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

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