...grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18)

Where do I even begin!  This is going to be my last email as a full-time missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  As I said in last weeks email, I would never in a million years, trade anything for my mission.  Even if someone was offering for me to meet the Prophet.  I am so grateful for this time to teach the people of the California Rancho Cucamonga Mission.  I am so grateful to know that the Lord called me with all of my weaknesses to come and that he trusted me to do this.  I am so grateful for the people that I have met here.  They have changed my life.  I am not the same person that I was 18 months ago.  And in all honesty, I am so grateful that I am different.  The point of the Atonement is for us to change.  That is really something that I have come to notice on my mission.  So speaking of my changing, there is something that I haven't really told anyone before. And now it is about to be known to the world.  My whole life, I have had the HARDEST time comparing myself to others.  I have 4 fabulous sisters, and 1 amazing brother.  Growing up with all of them I always felt like I was not really all that important.  I thought my parents loved them more than me, were more proud of them than me and so on.  (Now I know how wrong I was.)  Anyways, so for years I have struggled with the thoughts of having to be as great as my siblings.  I thought that I would be the biggest failure in the world if I didn't live up to my siblings accomplishments.  So then I came on a mission, and had the best trainer in the world!  I wanted to be just like her.  I started comparing myself to her.  I know that she and I were supposed to be together in Hesperia.  I started to realized how little I knew about being on a mission, and what it took to be out here.  I started back to my old ways, and went back to comparing myself to others.  Luckily Sister M was always there to encourage me.  Sometimes I was super mad at her, but she knew that it was what I needed to change and become better. ( I am so grateful for that by the way.  Thank You!)  
Months later, my mom sent me a letter about comparing myself, and it really helped so much.  The letter also included a talk that was written by a young woman in my ward back home.  The letter got me thinking about how every single one of us is important to Heavenly Father.  I learned how to really come to the Savior and use the Atonement to change.  I was sick of trying to be the next best missionary.  I wanted to be the missionary that Heavenly Father wanted me to be.  I wanted to quit comparing myself to others.  There is a reason that we all have different personalities.  We all have to be different.  That is how Heavenly Father's Plan is for all of us.  I really learned to turn to the Lord, and trust Him with the things He had in store for me.  I knew that if I was always trying to be someone else that I would be hindering myself and the Lord's work.  I didn't come on a mission to make a new list of regrets, so I decided that day to ask the Lord for help.  I wanted to change.  I wanted to become the best that I could be.  That day has changed my life.  It has helped shape me into the best missionary that I could be.  I am so grateful for the Atonement of Jesus Christ.  That is the only reason that I was able to change.  The Atonement of Jesus Christ can and will help you change.  I can promise you that.  You have to put in your part, but the Lord will make up the difference.  That is another thing I have learned.  Grace is so crucial for us to change as well.  In True to the Faith, The phrase “after all we can do” teaches that effort is required on our part to receive the fulness of the Lord’s grace and be made worthy to dwell with Him. The Lord has commanded us to obey His gospel, which includes having faith in Him, repenting of our sins, being baptized, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end.  This is what I have been teaching people for the last 18 months.  They can change.

So many people have changed since I have been out.  Like I said, I have changed! So much, and I am so grateful for that.  I met Constance.  She literally changed her life for the Gospel.  She is a such a great example to me, and her faith and testimony are sometimes the thing that has pulled me through to the end of that day.  I am so grateful for her.  She is one of my best friends in the whole wide world.  I am so grateful she is still working toward more covenants.  I will be there for them! 

Others that really had a major influence in my life was my loving STL's last transfer.  Sister C and Sister A are the best! They helped me when I thought there was no other way.  They had patience and were so loving when I needed to change.  They laughed at my jokes and really that was one of the first times I learned how to help myself on the mission.  

My trainer I mentioned above, Sister M.  She was so patient and I am sure that she is just sitting there laughing at this.  She really taught me what it meant to be a missionary.  She was exactly what I needed for those 3 transfers.  She is an amazing lady, and I am so lucky to call her Mission Mom.  She sure taught me a WHOLE lot.  This leads me to two other amazing sisters.  Sister T and Sister C2.  Holy Cow.  Who would have ever thought 3 sisters on bike could have as much fun as we did.  Who could have thought we could teach and grow all together.  These sisters were there when my testimony was not the best.  They were there to really pull me back out of the comparing myself rut.  They were my saving angels.

President and Sister H are next.  Never have I seen a couple with as much stress and responsibility as they have, deal with all of it with such ease.  They are the best people to lead and guide our mission at this time.  They are pushing us to become better and all the time they were my "parents" on the mission.  Sister H sat through doctor visits with me, and President H emailed me advice and encouragement every week.  I am so grateful for those emails.  They have really helped me a whole lot.  There are so many people that I am sure I have missed.  Know that everyone I have ever talked with, even those who I just talked with on the street or at their door, have taught me some principle that I know will help me.

This last week was a whirlwind.  Many people are leaving for vacation so I had to say goodbye to them.  That was hard.  But we went on exchanges, and Sister C and I were together for 24 hours.  It was some of the best 24 hours of my life.  I guess that it is just a taste of what Friday and Sunday will be like when we are companions again for the temple trip and the departing devotional.  We were able to see a lot of people, and ended on a miracle.  We decided to go eat a milkshake and talk about exchanges.  While we were there, we saw this lady that they had been working with.  It was such a miracle, because her phone had shut off and the sisters were having a hard time getting a hold of her.  They set up a time, and Sister C told me they have been seeing her almost everyday.  What a great miracle!  

We also had 3 little boys get baptized on Saturday! It was such a great day! We were all so spiritually exhausted.  I am so grateful for Jesse, Jordan and Brian.  They are all the best little boys!  We (8 missionaries) sang Lead Kindly Light, with one of them playing guitar.  The Spirit was there and from what we have heard, so many people loved the baptism.  I spoke at Brian's Baptism, and talked about how our covenants are related to a Kit-Kat.  

K-Keep your commandments

A-Always remember him 

T-take his name upon you.

This was such a great week.  I am so grateful for the Atonement of Jesus Christ.  I am not perfect, but I am perfect (at times) at trying.  I still have a problem at times of comparing myself, but then I remember how great our Savior is and that He can help me.  I can promise you all that the Lord will succor you in your time of need.  He can help you to change.  I know it doesn't take a mission to change everyone, but that is what it took for me to change.  I know this church is true.  I know Heavenly Father is there for all.  I am so grateful for the opportunity that we have to pray.  I know the Book of Mormon is the word of God.  It will allow us to grow closer to God than any other book in the whole world.  I can promise you If you ever become discouraged or feel too weak to continue living the gospel, remember the strength you can receive through the enabling power of grace. You can find comfort and assurance as you pray to the Lord: “My grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them”.

Thank you for all that you have done for me.  I love you all so much! Thank you for the love you have given me on the mission.  It has helped me become such a better person!  I am so grateful for the time that I have had to serve the Lord.
Love you all so much! 

XOXO, 

Sister Amber Rietz

(I don't know what my email is for back home, but I'll email you from it.)

Sister Amber Rietz

6541 Woodruff Place

Rancho Cucamonga, Ca

91701

Squash for friends

Disastrous Days bring Many Moments of Miracles

So by the title of my email, you are all probably thinking that we had a terrible week.  There were a lot of down hill moments, but then there were so many peaks that I didn't think that we could ever reach.  This week was one were I really learned to rely on the Lord through Prayer, and I know that He was able to give us answers and the Spirit of Comfort to help Sister T2 and I.  Don't worry, I would totally have last week start over and relive that week.  The disasters and all, because I learned too many valuable lessons this week.  

1.Funniest Thing Done: Oh man! The ultimate funniest thing that ever had to happen this last week was probably when we were sleeping outside and there was a cat lurking around.  I think that the Spirit brought to my remembrance that there was a plastic bat in our house that we could sleep outside with.  So we are now always sleeping outside with the bat right in between us. (Thank you sister T for the bat)  Well I was joking with Sister T2 that I was going in the middle of the night to accidentally mistake her as the cat, and start beating her.  So then Sister T2 used her super fast reflexes and grabbed the bat and held onto that so fast! We haven't had to use the bat at all.  Only to hit away the cobwebs that literally appear overnight!  Another really funny thing that happened was we were playing tag with Jason the 5 year old of Oneida, and one of the people that was playing with us grabbed him by the pants.  Next thing you know he's holding Jason, and then he's not holding Jason.  He's holding his pants.  Jason had too big of pants on, and he slipped right out of them.  Jason wasn't embarrassed at all! He was actually really funny about it.  He ran away, and then 2 minutes later he comes running, "BOOYAH! Got my pants back on!"  We all were laughing a lot, and even as we speak I am laughing about it.  Good Thing Sister T2 and I are the only ones in the Family History Center right now.

2.Biggest Blessing or Miracle: I think that the biggest blessing and miracle would have to be the one and only Elder S or as Sidda C and Sister T know him as the Schweeds... Anyways... We had some car trouble this last week, but luckily we were in Rancho for the 4 week new missionary meeting and we were able to call him and he was able to come help us right away. So now we are driving the 4th car in our area! WOOH! I just hope that our Subbie gets fixed and back up to us quickly! That car is the only one so far that Sister T2 and I have felt the safest in on those crazy dirt roads.  Elder S is such a patient man.  He reminds me a lot of Brother Byington from home.  He is just so caring, and still has that joking side to him that you don't know if he is being serious or not.  I love it.  I felt so bad that we had to call him, because he was dealing with a little TIWI situation that happened in our car, he was working on getting my license renewed, and he now is dealing with our little Subbie.  I just hope that he doesn't regret ever asking how else he could help us.

3.Exciting Events:  Oneida and Greg were baptized on Saturday! It was a little stressful seeing as they were 45 minutes late, but better late than never right!? Haha, when they walked in, all the worries of them not showing up melted away.  I was so grateful for the lessons that I had been able to teach them, and for all the things they taught me.  If there is one thing that I have learned from that family that will forever stick with me it has got to be,  that through it all your family will always be there, and so will the Lord.  Too many miracles occurred with them for any of us to ever deny that.  It was so great to see Oneida and her family so excited for the baptism.  I love them all so much, and am so grateful that I was able to teach them.  They are like little drops of golden sunlight that really can brighten anyone's day.  As I mentioned in a previous email, we taught them the Wise Man and the Foolish Man song.  They really wanted to have that sung at their baptism, and it was so precious when the 3 little boys were up there leading the hand motions.  Brad turned when they were heading up to the front and asked me to come, but I told him "No way you know the hand signals! You can do it!"  I love them! They are so innocent and so precious!  

4.Favorite Game: Well  most of the streets are registered into the system as 25, and they should actually be 55 MPH! So we called TIWI, and we are now just racking up the violations because TIWI gave us permission to go the speed limit even though the little box is watching us.  So I feel bad for President H and Elder S because Granite Hills Elders and we are just racking up those speeding violations.  It is not FUN! That voice is one that we have gotten really good at imitating, so that is now our game when we are home.  Who can talk like TIWI!

5.Favorite Food: We had the best tomato and zucchini dish.  It was so good.  I am not  the biggest fan of cooked tomatoes, but it was really good to have it all together.  Then we had pork chops, and potatoes with it! IT WAS SO GOOD! We also had a version of Crock-Pot chicken that was pretty good.  Different, but really good! I was a lot spicier, and they put potatoes instead of rice.

6.Most Challenging Thing: This last week I got what most missionaries call the trunky call.  That is the worst feeling in the world... Sister P has such a happy voice and told me, "Sister Rietz, I need you to be calm and listen to me.  You have some important life changing events occurring soon and we need to talk about them." She then asked me where I was flying home to, and all the details that I could remember.  Afterwards, she said: "thank you. Now forget about this phone call, and get back to work."  That is the hardest thing, because everyday someone in one of the wards or the other missionaries comment on me coming home, and ask how I am feeling.  PEOPLE! I HAVE AGES LEFT!!!

7.Simple Pleasures: We got a call from Elder S earlier this week.  I thought it was about my license, but it was about TIWI.  For some reason it didn't show that I had logged in, and so for 26 miles our car was registered as stolen. That was a fun one to respond to.  I was like I swear that I logged in, so now we are always worried that it is going to say our car is stolen... But so far we are good.  No more calls about TIWI! 

8.Goals: Find 4 new Investigators! We are really drowning with no one in our teaching pool anymore. So we are on a mad hunt.  A member told me yesterday that we are the Hunters, and that we go to church to get our ammo and run back out to go and hunt people.  It was a nice effort at an analogy, but I just nodded my head and told him, "Ohhh! That is cool to think of it that way." He's such a kind older man.  Hopefully he doesn't tell that to more people, because I don't think people will want to hear that missionaries had ammo, and go hunting...

9.Biggest Smile: We were talking with a Less-Active last night, and were teaching her the Restoration.  Normally we start with God is our Loving Heavenly Father. But for some reason right when we started the lesson, I asked her how the Gospel has Blessed her Life.  That opened up a conversation that I never thought that we would have.  She started sharing all of these super cool spiritual experiences and times where she knows the Gospel has blessed her life.  It was really cool to talk with her, and hear just how much she loves the church.  Then she flipped it to us, and asked us.  I loved talking about all the ways that the Gospel has blessed my life.  Obviously my family was one of the things that I brought up.  We talked about how the Gospel asks us to do a lot of different things, but that if we are obedient then the blessings are overflowing.  I couldn't help but think about how there have been times where I just wanted to give up, and then I think of how my family is able to be together forever because of the Gospel and that there are people out there that really don't know or believe that there is a way to be together forever.  She told us all the blessings that she has seen from missionaries serving, and I was just in shock because there were times this week where I was wondering why I was still on a mission.  This seemed like an answer to my prayer that I had about how we can really bless our families, and other families too.  I know that sounds dumb for a missionary to be saying that, but it is the truth.  I think sometimes it just takes a friendly conversation with the Spirit there for us to know why we are on our missions.

10.Biggest Accomplishment: Getting down the hill without TIWI getting mad at us! I was so proud of us! 

11.Favorite Scripture Story or Ensign Talk Studied: Right now our mission is preparing for Elder Falabella to come and do his mission tour.  That is in September and so he has asked us to study Alma 17-23 and focus on how the people's hearts were changed.  Holy Cow. There is a lot of ways that their heart's were changed, but I would have to say the greatest thing that I am positive changed their hearts is the love that they felt from the messages that they were hearing.  That is how I think some people are when we talk with them.  I have heard a couple times, "I don't agree with what your church believes, but you sure are nice." Haha, that is always a stab in the heart, and also a compliment cause they think that we are nice.  It is amazing that some aspect of the gospel really hits people differently.  Sometimes I think that there is nothing that can help some of the people that we contact on the street, but as our zone leaders stated to me, the Lord is always preparing people, and sometimes the things that we say are just planting the seeds.

12.Favorite Quote: "Even Blind People Clean."-President H This was in reference to the training that was given in Zone Conference last week.  An Elder asked the Senior Sisters how they can clean, because there are really not that many lights in their apartment, and this was President H's reaction.  Everyone in the gym started laughing, and I think it taught us all a valuable lesson that there is NO excuse for why our apartments are dirty.

I am a Child of God.

And He has Sent me here.

I stand all amazed at the love Jesus Offers me.

Confused at his grace that so fully he proffers me.

Be still my soul; The Lord is on thy side.

I know that my Redeemer lives.

What comfort this sweet sentence gives.

Come Follow Me, the Savior said.

Because I have been given much,

I too must give.

I love being a missionary.  It has literally changed my life.  I hope that all are able to feel the love and the peace that the Spirit can bring.  I know all of these songs above are such simple truths that we can learn from music.  They are little testimonies of truths.  I am so grateful for the hymns, and the primary songs that I have known for a big chunk of my life.  I am so grateful for trials, because that has allowed me to see the miracles that always are there as well.  I love the people in the Rancho Cucamonga Mission, and I hope all of them have the opportunity to meet with missionaries and feel the comfort of the gospel.  Have a great week! Pray that we find people to teach!!!

Love, Sister Rietz

We are keeping traditions alive and sleeping outside

Baptism and More Baptism

This last week was CRAZY! and we only have a little time to email! I am so happy how this last week was.  We were so busy, and we saw so many little miracles and signs that Heavenly Father loves us.  We were able to contact all the referrals that we had, and then able to really buckle down and see those that we had planned to see this week.  We were able to have a less active come to church.  She always has some reason why she can't come but we told her the Lord doesn't like excuses.  I have learned that the Lord really will make sure that his will is done the way that he wants it done. That being said, this weekend was one of the best weekends of my mission!

We had two baptisms this weekend! The first one was in Apple Valley at 1! It went really well! It was for Brenda who we met one month ago yesterday.  So she got baptized, and it was glorious, and wonderful and we were all so happy! I thought that she was not going to show up, because at 1:00 she was not there. The members were asking where she was, and we told them her grandma was bringing her. But then when we checked the phone she had texted us that her grandma wasn't taking her anymore, so we quickly called a member and they were able to pick her up and bring her to her baptism.  When we walked in, there was just a Spirit of Peace, and Happiness. I knew that all was going to be well, and that Satan had lost another battle.  The baptism was great, and like I said there was just a Spirit of Peace in the room. Then we had 2 hours after that baptism till we needed to head down the hill to UPLAND! Sister T and I were able to go to the baptism of Cris.  She is someone that we taught in Upland and I was able to teach her for 6 months.  She has been taking the lessons for about 18 months, and the only thing stopping her from getting baptized earlier was that her parents said no. So we were able to go down the hill to go see her! She had the best birthday ever! She was 18 for only a couple hours and then she was baptized! WOOT! We also were able to see a lot of people in the Upland 2nd Ward, and people from the Upland 3rd Ward were even there as well.  A lot of people know Cris and are amazed at her dedication to the Gospel. She is always staying strong even in times of utter disaster around her.  I would take Cris back with me to Idaho in a heartbeat!

Well our time is almost up, but neither one of us are done, so we're probably going to email at a different building.  We had to switch cars this morning because our little Corolla was being temperamental so we now have a Subaru Legacy... it is the same color as your Traverse Mom.

anyways, that set us back pretty far.  We had specific instructions on how it needed to be cleaned, and let me tell you that car is C-L-E-A-N!

Love you all! Hope to send another email going into more details!

Love, Sister Rietz

One of Saturday's baptisms

With Sister T2

Our new ride

P-day fun

Rainbows, Baptism, Popsicles, Cockroaches again!

1.Funniest Thing Done: Well there were a couple pretty funny moments, but the top one would have to be when we were waiting for people to come to Carter's Baptism we were sitting there and then I had some cherries that I wanted to eat. Well Carter wanted some, so we let him have some.  They were really juicy and we were so proud of him for not getting it all on the front of the WHITE baptismal suit! So then we were taking pictures, and lo and behold the evil Cherry Juice did get on him... On the left side by where his hands go. His grandma was so mad at him, but we told her we all knew it would happen. I was the evil one that got the cherries in the picture in the first place!

We also love to just have random encounters with people.  We were teaching a lesson and the woman that we were teaching thinks that she can tell the future.  Maybe she can, who knows. But we were talking about having the Elders come and teach her son. Then I kid you not, she says the Elders are here. I looked outside and she was right. They were standing outside her house.  She was all creepy like and hid and waited till they knocked and then said"Hello. The Sisters are here.  Come in." *all said in a creepy old woman witch voice* Yeah so that happened.  I think the Elders were kinda creeped out, but it gave us the great opportunity we were looking for to leave.  I love Heavenly Father. He sent the Elders, so that we could get out of there.

2.Biggest Blessing or Miracle: So Carter got Baptized this last week.  He is 8 years old, and only his 2 older sisters are members.  He is so awesome! When he was getting his baptismal interview he told the Elder that he loved the Church, and the can forgive others for when they have hurt him, and that he knows the Sister Missionaries love him.  I was so proud of him. Although I only met him 2 weeks ago, he has a special place in my heart.  We went over there everyday this week, and saw him.  Everyday he was so excited to see us.  We brought them popsicles the other day, and the look of excitement on their face made me so happy! They said they never get Popsicle, because they are always bad.  The sad thing is, the Mother is not well and will tell the kids they are bad.  Anyways. After the Popsicle lesson, we went outside and were talking about how there was less than 24 hours till Carter was baptized.  Then we look up, and we see a Rainbow.  It was so awesome to see, because it was a testimony builder to me that Heavenly Father knew Carter needed to see that.  He was telling us, this is the song we are singing tomorrow. I am not sure I have ever seen someone so excited to be baptized?

3.Exciting Events: We have added more cockroaches to the count. There are 8 now.  I am well on my way to the 26 I hope we have in 4 weeks.  There was also the great news that an investigator, Oneida should be getting her kids back from CPS this next month! That was such a great thing!

4.Favorite Game: Who can kill a cockroach faster? The shoe: risk missing, and it running away. or the Roach Killer Spray: risk it running away after you spray it, and it dies somewhere you can't find it.  I have found the spray to be the best.

5.Favorite Food: Brownies with Frosting. Ribs. Watermelon. Summer Food is the BEST!

6.Most Challenging Thing: Knowing that there are so many children in the Wards that we are working in that need food.  It is always so sad to go there, and think about how lucky you were growing up and not having to worry about that kind of thing.  Makes me appreciate my parents and all that they have done for me and my awesome siblings. I think also having someone you have met and love and know has stage 5 Breast Cancer, and the odds are not looking in her favor.  I love going and visting Roxanne and it makes me really really grateful for the health that I have. Stomach stuff is nothing compared to what she has got going on.

7.Simple Pleasures: Rainbows. They are so pretty! haha, but that also means that there was moisture in the air! I mean that never happens in Apple Valley, or the Desert alone.

8.Goals: Help the area anyway I can. Help at Rene and Larry's wedding this week. Be of service to everyone we meet. BIKE!

9.Biggest Smile: Carter. He always makes me laugh.  That is so great!!! He is such a goofball! He makes the most stressful situations hilarious! I love it.

10.Biggest Accomplishment: Oh man. I got us home the other night.  Sister G drives, but I told her where to turn and when to just keep going straight.  It was AWESOME! hahaha, I didn't realize how well I knew the area!

11.Favorite Scripture Story Studied: Abinadi. He just totally stood up for what he believed in, and didn't back down.  He was 100% willing to submit his will to the Lord's will.

12.Favorite Quote: "You have white underwear on right Carter?" -me. "uhhhh.... Grandma is my underwear white?"-Carter. "Well I didn't put it on you... You should know if it is white or not."-Grandma. "Oh well."-Carter

That is Hesperia way over there!!  The middle of nowhere in my new area borders the middle of nowhere in my 1st area.

We were on the way to a member's house, and apparently took a wrong turn.

We were looking for the "end" of our area.  Sister G was driving and got us a "little" lost!

We found it!

It was a great week, I love the Gospel, and I know that Heavenly Father is 100% aware of where we are in life. I love it.  He has helped me so much. Especially when I have just wanted to, as the Elders keep saying, "throw in the towel".  He is always there and willing to help us.  I love you all! Have a great week!

Love, Sister Rietz

Baptism. Hula-Hoops. Trainer Call. Wait WHAT?!

1.Funniest things done: It probably was when we were trying to take pictures with the members, and with Candy.  I realized that my camera must think I am Asian, because after every picture, it would ask if someone blinked, and it would always be on my face. Or the funniest thing might be after I got the call that I was going to be training a new missionary, and I may or may not have started crying.  I was so scared, nervous, and kinda in shock about what just happened.  I think Sister T was like what the heck is wrong with you.  When the caller id came up, I saw it was the mission nurses number, so I didn't think anything of it, until I heard that it was the AP's voice.  Then I was like, "wait what?!" "who is this!?" Then I found out I was staying, and I knew with how awesome this ward is, and everything that I would be okay.  And to make it better my new ward mate is going to be Elder R who was my ward mate in Hesperia! It's gonna be a good transfer.

2.Biggest Blessing: I get to be with Sister M for the next two days! I am so excited, and we have already talked a whole bunch! I am so excited to be back with my Mission Momma. Since we are both going to be training, we will be able to see each other at the 4 week meeting too, so I get to see her more and more before she "dies" and goes home in July.  On a mission, I feel like you never know when you are going to see someone again! It's crazy stuff!  Also, seeing Candy get Baptized.  I am so happy I was able to watch her change, and become the awesome member that she is.  

3.Latest project: I am going to be training a new missionary.  I am really nervous and worried that I am going to mess this missionary up, but everyone I have talked with tells me they have confidence that I will be okay.  I think I will be okay, but I am not so sure about my new Greenie.  If anyone has advice on training, LET ME KNOW!  Haha, I am all for advice right now.

4.Most exciting events: Candy was baptized! The Spirit in the Chapel was so STRONG! I thought we could have cut it with a knife.  We showed two videos "Because of Him" and "Christ-like Attributes" and I know that they really brought the Spirit into the room.  Candy didn't want us using notes during our talks, so I took up my scriptures, and my planner, and prayed the Spirit would be able to help me out.  It must have sounded okay, because people told me good job.  Haha, but they also could have just been being nice.  I am seriously just so happy for her. She has built my testimony up so much, and I know that whatever calling she gets, she will just completely rock at it.  I hope every missionary has someone in their mission who is like a Candy.  She read and prayed, and really applied the principles she was taught.  She even got us to really rely on Heavenly Father, and follow the Spirit when we were teaching her.  I have known her for 3 months, and she has helped me in more ways than she even knows.  Seriously.  She doesn't even realize the impact she has had on me and Sister T.

5. Favorite Game: Trying to guess what everyone's "transfer doctrine" is going to be.  We tried to figure out who was leaving, and who would be staying, and I have to say Sister T is pretty good at it.  We both guessed who the new Ap was going to be though.

6.Favorite Foods: We had homemade Indian food on Monday.  It was so good, and Sister S told us she would teach us how to make the Butter Chicken.  I could have eaten it all day long.  Sister T and I have had more diverse food here in Upland, than I think anywhere else.  Us Idaho girls are experiencing the world out here in California!
7.Most challenging thing: Having Patience.  I am really wanting to work on that this transfer.  I guess Heavenly Father knows I can learn that with being a trainer.  I think also a challenging thing is just change.  Changing companions, and who we are carpooling with, and all that fun stuff. President just said today, that missions keep us out of our comfort zones.  That is seriously so true!
8. Simple Pleasures: Hula Hooping with a 3 year old.  Just laying in bed talking with Sister T at night.  Feeling 100% exhausted after being out all day.  Reading letters from friends, and family.  Wearing Mustaches in District meeting, because it is green and it was St. Patty's Day. Driving a car last night, and realizing why I love biking so much.  Knowing the Lord, and President H trust me teaching a new missionary.  Seeing Candy so happy after her baptism.  Listening to President and Sister H's reactions when Candy connected the lesson with Jacob 5.  

9.Goals: Learn as much as I can from my new companion.  Find lots of people to teach this transfer.

10.Biggest smile: Seeing Candy got baptized.  It was the best moment of my mission I think so far.  

11.Biggest accomplishment: Staying on Bike for one more transfer.  I am over 1400 miles, and every 100 miles I just think about all the places I have gone, and how far I have come.  (literally)

12: Favorite Quote: "HOLD STILL! JUST CHILL!"- Candy when I was getting my nails painted. 

Have a great week! 

Love, Sister Rietz

Hula hoop girls

I was complaining about being thirsty and we came upon this broken pipe.  Tender mercies of the Lord.

Sis. T, Candy and Me right before the baptism.

You won't be surprised that I think this is hilarious!!

A great picture of a great companionship

To one and all!!!

Biking, Baptisms, Service

This last week was so CRAZY! Sister T and I biked EVERYWHERE! It was awesome.  Members would ask us if we needed rides, and we turned everyone down.  I am SO close to 1400 miles, and I want to leave this area with over 1400 miles.  It isn't nearly what we would bike in Hesperia, but we are racking up those miles.  I was able to add back my miles into the odometer, and it feels so good to see those numbers on it.  It reminds me of all the craziness that has happened these last 9 months; wrecking, cutting my leg (with Sister M), wrecking again (with Sis. E), biking up Jenkins and Joshua, teaching  Samantha and her husband, biking to Peach Street to get to the K's, racing Sister M down Newhall Hill, reaching 1000 miles, biking in BRUTALLY hot summer heat, contacting people on the street, sharing He is the Gift, seeing peoples reactions when they see that we bike in skirts, wrecking AGAIN (with Sister T), allowing my love for biking increase all the time, and SO much more.  I will forever remember all of these things, and how they have helped shape me into the person that I am becoming.  

There are miracles all around us, and we just need to look for them.  That is something that Heavenly Father has taught me this last 9 months.  This week we had our days packed to the max, and then all of a sudden things would fall through, and we would be scrambling to keep using our time effectively, and then we would meet with people that we have had a really hard time getting in with.  This week wasn't the greatest in numbers, but we were able to visit with a lot of people, and follow up on a lot of family mission plans.  Missionary work our Ward is really taking off, and it makes us really excited seeing the members get excited about it.  One thing that I think has made members really excited, is planning for Candy's Baptism.  She had her interview yesterday with President M (2nd Counselor in the Missionary Presidency), and when she walked out of the room I just pictured her as a member of the Church.  I didn't view her as someone who is learning about the Gospel, I viewed her as someone that is LIVING the Gospel.  It was so awesome, and she is really really excited.  I can't wait till the 21st, and to see her all in white.  It will be a precious moment that I will forever remember.  Moments where you watch someone go into the water is so emotional, and so spiritual.  I remember the Spirit at Samantha's, Denise's, Andrew's, and Violet's, Cheyenne's and at Allie and Amber's.  That Spirit is something I will never forget, and something that I will take with me always. 

1.Funniest things done: I found this piece of corn on a stick, and I think that it was really old cause it looked like the corn we throw in the field to let the pheseants eat, but anyways I wanted a picture with it, and then people saw us, and honked at us.  It was just funny cause of the timing and everything.  Okay, it wasn't that funny. Sorry.  This is now weird. OH WELL!

2.Biggest Blessing: Our ward council is working on getting everything in line for the baptism, and some major building and scheduling conflicts came up. But the ward was able to figure it out, and now we are having the baptism, and a homemade ice cream party after! I am so excited!

3.Latest project: Getting more investigators to progress.  We are starting to see people not progress at all, and it is hard cause every time we pray about it, the answer is not to drop them yet.

4.Most exciting events: Brad P came to Ward Conference, and then the Stake President talked about him.  He told everyone what great faith Brad had and how he was setting that example for his family.  It was great!

5. Favorite Game: Impersonations of other missionaries.

6.Favorite Foods: Vegetables with olive oil, and salt and pepper baked in the oven.  Best way to eat Veggies!!!
7.Most challenging thing: Not having the B Family come to church.  They told us that there is no such thing as a true church, so they will bounce between the LDS church and their Bible Church.  It also is getting more and more hard to communicate mormon/religious terms to them when they barely understand english, but they refuse to let us bring someone that knows French.
8. Simple Pleasures: Seeing James B (9 year old from Ivory Coast) dancing to the primary songs that he got when he went to church. It was so precious, and it made us smile, and laugh so hard! 

9.Goals: Find, Teach, and Baptize everyone in the Upland Area.
10.Biggest smile: Muddy-Buddy Pancakes.  This is why missionaries get fat.  Cause we crave things, and then we just eat them.  Or you watch your companion eat them.  I am not eating desserts right now, and this last week members gave us: girl scout cookies, cream puffs, popsicles, and tons of cookies.  People we are trying to not gain weight!!! but it still makes us feel good when members say that we can just go bike it off.  If only it actually worked out that way...

11.Biggest accomplishment: I have been praying to understand the scriptures more, and this last week I learned so much from my personal, and companionship studies.  The Lord answers prayers for sure.

12: Favorite Quote: "I know you were sent to my door to take me to much better places. Thank you so much for helping me find Chirst and get in touch with Heavenly Father."- Candy.

Officially 9 months IN California!

Crazy thing, she asked on Mormon.org for us to come to her.  No one ever does that, and so it just made it all the more awesome!  She is so solid, and awesome.  I don't think I can ever do justice for how awesome she is.

I love this work. I love this ward.  Pray that I don't get transferred in 2 weeks.  That I stay here!!! I would be so sad if I left this area.  I hope you all are doing well! Love you all so much! Tell everyone that I say hello!

Service Project at Cris's House. Companions who shut each other in garbage cans, stay together.  Hopefully! *fingers crossed*

Found this Corn-cob on a stick on the ground, looks like I found lunch!

Love, Sister Rietz

Crashing is for Champions

I miss being in a tripanionship! I miss having someone to gang up on us, and for people to be total band-wagon-ers. (is that a word?) It is weird to not have three people on bikes at one stop light.  but all will be well.  Sister T and I will manage without Sidda C3 with us.  It was weird to look and see her bed still in our room, and find random things that we assume were hers, cause they aren't ours.  But so many miracles have happened this last week.  also, yes.  Sister T and I did crash, but if we must rate these crashes, this one was probably a solid 6...

I shall tell you all the story upon this here email.

We were biking home really fast, cause we had to be at a service project for our investigator, and we had gotten stuck in a lesson longer than we wanted.  So we quickly crossed the road, and were going to get up onto the sidewalk, when we saw a couple walking, and then decided to stay on the road away from them.  Well we passed them, and then I tried to get up onto the sidewalk, but unfortunately my tires lined up perfectly with the side of the ramp, and the road, and down I went.  Well it doesn't end there.  Sister T was right behind me, and tried to avoid me, but nope.  She ran into my bike, which caused for it to hit me.  So I didn't only hit the sidewalk and slide, but I also got hit by my companion and bike.  But no worries.  It still doesn't end there.  A couple in a car saw it all happen, and they came and checked on us, but we were laughing so hard, so we told them we were fine, and then we tried to tell them about the church, and then when we told them we were missionaries for the church, they quickly drove away.  It was for sure something to laugh at.  But I realized that after some trial or anything that pushes us to our limits, there is always a blessing.  and there were two of them this week! The first one was Allie and Amber got baptized! I was so excited! I got to go speak at their baptism, and When I walked in to the room, (cause we were a little later getting to Hesperia then we planned on being), I felt like I was going back to one of the best places in the world.  So many people were there, and I got to them! The R Family, Amy B, Bishop, Sister S, the H Family the B Clan, some elders I had previously served around.  It was like a family reunion! And I loved it!!!! I knew all of those people, and I love all of them so much!  It was such a good refresher to go up there.  I will forever love Hesperia, and I will forever love Upland as well.  So after the baptism, we were driving home, and a miracle occurred with Candy.  She started telling us who she wants to have baptize her, confirm her, give talks, and that she wants a dress not a jump suit.  She said that she is ready for the 21st, and it was so awesome, because all before that she would say that the 21st was tentative.  She never really was 100% set on the 21 she said.  But now she is, and Sunday in Ward Council they were talking about how they can help her.  The excitement that people feel when they meet her, and talk about her baptism is just so amazing.  We also had a lesson with her, and the member that we brought was awesome.  Sister J was able to relate so well, and the thing we talked about was having more faith in the Savior for when times get hard.  Well we committed her to tell her mom about us.  She was so scared, but she did it after the baptism on Saturday.  But then on Sunday her mom started mocking her, and now Candy is discouraged.  But she told us that she was fasting for strength, and that it will work.  I love all the determination, and faith that she has.  It is an excellent reminder for myself.  So today Sister T and myself are fasting for her to have the strength that she needs.  We know that all will be well with her.

1.Funniest things done: Crash on our bikes, ate breakfast in 20 mins, and this random kid ran out of his house to tell us hello, and that he was a member.  It was a kid that had just gotten off his mission a little bit ago from France.  It was awkward, cause his family just moved into the ward, and we didn't know who he was.  Awkward mission moments are the best mission moments.

2.Biggest Blessing: Candy fasting, and getting things set up for her baptism.

3.Latest project: Working with the ward council and planning a baptism.

4.Most exciting events: Wrecked on our bikes, and nothing really bad happened.  Just some bruises, and a scrape on my leg.  and my sprocket and I are getting really close cause it cut my leg.  But no stitches were needed.

5. Favorite Game: "Hey remember that one time when we crashed?" Laughter ALWAYS follows!

6.Favorite Foods: Lasagna, and Lemon Poppyseed muffins.
7.Most challenging thing: Knowing Satan is trying hard on those who are trying to turn their lives around.
8. Simple Pleasures: Driving back up the hill to Hesperia, and seeing a Joshua Tree.  Who woulda thought I would miss one of those?

9.Goals: Help Candy have faith in Heavenly Father.
10.Biggest smile: Watching Brother B baptize Allie, and then watching Elder R baptize Amber.  It was a precious moment, and the Spirit was so strong!

11.Biggest accomplishment: Not even getting a snag or scratch on my skirt when we crashed.

12: Favorite Quote: Me to Sister T: "We are never getting married." *high-five*

Well I love all of you, and also if anyone is wondering, tracting with the Law of Chastity pamphlet on Valentine's day is SUPER successful! Members in our zone did it, and although we didn't have luck others now have potentials to go see.  It was great! I know the Church is true.  I know the Book of Mormon is the word of God, and I know that faith works.  How great it is to be on a mission! I love it!!!!

Love, Sister Rietz

The Pictures are from the baptism.  We are one special group that is for sure!!!

Just 3 sisters from Idaho

Just when I thought that there would be no more surprises, there is one.  Baammm.  Last monday we got a text from some sisters saying that one of them is going home to Puerto Rico sick.  Then later that day we got a call from President H asking if we would like to have a new companion. I thought that he meant one of us was leaving, but when I realized that we would be a Trio, I thought, ehhh why not.  So we now are 3 sisters all from Idaho, all biking, and laughing WAY to much! There seriously are cheesy jokes constantly going around.  They need to stop, but we all try to top each other, so I am calling for help.  I need people to send me their Cheesiest jokes that they know.  It would be much appreciated.  Thanks.  So my new companion is Sister C3.  She is from Coeur d'Alene Idaho.  She didn't ever play sports, so she has never been to Lewiston.  We talk a lot about different places that we know, and she doesn't know the Dance family.  She is from Hayden actually, so it is interesting talking about how pretty it is up there, and how Californians just don't understand.  She is going home in 3 weeks, so I am killing another companion.  It is interesting to think that 3 of my last 4 companions I will only be with them for 6 weeks. Or less in this case.  I love them both so much, and like I said, there are lots of moments of laughter that is always going on. 

So much happened this last week! And of course it is on the day that we have VERY limited time in the family history center.  We went to the baptism of Cheyenne.  I was so happy to see the last member of their family enter the waters of baptism.  It is so awesome to see just in the couple weeks that it has been since the rest of her family was baptized, the progress that they have made in the church.  Candy is still making her way to baptism.  She is really close, and this last week she finished the ENTIRE BOOK OF MORMON!!! She is gonna be the best member ever! She is on ldssingles if anyone wants an awesome wife!!! haha, just kidding.  Kind of.

There seriously was so much that happened, and I am so amazed at all the things the Lord has blessed us in.  Hopefully I will not take those for granted as I know that I have done in my life before.  I know that the church is true, and that there can be many miracles if we have faith that they can occur.  I know that trials will come, but what greater way to use our faith, and get through them all!

Week in Review:

1.Funniest things done: We showed up to mutual for the "Spa Night" in what you muggles would call "normal clothes" and all the young women freaked out, and told us that we looked weird not in missionary clothing.  I think they thought that we exercised, slept, and proselyted all in skirts and cardigans.

2.Biggest Blessing: Sister C3.  She has brought so much more happiness, and the Spirit really works well through her.  She has such an awesome testimony, and knows when to share it.  I love it!
3.Latest project: Rearranging our apartment and bathroom schedule for 3 people in the same apartment.  Big Struggle, but Big Success.

4.Most exciting events: Being the only Sister Trio in the Mission!

5. Favorite Game: Who can tell the cheesiest joke.

6.Favorite Foods: Oatmeal and Hummus with lemon pepper roasted vegetables.  SO GOOD!!! 
7.Most challenging thing: Not bumping into my bruises that I got during Soccer with the Zone.  No other sister has ever played soccer before, and the Elders told me they kept forgetting that I was a Sister.  It was dumb but of so FUN, and I got bruises to show for it.
8. Simple Pleasures: Finding cool socks for less than 3 bucks.  I have a small collection going on, and they are super cool.  The favorites right now, are a toss up between the penguin ones I got for Christmas, or the gnome ones that I just got yesterday.  They bring so much joy to me, and they would to you too if you could just see them!

9.Goals: Lose Weight.  Obedience with Exactness.  Find new Investigators.
10.Biggest smile: Seeing Cheyenne talk about how awesome her baptism was with our investigator Candy.  Candy is having a hard time with some things, and Cheyenne was able to help her understand some things.  It was awesome.

11.Biggest accomplishment: Making hamburgers for the H family.  They were so BIG! and when we were cooking them, the gas went out.  Like 100% ran out, and so we had to finish cooking them in the house.  They were GIANT! I only ate 1/4th of it.  I was struggling to eat even that much!

12: Favorite Quote: "Sister Rietz has Glass Eyes, she pops them out at night!"- Sister T. She told this to 3 little kids in the ward, because I kept beating them in a staring contest.  It was super funny, and they kinda sorta believe them.  It has been a struggle to get them to realize that we were just kidding.

Love all of you so much! Have a great week! Email you on the 29th!!! Woot-Woot!!!

Just three sisters from Idaho

The bruises on my legs are much worse, but ain't nobody wanna see that!

Chips for the Missionaries, courtesy of their newest convert

Only missing Sister E.  Everyone else helped teach this beautiful girl the gospel.