The sweetness of this work

Hi Family,

 

Right now, I don't even know where to start. This week on my mission has been sacred. Very Special.

 

A mission is a hard thing to express because its so personal and special to you. It is hard to explain because it is an unreal feeling. The things I am learning are neat.

 

Dad thank you for writing me that letter. It really touched me. We are at a college emailing today and again I am sitting here crying cause I can feel the spirit through your letter. :) It is amazing how people can leave such incredible impressions in your heart.

  

Hna Rivera is getting close to finishing her mission. She will leave the 19th. I am going to miss her a lot. I really have learned so much from her. She is a role model missionary. I feel so honored to have the chance to serve with her and learn from her as my trainer. She told me the other day, Sometimes I wonder why we couldn't have served longer together but then I realized that it is because we have to much fun together. it is like we would be on vacation with a best friend and then just seeing all these miracles. She just said, we wouldn't be learning as much cause we would just be loving life! I am glad she feels the same way I do. I know she and I will be good friends forever. I am excited to see what Heavenly Father has in store for her.

 

Saturday, we were blessed with the baptism of Nora. The whole day was kind of spent with her. It was pretty funny actually. We started out on her roof putting up her Christmas lights. Edgar her son was like freaking out cause he was like they are girls they can't do that they are going to fall off our house. Hna Rivera and I climbed up the roof and started hammering the little nail things/picture hangers. I was laying on my stomach nailing and she was sitting below me so that i wouldn't roll off the roof. It was so funny. We were laughing the whole time up there. All of Nora's neighbors were looking at us like WHO ARE THESE GIRLS. :) She was like Hna Rife you are hammering like a man. Nora was laughing the whole time too but she kept saying cuidado cuidado. Be careful in spanish. We didn't quite finish so we are going back tomorrow but it was funny. We then went to her baptism. It was a wonderful service. Many people showed up to support her and she looked like an angel. Her daughter Maria and her husband came as well. It was the first time we met her husband. I let her borrow my temple dress because we didn't have any pretty dresses and she is a classy ex catholic woman and I really felt strongly that she needed to use my dress. We were careful and I made sure to check if it could get wet and everything so it was fine. She loved the dress and she was so prepared. Hna Busenbark was able to come, as well as the Santillans. Jose and Lorena loved the service they thought it was beautiful. You could feel the spirit. We went out to dinner with them after and spent a little time with their family. It was good because then they could see we were normal people. I think maria is going to be accpeting too. She is awesome. I like her a lot. On sunday when Nora recieved the Holy Ghost she said that after when she was recieving it (by the man & (his wife) who gave her to us as a refferal) that she felt something go through her body. In the blessing it said Heavenly Father has a special mission for her,  and that her family is going to come follow because of her example. A very special day! :)

 

The Santillan family is doing very well. They came to church yesterday as well as a musical stake youth fireside. They enjoyed it. We had a very sacred lesson with them last night. :) Keep praying for them that they will get married and prepare for baptism.

 

This week I went on exchanges. I went to Conroe with Hna. Busenbark and Hna Demmit. I learned a lot. It was a good experience. We had a fun time cleaning horse stalls and yeah...it was gross but fun service. We went to this 65 acre ranch. It was pretty. We got feed a good lunch after so it was worth it.

 

I loved hearing from "the boys" it was so great. I loved all of your letters. I am glad you are doing well. Well I love you a lot. I am glad you are all working on reading the book of mormon. That book is so incredible. If we want to be converted members of the church we have to read that book. Even if it is just one verse a day.

 

Love you all a lot. Take care and have a good week.

 

Remember who you and to whom you belong to.

 

off finding and teaching the 10's of 1000's

 

Hermana Rife

 

 

Welll...its 82 degrees & December

Hi Family!

How is everyone doing? :) I hope all is well. I can't believe it is December. I made it 4 months on my mission. That is kinda a long time. :) Another week has flown by. Its been a crazy one but good. Every week we are doing so much good stuff. 

A few random facts....

i am starting to LOVE Hispanic food. Like LOVE. i crave it all the time. We eat it all the time too. 

i have converted hna rivera to the comfort of night gowns. :) We got some pretty cute ones at walmart. Picture attached. We also sometimes...make brownies and ice cream and eat them in our night gowns...just saying. 

Hna Rivera goes home in two weeks....ahhhh I am going to miss her so much. but I know she has a lot ahead of her. She might be calling you just fyi. She has taught me so much. She is such an example missionary. Sometimes I swear she is perfect! :)  Every day I am trying to become more and more like her. She is so consecrated even now as she is almost done. She is incredible. I know you all will get to meet her in the future. 

I think Hna Koerner and I will be staying Houston Seis. But we shall see. I am learning from Hna Koerner too. She teaching very well. 

As for the Work

Nora is doing great she had her interview this last weekend and she is prepared to be baptized this Saturday. We are excited for her! She came to the 1st Presidency  Devotional last night and really enjoyed it. She is also gaining a testimony of the Book of Mormon. We made this little activity for her to do every day with questions and then a section to read in the Book of Mormon. She always calls us and asks us questions and if she misses a day she always says...Hna. Rife..i didn't do my homework. Whenever we say we have something to give her-She is like I hope it is not more homework! haha :)

As for the Santillan Family. They got their Birth Certificate finally and now we are just working through a few little things to prepare them for baptism. We were able to go to the temple grounds with them and teach them a bit more there. They could feel the spirit so strong. We went to there house to drive with them and Jose wasn't home. Lorena said I don't know if he will be able to make it tonight cause he has a lot of work. We said a prayer that a miracle would happen so that they would be able to go as a family. She called back and Jose said I can come. I'll be there soon. We were like okay everyone go get all ready and we will go. So everyone got dressed up and Jose came home and started getting ready. As they were getting ready we cleaned their house up so the spirit could be there stronger. As they were walking out all dressed nicely the spirit was so strong in that home. We had church Christmas music playing and it was just so special. Randell said...My dad is wearing his Alligator Cowboy Boots...that means he is really trying to dress up. :) We went to the temple and it was beautiful. They all touched the outside of the building and Jose said wow i can feel it. He couldn't stop looking at it. He knows it is true. He also shared a very special experience with us about an answered prayer. As we were leaving we opened up the temple doors so they could just look inside. It was like the angels had prepared it for them to look. All of the temple workers were standing there at the desk smiling and Lorena and Jose were both in awe. Lorena said wow its like a bunch of angels. It was definitely a night I won't forget. I'll think in about a year they will be going back in dressed in white :) Keep praying for them! 

On Saturday, We had the baptism of Edwardo Ovalle. They are members of our ward. It was a special experience. The missionaries are a big deal to that family. They have been members for 3 years. Karen (18) comes with us on splits a lot. Elder Torres, Cheney, and Sinaca, Hna Rivera and Koerner sang called to serve and Army of Heleman and I played. I also played through out the service and said the closing prayer. I am so grateful for my piano lessons (aka thanks mom and dad and aka tanny and tyler keep playing) as well as I think heavenly father is blessing me with extra sight reading skills! 

The Christmas Devotional was really good. I hope you guys go to watch it as well. The Mormon Tabernacle Choir did wonderful as always. I really enjoyed it. It totally doesn't seem like Christmas not going to lie. I mean its 82 degrees here. :) I never thought I would say it...but I miss the cold and the snow. It is probably good though cause I have summer clothes and then I won't get homesick cause I won't think it is really Christmas time! :) anyways. are you all preparing for Christmas and singing lots of good Christmas Carols? I would love to see a picture of our house all decorated! You have the tree up yet? We have a cactus for ours....just kidding. 

Tyler - A boy named John Kevin Escobar might be adding you on Facebook. Don't worry that is my Bishops son. He speaks just spanish soooo start learning. ;) just kidding he speaks both. When I write your letter today I'll give you the details of how that happened! haha. :) 

I loved all the Pictures. Kate sent me some ones as well. Your costumes looked great! :) 

Well I don't have much more to say. I love my mission. I am learning lots. I pray for you always. :) Talk to you soon! Love you all!!!!

Remember who you are and to whom you belong to.

Off doing the Mission Thing in Texas. Ya Know...Finding the 10's of 1000's

Hermana Rife

 

 

 

Dia de Gracias/Pavo...aka that means turkey

Hola Mi Familia,

I hope all is well far far away in provo. Well here in texas the sun is still shining and I am still here on my mission. We survived Thanksgiving and if I do say so myself...I think we pulled it off quite well. :) Hna Koerner did a great job on the turkey and on some of the sides. I made mashed potatoes and deviled eggs. It wasn't quite as good as dad's Famous Mashed Potatoes but they were good sooo i count that as success. We had turkey, potatoes, green bean cassorole,  deviled eggs, stuffing, mixed veggies, rolls (bought) and a drink as well as pumpkin pie. I sent a picture. You can see Hna Koerner as well in the picture. They really loved the dinner! It turned out perfect. We were happy. It was a long day as I am sure it was for you. It sounds like you all had quite the fun and the food! :) I am glad you all enjoyed yourself. 

The Santillans still haven't received the birth certificate and so they are still not married. We had to move their date. We are just waiting on that and remembering that it is the Lords timing!  :) They are a special family. I love them all a lot. 

As for Nora. Wow she is doing great. I love her. She has a lot of faith and this week we made up a fun "game" for her to do so that she will be able to read the book of mormon. We have a question and a scripture passage for each day this week and then she has to answer the question after she reads. Her date is next week on the 8th. We think this will help her prepare for baptism and that she will understand the importance of reading the book of mormon. She loved the idea! :) We took Hno. Pedro (Hna' Rivera's uncle who she taught and baptized in March) - That is who is in the picture with us. Nora was embarrassed that she didn't change her shoes...so don't mind them! :)

The Sorto Family. Wow they are great! So humble. We taught the restoration lesson to them this last week and they loved it. Marisol who is 26 said she prayed and she felt so much peace and slept better then she has her whole life! :) haha. The next day when we called to remind them about church Ana and Oscar (the parents) said they weren't going to be going and then we called Marisol and she said she would be there and that she invited her auntie and her 3 kids...Who would have thought an investigator inviting more investigators to church! :) Well we got to church and a few minutes into the announcements here comes Marisol with Her auntie 3 kids and ana and oscar! It was quite a sight. Everyone in our ward was like WHAT is this! :) It was awesome. Marisol already told us she was going to come next week and they would be staying the whole 3 hours. We are excited to teach them this week again!

So I caught a lizard the other day. It was kinda scary and really funny. i screamed and Hna koerner and rivera were laughing really hard. We always try to have a good time as we are working. We are working hard and having fun as we are working.

Today a funny happened. We were washing our car at the mission office and President Pingree came and he said...hermana rife, I always see you running around without your shoes. :) Its kind of a country girl style. I love it! :) Hna Rivera told me too, Hna Rife I love that you are just yourself and you don't care what other people think. I asked her if that was a good thing or a bad one. :) haha President Pingree just came right behind me just barely and asked me if I had shoes on again..haha :) I said I didn't want to get them wet and its just way more comfortable with out them! he just laughed. I assured him I always wore shoes when I was "on duty" :) He is such a good man. I learn a lot from him every time I interact with him.

I received my package of music on friday. Thank you so much! It was perfect and so fast. Mom about that shirt. ( you can take this out of my blog) A medium will work and whatever brand is fine. Yes, please a cap sleeve. I use it for a layering shirt under a few of my white shirts. So that would be great! Thank you. 

Well I still love this work. I still am doing good.  I still am off trying to find the 10's of 1000s with my companions. I still am trying to be the best missionary I can be and....I still love you all a lot!!

Until Next week. Enos 1:27 - this is the reason we must endure to the end and stay worthy by repenting even for the little things daily, reading the book of mormon daily, praying daily and going to church weekly. Because when we meet God and Jesus Christ we want them to welcome us in knowing that we did what we were supposed to do here! :) 

Off Finding & Remember who you are and to whom you belong too...

Hermana K.M.R. over and out. ;)

 

 

Happy Thanksgiving Week!

Well Hi there,

 

Honestly I am not in the mood to write a letter so I am sorry if this letter is a tad bit crappy. :) But it isn't anything against you. I love you a lot!

 

A few big things of the week...

 

Hermana Busenbark got transferred and we got a new companion. Her name is Hermana Koerner. She is from Indianna and went to Byu. She taught high school before she came here. It was a surprise. I don't know why I am always in trios...but I guess I need double the trainers! ;) haha She is really into the doterra oils. Its sort of funny but we all have our passions so its fine! :) We all get along really well. She is perfect for us cause she likes hiphop and dancing and it works perfect with our rapping. We have been rapping tons. Almost every single day. i am getting good at just flowing in my raps. it is pretty fun. It makes people laugh too so that a plus.

 

A thing to ask. In the piano box or piano bench there is the song Breath of Heaven. Hermana Kelly and I are doing a musical number at the Christmas Mission Meeting. So I hope you can find it and send it soon. If possible this week...? You can send me any other music that you feel like is good to send. I am finding out I should have brought some cause I am using it a lot more than i thought I would. I played in church yesterday and it brought a good spirit to the room. After I was done the High Council man from our stake said wait stay there. I was like huh? He said I want to you bear your testimony. It was super scary. Dang..I thought I was only playing and then I had to bear my testimony in spanish. Yikes. It is a lot better than it was. It helps that both my companions speak beautiful spanish though. I thought my heart was going to jump out of my chest though. But I survived. As for the piano song.. Bishop said he loved it and asked me to do another in December.

 

Two great experiences of the week!

 

La Familia Sorto - So we met this family as we were praying. We have taught them 2 times and they are reading the book of mormon. They are special. The spirit is in there house and they are so pure. It is awesome to see. They are Oscar (the pappa) Anna (the Mama) Marisol and Marvin who are in there 20s. Marvin is married with a baby girl Scarlet and Marisol is so awesome. She is an athletic trainer for a high school. So they are so neat. The other day we stopped by and Ana said oh i have been thinking about you guys because Marvin wanted to invite you to Scarlets 2 yr old birthday party tonight. I knew you had that wedding so you couldn't come and we were sad. ( The wedding had been postphoned because the paper work didn't come through ) but anyways so we had the night open. We went to the party and they were excited. It was really fun a huge party. That is something I have learned here Hispanics are all in or all out. Its crazy. They had a bunch of music and it was very fun. I was enjoying listening :) we were holding in our dancing though...for the most part. The sorto family is coming along. We have been tied up in Santillans and Nora a lot so hopefully we can start splits and do double the work in these next few weeks.

 

La Familia Faz/Santillan - Wow. I love this family. Sooo much. I am excited for Thanksgiving this week with them. We are cooking for them a american Thanksgiving Dinner! It is going to be great. The other Night our ward had a Thanksgiving dinner and they came. Jose asked what are plans were for thanksgiving just kind of checking to make sure we remembered we were spending it with them. Hermana Rivera said joking...Well we have this incredible familiy that we are going to eat with. We are so excited..and so on. He sorta look at us confused but they she said...You guys. He was like Oh...He told us later I thought you were replacing us and it broke my heart. Hahaha :) I was laughing so hard. He always tells us you are my family we love you like family and he is so sweet. I love all of them. I hope one day you can meet them. There was dancing at that activity. We convinced Jose and Lorena to dance for us. It was so cute. I am not going to lie...we pray that they will fall in love and it is fun to watch them fall in love again. :)

 

Hno Jose has accpeted the baptismal date of Dec 1st. He is doing great. They love church and learning more. Yesterday we taught word of wisdom and Lorena gave us her beer and we dumped it down the drain with them. It smelled so gross. They are willing to keep all the commandments and just move forward. Satan is working hard on them at times but it is good. We have a few more kinks to work out with them but I think after that they will be ready. Hopefully the paper work will arrive this week and then they can get married. This family is bringing the missionary spirit to our ward. Lots of people are willing to come as member presents and do family nights. The spirit of our ward is different. it is awesome.

 

It sounds like you are going to have a fun Thanksgiving with everyone. You won't even miss me! :) Okay well i gots to goooo but Just so you know....

 

I love you all :)

 

Happy Turkey Day!

 

Remember who you are and to whom you belong to. 

Alma 34:38-39

 

Off finding the 10s of 1000s

 

Hermana Kyns

 

 

Puessss it is me again :)

Hola Mi Familia!!!!


Okay I don't have much time today at all. I swear p-days are more busy than other days. Its nuts. Both my companions tell me its not normally like this but...I guess since we all have so much fun together Heavenly Father is trying to keep us out of trouble! :) ha ha

A Few of My Funnies

-Manuel: He lives in our apartment complex and he is awesome. He has a 2 year old son and is divorced. He is so nice and we always talk to him as he is going and coming from work. The other night we were on our way out with brownies to the bishops house and we started talking. He was asking us who we were and what exactly we did because he said I never knew what you were up too until last week when you prayed with me and then I still am wondering what you do all day everyday. It was funny. He said I thought you were running a shelter of some sort at first because you are out running every morning and such but now i understand more. He was very impressed that we would leave our homes and families to serve and go and teach people about God and Jesus Christ. It was a neat experience but funny what people think of us :) The things we hear are hilarious sometimes.


Elder Segura's Birthday is today. He is a huge basketball fan. We decided to make him a basketball cake. It ended up really good. On our way over this morning we decided to do a happy birthday song and I suggested a funny rap. Sooo thats what happened. :) I made a rap up really fast on the way over. Hermana River Beat Boxed and Hermana Busenbark danced. Lets just say it was legit and super hilarious. haha. Elder Cheney Filmed it. I hope that I can get a copy. The rap went something like this...

Happy Birthday,

Happy Birthday to you, You are 20,
In this mission you'll touch many
Thanks for Bein' our District Leader
One day, you'll be like Dieter (f. uchtdorf)

This days a little different as you can see,
But be the missionary, you ought to be.
Ride your Bike, Preach the Gospel, and Baptize...
and we'll still realize....

its your birthday. so happy birthday

This cake is for you, so eat it all up
even eat it with some milk in a cup
It's a basketball cause you love to play
your the best out of the elders, by the way

Never forget the love we have for you
and our gratitude for all the things you do
Times now up and we gots to go
But you'll be our friend, as you know

Hafter Sisters Represent...word :)

It was sooo good. We were laughing way hard. They loved it. They were impressed by my rapping skills, the beatboxing of Hna. Rivera and the dancing of Hermana Busenbark.


Sooo a few wonderfuls of this week

Nora - I can't remember all I have told you about Nora but she was scared to get baptized and it was just not going far with her. So we taught her and her son Edgar a few weeks ago. We extended a commitment to them both and she declined. She "wasn't ready" we encouraged her to pray but we didn't really think she did. She came to church without us even calling her last week and then tells us how much she has been missing us and she wants to talk to us. We go to lunch and she tells us her doubts and all. We clear them up teach her Gospel of Jesus Christ and then she tells us that she wants to get baptized. She told us she wanted to get baptized this week. 17th. but it was way to soon so she decided on the 1st of december. We were all in awe and so happy for her. She is one of the pictures that I sent to you!  I was blown away. It was awesome. She came to church yesterday and is working hard and will be preparing her for December 1st.

Faz & Santaillan - Guess who is going to the chapel and going to get married??? :) Yup. Jose and Lorena. They are an incredible family. We see them almost everyday and every day I have soo much more love for them.They always tell us you are all like family. It is so true though. We are going to be eating thanksgiving with them next week. We are cooking too cause...haha yeah. Well cool. :) All are progressing well. They make me laugh so hard. We have had some special experiences with them.

Last week we walked a lot. We spent all saturday and sunday on leg and a bit in the cars of members. We prayed with a family called the Sorto family. They are special. We taught them last night and the daughter Marisol (20's) really felt the spirit of the 1st vision as well as the book of mormon. I am excited to see where this goes. :)

We got to go to the temple this week. It is small compared to Provo and Mount Timp but still fabulous. it was fun


This week we have transfers. I think i'm staying put with my companions. :)  ummm

Pictures

Brownies I made
Us and nora
Our district at the temple.
Elder Seguras Birthday
Us with Faz family and Hna. Rivera's auntie and uncle (the ones with glasses) and little camilla

Hermana Rivera got to teach her family and baptize them in March! They are great people and examples to me.


Life is good. Sorry I didn't send letters last week. The week past by quick and it just kinda slipped off my list of things to do. I wrote them but didn't send them. I love you all and hope you are doing great. Keep reading the scriptures and praying daily as a family. I know its hard but when we do it we will be so blessed and by those small things we stay holding on to the rod. Satan is always trying to bring us down and the book of mormon and prayer is really our armor to fight off our little devils and temptations! Even if it is 5 minutes...read. 1 verse...read. Make that important because it is the reason we are here! :)   Everyday I am seeing miracles. It is incredible. I love this work. it is indescribable. Thanks for all your love and support. I hope you all had a happy and safe halloween.

Love you lots

Remember who you are, and to whom you belong to.

Off finding the 10s of 1000s and loving life.

Hermana Rife

Howdy from your Texan Missionary

Puessss Bueno.

I can't believe it is another week in texas. It is already november. Woah! 

1st things 1st.

Kendra - beautiful girl. I saw your picture and I was like she is getting more pretty by the day. I loved your pumpkin. I heard you went on a D.A.T.E....so spill the beans woman.

Mila Baby - Happy Birthday to my little 1yr old. I want to see some birthday pictures or something. I know kate will be doing something fun for her birthday so I am expected some pictures! :) PS Kate ----- i need a letter from you as well as some halloween pictures of their costumes! ;) 

I am glad Christian is doing better. I have been keeping him and the Terry Family in my prayers. :) please keep telling me how he is doing.

I got the piano music..Thank you so much! I loved the letters I got this week as well. I received the letter from my little lady kylee and from grandma. Thank you. Bishop asked me to play in church in 2 weeks. I am excited. I am going to play For the Beauty of the Earth.

First A Few Funnies....

Juan Solano - He cracks me up. He is just super funny because he makes sound effects when he is talking and he gets super involved when he is talking. With his hands and eyes and body. It is really hilarious. He was confirmed yesterday it church. It was a very special blessing. He was promised that his wife would come along and know the truth through his example and he would touch many peoples lives. He is a very special man. I am excited to see him progress and grow in the gospel. After he was set apart he said...while breathing in deep sticking his chest out and flaring his nostrils..."I feel so strong, I feel like i have the power of a....Dragon" hahaha :) We were laughing pretty hard. 

Brownies - Well Halloween night rolled around and I bought some brownie mix on monday so that i could make a treat for halloween night because we had to be in at 6:30. I start making them and i am wanting to taste them but something inside me was telling me no. I start dumping them into the pan and the chocolate smell is smelling more like coffee....so I smell them and they are coffee brownies. I was thinking what the...why are these like this. I bought the fudge brownies. Welllll in spanish mucho means much and on the box it said like family pack and so i related the word mucho to the word on the box...I wasn't reading very careful. :) I look on the box and in cursive it didnt say mucho but mocha...:) soooo yeah. I was pretty mad not going to lie but after calling our Alberto and Hno. Berges who were going to  dinner that night anyways, we convinced them to stop by the grocery store and get us another mix! :) We gave them cash. I was happy after. It was a funny thing. I was like dumping them down the drain and I was all sad but it worked out. 

Other experiences of this week...

La Familia Faz y Santian is progressing so well. We have visited them every single day this week. They are going to be getting baptized pretty quick. They are all very special people. I love teaching them. It makes me happy cause it reminds me of all my little brothers and sisters. They are very willing to keep commitments and move forward in faith. They all know it is right and true. Randell (10yrs old) reads the book of mormon every day and tells us about it. He has so much love for the book of mormon. I have some cases for my spanish scriptures that I got in the mtc and he said...I have been trying to find a case for my book of mormon like that. It just shows how much he loves it. All of the children tell us their favorite stories from the book of mormon. As for Lorena and Jose...:) Wow. Special. So I can't remember if I told you this but they aren't married...we have been praying that they will fall in love again because as of right now they don't want to get married but they are living in the same house with their kids in different rooms. Over they last week there has been a lot of change - Lorena is trying for Jose to look pretty and they have been more loving and touching. All of us our like giggling little girls because they gospel and Heavenly Father is helping this happen...so before we know it..."going  to the chapel and they're going to get married...going to the chapel of love....." :) haha its pretty great. The bishops family has been helping us so much with them. They had dinner last night with them and then we came over after and taught the restoration. Jose hadn't been taught that yet but when we told him the first vision he started crying...he could feel it so strong. It was powerful. :) 

We had exchanges this week. hna busenbark and I stayed here and hna Bartholio came. She is a really cute girl. She taught me a lot about sharing a powerful testimony. When ever she opened her mouth, her testimony was pure and powerful. I was very impressed. :) 

Things with our other investigators are going very well. We met with Cindy again and she told us that she wanted to continue meeting with us as well as Grace is going to read the book of mormon as well as pray to see if it is true. I am excited to see her tomorrow. 

I love this work. My testimony of this gospel grows day by day! It is a very special work. :) My testimony of the Atonement is growing as well. I am starting to understand our purpose in life more than ever. Keep up all the good work at home. I miss you all (in the good missing way)  and Love you more!!!

Alma 37:44-47: the way is prepared and all we have to do is do what is right and we will find true happiness!

Ps...here is our blog- i think it is updated pretty often. http://texashoustonmission.blogspot.com/

Remember who you are and to whom you belong to.

Off finding the 10's of 1000's

Con mucho mucho mucho (not mocha) amor

Hermana Kyns

FYI...

You can keep sending letters to my apartment or to the mission home (I prefer my apartment until Dec 17)

18203 Westfield Place Drive # 618

Houston, Texas 77090

(This is my mission home address just so you know its better for packages around Christmas)

16623 Hafer Road

Houston, Texas 77090

A Howdy from Houston (email from Oct. 29, 2012)

Hi Hi everyone.

I hope you all had a fantastic week!  :) I know that I did. Every day just gets better and better. As HK would say "its like this Church is true or something" :) I miss that girl...not going to lie. But its okay! 

A few randoms to start this little letter of mine.

- Brad Wilcox is speaking on the 17th of Nov. at a Chapel about 30ish minutes from my area. They announced it in our Stake Conference and I was like Hey!! I know him! :) I think i might try to convince my mission president to let us go with an investigator! just kidding. its out of my area so we can't but still its kinda cool.

- Can you send me the recipe for banana bread and muffins? We have rotten muffins we need to get rid of. Thanks~ you are the best in the west.

- If you haven't sent my package...you want to send me some of our really good jam? Like....3 bottles? :) I have been bragging about it and smuckers isn't cutting it for me. If not its totally fine. Like really don't worry about it. I will be completely fine and happy! :) Honest T. 

- The CHI straightener store is in my area in Houston. Its like this HUGE warehouse. I just thought that was interesting. And...a man owns it. hmmmm do you think he straightens his hair too?

Okay soooo news of the week. Shall I start with good, Better, or BEST? I will start with good. 

Good: I loved stake conference. 1st cause it was in English! Booyah. I actually understood. It was really fantastic. They talked a lot about family life. To make family prayers, scriptures study and dinner times consistent. They aren't going to be perfect, there might be fighting but consistently trying is what counts. As well as going to the temple. I know it is so easy to get caught up in the so called "important things" of life but make sure you are really focusing and remembering what is really important and what our Father in Heaven has Commanded us to do. It isn't a suggestion. They are commandments and when we keep His commandments we are blessed. I know this and am learning this more and more as I obey on my mission. It is even in the little things. By small and simple things are great things brought to pass. I know you are all trying so keep up the great work. It was just a good reminder to me that even when I come home I still need to set apart that time to do the things that are MOST important and CRUCIAL for my salvation and for keeping satan and our little devils (that tempt us) away. We need to be untouchable...you ask how...but doing the small things every day. I really enjoyed that meeting to say the least. It reminded me of our stake conferences and how the church is the same all over the world. 

Better: Cindy

So we had a lesson with Cindy - It was very amazing to say the least. She is an incredible woman! We asked her about her relationship with God/Religion and she told us that she didn't have one because she had been mad at God since she was 16. I think she is in her 50s. She told us how she never gave up but that her life has been really hard. She has a really good outlook on life. We taught her the plan of salvation and she said...for once this seems normal and it seems right. She told us how a lot of things in churches just didn't fit smoothly with her but that this sounded exactly right. When we told her about the spirit world with paradise and prison she kinda freaked. She told us about this dream she had with a lady in prison and she said I have been waiting for you cindy for 200 years to free me. We talked to her about the temple and about the work that she can do there. The spirit was there really strong. She said she would come to church but wasn't able to make it. We had something strange happen with her boyfriend yesterday but we will see cindy again soon. She is a very awesome woman. I am excited to see where the Lord takes us with her! 

Best: La Familia Faz/Santillan y Hermano Juan Solano

As you can see from my pictures Juan Solano was baptized on Saturday! He is an amazing man. I love that guy. He has been through so much this week with his wife and family. She didn't end up coming to the baptism and it was really hard on him but he told me I am here to stay with or without her. I am here to stay because this is Christ's Church and it is the right church. He is such a strong man. His testimony is amazing. Every time I talk to him I am just taught so much and blown away by his testimony. Juan was baptized on Saturday. It was a very special experience. I was able to play the prelude music at the begining and it was just nice to be able to sit and play the piano. I was playing primary songs and the spirit was so quiet and strong. Juan loves that I can play the piano he always makes comments about how he thinks it is amazing. It was a blessing and I felt i was also able to serve by playing. The talks were really good and after he told me Hermana Reefy. (thats how it sounds) I feel like I am floating. I am a different man and I have a different life. This is the start of my brand new life. It was really cool. I am so excited for him to receive the holy ghost next week. I wish you all could have been there and meet him and hear his amazing testimony. He will be a great leader in our church.

The second best highlight of the week was our lessons with La familia Santillan and Faz

Jose and Lorena are the parents. Alejandro 14, Randell 10 (who reminds me of my little tanny man sooo much and it makes me love and miss him so much:), Abby 9, Rodrigo 7 (who is adorable and so shy but loves coming to sit by me) and Little Camillia who is 4. They are a special family. We have taught them 3 lessons. Last night was very special because we taught them all how to pray and all of them prayed. The parents have never prayed until we came along. All of the Kids said prayers and it was very sweet. We all knelt and helped them learn how. It is definitely an experience that I will never forget. Randell is so ready and special. He has read 17 chapters in the little kid Book of Mormon. He takes notes and he told us how his favorite story is when Nefi kills Laban and gets the brass plates. Randell, Abby, Rodrigo and Camilia came to church yesterday. Randell was all dressed in a vest and dress pants. He had his little book of mormon and told us how much he loved church. He soaks it all in. His mom told us last week that he was crying when they weren't able to go so they were so excited they could go this week. Their mom wasn't able to make it and neither was Alejandro but they are so behaved. They came with our Bishops familiy. (Whom is also such an amazing family) I love Obishpo and Gloria Escobar and their little daughters Rebecca and Sophie and their 16 yr old Kevin. I am getting to interact with such strong people and examples. It is awesome. We are having a family night with their family and the escobars tonight. It should be great. 

The moments I have had teaching people about Christ here are moments that I will never forget. They are so sacred and special to me. This is the best work one could ever do. I know i have said it before but this is the best decision I have ever made in my whole life until now and I am sure that will stay true that it is one of the best I will ever make. Do missionary work. Help Bring others to Christ by your example and Love. Teach them the true and happy way of life.

A quote from stake conference yesterday 

"Living the Gospel and Keeping the Commandments isn't the hard part. It is when we fall short of living up to what Heavenly Father has asked us to be and Repenting and changing that makes it hard." So live the gospel and you will find true and ever lasting joy. Find the little things that you can become better at. Look at the things you are reading, watching and listening too...could they be better? Then find the better. We are blessed with so much wickedness as well as goodness so find the goodness and don't settle for less.

I love you all so much. your pumpkins look so fantastic! I love the one of Texas!! It made me feel so special. I am truly blessed to have you as my family. I pray for you all every night and think of you often. Know that I love you and to keep smiling.

All of my Love! Your Texan Hermana

Kyns

Juan Solano was baptized on Saturday!

Sisters Rife, Rivera & Busenbark with Juan Solano  at his baptism