening in their lives and it's like they're are out there drowning in all of their social, physical, economic and spiritual problems and all we can do to help them is share with them the gospel of Jesus Christ, its like we are throwing them a lifesaver, sometimes they take it and a lot of times they won't, and it's mostly because they are waiting for the helicopter to come pick them up, waiting for the sign..  I hope and pray so much that someday these people, who are our brothers and sisters will come to find true happiness and joy, will be able to see that all the peace they need comes through Jesus Christ and His gospel.

 

Something awesome that has happened to us though is we have been blessed with an incredible miracle!  My first Sunday here in this area, an Hermana from an English ward came in to our ward with a women named Angela who had just moved into her house.  Angela is from El Salvador and was super catholic.  We went over to her house last week and started teaching her, she was telling us that she was super catholic until she started to read the bible and began to see that there were somethings that were missing, ever since then, she stopped worshipping the virgin Mary and started looking for the religion that had it all...and now is being prepared to be baptized this month!  She is incredible.  We were explaining to her about the plan that god has for us, why we are here, and all she could say was, "yo quiero vivir en el reino celestial con dios, yo me quiero bautizar! "  I want to live with god, I want to get baptized!   It just clicks for her, I know that she has been being prepared for this moment, I know that there are so many people out there searching for the truth but cannot find it because they know not where to look, and we, who have it have to share it.  I'm so grateful for her, for this gospel, for the truth I have in my life.  I know it's true.  I love you so much momma, thanks for being an example of truth to me.

Cubo,

RR

 

PS: Happy Birthday Nnika and Chris!  Love you guys!

Emily Lehikainen!!!! I'm so estoked for you babaaay gurl!  Love you

My Dear Sweet Momma,

 

I'm so glad to hear that you all are home with Katie and that people are safe in the American front.  As for Caroline and Seth, I continue to pray for them and I know that as they keep the faith, they will be blessed forever from this event.  Not too much going on out here, just the usual haha, miracles everyday, learning so much about others, about myself and about my Savior.  There is no greater work than this...I love it.  I'm just livin' it up and working hard.  I'm super stoked, this weekend Florentino is getting ready for his baptism, so that is super sweet.  He is 20, from Mexico, we have been teaching him since April and he finally feels like he is ready to follow his Savior.  He has left so much behind, and he has changed so much.  It's crazy Momma, but when I was younger, I remember hating change...mostly because it started off with awful events, but I have started to see that the changes are essential to our personal and spiritual growth, change is essential to our lives.  Its the changes that make us grow, make us strive and work, it's the changes that, depending on how we handle them, shape us into who we are.  We need to constantly change, to constantly progress, because we need to become like our Heavenly Father.  I'm so grateful for my mission, for the change it's given me, the person it has made me in to.  I know there is no greater place than this. 

I love you all so much.  I'm so grateful for you and for your support.  Tell everyone I love them.

Love

RR

 

PS: Tell Katie I'm stoked for the letter and say hi to Maxine for me.  Tell Emily I can't wait to hear where she is going, she is gonna just change lives!  Love you Mom, so so much.  Enjoy the Utah trip :)

July 23, 2012

Mommy,

 

I just want to write one more note to make sure you know how much I love you and care about you.  I know that right now Caroline, Katie, and Seth, are all passing through a hard trial, and that it is hard for you and all the others who love them so much.  Momma, just remember that God is watching out for them.  He has His hand in their lives and in ours.  And that as we all remain faithful, He will guide is to where we need to be and to who we need to be.  It reminds me of the conference talk by Elder Eyring where he says that it is the trials and tribulations that refine us, that make us stronger.  I truly believe that. We would not be the family we are today had we not had to face the trials that we faced. I would not be the person I am today had I not encountered and faced the things that I have faced and the same goes for all.  I have come to realize that there are moments in our lives, the hard moments, where the sun seems to fade and we have to ask ourselves, should I stop, should I give up, or should I walk in the darkness, holding on to the gospel - should I walk in faith.  In Corinthians, Paul says that by faith we walk...and so, as we choose to walk, holding strong the gospel truths, relying on our Savior, we begin to see that up ahead, there is light again, and as we enter into the light we see that it is the most beautiful light we have ever seen.  When we face trials and choose to hold to the gospel and turn to the Savior, we become strengthened in Him, our faith that was once tested becomes stronger, and our knowledge that was once so little increases.  That is the purpose of this life momma, to trust in God at all times, to be rely on Him and be strengthened by Him.  And to know that after the darkness comes the light.  I know, that God is looking after them.  I  know that as I do my best to work hard He will bless them, I know that as we all do our best to work hard and be obedient, He will bless them.  Be strong, tell them I love them.  I love you momma.  

Cubo<

RR

PS: Happy birthday Nonie!!!!

 

Also good news: Noel got his id this week!!  Keep you all posted on it.

July 16, 2012

Hey Everyone

This weekend we were so blessed.  A family of three got baptized and then a 14 year old girl, Maylis also got baptized.  Martha(Colombia), Fredy(Guatemala) y Kamila Pantaleon...we found them in a subway.  My companion was in the bathroom, so I started talking to them and we got a return appointment. With time, we started visiting them regularly.  The only problem was that Martha was extremely Catholic. She grew up praying to the Virgin Mary and everything, but she said she felt like there was something she was missing and she wanted her family to be united.  Well, we finally started getting to teach Fredy, her husband, and he quickly embraced the gospel.  He started changing... leaving things behind, like alcohol and coffee, and he told us that he just felt good at church.  He felt at peace, different than ever before.  So we invited them to be baptized and they said yes!  It was so incredible to see each one of them leave the water...first Fredy with tears coming down his face, then Martha and then Kamila.  She said to us right after that she had been searching and pleading for God to help her family and then He heard her pleads and sent us.  That moment was so humbling and so special for me.  I love them so much and am so excited for when they can enter into the temple and be sealed forever.  I know this gospel is true momma, I know that God has a plan for each and every one of us and I know that our family will be together forever, that we will see Dad and Grandpa again and we will all just celebrate.  That's all God wants for us... to be happy.  We just have to do our part.  But it is a beautiful thing.  I love you momma, tons.

Cubo

RR

July 9, 2012

Dear Family - HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!!!!!  God Bless America!  What a place to be on such a special day...  Along with the month of July, I start to realize that time is running faster and faster - four more months is all I have left to do some very special and important work.  I'm excited to see you all but at the same time, I'm a little nervous.  I just want to be good.  I want to know that God is proud of me and all that I have done.  I just need to keep working hard to the end, keep giving all that I can!  We are having baptisms this week, Marta (Colombia), Fredy (Guatamala), Kamila and Maylis (Honduras).

The Lord is blessing us so much right now and there is nothing sweeter than seeing people who I love, my brothers and sisters change, and accept the gospel in their lives.  I'm so grateful for it.  I know that it is something so special.  This IS God's work, the work of salvation, the work of eternal happiness.  I am so blessed to be a part of it all.  This gospel changes lives, and more than anyone's, it has changed my life.  I'm so humbled and blessed and will forever be indebt to my Savior.  I love you all so much. Thanks for all you do.  Keep praying for Noel and Osiris - that Noel can get his passport from Honduras. I think I may have missed some birthday shout outs, if so - I apologize.  I think I missed Auntie Lisa Lodi.  KC!!!!!  You are coming up.  Nonie!!!!  You are all in my heart!  

 

Cubo

RR

June 25, 2012

This letter is going to be short because to be honest I dont have much time.  We just got back from running to DC...so SICK!  I loved it tons, it was so peaceful.  This week we had to say goodbye to the Albrights :( they are going home.  I love them so much, President is just "the man."  Ima miss them.  Found out that me and Hermana Ahokava are going to stay together and we are both stoked!  She has become such a good friend and there is nothing like doing missionary work with one of your best friends!  As for the people, Noel and Osiris want to get married and be baptized but they have to wait for their passport to get to them from Honduras. Pray for them momma...family, they are on the brink of making such a beautiful decsion and the adversary is working hard, he doest want them happy...but God does.  Momma, I love this work.  I love the Savior.  I love it all.  And I love you.  Thanks for always being so good to me.

 

cubo

rr

June 18, 2012

Hey everyone!

So this week we had a miracle...

 

As a zone we decided to fast for our investigators to have spiritual experiences and well, Noel had a huge one.

We went over to Noel and Osiris' house and Noel answered the door.  He was there with his friend (and his sister-in-law) and they were both drinking.  There were beers on the table and as I sat down and saw them, the saddest feeling I have ever felt came over me. I didn't know what to do.  We knew that we probably couldn't really teach him too much, so we began to invite him to come to church and as we were inviting him, his eyes rolled into the back of his head...I asked "Noel, are you okay?"  he said to me "yeah I am okay."  Than I said, you look a little tired.  He then said, "Hermana, why am I going to lie to you, I am an alcoholic,  I am an alcoholic."  And then with tears in his eyes he said, "but I don't want to be like this anymore, I want to change.  Ever since you all started coming by I have begun to change.  You have won my heart, I am ready to change."  We began to explain that it was the Spirit that has won his heart, that has given him the desires to change and that by following his Savior Jesus Christ, by following the Greatest Man who ever lived, he could over come this and that all of his sins could be erased.  He then said," okay, I am ready to do this."  Then, we invited him in that moment to throw away his beer.  Together, that night, we poured all the beer down the drain, he received a blessing, and then the next morning when we stopped by for church, he, his best friend and Osiris were already - waiting to go to church! 

 

That moment was one of the most special moments I have ever experienced - to be able to see a man at his lowest, most humble state, recognize that he needed the Savior's help and accept the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ.  It was a testimony to me.  I know this gospel is true, and it is only through it and following our Savior that we can be healed.   

 

Love you all!

 

Cubo

RR

 

PS:  Happy Birthday to Aunt Cyndy, Aunt Sabrina, and Granny Jo! Love you all and thanks Lukey Barnes for being the sweetest lil cuz ever and writing me :) love you!

June 11, 2012

So mom, Hermana Ahokava and I are training a new missionary...super sweet but crazy because it made me realize that I have been a missionary for a while. Just it has made me come to recognize that, I'm going home soon...The thought of being in the world scares me, the only conversation topics I have these days have to do with my mission, my investigators, and the people I have come to love. Hope you all will be ready for "awkward rachel." When the time comes its gonna be super good though. I got all those pictures in the mail, and it just made me really happy...gahh, I miss you all tons. Momma, I hope you know how much I love you. I'm proud of you. Thanks for being the best and always having my back. BE good, keep me posted on the Hawaii thing :) I love you. RR
Happy Birthday Shout Outs to:  Aunt Cyndy, EMILY EMILY EMILY, Aunt Bri, Auntie LISA
And Happy Father's Day to Grandpa, Dad, Papa Wally, Matty and Seth, Mark and Brother Wilson (and all of you other great fathers out there.)

 Here are some pictures...my ode to Boofy haha.. People were calling me senora with that dress on haha. I love you Boofy!

                                                                                                        The other photos are companions and investigators.

June 4, 2012

Hola! I just wanted to write you all a little update, so here it goes.... Right now I am serving in Alexandria, Virginia with Hermana Ahokava(thats right, I found my islander here in Virginia!). We are having a blast and seeing so many miracles. Man, its the best! Right now we are teaching a few people that are really progressing. I want to tell you all about Noel y Osiris from Honduras, my family, haha. Its crazy but I never thought I could love as much as I love them. They are the sweetest, and all that I want for them is to be completely happy. Hermana Sorensen and I found them about 4 months ago knocking doors and they just let us right in. Since then I have come to know them...they have told us of their struggles leaving their son in Honduras so they could support him, crossing the border, working 2 sometimes 3 jobs, and we have been able to see how the gospel has helped them, how it has lightened there eyes and also the weight on their backs. It has been such a testimony to me that this gospel, has a healing power, that this work, is God's work, and that His work is to help us all return to Him so we can be eternally happy. I love you all. Cubo RR PS: happy birthday Aunt Nina, Cali, Lindsay, and Sarah. love you

May 21, 2012

Hey everyone- So this last week has really been incredible. We have just been super blessed with a lot of miracles. Man, I feel so humbled everyday to be a part of this work, the Lord's work, a spiritual work, an eternal work. To see peoples lives change and to be able to be an instrument in the hands of the Lord. What a humbling experience and what a blessing. This last week I got to go on an exchange back to Bella Vista and see my former investigators who I have missed so much. It was a really sweet experience. First we went and see the Family Arguetta. Oh how I love this family. They are a family of 6 from El Salvador and Marta makes the best pupusas ever! Well I guess the last couple of transfers they have been kinda stuck, Marta has been waiting for an answer from God. So me and Hna Thompson we went in to go and teach them and we talked with her about how she expected to receive her answer. She said through prayer and the feelings she received. We then asked her if she had prayed specifically, to know if these things were true, to which she replied she didn't have to, she already knew. She said that she just wasn't sure about baptism. In that moment, I remembered her telling us(me and hna moya) about a dream she had the first night she met us about 6 months ago. That night, after we taught her the first lesson, we invited her to pray for guidance. Well, she did it. That night she got on her knees and prayed and asked God for guidance, for where she should go with her kids, where he wanted her to be. She had a dream, that she was in the church with me and Hna Moya. She received an answer from God the first night she met us. The Spirit was able to remind me of her telling us of that dream and and it testified to her that that was her answer. She said that it was right and that she didn't want to go to church anywhere else. Right now, they are preparing for baptism the 15th of June! The second sweet experience I had that day was when we went to see Carmen...Carmen is the best, she came up to me and Hna Moya in church back in Dec and asked to learn from us. Unfortunately she has also been stuck lately because she is living with her boyfriend and has had a fear of leaving him over something she wasn't sure was true. As she has been taught she has seen so many people progress to baptism and change, for example her boyfriend's nephew Rudy was baptized the 5th of May. She went to his baptism and was moved to tears. So that night we went to see her. She said the opening prayer and the spirit was in the room so strongly. We talked a little about Rudy's baptism and how much he had changed and how he had a full testimony of the gospel. We then talked to her about the gospel of Jesus Christ and how much He loved her. She expressed her feelings of how she wished the past could be wiped away and then we read with her Alma 7:10-15. The Spirit was so strong in the room. We explained to her that through the gospel of Jesus Christ, through faith in Him, repentance and baptism, all can be washed away, erased. We asked her how she would feel to be completely clean from her past? She began to cry and we asked her how she was feeling. With tears rolling down her face she said that she had gone to the catholic church growing up and she liked it, but it never made her feel the way she felt, it never made her cry...she said she knew the church was true. We invited her to come unto Christ and be baptized the 15th of June to which she excepted. I love my mission, I love all that it has given me. In this time, I feel like I have come to see things and people with a different perspective, I see them now as my brothers and sisters, and I love them so much! I only want the best for them, I only want to help them be the happiest they can be. I know from experience that the truest happiness you can receive is by living the gospel of Jesus Christ and I feel so grateful to my Heavenly Father to have had the chance to go back to Bella Vista that day, to see my people haha, the ones that I have grown to love with all my heart and to see the moment where they felt the truth and accepted it. The Holy Ghost testified to them the truth, It testified to them the eternal truth, that God loves them and that He wants to see them again. The gospel is so true. God's hand is in our lives everyday. I am a witness of it. I love you all so much. Cubo RR

May 7, 2012

Hello dear family: How I love you all so much. So this week out here in the mission was really awesome. We got to hear from President Bednar and the spirit in the room was so incredible. After we walked out I remember feeling so physically, mentally and spiritually drained. He talked so much about faith and so much about how we had to act in order to truly learn and to truly gain a testimony. He also talked a lot about humility, about being the instrument that the Lord needs you to be so that He can work through you. I have come to realize on my mission, that all of this work has absolutely nothing to do with me. All the success, the miracles I have seen have all been because the Lord gave them to me, so that I could learn more and be more grateful to Him. And I am. I am so grateful to my Savior, to my Best Friend. Cubo, RR

Bowling

SISTERS ACTIVITY - MARCH 5, 2012

The whole beautiful group

Sisters Sorenson, Hardt, Ahokava, Raynor, and Dezzeo

Pres with Sis Yoon, Moses, Crockett, Ferrin, and Murray

Sisters Mecham, Rozsa, Anderson , Hanson, Ferrin, Sister Albright, Sorenson, Crockett, Moses, Smith, Barnes, Raynor, and Ganbaatar

Wash DC Missionary Fun Day

SPANISH MISSIONARY FUN On March 19, 2012 we had all the Spanish Speaking missionaries come to the mission home for a P-day activity and barbecue. It was lots of fun. What a wonderful group of young men and women. They had a great time. They love to get together and visit because they are spread all over the mission and don't see each other alot.

April 23, 2012

April 23, 2012 Hey everyone, This week has been a week I will never forget. Let me start of by saying I am still serving in Alexandria but now I am with Hermana Dezzeo, from Venezuela. Alright, so the Lord has been blessing us insurmountably. As of right now we have 5 people preparing to be baptized el Cinco de Mayo! That's right, we know how to celebrate Cinco de Mayo...well the Lord does. So let me just tell you about a little miracle that happened yesterday.... We went on an exchange so Hermana Dezzeo could go see a former investigator get baptized, I stayed here and went to go see Carolina and her family (from Mexico). As we were about to start, Angel, the best friend of Carolina's husband knocked the door, came in and sat down. -Side note: Angel is a former investigator who has had a really rough past- We started to read with them from the book of Mormon, 3 Nefi 27. As we read there was an overwhelming peace that entered in the room. We started talking about how our purpose here in this life is to do the things the Savior did, to follow him, to repent, be baptized, and endure to the end. I then asked Angel what he could do to follow his Savior...his reply was, 'be baptized, change my life, and do what i know is right.' In that moment, the spirit was so strong, and so I invited him to follow the footsteps of his Savior and be baptized the 13 of May...he said sure, and then I said actually, how about el Cinco de Mayo? He replied, “that sounds like a way better date.” Last night he came to a baptism with us and was telling everyone he was getting baptized the 5th of May. Angel was lost, he was struggling, but the Lord has been preparing him. I know the Spirit testified to every person in that room, in that moment, of the truthfulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ, of the importance of following the Savior and doing what was right. Someone said that 'when we invite people to come unto Christ, the gates of hell tremble'...I know the gates of hell were trembling, I know that this gospel is true. I know that this is the way back to eternal peace and happiness...it is so so sweet. I love you all. Miss you. Cubo RR 


March 26, 2012

March 26, 2012 HOLA FAMILIA, WELP, ANOTHER WEEK HAS COME AND GONE HERE IN ALEXANDRIA VIRGINIA (I THINK THATS HOW IT’S SPELLED...STILL HAVEN’T FIGURED OUT HOW TO SPELL VIRIGINIA). WE HAVE BEEN WORKING REALLY HARD THIS WEEK, KNOCKING A LOT OF APARTMENT BUILDINGS TRYING TO FIND SOME PEOPLE THAT ARE READY TO LISTEN TO THE GOSPEL AND WE HAD A MIRACLE. TWO SUNDAYS AGO AT ABOUT 8:55, A MAN OPENS THE DOOR, HE IS FROM HONDURAS. I START TALKING TO HIM AND TELLING HIM WHO WE ARE AND HE TELLS US TO COME IN. AS WE WALK IN HE GOES AND GETS HIS WIFE AND BROTHER. TURNS OUT, ALL THREE HAD HEARD MISSIONARIES IN HONDURAS AND ALL THREE WERE INTERESTED IN KNOWING MORE. WE HAVE TAUGHT THEM A FEW LESSONS AND THIS SUNDAY THEY CAME TO CHURCH! ITS THE BEST FEELING WHEN YOU FIND SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN SEARCHING FOR THE GOSPEL, JUST LOOKING FOR IT, AND YOU GET TO HELP THEM FIND IT! i WAS SO STOKED. THEY ARE SUCH GOOD PEOPLE. ANYWAYS, I’M SURE I HAVE TOLD YOU ALL THIS BEFORE, BUT I LOVE MY MISSION. I HAVE JUST BEEN THINKING ABOUT HOW MUCH I HAVE LEARNED THE LAST 9 MONTHS AND IT BLOWS MY MIND. MY PERSPECTIVE, MY VALUES, THE PERSON I WANT TO BE HAVE ALL CHANGED AND IT’S BECAUSE OF MY MISSION. IT’S ONE OF THOSE THINGS WERE I AM SO GRATEFUL I DECIDED TO COME OUT HERE. THE THOUGHT OF MISSING OUT ON THIS LEARNING AND GROWING EXPERIENCE - I WOULD HAVE BEEN SO NAIVE. I KNOW THAT THIS IS WHERE I NEEDED TO BE. I KNOW NOW, THAT THE GOSPEL IS TRUE AND THAT IS ENOUGH FOR ME. I LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH AND MISS YOU. THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING ME. CUBO RR

March 12, 2012

March 12, 2012 Alexandria!! I love this place! Its so crazy here, so historical, so sweet. Papa Wally would love it here, haha. There is a George Washington monument and its a Masonic Temple.... its sick, every time I see it I think of Papa. Another reason why I like it here is because its ghetto haha. The other day we were teaching a lesson and I get bit by a 4 year old black child with an afro haha...he then proceeded to cuss me out! I loved it! So anyways, there is a place here called Chileagua. Named after a province in El Salvador, its a bunch of really ghetto broken down apartment buildings where all the Hispanics live and we cant go there at night, but man, it’s here where they need the gospel the most. They are so sad, so lost and so blinded. All you can do is try to share with them a little but of peace and hope that they have the faith to accept it...sometimes they do, sometimes they don’t. It’s crazy. I remember reading somewhere that the greatest thing to cure the sadness in the world is the gospel of Jesus Christ and I know it is true. Because it is a gospel of love and light and of happiness. There is no greater thing that we as human beings can do than share with people the love that Jesus Christ has. We have to, everyone needs it, we have to radiate is love and we have to give it. I Love you all so much. Cubo RR

March 5, 2012

March 5, 2012 Hey Everyone, Sorry it’s been a while. So its official, I have been transferred for the first time in my mission...I am now serving in Alexandria VA, and it is awesome. I love being able to serve in the city, there are so many different people that we come in contact with. That’s one of my favorite parts about the mission, all the people I have come to meet. It’s super interesting, they all come from different places, and have different stories and yet, when you ask them about God or start talking about him, they all seem to be searching for him, wanting to know more about him. I have been thinking a lot about that, about how we are all searching for that something that seems to be missing, for that peace, for that happiness, the peace of truth...and what it all comes down to is we are searching for GOD! He is all of those things. He brings us the truth and joy that we as human beings search for. I can’t tell you how many people here (especially the Hispanic people) search for that, they will let anyone in who is talking about God because they are searching for that hope, that little bit of light. I know, that God is truth, that He is happiness. I know that He loves us and has given us this gospel, this light that we can follow in the dark world. We are so blessed. I love you all and think of you always. Cubo, RR

January 23, 2012

Hey everyone!

So drum roll......I am staying in Bella Vista...Arlington Virginia for at least another 6 weeks. Cheeeeeyup! Im not gonna lie, I was shocked, but also really stoked. By the end of this transfer I will have officially spent basically half of my mission in this ward. I feel so blessed and so humbled because I have gotten to know some of the best people in my life. The members are so faithful, and truly understand the beauty and truthfulness of the gospel. They love the savior and they are always ready to go out and share the gospel. The last months of my life have been so crazy, I have learned more out here, in the last 8 months than I did the last 4 years and I am grateful for it. I was thinking about it and I never knew what the gospel was until I came out on my mission. I feel so blessed to be able to say now, that I know what it is. It is truth, it is the light along the pathway back to our heavenly father. it is our guide out here in this world. Because of the gospel, I know what my purpose is, who I am and who I want to be. I know what is most important and it is loving others as God does, it is serving others and doing the best that i can to be like Jesus. I love it! How blessed am I everyday. How blessed are we to be able to have this knowledge and to be able to share it with others! I love you all so much.
Cubo
RR

ps..shout out to:

The barnes family! you are all the best. Love you tons.
Petersons! I cant believe how big everyone is. Miss you all.
Ashley- HAPPY BIRTHDAY>>>LOVE YOU LIKE NONE OTHER
GrannyJO-get well, love you.

January 17, 2012

So last week we had a baptism and it was incredible.

His name is Roy (de mexico). This guy is sweet, we met him on December 8th and he was baptized on January 8th. The crazy thing is that in October he was baptized in a Chrisitian church. Roy's whole life he has been searching for the truth, searching for God and the way he could be closer to him. I have never met someone who has wanted so badly to know the will of God and to do what God wanted him to do. I asked him once why he liked reading the scriptures and he told me because he likes knowing what God wants him to do and he likes feeling close to him. He then asked us if it was normal for someone to just barely meet the missionaries and want to be baptized so quickly, its crazy but we were able to tell him yes...because it is true. People are converted so quickly to this message because it is the truth, because they feel the holy ghost and they know and Roy was no exception. He was looking for the truth and because he was looking and willing to accept it, he recieved his answer. January 8th was the best, Roy was so stoked and happy because he finally felt right, he finally found the place where he could be happy and feel the love that his heavenly father has for him. I am so humbled to have been able to meet him and share with him this gospel...man, its sweet. The gospel is true. I love you all.

Cubo
RR

January 9, 2012

Just pictures this week, but I still love you all.
Cubo
RR

January 3, 2012

Feliz Ano!!

This is going to be a short email because I don't really have too much time. I cant believe a year has already passed since I left Hawaii and decided to go on a mission. This last year has flown by which to be honest, I am grateful for it. I was thinking a lot this new years about how much it is my least favorite holiday, but something is different this year, This year, I am stoked! Its crazy because right now, this year, I have the opportunity to just focus on the lord, on his will and on becoming a better person. I get to focus on being more loving and being more like Jesus Christ. In my whole life I don't think I have ever felt this much love towards the Savior and God. I am so grateful for the growth that I have had this year. And now I am stoked to throw away the bad things from the past and start over. It is so sweet with every new year we get to better ourselves to start over fresh and so, this year, that is what I am going to do...start over, be a better, kinder person.Be more sharing and more giving, love more and be more focused. I love this gospel. I know it is true. Love you all.
Cubo
RR