12-23-13

Hola Familia!

Merry Christmas! And Happy Birthday Lisa! I hope you are all having a great week. This past week has been a little crazy, we had transfers and Hermanan Heninger went up to Cashmere, WA and i have a new companion. Her name is Hermana Pullens from Sandy, UT. She is great and we are having a great time here preaching the gospel and sharing with people why we have this wonderful Christmas season.

This week we had some good lessons and we still have some people who are working towards baptism. It is exciting to see people want to make that change in their lives. One really cool one was with a lady named Guadalupe. She was really shy at first and we couldn't get her to say much, but towards the end we were talking about the experience of Joseph Smith and talking about knowing for yourself and she asked us how she could know. Then we got to teach her that pray was a 2 way communication and that God would listen to her prayers. She had never really heard that before and then she prayed with us. it was so awesome!!!

Other than that we are busy finding and teaching!! Sorry this email is so short, but i will be talking to some of you very soon. I love you all and hope you take the time to read more about Jesus this week and start the year off and decide to learn of him everyday by opening your scriptures. It is unbelievable how close we can get to Christ when we are learning of him!

To close i am going to share the word of I Heard the Bells on Christmas day. The message it brings is so awesome.

Although it may seem like there is no peace on this Earth sometimes and that hate has overtaken us. Verse 4 is my favorite and that is why we are out hear as misionaries. To share the message that "God is not dead, nor doth he sleep:" and i know that indeed the wrong shall fail, the right prevail through Jesus Christ our Savior. Have a great week everyone!

Hermana Ray

12-16-13

Hola Familia!

Sounds like all is going well in Arizona. Mom I am glad you finally conquered the Christmas tree, because it isn't Christmas without one. Our house currently has three up. And I get to stay in Royal for Christmas!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am super excited, but sad because Hermana Heninger is getting transfered. She is Heading up to Cashmere Valley, WA. It is up North, i don't think she will have to worry of having a white Christmas. But oh well, it will still be fun. I will just have to spend it with my new companion and I have a week to make Royal feel like home before Christmas. Challenge accepted.

Overall we have had a really good week, no complaints. Had many of the people we are teaching are continuing to grow and learn and accept. As we continue forward i have no doubt that they will accept the gospel, now i am just working on the Lord's time table.

As a missionary, Christmas time is an interesting thing. We spend so much time focused on Christ that it feels very similar to normal time, yet everyone else too is more focused on Christ. That part isn't quite as normal. It is amazing to see the change in people just because it is Christmas. One family we were visiting said he wished that people had the spirit of giving year round rather than on Christmas. Yes that is our ultimate goal, that Christ like love and Charity, but every little spark of that helps.

We had our Christmas Conference and it was filled with fun! We had some great musical numbers that helped us feel the spirit of Christmas. One that hit me, was an Elder sang "O Holy Night" and besides the fact that i was sitting in a church building in church clothes, it was like a Sunday night at Grandma's house around the Holidays. We had good spiritual uplift in some of the stories and then music and of course later some fun. They told a story about the importance of teaching children the true meaning of Christmas and then related that to us as missionaries teaching God's children the importance of Christ. It was so interesting how it applied to us. I want nothing more than everyone to understand the true meaning of Christmas, he was born that we could live! Even his birth was for us. Not a single part of his life was selfish. After the devotional we watched a picture slide show from the mission and then they fed us some "Christmas Dinner" it was sooo good. Then, we watched "Monsters University" it was really weird! but fun. I thought it was a pretty good second movie. Then for Christmas we all got a big picture from when Elder Ballard came to the mission. I forgot to take a picture to send. maybe next time. And a book. Never have I been so excited to get a book for christmas! The real story is this picture...

12-9-13

Hola Familia!

It has been a pretty fantastic week here in Royal City! The people we are teaching are truly starting to let the message sink deep into their hearts and open their minds. It has been really cool. I also want to thank mom and Aubree Swann for finding Jannae a truly delightful going away outfit, i will enjoy pictures :)

It is definitely Christmas time, people are starting to put up lights, Doreen got her Christmas tree put up, and I have to listen to Christmas music in the car because it is the only thing that justifies the cold weather in my brain. I discovered fleece lined tights and i am in heaven!

Overall it has been a really good week! The people here in Royal City are truly fantastic! The missionary work is doing really well, they are a very involved group and it is just fun, it is a small town and they all care about each other.

This week, Hermana Heninger and I literally got thanked for all that we were doing for one of our investigators families. The husband came out and said that he was really thankful for what he has been doing. It was pretty cool, because this theme of gratitude carried on after Thanksgiving. Now if I even have the thought, am I making a difference i can look and see the face of Owen, Beatrice, Wendy, or Beverly and really see that God is watching out for each and every one of us. 

One really cool lesson we had this week was talking to Beverly. She is very concerned with where the World is headed and all the evil happening. As we were talking about it, we had asked her if she ever thought of praying for them. that was like a week ago, we went back and asked her if she had been praying for them, she said that she had and at that point she said you know what i have and i it has actually been helping a lot, Ed is a lot less worried for my health. She said it has been helping her heart. Then we asked if she had prayed and asked if Joseph Smith was really a prophet, and she said something along the lines of ya i have and pretty much every question was settled when we watched that film (restoration dvd) and no ordinary man could have written that book. Then she just kept talking like what she had just said was no big deal!! She is so funny. Overall as we talk with her, she is allowing me to really see it through her eyes, she shares her experiences with us, we can see the testimony building and then we talked about the Priesthood, Baptism, Christ's life on Earth, and then the Christmas Devotional, she was really excited to watch it! Such an awesome experience. It has been really nice to see our investigators learning on their own and coming closer to Christ. 

Since our training with Elder Richards, we have been teaching really simply and letting people build of that and it really helps us teach to their needs. It has been cool to see what happens as we focus on following the words of our leaders. 

The Christmas Devotional was good, and I was telling my companion that i missed out on doughnuts, but it doesn't look like i did, which is funny because it was a kind of crazy day yesterday. In a good way, we were running all over the place. Anyway we watched the last part of the Christmas Devotional with Wendy and it was really good. Elder Nelson's talk was so perfect for two of the people we are teaching. Anyway after it was over she made us Tortas! (Mexican Sandwich) and i thought to myself, well it isn't doughnuts but man it was so good! then to find out you didn't even have them made me laugh.

Overall I have nothing to complain about I am a happy servant of my Lord Jesus Christ "in whom there is no darkness at all." -Pres Uchtdorf. Which is comforting because it gets dark around 4:30-5pm here right now. I love you all, continue to be happy as we have this wonderful time to remember our savior Jesus Christ and his birth that truly changed our lives forever. Have a great week!

Hermana Ray

 

My favorite place in the house!

 

12-2-13

Hola Familia!

Looks like you all had a fantastic turkey day. Well I did too! Ate Lunch with one of the families in the ward and we used like real plates and sat around a set table... it was weird.. Just kidding. It was sure different than how we do it Ray style, but was really good! And what is Thanksgiving without eating something weird right? We went to the Wilhelms, Brother Wilhelm is our ward mission leader for pie later that night and to teach Owen and Brother Wilhelm made us try his bacon pumpkin pie. It wasn't horrible it was just weird, but I just kept thinking to myself, this is totally something my family would do! So don't worry you weren't forgotten. It was actually a pretty great day all around, we found 2 new people to teach and that was, for us, truly something to be grateful for. It was a great day and I got to reflect on what I was grateful for which is so many things that I just don't have time to write them all!

We also had another great family home evening with Wendy. Her little kids are so funny. It was great that as we talked about baptism and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, we were aided by two of the Gilbert (members) children. Grace, the newest member of our ward, explained baptism in the best 8 year old way she could (which was great, probably better than i would have done) and then Faith described the gift of the Holy Ghost, they did awesome as they helped us prepare and explain how to become closer to Christ.

There other big news coming out of Royal this week was the baptisms on Saturday. Jesus and MariaCruz Perez live in Royal City and the other sisters have been teaching for over 6 months. 2 weeks ago Jesus came up to me and said, Hermana did you hear? I asked him did i hear about what. with a smile on his face and a tear in his eye he told me that they were going to get baptized! So exciting, he comes to church every week pretty much since june or july. Their baptism was awesome and at the end, the other sisters learned that Daniel, one of their other investigaotrs had really prayed for the first time this week and after the baptism he said, "I am going to be the next one." then he asked the other sisters if he could get baptized next week. Miracles! he has been talking with the missionaries for over a year I think. This community is truely amazing and i can't wait to see the miracles that come from my efforts. The Lord allows us to be a way for the Spirit to communicate with others. What an awesome opportunity we have.

I started the Book of Mormon over again and it is amazing how much i have already learned. I am paying attention to every reference to Jesus Christ and if people would do that they would realize that it truely is centered on him and what he teaches. I don't know if there has been a page that hasn't made a reference to him. It is such a good book. Who would have ever thought that I would like to read?

I am really growing an appreciation for everything that i have because of the gospel of Jesus Christ, as i sit and listen to people, the gospel seriously answers their every concern. Sometimes they don't see it right away, but it is there. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is our plan while on this Earth to help us receive all of the blessings of His plan for us for all of time.

I read a scripture this morning while trying to understand the way the word "weak" was being used in the scriptures. The reference took me to 2 Corinthians 12: 9-10 and it says, "And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will i rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when i am weak, then am I strong." As we strive to be like Christ let us not be weighed down by our weaknesses, let us remember that it is part of the refining process. Let us rejoice that it is through them that we are made strong. I love you all and hope that you have a good week! I am so excited that it is Christmas times, and by the looks of it i might have my first ever white Christmas ever. Let us remember the reason for the season and share Christ message and love with others.

Love ya!

Hermana Ray

 

Happy Thanksgiving. Us with Doreen Iverson, our house mate!

 

11-24-13

Hola Familia!

This week has been another fantastic one! why? for so many reasons! Obviously because of my birthday, and we had a meeting with Elder Richards of the second quorum of the seventy, and we had some really really good work this week!

Thanks everyone for the birthday wishes they were fabulous! It was my Golden Birthday! 21 on the 21st! and when i looked at hte temperature gauge as soon as it got light outside it was 21 degrees! Must be lucky! And the cake from home was a very nice touch :) It was delicious and i got to enjoy it with a family in our ward and Owen, because we had a lesson with him right after we went to pick it up. Leti made me dinner for my birthday and it was awesome followed by chocolate and peanutbutter cupcakes and then my cake! It was a really good birthday. We got to teach a lesson to Ed and Beverly, she has been reading the Book of Mormon and said the more she reads the more questions she has, and that she wanted to know where this Joe Smith comes from. We told her we could start on whichever question and she said ok, sit down. It was amazing what can happen when people are looking for the truth, to simply find understanding and hope in a World that as she says is becoming hopeless. As she talked about things that were happening in the world she told us that she yells and hollars at the TV, maybe she should try praying for all of it instead. (i didn't really do her justice through my words, it was much more animated and comical). I told them i couldn't think of a better way to spend my birthday. Then i got told at dinner that I needed to go to Castletons because they had something for me, this is where I got my cake from home. Then that night we had a lesson with Owen and he bore his testimony of the Book of Mormon to us! It was awesome!

Earlier in the week we had a meeting with Elder Richards about teaching simply and how we need to be there to help people learn and make sure they know it. He talked about the 4 things that we need to know to be converted:

1. Jesus Christ is our Savior

2. Joseph Smith saw God the Father and His son Jesus Christ

3. The Book of Mormon is true

4. The priesthood power was restored to the Earth.

Seems simple enough, but if you aren't asking people questions, it doesn't spark them to think about these things for themselves. It was hard to realize that I may not have been helping people in the way they needed it, but this week i have tried really hard to apply that, and since we have done that, we have had some really really awesome experiences. It is fun because every lesson has become so much more personal and different. One of our investigators used an analogy to compare the celestial kingdom to Earth right now and the different people there are. It has deepened my appreciation for the way that the Savior taught through questions.

One of these lessons was with someone new we are teaching. Beatrice is a young mother with a lot on her plate. As we started talking to her, we weren't sure that she was going to be open to the gospel, she has some beliefs that are different, but for some reason she is always happy to see us and lets us in. Through questions we figure out that she had had a misunderstanding with some other missionaries about the Book of Mormon which gave us the opportunity to explain and invite. We also talked about a few other things that all came from asking a question and letting questions and concerns come forward. By the end, she said, well remember how i changed my curtains after the first time you came over. (which was something i had noticed and commented on like 2 weeks earlier). They were maroon and now they were white. She said after you left, I felt like I wasn't alone, it felt happy. SO i changed my curtains so it would be lighter and i open my windows every morning. We talked about the feelings and how it was what the Holy Ghost could do and then we tied that back into how we ourselves can bring that feeling into our own lives and homes and how when we read the Book of Mormon we can feel those. It was an awesome experience and the spirit was so strong! Almost tangible. And she doesn't realize it but she was the one who invited him to come in. 

Overall it was a week of happiness :) Lots of learning, lots of smiles and lots of growth for both me and those who are teaching me. As we talked with our relief society president we talked about what we are grateful for. As i am out here, i learn a lot and one thing i learned is how much i have to be grateful for. maybe for thanksgiving i will make a list. But i can share a few. I am so thankful for you, My family who i really love. That is really the best way i can express it, i couldn't have been given to a better family. I am also grateful that i can testify about the 4 important truths someone must understand to be converted. I know that Jesus Christ is my Savior. I know that Joseph Smith saw God and his son Jesus Christ. I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God and in reality Another Testimony of Jesus Christ. I know the the power of God has been brought back to the Earth again to bless each and every one of us. I hope you all have a great Thanksgiving and find the time to look at what is truly important and the many things that God has given us. 

Hermana Ray

 

 

Also i got to be the make up dummy at mutual this week...

My birthday cake

Thanks for these! they are heaven sent also the Nativity i love it

11-18-13

Hola Familia!

What an awesome week it has been! That's pretty much what it comes down to. Have a great week!

... Just kidding. It really has been an awesome week. The weather has been warmer than planned which is always a plus. Last Monday it was actually warm enough to run outside. We had 2 great ideas last week, go eat at La Cabana (Mexican place here in Royal) and go for a run. both great ideas but when you put them together, we were both ready to die! well... i can't talk for Hermana Heninger, she was probably fine.

This week at the Food Bank i had a good idea on how to help them Be better organized in the section where we help out. Which lead to us getting a demolition and cleaning project next week. It is such a great place to be and I love serving the people. We also had the chance to talk to a woman there who was helping out. Usually we don't talk to her a whole lot because we are super busy. This week wasn't to crazy and we started talking to her. By the end of our time there we had been someone that she could talk to, asked us for our phone number and said she might come to church, later that day she called us and asked us some more info. Later that day she sent us a text saying that she knew God had put us there at the Food Bank that day to talk to her. It was pretty cool.

Owen, who got baptized back in September is doing awesome. Since his baptism he had the opportunity to go down to the temple in Tri-Cities! He loved it! He is doing really well! he himself is a little missionary and will be the first person to jump in and help or offer a Book of Mormon. He has also been working on reading the new quad that he got for his birthday! it has been so fun to watch him! 

Wendy is doing really awesome. Her kids are adorable. Last time we went over was a combination of spiritual and funny. She was making some dinner and so we offered to help. She was making enchiladas. Thats easy right? She said to pour the sauce on and we did. after putting them in the oven, she asks. should we have put some tomato sauce in with our enchilada sauce... I have no idea, i have never made them before. i didn't even used to like them! She then says, oh man, they might be a little spicy. Then we realize that she bought the hottest type of enchilada sauce as well! Man... It was spicy, i felt so bad that it was and we all sat  there and were basically crying while eating it! But the meat inside was really really good! It was sooo spicy. I can handle some spice, but it burned! Definately a learning experience, and luckily she could totally blame it on us. But it was fun because we read out of the Book of Mormon stories with her kids and then after we had a really cool lesson with her. She has such a desire to learn. I think we will continue to have fun together and hopefully have great spiritual growth as well!

We had a really busy weekend. Running (sometimes literally) from place to place. The Lord has blessed us with work to do and the strength to do it. I love being a missionary!! Talking to people and helping them learn about Christ and inviting them to learn for themselves is the best way I could possibly be spending my time. At a meeting this week, a scripture was shared that goes along with something dad told me either in an email or before i left. It was in Alma 57:27 and it says, "Now this was the faith of these of whom i have spoken; they are young and their minds are firm, and they do put their trust in God continually." I thought about had Dad had told me about God putting his trust in all of these 19-20 year olds to bring his words to the World and how crazy that was if you really think about it. Well he has put his trust in me and i have put my trust and my life in his. It has been a really great week and i Know that God is a God of miracles and always will be. I know that He loves us and is willing to bless us when we are willing to follow him. Have a great week! I love you all!

Hermana Ray

 

Fall in Washington

 

11-11-13

Hola Familia!

Another good week coming at you from Royal! Included was the first snow of the Winter! It was like a fake snow it didn't stay on the ground for very long. But it is one of the only times yet that i have woken up to snow, it may have happened once or twice in Flagstaff, but not in November! 

Also Royal High School won it's first play off game and as the lowest seed knocked out the highest... And here... that is a big deal. just thought you would all like to know. That is like the biggest news coming from our area.

Since the Weather has cooled down, people aren't working as much. They can't because it is dark by 5 oclock! I know you think i am kidding but it is true! 

It has been a really good week and I am happy to say that I am happy. The Lord has blessed us in so many ways. 

One of my favorite experiences this week was when we were visiting a less active with 3 girls. As we were getting to share something with her i couldn't think of a good scripture, i decided to ask her, are there any topics that you would like to hear about or that your daughters are stuggling with. form that we launched into a discussion watching what we say and who we are. and what did i share with her? Mosiah 4: 30 and a quote that is probably on like a third of the teachers walls at MVT. About watching our thoughts because our thoughts become our words, our words become our actions, and our actions become our character... And our character is everything. As Hermana Heninger and i have been reflecting on our last week, we have noticed the importance of our actions and how they have influenced different people in our area. People do notice and I never want there to be a doubt on my actions or what I believe in.

We did service for Warren again. We have to show our love through action because he is hard of hearing and every time i try to talk he makes me start over, slow down, and pronunciate more. But we invited him to the dinner that our ward is having to celebrate the end of the harvest and i think he will come! He won't read anything we leave him because he says he doesn't like "our literature". One day Warren, one day.

I started rereading conference talks again and i am so excited. i love reading about what the living apostles and prophets have to say! Elder Hales said something about conference that i loved, and we could apply it to every meeting that we go to and who we are. He said, "we gather to hear the words of the Lord, and we return to our homes to live them." SO let us all go and live them!

Have a great week, I love you all thanks for your support! 

Hermana Ray

 

Just sorting clothes at the food bank