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