August 27th, 2012

This last week was hard but definitely worth it!  Every week we have a weekly milage allotment and we got cut short A TON...we only had 260 miles for the whole week....which is nothing here in Junction because everything is so dang far.  In Denver every week we had almost 600 and we would only use like 270 IF that...and we were able to go everywhere and get the work done easily.  Not so much here. But nonetheless we worked.  Also...we were by walmart which is a good 15 mins away from our house on Saturday...and we thought well maybe we should take advantage and do some shopping so we dont have to come and drive on pday...well it's a rule that we only shop on pdays.  As me and my companion were sitting in the car of the parkinglot of walmart, we debated and said "well God understands that we don't have miles and we're trying to save them for next week." As soon as we said that, I felt a tinge in my heart...I knew I was justifying it.  We even got out of the car and started walking towards the entrance when a voice in my head said: "Hermana Ruiz...you can't teach people to be exactly obedient to God, when you're not doing it yourself." Dang. I felt guilty, and so I told my companion "hey you know what, let's not do it...I know God will bless us for our obedience" so we got back in the car and continued working.  How grateful for that LITTLE decision I made to be obedient to one LITTLE rule in the white handbook.  Today we received our mile allotment for the week and its 339!  almost 80 more miles from last week!  I don't know how that worked because we didn't have any "roll over" miles but I know we were blessed for our obedience.  The decisions we make in life, whether they be little or big are always important.  I'm grateful for the little lessons I learn here on the mission. Also Amber got baptized yesterday!! It was definitely a really stressful baptism.  Things kept going wrong (dang you, Satan!!) but it ended up being a success.  We took some pictures that I'll be sending home this week so I hope you enjoy them.  So many people went too!  I was really surprised because its a branch and wasn't expecting so much support but I'm so grateful.  The sister missionaries in the branch haven't baptized at all this whole year so I'm so grateful God is blessing us with great investigators like Amber.  Next is Denise and Victor who are preparing to be baptized the 16th of September!  So exciting. 

  We have zone conference this week with Elder Robbins from the 70!  Also a special fireside that he's doing with less actives, recent converts and invesitgators so we're pumped to hear it.  We just found out the apostle comes here September 22nd!  Best birthday present ever. No joke.  Ok well that's all I got, I love you all. You're great!