10 months! (Week 42)

Hello family!!!

Holy heck! 300 days as a full time missionary?? The days feel like weeks but then the weeks feel like days... Sure is true! I really hope all is well with each and every one of you and I pray for you all when I remember... I still am working on not falling asleep as I pray in the morning hahaha

This week has been AMAZING. I am so blessed to be here as a missionary. We are definitely going into Winter here... Its getting colder earlier in the day and I am NOT ready for that. We don't have heaters here, so we just have to bundle up as much as we can. All I can say is that Im grateful for my super fancy shmancy bathtub shower. I may live there when it gets cold.

Anyway, THE WORK! The work is going really well. We are just seeing a lot of success with the Book of Mormon. We are reading it with our family that feeds us lunch each day and they came to church Sunday. Power. We worked with my favorite old man, Fernando Villegas, and read the Book of Mormon with him and after 3 weeks HE BROUGHT UP BAPTISM! Hahaha LOVE IT! MAGIC! I know I was called here to help bring him to baptism so I am sure hoping the 31st works out for him.

NELY WAS BAPTIZED! Yesterday morning at 7am. It was a super early morning for me, but it was great. For the first time in my mission, I am really seeing people progress as I become a better missionary. I know that I am imperfect, but the Lord works with imperfect people! But I am JUST SO EXCITED to see these people coming closer to God! We even have our great joven, Leo, just loving the church and wanting to get baptized! the 31st is going to be a great day, I think!

So you ready for some other craziness? So president willard, in answer to prayer, called a district leader training meeting and we CHANGED district meetings! They are ALL ABOUT PRACTICES! I hate practices. Even though I practice to live through life with piano. But I hate it. So president told us we need to practice and we really helped and was spiritual and I saw my best friend ELDER WILKINSON. We met right when we received our calls and now we are both leaders together. Love him. So I sucked up my pride and we started practices and we are seeing MIRACLES! the district meeting was a success and we are applying what we practice and we are just sulking in the lords blessings. I love it. Oh, a sister in my district got CHICKEN POX! no joke. Yup. Elder Risueño to the semi rescue.. the sister leader trainers did most of the work because i cant enter their house or visit them...

OH! I BARFED AGAIN THIS WEEK! Sorry, but its a good sick story. So my 10th month mark came and I ate a lot. I bought some delish white chocolate from a less active, a member bought us chicken and fries, I ate cookies, and coke, and oranges, and chips, and more chocolate. So when I got home I was like OH DANG IT. Here it goes again. And it came and went. I was NOT TOO WELL yesterday. But I was like THANKS DAD FOR HELPING ME. I just kept plugging along like my dad. And I made it through. Love yall.

Anyway, special thanks to Mom for the card. I sent her an email April 14th telling her I was going through a hard time and 3 days later she sent me this card cheering me up. PROPS TO KARE BEAR! I love you! You're the best.

And a special thanks to DFM or Dawn Fudge Miller for my books. Brad R Wilcox books are the best. Thanks for your testimony in it. I really just want you all to know something I've studied this morning. A testimony isn't just the light that we carry through the dark tunnels of life, it is the light that carries us through the dark tunnels of life. When we feel like we cant get through the troubles that face us, we know that the Lord is walking with us and will never leave us alone. I testify of that. I testify that as we search for a greater knowledge of our Savior, that it was what will get us through the dark days. As we take that light that we have and share it with others, we will see our light get brighter because God will want us to bless others.

As a favorite hymn says:

Abide with me, tis eventide

thy walk today with me
has made my heart within me burn
as I communed with thee

Thy earnest words have filled my soul

and kept me near thy side

I promise you that our Savior will abide with us only as long as we take this burning within our heart and help those in need.

I love you all and ask that you PLEASE send some piano solos for church or special musical numbers for vocal solos. That are hymn arrangements. People sing in my zone.

For a dollar!
elder Risueño

Facing the Fears (Week 41)

Mothers day was awesome, but super bittersweet too. I was so grateful
to see my family and talk to them, to receive counsel, and just enjoy
life. It was awesome seeing my sister and just saying goodbye because
its the last time well talk as shes a missionary... sad day! But I
really realized that even though the connection was bad and such, that
my weekly email time is SO AMAZING. I love each of you that is reading
this email. Youre reading it because we have some sort of relationship
and you want to know how I am doing in my life. Well, I have the same
feelings for you guys. Frequently I send emails out to some of my
regular email people to see if they can give me an update on YOU GUYS
because I always wonder what is going on in your lives. So, if youre
reading this, I invite you to take like 5 minutes just to hit reply to
this email and write me something! Itll get sent to my mom, probably,
who can forward it to me! And then I can respond! I just want to know
whats gone on in the past 10 months of your lives!

Anyway, on to this week!

So Monday we went hiking to a waterfall! SO AWESOME. I forgot my
charger today, so sorry mom. PICTURES NEXT WEEK! I PROMISE TO
REMEMBER! The moment of that hike taht was the best HAD to have been
when I tried to outsmart a slippery rock by just walking through the
river, then slipping in the river and falling. Even though my camera
and phone got wet, EVERYTHING WAS OKAY! Just saying, I love the
blessings I receive from being a missionary! hahaha. We got some pizza
as a zone, and I bought the comp some ice cream. LIFE WAS GOOD.

We also moved houses...We are WAY UP on the hill and we dont have much
service! DANG IT! But its fine and life is good. We have a BATHTUB,
which is super high class so its nice.

I got to teach a lady named Carmen Mendez who has cancer and reminds
me of dads problems, but shes a lady. So its a little switched, but I
really felt like I was called to teach her. She is progressing, but is
super sick. There is no better feeling than looking at each person in
the eye, and saying, I know how you feel. No joke. But shes awesome.

Nely didnt get baptized this week due to some problems, but this
coming Saturday we are hoping for her baptism!

Im in a new ZONE! Its called Zona La Viña which transfers into the
vine. If anyone wants to look up Jacob 5:72, thats where our name
comes from. zones should be named after wards that are in the zone but
president changed it due to revelation! our zone is going to work in
the vine of God so that we can bring our souls unto him!

We had TRANSFERS THIS PAST WEEK! And Elder Zavaleta and I will be
together for 6 more weeks! I think he was a little sad, but whatever!
I know he loves me! He just doesnt show it as naturally as I do. I was
called as District Leader and Ill explain what taht is... So we have a
senior and junior compaionship at the basic level of missionary work,
and then in charge of 2 or 3 other companionships is a District
Leader. Thats me. I help train, support, and uplift these people. Let
me tell you it is the scariest thing of my life. I never thought I
could be a leader. I am disorganized, a people pleaser, like yall know
me. But that doesnt matter. The Lord has called me into this position
and I will become it. I have my fears. We all have our fears. God asks
us to be humble. In the spanish scriptures, it definies humble as
moldable. I dont think humility only means accepting our weaknesses,
it also means accepting the type of person we can become as we let
Christ mold us. And thats what I have done. My companion told me that
I have a lot to improve on and that came as no surprise, but I want
each of you to know that we all need to improve. We all have our
struggles and our fears, but we need not let those fears become
obstacles. They are ladders that help us reach our Savior, Jesus
Christ.

Theres a cheesy EFY song that I love that goes like this:
So Ill face my fears, Ill give up my pride,
The choice is mine thats how it needs me
Trusting in (Gods) love, I feel a change inside,
Then I can see that (He) was just waiting for me.

Thats right. Hes waiting for us to take the step. We just need to give
up those thoughts that are stopping us from helping others. Trust in
He who went through it all for you. Give it to Him and let him mold
you into the person you can become.

There was much more that went on this week, but I feel like this will
do. I love you all and pray for you daily.

For a dollar!
Elder Risueño

Mother knows best (Week 40)

You guys,

I am so happy for this week. That’s right. Lets all breathe a sigh of relief because RJ is in a good mood and his sassiness is down a lot. I’m actually working on humility so that I don’t sass at all. I’ve been keeping it down a bit, but sometimes I get frustrated. its usually when my comp gives me a hard time for eating so much. whatevs.

So this week has been amazing. Nely is on for her baptism this Saturday. But PLEASE pray for her. She still is smoking and stuff a bit and she needs to be clean like this week. But she is so ready to go. She makes my life; I will have SO MANY stories to tell y’all about her after the mish. They’re fine to share here, but super long. Anyway, YAY NELY

We have a young man were teaching, Leo, who goes to church on his own, goes to seminary on his own, and has only gone to church twice. He went the first time, we got to know him and he was like I WANT TO GO TO SEMINARY. And went. it took forever for him to get there because he lives in timbucktoo, but he wants to get baptized. We just need some support from the parents because the youth that get baptized and don’t have support from their parents don’t do to well at times...

We are teaching another lady in timbucktoo and she didn’t go to church yesterday so we went to visit her and she had read her chapter from gospel principles so she wouldn’t fall behind. GOLDEN. only thing is she isn’t married... and doesn’t have money. dang it. But I still love her. Yay carmen.

Fernando, the old man who loves me and just is my grandpa, doesn’t want to accept a baptismal date, but he still wants to learn. So Elder Risueño is going to go super loving on him and receive all the angel
help he can get to help this viajito get baptized. But hes awesome

Yesterday my comp and I counted 4 investigators at church and 8 less actives. Oh what a blessing. I just was so amazed and grateful. This week the new sisters come to take a lot of our investigators and we are going to live in timbucktoo, but it’ll work out for the best... prayers please.

So the story I want to share with you is about my good drunk friend... so my comp and I were walking late at night and we found a drunk man crying so we went to help him. Now, I know that drunks never remember what we teach them, but I love them. It’s something that just warms my heart. So we were talking to him and he told us he could never go back to Christ because he had too many sins. I told him that it is not the quantity of sins that matters, it’s the quality of the soul. It is not what we have done, it is what we can do. That’s grace. And we said a prayer and I Felt prompted to have him repeat GOD LOVES ME. And he did. Then he said, how do I know God loves me if my own parents don’t love me. Knife to the heart.

I thought of how blessed I have been. My mind flashed back to my biological mother, Jennifer, who may have had some trials in her past that caused divorce, but she decided to take those trials and
mistakes, and let them REFINE her, not define her. She supports me to the day and writes me each week. She may not have been my 24 7 mom, but she sure didn’t let Satan define who she is. She has let the Lord define who she can become.

Then I got to thinking about St Karen, who is the definition of the perfect mother. When my dad proposed to her, I was 3 and had wet my pants on her dress, possibly marking my territory claiming her, and so she had a big wet spot when she got engaged. That started our relationship. She took two kids who weren’t hers biologically and made them hers. I cant explain my love for kare bear. She has been my friends friend, she has sassed me out when I sassed her, and she has loved me more than I can imagine. She takes my weekly I NEEDs and sends them to me. She answered her phone each time I went to the
testing center before I took the exam to tell her I was freaked out and was going to fail, and answered again when I Called to tell her I Got an A. Haha. She is the reason behind the piano skills I have. She
started the lessons with Peggy and continued them with Nancy. As I look at the missionary I have become, i cant help but think of Karen and dad. But without Karen, my dad would not have been the same. Mom, you are amazing. You are my life. If you could have any slogan, it would definitely be MOTHER KNOWS BEST... TAKE IT FROM YOUR MUMSY. (That’s the hymn for this week... hahaha) Because you are always right. And I take it from you. Thank you for doing everything for a dollar
and just being the best mom I could ask for. I am a momma’s boy and will forever sit on your lap when you’re on the couch. I have no shame.

In typical RJ form, I wish to close with a famous phrase of my moms, but changed to fit her.
Ill love you forever,
Ill like you for always
As long as I’m living (and after because we were sealed as a family in
the temple)
My mommy you’ll be.

I went to tell that drunk man that since god loves him it is sure that his parents love him too. The awesome thing about life is that there is no absence of love, it is but a covering of love. Sometimes we just have to dig a bit deeper to find that love hiding somewhere.

I love ya’ll and can’t wait to talk to the fam bam this Sunday.

For a dollar.
Elder Risueño

Love yall! (Week 39)

Hello family and friends!

Wow this week has been an awesome week of miracles and changes and just things that just remind me how awesome this work is. Yes, I am in a third world country with so many different ways of life, but I love what I do. So I am going to try and remember as much as I can and do in an order of when it happened:

Monday we went to tour Central and I am in love of where I live! I also weighed myself and I am officially 10 kilograms heavier than when I left on the mission! HOLY GOODNESS! Thats why I still have 15 months left to lose those babies. So after I weighed myself, I bought an ice cream and started my diet... till Thursday.

That night we found a FAMILY to teach! You guys, I have been family deprived for a lot of my mission so it was an awesome moment. Its weird because during the day we wont have a lot of success but at night God just gives us Christmas presents that make me happy.

Tuesday we had music classes! We had 6 people show up and it was AMAZING! I feel like they learned and I saw their eyes like I KNOW WHAT IM LEARNING and then I realized that God was helping me. Lets be real, I really miss accompanying beautiful voices. I MISS IT! But someone has to teach these people how to direct music and how to play piano! I got this. It was awesome. I love music. I love teaching.

But before that we taught Nely, the old lady who is a little loco, and she ASKED US how to be baptized! YES!!!! Thats what we love to hear! so lets get ready forMay 10th because she is going to be baptized!! LOVE HER!

Wednesday I had ANOTHER intercambio with Elder Bailey... Well get to that a bit later.

Thursday was CHRISTMAS!! I got packages from Auntie T, Mom and Dad, and Aunt heather and Gma Dawn!! Well, not packages from them, but packages with stuff from them! YAY FOR GIRL SCOUT COOKIES AND DOUBLE STUF OREOS! and easter eggs! One of which included a dollar from Mom! FOR A DOLLAR! And with ties and colorful socks, and just EVERYTHING I need! Even a book from Dad! Oh my gosh, you guys! I did share. My diet when on pause from that day, but I shared with my district! I made Easter Bags with easter eggs and some jelly beans, a girl scout cookie, and an oreo! The gringos thank you especially! THANKS GUYS! Lets be real, the missionaries in the office tell me I receive the most stuff and I just say I CANT HELP THE FACT THAT IM LOVED! but really, you guys are the best. I love you all! Thanks for whatever token of love you send. 

Saturday we taught Carla who is a MIRACLE! So she lives over the river and through the woods and the way we found her is a long story and just a reason that God loves her. So we finally got to teach her and invited her to church with her husband and daughter and it was awesome! It was a miracle and I was freezing to death. STINKING WEATHER IN TARIJA!

Sunday we went and tried to píck up families and stuff, the family from Monday didnt come. Dang it. BUT we did get a recovering alcoholic to come! YES! and FIVE people came because they just felt like it! Including Carla and her daughter, Nely and her grandson, and a young man we havent even taught! MIRACLES! MIRACLES!

Sunday night we had 0 lessons for the day, we were told that sister missionaries are coming so we are practically starting over again, and we were kind of roughed out. BUT we found another man in need of our love and needed God. I LOVE THOSE PEOPLE! He will progress and I cant wait to see what happens!

So wednesday way fast before I bore you guys out: 

So Elder Bailey came to see the area and what were doing and I told him the news in the morning: WE WERE GOING TO TEACH AN ATHEIST. 2 gringos going to this. We had contacted the guy the day before and wanted to know how he could find out if God existed THEN AND THERE. So I told E. Bailey it was time to pray and study. So we did. And as we shared, something amazing happened: Elder Bailey found a lot about love and shared it, and I had just felt from God that I needed to love the man more than anything. So we planned and left. Turns out he didnt want to talk to us, and we were kind of bummed, but kept going. We felt really strong about what we had felt and knew someone needed it. As usual, it happened in our last lesson. We taught the same lesson to less actives. We read them the following scripture:
7 Beloved, let us ^alove one another: for ^blove is of God; and every one that loveth is ^cborn of God, and knoweth God.

 8 He that loveth not ^aknoweth not God; for God is love.

 9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might ^alive through him.

I want focus on verse 9..It is well known that Jesus Christ suffered in Gethsemane and was crucified in Calvary so that we might live again after death, but it is forgotten by many that he suffered in Gethsemane adn was crucified in Calvary so that we light live again here and now. In the moments of despair when we think all is lost, we must remember that the strength we receive is jsut a prayer away. Through Christs atonement each of us is eligible to take part in His everlasting grace as we follow his commandments. I testify of this. Thats why I have changed as a missionary. As we taught, the Spirit whispered to us that so many people are not focusing on the life we have to live today. That as we love with all we have, and as we share that love with others, their lives change as they see Christ in us. I invite each of us to follow Christ example and not just be loved, but to love. 

Savior, may I learn to love thee,

Walk the path that thou hast shown,

Pause to help and lift another,

Finding strength beyond my own.

Savior, may I learn to love thee--
Lord, I would follow thee.

It is my hope that we can follow the Savior a little bit more as we love a little bit more.

FOR A DOLLAR! and with love,
Elder Risueño

Alpacas are the answer to everything! (Week 38)

Holy alpacas, family! This week has been one of crazies... So well
start with the crazies..

So after email time last week Elder Zavaleta and I went to downtown
Tarija and went shopping for some trinkets and ALPACA sweaters. And
let me tell you that they are the answer to lifes questions. I bought
a sweater, gloves, I little hat thing, and just LOVE IT! i never take
off my alpaca sweater. Its lightweight and just so snug! Afterwards, I
took my comp out on a date nightesque lunch to a peruvian restauarant
which was SUPER GOOD. And I immediately repented of my sin of giving
mom and dad a hard time for always going on date nights when they were
stressed out... I know that those times really help life!

Another crazy thing? I finally got the GET BIT BY A DOG action checked
off my list of things to do on the mission. But it wasnt bad, so mom
dont freak out. It was one of those RAT DOGS that just follow you, and
then you feel a pinch on your heel, and then use your cat like
reflexes to kick and realize a dog tried to bite you! It didnt even
break the sin because I was so dang fast to kick it. Thats right. And
a few days before that we were chased by like 10 dogs. Its not bad
when you have rocks! Before PITA comes after me, lets be real: You got
two choices... either youre going to be eaten by dogs or youre going
to scare them with some rocks. Rocks win. I may have even screamed
PETRIFICUS TOTALUS to try and see if magic would work... it didnt.

So this week was kind of crazy and hard. So at the end of my email
time last monday, I got an email from my old companion, Elder Chura,
that one of my less actives that we were working with had passed away
last week. Ahh he was 32 and died because his family couldnt pay for
dialysis. Wow. That combined with some other things just set me up for
some frustration. But the Lord loves us and prepares us. As I got
ready for a Zone Conference, which is a meeting of like 50
missionaries with our president, I decided to free write a letter to
God and see what I really felt. As I wrote it, it was filled with
feelings of despair, of MY wants and MY needs and nothing about what
God wanted for me. I decided to take a pause and open my scriptures,
where I found a scripture talking about receiving power and authority
from God. As I pondered on that, I pondered on my journey as a
missionary. Sometimes I get so focused on finding people and baptizing
and just doing what I want and going where I want to go and getting to
my happy place, that I seem to forget that I need to go where God
wants me to go. For a cheesy example, lets look at Rapunzel. She
wanted to see the flowing lanterns gleam and that was her destination.
But her journey was what really counted. The moments she rose to the
occasion, other moments where she fell, and other moments where she
loved. Now, I am not looking for my companion, so I dont have that
going for me. But I feel like we need to focus on how God is shaping
our journey. We look at our weaknesses and feel unworthy, but we
really need to understand that its the Lord giving us the chance to be
strong. As I sat in that meeting and continued to be fed and to see
the beauty that comes from acceptance of the Lords guidance in my
voyage through life, I saw how much I meant to the Lord and how much
He meant to me. After that point, we started to find people to teach.
We found people who really needed us. We are working miracles slowly
but surely. But it didnt come to me until I accepted that the storms
that were ahead of me were not as powerful as my Savior with me in my
ship. I wish to finish by sharing something by Brad R Wilcox in his
talk, His Grace is Sufficient. He quotes a hymn about the pioneers and
I want you to pay attention to grace, the enabling power of Jesus
Christ. These píoneers suffered so much but always had so much faith:

Come, come, ye Saints, no toil nor labor fear;
But with joy wend your way.
Though hard to you this journey may appear,
Grace shall be as your day.

As dark as night may become, we can always count on the sun coming up.
As dark as our trials, sins, and mistakes may appear, we can always
have confidence in the grace of Jesus Christ. Do we earn a sunrise?
No. Do we ahve to be worthy of a chance to begin again? No. We just
have to accept these blessings and take advantage of them. as sure as
each brand new day, grace--the enabling power of Jesus Christ-- is
constant. Faithful pioneers knew they were not alone. The task ahead
of them was never as great as the power behind them.

I testify that Christ is guiding each of our journeys. I testify that
He will help us as we submit to that which He has in store for us.
Dont worry about what you have or have not accomplished in this life.
Worry about how the Lord has molded you into the person He wants you
to become.

I love you all and pray for you all.
For a dollar!
Elder Risueño

Have Faith. Have Hope (Week 37)

My dearest family and friends,

Happy Monday! I have to say that this week has been crazy with ups and downs, but I am just so grateful for your love and support. First off, a few thank yous! Thanks Mom for being the most awesome person in the world and packing me thermals in July. Right now, we are about to enter crazy cold winter in Tarija and I am writing with 4 layers of shirts and pants here. I am also going to buy alpaca EVERYTHING. Sweaters, gloves, whatever. It is so bitter cold here and crazy. And it hasnt even started yet! Thanks Mom and Dad! 

Sheila! Sheila sent me a Mr. Bean shirt and EUROPEAN CHOCOLATE! and floss. Thanks my friend! I am sending you some love in a package in the coming weeks.

Kerr family sent me some love too! How I love receiving family letters! I will be off to send some more love to yall too this week!

Music classes kick off tomorrow and I couldnt be more excited. The people seem really open to learning how to direct music and it as been opened to two wards so well see how it starts. PRAY FOR ME! If no one comes, well cancel it for good. 

Anyway, on to the work. I had an intercambio this week with my district leader who is SUPER AWESOME. He has about 6 months in the mission and is in his first area, todavia. And its super hard for him. It was awesome to talk to him in English and just talk about the ways we can improve our attitude. We had all of our lessons fall through and we walked a ton and we were just down. But we realized that this the Lords work and we got this! We have been called to some rough areas that need some love, and we are so exctied to help them. It was something I needed.

The next few days we had ups and downs. But Im going to focus on the ups! We had 4 people come to church Sunday! It was so awesome. One of them was this lady who I thought was LOCO. No joke. When we first met her, she spoke to us about demons and whispered and was really freaky and I was like HECK NO WE ARE NOT GOING BACK. But we did because she wanted us too. And then she showed up Sunday with her nephew and she said things how it was. It was SO SASSY I LOVED IT! I just kept saying AMEN in the class when she spoke. So were friends now. Even though she whispered to me some creepy stuff. Future baptism? I think so! We also had 2 other young men come that had just met us the night before and came on their own! YAY!

Aside from that, the Lord is working slowly but surely here in Tabladita. We have people who really have desires and it is what we are looking for. The area is so pretty and I am loving it. But I just want people to teach! But I have learned so much about our Savior this week. We were walking home from a hard day and I just started tearing up because I just wanted to teach someone! and I smiled more and decided to knock a door and we ended up teaching a man who is suffering a lot and just needed a pick me up. He is out of town 6 months to work in the fields, but he loved us and called us angels. It reminded me so much of the Saviors life, which we will celebrate this week. He suffered so much but he still loved everyone. He still served. He still kept going. This week as we celebrate Christs perfect life, perfect suffering, and perfect resurrection, I pray that we live our lives with a little bit more happiness. I wish to share with you a favorite Primary hymn: 

I know

What does the Father ask of us? What do the scriptures say?

Have faith, have hope, live like his Son, help others on their way.

What does he ask? Live like his Son

I know that our lives are difficult. Some of us are full time workers, full time moms, full time students, and with full time problems. But the Savior of the world came to give us this Hope. HE invites us to live like Him. Not to live His life, but to work to obtain His attributes and to help others. I testity that as we go through our own problems, we need to help others. Everyone has problems. Everyone needs help. But only Christ can solve them. I finish my letter with a quote:

Now let me describe to you what faith in Jesus Christ means. Faith in Him is more than mere acknowledgement that He lives. It is mopre than professing belief. Faith in Jesus Christ consists of compelte reliance on Him. As God, He has infinite power, intelligence, and love. There is no human problem beyond his capacity to solve. Because He descended below all things, He knows how to help us rise above our daily difficulties. --Ezra TAft Benson

I love you all and pray that we all can lend a helping hand this Easter.

For a dollar!

Elder Risueño

Keep On Keeping On (Week 36)

Hello Family and friends!

Happy Monday! I surely hope that this week has been amazing for each
of you and that you can feel my love and joy coming from this internet
cafe here in Tarija. This past week has been pretty gnarly. Im slowly
getting the member who cooks lunch for us to lower down the amount of
food she gives us because it makes me SUPER TIRED and slow. And the
Spirit doesnt work when all Elder Risueño wants is a nap. She
Paraguaya so I have to be super nice and slow with her so she doesnt
feel offended but I can NOT eat like 3 plates of rice and chicken,
lady! Anyway, other crazy thing is I broke out with a CRAZY rash on my
arms. I didnt get a picture, but itll probably come back so Ill be
sure to snag a pic next time! Its from sun poisoning or something. But
I just have to buy me some meds and were good to go!

This week has been exactly what my subject line says. We have been
looking for people to teach and made contacts in the streets and then
weve had people not be at home, or not give us super good directions,
or other problems. And so it was one of those moments where I have had
to rely on the knowledge of my Savior Jesus Christ to help me keep on
keeping on. I love how at General Conference we were taught that this
life is not about endings, but everlasting beginnings. That even if we
have to stand alone to stand for whats right, at least were standing
on the correct side! That love is the answer for all that we do and
all that we will do inthis life.

This week I am going to start putting together the announcements so
that music classes start up here in the coming weeks. I couldnt be
more excited. The members are awesome, and they need ways to invite
their friends to activities! When we knock on doors, we find super
Catholic people who dont want us, but they ALWAYS love my name! So I
try to get my name stuck in as quickly as possible so they smile and
realize that we missionaries are good people!

Anyway, as of this week, we are going to make a 360 in the work here
in Tabladita. I am going to pray even more. I am going to love even
more. I am going to make sure that the Lord is with me in each step.
And if I dont feel him with me, I will make sure I go back to He who
must be with me in every step. I ask that if you are looking for a
service to perform, my companion Elder Jhonatan Zavaleta is super
awesome and has yet to receive one card in the mission. Dont feel like
you have to send him something big or in Spanish, just a simple Thank
you card would help a ton. Do what you all can to translate it and
just let him know how awesome he is. Its hard sometimes to get along,
but let me tell you how much I love my companion. We are working so
hard to help these people see the goodness of us as missionaries.
Please write him if you can to the same place you send me letters.

I wish to finish this weekly email with lyrics from a hymn of hope:

When dark clouds of trouble hang o'er us
And threaten our peace to destroy,
There is hope smiling brightly before us,
And we know that deliv'rance is nigh.
We doubt not the Lord nor his goodness.
We've proved him in days that are past.
The wicked who fight against Zion
Will surely be smitten at last.

My dear family, let us not let the clouds that overhang us destroy our
smiles. We know that delivrance isnigh. We know the Lord loves us and
has protected us and will continue to protect us. This week I will be
on the search for families to teach and bless and I hope that you guys
do the same. Find someone who needs of your love.

I love my family and I love my dad. Dad, keep up the fight and keep
walking with me. I know you can do it! And Sparky, happy late
birthday! If my dog would have been a human, he wouldhave been
baptized this week. Happy 8 years, Sparkle.

For a dollar!
Elder Risueño
P.S. If you are sending packages, keep to USPS. They arent going
through other systems now to pick stuff up! Love y'all!

Okay, so a quick story to maybe help yall smile!!!

So a few nights ago we were walking in the rain and it was one of
those Les Miz moments when the pavement shined like silver and all the
lights were misty in the river. So what did I do? Sang On My Own...
Well the few parts I remembered. I realized that I really have been
out in the mission for 9 months because I couldnt remember like the
entire song. DANG IT! But it was fun. Yay for Rain!