Mi familia!
As always this week has been crazy, but full of the best things ever!
The
week started out with the best district/zone meeting EVER. We have the
best leaders in the whole wide mission. There were three different
rooms, and we all rotated through and listened to the different lessons,
and then ended with a testimony meeting. Their goal was a faith
building/atonement understanding boost, I guess, and boy did it work. I
have been learning what it means to really change, what it really means
to accept the atonement. We had an object lesson about the atonement.
We all had these weigh type things and one of the elders came around
and asked us to give him our weights. I gave mine away pretty
willingly, but watching him sweat and shake as he took everybodys
weights really got to me. For a moment I felt bad, that I do that to
the savior, but then I realized that really I should feel bad if I dont
use the atonement, because he already suffered, so really I show my
gratitude/respect/love for him, by using the gift he already gave me.
best. We talked about replacing fear with faith, because the two
cannot co-exist. And about how we can openly give of our love the every
one we meet. It was the best.
We started teaching this cuban couple (a referral
from luis y merta), and they are the funniest ever. Vladmir has a
ginormous mustache, and is just this nice smily guy. Rita is a little
nuts, and talks our ears off, but they are both so prepared! She is
obsessed with the Book of Mormon, she made us write our testimonies on
the inside and sign and date it for her. She treats it like gold.
Our investigator Juan, who is schizophrenic,
went the hospital this weekend, so that was sad. Mostly he is just
crazy, and we are not sure what we are going to do about teaching him,
but we went and visited him, and as far as I am concerned we will keep
visiting him. Because he knows that the things of God are good and he
wants to be better, and when we are there he is happy. He is one of my
favorites!
We also started teaching this senor named Ricardo,
he is the son of one of our investigators Maria. We met him a couple of
weeks ago when we went to visit Maria, but it was really awkward
because he just started confessing his love for me and wanted me to go
dancing with him and also told me I was too pretty to be a nun. Mostly
it was funny, but we were going to proceed with caution with him...but
we ran into him one afternoon and started talking to him and ended up
teaching him a lesson. He is not very educated, cant read or write, and
just got here from mexico a couple of weeks ago. We also told him we
would help him learn to read and write! The lessons are going great,
and he has really humbled himself and is asking the Lord for help, and
he is helping him! It is the coolest to see.
We had an epic activity on Saturday
night! We set up a tree of life/lehi dream scenario, and had the
members try and make it to the tree! We had distractions complete with
donuts, movies, and games. It was so much fun. We were trying to help
get the missionary fire going, and also strengthen the members. It went
really well, I wish more people could have been there, but Rita and
Vladamir came, so that was awesome.
Also, Mom, in answer to your question, yes I LOVE
the members here. One of my favorites is Flor. She has been a convert
for just over a year and is the cutest ever. Her husband is Jose, and
she has the cutest little boy Joshua. She is my inspiration. She just
understands the gospel. She has the strongest testimony and always
wants to help. She is the one who taught me how to make poupusas and
tortillas and tacos. She is also pregnant and always lets me feel her
baby, and I told her to name her after me, but she said she cant because
her mom wont be able to pronounce "riley jane". So that was hilarious.
We are having a baby shower for her soon, so I will send pictures! I
am sure it will be very different than the jungle theme one for Sharon,
send me pictures!
Yesterday we had the best/most inspirational meeting
I have ever been to! (we did have to get up at 4 to go to Richmond, but
it was worth it!) Elder Sitati from the 70 came and talked to us. He
is awesome, he is from Kenya and he and his wife are rocks in the
gospel. We essentially broke down "our purpose" as missionaries, and
applied to our real lives as well. He taught us a new way to study the
scriptures/gospel. He had us find scriptures that explained the "how"
and "why", of certain gospel principals. It was very eye opening. He
talked alot about receiving revelation. He said that receiving
revelation is like planting a garden. We have to first prepare the
soil, we have to be trying to live a righteous life, following the
commandment. Then we plant the seed, ask a question. Help the plant to
grow, give it water and sunlight, read the scriptures, pray, go to
church. And then we have the faith that the seed will grow, every
morning we check the plant and if it hasn't sprouted yet, if we haven't
received the answer yet, check back tomorrow.
It will grow! He said that the spirit is what changes us, through
the power of the atonement. The spirit is what leads us to truth, to do
the good things, and we can do every good thing with Christ's help!
The area is great! I love being a missionary.
I think I failed to mention that is is freezing here, every day I
think I am going to die, and its a different kind of cold than utah,
it's really penetrating. It is also supposed to snow this week so that
should be all kinds of fun adventures. Also I have been sleeping all
through the night all week! YAY! We have transfers next week, so I
won't know what is happening for thanksgiving until after then! I am
happy! Keep being missionaries, I love you!
con amor, Hermana Riley Jane
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