The Things I have learned in 34 days...

                                                  I miss my friend
                                   The one my heart and soul confided in
                                          The one I felt the safest with
                   The one who knew just what to say to make me laugh again
                                            And let the light back in
                                                I miss my friend

 It is officially. Sister Ruth has been in the field for 34 days...a little over a month. I can't believe how fast time has truly flown! I just can't! But in the last 34 days I have learned some pretty amazing things about myself, about Sister Ruth, and overall life.

      Sister Ruth is doing well to check out what she is up to and how she is doing click here. She is in a town called Terre Haute ( pronounce Tear-a Hote (rhyme it with note)  She is do really well and it seems for as stubborn as people are that the people in the church are just bright and all the investigators are just really special, neat, and inspiring. I am super glad! She seems to finally be finding her way around which i think she was worried about at first. But now that it has been at least 2 weeks she is right in the swing of things and i think she is really actually happy! She is truly lost in the work ( I have received one letter in 34 days. It's a miracle hahaha) I am really glad when i get the chance to hear from her though because i realize i do miss her but she is where is 100 % needed and i could not wish her away from that for any thing!

   Something I have learned about myself...I miss her a lot less then i thought I would. I just keep praying that she will remain strong and healthy and that i can lose myself in my studies and callings and that time will pass without too much hardship! it's not really homesick just Hannahsick. I miss her a lot some times, but then there are times like today when i realize it's been a MONTH since she left WHOAAAAA!!!! This week was really hard to do by myself but i know the lord is prepping me for my own mission and the amount of work and stress that can hold. I am so prepared emotionally and spiritually. I know the church is true and you know  people keep asking me where i want to serve and i finally found my answer. Wherever I can go that the people need me. Wherever the lord sees fit to place me and do the most good that i myself can do! I just have to put my faith in the Lord because he puts his undying faith in me every day. He gives me the chance to wake up, share the gospel, serve my fellow friends and coworkers and  he lets me know that the he is blessing those I have to be far away from to do what I need to do. I am so ready to start and yet the Lord continually teaches me about his timing and i just have to have some faith that he knows why I need to wait and therefore I need to wait.  I just wish it wasn't so hard some days....

Oh there's no place like home for the Holidays....unless you are on a Mission

               I'm so excited to be going back home for the holidays. I get to see my Mom, my sisters and my dog. I also get to see some friends, and go to some homecomings, one or two farewells, a few dates, celebrate the birth of Christ, bring in 2014 ( where did that come from!!!) and turn 22 and do it all in about 12 days. Should be fun right? the answer is YES!
    My thought I wanted to share with everyone during this wonderful time of the year comes from the idea of many people that are not able to be home for the holidays. But maybe I could bring people home in their hearts! I hope to write at least 50 missionaries ( 20 minimum!)  who do not normally get mail from anyone ( if not very very few.) I think it is heart breaking that there are so many valiant brother and sisters serving the Lord in the calling of Missionary and yet no writes them. No one shares they goals, and their trials. No one shares they success and heart ache when they have to leave for a transfer. No one shares with them their amazing journey that is serving a mission.
  I could not imagine not getting mail. (granted i don't have a large family but i have a very solid family! I have a very easy time because my mother's side of the family are all LDS ( 2 cousins served missions. My mom, and 2 uncles as well as a plethora of  others that are not so immediate.) I just couldn't imagine this holiday season not getting any sort of love and encouragement and the days get shorter and the weather gets colder.
   I am sending all of the missionaries a little Christmas card and you know what i truly do encourage everyone to write a new missionary this winter season because all 80,000 missionaries deserve to be thought of. They deserve to be remembered in prayers, letters and care packages and I am not letting those who aren't being thought of down! They are just as important and loved!!!!  Here is a copy of my Christmas card I shall be sending out.


                        

           Merry Christmas Everyone! - Rach