God Works in Mysterious Ways

#1 - Lunch with the sisters in my district - Sister Bonner, me, Sister Wahlen, and Sister Carling

#2 - Look at us, all cute and matching with our green and black! (no, we didn't plan that :) )  Sister Bonner and me with Melanie, a little girl in our ward.

Hey y'all!

It has been a crazy week.  Crazy and busy.  Perfect conditions for a missionary. :)

We were able to meet with Maria and talk with her about her baptismal date.  The only concern she has with being baptized is that she feels like she doesn't know enough.  While we were talking, we told her that you don't need to know everything to become a member of the church.  In fact, that's one of the best things about this church - is that you're always learning.  The whole Plan of Salvation is about progression; learning more so we can become like our Heavenly Father.  Hopefully we were able to resolve some of her concerns.  She's ready - she just needs to understand that. :)  She wasn't able to come to church yesterday because her baby is still sick, but she said she'd be there next Sunday. 

We were also able to meet with Robert - twice this week.  The first time was with Melanie, and I swear, something changed - there was a whole new Melanie that we were meeting with.  She was sharing spiritual experiences with us, she made some awesome comments during the lesson, and (here's the best part) she VOLUNTEERED to say the closing prayer!  Up to this point, she refused to pray with us, and she hasn't really been in the habit of saying personal prayers either... but she said one with us! and it was awesome!  It might have helped that we were teaching about prayer and scripture study... :)  Well, whatever happened, we hope it stays.  I think all the prayers said on her behalf are finally starting to pay off! :)

The second time we met with Robert this week was crazy.  We were supposed to go over to a member's home (the Peruch family) on Thursday evening to teach.  On Thursday morning, however, Sister Peruch called and said her husband was sick so we wouldn't be able to go over there.  So we told Robert, and asked if we could teach him and Melanie at his house, but Melanie wasn't going to be able to be there, so that didn't work.  And the McLanes, (we usually teach Robert at their house - Brother McLane is his main fellowshipper) were busy that night... we were running out of solutions.  But Sister Bonner and I both felt strongly that we shouldn't cancel on our appointment that night, so, after making lots of phone calls and sending lots of texts, we were able to find people that could give us rides so we could meet Robert at a public place. (We didn't really want to ride our bikes across busy roads in the dark.) FINALLY, after a few little panic attacks, we got it all worked out and were able to meet Robert at a little cafe.  And we were able to have an awesome discussion.  It actually worked out better this way - Robert was able to tell us some more sensitive details that he wouldn't have felt comfortable discussing with members that he doesn't know as well, and we were able to discuss how we can all best help Melanie overcome her addictions.  So it all worked out for the best, and it worked out exactly how God wanted it to.  I just feel bad that Brother Peruch had to get sick for it to happen the way it should! :)  

Funny experience: on Friday we were walking around, street contacting and tracting and visiting members, and we decided to visit a member that lives in a gated community.  We had the code to get through the gate, so we walked in and knocked on their door.  Unfortunately no one was home.  So we went to walk out of this gated neighborhood, and we realized that there was no walk in entrance... basically we realized that you need a car (or something big enough that the sensor will recognize it) to get out... so yeah... we got locked INSIDE a gated community... it's not everyday that you can say that. ;) Luckily we only had to sit on a curb for a few minnutes, waiting for a car to either go in or out. :)

We were also able to see a less active this week - sister Fernandez.  Her husband is not a member, but they both came to the game night that we had a few weeks ago.  We talked to her, and she said that her husband is opening up more to learning more about the church!  So we set up an appointment to meet with the whole family, and we will teach them tonight. :)

Well, that's all for this week.  I love y'all so much!  Thanks as always for the love and support!  Have a great week! :)

Sister Ririe

Isaiah 55:8

I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY!!!!

Hey y'all!

This week has been amazing.  I don't even know where to start.  But, what else is new, right?  Basically, missionary work is great, and I love being a missionary.  :D  Yep.

Before Sister Goodrich left, we were able to meet with Robert and Melanie.  Robert is still solid, and working his way to his baptism. :) We went over the baptismal interview questions with him, and he passed!  Now we just need to finish teaching him the lessons and then he'll be ready!  We're meeting with them again tonight, and hopefully on Thursday too.  They are awesome, and I love being able to work with them!  Melanie is slowly but surely letting us bring the spirit into her life, and slowly but surely we're helping her realize that she can have it with her every day again.  I love being a missionary, and seeing/feeling the spirit work through me to touch others!

Transfers:  Sister Goodrich left and is now serving in Conroe, and my new companion is Sister Bonner!  She was in my MTC district, so she's been out as long as I have (just over 7 months - crazy!).  It is really fun to get to know her again, and get to know her better now that we're companions.  She's from Bountiful Utah, and she's awesome, and a really hard worker, and she has a lot of great ideas that we're putting to use here in Memorial Springs.  This is her 2nd area, just like me - she served for 7 months in the Melbourne ward, which is the southeast corner of our area, just above downtown Houston.  So she moved from the ghetto to the suburbs - quite the change.  She can't get over how small (geographically) the area is, and how there's a member on pretty much every street.  So, quite the change for her, but she loves it here.  Which is great, because I do too. :) That's Sister Bonner for ya - I love her! :)

Also with transfers - I didn't think I would be able to take over the area after just one transfer of being here... but so far I haven't gotten us too lost. ;) I'm really surprised at how much I've been able to remember, about members and investigators, where everyone lives, etc. - and I know it's not just me.  Alma 26:12.  I would NOT be able to do this alone.  But I have the Lord on my side, and with His strength I can do all things.  

We were able to meet with one of our investigators who we haven't been able to see in a long time - her name is Maria.  And she agreed to set a baptismal date!  March 22 - it'll be awesome. :)  We went over the baptismal interview questions with her too, and she passed too.  She's had the missionary lessons 3 or 4 times, but just hasn't been ready to commit and stick to a date (she's had 4 different dates in the past...) but this time it's going to happen.  She's ready, we just need to help her realize that. :)

We've been doing a lot of biking this week - we discovered a way to get from one half of our area to the other without riding on the really dangerous, busy, no shoulder, no sidewalk, no bike lane, ditch on both sides roads.  Don't worry, we haven't been riding on them, we've mostly been getting rides and then walking around.  Here's the dilemma we've faced: our apartment is at the corner of two such roads, so we've only been able to get into one neighborhood via bike.  But last week we moved our bikes to a member's back yard, so we've been able to ride around 3 of the 6 neighborhoods in our area without riding on any main roads.  Well, we finally found a back-road way to get to 2 more neighborhoods, so now we can get almost anywhere on bike, once we get a ride to our bikes that is.  ...I'm not sure if any of this is making any sense... moral of the story: we are now able to use our bikes a lot more.  So we have been using our bikes a lot more.  It's great - we're able to get places a lot faster without having to rely as much on members for rides.  And the weather right now here is great - I think most of the freeze has left and we are quickly plunging through spring back into summer.

Anyway... sorry about the long tangent... back to my story.  Along with all the biking we've been doing, we've also been doing a lot of tracting.  Sister Goodrich had tracted most of the area already before I got here, so I didn't tract hardly at all with her.  But now I'm with Sister Bonner, we've been tracting a lot.  And we've run into a LOT of different people - new investigators (Betsy and Coy, they're mostly interested in learning so they can respect mormons and our religion, they don't want to convert... that's what they're saying right now anyway...;) ) to people who say they're so sorry for us, that we're delusional, and that they hope we find the truth soon.  People like that... they don't realize that we're feeling sorry for them too... We hope that our knocking on their door will somehow plant a seed into their hardened heart.  But every door that we knock on that we get that response just strengthens my testimony - even with the hardest opposition, I can feel the spirit with me, helping me stand firm in what I know.  If the church weren't true, would I have that?  I don't think so.  I love being a missionary!  My testimony has grown in so many ways - ways I didn't even think were possible.  I love it.  

Summary: This week we have 2 new investigators, and 2 investigators with baptismal dates, in a ward that hasn't seen a convert baptism in over 2 years.  I can feel it - the Lord really is hastening His work!

I love all y'all so much!  Thanks for the love and support. :)  Y'all are awesome - stay strong in what you know.  And have a great week!  Oh, and Elder Johnny Ruesch - welcome back to the field. :)  Love y'all!

Sister Ririe

John 14:15

oh, and happy valentines day!  We heart-attacked a few of our investigators and less actives to let them know they're loved. :)

A House of Learning

 #1 - Sister Goodrich and I at the temple
#2 - This is a couple of weeks late, but all of Houston was shut down, for this... :)
#3 - My district - me, Sister Goodrich, Sister Wahlin, Sister Hudgens, Elder Graham, Elder Thomas
#4 - Sister Jackson, Sister Sansom, Sister Goodrich and me at the quilting bee
#5 - Sister Goodrich and me with some of the Rackleffs - one of our favorite families!!

Hey y'all!

This week has been pretty amazing, so much has happened!  You know, for being in such a small area, there sure is a lot that happens here.  Memorial Springs sure does have a lot of adventures in store for missionaries... I love it. :)  Where to begin...

Tuesday was the first day that I rode my bike in the rain, that was fun.  Usually when it rains we just walk or get rides so we can use umbrellas and hopefully not get soaked, but we had a lot of people to see, so we decided to use our bikes.  We got soaked.  But it was an adventure, and we had fun with it.  And it wasn't as cold as it has been, so it wasn't too miserable. ;)  We were able to do some service for some less active members, including helping one of them move from one apartment to another in the same complex. (at this point in the day it wasn't raining anymore.) 

Wednesday we were able to go to the Temple! Finally!  We had a great experience there, and I learned so much - more than I've ever learned in the temple before.  I love going to the temple - there is such a special spirit there - a feeling of peace that can't be found anywhere else.  I love it!

We started off Thursday by helping the Relief Society sisters finish some quilts for the interfaith quilting bee that we went to on Saturday (more on that later).  We were also able to visit Jo and Lesa - we told them how we had been to the temple, and Lesa asked some questions and we were able to answer them for her.  Usually Lesa doesn't pay attention when we are teaching Jo - she likes to visit with us, but we haven't been able to teach her.  But she's starting to open up, listen when we share scriptures, ask questions, and participate in prayers.  We're hoping we'll be able to start teaching the lessons to her soon! 

After visiting Jo and Lesa, we visited the Bosens (I don't know if I've mentioned this, but they're active members, and we've been practice teaching the lessons with them) and taught the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Brother Bosen likes to play the "bible scholar" role, and has a lot of difficult questions... but the spirit always surprises me and we're able to answer his questions.  Practice teaching with them has been an awesome experience for both of us, but especially for Sister Goodrich, because it's giving her the confidence that she needs - that she really can teach these lessons.  She hadn't had a lot of teaching opportunities before I got to the area, so watching her grow in her ability to teach has been awesome. :)  I love Sister Goodrich so much!

Later that night we taught Robert and Melanie - we surprised Robert by having him and Melanie meet us at the temple. :)  Unfortunately it was kind of cold, so we weren't able to teach the lesson outside on temple grounds, but there is a waiting room by the distribution center on temple grounds that we were able to teach them in.  We taught Gospel of Jesus Christ (it was great to be able to "practice" on the Bosens earlier that same day :) ) and that went really well.  Robert didn't have a lot of questions.  We also taught law of chastity... that part of the lesson didn't go as well... Robert and Melanie almost got into a fight right in front of us - Robert wants to follow the standards of the church, and Melanie is struggling to keep up... but after the spirit left with all the contention that came, we were somehow able to bring it back (I have no idea how we managed that one... definitely a miracle) and we invited them to walk with us up to the waiting room inside the temple.  They accepted, and as soon as we walked in the doors, we could see the spirit hit them so strong.  Once inside, we shared the scripture John 14:27 and talked about the peace that the gospel brings.  Robert surprised us by telling us he had prayed about a baptismal date, and March 15th came to his mind.  So ROBERT IS BEING BAPTIZED ON MARCH 15!!!  I am SO excited for him - he is SO prepared! And, on Friday he texted us, telling us that after talking at length with Melanie, she has decided to take the journey with him.  :D  Slowly but surely we're tearing down the wall that she has put up.

Friday was Zone Meeting - we talked about the difference between light and darkness.  The Zone Leaders led an awesome discussion, and here are a couple things I learned:

 - We as missionaries (and members) have the light, and it is our responsibility to give it to those who are living in darkness.  

 - We may live in a telestial, somewhat dark and ever darkening world, but we were made for so much more - we are creatures of light!

Saturday we went to the Interfaith Quilting bee - where women from all different faiths came together and finished quilts to donate to NAM and SOS - societies that help the homeless.  Our ward donated 21 quilts, and all together there was a total of 425 quilts that were donated.  The representatives from NAM and SOS expressed there gratitude - apparently this has been the coldest winter Houston has seen in a long time, so the quilts are greatly needed.  It is always fun to serve, and it was great to be able to visit with service-oriented women of other faiths.

We got the news yesterday that Sister Goodrich is being transferred... I will miss her so much!  And I don't fee like I know enough to take over the area... but I am, so... here it goes.  I'm sure this next transfer will be great. :)

I love you all so much!  Have a great week! 

Sister Ririe

D&C 109:8

When Houston Freezes Over, Part II

Hey y'all!

It's been an adventure of a week - with weather everywhere from the low 30s to the high 70s... I know what you're talking about Elder M. Ruesch... the weather here in the south is crazy.  Basically, the "arctic freeze" that spread from here to New Jersey hit on Tuesday, and we didn't get much ice, but everything shut down anyway.  We didn't get to go to the temple... :( But we're supposed to go this Wednesday - Hopefully another "snow day" won't hit and we'll actually be able to go.

Other repercussions from the ice storm last week: we were supposed to have interviews with President on the day the storm hit, so our interviews were canceled.  We figured we'd find out when they were rescheduled to from the APs, or the Zone Leaders, or our District Leader... yeah... Wednesday morning we got a text from some of the sisters in our Zone saying "hey, are you coming to interviews?" ... ... oh, and there was one other problem... I was on exchanges with other sisters in the zone, who had already had their interviews...  So Sister Goodrich and Sister King called Sister Loo and me, and we rushed to get everything ready, drove to pick them up, went to the stake center where they dropped Sister Goodrich and me off for interviews.  Crazy.  But we made it.  And we were only an hour and a half late.  As for who's fault it was... the APs texted everyone, but their phone has been having problems recently and our phone never got the text... so... no one is to blame, I guess.  But it was a crazy adventure, and after we were done, Sister King and Sister Loo came back and we resumed the exchange.  Crazy day.  It was great. :)

Interviews with President were awesome.  He always knows exactly what to say.  Are you ready?  I'm going to let y'all into a little portion of my soul here... So... I've been struggling lately with figuring out exactly why I came on a mission.  Not that I was thinking about going home or anything, I was just letting Satan get into my head.  I had read through old journal entries, and spent a lot of time on my knees talking with God.  As I expressed my thoughts with President Pingree, he said something that really stuck with me:  "Why are you worrying about why you CAME on a mission?  That part's not important anymore.  You're here.  So now you need to figure out why you're STAYING on your mission."  He then read Matthew 22:36-39.  The greatest commandment is to love God, and then we are to love others.  Relating that to missionary work, the most important reason we serve a mission is because we love God and are SO grateful for everything He has done for us.  The second most important reason we serve others is because we love others and want them to experience the joy that comes with knowing the gospel.  I had never thought about it that way, and President Pingree said it in a way that helped me to understand.  I've been pretty good about loving others - I know what joy the gospel can bring, and I want everyone to have that.  But that's second best - We really need to love God, and show our gratitude by sharing what he has given us.  Anyway, I thought that was great advice, and thought I'd pass it on to y'all.

We were able to teach Robert and Melanie, and had an awesome lesson about the Plan of Salvation.  The spirit was SO strong, and we could tell that he was feeling it and learning that what we're teaching is true.  He had a few questions, and we were able to answer them - something he told us no other religion was able to do.  I love our Church - it really does have the best answers to all of life's questions - I love it!  Robert had been really close to his grandma who passed away, and it was so neat to be able to testify to him that he will be able to see her again.  Like I said before, the spirit is SO strong, and he is SO prepared to receive the fullness of the gospel.  Hopefully we'll be able to teach him again this week - he said he'd text us today when he gets his schedule.  Oh, and both he and Melanie came to church yesterday!  Robert has been pretty good about coming consistently, but this is the first time I've seen Melanie at church.  And they both stayed for all 3 hours, and they enjoyed it. :)  They're awesome. :)

On Friday night, we went to a fundraiser for the YW girls camp.  They got the whole ward involved, had a dinner, and did a silent auction where people could auction off baked goods, little crafts, services, etc. and all the money made would go to the YW.  Some people had invited non-member friends, so we went.  We had a good time visiting with everyone and helping the YW out.  We even bid on a few things, but... as we are poor missionaries, we knew we would be outbid.  ...so we put the scripture Alma 60:35 next to our name and bid... look it up, it's funny. :)  (Michelle’s note – just in case you don’t want to take the time to look up this scripture, here’s what it says, “And behold, if ye will not do this I come unto you speedily; for behold, God will not suffer that we should perish with hunger; therefore he will give unto us of your food, even if it must be by the sword. Now see that ye fulfill the word of God.”) People outbid us anyway.  But it was fun to watch people pull out their smartphones and look up the scripture and laugh.  And the ward loves us, so we still ended up with some cookies that someone else had bid on for us. :)

Also, at the YW fundraiser, A bunch of the men in the ward suddenly came up to us and asked us if we had any pass-along cards.  We did, of course, and gave them to them, so they could give them out.  At first we were a little confused as to why they all wanted pass-along cards so suddenly... but then we saw Brother Rackleff talking to them... I'm telling you, the guy's awesome - if there were a member missionary of the year award, he'd get it.  He had been finding and challenging all the super competitive men in the ward, getting a competition going for who could pass out the most pass-along cards before Sunday.  We're not complaining - it's getting the members more missionary minded for sure!  When we unofficially tallied things up yesterday, Brother Rackleff had won for the week by a fair margin, but there were a lot of men passing out pass-along cards.  We gave a pack to Bro McLane to pass out to those that wanted them in Priesthood, and when we went to get the extras there were none left.  A little healthy competition never hurt anyone, right? :)  The best part - we talked to Robert and Melanie after church, and I saw that Robert had picked up a few. :)  Member missionary work is awesome, and this ward is starting to feel it. We managed to get two passed out to the relief society this week... they're a little bit slower than the men on this one, but that's ok - they'll get there eventually. :)

Well, that's it for the week.  I love y'all so much and hope everything is going well!  Have a great week!

Sister Ririe

Acts 1:8