Cut off their heads and stone them! – June 29, 2015

Heeeey! 

I'm so glad Josh is doing well! He looks so good! Mr. Wolverine! Wow, he got so much taller. What a blessing. God takes care of us so well it's almost frightening. 

First off, I just realized how weird my job is. I don't get paid. In fact I pay to be here. I wear a skirt every day and listen to nothing but church music. My favorite website is LDS.org. I talk about Jesus all day long. I ride a bike with a skirt. I am constantly 24/7 near another girl who does the exact same things I do. I freak out when I get a letter or an e-mail. We can make a meal out of rice and a cucumber. I know the bible better than most people in the Belt. I get yelled at and insulted everyday. My beliefs are mocked in the land of religious freedom. And yet I go out everyday looking for anyone who will listen. What a strange and crazy job I have. And I love it. 

Anywho, that was my thought for the day. 

Funny story! So we met this man who was from Africa near the Congo. He was really nice and was interested in what we were saying. Suddenly he asked us about gay marriage and started ranting about how it is an abomination in the sight of God. We agreed with him until he said, "We should cut off their heads and stone them!" Whoa, buddy. Calm down. 

In the end we gave his information to missionaries in his area and he's taking the lessons! Woo! Also, cool story, he complimented us on the way we dress. "You dress so modestly. It is wonderful. America should be more like you." Can I get an amen? 

This week flew by so fast. I swear it was Monday two days ago. 

Can I just say how much I love our Hispanics? They are so cute and friendly. I'm talking about the Mormon ones, haha. We had another English class this week and it went a lot better than last week. Isreal is actually starting to tone it down a bit. 

Yesterday, was the coolest experience of my life. So, we were in Hermana Imlay's area and we started talking to this Hispanic guy. Sister Griffiths spotted a white man and started talking to him while I was stuck listening to Imlay and this guy speak in Spanish. Which was unfortunate for a moment. The weird thing about listening is that you actually start to understand. He was talking about the Trinity (ugh, non scriptural freaking frack) and refused to listen to Imlay but expected her to listen to him. She kept trying to testify and leave but he wouldn't stop. He was being so rude and there was no way he was going to talk like that to my companion. For some reason outside myself I stood up straighter, raised my hand, pointed at him and said, "Hermono. Hermono. Yo se que la englesia is verdadera. Soy representantes de JesuChristo." 

And he stopped talking. Hermana Imlay smiled, gave him a card and we left. It was totally awesome. Ah, I get chills. But, I know it was not me. 

I have realized this week just what it means to be an instrument in the hands of God. This work is not about the missionaries. It is about letting people feel the spirit and inviting them to choose. It is about giving them clear instruction so they don't misunderstand. No fluff! We must be as bold as the ancients. It doesn't matter if I myself have the opportunity to see these people be baptized. It is my desire to be there, but it all comes down to preparing them to make those covenants necessary to be exalted. 

We met this woman named Ce and she is golden! The first lesson we had with her was absolutely perfect. Short and powerful statements, inspired questions, scriptures, and we listened. And it was all because of the Spirit. We can't do anything without it! Everything would be impossible. I have also realized that we cannot be expected to do anything unless we have the Spirit with us. Nor can others feel it when we speak if we are no worthy of its presence. 

We are absolutely spoiled with Hermana Imlay's car. Absolutely spoiled. 

The Spanish branch missionaries threw a Book of Mormon Fiesta on Saturday. It was awesome. We recreated Lehi's dream outside behind the church. We made a rope iron rod through an obstacle course to the tree of life. The tree of life was....interesting. So the Elders that we put in charge of it did a terrible job. They tied a bush to a ladder. It was absolutely hilarious. So, we fixed it. Kind of. 

So, we dressed up like Lamanites which was awesome. Even though we had basically nothing to work with. We blindfolded the members and had them follow the rope. Some of us yelled at them and some of us played the part of the Holy Ghost. At the end they were able to sit down by the tree of life. 

We invited Cindy to come and she did! Elder Birky and Elder Inga translated for her during the devotional at the end. It was quite powerful to hear the testimonies of the people in the branch. It was really powerful and C even began to tear up. 

She called us the next day to tell us that one of her friends had started talking bad about Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon. And C replied with, "There is no way that that book could be evil. It talks about Christ and families and faith and love." HECK YES IT DOES! 

She's moving soon which totally sucks, but her testimony of the Book of Mormon is growing rapidly. She's going to be baptized. I can feel it. 

We heard about the federal law gay marriage thing. LDS.org. Good website for info. Also, our church is so true. Just sayin'. 

Also, could you do me a favor? Our mission has stopped giving us paper planners and we hate that. We don't like planning on our iPads. Do you think you could ask the Sisters in your ward for eight planners and send them to me? Thanks! 

Anywho, that is my week. As much as I can remember of it, haha. 

I love you all and miss you! Hopefully I'll get another update from you soon today. 

Have a happy Fourth of July! And, as President Brough puts it, God bless the Church of Jesus Christ of the United States of America!

Bless your faces! If you sneezed during this e-mail, bless you! Peace off!

I LOVE YOU!

Raye

For the faith, the prayers, the hate, the love, the fear, the fire, the tears, the persecution, the Spirit, the peace. GKLM. God bless it. 

#1- My district was nothing short of...interesting. Left to right:
Elder Murdoch, Elder Kovolov, Elder Moon, Elder Moyer, Sister
Griffiths, me.
#2- I'm a Lamanite.
#3- Tree of life attempt part one.
#4- The Elders in our ward, haha.
#5- Bluegrass Ward missionaries.

#6- Final attempt on the tree of life.

#7- The other Lamanites.
#8- Weekly planning,
#9- Our English class! Left to right: I, M, S, and B