July 23rd, 2012

Hey family,

  This week was sooo great.  We had interviews with President and he always says the things I need to hear.  It's like he's inspired or something.  He told he that I'm most likely getting transferred.  I only have two options either Grand Junction or the other side of Denver. I'll find out for sure in two weeks.  I'm excited but I'll have random punch in the gut feelings because I really will miss these people.  I love them a ton and we just keep meeting new people to teach and I already love them alot.  That's the sucky part of being in an area for awhile.  It has its pro's and con's.  

  So like I said before, we've been meeting new people.  Yesterday we finally met a lady named Carmen.  She was a referral from some historic center in Utah.  She had gone with her family and was interested in the Book of Mormon so we stopped by like a month ago but we only met her husband and daughters.  They are AWESOME.  So these past few weeks we've been teaching mostly their daughter Sandra who's 13 years old. She's incredible.  Well yesterday we finally met their mom Carmen.  She asked alot of questions about us as missionaries, what we do etc.  I bore my testimony how I love being a missionary....that it's always been my dream.  She asked us after what we are studying and Hna Pare' said she's going to med school to be a doctor.  Then she asked me and I told her I have no idea...that I can't decide because I'm not really passionate about anything in particular.  She stayed quiet and said "you know..I think you would serve God for the rest of your life if you could....I can just feel the love and joy that you have from being a missionary." I was kind of shocked she said that....that a nonmember who knows nothing about the chuch could feel that.  It was one of the biggest compliments I've ever received.  I was grateful she felt that because it's true.  I totally would serve God in this way forever. And I will. We're getting kicked out of the computer lab so I gotta go. I love you a ton. Til' next week.

Amo.

July 9th, 2012

Buenos dias,

This week was great!  I was worried because last week due to 4th of July, they moved our Pday to Wednesday so I was scared it was going to affect the lessons we teach but I prayed my butt off and God helped us (por su puesto).  Our lessons were so spirit-filled, I loved it.  I always feel like I'm fulfilling my purpose as missionary when people tell me "you guys always come when I need you."  Thanks to the spirit, we can do that.  I'm so grateful for prayer and fast.  On Sunday I fasted for two new investigators and at 7 o'clock we found them! Their names are Susana and Sarah...they're super awesome and so easy to talk to.  I'm really excited to teach them.  We have an appointment with them this Saturday so pray for them!  We had a lesson with Melissa last week and I asked her how she's been doing since her baptism.  With tears in her eyes, she says, with a shaking voice, "well...since I've been baptized...my siblings have been meaner to me...they make fun of me that I didn't really want to get baptized but  I promise (she starts full on crying) that I really did want to get baptized!"  My heart broke for her.  Even though she's 10 years old, Satan is working on her.  Life doesn't get easier after baptism, actually I think it gets harder.  The difference is that we have the light of the Gospel and the gift of the Holy Ghost.  Melissa told us that before her baptism, when her siblings were mean to her that she would hit them but after her baptism she felt like she couldn't do that anymore and instead she'd pray or read the Book of Mormon.  Incredible, right?  We didn't even suggest that she do that, she just knew to do it.  I love it.  I truly love her and her family.  Actually today they're taking us to buy new shoes.  Why? I have no idea but they want to so I guess they love us too haha.  They came to volleyball which was a success because alot of less actives and investigators came.  It was great!  Volleyball is such a celestial sport ;)  Alright I can't think of anything else to write...my mind is blank, I'm sorry.  I love you all and til' next week.

-Hermana Ruiz

July 2nd

Hey everyone!

So this week was so ridiculously crazy and busy but it turned out so well.  We planned a "noche misional"  basically a ward activity to help the ward members do missionary work.  So we organized and did EVERYTHING...on top of regular proselyting...it was rough but the activity turned out great!  We started with a dinner and after we had three short workshops (since we had 6 missionaries in our ward, each companionship was incharge of a workshop).  Hermana Pare and I taught how through the "small and simple things" (Alma 37:6) we can do missionary work like inviting friends and neighbors to volleyball every saturday at the gym, movie night, english class, inviting them to dinner etc.  I shared my experience with Caitlin and how I invited her to the ward talent night and she later come to church then took the discussions and got baptized last Easter.  All I did was invite her to the activity and as a result she progressed.  How easy it is to do missionary work, right?  I also said that the first person to invite her to Sunday dinner was my mom...I said "If my NONMEMBER mom can do missionary work, you can do it too."  They all gasped everytime I said it...so funny.  I hope it motivated them.  The other elders do object lessons and role playing.  Each workshop was like 15 minutes max.  After we all gathered in the chapel to hear our mission president, President Maynes, speak.  We prepared "goodie bags" for each member with books of mormon, pamphlets, mormon.org, photos of christ, a card and letter and they all wrote their testimony in the book of mormon after President Maynes' talk.  We closed with of course "called to serve".  It was a great experience and it took alot of work but it was so worth it.  We NEED the ward members in order to be sucessful in missionary work.  I can't stress the importance of that.  I attached a photo of our room.  "Pedir con fe" means "ask in faith" and we did it with mormon.org cards and yarn we found in the church, pretty good, right? 

  We also had an AMAZING lesson with Nancy one of our investigators.  She's 25 with a lil 4 year old boy and she lives with his Dad but they aren't married....and he has no intentions to do so which means, it's hard for her to get baptized since she's breaking the law of chastity.  We decided to have a lesson with her at the temple on Friday and we brought Hna. Razo, a member with such a solid testimony...single mother of 2 boys.  We talked about marriage and families and read "A proclamation to the world" and shared some scriptures.  She really liked it and it was great because there was like 3 other weddings going on. Awesome!  And it's impossible to NOT feel the spirit on the grounds of the temple.  You can feel it.  I prayed alot before the lesson that she would accept a baptismal date (she never likes to commit because of the whole marriage thing) but I felt very prompted to extend August 5th.  So we did and of course the first thing she said was the marriage thing but Hermana Razo came to the rescue and said "don't worry about it....just accept it and have the faith that the Lord will provide a way for you to be married so you can be baptized. Just let it happen because it will." It was PERFECT.  Nancy accepted! So it's going to take alot of work but it's going to happen!! I'm so excited. 

  Yesterday Melissa got confirmed and received the Holy Ghost!  It was fast and testimony meeting and she decided to bear her testimony!  Her parents came to her confirmation so it was so powerful to see this young girl bear her testimony infront of her parents.  I loved it.  She's incredible.  Last week at transfers, we received a letter telling us an apostle is coming the week of my brithday! HECK YEAH.  Apostle, birthday and year mark.  What up.  Alright that's all I have for this week.  I also attached another photo of my 9 month photo...it freaked me out a little bit...you're welcome.  Well I love you guys. Be safe. You're awesome.

Love,