TIWI. Enough said

Okay. This week was pretty great! We had Zone Conference which is always way great, and there were a lot of really good training that actually apply to the kind of missionary that I want to become.... and then TIWI got introduced. TIWI Look it up.  One of the best, but the WORST things that have ever been introduced in the mission.  This little box not only tracks what we do---> stopping, starting, accelerating, turning, speed, and lots of other things, but it also has a GPS system in it... BUT the GPS isn't something that we can access... It is there so it can know where we are, and what time we get into the car, and everything.  Also, it "yells" at you in a monotone voice if you, turn too sharp, speed, accelerate too fast, don't have your seatbelt, and also if you forget to log in... then it says, "No Driver. No Driver. No Driver." haha, yeah it may have said that to me a couple times.  I think that sometimes it is pointless, and not many of the missionaries like it, but I think that it will be great! *no sarcasm included* But I did get this card with my name on it, so that is cool, and when I scan the card in, it says Driver Logged In. SO that has been the most interesting stuff that has happened. 

Other interesting things have been that we are running out of people to teach! Our last investigator is getting baptized this Saturday! I am so excited for Oneida!  She was just telling us how amazing it was all the things that we knew, and how she never knew them even though her parents are members!!!  Her son Greg is also getting Baptized, and we had the lovely pleasure of teaching him and his 2 younger brothers the Law of Chastity!  It was a struggle, and those boys are patient, and totally like sponges soaking up everything that we taught! One of my favorite things about that lesson was when they asked me to teach them the Wise Man, and the Foolish Man song.  They were cracking me up! So the M Family now has a video of me attempting to teach the song to the boys.  I need to get a copy of it, but they really got into the rain and the floods part.  They are all so great, and I am so happy for them!  Speaking of great, we have some AMAZING Sister Training Leaders.  I love them to death! I was talking with them, and you know that no matter what you say to someone, they are going to listen and actually care! Well that is exactly how I felt when I was talking with them.  They are amazing, and I am so grateful for Sister C and Sister A.  They just listened to me, and it was the BEST thing that could have happened today.  They are really on the Lord's Errand. 

Brenda is doing so GOOD! hahah, she is going to be either an excellent full time missionary, or an excellent member missionary. Or maybe both! She was talking with us yesterday during our lesson, and she was telling us about this bracelet that she got.  She said that at first she didn't know how to put it together, and that she just was staring at the bracelet, and then BAM it hit her! She said that as she looked at the bracelet, she realized that different parts of it reminded her of the plan of salvation that Sister G and Sister E2 had taught her. She explained it to us, and it really did make so much sense! It was not a stretch at ALL! She gave us the bracelet, and it is now on my desk back home.  I love it!

I love being a missionary, sorry this email is so jumbled and crazy, but that is my life right now.  This week we have to go down the hill for the trainer and trainee meeting, and I can only imagine how many times TIWI is going to get mad at us.   Let's hope only once! 

WATCH THIS!

http://www.mormonchannel.org/watch/series/mormon-messages/abide-with-me-1

I love this mormon message.  It really always hits me.  Not sure why, but probably because we all need those reminders every once in awhile.

Also, really really love this talk from the last General Conference that the Church had: 

https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2015/04/on-being-genuine?lang=eng

Love you all, have a great week!

Love, Sister Rietz

My Preach My Gospel book is getting a little hammered!  :)

Sister C and I telling Sister A how to take our picture at Zone Conference

Ceasing to see miracles

1.Funniest Thing Done: Well you think crazy things happen in the desert? Well crazy things can happen in the valley too... When Sister T and I were out and about in Upland, we tracted into a woman that kinda freaked us out.  When we were walking up to the house, Sister T made a comment about how this looked like a desert house, and that we really needed to tract it.  So we did... And it was AWESOME! We were able to talk with her and we gave her the Upland 2nd Sisters number, and gave her a Book of Mormon.  I think that was the first time that the smell of cat pee didn't burn my nose.  That is how you know there is a lot of homes that smell like that up in the desert.  I am becoming immune to it... But the funniest part of all of this, was when she opened the bathroom window instead of the front door.  She told us that she was just about to get into the shower, and told us to hang on.  So we hung on.  She came to the front door, and the rest was history but incase you are wondering, she was just about to get into the shower.  She told us that multiple times, and it was quite humorous.

2.Biggest Blessing or Miracle:  Well since I was in Upland for last monday and last tuesday we were able to go and see the people that we used to teach.  We were able to see the B family, which was the family from the Ivory Coast, and they came to church, and then kind of dropped off the face of the earth after we passed them off to the Elders.  We were able to go and teach them about the Gospel, and about how the Bible says that we need to make sure that we are not pleasing man, but that we are pleasing God, (Galatians 1:10) and then Sister T was able to pull in the Book of Mormon and talk about how King Benjamin told us that when we are in the Service of our Fellow Beings  we are in the Service of God.  It was really good to be able to make that bridge again with the Bible and the Book of Mormon.  They told us that we could come back, but that they didn't want other missionaries back.  It was kinda sad.  

3.Exciting Events: We have a baptism for Brenda this week in the Ranchos ward, and then we have one scheduled for the 22nd of August in the Granite Hills ward!  Brenda is soaking up everything like a sponge.  She is really committed to changing her life, and she even clarified what kind of tea that she can drink, so that she will be 100% obedient.  She bore her testimony on Sunday, and it allowed the ward to really know who she is, but I think that it also really showed her how much of the Gospel that she believes.  I mean she believes it all, but there is just something about bearing your testimony and realizing that you are the one saying it, and those are things that you really believe in.  We are working with the YSA Sisters to get her involved with them.  She is hesitant, but I think that once she realizes that they are just like a family ward, then it will be an easier transition for her. Oneida is getting baptized on the 22, and we are really excited for her!  But not only is she getting baptized, but also her nephew Peter, and her son Greg!  The ward is really happy for her, and for all the changes that they can see that she is making in her life.  She is really relying on her faith, since she has had a really hard life before she started meeting with the missionaries.  She is reading the Book of Mormon every night with her boys, and they actually remember the things that they are reading.  The other day we were at their house, and Jason the 5 year old told me all about where they were in 3 Nephi, and how they read even though their mom wasn't home.  They are the best boys in the world.  When we first met them, they had really long hair, and now they all have missionary style haircuts, and tell us they are going to serve missions.  Blaine the 7 year old turns 8 in November, and he is counting down for when he will be old enough to get baptized.  It is amazing to see what the Gospel can do for someone and their family.

4.Favorite Game: Who is my companion going to be!? When we were sitting in the gym waiting for the news of who was going to be our new companions, all I could think was how much I was going to love her.  I joked with the AP's that I ruined the other 2 people that I trained, because one got sent to Brazil and had a bomb thrown at her, and the other got sick. Haha, but my new companion is Sister T2.  She is from Riverton, Utah. and is the 1st missionary in her family to come out.  She is really great, and I have loved getting to know her.  She is wanting to be 100% obedient, and it is really good because there is always room for improvement.  I love her lots! We have already sent goals of how we are going to have the best transfer ever! I just hope that I break the curse of only having companions for 6 weeks! 

5.Favorite Food: Smores.  We had them 3 times this week.  It must be a popular thing for people to want to make for us.

6.Most Challenging Thing: Studies.  For some reason this week, I have had the hardest time focusing in studies.  I am doing better, but it takes a lot of little prayers through out studies to really be able to focus.

7.Simple Pleasures: Teaching Brenda this last week.  She is so humble, and really wants to become better.  I love her so much, and her desire to change.  Another simple pleasure is going to the D family, and just talking about her life.  She is so interesting, and had taught us so much!

8.Goals: Get Brenda Baptized, and into the YSA!!!

9.Biggest Smile: When President H made little jokes through out the trainer meeting.  It was really funny because he would randomly throw them in, and see if people were paying attention.

10.Biggest Accomplishment: Taught a really good lesson about setting goals to our Ward Mission Leaders Family.

11.Favorite Scripture Story or Ensign Talk Studied: One of my friends was talking about this talk by Elder Christofferson, called Recognizing God's Hands in Our Daily Blessings there was a quote that he said that goes along with this pretty well.  "Though I suffered then, I am grateful now that there was not a quick solution to my problem. The fact that I was forced to turn to God for help almost daily over an extended period of years taught me how to truly pray and get answers to prayer and taught me in a practical way to have faith in God."  I really think that I need to turn to the Lord more, and really put my line in the water, and that will open the gate wider to become the missionary that I want to be at the end of my mission.  The whole talk is right here: https://www.lds.org/ensign/2012/01/recognizing-gods-hand-in-our-daily-blessings?lang=eng#listen=audio 

12.Favorite Quote: "I was just getting into the Shower."

I love all of you so much! Thanks for the emails, letters, and pictures.  I love being a missionary, and seeing the light of Christ touch each one of them.  Even if people don't listen to us forever, at least they will be thinking of Christ and God for a Second.

Love, Sister Rietz

Waiting for our new companions

Sister T2 and me

Hello Apple Valley and not much time to email...

I am in a new area. I am finishing training a new missionary.  I am still in a car. There are only 4 sisters in my zone.  Our zone covers Big Bear, Lucerne, and some mountains.  We are in 2 wards: Ranchos and Granite Hills.  I know that this transfer is going to be crazy, because it already has been.  This morning all was great! We cleaned the car, went to the Upland Look Out spot with the Sisters.  We got everything cleaned in our apartment. We fit everything in the car.  And didn't hit ANY traffic on the way there.  All of those are Miracles.  Then we had an awesome meeting with all the missionaries getting transferred. Lots of great things said about submitting your will to the Lord, and staying focused.  All things that are really good to hear.  Then the Fun started.... So I was in a meeting for trainers that was only supposed to last an hour. Well President had to take care of some things, and so it started late.  Then it went over by 45 mins.  So we are now running an hour behind.  Not good.  Then we realize that there was a mix up, and the phone that is for this area was in Apple Valley, and we were not... THEN I realized I had no idea how to get there.  So never fear the AP's save the day.  They got us directions to make it to Apple Valley.  I needed to make sure my bike made it up to the desert, and the Elders that had brought my bike from Upland said it was gone from where they had put it.  I love my bike, and I was so sad.  All I could think was how much I wanted to see my bike.  We were some of the last missionaries to leave, and when we were walking out lo and behold my bike is on the back of this truck.  And to make it better, in that truck was 2 missionaries that I have served around before.  They pulled up next to us, and explained that we could follow them to Apple Valley.  I was so happy, because I felt like my prayer was answered.  They said they had to get gas, and food then we could start heading up the hill.  We went to one gas station.  It didn't accept the mission gas card. Went to another gas station.  It was out of service.  I felt bad because you could tell Elder F was really flustered.  Then we finally get to a gas station that pumps gas. But it doesn't end there.  The ONE pump I pulled up to didn't work.  So we waited to use the Elders pump.  We got gas, and away we went.  Traffic wasn't bad at first.  We were going about 80 and then all of a sudden we got in a wreck.  Yeah, the Jeep Compass that I was driving is toast.  Okay just kidding.  No wreck happened.Traffic just slowed to a whole 7 mph.  So then coming up the hill was super slow going. We left the mission office around 1:30ish and just got to Apple Valley at 3:45ish.  It was a long tiring day, but I am so grateful to be here, and start the next chapter in my mission life.  All I know about this area is on Saturday at 10:15 at night it was 95 degrees in Apple Valley. I am so gonna be more tan than you Kristin.  We live in a house, with 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.  And we are the only sisters living there.  We have a lesson tonight with an 8 year old and we are going to set a baptismal date with him tonight.  Good things are happening here in Apple Valley.  Upland 3rd no longer has sisters.  They decided there was not enough work for 4 missionaries in that ward.  Elder J, Sister S, and myself all got transferred and we all went to the same zone in Apple Valley! What are the odds!? Elder J and I are also ward mates again, and he is also training. 2 new missionaries in 2 new wards with 2 new missionaries to the area... This is going to be really really really interesting. But like I said there is a lot going on in this ward.  I am so happy to be back in the Desert, and just driving up here I was thinking back to a year ago when I was brand new, and coming to the Desert for the first time.  It was awesome.  That word is the only way I can describe it.  But the Lord works in mysterious ways, and I know this is the area that I am supposed to be in.

Thank you to all those that loved me, cared for me, and that now hold a special place in my heart.  I will forever remember you, and the adventures, moments, and all the other fun times that we had together.  I will be safe here, for being in Apple Valley this is a pretty good area.  I heard that Hesperia was worse, except they have found bodies in the church parking lot and in the field across from the Church, but that was awhile ago so NO WORRIES MOM!!! 

I love you so much! Thanks for being such amazing, awesome, wonderful people! I am so sorry this didn't talk about anything that happened this last week.  Just know that we did LOTS of service, Sister M stepped on a rusty nail but is fine, got 78 lemons and 39 grapefruit from a member, I said Good bye to Sister M and Sister N today.  It was rough.  I love those sisters a lot.  They both taught me so much about how to become a missionary, and how to become a better missionary!

So I said this sunday, and Candy requested that I put it in the email:

Favorite Quote: "Everybody in the Desert needs Jesus Christ"

Sorry for no pictures.  This was just a rush email!

Love, Sister Rietz

Because He Lives. We all Can Live again.

1.Funniest things done: We were in the Library and there will be people who come in  and they always are a little crazy sometimes.  Well there were some other Elders who were in the Library too, and as we were sitting there, this man walked up to Elder R and gave him a hug, and then kissed his shoulder.  It was such an awkward moment, and I am so grateful I didn't have to experience it, but just watch it.  The man told the Elder he would come back for him.  Precious moments of being in the Upland Library.  Also, Sister N's bike was too big so we called the mission office, and they said they would fix it.  Elder S just took a saw to the pole on the seat, and cut four inches off the seat.  Problem Solved.  

2.Biggest Blessing: Well Sister M and I had a blast together.  I got the flu on Monday, but it only lasted 24 hours thank heavens! But during that time, I really realized how special of an opportunity it is to teach a new missionary how life on the mission really is.  I am sure there will be so many times where I want to give up, but that is what Satan wants us to do.  Seeing Candy bear her testimony on Sunday was one of the best things in the world.  She talked about how precious of a gift the Book of Mormon is, and how we need to not take it for granted.  There have been so many times where I have just read my 10 mins for seminary, and then called it all good.  But now listening to her talk about how much of a gift it is, I realizes she is totally correct.3.Latest project: Learning what the heck I am supposed to be teaching this new missionary.  She is awesome, and there is a lot that still needs to be learned for both of us.

4.Most exciting events: I think the most exciting, but most scary thing is that Sister N almost got hit by a car.  She was crossing the street, and I don't think the car saw her.  The Lord is really protecting her.  Sister N is also a Visa-Waiter.  Shs is called to the Brazil Fortaleza East mission.  Her visa never came, and so there are 5 of the 10 missionaries that came out that are visa waiters.  They all speak Portuguese, and we were told to not let them use it right now.  She gets frustrated when I make her pray in English, but that is how President H wants it right now.

5. Favorite Game: Getting to know a new person.  The cool thing about a new companion, is you can literally decided how much you want them to know about your life before the mission.  It has been more fun for me, than for Sister N I think.

6.Favorite Foods: We ate sweet pork tacos, with vanilla cake.  It was so good! The tacos were all homemade, and I am a pro at making tacos now.

7.Most challenging thing: Being a trainer, and having no clue what to do when they ask how it applies to the MTC. Suggestions would be helpful!
8. Simple Pleasures: I think watching the odometer on my bike just go up and up.  It sounds dumb, but being in a car with Sister M was weird.  We kept joking we should have brought my bike to Ontario for the day.  Then it would have been like old times for sure. Also, finding a hat that is missing the top.  So cool.  You literally find the craziest things when you do service.

9.Goals: Smile at the challenges that I am sure will come.

10.Biggest smile: Hearing that a Less-Active has decided to serve a mission.  He was praying about what to do, and then bam.  Answer was to go on a mission.  And now he is going to get the advancement in the priesthood, and the rest will be history.

11.Biggest accomplishment: Managing to give Sister N a run down of EVERY person on the ward list.  It was cool, cause I didn't realize I knew people as well as I do!

12.Favorite Quote: "It has been a really long time since I have been made fun of by 12 year old boys for my virginity of not smoking pot. It hurts. A lot." -Elder R

I gotta go, but family have fun in Utah all together! I love you all so much, and I know we can be together forever because Jesus Christ died for each one of us, but he was resurrected so that we could return to live with Heavenly Father again!

Love, Sister Rietz

pictures:

9367: Sister Austin and Me

9366: My cool hat I found.

9363: Reunited with my Mom!

My cool hat I found.

Sister A and Me

Me and my mission "mom"

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!!!