Proverbs 3: 5-6

Hola Familia!

First off i would like to start this email by explaining my subject line. Mom the fact that you sent me that was just the icing on the cake.That has beenme and my companions scripture all week. It is what i have been learning the most in the MTC. Since i have started applying that to my life my lessons with investigators have got immensly better.

I just finished week two and just when i thought my weeks were going to start getting really repetitive the MTC threw a curveball in my Districts direction. After two weeks they are switching both of the teachers in my district. I guess this isn't normal and i am kinda bummed, cause Hno. Wlech y Hna. Wetzel were the greatest. Hna. Wetzel and i really conected, she helped me more in a week than i could have ever imagined possible. Let's just say she is so spiritually in tune it is insane, I am currently striving for that.

Quick funny story from my district. We were talking about swimming, and all of the sudden, Elder Hardman looks up and says, "swimming is just drowning... for fun." I laughed so hard, and i feel like lots of people could appreciate it as well.

The MTC life is good, i sit a lot, read a lot, and study a lot. Other than gym time that is what i do. The food is good some days and not as good some other days but i don't have to make so i don't really care. BUT, i also found out that i can go to the sandwich wrap line and get a tortilla with just chesse and microwave it to make a quesadilla..... that made my life. The day after i found that out i had one for lunch and dinner and lunch the next day. My life is complete (just kidding).

On Sunday my companion Hermana Newbold and i got called as the online coordinators for our zone. We basically just teach them how to use the computers and stress the computer rules. Easy enough. And we did get a new district this week which is good because we had 1 leave last week and one leaving monday so we have been a pretty small zone lately. One of the Elders in my zone just got reassigned to the Independence, Missouri mission. Are Lynette and Lowell still housing Elders?

It is finally starting to warm up here in Utah, i wanted to cry my first week when it started snowing but it is finally warming up and the opened the soccer fields so i can get some sun during gym time. Let's jsut say people should be a little more worried about vitamin d deficiency with the lack of sun we get in the MTC.... at least for my standards. But it is good. SOmetimes my companion is willing to go study outside with me so that is nice.

My Sapnish is getting better. I think one of our new teacher is a native speaker who pretends like he doesn't understand a word of English. which is good for my Sapnish but sometimes frustrating. It is funny that i can use some words that people who speak Spanish as their first language but not some of the simple words a 3 year old would know.

I think that is all for this week, the Church is true, i love missionary work, and i cna't think of any place i would rather be. I love you all thanks for the love and support. Yo se que Jesucristo es mi Salvador. yo se que Jesucristo vive. Yo se que por medio de Jesucristo yo puede volvo a mi Padre Celestial otra vez. (I know Jesus Crist is my Savior. I know that Jesus Christ lives. I know that through Jesus Christ i can return to my Father in Heaven Again.)

Never forget that the Lord loves us all and is aware of our wants and need individually. This I know. Have a great week everybody.

I will send pictures as time or hyper secure computers will allow. Love you!

Hermana Ray

First P-day!

¡Hola Familia! Let´s start out this email by saying. I love the gospel of Jesus Christ. I would not be here at the CCM (MTC in Spanish) if I didn't. I am also going to apologize in advance if there are any Spanish words used in this email. I am a pro Spanglish speaker right now, so just know i can't really help it.
My first week in the CCM was interesting to say the least. I have honestly never learned so much in such a short amount of time in my life. My teachers name is Hermano Welch and he is pretty pro at teaching gringo Spanish. I have been enjoying class quite a bit and haven't had trouble focusing really.
My Companions name is Hermana Newbold from Riverton, Utah. She is majoring in art and clothing design (or something to that effect). She is pretty tall, like 5'11 and pretty quiet. She likes basketball and before the mission worked as an usher on the floor for the Utah Jazz, which is pretty cool. I had to inform her that it isn't normal to see you ushers in Arizona, mainly old people. We are getting along pretty well and she will probably be my only companion in the CCM. She is also going to Kennewick spanish speaking. So are the other three Hermanas in my district. Hermana Villalobos (chandler, az went to Corona), Hermana Patton (Spanish fork, UT), and Hermana Robison (Lehi, UT). Hermana Robison's dad is actually in our Branch Presidency. It's pretty crazy. There are 4 elders in my district and i know 2 of them, Elder Hardman will be joining the Hermanas in Kennewick, but the other three elders should be headed to Lima, Peru granting they get their visas. They are Elder Schagel(said schedule from tucson, AZ), Elder Corbin McCalister(from MVT, was my seminary partner one year), and my District leader Elder Kendell Brown (Swimmer for MVT, the year between me and Dan). Not going to lie, it is strange having him be in charge, but he is doing a great job.
My branch Presidents name is Elder Swenson, he is pretty cool, he teaches in english learning classes for children i believe. One of his counselors is Brother Jameson, who just happens to be Daniel Free's uncle. I just happened to be finding connections all over the place.
I live with 5 other sisters. My companion and the for Sorellas going to Rome, Italy. They are all pretty nice. I feeel bad cause wake up time is 6:30 but we have something that starts at 6:30 almost everyday and so we try to get ready in the dark and make the least amount of sound as possible. This morning i made my bed in the dark on a top bunk and got a commendable on my clean check, so that was pretty skilled. I also got to go to the Provo Temple today and it was a good experience but i had to fight not to fall asleep cause our temple time is really early, we have to be at the temple by 6:30. But is was good, we ate at the temple cafeteria for breakfast and the food was good.
Speaking of food everyone complains about the food at the MTC, but even though it is messing with everyones digestive systems mine is doing perfectly fine. Better than it was at home. I guess i will count that as a blessing of being on a mission. The food is alright except for the fact that they always give me three servings worth. I feel bad not eating it all but at the same time i really really don't want to get fat. SO i eat portioned meals. I mean honestly i sit all day how much food do i need. I am proud to say my first week i actually lost 1 pound at the MTC.
They say if you survive til sunday your good. It must be true. SUnday was amazing. Mary Edmunds gave our relief society lesson and she reminded me of a mix between mom and Sis. Chlarson (the bug ladyfrom camp) in our stake. It was so funny. Sundays are just great. Then i also heard tuesdays were great because of devotionals. Well, lets just say they must be spoiling me cause my first week are tuesday devotional was Richard G. Scott one of the 12 apostles. and his talk was amazing. It was about prayer and relying on the Lord, he hit me and helped me in every place i needed. 2 things happened that i will never forget. First he bestowed on us a Apostalic blessing: If you are struggling to learn a language, you will be helped to master that language. Man i wanna work hard for that i have been promised not only that i would learn the language but that i would master it! Then after he got done giving his talk, the girl came up to pray, and he races back up to the podium (well as fast as those old guys can move) and he said oh sorry i am not done i need to say something else and he left us with this statement "the Lord has called you to succeed not fail... He will not abandon you." It was definately a day to remember.
Our first teaching didn't go so great, but the fact that we could have a conversation after 4 days of spanish, not too Shabby.
My schedule has me working out in the morning/afternoon everyother day and other than that i do a whole lot of sitting followed by a whole lot of sitting.
I will try to send pictures next week, we can only send pictures from certain computers... and those were all busy.
I love you all and want to thank everyone for their love and support. Remember that you are never alone. Your brother Jesus Christ always has your back.
Con Amor, Hermana Ray

Let the Mission Begin - First Letter Home

2013.4-15 Monday

On the evening of April 10, 2013 Rachel was encourage to write and send a letter home to reassure her family she had arrived safely.  The letter arrived 4-15-2013.  Rachel's flight on April 10th left Phoenix at 7:40 am and arrived in SLC around 10:20 am so my sister Laurel picked her up and took her to lunch before dropping her off at the MTC (Missionary Training Center) at 1:30 pm.  There were sixteen other missionaries on her same flight all reporting to the MTC to prepare to serve as missionaries throughout the world.  I will try to get a picture posted the next time.  (FYI-The posts showing they are from Rachel Ray are actually being posted by Rachel's mother.)

Dear Familia,
     I'm still alive and survived day 1.   It is slightly overwhelming, not going to lie.
     Before I forget, I left my gray jacket in Glen's Tahoe. Oops. (The coat was safely delivered the next day to the MTC by my sister Laurel)
     Day one was good.  Lunch was delicious thanks to Laurel.  (She was taken to the Brick Oven a local restaurant with great Italian food).  The MTC served dinner at 4:15 which was 3:15 AZ time so I wasn't really  hungry.
     Dad, I actually understood a decent amount of Spanish today, couldn't speak it to save my life, but it will come I am sure.
     I learned quite a bit through observation.  I learned I am better at reading people then some people, it is kinda crazy.
     Ya, but it was kind of a blur, honestly it was.  I got a lot of books in Spanish . . . A lot.
     So here is the fun fact.  Elder Kendell Brown from the airport, the Mountain View swimmer, he is in my MTC District.  So is Elder Corbin McCalister (he was my seminary partner at one time).  So there is also another sister, Hermana Villalobos that went to Corona Del Sol High School.  So out of the 9 Elders/Sisters in my district 4 of the 9 of us are from the valley.
     My P-Day (Preparation Day-the day for laundry, letters, errands) will be on Thursday, but I won't get one this week since we just got here.  So this letter is to assure you that I'm not dead.  So I am not dead, not yet anyways.  Well I love you all, hugs & kisses.

Love,
Hermana Ray

P.S.  Dan, do I get one of your cool rings from jewelry?
It is bedtime (said me, never) gotta go.  More next time . . . Oh, my companion is Hermana Newbold from Riverton, UT.