The End of a Trio Legacy

Well Sister C3 is now home.  Probably holding a baby or watching Frozen.

I really miss her so much already, and it is going to be weird going back to a companionship, but let me just say that in those 4 weeks of being in a tripanionship, I learned so much about how to cope with change, roll with the punches, and just have fun.  I loved her so much, and what a great thing it will be when we are reunited.  

This last week so much happened.  There was stake conference, and we sang on Saturday night.  Our investigator Candy came, and she LOVED it! She also told us that she really misses taking the sacrament this week.  She said that there seemed to be a part of her that was missing, and it was cause she didn't take the SACRAMENT! What an awesome thing for her to realize.  President H came and spoke, and after he came and talked with Candy.  When he walked away we told her that he could be at her baptism, and she was so excited.  Good things are in store for her, and we are loving watching her change.  We went to dinner with Candy earlier this week, and she took us to this restaurant that cooks the food in front of you.  It was so good, and I really want to take all of you there when we come and visit my mission.  I love being on a mission, and I am so grateful for the opportunity that I have to be here serving the Lord for 18 months.  Looking back I see that I have grown, but that there is still so much more room for me to grow, and I am so grateful for this learning opportunity.

Now a look at the past....

1.Funniest things done: Remembering all the crazy moments that we had with Sister C3.  Nicole shoving plastic chicken into my mouth.  A recently returned missionary tried to hit on Sister C3 after he learned she was going home this week, and she was so awkward, and didn't know what to do.  We all just busted up laughing, and told her that we found her husband.  

2.Biggest Blessing: Realizing that the Lord has called me to this mission to serve here at this time, and that there is so much work that needs to happen still.  I love being a missionary, and I hope everyone has the chance to serve a mission.

3.Latest project: Meeting everyone in the ward, and giving them a "Service Sister" aka a folded index card that looks like a sister missionary outfit.

4.Most exciting events: WE STAYED TOGETHER IN UPLAND!!!!

5. Favorite Game: Learning Spanish from Hermana Z as she was our companion while out companions were going home, and were at the Temple.

6.Favorite Foods: Dinner with Candy at Kishi.  The best grilled shrimp found anywhere!
7.Most challenging thing: Saying Good-bye to Sister C2
8. Simple Pleasures: Laughing like maniacs, and not really caring who sees.  Also, seeing Nicole and Hannah P.  They are my favorite little girls.

9.Goals: Lose Weight (totally doing that).  Obedience with Exactness.  Find new Investigators.
10.Biggest smile: Nicole trying to feed my rubber chicken.  She kept shoving it towards my mouth when we were reading the scriptures with her Dad.

11.Biggest accomplishment: Sending another Companion HOME to Idahome!

12: Favorite Quote: Candy talking about President H: " He sounds like Batman!"

This email doesn't do this last week justice, but I know that there are so many blessings in store for this next transfer.  How lucky we are to be missionaries.  How lucky I am to be serving in California.  and How lucky we all are to be able to share the Gospel with all those around us.

I know this church is true.  I know that Thomas S. Monson is leading and guiding us, and I know that Jesus Christ is our Savior, and knows exactly what we are feeling at all times.

I love you all! I hope you have an awesome week! Love you all!

Have a great Valentines day!

Love, Sister Rietz

With Homer the Pig

Our trio and our ward mates

Good bye Sis. C2

Keeping the sass in the CA Rancho Cucamonga Mission

Week Seventeen: Rainy day, Temple Blessings and Sparkly Shoes

So this email session was the worst.  I ran outta time, but the temple was so great, and I loved it so much! I love the feeling that I get there, and how I was able to get lots of answers.  We watched a less active's two twin daughters get blessed.  I started crying, cause it was so tender, and the blessing was not only for her, but for their family.  It was awesome.  I wish that I had more time to write, but know that I love you all so much, and am so grateful that I am out on a mission.  Sister C3 goes home Monday, and watching her freak out about that stress just reminds me that I am so grateful to be out here, with lots of time left.  Candy is planning on getting baptized on the 21st of March, which is my 10 month mark.  I told her that she and I would celebrate together, and then she said, okay Master Rietz.  She thinks that since I am always leading the lessons, that I am the ring-leader. and that I keep these other two hooligans in line.  We had lots of rain this last week, and were able to play in it.  I split my pants from the fabric being cheap.  Guess that is what happens when you buy 2 dollar pajamas.  I love being a missionary, and seeing the miracles that occur everyday.  I am sure that there are countless miracles around you, and that they help build your faith in Heavenly Father.  I know that he loves all of his children, and that he has a special plan for each one of us.  I am able to see that all the time as we visit with others.  I love this CHURCH! Have a great week! I will definitely plan it all out better next week.  Also, transfers are next week, so we will see if I will still be in Upland next week! I hope I am! LOVE YOU ALL!!!
XOXOXO

Sister Rietz

At the Redlands Temple

This is a giant pencil that actually works.  It made my day.  I love entering peoples' homes.  #treasures galore

Just getting done sanding a dresser, and we are covered in dust, even though you can't see it.

The Church is a floodin' with broken pipes, & baptismal dates

This past week and a half have been full of exciting times! From flooding the kitchen, to setting baptismal dates to pouring down rain.  There were lots of other great things that happened too, but we are going to the temple today, so we have a really limitied time to email.  I promise that I will try and add as much as I possible can, but time is limited and precious.  

Week in Review:

1.Funniest things done: I ripped my pants really bad while we were out in the rain.  It was a sad moment, and I have now learned that playing in the rain is not the greatest.  Especially when you meet an angry possum, rip your pants, and realize all of it was caught on the apartment security cameras.  OH WELL! The apartment people love the missionaries.

2.Biggest Blessing: Having the opportunity to sing at EJ's Funeral.  It was so sweet, and there were a lot of us missionaries crying.  EJ had been coming to our ward, and was a recent convert.  He had A LOT of health issues, and is now totally free to move without pain.  Finding enough mops to clean up the kitchen.  No one told us that there were broken pipes.  So we cleaned it all up, and left a nice note for others.
3.Latest project: Helping our NEW INVESTIGATOR, Chelley see the positives in her life. Even though her boyfriend is in jail...

4.Most exciting events: Getting a new investigator.  Setting a baptismal date for Candy! We are so excited!!!

5. Favorite Game: Telling what we would do if a possum attacked us.  We have been seeing them a lot, and we are worried about it attacking us.

6.Favorite Foods: We had really good Chicken Molay.  It was so good!!! unlike the last time I had it.
7.Most challenging thing: knowing that Satan is working really hard on our companionship, and throwing lots of hard things and challenges our way.
8. Simple Pleasures: We got to sand someone's dresser, and we got lots of dust, where dust should not be.  It was so fun though.  We also got to help paint the Good Ole' USA on blacktop for an Elementary School it was so great!!!

9.Goals: Lose Weight (totally doing that).  Obedience with Exactness.  Find new Investigators.
10.Biggest smile: playing in the rain, and then seeing the possum, and all you hear is us scream.  Our neighbor Dana texted and asked us if we were okay. It was pretty funny.  Then she asked to use our toilet paper.  We gave her lots. ALSO: jumping on the bed, and no one can stop us!

11.Biggest accomplishment: Sister C3 burned her leg on an Iron, and it blistered and got really gross, but the biggest accomplishment is that none of us have had to go to urgent care yet.  All of C3's comps have had to go to urgent care while with her, besides us, and one other sister.

12: Favorite Quote: Me: "I love Possum bites.  When they bite me, I just bite them back. It makes for a good meal." T: "WHAT THE HECK!!!" Me: "yeah, so delicious!"

I love the mission so much, and am really excited that I have this opportunity to serve.  Even when times get tough, there is still hope on the horizon.  Sorry that this is so short, but there wasn't lots of time!!! I get to go to the Temple in one hour! I am so excited!!!

XOXOXOXO

LOVE, Sister Rietz

Representing our home state of Idaho

Flying Sister Missionaries

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.