My missionary Hermana Rauch: January 2014

Hey Family!!!!!

How are you all doing?? Okay well first off let me answer all mom's questions so I don't forget...

1.) The baptism got changed to this weekend for the Fierro Flores Family so I will tell you how it goes!

2.) And I got sick with the food, it always gets me and my companion sick

3.) And yes thank you the oils work

4.) And we eat with members usually everyday for lunch except pday

5.) The food is good mostly beans and tortillas I just get sick a lot and throw it all up

6.) And yes we have a little griddle now to cook with

7.) Yep still in Jardines, Hermosillo with Hermana Malaga. She's training me so we will be together for the next transfer too

8.) We can not use members computers to email it is against the rules, only for holidays to Skype

9.) No videos

10.) Yes I can print emails but is is expensive and I usually only do it when I don't have time to read them all but not often

Okay there you go haha :) So yes we are finishing this transfer next week and Hermana Malaga and I will be together again for the next transfer. We had to move some baptism dates around so Jimena and Miguel are being baptized this saturday and then Maria Elena, Nicanor, and Rafaela on the 22nd of February and hopefully a few more of our investigators will accept their dates too. It is so exciting to be apart of all these peoples lives. They are amazing for all the changes that they are making and really want to come unto Christ and their testimonies continue to grow. I love being here and being apart of this great change and decision to enter the waters of baptism. And something totally random is that we sing all the time!!! Everyone here wants us missionaries to do musical numbers at church and at baptism and at their houses and they just always want us to sing. They love it so much!! I am definitely not a singer so it is a little uncomfortable, well more in the beginning I am used to it now because it is like protocol haha But yes the Hermanas and Elders over here are singing machines. It actually is kinda fun now because I am learning all these hymns and church songs in spanish. But yeah my Spanish is coming along not fluent yet but it is good. We are busy busy teaching all of our investigators and getting them ready for baptism. We go out with the youth a lot which is fun and we get to see them excited to work. Hopefully Brent is going on with the elders. Do we have elders in the ward still? Or even having the missionaries teach people in our home or going out with them just even for one lesson!! I know it makes all the difference when the members come out with us. The people progress so much faster and gain those friendships that are essential. It is so HARD to get members to come to lessons with us we really struggle but they are slowly getting more excited about the work as they understand their vital role. I wish our family was more missionary involved because now I see the struggles. So hopefully you can offer the missionaries our home for a lesson or go out with them some time. I know they will love it! We are pulling teeth over here to get members out and the reason is we really can not do it alone. I know that your busy after reading all those fun activities and I don't want to be annoying haha Just a good idea!:)

Thanks for always filling me in on what is new!! Tell all the boys I love them so much!! Brent, Brendan, Breckin and Bryson
Im sending you all a big hug a kiss!!xoxoxo That is great that they are playing sports, going out and having fun, dates, piano, and all that good stuff. And yes tell Brent to go to EFY!! He may feel old who knows whats ages go now with all the mission age changes but go if he wants. I loved EFY!! I am so happy that I went for those four summers and blessed. My testimony was strengthened so much and I had so many unbelievable spiritual experiences. And holy cow Brent is graduating this year that is so weird I feel so old. Enjoy senior year Brent!! And is he going to BYUI first or his mission?? And yeah that is good that Brent and Brendan are doing their eagles. Get it done already haha And wow I wish I could see them play basketball I am sure it is so fun. We always have zone pdays and everyone wants me on their team to play basketball haha We played football today too and everyone was impressed with my arm to throw. It is so fun getting to play all these different sports but it is kinda unfair for all the people who are really short haha But it is fun and we get a good workout in! See mom don't worry I am taking care of myself haha And Aww tell little Bryson that I miss him so much and squeeze him tight for me!! I miss all of you a lot but I know that I am in the right place. And I love that book you sent me its the best. I want another one with pictures of you guys and my friends for my birthday haha Tell all the boys I think of them and I am glad they are all doing well and having fun with all their activities. And of course I love you and daddy a lot!! Really I appreciate all your support you have always given me in everything I do especially my mission. I have met so many missionaries here who are converts or the only members in their family and have done all they can to be here on the mission. Lots of crazy stories but their parents don't support them and a lot don't write and have kicked them out and all these horrible things. But they are some of the strongest missionaries I know. They know the gospel is true and they do not need anything else. These people I have met have really made me so much more grateful for you all and for all the support you have given me always. I don't know how I could do this without you guys, so thank you!!xoxox

Well I love you and I will talk to you more next week!!! Take care and know you are in my prayers!! And check the mail soon there should be mail soon!!:)
Love Hermana Rauch!!!!

¡Hola! ¡Hola!

¿Que tal familia? Ya termino otra semana aqui en Hermosillo. No puedo creer que paso rapido el tiempo aqui en la mision. Pero yo estoy muy feliz que tengo la oportunidad para conocer todas las increibles personas aqui.

I am loving the mission the good days and the rough ones. It is definety such a different experience living here in Hermosillo but I am learning so much each day. We had a good week here in the Jardines ward. Angelica a girl in the ward just left this week to the CCM to start her mission. We were able to go and eat with her family and share a scripture with her and her family to help them feel some piece of mind. Lots of tears but the spirit was so strong. Its so great seeing more and more sisters answering the call to serve. Angelica has come out with us on lessons a few times and just talking with her and hearing all her emotions on how she is feeling reminded me of how I felt before coming to the mission. We all go through the same emotions somewhat but excitement to serve and that desire is stronger than them all. It is hard to leave behind your family and friends and whatenot but I think it would be harder to say I don´t want to serve. Nothing can replace the experiences I am having here and I wouldn´t change it for anything.

So the coolest thing happened this week. We had Stake Conference this wekend and brought our investigators of course and in conference they talked a lot about missionary work (that is just the hot topic now a days I guess haha). And well in the middle on conference Jimena (our investigator that is going to be baptized on the 25th) asked how old you have to be to serve a mission and I told her not thinking much of it. And after conference she told me and Hermana Malaga that in six years from January 28th she wants to serve a mission like us because that´s when she will be 19! How exciting is that!! She says she wants to come out with us and teach too! She is amazing!! Her testimony is burning and man that conversation was just great. She wants to go to conference every week she said haha I am so excited that she has the desire to be baptized and has prayed to find the truth for herself. She is such a good example to everyone around her!! Another cool thing that happened this week was that our Stake President asked us if we are offering the gospel to everyone. He shared the story of a man who had some special orange juice. The best orange juice in the world. And he drank it everyday but never shared with his neighbors outside. He did not offer because he did not know if they would like it and did not want to offend anyone if it was not what they wanted or didn´t know if they liked orange juice. And well people are the same with the gospel. They are scared to offer it because they do not want to offend people or do not know if they will like the gospel, or they think their friends don´t look like the religious type. But in reality the gospel is for everyone!!! I think it was a good reminder to me that we need to share with everyone the gospel. Not just the people we think would make a " good memeber" because in reality we are all striving to improve everyday to live the gospel. And everyone needs the gospel because they are all our brothers and sisters.

Well those are just a few neat things that I learned this week and wanted to share. There is so much that happens everydays so many tender mercies, so many small miracles and spiritual experiences it is indescrible at times. Just know all is well and I´m loving my mission and the people here! I am going to send some pictures to you finally too! I found a place where my cord works!! Here is the Familia Fierro Flores..Abdiel(15 yrs), Miguel(10 yrs) and Jimena(13 yrs) and then a picture my compa snapped waiting for la linea.