What a Week!

Hello all!

This week was very interesting! It started Monday night at three in the morning, we got a phone call, it was Hermana Morales (the Presidents wife). She said that they were on their way to our house with Hermana Pasley and Hermana Martinez. They were in the hospital and needed to sleep at our house.

When they arrived we went downstairs, I must have looked like a wreck,because the President looked at me and immediately said 'Oh Hermana Riedelbach I am so sorry, I really am soooo sorry that you had to wake up," and then he said it like three more times after that. How embarrassing! I guess a mission is just one big humbling experience!

On Thursday we got the chance to go to the temple, it was soo good. I learned so much this time. I was so grateful, especially because I got to go with my best friends from the mission all at the same time. Hermana Lowe, Hermana Pasley and Hermana Martinez!

We are working hard with the investigators that we have and we are trying to find new ones each day. Hermana Luisa came to church this week! They are doing so well but, we have to move their baptismal date back a week, that's ok, because they are still progressing! This week was full of tender mercies but, I am going to write about those next week.

Here is one that I shared with our President this week:

I had been praying to have an experience or to receive an answer to help me know that I am doing well as a missionary, and to know if I really am progressing, and that all of my studying of Spanish is paying off. We were in the Oxxo (7/11) buying water one day, when a really white man walked in. I turned to my companion and asked "Is he American? He's really white!" and she said "I don't know...start talking to him." I didn't want to offend him by talking to him in English if he was Mexican so, we left the store. A minute later he left, and we ended up crossing the street together. Hermana Magaña started talking to him in Spanish,  and as soon as I heard his accent, I knew he was American, and let's just say his Spanish wasn't all that great.

I started talking to him in English, he told me he was a Jehovah's Witness and that he had lived here for six and a half years. He told me that they were here learning Spanish and teaching English and also providing service through their church. We talked for a minute, and then we went separate ways. Afterwards, I explained what he had said, Hermana Magaña told me that this was another witness that our Church is the only true church, because we have the gift of tongues.

It really was an answer to my prayers. This church is true, and I know I am doing just fine with my Spanish. I realized how far I have come in just a short amount of time. I am so grateful for all of the help I have received from the Lord, my companions, and from the people here. I am so blessed, and Our Father in Heaven really does love me.

I hope you all have a great week and make sure you look for those tender mercies in your lives!

Hermana Riedelbach

p.s. my camera died...so you only get one picture today sorry!

Unexpected News!

WELL... I had another "Special Transfer".  Ha! I hope this is the last one I have during my mission. :)  AND, I promise that I am not a bad missionary, things just happen.  Some other things have also changed a bit in our mission to keep all of us American girls safe.  We are no longer allowed to wear makeup or jewelry so, when you see me in my pictures you will understand why I always look like this.  :)

Last day in a trio!

But, I feel like I have to explain some things first... The last few weeks have been really hard. The area that I came into didn't have ANY investigators, we were basically starting over. We prayed, fasted, and worked harder than I have ever worked during my mission to find people that were ready to hear the gospel, and we weren't having any success. It was so frustrating. Then, last Sunday we got a reference for a family from some Elders in the area so, we called and set up an appointment.

Oh my, our prayers were finally answered!  THEY ARE THE BEST PEOPLE EVER. This family is SOOOOOO ready to hear the gospel. They have so many problems but, they want to change, and accepted to be baptized. AHHH. We were soo grateful. Hna. Luisa and her cousin Fer are scheduled to be baptized on the 17th!! They are GOLDEN! They ask the best questions, and read the Book of Mormon. They are so ready for baptism!

Luisa and Fer who are going to be baptized at the temple with the youth in the ward

Then, on Thursday we got a call...Transfers. (This is one of the stories that I will tell you all after my mission :)) WHAT!!! I kind of knew it was coming though. But, after we finally found that golden family? Ahhhh....

I am now in Lindavista with Hermana Magaña. She is 28 and from El Salvador, she is the mission's nurse, which means that we work in the offices :) I feel really special :) Hermana Magaña is really great! We are going to be opening this area, it was closed in the last transfer so, we are starting from ground zero again. BUT, the best news is, we got permission to teach the families I just started teaching with baptismal dates! I am SO HAPPY! and feel so blessed!

First day in my new area, Lindavista 

Oh, and don't worry about the earthquake. I woke up but, didn't feel a thing. My companion felt it but, she didn't want to scare me so she didn't say anything.  I couldn't believe it. It didn't hit very hard here. In another part of the mission it did some damage but, not a lot. All the missionaries are safe and accounted for!

Since I am behind on posting pictures, here are a few from Frontera.  There is a wonderful Sister who made all of the Hermanas matching dresses,  2 wonderful families it was hard to say good bye to, and my birthday cake!

I love you all! Have a great week!

Hermana Elise Riedelbach 

A Quick Thought!

I don't have anytime to write today but, I just wanted you to know that I am OK! Things are moving a long here in Mexico. We are working SO hard.

I want you all to know, I know this Church is true. I know without a doubt that our Father in Heaven loves us and is aware of every situation that we are in. I know that he has a plan for us and if we pray with faith he will let us know what it is. I know that Joesph Smith was a Prophet of God. I know that he restored the only true Church. I know that he translated the Book of Mormon and I know that it is the word of God, and that it testifies of our savior Jesus Christ. I know that he lives, and that his atonement works, because I have seen it in action here in my mission.This is  the best decision I have ever made. I am so happy to be a representative of Jesus Christ and to have this chance to share the Gospel with everyone, and most especially the people of Mexico.

This picture was taken today!

My Birthday Celebration!

I love you all, and I hope that you all have a safe and fun 4th of July!

Hermana Riedelbach

Long, Hard Week!

This week was so long. We had some problems with our house and the President wants us to move so, we spent all last week house hunting and haven't found any that he will approve. :( Some other bad news, all of our golden investigators dropped us this week. That stinks! But, don't worry, we are going to jump right back on the horse!

Although we didn't teach a lot last week, I honestly went home feeling like we had worked our hardest everyday. I haven't been this tired at the end of the day my whole mission. My companions and I are getting along great! I love them, and I am so glad to be working with them.

Tomorrow we have a Zone Conference with the President and I am so glad. I am ready to learn and know what we need to do, to be better. It's going to be great!

Today in my personal study I read in Alma 30 and I loved it. It was an answer to my prayers. So, I challenge you all to go and read it this week!

I love you all, and hope you have a great week! Oh, and Happy Birthday Daddy! I love you!

Hermana Riedelbach

p.s. sorry for the lack of pictures, it takes more than 30 minutes to upload mine. I think I need to change the resolution on my camera.

TRIO!

This week was really interesting! Working in a trio is a lot different than working in a companionship. I have learned so much, and I really do have good companions!

We don't really have any progressing investigators so, this last week was just full of street contacting and revisiting old investigators. We found some really good ones and are hoping that they will feel what we can feel!

Yesterday we had to give talks in Church, I was so nervous. The other two times I spoke in church I got a big piece of humble pie handed to me. This time I didn't really have time to prepare anything, and I just went up to the stand and gave a talk. It went so well! My Spanish was soo good, and I didn't forget anything. I am always so amazed at how much Heavenly Father really helps us out when we really try our best.

Hermana Zimmerman gave the most wonderful talk about her Dad yesterday and it made me think about how lucky I am to have the best Dad ever! One of the things that I have really learned here on my mission is how much my Dad (and mom) have taught me. I am so grateful for all that I have learned from them. A lot of the things I learned from my Dad I have used here in the mission field and it has made a world of difference. I love you Daddy! Thanks for everything!

I hope you have a wonderful week! Love you all!

Hermana Riedelbach 

20th B-day and a Transfer!

Welp... I was transferred! I'll spare you the details and just say,  Frontera wasn't that friendly to american girls...but, now I am in VILLAHERMOSA! I am in a trio with Hermana Suazo and Hermana Knowles! Hermana Knowles is form Herriman, Utah woot! Another gringa! She is so awesome, and I am so excited to be working with her! We are in the Espejo Ward, which also happens to be the Mission Presidents Ward...that makes me just a little bit nervous but, that's OK!

This last week kind of stunk because we couldn't leave the house. We all got sick, and there's hurricane coming to Mexico so, it rained really, really,  really hard. But, I have some hysterical stories!

We kind of got in to a prank/joke war this week.  It all started when my companion began to scare me, and you know, I couldn't let her get away with that, not with out getting her back! :) It got really bad on Friday, I went into the bathroom and Hermana Suazo hid under the bed, when I came out, she grabbed my feet. I thought I was going to die! It scared me to death. Don't worry, I did the same to her, and it was just as funny!

That night we had a Family Home Evening with some of the young single adults for my birthday. We made tacos and tortillas.  That's right, I can get married now because I am a pro at tortillas. It took us 4 hours but, we had the best time! That night really is one of  my favorite memories from my mission so far.

As we were eating, Hermana Martínez turned to me and said "we need to play a prank on the members, it's part of the war". I asked, what are we going to do? and she told me that I was the master mind, and needed to come up with something.

It was about nine, and we needed to be home so, I thought of the perfect plan. Fake that the assistants had called a bunch of times and we were going to be in big trouble because we weren't home yet. So, Hermana Suazo started calling Hermana Martínez and we couldn't hear the phone because we were having so much fun, laughing and goofing off at dinner. Then, Hna Martínez had a Hermano pass her bag to her. She checked her phone and said, "you've got to be kidding me!" The assistants have called 5 times, everyone shhhh! Hermana Suazo called her again,  she faked a story that the President was coming to our house at that exact moment, and we needed to get home.

I hadn't quite finished my Taco yet so, I grabbed my plate and headed out the door! All the members couldn't believe what just had happened, they all followed us out worried to death. The ward mission leader jumped up and yelled no! But, after 5 minutes we came back, because we still hadn't eaten my birthday cake. They all wanted to kill us... but, man that joke was sooooo goood! :)

I am so sad to leave Frontera, I have another family there. I cried so hard saying good bye.  I will miss them all but, this isn't goodbye for good! They really have changed my life, and I am so grateful for all I learned from them. I am so excited to be here in Villahermosa!  I know it will be great! 

Thanks for all of the Birthday wishes! I will try to send pictures but, this computer is unbelievably slow. Maybe, I will end up sending a CD home full of pictures of this transfer.

I love you all tons!

Hermana Riedelbach

Another Week Has Flown By...

Transfers are next week, I can't believe a whole transfer has flown by! I am pretty sure I am going to be transferred to a new area. I am sad about that but, I know that I will only go where the Lord wants me to go! I have made some life long friends in this area and am so grateful for that! One brother is even planning my wedding to his son...which is a little awkward, because his son is only 16...and seeing as how I AM GOING TO BE TWENTY THIS WEEK...it's a little uncomfortable. But, we have a lot of fun joking around about it. The theme of our last lesson with them was, Families Can Be Together Forever! Hahahaha.

Yesterday we had an investigator commit to be baptized on June 21st! I am so excited for her, and hope she can meet her goal! The little boys we teach are doing great! They are still the cutest little bunch! Last night I got to play with them and it was a blast! We raced and danced and skipped and sang! Their family has a lot of problems, and I want to cry every time we teach them but, for some reason last night they were all happy, and I was so glad to be able to run around and be a kid again!

The 4 little boys we are teaching at a members house.

On Saturday Hermana Triana and I got to go on splits. This is her first transfer in Mexico so, let's just say it was interesting! Two gringas walking the streets of Mexico! I was really nervous at first but, I said a prayer and Heavenly Father helped us do the rest! It went really well, and we had some really great lessons! I am so grateful for the opportunities that I have to learn and to grow. It was hard, but I loved every minute of it.

The weather here in Mexico is almost as bi-polar as Utah! At the beginning of this week I was dying of heat, and now it's raining harder than ever.   My boot broke today, which means my foot has enjoyed swimming all day! :)

And CONGRATULATIONS SAWYER! I am so proud of you! I can't believe you are old enough to graduate high school! Keep working hard!  I love you, and I am so proud of you!

I love you all and hope you have a great week!

Hermana Riedelbach