Happy New Year!

Hello My Dear Family,

It feels like it has been many moons since we spoke. :) It was so nice to talk to you all. I am so happy you got my package and that you enjoyed the bookmarks and pan dulce. I thought of each of you a lot to try to write and choose something that I felt was perfect for you. I love you all so much! I hope you liked the Jar. I thought it turned out really cute. I just love Texas so sorry that I send you more texas stuff. :) I did get your package and grandpa sams. Thank you so much. I loved the necklace. It was so beautiful. I wore it so proudly the day after I got it. :) Thank you and Kylee girl you have such good taste! :)

I enjoyed seeing all the pictures you send and hearing about your spiritual experiences. It is so beautiful to feel that kind of spirit all the time. Like always the writing and poem was so perfect and I couldn't help but cry. It is those kind of feelings that make me feel and believe that we have a loving Heavenly Father and that His plan is so perfect. I know that it isn't just for coincidence that we are here but it is for a reason. We have purpose and we have to continue to find that daily. 

Our week was good. Because of the Holidays I feel like it has been a little hard to get in with people who aren't members. It is okay though because we had a great week. It was very spiritually uplifting. We had a few bits of great news. Joana got a new job and so she doesn't have to work on sundays anymore. That means she will be in church every week. We have an appointment with them tonight. I am excited to see them. We are going to teach her about Modern Day prophets and a few of the revelations that they have given. She is doing great. She is excited to continue preparing to make these promises with God.

I have some news...I am getting transferred. I know. Kind of Crazy but I know it is Heavenly Father's will. I was a bit shocked cause I thought I would stay since I just had one more. I feel good about it though. It will be a great experience. President Pingree emailed me yesterday and told me that "I know that this last transfer will be one of your very best. Sure love and appreciate you!" He knows it is going to be great! Just as a side note, We ate a lot of tamales and they were fantastic. Don't worry dad, I will learn how to make them.  

Well, I don't really have much else to tell you. I love you all and I am grateful that all of you are my family. :) I hope you have a wonderful new year. This is a perfect time to set new goals and to plan how we are going to change our lives for the better and help other people change their lives as well. Yesterday in church, Bishop Bustos told us to write down some of our goals and then any of the goals that aren't going to help us get closer to Christ and God to erase them. I think that it is so true. Yes, we need to make goals for our life but we need to make sure they are in line with God's will and he will make everything else work out. :) Love you all lots

Remember who you are and who you belong too

Off Finding the Tens of Thousands

Love your little texan. Hermana Rife

Love this Mormon Message

Christmas Eve 2013 with the Flores Family  :)

On exchanges with Hermana Crandall at the Food Bank 

All the missionaries doing service at the Food Bank

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year (Email from Tuesday, December 24, 2013)

Merry Christmas! I shall be talking to you all tomorrow. I am sad that you didn't get my package yet. It is soooo cool. :( I hope it doesn't get bad. If it does...all is well, all is well.

Well a lot of good things happened this week. Stephanie and her Family are on a cruise. We helped her out and wrapped all her Christmas Presents. She always feels so loved. She is so special. We shared a message about Christmas and we invited her to pray more frequently. She expressed about wanting to not feel empty. I know that it is her need for the Gospel in her life. Especially the Atonement. 

Joana told us that she will be setting a baptismal date for herself next week for January. :) I love them. We talked to her about the plan of Salvation and she just loved it. 

The Atonement has helped me and countless people feel that hole filled. Feel Whole. I know that Christ suffered for us so that we can get through this life as well as being cleansed from the sins we make. I am so grateful for the chance we have to celebrate the birth of Christ during this time but most importantly, what He did for us. I know that He has prepared the path and we just have to follow it. 

Yesterday, was the Christmas Conference as you know. It was beautiful. I played the piano for hermana mccleary. I had a little breakdown at the end. Knowing that, this was probably the last large conference that I would have in my mission. I received 7 christmas cards and 1 package from Aunt Holly and Uncle Greg. I got grandma's card last night. Thanks for those! :) 

On the weekend, we got to participate in many Christmas activities. I got to do an exchange with Hermana Crandall. It was SO fun. We went caroling in front of a store and had a great time working together again. She is such a sweet girl. As for the rest of the weekend, We were busy singing at christmas parties, caroling in front of stores and trying to serve and help people. 

Well I am excited to talk to you all tomorrow. I love you all a lot and am very grateful for the love and support you always give me. I'll see you all tomorrow! :) Yes, SEE is the right word. Remember who you are and to whom you belong too.

Off finding the 10s of 1000s.

Hermana K. Rife

Hermana Hill and Kynsie with Joana and Shane

"Love them!  :)"

Hermana Hill, Hermana Estrada "(she is great)" and Kynsie at the Ward Christmas Party

Hermana Crandall and Kynsie Christmas Caroling

"Me with all the treats we made for people in our ward, investigators and neighbors.  Then we went caroling with the Elders and the Bishop and his family.:

The next day after getting her email...

Christmas Day  2013...

We got to visit with "Our favorite Missionary"!!!  :)

So enjoyed her visit and hearing of her experiences and her sweet testimony!

We LOVE you Kynsie and will REALLY see you in 49 days!!!

(as you can probably tell her family is getting just a little bit excited!)

:D

However, I must also admit that although I am very excited to see this cute girl again, I will truly miss hearing of her wonderful experiences that she is having as a missionary and feeling of her sweet missionary spirit and testimony. 

Our family had indeed been blessed by her service to the people of Houston, Texas and to our Heavenly Father.

Christmas 2013 continued for us on December 26th

when we received this: 

Inside the package...

Our family had a very sweet experience as we all sat around our Christmas tree and shared with each other the little individual "homemade gifts" that Kynsie had made for each one of us.  The last 17 months has truly been a choice experience and blessing for each family member.

Christmas is coming to town :)

Hello Family! How are you all doing. Okay so before I forget...I will probably be calling around 1 or 2 here in texas...I can't remember how the hours work so maybe you can figure it out. Next monday, as it is right now I will not be emailing. I will try to find a computer on the 24th but there aren't any promises because who knows what will be open or closed. We have a conference for the mission next monday so my preparation day will be tuesday but I will try to find a computer so that we can solidify the phone call and everything. We are going to be able to skype. we found someone who is willing to let us use it. Yay and so get looking pretty! :) About the mail. You can probably just leave it as the mission office address. Transfers is on the 1st so its fine. I have been getting the mail. It is a little delayed but I get it so no worries about that. 

This email is going to be very short. We are trying to get something pretty fun ready to send ya'll. I want to send it today so that it gets to you, so excuse my lack of writing. :) I will also try to get the letters done this week but it depends because I have to finish a few things. Just so you know...I am sending you something that you need to open when it comes. Your little personal presents will be wrapped but I am sending you one of my favorite treats so when the package comes you can open it and enjoy the treat that will be on the top! :) You will have to wait to open the rest until christmas :) 

This week has been a bit crazy. All I can say is that I am grateful for all the unseen help that we receive as well as the power of the priesthood. I am grateful for the power of God. Things are really good and we have been staying busy. It was an awesome miracle on monday because we went and saw the P. Family. We taught a lesson and then on friday we received a call from them. They told us that they had been reading and praying every day and how good they felt. It was a change of person in the voice I heard over the phone. It was so fun to be able to see what a change can make when a person is reading and praying.

We also visited with Joana and Shane this week. She is doing pretty good. She is learning and we are working with her in setting a date for baptism. She totally wants to but she just wants to feel more prepared. So hopefully, it will be happening soon. :) 

We had a few neat little miracles of being in the right place at the right time. we went to this bakery and this lady said, hey you all used to come to my house in mexico. I got baptized but then I moved here. Can you come visit me on thursday? :) We were like yes! Also, we went and visited who we thought was a less active who came to church last week with her kids. Well it turns out that her son got baptized but she never did! :) She came to church again yesterday and also her son brought one of his friends. It was so fun to see them all there. I just think that sometimes Heavenly Father gives us so many miracles and it makes me so happy to see how he places people in our path when we are trying to do what is good and right.

I am excited to talk to you all next week! I think it will be really fun. It is crazy that it has been a year from last christmas. I feel like it just barely happened. Well I hope you all have a wonderful week and that everyone stays safe and doing good things. Hope you know how much I love you all. Take care and have a great week! Remember who you are and to whom you belong to.

Thanks for your email. Until Next week. Off finding the Tens of Thousands!

Hermana Rife

Ps: After planning one night, hermana hill and i started talking about weird things we used to do. I started telling her about how I would do stalls and weird things all the time with Jessica. I then thought..hmmm i wonder if I can still do it...well good news. I can! :) haha I know I know...I am weird. Well the good thing is...I got a picture...the bad thing is...I am not sending it can it is ugly...:D haha

Me eating Pan Dulce! Love it :)

Kynsie eating Pan Dulce!  "I love it! :)"

Tamales and Miracles could be related

Hello Family! I hope you are all doing great! Thanks for your email. I am sorry to hear that it is so cold in Utah. I was hoping that the cold just followed me and that when I come in Feb. that it will be how it was in texas last Feb. Fairly warm. :) But I guess that isn't the case. I mean maybe this wasn't part of the deal but if i remember right when I prayed before, I told Heavenly Father....I will go wherever you want me to go but I will be really happy and do a lot better if it is somewhere warm. I definitely got that heat....but i didn't know that it would be equally cold as well....I guess you have to know the bitter to be grateful for the sweet. :) It is FREEZING here though. The humidity like goes through my body and I am not the most prepared for the cold because I didn't know it got cold here. Oh well, life shall go on.

Despite the cold, it has been a beautiful week full of miracles. This has been such a wonderful week. :) I don't even know where to begin

JR: our dear friend has been off and on and up and down. He is really prepared and so he is receiving a lot of opposition. Who would have thought? ;) His girlfriend's dad, isn't a huge fan of us and he keeps talking to Jr and telling him that what we are telling him isn't true. We went and read Alma 36 with jr. After we were done, we asked him what he thought about it and he told us that he feels like Alma is kind of like him because he has changed and is changing from his old ways. He told us how he feels like he wants to argue and defend when this man is telling him this stuff. He said...I just feel like it isn't a lie and I feel God's love and the spirit when I talk to you all. It was so beautiful to hear. He wasn't able to come to church but this week we will get him back. He promised that he would really start putting in the time reading. :)

Johana: Formerly known as Juana. Could I say Miss Prepared. Her Boyfriend, shane is like the best example ever! We went over and had pizza and watched the restoration movie and taught her about the restoration and tithing. Shane bore the sweetest testimony about being obedient to the commandments even if we don't understand why and acting in faith knowing that God will bless us. Johana had seen him writing a check for his tithing and was surprised at the amount that it was for. After talking to her about it and shane's testimony, she was like okay. I am going to ask his parents the blessings they have received. :) She told us that she wants to find a new job so she can go to all the hours of church. She promised about reading and praying about to see if Joseph Smith who restored the Church of Christ and the Book of Mormon to see if it is true. She came to church with Shane and his family in the english ward for the 1st hour and we have a cita with her this week. She is so awesome. She told us that she talked to her parents and they are okay if she gets baptized. This week we will be extending a date! :) YAY! 

Andra: We have been trying to put our names in different stores, and community places for service during this time of year and also through the year to come, and we dropped our card off at the local library. We received a call saturday  morning from this lady named Andra. She said that she was interested in meeting us as well as wanting to buy a copy of the Book of Mormon. We went over to the library and had a little chat with her. She told us how her Granddaughter who lives in Utah is dating a member of the Church and she wants to learn more about us. She said that she has seen wonderful changes in her as they have been dating and that he and his family are just splendid. She wants to meet with us again and they said when they come to Utah in may they are going to give me a call and we are going to get together. :) She was so excited to know the Book of Mormon was a free gift and just really loved talking to us. I really loved it too. The neat thing is that we prayed before going to drop off our card and asked that good would be able to come from this act. When we sort of got denied from doing service or any help right then, I was a little bummed but then just a week later, look what happened. It is all about in His timing. We just have to wait and trust in his plan. :) It was so special to see that He had a bigger plan waiting all along. :) 

Stephanie: I had been feeling for a few days that we needed to go see Stephanie and see how she was doing. I wanted to invite her to the Christmas Devotional. We went over and she was just getting home. She invited us in and she told us, well I think tomorrow would be a great day to go to church. We were like yeah? She said, yes, what is your schedule like? We said of course. She said oh hermana rife, I have something for you. We were black friday shopping and I saw something that I wanted to give to you. She was so kind, and who knows how she knew or why she thought of me but she bought me a perfume set from Victoria's Secret. I was getting low on the perfume I brought on my mission and I was like I will have to restock when I get home and then she gave it to me. It was so sweet. She also gave a bottle to Sister Durham who was on exchanges with me. She is just so kind. I love her. Sunday morning we went to her house and she followed us to church. It couldn't have gone anymore perfect. Hannah her daughter, who reminds me so much of Josie Anderson, and her other daughter Alexa, and her baby Kaylor. They had a really neat meeting with a young woman who is deaf who signed her talk and someone interpreted it, the young women did a musical number with chimes and then a member from the stake. Stephanie loved it. To top it off, her daughter Alexa knows like 5 girls in the ward and they are her friends! Stephanie said she is going to go back and a few families offered to do family nights to us and introduced themselves. We are going to be passing her over to the sisters but it was so sweet! :) 

Alma: The Bishop's neighbor that we are teaching is doing really good. This is her second time at church with us and she is really loving it. She said that she's reading the book of mormon. It is just so neat to see a friend of one of the members. We are going to teach them tomorrow with the Bishops family and I think we are going to try to extend a date! :) I am really excited about them. 

Temple: We were able to go to the temple and I was able to do baptisms and confirmations, and the other ordinances for not only my Great Great Great Great Great Grandmother, and the first person I found on Family Search, but also for about 10 other people. The spirit was strong as I did the work for Clarissa Clara J Quilliams. :) It was so special. I love the temple and the power I feel inside. It is really so sacred and a blessing that we have the chance to help our family members and feel of the Love of our Heavenly Father there!

 

Carlos: Because of His work visa, he didn't really know what day he would be leaving. They just tell them and then they all have to get their stuff and leave. I had a feeling one night, go visit carlos. So we went. As we got there, he was walking outside and got this huge smile on his face, he said. Hermanas I am so happy you came. I was hoping you would come, because I just found out I am leaving like right now. It was Such a good miracle. I think that it was a strengthening testimony to me and as well to him that Heavenly Father listens to our prayers, but also to our hope and desires. :) We were able to share our testimonies, encourage him to stay firm and sing para siempre Dios este con Vos. I love him so much. He is so sweet and has been a very special person to know in the mission. I will miss him a lot but it was the neatest thing that could have happened. 

Alicia and the Tamales: Last night for the Devotional, we invited all the members to invite someone to the devotional. We decided to have a little get together afterward. We made some oreos, and pumpkin muffins and then we were going to have hot chocolate. Saturday night, Hno Ramierez told us that he ordered some Tamales too. I was thinking in my head...okay that doesn't really go well with the whole sweets and hot chocolate thing but its okay. Who doesn't like Tamales?!!! So we had been inviting everyone too. We especially wanted Alicia to come because she hasn't come to church yet...let alone to the church. I was really hoping she could make it and then when we called her yesterday she said, hermanas i am out on the street and i don't know if i can. I was like a bit bummed but i told her i hoped she could make it. We texted her and told her that if she couldn't come at 7 that at 8 we were having a Tamales and treats, thinking well at least we could do a church tour. About 30 minutes into the devotional, I see Alicia waving at us through the door. My heart jumped. I almost jumped out of my seat to go hug her. We waved her over and she came and sat down. We were THRILLED! It made my night to have her there. She enjoyed the devotional and then told us that for the last hour they had been driving around trying to find Tamales because she was having the biggest craving for them. After she got the text with the Tamales she told her husband, I am going to this thing. She said it wasn't just because of the Tamales but that that was what gave her the final push. This morning we were talking about it and I was like Hermana Hill...Who do you think gave her that craving and Who do you think put the idea into Hermano Ramierez's head to buy Tamales. Heavenly Father couldn't have planned it any better. I know it was a little step but it was a big one for her. She met the Bishop, a few members, had a church tour and felt the spirit of the church, watched a beautiful Christmas Devotional and got her Tamales. :) 

I know that this work is true. I am so grateful for every moment I have on my mission. The good and the bad. I know that this Church is the Church of Jesus Christ. I know that God lives and He loves each one of us and has a perfect plan for each of us. I know that through the Atonement of Christ we can be healed from pains, strengthened in Trials and Freed of our burdens from Sin. I love my Savior and I am so grateful for this time of year to celebrate him. I love the song A bleak mid Winter...President Monsen even quote him..."What can I give Him, poor as I am. If I were a shepherd, I would bring him a lamb. If I were a Wiseman, I would do my part. What I can give,  I can give. give to Him my heart." That is all, He really wants. He wants us to be faithful and true and really be His followers, in word, thought and deed. 

I love you all very much and I am grateful for the special family my Heavenly Father has given me and for all the blessings that he has provided me with. I am a lucky and loved daughter. I am reminded of that daily. I hope you all have a beautiful week! Take care. Remember who you are and to who you belong to.

Off Finding the 10s of 1000s.

Con Amor, Hermana Rife

Hermana Hill and Kynsie at the Temple

December 2013

Hermana Hill, Carlos and Hermana Rife

 "He is so sweet and has been a very special person to know in the mission. I will miss him a lot."

Our Reason to Celebrate the Season (Email from Monday, December 2, 2013)

Hi Family! 

I am glad you all had a good thanksgiving. Thanks for all the pictures. It was fun to see them. I can't believe how bit mila is. She is like a child, she isn't a baby anymore. It is so crazy to see. Everyone looks older and different. I think it is strange looking at our house. I was looking at it and thinking "that is my house and where I used to live" It seems strange. Anyways! I am glad frisbee is back in town and that the christmas traditions have begun.

Well our week was great. It went by quickly because we had a lot of things going on. I had mission leadership conference and zone meeting. Elder Valdez always asks how kendra is doing and sends his hellos. I love elder valdez - he is great. We have new zone leaders and I really miss working with Elder Valdez and Elder Torres. 

We had a great thanksgiving. We cooked the whole thing for Olivia, Jr and her family. We made a turkey, mashed potatoes, deviled eggs, green bean casserole, stuffing, rolls and pie. We didn't make the rolls. It turned out fantastic. We played pin the feather on the turkey with a turkey i made and we all decorated a feather of what we were grateful for. It made me feel so good that it all went so good. Olivia had expressed to us that she HATED the holidays because they just were horrible because of things that are happening in her life. She told us thank you so much for what we had done and making her thanksgiving great. She told us that we are like family to them. It just makes me feel so special inside. I don't think the feeling of serving someone ever gets old. It is the best feeling someone could ever have. 

We had an awesome lesson with a new family called the Flores Family. They have a daughter who is 15 and they are really great. They are very open and told us how they feel something with Mormons, especially the ones that work at chick- fliet? The chicken sandwich place that is opened by members. It is amazing what a good example can do. We talked about all their questions and talked about baptism. They told us, we are open to listening and to finding out of what you have to say is true. It was great! We were hoping that they would come to church but they didn't make it. The arguetas didn't either but we will get them this week that is coming. :) 

I am doing really good. I am enjoying my mission so much. I hope this week is smooth for you all. I love you all so much. Remember to remember the things that are most important and to never let Satan interfere with the decisions that we make. It isn't worth letting him win. I'll talk to you all soon. Have a beautiful week! Remember who you are and to whom you belong to.

Moroni 7:45-48

Love you lots. Off finding the 10s of 1000s and bringing the spirit of Navidad! 

Hermana Rife

The turkey Kynsie made to play "Pin the Feather on the Turkey"!

"Our Thanksgiving Turkey

The Bird...GROSS. It tasted great though!"

Alicia, Hermana Hill and Kynsie. 

"She is so Fun!"

Thanksgiving Pies

The two above pictures are with Jr. and Olivia and their family.

A Wonderful Thanksgiving 

"I don't think the feeling of serving someone ever gets old. It is the best feeling someone could ever have." 

Reasons to Be Thankful

Hello my dear family!

What a wonderful time of year. I was a bit worried about the holidays when I came on my mission. I was worried about being homesick and wanting to be home but to tell you the truth I Love being a missionary during these times. It is so fun. There are so many reasons for me to be thankful. I thought I would just list a few of the things i am grateful for right now! Not in order.

The Gospel. The Scriptures. My Mission. My Family. My Bed and sleeping  (those are first) :) Hot Chocolate. Singing and Music. PB & Js. Sunshine. The wonderful members of BC 2. Miracles. Hermana Hill says the spirit...:D so I guess i have to be grateful for her too. haha just kidding. I love her! Laughing. All the wonderful people I get to be in contact with.  

It sounds like you all had quite the week! :) I am glad to hear that everyone is doing so good. I appreciated your funny stories. They put a smile on my face. How awkward about the new years happening! hahaha :D ohhhh crazy memories. I guess he didn't think it was that bad because he still put in a good word for kendra! :) He is a good person.  I have to apologize...you will be getting double duty letters in the mail this week. I didn't quite get them all done and then I was going to finish tuesday morning and send them off but it didn't happen. I just decided on wednesday that I would send them with the boys...so forgive me. I am a little slacker. 

I am glad that Brother Jarmen is willing to help me. Honestly, I haven't prayed or even really thought about anything when I come home but I feel like that would be a wonderful and beautiful opportunity for me. As for now...that will have to wait, I can hardly stay awake during my prayers for things that are most important right now let alone trying to figure out other things. It might also be that I am in big time denial as well but that is besides the point. It is almost december! how is that possible? There is Christmas music playing in all the stores. It is fun to hear it! We have been holding off to sing the christmas hymns until December but I am getting excited. Christmas is really wonderful on the mission. It is the perfect time to help people because their hearts are more open to a message about Jesus.

La Familia Argueta: I have the most beautiful miracle to share for this week. Last week on exchanges Hermana McCleary stopped us and told me that we needed to contact this family who was outside. We pulled over and walked back to their house and started talking to them. We set an appointment and then this last wednesday was the day of our cita. We went and it was awesome! We got to know them more and explained about our purpose. It is a family of 5 and 6 with the grandma who lives there. The abuela was there but the mother wasn't. We felt really good about all of them but I was worried about if the Mom would be open. We set a cita for saturday and when we went back we met the mom and taught the restoration. It was a really great lesson. They all were involved and asking great questions. Then here comes the good part. We invited them to church and they said they would come. Sunday came and the most beautiful family walked in the door. They have 3 beautiful girls 14, 12, 10 and then the mother father and grandma. The mother wasn't able to come because she had to work but they came and stayed all three hours. The girls LOVED young womans and they told us that after we left they all read the book of mormon and prayed together and personally about joseph smith. They said they felt really good about the feelings they felt. It was just such a miracle. I feel like they are going to be baptized. I feel so blessed to be able to work with such wonderful people. 

ps: dad right now mary did you know is playing...i can't help but think of you when i listen to this song! :)

Alicia: Another wonderful miracle. We have still been teaching her but she hasn't come to church and it has been hard because she can only progress so much until she comes. She told us that she doesn't want to do this by herself and that she wants her family to be involved. We hadn't been able to meet her husband and talk with him and so that was one of our goals for her. We told her that we wanted to meet him. One day we went over and then he ended up coming home early. We got to meet with him and we shared a message about prayer. We sang as he and hermana hill played the guitar to nearer my god to thee. It was awesome and he told us that if he didn't work on sunday that he would come with alicia to church. They didn't come but it was a step forward that we could meet him. I think this week we are going to try to set a cita for when he will be home! 

It is our second week as being a split ward and it went really good. I love our ward and new bishopric. Tonight we have an FHE with the bishop and his family and one of their neighbors so we are just a bit excited about their efforts to share the gospel. :)

I have been reading the book of mormon. As I have been reading it this time around I feel a special spirit. I feel like I am understanding a lot more that I didn't catch before. I know that the Book of Mormon testifies of Christ and is true and will help us through all of the experiences we pass in our lives. I know that when we read it that we will feel the spirit and have a better day. I love that book and i hope all of you are continuing to gain a stronger testimony of the principles that are inside of it. 

Well. I hope your thanksgiving is soooo great! Don't eat too much. Enjoy it though. I love you all a ton and hope you all can feel it! I will talk to you all next week! Thanks for all your prayers, support and love. Remember who you are and to whom you belong to.

Off finding the tens of thousands!

Hermana Rife

At Transfers!

Hermana Rife and Hermana Hill

Sisters Cardona-paul and Correia

(Love them)

No fun title from Kynsie today! :) Guess she has run out of ideas!

Well Hello Hello Family! 

Can you believe that Thanksgiving is next week? Oh my goodness...I can't! I am really hungry right now though so I think that I am ready for some good food. :) What are your plans? It sounds like you have had another busy week. I am sorry to hear that mom is sick. I think it is a rife problem because I have  been a bit sick this week as well....but I am not that sick. I just have a small dry cough and a bit of a sore throat. It has been getting better though. I made a lime, hot water and honey mixture. It was surprisingly gross but worked pretty alright as I was drinking it. I do agree that mom should go to the doctor though. The weather has been really up and down and so I think it has influenced me getting sick. esta bien. I am sorry to hear that grandma still isn't doing wonderful. You will have to let me know how her appointment goes tomorrow.  I have been praying for you grandma!

We have been a trio for the last 5 days. Hermana McCleary's companion finished her mission and went home so she has been with us. It has been fun to have her. We have been working in both the areas though so it has been a bit hard too, trying to balance all the things but we did it. I have loved working with Hermana McCleary. She is so special. She has been through a lot in her life and I am learning a lot from her sweet spirit. She is such an example to anyone she is around. She will be getting a new companion tomorrow. I will not be getting transferred so another 6 weeks in the creek of bear. :D haha only the people who know spanish might think that joke is funny...even though it isn't really funny. 

okay well i am done rambling...I need to tell ya'll some good miracles of the week. As you know we have been working with some less actives in our ward. Olivia is one of them. She is so special. I love her a ton. She has been through so much and she is trying to break free of some things. One night she was pretty fed up and we had felt to go over there. We went over and she was going to leave. We ended up helping her make dinner and clean up a little bit and then she came out with us on a lesson. She wanted to stay in the car when we got there but I told her that she needed to come. She came and we contacted this referral that we received. Olivia bore a super strong testimony about how she came to know that this church was true. She also told them of how even though she isn't perfect she is trying and the gospel helps her. It was so special. She said that she felt really great after and that she was going to be okay to go home. She went home and informed us later that night that everything was calm with the things that were happening before. She also texted us this week before she went out and did anything that she knows she shouldn't do and so we were able to go over for a few minutes so that she could remember the perspective. 

I feel like we have had some really good moments with Olivia. She told us in one of the moments this week...wow I am blessed. She knows that Heavenly Father has a better plan for us but sometimes we really have to struggle through other things in order to get to that point. Yesterday she came to church and she started work today. I am grateful that I could be with her for many moments when we have seen how the Lord has worked in our lives. It also has been a huge testimony builder to me of that when we do things the Lords way  he will prepare a way for something better. I know that it is true. All of the things we go through will prepare us for something more and make us better people.

We had a lot of other special things during the week but I would say that those were my favorite. I am so happy to be here. All of these moments are just so special. Well I hope you all have a great week. I will talk to you sooon. Thanks for your cute halloween card. (I forgot to send Kynsie the Halloween card I had purchased for her back in September!!!)  I loved the announcements too. (Justin's and Steinia's wedding invitations) I hadn't seen them, so thanks for letting me see them. I love you all tons and keep doing the good things in life. Reading especially and praying especially. I started the book of mormon today. I am excited to read it. I am going to be able to do both the book of mormon and the bible. I am in psalms now and so I am close. :) 

Okay BYE! I am sending you a lot of pictures from zone activities and just one from today. I'll be off finding the 10s of 1000s. remember who you are and to whom you belong to.

Hermana Rife

Her Trio for a few days

Hermanas McCleary, Rife, and Hill

A Zone Activity - November 2013

(Kynsie is on the far left)

Kynsie's zone at the Temple 

Another Zone  Activity 

(Kynsie is in the middle)  

:)

Hermana's  in Texas!  

"Kynsie's chain" is almost finished!!!  Need to add an airplane!  :)  She is finally coming home in 87 days!

Kylee and the rest of us are a little excited.

"Kynsie's chain" is almost finished!!! Need to add an airplane! :)

"Kynsie's chain" is almost finished!!! Need to add an airplane! :)

"Kynsie's chain" is almost finished!!! Need to add an airplane! :)

aloha ohana dis us missionary from Bear Creek =) das wassup

That was elder langinbelik he is the Poly in our district. He just typed the subject line! :)

Hello Dear Family!

 

I am relieved to hear that Grandma is doing well. I know that the Lords plan is perfect but that doesn't mean that it isn't hard sometimes. I have been a bit worried for her this week. It was a relief to receive your letter mom on saturday and to hear that she had been doing well. It was good to hear a "she's recovering" report on the email as well. :) Keep it up grandma! I am sorry that all of you are sick though. Get better!

 

This week was another week of beautiful miracles and experiences. The Lord is good to us. He is so good to me. I always feel like He gives me and sends me exactly what I need. Sometimes it doesn't get easier but it does give me the strength to push on. This week we had a specialized training on conversion. In the Bible Dictionary under the section of conversion. We find the following."Denotes changing one’s views, in a conscious acceptance of the will of God (Acts 3:19). If followed by continued faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, repentance, baptism in water for the remission of sins, and the reception of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands, conversion will become complete and will change a natural man into a sanctified, born again, purified person—a new creature in Christ Jesus (see 2 Cor. 5:17). Complete conversion comes after many trials and much testing (seeLuke 22:32; D&C 112:12–13). To labor for the conversion of one’s self and others is a noble task, as in Ps. 51:13; Dan. 12:3; James 5:19–20; Alma 26; D&C 18:15–16."
Well, I feel like the mission has brought me conversion in many aspects of my life. I feel like through the hard stuff that is how conversion really happens. It is living the gospel when it gets hard that brings us to be able to endure to the end. It gives us the hope that there is something better. Ether 12:4. It never ends though...conversion increases and grows stronger and stronger and we always have to work for it. It is through the miracles that I know the gospel is really true and that the principles within it are true and real.

JR: I think it has now been 4 times that JR has come to church. He looks like a regular on the pew. He may still have his earrings and has a few tats but he is going strong and he is there with desires and a smile. It brings a smile to my face every time I look down from playing the piano and I see him. He has been reading and praying. He is working on some things. He has been doing good about keeping the word of wisdom. He is so special. You can see more light and the endurance that is coming from his conversion. He is pressing on and fighting even though it isn't easy.

 

Juana: Did we receive a prepared person this week or what? I would say "YES". Wow. She is super prepared. Juana was a referral given to us from a different set of elders.  Her boyfriend is a Member and she has been going to church with him. She invited us over for dinner and we talked to her about a lot of things. She was asking all the "hard" commitments and questions. Law of Chasity, Word of Wisdom, and Eternal Life. We would explain her the reasoning in spanish and then she would look at shane and say...ohhh baby, I love it. I love what they are saying to me. :D haha She is darling. At the end, we invited her to be baptized on the 30th. She told us. Oh that isn't a problem for me. I want to be a mormon but I have to talk to my family and i want you to teach them so they understand why I am making this decision. She is just lovely. I really enjoyed being with her. She told us how much getting to know shane has blessed her life and how he makes her a better person. Shane told us straight out...I want a temple marriage and an eternal family and she is very aware of that. :)

 

Reyes: We had the chance to visit with a family in our ward. It was a great experience. We have been really trying to work with the members and help them to invite their friends. We have had a lot more people trying to share their dear friends with us. We stopped by the reyes family and we shared a simple message about the light of Christ and the gospel. The Hermano was very touched and he began crying and thanking us for our service. He said...it is a beautiful thing to represent the Lord. It just made me tear up. It really is such a sacred chance. He thanked us for our examples and for being in their home. We asked if they knew anyone and they told us about their sisters. They are going to talk to them and see if we can go visit them. I just thought it was so neat that they referred us to their family. Another Member Miracle was with the Aseveldos. They have 2 missionaries serving right now and in the closing prayer, the hermana was asking Heavenly Father to please help them have missionary experiences and to please help them find people to share the gospel with so that we could teach them. It was just a blessing and a testimony to me that Heavenly Father will prepare us miracles and help if we are doing what we need to be doing. We have been trying to work with the members and look at what is happening. They feel it. Speaking of the members...Yesterday, our ward split. We have less people but more room to grow and get people involved. I am very excited for the changes. I feel like it is going to be an awesome challenge. We received a new bishopric and we will have a lot of new faces to work with in the ward council! I feel like it is going to be GREAT!

 

I know a lot of other things happened but I think that is enough for now. :) I am so grateful for this gospel. It is an amazing thing. Hermana Hill is doing great. She is adjusting to the mission and I am trying to help her. We can always use prayers though. She is really sweet and i know I am with her for reason and purpose. Transfers are next week. I will be receiving the call sunday so I'll know by monday. Well family, I love you a lot! I hope you have a fantastic week and that everyone gets better. Take care and keep reading and doing the small and simple things! Remember who you are and to whom you belong to.

 

Off finding the Tens of Thousands,

La Hermana Rife

 

"The sky the Sky!  Got to love the skies of Texas!!!"

"It was Hermana McCleary's Birthday!  We celebrated after ward correlation with La familia Ramierez."

"With la familia Martinez.  A wonderful family who will be on the other side...or the different ward.  I'll miss them!  :)"