The Christmas Devotional was really good. Dec. 8, 2014

Dear Family and Friends,

Christmas devotionals areeeeee ...really good.- skitells (if you don't know what I'm referring to here, it's okay.) 

This week has been another crazy one! I have a new companion. Her name is Hermana Allen. She's from Utah and has been out just over a year. She's been here from 2 days and I've been here for under 3 weeks so we're both pretty fresh to the area! It'll be fun! 

I also had to say goodbye to Sister Johnson, which was sad because we both liked to be silly at times as you can see from the second picture!

Anyway, like I was saying, the devotional was amazing! We were trying to figure out where we would watch it because on bikes our options are a little limited. We tried a few people and then we felt like we should call one of the members (she's from Guatemala and I LOVE her.) So we went to watch it with her. All of us were crying. At the end we thanked her so much to opening her home up to us and letting us watch it with her. She began to cry and said (in spanish) "I was baptized 15 years ago, and I've never watched a devotional until now." It was such a blessing. I had felt so loved and at home in her house, but she had the opportunity to watch the devotional and have her faith in Christ grow. God has it all planned out. 

We also had another huge miracle this week. We were biking and talking to everyone we could, with little luck, when a guy yells to us "Hey do yall do the Jesus thing?" My companion was a little hesitant, but I was not passing up this opportunity. I figured it would be a funny conversation. I pulled my bike over and said "What is the Jesus thing?" He then said "You know, like yall go like visit people and talk about Jesus and stuff right?...how do I set up an appointment?" Well, Hermana Johnson and I start teaching him just there on the street. And we extended a baptismal date for the 20th of December. He accepted! He speaks English so we turned him over to the English sisters, but he came to church on Sunday! 

Also, I know God really cares about missionaries who ride bikes because we had finished a lesson and I realized my chain was broken. I turned to my companion and said something like "okay, now what?" Just as I said that, a hispanic guy rides up on his bike and asks me how I've been because apparently he met me 7 months ago. And then he asks me if I need help with my bike. What? How did he know? Also, get this, he is from Guatemala. I hope I get to live there someday. Anyway, it turns out his friends are members of the church, but he lives outside our area:( But the Elders will teach him! So cool!

This week I just want to share a quick part of a talk that I read this week that really helped me understand how God loves us: 

God uses another form of chastening or correction to guide us to a future we do not or cannot now envision but which He knows is the better way for us. President Hugh B. Brown, formerly a member of the Twelve and a counselor in the First Presidency, provided a personal experience. He told of purchasing a rundown farm in Canada many years ago. As he went about cleaning up and repairing his property, he came across a currant bush that had grown over six feet (1.8 m) high and was yielding no berries, so he pruned it back drastically, leaving only small stumps. Then he saw a drop like a tear on the top of each of these little stumps, as if the currant bush were crying, and thought he heard it say:

“How could you do this to me? I was making such wonderful growth. …And now you have cut me down. Every plant in the garden will look down on me. … How could you do this to me? I thought you were the gardener here.”

President Brown replied, “Look, little currant bush, I am the gardener here,and I know what I want you to be. I didn’t intend you to be a fruit tree or a shade tree. I want you to be a currant bush, and someday, little currant bush, when you are laden with fruit, you are going to say, ‘Thank you, Mr.Gardener, for loving me enough to cut me down.’”

Years later, President Brown was a field officer in the Canadian Army serving in England. When a superior officer became a battle casualty,President Brown was in line to be promoted to general, and he was summoned to London. But even though he was fully qualified for the promotion, it was denied him because he was a Mormon. The commanding general said in essence, “You deserve the appointment, but I cannot give it to you.” What President Brown had spent 10 years hoping,praying, and preparing for slipped through his fingers in that moment because of blatant discrimination. Continuing his story, President Brown remembered:

“I got on the train and started back … with a broken heart, with bitterness in my soul. … When I got to my tent, … I threw my cap on the cot. I clenched my fists, and I shook them at heaven. I said, 

‘How could you do this to me, God? I have done everything I could do to measure up. There is nothing that I could have done—that I should have done—that I haven’t done. How could you do this to me?’ I was as bitter as gall.

“And then I heard a voice, and I recognized the tone of this voice. It was my own voice, and the voice said, ‘I am the gardener here. I know what I want you to do.’ The bitterness went out of my soul, and I fell on my knees by the cot to ask forgiveness for my ungratefulness. …

“… And now, almost 50 years later, I look up to [God] and say, ‘Thank you,Mr. Gardener, for cutting me down, for loving me enough to hurt me.’”⁵

I know that when it is hard, it's just because He trusts us to grow into something much better. I hope you all have a great week! 

-Hermana Ries

I ate pig skin this week! December 1, 2014

Dear Family and Friends,

It has been another crazy and very busy week. We were able to see a lot of miracles. Here is one of them: 

We were biking down the street (as usual) and stopped to talk to a family. They were not interested and as we biked away we felt a little discouraged. Hermana Johnson said "well we tried! and we showed the Lord our faith!" And then I said half kiddingly "yep, now we can receive blessings" Just as I said that a lady of the corner said "Happy Holidays!" We replied Happy Holidays back and she began to ask us what we were doing. We told her we were missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. And she said "well yes I can see that from your name tags. When are yall gunna come visit me??" She told us that she used to be visited by missionaries. And she told us earlier that earlier that day she'd been talking to her son who read John 3:16. Well we have Christmas pass along cards with that scripture but we only had one left and it was in Spanish, and she did not speak Spanish. But Sister Johnson reached into her bag and what did she pull out? The Christmas card in English with John 3:16. The lady then told us she knew that all of this was meant to happen. We're excited to see her again:) 

Speakling of Christmas everyone check out http://www.mormon.org/christmas!!!  Watch and share the video! It is so good! 

And as the title of this email states, I was fed pig skin this week by one of my favorite Hondurans. I pretty much adore her. It tasted good! 

 I also was asked to give a talk in Sacrament meeting about 5 minutes before the meeting started. I can say I know for sure the gift of tongues is real. I can't believe I could give a talk in Spanish and not really have any idea what I was going to say. It was definitely all the Spirit. God is very merciful. 

Things are getting chilly here in Galveston. Please pray that we can find people who are ready to make covenants with our Heavenly Father! 

 I know God lives. I know He loves us perfectly. I know He loves us enough to cut us down and let us regrow into something so much better. I know that His son, Jesus Christ, died for us, and that because of His Atonement, we don't have to be "enough." His grace covers us. He loves us perfectly. He has wept with me in my moments of despair and rejoiced at every one of my triumphs. I know His teachings lead to happiness and light. And that there is ALWAYS hope. I know it's never too late. I know Joseph Smith saw God and His son Jesus Christ. And through Him the ordinances of Salvation have been restored. This is His gospel. This is His work and Glory, our happiness. I bear witness of that in the name of my Savior, Jesus Christ, Amen. 

-Hermana Ries

This is a picture from my last last area, but it's one of my favorites. Noche de Hogar (family home evening) with some of my favorite members and investigators! I would play give said the little stream.

La vida isla‏ November 24, 2014

Dear Family and Friends,

I have been transferred to Galveston! What can I say about it.... Well it is an island. I live about a mile from the beach. It is a biking area (yes yes yes). It is very far from the mission office. So if you want to send me anything, probably send it to my actual address. My mom has it. So you can ask her about that. I love to hear from yall! 

My new companion is Sister Johnson! She and I were in the MTC together and she is super sweet! She is from Utah and the oldest of 6. We also share the apartment with Sister Kaiser (she came out with us as well) and Sister Nath (a temple square sister from Spain). They cover the same area in English. I love them all! 

This week worked a lot on what we call OYMing. or open your mouth. It's just where we talk to everyone we see. You get pretty varied reactions. I saw one lady working on her garden and her cat was outside, and it looked just like Linne!!! So I pulled over on my bike and was like "Your cat looks just like my cat!" And we had a good chat until I told her we were missionaries. Then she didn't really want to talk or see us again haha. Asi es la vida de una misionera! But we also had pretty amazing experiences too, where we were able to tell people how much God loved them. It's a really special experience. OYMing is pretty much the best.

The last few weeks have been pretty crazy getting shuffled around and transferred, but I love Galveston. We'll see how long I last here haha. 

I know God loves us. He is very aware of what we need. Doctrine and Covenants 6: 34-36 says:

34 Therefore, fear not, little flock; do good; let earth and hell combine against you, for if ye are built upon my rock, they cannot prevail.

 35 Behold, I do not condemn you; go your ways and sin no more; perform with soberness the work which I have commanded you.

 36 Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not.

I know that as we look to our Heavenly Father for comfort, we receive real peace. Peace that does not come from any other source. I hope you all have a great Thanksgiving! I am grateful for all of you! 

Les quiero!

Hermana Ries

For when I am weak, then am I strong‏! November 17, 2014

Dear Family and Friends, 

I don't really have a lot to talk about this week. I got emergency transferred out of Brazos, back to Bay City, but this time for good. I found out at about 9:30 that night that it had been my last day there so I packed my stuff and now I am here. 

I also got a call this morning that I will be getting transferred, again. So now I'm kind of just in the middle. This is us at our ward activity. 

I'm working on my fear of horses.

This truck has plants growing out of the engine.

I know God loves us. He has a plan. And that plan is perfect. If we seek for God's help, He will come to our aid. He is always ready to receive us. 2 Corinthians 12: 9-10 says: 

" 9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong."

One week. three cities. five companions, November 10, 2014

Dear Family and Friends,

I am sorry I didn't write last week. It's been kind of crazy. I'm just going to do a brief recap of the last week or so. 

Thursday 30 Oct.- I got a call from the mission President and he asked me to go on emergency exchanges for the weekend to Houston. Like the city city. And I was with Hermana Ihrke!!! My MTC companion! So I spent Halloween there. It was a totally different area, but so much fun! 

This is how we celebrate "Dia De Los Muertos" in our zone!

Saturday 1 Nov.- We exchanged back and I was in Brazos again with my trio as usual. We went to the Houston Natural Science Museum on Preparation day and it was a blast. 

Thursday 6 Nov. - We also had a mission wide temple trip on Thursday and it was amazing! Can you imagine the temple full of missionaries? It was a special experience. The Houston temple is beautiful! 

Thursday 6 Nov.- We got another call from President and one of the missionaries was finishing her mission and her companion needed someone for the last part of this transfer. So now I am here in Bay City, serving with Hermana Moreno. She is from Venezuela. I LOVE HER!! We have gotten along so well, spoken so much Spanish and seen amazing miracles. This area is called Zebra. It is where you teach in both Spanish and English and I pretty much LOVE IT! Basically, what I'm saying is I am super happy. 

I love being a missionary. It isn't always easy. But I love it. I love that I know all my challenges are because God loves me and knows what I need. He knows how to shape us into someone so much better. When we make a mistake, we can start over. That is the opportunity we get every Sunday when we take the Sacrament. 

I hope you all had a good week. If you have any questions, email me! 

-Hermana Ries

La Familia es de Dios‏ Oct. 27, 2014

Dear everyone,

 

Another week. I keep not having much to say because the weeks are just flying by!

 

We have been helping our recent convert, Marlen, get married and this week we were able to go to the court and get the license!!!! It was a miracle. I call Marlen my Guatemalan mother because she looks like a Guatemalan version of my mom and a lot of their mannerisms are the same. It is so cute. On Sunday I told her "Hermana, voy a enviar un foto de usted a mi madre porque ustedes parecen bien similar. Y siempre pienso 'wow Marlen is como mi mama de Guatemala.'" She got a good laugh out of that.

 

One of the investigators this week who is waiting to be baptized told us that he downloaded The Book of Mormon on his families phones!!! And he gave out one of our pamphlets to a guy at work, and his wife is doing family history!!! Wow. They are so awesome.

 

These are my awesome companions! We got bluebell ice-cream this week (the best).

Later today, I'm going to sew them both skirts at a members house. I am pretty excited to get to sew again.

 

We also had our primary program this week which consisted of 2 girls and 3 boys. Yeah, our branch is pretty small. But is was so good!!! When they sang "La Familia es de Dios" I couldn't help but start to cry. Families really are the best. They also gave out little pins to everyone as they entered Sacrament Meeting that said "Las Familias son Eternas."

 

This week I've been thinking a lot about the Atonement too. Elder Holland once said of the Savior, "No one’s eyes were more penetrating than His, and much of what He saw pierced His heart. Surely His earsheard every cry of distress, every sound of want and despair. To a degree far more than we will ever understand, He was “a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief.” ‍ Indeed, to the layman in the streets ofJudea, Christ’s career must have seemed a failure, a tragedy, a good man totally overwhelmed by the evils surrounding Him and the misdeeds of others. He was misunderstood or misrepresented, even hatedfrom the beginning. No matter what He said or did, His statements were twisted, His actions suspected, His motives impugned. In the entire history of the world no one has ever loved so purely or served soselflessly—and been treated so diabolically for His effort. Yet nothing could break His faith in His Father’s plan or His Father’s promises. Even in those darkest hours at Gethsemane and Calvary, He pressed on,continuing to trust in the very God whom He momentarily feared had forsaken Him...Some blessings come soon, some come late, and some don’t come until heaven; but for those who embrace the gospel ofJesus Christ, they come.‍ Of that I personally attest. I thank my Father in Heaven for His goodness past, present, and future, and I do so in the name of His Beloved Son and most generous high priest, even the LordJesus Christ, amen."

I too would like to add my testimony, that sometimes blessings seem to come late. But they do come. Sometimes repentance takes time, but we can be cleansed from every impurity and weakness. And that repentance really means happiness. Just take whatever it is you have and give it to the Savior and I promise He will return with something better than you can imagine.

 

-Hermana Ries