The TigerTeam Trio Insanity – June 8, 2015

This week has been madness. Absolute madness.

First off, I've been out for six months! That's crazy! Everything
seems like a big blur of awesome. I regret nothing. I am so excited to
keep going. There are miracles in store I can feel it.

So, before I get to the madness part I will reply to your email so I'm
not all over the place.

Sister Griffiths and I are pretty much equal. They assigned me as
senior companion which makes no sense since I'm still learning the
area. But, we don't care who is senior or junior. We work together as
equal partners and watch out for each other it's great.

I found a lot of awesome shirts at Goodwill and a dress. The best part
about Goodwill is that it is super cheap and there are a lot of golden
nuggets lying around. The other best part is that they are all modest
and have short sleeves. Blessings!

Emilee told me there was this boy who had a crush on her there. I hope
he realizes I have the power to summon angels to kick him in the
patootie.

Logan! I've been waiting for him to email me! Stud!

I'm really sad that Jared died. My prayers with his family.

Okie dokie..now the 'fun' begins.

It all starts with Hermana Failner. She's been going to the hospital
frequently this whole week because of her heart. It beats so rapidly
that she cannot stand by herself or she will collapse. Basically, the
heart will normally beat 70 beats a minute when you're sitting down.
Hers beats at 160 when she sits. So, when it beats that fast blood
can't get to her brain and it forces her to not move anymore. Turns
out it's not a disease or sickness or anything. It's just something
that most young ladies get until they grow out of it.

What does this have to do with us? One, she lives with us and cannot
leave the apartment or do any missionary work. She was going to be
sent home, but the doctor refused to put her on a plane. Thus, the
dilemma. Hermana Imaly can't go out and work if her companion can't.
So, to help their area out we've been going on splits with the Spanish
sisters.

Which is a problem, because...I don't speak Spanish. But, I'll be
learning it this week. The freaky thing is that I understand it better
than I can speak it. I know how to say the name of the church and
introduce myself. Progress.

Also, the first time that Failner collapsed in the hospital we had a
surprise visit from President Brough. This is how it went...

Scene: Sisters Griffiths and I open the door to the apartment to eat
lunch...and we hear a man's voice. Open the door a bit wider and its
President Brough...in our apartment...eating McDonald's with Failner
and Imaly.

"Hello Sisters! Did you know I'm the only man who's allowed in your
apartment?" He says.

So, he's been a big help figuring out stuff. Also, we keep our
apartment even cleaner than we normally do just in case he pops in
again. He came this morning for a check up appointment at the hospital
with the Hermanas and talked to us for a few minutes after. That was
the third time this week. We hold the record for most visits by
president.

Also, he told me to learn French. Haha....

Speaking of that, many people either don't hear me or can't read my
name tag because my name is either Francis, French, or Francine. My
eye is developing a twitch.

Okay, what else happened. Oh! We went on exchanges with the STLs. I
went to Jessemin with Sister Taylor and Sister Ward stayed in
Bluegrass with Sister Griffiths.

It was so much fun. I loved being there. Sister Taylor was the only
STL that I have exchanged with that didn't terrify me. She actually
acted human most of the time.

Funny story. Well....okay I guess it's still funny. We went to go see
an investigator for an appointment. He lived in the middle of nowhere
in an old and dirty trailer. Sketchy? Perfect. So, we knock and he
opens the door. And he's wearing nothing except women's underwear.
Needless to say, I am scarred. Eventually he put on pants and we had a
great lesson and go  our him to be baptized and come to church.
Success!

So, for our investigators in Bluegrass we basically dropped most of
them. There's this one guy who we're going to have a drop lesson with
because he won't read or pray sincerely. He just bible bashes us and
tells us we are blasphemers and deceivers. Can't wait until that
meeting.

BUT there's this awesome investigator named M. Apparently we met
this guy last Tuesday, but we don't remember him at all. He went on
Mormon.org and called Salt Lake to find us again. So, we've been
teaching him the gospel through text until he gets back in town.

There's a Famdamily Restaurant near here. I can't believe it exists.

My hair officially fits in a ponytail. Yes! I can finally beat the
heat. Heavenly Father loves me.

My biking skills have ramped up. I have no problem keeping up with
Sister Griffiths. My legs look so great.

So, I have a testimony that serving in the Bible Belt is the hardest
freaking place to serve in. People are nasty mean and regard us as the
scum of the earth and 'cancer to the world'. Yesterday, that is what
we mostly ran into. Not to mention the guy who we're dropping sent a
scathing message to us.

I was just feeling really hurt...again. I kept getting these thoughts
in my head that maybe I was wrong. I knew who they were from though.
Satan's a brat.

It's been such a huge struggle to have a soul of steel so that when
people throw these things at me it won't even touch.

Sister Griffiths saw that I was struggling and gave me a talk by
Jeffrey R. Holland. It's called 'Cast Away Not Therefore Your
Confidence'. I read that and I felt the spirit so strongly.

This morning I read Alma 5:44-47. What I like is that Alma did not say
that because she saw an angel he had a testimony nor did he say it was
from when he was freed from the chains of hell. It was because of the
manifestations of the Spirit that he gained his testimony.

When in doubt, read The Fellowship of the Unashamed. That's me.

Anyways, I'll be sending more pictures that need to be explained. Hilarious.

I love you all!! Miss you!

I can't wait for my beef jerky!

LOVE YOU!

Raye :)

GKLM. God bless it.

#1- Saw this while tracting. Pretty sure the angel is Mormon Missionaries. 

#2- Well...this is awkward. 

#3- The dynamic duo once again. 

So, this one needs to be explained...Hermana Imaly has this friend in
the Ohio mission. He took a picture of his whole zone in the dramatic
model shot. Then he proceeded to say that the Ohio missionaries are
the best looking.
So, we had to retaliate. We sent him this.

Everything's Fine – June 3, 2015

Guess what? I'm typing...on my iPad. It is awesome! We got them on
Thursday. I named it Isaiah. Mostly because he talks about tablets in
the scriptures. Anyway! It's so cool I almost have no idea what to do
with it. Well. I do now, but at first it had so many cool things and
options that I didn't know where to start. Also, I get to read my
e-mails throughout the week! Which means you can just send me a little
picture of something every now and then and I'll get to see it! Don't
go crazy though, I still only get Monday to reply.

Speaking of replying, here we go...

Yeah, I totally thought I would be staying in Rolling Hills, but at
the same time I'm so happy to be here. I love it.

My new companion in the bomb! We were together at the MTC so we
already know each other pretty darn well. I have not laughed this much
my whole mission. We work hard, bike hard, and talk with everyone. She
has really helped me to be myself and to just enjoy everything. We
should get paid for how hilarious we are. It's kind of interesting how
we have both been out for the same amount of time and yet we are a
great team. We know how to have fun and to focus at the same time.

I should tell you the funny things we have done this past week.

Every time we have an awesome contact or a contact that hates us we
ride off, put one arm back as if we're holding a cape, and start
saying, "Nanananana." Because being Batman makes everything better.

Oh, we started saying, "Everything's fine." Which interprets to
nothing is fine. It is absolutely hilarious because we're not actually
serious when we say it. For instance, "It's raining. Everything's
fine. Well just use the car we don't have. Ok. Good."

I am sleeping much better since the bugs are gone. Now I'm not so
afraid to sleep at night. The night before I left for transfers I
found a little one crawling up my suitcase and I about had a heart
attack. Luckily, that was the only one. They are NOT following me.

I have noticed that most of the pictures I send I'm wearing different
clothes, haha. So I usually find them in the 'hidden treasure section'
in the apartments, a member gives them, or a companion doesn't want
it. I have banished my winter stuff in my suitcase because it is so
hot outside. Sister Griffiths and I are going to Goodwill today to
scavenge for some cheap short sleeved shirts and biker shorts for me
that will go to my knees.

Man, I'm so bummed that I have to wait to hear the song Josh and Eric
sang....sob of despair. I've been raving all week to the Sisters how
great of a singer Josh is. *sigh* Everything's fine.

We were all in the Adult Session of Stake Conference when they made
the announcement that L. Tom Perry had passed away. It was a huge
shock, because he seemed healthy at General Conference. I re-read his
talk, because I figured that an apostle's last words would be
extremely important to study again. It really helped with my
perspective of eternity and how wonderful it is that only we have that
clear perspective of what that means. Many people here aren't too
amazed when we say that families can be together forever because they
"already know". In reality we will see each other again when we die,
but that's why knowing about the pre-mortal life is so essential. We
were all brothers and sisters in spirit. When we die that stays that
way unless we are sealed under priesthood authority that binds heaven
and earth together.

I have spent months trying to figure this doctrine out and I find it
amazing that when we understand the simple things, pray for
understanding, study it out, and are obedient Heavenly Father gives us
an increase of knowledge.

We'll all miss Elder Perry, but at least we know that he is with his
Father in Heaven in a place where many will call him blessed.

It broke my heart to hear about Jared. It's so hard to believe that
sort of thing could happen to someone like him. As soon as I read that
in your e-mail I immediately bowed my head in prayer. I'm hoping the
prayers of missionaries can make a difference.

Yesterday, I watched the Mormon message 'The Refiner's Fire'. It came
to mind frequently this morning and it made me think of a story I was
told not too long ago. You probably recognize it, but I'll share it
anyway.
....
A bible study class was reading together until they came across a
scripture which talked about a silversmith. One of the members was
curious as to how this related to the passage they were reading so she
decided to go and see just what a silversmith did.

She met the local silversmith and he began to show her how he purifies
his silver. He placed the piece if silver inside the intense flames
until it was entirely consumed by fire. He said, "I can't leave it in
for too long or it will be ruined and destroyed by the fire, and I
can't take it out too soon or it won't be purified. I have to keep
holding it in there and watch it."

She asked, "How do you know when it has been in there long enough?"

He replied, "When I can see my reflection in it."
...

Things happen that we don't understand and are out of our control.
Things that are hard and make no sense. But Heavenly Father is in
control and as we put our trust in Him everything will be okay. Trust
God and believe in good things to come.

He does it because he loves us and wants us to become something better
than we were before.

I'm glad my card was better. :)

So, I should probably tell y'all about Bluegrass.

I'm in Lexington which is the home base of UK. Everything is blue and
white. Or it's red and white for all those Ohio fans around here. But
it's not as everywhere as UK is.

I'm on a bike. Yah! It is the best ever! There is no better way to do
missionary work than on a bike! Unlimited miles! The first day of
work, it just dumped buckets of rain and there was thunder. Before
that it was boiling hot and my legs were not happy with the hills we
had to climb. The funny thing was that I was still super happy.
However I am always tired and hungry. Sometimes I'm not and other
times I can eat the whole room. Don't send me food...unless it's beef
jerky. We always have enough food.

After that first day my legs were almost gelatin and they really hurt.
Sister Griffiths told me to pray for strength. I did and now have a
strong testimony that Heavenly Father answers prayers in great timing.
The next day I stretched, got on my bike, and I could keep up with
Sister Griffiths and make it up those hard hills.

I realized just how much of a bike Sister I'm not yet, haha. I just
grasped how to get off my bike gracefully while it's still moving.
Working on riding with no hands. Only the really good sisters can text
at the same time.

So, Sister Griffiths and I are going to start a band. I'll play the
harmonica and she'll play the ukulele. Her name is Monica. Thus,
HarMonicaRayely is our name. We'll be so famous.

We live with the Hermanas. Hermana Failner and Imaly are super cool
and funny. Right now I'm typing in the hospital because we went with
them for Hermana Failnure's check-up appointment with the
cardiologist. She frequently passes out for reasons we don't know yet.
The last time it happened was in the middle of a lesson. It's really
sad and she really hopes she doesn't have to go home for it. Keep her
in your prayers.

There's this train. The train has been in every...single...one of my
areas. It is extremely loud and Satan sends it every now and them to
interrupt our conversations with people, block the roads to make us
late, and many much more. This time it is right next to our apartment.
It doesn't blow it's horn, but it moves at incredibly fast speeds
which makes this terrifying sound during the night. It scared me so
much the first few nights I was here. Luckily, I have gotten used to
it. :)

It's awesome how we're able to get ready in the morning with four
sisters and one bathroom. We're just boss like that. We are finished
getting ready in only thirty minutes. Boom.

So, our investigators....we only have a few and they won't do
anything. We might have to drop all of them. Well, except for J.
He's still a good egg and reads the Book of Mormon. He won't come to
church yet because he has severe PTSD from the war and can't be near
crowds. He's super sweet, but is kind of scared of moving forward.
We're not sure how to help him overcome his PTSD other than prayers,
but we would like to back up those prayers with action.

Seriously, they refuse to read the Book of Mormon and pray about it.
It's not that hard! One wants to know everything about the church but
doesn't want to know its true. He thinks that he will get his answer
from the Bible. His philosophy is that if our beliefs match up with
his then it must be true. One question he asked was, "When did Jesus
become God?" We basically told him that had nothing to do with his
salvation and if he really wanted the answer he should study and pray
about it. He won't pray because he thinks the human heart is deceiving
and God won't answer through that. He asked us to answer his question
through e-mail. We did...by sending him a ton of bible verses about
the Holy Ghost and prayer and a talk about receiving answers by Deiter
F. Uchtdorf.  We're so sneaky.

Just pray with a sincere heart and read the Book of Mormon...so frustrating.

We are going to work our tails off this week trying to find the
prepared. We have a goal of four baptisms in two transfers. I called
the funeral homes in our area to sign us up as clergy. Hopefully
someone calls us.

We're going to be hardcore talking with everyone and preaching the
gospel. It will be glorious and we are going to find them this week! I
can feel it!

Oh, our district leader is Elder Kovolov. He's from the Ukraine and
speaks Russian on occasion.

What else...oh, yeah, when Sister Griffiths and I go shopping for
food, we determine which cereal well buy based on how cool the toy is
inside the box. Today we got Honey Nut Cheerios because there was a
Star Wars poster inside. Last week was Fruit Loops and an Avengers
frisbee. Making great adult decisions. Check.

I noticed at the transfer meeting something interesting. So, every
meeting, the missionaries who are going home give their words of
wisdom and say goodbye before President announces where we're going. I
have noticed a significant difference between those missionaries who
gave their heart to the mission and those who didn't. There were
Elders who made jokes and gave a little advice and then there are
Elders like Elder Newbold who couldn't say anything because he was
trying to stop crying. Those are the missionaries that I want to be
like. I don't want to just come on a mission but to be a missionary.
The mission will inevitably change me into something amazing and
different, but only if I forget myself. Elder Christofferson said
something along the lines of the more we give of ourselves the more we
find. At the end I don't want to feel like leaving. I realize it is
okay to miss my family and be excited for the day I get to see you all
again. I want to get so attached to my brothers and sisters here. I
want to be more focused on what I leave than when I leave.

Wow, this e-mail got long...fast! I love this iPad thing. Im still
typing...in the Hermana's car! Technology! The only unfortunate thing
is I need to find a place with wifi to send this.

If you want to see an example of a part of what we're doing with these
iPads you can download LDS Pamphlets from the App Store. The icon is a
picture of Jesus holding a lamb.

The only bummer is that I don't know how to send pictures through
this...I'll ask Dallyn later. We might have to go to the library just
to do it, but I'll send at least something this week.

Anyways! I love you all and can't wait to hear from you again!

I LOVE YOU!!!!

Raye :)

#1So, we didn't get a chance to go to the library to upload
pictures...so this is adventures in the car.

#2My awesome tan. Makes me feel like a hobbit.

#3My lock screen

Goodbye Rolling Hills! Hello Bluegrass! – May 26, 2015

I've been transferred! New address: 

2075 Regency Rd #72

Lexington, KY

40503 

I will tell more of where I am, but first I'll reply and move onto what happened last week. 

Man, holidays just should not be on Mondays. Sister Rammell and I tried to get to the Slugger Museum, but they were closed and so was the bus system. Yay. So, we walked around the St. Matthews mall for three hours. It was hilarious, we had a great time. There was this mall cop that kept following us around. Probably to make sure we weren't proselyting. I saw a family there from my first area. They actually remembered me and gave me a hug! 

Oh, the bed bugs. So, this week we slept on the couch every night. I don't think I told you this, but the bed I was sleeping on is a queen and it is incredibly difficult to find a slip cover that size. Turns out, the Elders had shoved a twin mattress in the outside closet. So, we chucked the infested (and I mean INFESTED) box spring out to the dumpster and placed it by a few other items of furniture people had left there too. We are saving the mattress for Goodwill because it is pretty much bug free for some weird reason. So, yeah, that was fun. 

I miss Sister Rammell! She was awesome! One of the best companions I have had. And I was only in that area for a transfer! Sheesh! 

The iPad training went super well! We had Elder Zwick and Brother....okay, I forgot, but he is head of missionary proselyting. The focus was mostly on discipline, obedience, and how to use the iPads as an effective tool rather than a fun thing to have. We will be getting them probably this Thursday. Our Stake President will get to you on what that entails for you guys. I will be getting my own and will be able to keep it after my mission.  

So, we were talking with everyone and we met this guy named M and I asked him if he had heard of the Book of Mormon before and he said he had. I then proceeded to ask him what he knew about it and he responded with, "A UFO came and aliens gave it to Joseph Smith, right?".....Well, that's a new one. We straightened out the truth and he's interested in hearing more. Woo-hoo! 

I had my first ward council in the Louisville 3rd Ward on Sunday. I used it to say goodbye and hello. It was quite weird. 

THE FIREFLIES ARE HERE! We saw them last night glowing and stuff it was awesome! There's not enough yet to see a fantastic display, but they're coming. :) 

So...contacting. Talking with people is hard, but it is so easy at the same time when I just open my mouth and start talking. In the past I've kind of doubted, or at least hadn't tried out, the promise given in D&C that if I open my mouth and I've studied sufficiently, God will place words there. It is awesome! There have been so many miracles. M being one of them. We would have not met him if we had not been talking (and by talking I mean trying to get away while being respectful) to this crazy Christian guy who basically warned us to change our ways or go to hell. Yay. 

Okay, so you're probably wondering who my new companion is and such...

I'm in the Bluegrass bike area! Woo-hoo! I'm so excited!!! My companion is Sister Griffiths!!!! She is awesome! I love her! I left Rolling Hills because Sister Rammell is training a brand new missionary. So, I'm glad we got rid of the bugs. 

This area covers a small part of Lexington which is where the big and fancy horse farms are. This is where you'll find champion horses. It's so beautiful. 

Also, I saw a castle on the way here. Yes, a real castle. It was built by this really rich guy and the outer walls are imported stone from England. He built it to marry his future bride in. They got married and she eventually left him. Bankrupt and alone. Word of advice. Don't build a castle. 

It's going to be raining all week. Biking+rain= a whole bunch of hell-shaking, gospel-sharing, awesome fun! 

Also, Sister Ward is my Sister Training Leader! I can go on exchanges with her! Gah! 

God loves me. I can feel it. :) 

I have a whole bunch of pictures to share this week! You'll love them. 

I love you all so much and am glad you're having fun and being awesome!  

I LOVE YOU! STAY SAFE! DON'T DO CRACK! 

The Church is true. The Book is blue. And Jesus loves you. :) 

Love, Raye 

#1- MOM I FOUND A MOOSE!

#2- Ladies and gentlemen...Kentucky. 

#3- Aw....I feel all toasty inside. :) 

#4- Sister Rammell and I one last time.

#5- Outside our apartment complex. It spoke truth. 

#6- The shortcut...sketchy but effective. 

#7- Transfer meeting with Sister Rammell and her baby. :) 

#8- Me and Sister Griffiths! The dynamic duo!

#9- We went to the apartment community beer exchange to get to know the neighbors. I found a coke that perfectly matched my comp and I. :) 

#10- Getting distracted while packing. I can't fit in my suitcase. 

#11- There's a mirror in the apartment that every missionary in that area signs. I added my piece. :) 

I Am Going to Sleep on the Floor – May 18, 2015

HALLO MY AMAZING WONDEFUL AND CRAZY FAMILY!! 

Bugs are awful. The bedbugs have not gone away and I can't find them anywhere! But, I can feel them bite me at night and I might go sleep on the couch until all of them are gone. I will be sending pictures of how bad it got last week. 

Our companionship relationship is getting better. Thank goodness for companionship inventory! But, the funny thing is that even after inventory, suddenly new things pop up that make you want to tear your hair out, haha. I realize though that I am just as bad as she is. There are things that I do that she doesn't like and I try to fix them fairly fast so we can work better together. Sometimes Satan will throw something at us to make us mad at each other right before we go into a lesson and quickly I have to get those feelings out or we won't have the Spirit with us. It's a struggle, but it's definitely helped us. We're really strengthening each other (well, I don't know if I'm helping her) and we feel like we're supposed to be in this are together for a reason. 

Tell Grandma and Grandpa Fulk I said hi!! Also, tell her that the letter she sent me is with Sister Bush and I haven't gotten it yet. Did she get my reply from her last letter? 

So, usually I write down what I want to say in my weekly e-mail in my planner, but I totally forgot and I don't remember most of this week other than it was fast.  

We have three new investigator's. Yay! 

We finally had a lesson with both H and A. He read his Russian Book of Mormon out loud and it was so pretty. Very hypnotizing. He had A TON of questions which were all answered by the Book of Mormon (heck yes!). We're really hoping that he isn't just having us over just to learn about our religion. He is fascinated by how similar it is to his Greek Orthodox faith. Sister Rammell scared the crap out of me by asking them to pray about baptism BEFORE we taught them about the priesthood. AH! He was extremely confused as to why we were asking him that if had already been baptized and Sister Rammelll tried to save it by doing a very quick run-down of the priesthood. You know that feeling when you want to hide in a very dark place? Yeah that was me. The tactic didn't work and she quickly asked them to just pray about the things we had taught. It was so stressful. Luckily, they still want to meet with us again. 

Anyway, that was my panic attack for the week. 

Ugh, I'm trying to follow the white handbook where it say to not complain about your companion to others, but it is so hard. I am not allowed to vent my frustrations. I suppose that's okay. Means I can confront her faster and we can sort this kind of stuff out. 

So, I found my motivation for talking to people and being obedient. I was praying one night asking Heavenly Father for the strength to be brave and stuff and I got revelation the next day. I thought to myself that if I don't talk with everyone and put myself into this work, then I will be a disappointment to me future kids. I didn't think that they would want a mom who didn't try to do her best out here. It has worked so well and I'm actually talking to people. I pretend it is a little testimony meeting with me and them. It actually makes it more fun. 

Still not perfect, but I'm better than I was last week. :) 

Man, can I just say how much I love you guys? A lot! 

By the way, a member gave me oil paints and a canvas just because she knew I liked art. Any ideas? I'm thinking something spiritual here. 

The iPad meeting is this week! Supposedly we will be getting them during interviews or sometime in November. (Haha, that totally just reminded me of Brian Regan. Can I come down and flip it?) Anyway, can't wait to get them. It's going to be fun.

I was serious Josh about recording yourself and Logan singing some hymn arrangements and putting them on a CD for me. I need more variety! :D Plus, I can show everyone just how awesome you can sing. 

Wow, I have nothing more to say...odd. 

ANYWAYS, I LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH!! Sister Rammell and I are going to the slugger museum next Monday so ill find something special for y'all! :) 

Love you!! 

Raye :) 

I realized that I didn't talk about how awesome Sister Rammell is! She's funny and makes missionary work fun. She remembers everyone we talk to and writes miracles in her journal every night. She really helps me stay positive and on the straight and narrow. She 's a great example and I love her. :) 

#1- Last minute lesson planning for Gospel Principles that we got called to do the day before. 

#2- I stole Sister Rammell's glasses while she was praying. 

#1- My district! (From left to right: Elder James, Elder Geary, Elder Gasken, Elder Newbold, Elder Singleton, Elder Hynes, Sister Rammell, Me, Sister Bangcroft, and Sister Stephens) 

#4- Funny pose

#5- My bug bitten arm. Not sure how well you can see it. 

Goodnight, Sleep tight, and We Let the Bedbugs Bite – May 11, 2015

Hello once again audience! 

Mother's day was so awesome! I loved being able to talk to you wonderful and amazing people! Seriously, we had the greatest call ever even if it was ridiculously short. Like I said, I'm lucky to have eternity with y'all. 

The tears really were just how much I miss you. It was a lot harder to say goodbye this call than the one at Christmas. 

Alas! There are tales to tell that I didn't yet tell about. 

Let us begin with the biggest event. 

So, remember those bug bites that I was getting all over my body? Yeah, so because most of them were in little clusters and varied in sizes so at first we thought they were bedbugs. We checked all over my bed and found nothing. I bought bug spray and everything was fine and dandy. Sort of. I still was getting bites. After our exchanges on Saturday Sister LeFevre (my STL) called and asked if we had bedbugs because she had a ton of bites. We looked and found nothing. 

Then, we looked at the ceiling. Dun dun dun. 

In the corners were these little, flat, round, and dark brown....bed bugs. They were happily nestled by their clump of eggs and we happily ended their lives with tissues. The problem seemed to be solved. But this morning I tore off my sheets to wash them and lo and behold a little bed crawler was hiding there. Ew. 

Then we got to work as the exterminator team. We spent most of our morning taking all of our clothes and putting them in bags so we can throw them in the dryer. Then, we sprayed our beds, bottom wall panels, and ceilings with diluted Permethrine (bed bug killer muahaha). It took a lot longer than we thought it would, but hopefully they will all die. And my bites will stop happening so much. 

The south is trying to kill me. Also, we aren't allowed to walk barefoot through grass or theses little tiny bugs called Scavvies will crawl under your skin and eat you. How pleasant. 

So, onto happier stuff. 

We helped the woman named C move out of her apartment. She has had multiple surgeries and recently had a stroke so she is house bound. She is hilarious and very sweet. She was moving to a assisted living center so she wouldn't have to live alone. The catch was she had to get rid of ALL of her stuff. We helped her once every week and cleaned out her kitchen ( which was a lot of work). She was so grateful she called us her little angels. After we were done she gave Sister Rammell and I a wooden angel from her collection. It's sitting on my desk and I love it. Maybe I'll try and carve something like it someday. 

Miracle story. So, we meet with D in a gazebo by our apartments. As soon as we finished a lesson with him a young woman walked in and sat down on one of the benches and began to write. As D left we decided to talk to her. Before the words, "how are you?" left our mouths she began to cry. Her name was Vi and she thought her life was over. Her boyfriend of 8 years had cheated on her, she's moving in with her dad, and feels alone. She was so confused as to why her life was shattering and her ex's was going so great. She was going to church and being good, but 'God was leaving her alone'. We talked to her for a very long time and testified to her just how much God does love her. The Spirit was strong and the cool part was that I suddenly felt this extreme love for her even though we had just met. We testified of how our message could help her and that if she ever needed anything she could call us. She declined an appointment, because she was a devout Protestant. But, she could not deny that we were supposed to have met for a reason and we left her with nothing but feelings of comfort. 

Feels good to have moments like that. You can't spell Louisville without love. 

This week was really hard though. The more I study, the more knowledge I get and the more frustrating it is for me when other people refuse to understand it. It's not that they don't understand, they don't want to. The evidence is so clear. I honestly felt spiritually drained. Granted, there have been lots of miracles and I was having fun, but oh man it was like walking through thick maple syrup. 

Sister Rammell. She is like a very annoying sister that I love. She is great, really. Sometimes though I want to wrap my hands around her neck and shake some sense into her. Her priorities are sometimes starkly out of whack. For instance she was very willing to give up talking to her family so that we could finish spraying the apartment for bugs. She's still wondering how we did it so fast, but it was because I moved lickity split so that she wouldn't do that. Sometimes, she will walk away from me without saying what we're doing and won't tell me even if I ask while I run to catch up with her. Or she'll walk away just so we can do what she wants to do. It's very annoying because I have no choice but to follow her. 

Ok, my venting time is over. This will be brought up during companionship inventory. But other than that we are having fun and stuff. We don't want to kill each other yet, haha. But I really do still like her and we're buddies. 

Exchanges saved me though. I was not excited to have exchanges, but as soon as I started working with Sister LeFevre I felt so happy. She taught me how to love the work and how to use the Book of Mormon more. She didn't really sit down and talk to me about theses things, but her example helped me so much. It was a great day. Plus, she helped to fix the A/C. 

Alrighty...what else...

They weather is getting warmer and muggier. But, it's still beautiful. :) 

I love you awesome people!! SO MUCH! 

I miss you all and can't wait for Christmas! Haha! 

Bless your face! If you sneezed during this e-mail bless you!

I LOVE YOU 

Raye :) 

#1- Sounds about right...

#2- My Kentucky temple :) It's right next to the church building we meet at every Sunday. 

#3- Another sunset. Woo!

#4- I thought it was cool. 

#5- What...? 

#6- The bed bug busters to the rescue.