The Last Supper!

You'll never believe what happened this week! WE FOUND TWO DEAD MICE IN OUR HOUSE!! WOOOO! Ok, maybe that's not the news you all wanted to hear, but we are so happy! We fed them poison last week and waited and waited and waited. Then on Wednesday we woke up with two dead mice in our living room.  Eeek and yuck!

One of our dead mice.

You should have watched us trying to put them in the trash. It was so funny and so GROSS. I wanted to call someone to help us, but we felt like that would be too embarrassing!

But, for the BETTER news! Hermana Casandra is going to be baptized on Saturday (if she passes her interview tomorrow!). WOOOO! We are so excited! On Friday, we were in her house teaching her and we started teaching her about the Holy Ghost. She said that she felt a lot of peace at church and that she could forget all of her problems when she is there. So we asked her if she would like to have those feelings forever, and she said yes! We then explained what Jesus Christ did here on the earth and that she would need to be baptized to have the Holy Ghost with her at all times. And then she said yes and accepted a baptismal date for Saturday!

She came to church yesterday and was so happy. Then afterwards she told us that she was unsure, and we felt that maybe we should wait a bit longer so we could teach her more. But when we got to her house that night, she sat down next to me and thought really hard. I could tell that she wanted to say something, but I didn't know what. Then she said 'Grandma, I am going to get baptized this Saturday.'

I was so shocked. We taught her part of the first lesson and when we finished we kneeled with her and prayed. I said the first prayer and she said the second. The spirit was so sweet. Her prayer was so tender. I could tell that she was really talking with our Heavenly Father, and more importantly that she wanted really wanted to change and to be better.

We are praying really hard that she will pass her interview tomorrow, and that she can be baptized. She is such a sweet girl, she is only 13 and has already has been through a lot in her life. The whole ward is so excited for her, they are planning to make cakes and sing at her baptism.

Cassandra and I

This past week we also had interviews with the President. They were so good, and I learned a lot. I am so glad that my President is who he is. I have learned so much from him and his family!

He started out and asked 'What is the only thing that Heavenly Father doesn't have?' I started thinking and thinking and I couldn't think of anything. We all sat there for a minute pondering.  It's not our time, our money or our knowledge, then someone raised their hand and said that it's our agency, our will.

The most important thing that we can do here on the Earth is serve Him with all of our hearts, minds and strength. I know that we can all do better and be better. We can all choose to serve him with all that we have.

A chicharrones!

I hope you all have a great week and look for the opportunities to serve our Heavenly Father. I love you all!

Hermana Riedelbach 

¡¡¡¡VIVA MÉXICO!!!

Today is Mexican independence day! (What happened to Cinco de Mayo?) haha, we dressed up in Red, White and Green (I felt like Christmas) It got me so excited for Christmas, not to mention that all of the stores here already have Christmas stuff up! WOOT!

Ok, back on topic...This week was so good! We were able to find 7 new investigators and three of them accepted to be baptized. We have an appointment with them on Sunday so, I'm excited to see what happens!! They were a referral from our bishop. They actually asked to meet with us...WHAT? But they don't actually live in our area...so, we are going to talk to the President this week to see what he says!

Yesterday we had a day full of food. I am not even kidding you, I have no idea how it all fit. We ate our main meal at 2ish (we both ate seconds..it was delish) and then we went to an appointment. While we were on our way and investigator called and invited us to her birthday party. She wanted to invite us to eat cake. Of course, we said yes! But, during our appointment our investigators fed us Horchata and cookies. I drank two big glasses of Horchata and then we left to go to eat cake.

When we pulled up to the house we realized that it was a full on party, there was music playing and a lot of people there. We didn't know what to do, so we ran down the street to stall. Then we got a phone call from them and they told us they were waiting for us. So, we went back and they gave each of us a plate full of meat (three different kinds), and a bowl full of spaghetti. I wanted to cry. Then they brought out a bunch of soda and chicharrones. (google that one) wanted to be nice so I kept eating, then they brought out a cake, WHAT? I don't know how people do it. Finally, my companion said that she couldn't do it anymore and asked for a  Tupperware container. hahahah!

After the party, we went running to another appointment with Casandra (remember her?) She is so great! She has so many good questions which keep us on our toes. She came to church yesterday which was so good! She loved it and wanted to stay longer. She has plans to go to mutual this week! We tried to challenge her to baptism, but she had so many questions that we never got around to it. When we arrived at her house her grandma told us that she had dinner for us....AHHH. I wanted to die. But luckily, we were at her house until 8:50 pm and we have to be home by 9 pm so, we asked if we could take it to go, she said that was fine, and we went running.

We started getting worried because it was late, and we left our money at home so we couldn't pay for a taxi. As we were walking I said to my companion, 'The next taxi that honks at us I am going to ask if we can pay with food.' She just laughed at me. But the next taxi that honked, and rolled down his window  I Said, 'we don't have any money...but we have food!'  he asked us where were going, we told him, and he said get in! He was so nice and didn't accept our food either! Free taxi! woot woot!

Tonight we have two dinner appointments! Wish us luck! :)

A BIG Happy Birthday Shout Out! to Grandma Riedelbach and Andrea this week and Bebe, Cydnee and Carter next week!  I love and miss you all and hope you all have great birthdays!

I hope you all eat as much as I do this week! I love you all!

Hermana Riedelbach

This picture is a little strange but at least you'll understand my excitement for Christmas! 

What a CRAZY week!

I feel so bad that I didn't get to write last week. We spent half of Sunday, all of Monday and all of Tuesday in the offices. We got to help receive the new missionaries, teach them about their health, and help out where we were needed (my translating skills stink...I can't remember the right words for anything.). It was really a great experience. I remember my first day here and I can't believe it's already been 10 months since I left. The time has flown by!

We didn't end up having a baptism this past weekend, Hermana Maribel had some problems, but we are still working hard. This week we found 6 new investigators! We are really excited for one of them! Her name is Casandra. She is the granddaughter of an old investigator.

We went to visit/meet Casandra's grandma with a member and she was there. The grandma had a bad experience with the missionaries in the past and doesn't really want anything to do with it, but said 'Here, take her to church tomorrow!' We were so excited yesterday when we walked into church and she was there! She said she liked church! We have an appointment with her tomorrow and hope that it will go well! 

Yesterday we went and visited an inactive member who lives below us. He actually used to be the bishop...Everyone has told us that he hates the missionaries and won't talk to them, or let his wife feed us, but last night we decided to talk to him and see what would happen. It was so great! He is so nice and told us that he would help us with our mouse problem. He sent us home with a homemade trap and told us he would cut some wood for our door. or let his wife feed us, but last night we decided to talk to him and see what would happen. It was so great! He is so nice and told us that he would help us with our mouse problem. He sent us home with a homemade trap and told us he would cut some wood for our door.

The mouse that we have is so very smart. He took all of the food from the trap and it didn't shut. I think we have given up on catching that thing.

In our mission we have a rule or standard that we need to contact two people and put a return appointment with them every day. Yesterday we weren't having any luck, we even got into a singing battle with a woman who was singing our hymns wrong. We were so upset. I contacted like 10 people and NOTHING. Then we turned a corner and contacted the first two people we saw and they accepted! I couldn't believe it.

This month is the July of the USA. Everything is decked out in Red, White and Green, including me! (See the photo below.) hahahah. One night after we organized half of the offices we found decorations for the 15th of September and we decorated with Sister Morales and her daughters. It was so fun!

Today for P-day we built a fort with all the of the tables and sheets that we own. Then we ate, watched a movie and slept in it. Pictures to come!

I love you all! I hope you all have a good week!

Hermana Elise Riedelbach

Tenemos una FECHA!!!! (We have a DATE!!!)

This week has been so exciting! On Monday night, we had an FHE with Hermana Maribel. It was so good! We taught lesson one which is The Restoration. During our lesson, we challenged her to be baptized on September 6th, and she accepted!!! We are so happy!

This week was also full of what we call "osos" (awkward moments...). After we were done eating at a members house I shared a scripture, and while I was bearing my testimony, I look down and there is a spider thing crawling on my shirt. I react, and start screaming, "help me!" so, my companion tried to flick it off of me with my name tag. The members asked what it was, I said I didn't know, and my companion she didn't know either. We kept talking and it showed up again on my side so, the member came over and pinched it off of me, and then said that it was a bug that always fell from their lights.

So, we finish our lesson and leave, the FIRST thing that my companion says to me after we get far enough away from their house is, "I know what that bug was....it was a flea" WHHHAAATT?! Yep, that's right, I had a flea or two on me... :(

Today we got to go on a Safari! That's right, we went to YUMKA! It was so fun! The first animals we got to see were deer. Ha ha ha, all of us from Utah and Idaho got a good laugh. We got to see elephants, deer, zebras, giraffes, crocodiles, birds, monkeys and snakes. It was a great adventure and a lot of fun!

This week our Mission President came to our house to study with us one morning. It was a great surprise. :) We learned more about the great apostasy, and why it is so important to understand it. We learned that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is the only church that has the same things that Jesus's church had. We have 12 apostles and a prophet. We are very lucky we live now, at a time when we are able to have these things on the earth and a part of our church.

I love you all, and I am so grateful to have such a great group of family and friends! Keep choosing the right!

Love,

Hermana Riedelbach 

Zone Conference and Activities!

This week was so good! On Tuesday we had a specialized Zone Conference. It was so good! We were able to teach a member and receive references. Afterwards, we got to go to a children's museum and play, it was so much fun. We got to learn a little science and play around. :)

We are in a boat in the museum

After we finished at the museum we got to go to a park and play sports. This was by far, one of the most fun activities ever. We got to play Mission offices against Zone Leaders, let's just say, volleyball isn't my best sport, :(  I got kicked off the team... then we played Gringos against the Latinos. IT WAS HYSTERICAL! The President told us that we (the sisters) had to be cheerleaders. We had fun making up cheers for team USA! and WE WON! (probably because of all our great cheers!)  After volleyball we got to go play basketball, the sisters all played together with the President's daughters, and the Elders all played with the President. It was so much fun! 

The next morning we had to make a flag to represent our Zone. I think ours turned out the best by far. Hermana Lowe and I spent the whole morning making balloon swords for the whole Zone. It was so funny!

I am so grateful for the opportunity that we had to play, and relax a little bit!

On Thursday, one of our investigators Maribell went to the Relief Society activity and loved it. We didn't get a chance to meet with Roger again this week because we were in the Doctors offices with some sisters, running errands, and things like that but, Roger went to the stake YM and YW activity on Saturday, and he had a blast!

Both Roger and Maribell showed up for church on Sunday, and we were so happy! We had been praying for a miracle, and guess what? It happened! Two less active families came to church and our two investigators! I can't tell you all how happy we were. We couldn't stop smiling. Our ward doesn't have any young men that are active, and yesterday we had FOUR young men come!  Woot woot!  We are working hard to keep them coming.

The Lord is so good, and blesses us in so many ways. Our planners for this week are full with appointments! We are so grateful for all of the appointments that we have, and hope that we will be able to see some new investigators this week as well!

I love you all, and hope you are all doing well!!

Hermana Riedelbach 

Another GREAT Week!

This week we found 5 new investigators, and we have 5 appointments set up with people we contacted on the street this week! Heavenly Father is so good to us. We can see a whole lot of potential in each of our new investigators.

Yesterday we were walking out of a house and 4 girls came running up to us! They said that they had been curious, and had wanted to talk with us. We had also been curious about them, and wanted to talk with them but, could never find the time to chat. We talked for a couple of minutes, and set up a return appointment, the whole time we were talking to them I could see them dressed in white and entering the font. I am so excited to teach them! I can't wait to see what happens!  I'll keep you posted!

We have been working really hard to get some less actives back to church, finally this Sunday we had great success! 2 families came! We were so excited!

 Roger continues to come to church and to be the best but, we haven't found the time to teach him this week. I promise that I will have better news next week!  It's been hard juggling working in the mission office, and teaching all of our investigators in our HUGE area.  But, it's so good, and we know we are truly being blessed.

The first picture is me working in the mission office, and the second picture I thought was funny because of the bad English!  :)

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

Hermana Riedelbach

A Wet Week! ;)

This week was wonderful. It was a lot of hard work but, Luisa and her mom Petri were baptized and confirmed members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I am so happy for them! One of the young men in our ward was able to baptize Luisa and another missionary baptized Petri (the mom). It was such a sweet experience for Luisa and Petri. We had a good turn out, the President even came. These girls are some of the greatest!

This week I will hit the half way point of my mission. CRAZY! I am so grateful for all that I have learned, and for all of the things that I have changed in my life. I am so grateful for the challenges that I have had, and for the wonderful people I have met.

We were able to go over to Roger's house yesterday! They fed us dinner, and he read the book of Mormon, at least the chapter we gave him to read! We are planning on taking him to the temple to pray with him, and to put a date on his baptism.

We also started working with a part member family this week. The dad has been an alcoholic for a long time but, he is going into liver failure so, he has stopped drinking and wants to change his life. He still isn't sure if the gospel is right for him but, we are fighting hard for him. His kids and his wife are such a great support system. We asked him to pray about being baptized on August 21st, he said he would, and that he would give us an answer on Tuesday.

We have a lot of potential in this area! We are praying hard!

I hope you all have a good week! Keep working hard and choosing the right!

Love,

Hermana Riedelbach