Ahh! Transfers!

I don't have time to write today! Sorry! I am being transferred, I am going to Veracruz!

I also got called as a Sister Training Leader, it's like a sister zone leader. AH, I am a little scared, but if the Lord calls, I must go!

PALENQUE will always have my heart! I loved it there so much!

I love you all so much!  I'll write more next week!

Hermana Riedelbach

p.s. Enjoy General Conference! I will be enjoying it here! 

The Big DAY!

HELLO!

How are you all???

I am so good!

ELIZABETH AND SHIRANI: They got baptized!! It was a beautiful service, the sun shone so bright and they looked so good all dressed in white! It made me so happy to see them changing their lives. We have been working so hard with them. They had their baptismal interview this week and we were so nervous. They were scheduled for 6pm and at 5:45 Hermana Elizabeth had not returned home yet. We were panicking and I turned to my companion and said 'We need to pray, specific prayers always work' the funny thing is that we said the same thing to each other, at the same time! WE prayed and not even five minutes later she walked in the door. We were so happy!

It was such a great testimony builder for Shirani as well. They passed their interviews with flying colors and were baptized and confirmed members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints!

Other great news! Watermelon season is here! We bought a huge watermelon, I am sure it weighed more than 15 pounds. It was HUGE, and it was only 60 pesos. WHAT? I ate Watermelon every day! It was so good! To celebrate our baptisms and the other ones that took place on Saturday as well, we made quesadillas with watermelon water and ice cream for the other sisters. Then we took our mattress and put it on the roof. It was so pretty to star gaze. I love being here and doing what I am doing!

The picture of the sun is the sun we see every day when we exercise in the mornings at 6:30. The view is amazing, right? I love MEXICO!

We are working so hard to find those people that are ready to be baptized! We have some good appointments set up and we hope that we will be able to find them and help them get on the right path..

I love you all so much! Have a wonderful week! and enjoy Women's Conference!!

Hermana Riedelbach

SOY MORMÓN!

Hello from Mexico!

This week was so good! We had Zone Conference this week! It was so good! The theme of the conference was the Plan of Salvation. I think I need to say that my mission is the best in the whole world and that my Mission President and his wife Hermana Morales are the best! I love them, and I learn so much from them!

Hermana Martinez and I ready for Zone Conference

Traveling to Zone Conference in a Cambie

At Zone Conference, they talked about how we are the Great and Noble ones that Abraham talks about in Abraham Chapter 3:22-23. And that we were part of the creation. We each had to think about a talent that our Father in Heaven has given us and then think about how we could have used it in the creation.

Example: Singing- Someone had to write the songs that the birds sing each day. How cool! We were part of that!!

We also got to watch Meet the Mormons! It was so good! I cried and laughed, I am so happy to be a Mormon! We also got to practice teaching The Plan of Salvation. I felt the spirit so strong as we were teaching Hermana Claudia (the Presidents daughter). I know that the Lord created this plan for each and every one of us! I know that Jesus Christ is central to that plan and that without him and His atonement we wouldn't have anything. I love him and am so grateful for all that he has done for me.

We also had a super great District Meeting this week! It was on tithing and the Law of consecration. I learned so much and am so grateful for this time that I have to consecrate myself to the Lord. I hope you can all do it too! (https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2010/10/reflections-on-a-consecrated-life?lang=eng) I loved studying this talk! READ IT!

Doing the ruins in style!

SHIRANI AND ELIZABETH: They are super excited for their baptisms this week! Their interviews are tomorrow! Keep them in your prayers, please!

I think that's everything that happened this week! Hermana Romero and Hermana Magaña went home today! I am super sad that they are gone...but, I learned so much from them, and I know we will always be good friends!

I love you all so much!

Hermana Riedelbach

P.S.

Look at the size of this watermelon!  and we bought a bigger one today!  

I Already Know That It Is True!

This week was great! We were able to have our Zone meeting this week and we learned a whole lot! I am so grateful for our President and the constant revelation that he receives. He has asked that we teach all of the members that we can the Law of Tithing. I absolutely love the way he has asked us to teach it. When I get home I will teach it to you all. He focuses on the spiritual blessings that we can receive as we pay our tithing. It has made me think really hard about all of the choices that I am making and that I have made in the past. Will I be ready to pay tithing when I go home? YES, because I have learned here that it is so worth it. We can't progress to be like him without paying our tithing. It is impossible! I know that if we all pay our tithing that everything will work out.

In other news:

SHIRANI and ELIZABETH: are so excited for their baptisms! This week we had a super powerful lesson with them! We read 3 Nephi 11 and we talked about Christ's power and the most important doctrines that he taught. We talked a lot about him and his atonement, but most importantly baptism. After we read we kneeled with them and we asked Shirani (9) to offer the prayer and to ask if these things were true. She smiled real big and said 'Why do I need to ask? I already know that they are true!' I felt the spirit so strong in that moment and even stronger when she said her prayer.

We then asked her Mom to say a prayer and to ask the same thing. The Holy Ghost couldn't have testified stronger than it did in that moment. After we asked them if they had received their answer and they looked at us and they said yes! They are so excited for their baptisms and we are too!

Yesterday, we went looking for some contacts that we had made throughout the week and we couldn't find anyone. But, we had a backup plan, another contact that we had made a month ago. We went to look for him, he is never home. We got to his house and my companion knocks on his door for eight minutes, that is such a long time but,  I had the thought and feeling that we needed to wait. Finally, I said let's go,  and right then he walked out of his neighbors house! We couldn't believe it.

His name is Julio. He is very active in his Church, but he has a real desire to know if these things are true! He has a lot of questions,  I don't know half of the things he is asking, but I know that they aren't big doubts, if we can get him to cultivate his faith he will know these things are true!

I am so thankful for the constant guidance of the spirit! I know our Heavenly Father loves us! I know that he answers our prayers! I love you all and hope you can all have a great day!

Hermana Riedelbach 

Such a Good Week!!

This week, I think was one of the best weeks I have had on my mission. We worked so hard. We taught 47 lessons and found 10 new investigators! We were able to set 2 baptismal dates! I feel so good! I am so tired, but these are the weeks that my spirit feels so good!

This week we worked so hard to be obedient and because of it we had so many spiritual moments! I wish I had time to write about all of them!

ELIZABETH AND SHIRANI: They are planning on being baptized on March 21, 2015!! They are a mom and a daughter. They are going through a hard time in their life and we came right in time. This week, my companion and our STL went on exchanges and visited them. They challenged them to be baptized and they accepted. Two days later we went back to visit them and they weren't so sure about their baptism. We talked about the Holy Ghost and then taught about the First Vision. I was a little bit nervous because I wanted the spirit to be there and her daughter was screaming and crying. I tried to think of anything that I could do to calm her down and nothing worked. Then, I remembered that I had a cherry sucker in my bag. As soon as I took it out she got real quiet.

We were able to teach the first vision and I don't think the spirit could have been any stronger. It was pure silence and peace. I didn't want to interrupt it, I bore testimony and then went on to explain the Book of Mormon, but something told me to challenge them to be baptized again. I challenged them and they accepted. I was so happy! They are amazing!

On Sunday, we went to their house to pick them up and nobody was there. I started to get a little sad, then our phone rang, It was them. They said they were outside of the House of Prayer. WHAT? They went all by themselves.  Awesome!

The Lord truly blesses us when we work our hardest and are obedient to the commandments and to the mission rules. I love being a missionary and am a little sad that it is starting to come to an end. I know the Lord loves each and every one of you and I do too

I hope you all have a wonderful week!

Hermana Riedelbach

Rockin in Palenque!

This week started out a little rough. It rained and rained and rained. We couldn't find anyone in their houses or if they were home they all seemed a little busy. I was so nervous because we had two baptisms planned for Saturday and if there was rain we wouldn't be able to have them because the river gets too dangerous.

We did the only thing we could think to do PRAY. When we started praying, I am not even joking the sky was black. The next day we woke up and it was bluer than blue. I had to go take a picture of it.  The Lord is so good to us!

Blue Skies!

José and Nicolás have learned so much and are so prepared! My companion and I are so happy with all the work they are doing! They passed their interviews and bore the most beautiful testimonies.

The day of their baptism was so beautiful! The sun was shining and everyone was happy! A lot of people were able to come out and feel the spirit! I am so happy for them and the choices they are making in their lives!

This week our branch decided to have a Valentines dance and they asked us to be in charge of the decorations. All week we made tissue paper balls and paper hearts decorate our House of Prayer. (the chapel..that isn't a chapel..) It was so funny when we got there I was the tallest person, so I had to climb up 15 chairs stacked together to hand the rope that the balls were hanging from. Hahaha.

Valentines Decorations

The dance started at 6pm...so when 6pm rolled around nobody was there...But, we finally got the party going at 7:30pm. Sometimes I think these parties are the missionaries worst nightmares. We all felt so worldly being in the middle of a dance with loud music and ahhhh! Going home is going to stink. It turned out so well. A lot of less actives were able to come, along with investigators to enjoy the night!

All in all, it was a great week! Thank you so much for all of your prayers! Have a wonderful week and don't forget to fast and donate a lot this Sunday!

Palenque District

Ruins with members

The Relief Society Pres. and I

Making Lion House Carrot Cake at a members house (we don't have an oven)...YUM!

I love you all!

Hermana Riedelbach!

What a LOVELY week!

This week was so great! I got to go on splits With Hermana Vargas. It was so fun. I learned a lot and we laughed a lot.

NICOLÁS: He is progressing so well! Yesterday he committed to living the Word of Wisdom and the Law of Chastity! He is so ready for his baptism this Saturday!

JOSÉ: Is doing just as well as Nicolas. They are both so pumped and were able to go to a baptism this past Valentines day! It was such a marvelous day and a beautiful baptism with a prayer answered!

It all started Friday night. The clouds came out and we all got nervous. Because our chapel is being remodeled we have to have our baptisms in the River. Because the rain is bi-polar here we never know what is going to happen. Friday night it started sprinkling a little bit. So we all prayed and it stopped. Then when we woke up on Saturday morning the sky was black. I called the sisters. (Their windows don't go to the outside...we live in apartments) and said Pray, it looks like it's going to rain. We all said a fast prayer and in an hour the whole sky was blue! We couldn't believe it.

The spirit was so strong in the baptismal service and everyone was so happy! The best way to spend Valentines day, showing God that we love him so very much! I am so very grateful to know that Heavenly Father knows and loves each and every one of us. and that he answers our prayers! I love him.

Heavenly Father is so good to us. This week we went to talk to Antonio and when we sat down and a lady said to us. 'HEY! Are you from the Church of Jesus Christ?' Yes! Yes we are! She said she was a member from another city who had just recently moved here. She then told us that her aunt is very interested in hearing our message. I couldn't believe it. I believe they will be our next baptisms for March. She also has a daughter that is 9 years old, and she too is very interested in listening to us!

Please pray for them! I love you all so much have a wonderful week! And go to the temple! PRAY and choose the right!

Hermana Riedelbach

P.S. I promise I am not that chubby in person! Nor am I bald.