Hello Everybody!

Just your Spanish Speaking Gringa Hermana in the Utah Provo Mission here with an update on
her WONDERFUL life as a full-time missionary! WOOT-WOOT! Well first things first, my new
companion is . . . HERMANA VILLEGAS! That's right! From Orange County or Fullerton, CA
(south side) she is half-mexican, her dad is from Mexico, and her mom served her mission in
Chile, so she grew up speaking Spanish! I actually prayed to have her as my new companion,
and was I ECSTATIC when I heard President McCune say she was my companion! As far as
being a "follow-up trainer" yeah . . . no. Haha she is my companion, and I just have to make sure
she finishes the rest of the 12-week program! I LOVE HER! So my area is HUGE! I am now
driving a car . . . it has been interesting driving here in Utah . . . in a car that is not mine, with
speed limits on country roads at 25 mph . . . ain't NOBODY got time for that! Haha! So anyhoo
here is the gist of my area, I am not serving in the Pleasant Grove North area, cover seven stakes,
one Spanish ward and we are starting from SCRATCH! Which means that we have no pamphlets
to use for lessons, pass along cards, no maps for the wards, the boundaries for our area/zone and
almost nobody to teach. So my companion and her last companion last transfer had this area,
plus Pleasant Grove South for a total of 14 stakes. They spent the majority of their time in the
Pleasant Grove South area because her old companion new that one the best, and rarely spent
anytime up here. The previous set of sisters before them left nothing for the area. So this transfer
they split the areas again and we are doing a whole lot of organizing. There is a lot that goes into
opening up an area, but it is a GREAT opportunity and challenge for the two of us. We are
having some good laughs, staying positive and making the most of it until we get the information
we need to really start teaching and preaching the gospel to people in this area. We moved into a
new home and our landlord is Sister Ingram! She is AMAZING! We LOVE her! She SPOILS us!
We have a treadmill and an eleptical, weights, TV (for my Jillian Micahels workout in the
morning), a great bathroom, walk-in closet, and living space all around! Guess what the BEST
part of living with her is?! We can see the temple from her house! It is directly in front! When we
leave home or go to bed day in and day out we get to see the temple and oh what a BEAUTIFUL
sight it is to see! We cannot get enough! We feel so BLESSED! Not to mention, Sister Ingram
has two ADORABLE doggies that we LOVE on ALL THE TIME! Well you know since
Hermana Villegas and I miss our doggies! Anyhoo, that is pretty much the gist of how these past
few days have gone so far!
Hermana Villegas and I had the opportunity to return back to my old area to go to the baptism of
an investigator in my old area. It was a wonderful experience and Felipe Saldana who will be a
member of the church a month, as of tomorrow, performed the baptism. What an INCREDIBLE
experience for him to have! Something else was so interesting when I returned, I did not feel at
home like I use to. I recognized it right away when I walked into the stake center. It was as if my
heart was somewhere else. It goes to show that when you get transferred your new area is your
new home and your old area becomes somebody else's home. I learned and grew a lot in the
Aspen Grove area, but now the Lord has need of me here in the Pleasant Grove north area. I
know this is where I am suppose to be, and how grateful I am to be serving here with Hermana
Villegas at this time. I enjoyed attending our ward for the first time on Sunday and it was
interesting to compare how they organized and run missionary work here versus my last area.
Very different, but my companion and I can work with it.

There is something I have seen recently since I have been in this area that has caught my
attention the past few days. I have seen members who are offended by this other member and
refuse to come back to church because of it. This decision drastically changes theirs lives
because the wound grows. Also not going to church means you are on a slow downward spiral
away from Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ and the companionship of the Holy Ghost. To those
who have been offended, or who have been hurt by others, look deep into you heart and find the
strength to forgive them, and let it go. Do not allow a small issue to keep you from the blessings
of the gospel of Jesus Christ. I love the talk given by Thomas S. Monson in April 2014, "Love:
The Essence of the Gospel of Jesus Christ"
"I would hope that we would strive always to be considerate and to be sensitive to the
thoughts and feelings and circumstances of those around us. Let us not demean or
belittle. Rather, let us be compassionate and encouraging. We must be careful that we
do not destroy another persons confidence through careless words or actions.
Forgiveness should go hand in hand with love. In our families, as well as with our
friends, there can be hurt feelings and disagreements. Again, it doesnt really matter
how small the issue was. It cannot and should not be left to canker, to fester, and
ultimately to destroy. Blame keeps wounds open. Only forgiveness heals."
Do not keep wounds open, allow forgiveness to heal your heart and theirs. They may never say
they are sorry, but find the strength through the Atonement of Jesus Christ to allow those wounds
to heal. I love you all! I want all to come unto Christ and be perfected in Him! His hand is
reached out towards us all inviting us to come unto Him and partake of everlasting life! I love
this gospel with all my heart and I know it is true! I am His representative! Keep the faith! Trust
God, and believe in good things to come.
Con Amor,
Hermana Rackley