Week 17 January 12, 2015 Miracles Happen

How are you this week?  

I'm doing well, just working hard, trying to be better every day.

Have you had an eventful week? 
We had a referral who was with the elders when they called us, who we talked to him on the phone, them 2 hours later we had an appointment and wanted us to baptize him without any lessons, then 2 hours later he came to see a baptism, so that was cool.

I hope you are staying healthy and working hard!
I am, don't worry. :)

I love you so much!
I love you too! and everyone who reads my letters home!!

How are your investigators?

They are awesome.  We don't get to see them every day like my last area, because they are so far spread, and about 50% of what we do is reactivation.

How are you and Sister Willes doing?

We are doing great.  I love my companion.  We work well together, and are really seeing blessings from being equally yolked to each other, and the Savior. (Matt. 11:28-30)

This is an awesome quote:
"Never let a problem to be solved become more important than a person to be loved". ~Thomas S. Monson.

Cheryl, one of the ladies in our ward, told us that "Sometimes you have to hit smack flat on your face to knock some sense into ya."  In some ways this is true.  In other ways, it is our choices that lead us to falling, so if we catch ourselves before we start to fall, we can choose to be different. 

I love my mission, and I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world.  I'm learning so much, about myself, about others, and about my Savior, Jesus Christ.  The miracles that occur when people let the spirit into their lives, its just a privilege to be here witnessing them.

I am so excited to see the blessings that the Lord will continue to pour upon us, as we become more and more focused on our purpose. (PMG pg1)

~Sister Hermana Riddle

Sorry I didn't write much today, P-day is short because we are going to the temple on Wednesday.

Week 16 January 5, 2015 Nephi 15 in 2015

Mission Christmas Party

This week has been great.  It has been hard with the holiday season, but exciting nonetheless. We taught several lessons, and on Sunday we taught 4 in members homes.  That was awesome.  With the holidays we've had to switch our schedules around a bit, but its been good.  We have been getting out investigators slowly but surely to a point where they are excited to hear the gospel. I also got to attend a baptism in the Tongan ward.  that was cool.  I cant believe how the time is flying now though.  In some ways it feels like I've been here for forever, But in others, I look back and realize how fast the transfer is going.  Its amazing.  I love watching the spirit work in me and in the people I teach and to see their desire to learn grow.  Its so powerful to be a part of this. 

One thing I have studied this week is being like Shiblon.  (Alma 38)  being obedient and focused on the work is so important. 

Also, if you read one verse a day for this whole year, you will finish the first 15 chapters of the book of Mormon by the end of the year.  I want to invite everyone who is reading this to do that.  Its really amazing what reading even one verse can do for you.  (today is 1 Nephi 1:5 because its January 5th)

love you ALL!!!!!

~Sister Hermana Riddle

My visiting teacher at BYU!

Week 15 December 29 Feliz Navidad, Prospero Ano y Felicidad

This week has been super crazy.  We have been going around with Sister Higgins, helping her prepare for baptism by having her join us in lessons.  She has been growing her testimony a lot.  There have been hard forces working against her, but she knows what she desires in eternity, and she is sticking to it.

Nathan is crazy prepared, and we were able to teach all 5 lessons in 1 week.

Christmas was fun.  We got to have a party with our mission president, and 3 zones.  We even helped sister Dudley hand out food to people in her apartment complex. 

I am so blessed to be a missionary here in this area.  I know that I was called here for a reason, and that I am needed here at this time.

I know that My Savior lives, and I hope for something better after this.  Not after my mission, because I know nothing can compare.  I have faith and I hope for the life to come.  The plan of Salvation is REAL.  Whether or not you believe in it, it is still there.

Moroni 7:40-48

Remember this as the new year comes closer.  its important.

~Sister Hermana Riddle

PS.  I wrote this especially for You.

Week 14 December 22, 2014 MIRACLES and Christmas

My new area is really good.  Its hard to be covering such a large area though.  Luckily we have a car.  I probably won't use my bike until summer.  We cover 2 areas, but its good to see 2 sides of town.  For the most part, I only use English.  I still sing hymns in Spanish and pray personally in Spanish, and the other day I was able to give someone a pass along card in Spanish, but not much else. 

This area is amazing though!  We have 2 people preparing for baptism this weekend.  One of them was a referral and we met with him for the first time last week.  it is amazing to see how the lord prepares people to receive his Gospel.  I know that if we put in the effort to feel the spirit, the Lord will bless us.  Without the spirit, there is no way in our right minds we would have invited that boy to be baptized a week from our first meeting.  The Lord will bless us if we put in the effort,and if we have the desire to follow his will, even though we have our own free agency.

I just wanted to bear my testimony of how powerful PRAYER can be.  The Lord wants to hear from us always.  We need to be always aware that he is there, and that the ATONEMENT is always available to us.  We can use the atonement for anything, whether its a physical pain, a spiritual pain, or even an emotional pain.  We are never truly alone.  The Lord just doesn't want to bother us, so he follows at a comfortable distance, waiting for us to turn around and come to him.  We need to make that choice though.  If we want to continue to struggle, we can keep going, and he will continue on that same path behind us.  Everyone has the opportunity to turn to him, but we choose what we want in the long run. 

I also wanted to wish every single one of you a VERY
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

And remember, you cant spell Christmas without Christ. 

(and in Spanish mas = more, so... MORE CHRIST!!)

~Sister Hermana Riddle

Christ is the Gift of Christmas.  #DiscoverTheGift #EmbraceTheGift

#ComparteLaDádiva #ShareTheGift

Week 13 From a Spanish Group to 1.5 English Wards

New name tag in English

My new companion Sister Willes

Christmas Tree at the Mission office

Hermana Simmons and Hermana Riddle

Saying goodbye to Sister Riddle

THIS WEEK HAS BEEN CRAZY!!

Monday I basically just packed all day, because of transfers.

Tuesday we had studies and then went up to sparks for some meetings.  I went and knocked doors for an hour with 2 sisters for an hour.  then we had our transfer meeting.  My new companion is Sister Willes.  she is super awesome.  she is from Ely, Nevada.  then we went to a RS dinner, so I got to meet a lot of people.  we only cover half of that ward though.  there is a set of elders that cover the other half. 

Wednesday we went around and taught a bunch of lessons.  its weird to leave the house before lunch, and have to come back to eat, since we don't have to study as much.  it was a good day though.  we misplaced a binder for a bit, so that was a bit hard.

Thursday we had weekly planning.  we had a lot to do, since we were also given another ward.  sister Willes and I are on the same page with that one.

Friday we taught some lessons, and found our binder!!

Saturday we went to a baptism, and taught a bunch of lessons.  it was a great day.  there are some pretty weird people out in downtown at night though.. :P 

Sunday we went to one ward at 9 and another ward at 12, then we met with the ward mission leader of the new area.  they are super excited to have sisters.  I cant wait.  :)  there was also a super awesome stake Christmas devotional, so that was fun.

I am more and more excited to be in this area.   I know I will grow a lot, even though I wont be speaking much Spanish.  I cant wait to see the miracles that will happen this transfer!!

~Sister Riddle

if you havent done so yet, check out christmas.mormon.org (navidad.mormon.org)  it is a really cool website, even for members.  ther e are fun quizes and videos to watch.  I wish I had more time to explore it more fully!!

#ComparteLaDádiva #ShareTheGift

Week 12- One Word- Transfers

Best Companionship Ever!

Missionaries with Santa

Cutest little girl!

Monday:  p- day, the usual

Tuesday: district meeting (apparently every ward has a ward mission plan.  if you want to be a better missionary, you should look that up, and help your ward out!! :) )  several missionaries are leaving this transfer, so we signed transfer journals. other than that it was a typical day

Wednesday: lots of lessons

Thursday: sister Simmons got sick, so I played the piano in order to be able to play in church on Sunday.  we also taught our recent convert.  he gave each of us a present.  that was really cool, cause he had never given anyone a Christmas present before.

Friday:  went around inviting everyone to the Christmas Party this weekend

Saturday: helped out with the Latino Christmas Party.  we had a really good turnout.  It was stake wide, so we had twice as many People as usual show up.  Sister Simmons was stressed in anticipation for a transfer notification, which didn't come until nighttime.  She read the message, and looked at me (i was across the room)  and she said: "I'm staying"  which meant I was leaving.  no one expected that!!  when Spanish sisters come to Carson City they stay forever, but apparently I'm the exception to the rule.

Sunday was church, and it was fast and testimony meeting, with Spanish sacrament meeting.  it was really emotional and spiritual.  I bore my testimony of how much the mission changes the missionary.  I compared my testimony to my ability to play piano or speak in church in Spanish (because I gave a talk and had to play spontaneously the first Sunday of Spanish sacrament meeting.)  I could only play with one finger, but now I can play some songs with both hands.  it is amazing what can happen when you rely on the Lord with all your heart, might mind and strength.  (I've had that verse memorized for as long as I can remember, but I only found out this past month that it is from Doctrine and Covenants 4.  the missionary section.)

Later that night, we got the official call from our zone leader telling me where I was moving to.  I am going to the Reno North zone, as a junior companion, and I'm covering 2 wards.  most likely, I'll also be in English.

I am really excited to be going to North Reno this transfer. I don't know what it will be like going English, but it will be a good experience. we were in shock when we found out I would be the one moving, but I think in my heart I saw it coming. I was really sad, and I still am, because I'm leaving behind a lot of great people, but I have realized that it will be a great experience for me, and that the Lord needs me to help people in another place, in another language.

Para Siempre Dios Este Con Vos!!!  y nos vemos la proxima semana!!!!!

~Hermana Riddle

#ComparteLaDádiva

#ShareTheGift

Week 11 November 24-30, 2014

#ComparteLaDádiva #ShareTheGift

Hermana Simmmons and I got matching sweaters!!

 Some random guy got us a gift card while we were
having lunch!!!!

This week was really good.

Monday: p-day, lessons, the usual. but we had a party with the zone and we played a cool game called Curses.  that was really fun

Tuesday: lessons, we read the same chapters in the book of mormon over and over again.  but its cool, because I personally learn something different each time we read it.  even if its something small!

Wednesday: district meeting, because the zone leaders had to go to a training.  there is a new initiative out by the church, and if you have an ensign you may already know about it.  if not, go to christmas.mormon.org ( navidad.mormon.org ) and watch the video (He is the Gift (El es la Dadiva).  its SO COOL.  its about the true meaning of christmas, its really short and well worth your time.  then, SHARE IT!!! they are hoping over 220 million people will watch the video!

Thanksgiving Day

Thursday was thanksgivig, as you all know.  we had weekly planning all morning, but in the afternoon, we went to dinner, and we talked with a lot of people who kept coming in and out of our fiesta!  we had turkey, creamy potatoes, and honey ham.  there was A LOT of food.

Friday we taught several lesson, typical day, and we shared the christmas video with everyone we talked to.  so that was cool

Saturday was pretty much the same as friday, but we also had a scripture study class in the evening which was really good.

Sunday we had church.  one of the members brought a friend, who loved how we do church.  in his old church it was 4 hours of a preacher preaching, but we only have one, and then move around, and have discussion on gospel principles and doctrine.  he though that was so cool.  I had never thought about how cool that was.  we all learn from each other, but then we all gather, and ask God to teach us through the spirit, since that is the best way to learn knowledge.

just like in the book of mormon.  we read, then we ask God in the name of christ (prayer) if the things we have learned in our heads are true, and he answers to our hearts.

"The best way to obtain truth and wisdom is not to ask it from books, but to go to God in prayer and obtain divine teaching" Joseph Smith

I love you all and hope and pray for the best for each of you always!

Hasta Luego!

~Hermana Riddle

#ComparteLaDádiva

#ShareTheGift

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