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 

Another Wonderful Week!

Well, we didn't end up having baptisms this week BUT, don't worry they just got postponed. If everything goes to plan we will be having TWO baptisms this week. This family we are teaching has a lot of problems, they are all a little to personal to share on the internet but, we are continuing to work with them.

Funny story, one night we were working late in the Offices and the President was going to give us a ride home but, as we were leaving a family asked for a ride home as well (Awkward...). So, we all hop in the car and we start driving. The next thing I know, there is a strum of a guitar, and then the whole family starts singing. HAHA. The Dad of this family had a guitar, and they gave us a show! None of us knew what to do. It was so funny, strange, and kind. 

Then, when we got home one of the Assistants calls us to give us a reference so, my companion is talking to him on the phone, and I go out of the room to get some water. I was chatting with Hermana Suazo and suddenly she starts screaming and pointing. I look, and under a window there is a MOUSE. So, we all start screaming and run into my room, then my companion yells, "WHAT HAPPENED"? I yell back "MICKEY MOUSE" (that's what she calls mice)  Since she is still on the phone she says "Excuse me elder," and starts screaming! She hops on her bed, I am on mine, and Hermana Suazo is on my desk, and My companion says to the Elder "Sorry, I will call you back in five minutes," and she starts screaming again!

How embarrasing. That poor Elder. We called him back and he told us that if we don't kill the mouse, it's going to multiply. Thanks for the advice? :)

What exciting adventures we have here in good old México!

We are also working with a Youth named Roger. He is so great! He came to church yesterday. We are praying that he will accept a baptisimal date this week. We are eating dinner with his family this week! I taught him 'You're killin' me!' in English and he won't stop using it. It's sooo funny!

My companion and I celebrating the 24th!

And you might have noticed my makeup and jewelry...I begged the President to let us keep wearing it, he said "Hermana Riedelbach you are beautiful with out it"  a little awkward but, we can wear makeup again.  :)

I hope all is well!

Hermana Riedelbach

What a Wonderful Week!

Guess what? We are going to have a baptism this week and we have one planned for next week as well! WHAT! The Lord is so good to us!  And, we also have two more investigators that want to be baptized this week and next as well, we just need permission from their parents! We are going to work on that tomorrow.

Their names are Luisa Gesell, Petri, Linda Esther, Maria Fernanda. I am so beyond excited for them! We had challenged Linda and Fer to be baptized but,  they said that they were going to pray. The next day during our lesson they stopped what we were teaching, and they said that they both wanted to be baptized. I almost cried.

The ward is so excited for them and everyone is helping out. I can't begin to explain to you the joy that I feel for them. They have all had a tough life but, really have a desire to change and to be better. Yesterday they were all fighting during a lesson, and we were so frustrated. We almost got up and left. Every time we tried to teach them they would say something mean to someone, and when we reminded them to be nice they didn't pay attention.

Then we started talking about our families, and things that we wished we could do over again. All the things that my Mom used to tell me over and over again. For all the mean things I said to my siblings, or for the times I chose my friends over my family. We all ended up crying. I explained to them that I didn't want them to make the same mistakes I made with my family.

I could really see myself in them. The way that I used to be. I am so grateful for my mission and for all the lessons I have learned, and all of things that I have changed. I know that it is possible to change, and that it's never too late.

I love you all more than anything in the world. I am so sorry if have ever done anything to hurt you, or said anything to offend you.

This Thursday I am going to be reminded once again of the covenants that I made at baptism. I am so grateful for my parents, and all that they taught me, and for the opportunity I had to be baptized. I know that as we all strive to keep the commandments we will be blessed. I challenge you all to pick one thing in your life that you need to work on,  and work on that this week. I know that you can do it through our savior Jesus Christ.

I hope you all have a fantastic week! 

Love,

Hermana Riedelbach

p.s. My hair is now long enough to do this!  Woot!

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!