Three Months!

Hello Fam and Friends(:

This week we have kind of had a lot going on!(: 

Monday we played volleyball, basketball, soccer, and all sorts of sports with our district.  It was way fun, but obviously....i am a pro at all those things. (; It was way fun to just go and hang out though!(: Our member Cayla drove us to the church and we were playing basketball.  She said, "Ritter I bet you $50 you can't make a basket from the foul line." Swish. Yeah i am that good! Then she said, "Double or nothing." Swish. It was awesome!!!! (: We all laughed so hard!!!(:

We went tracting one day because all of our appointments cancelled. So we looked at a list of former investigators and went to visit them.  We knocked on this door and started talking to him.  He was super nice and talking to us about church and everything and then he randomly said, "I truly believe that you do not have the answer for me and your church won't help me at all." and then he shut the door. Sweet.  We went to this other door and Sister Pereira said, 'You got this. You start the conversation and everything" So i knocked and this cute little old man answered the door.  He was super hard of hearing, but i was talking to him, explaining who we were and everything and then my brain turned off and i completely forgot english. I didn't know what to say, i didn't know what i was doing. I just froze. So i turned around and looked at Sister Pereira and looked at her with the deer in headlights look.  She started talking to him and totally saved me.  It was horribly embarassing.  I felt like a failure all day. But then i realized.  He was an old guy who could barely here and he didn't even notice that i had stopped talking, he just said, "sorry girls, i can't hear you."  It was a miracle.  I am so glad that happened at his door.  Now i feel better about tracting because i know i can do it and i know how to save myself. 

This week we also had a personal interview with President Shumway.  It was really awesome and i love talking to him.  He is the sweetest man in the world, and he gives great advice.  He looked at me and said, "Sister Ritter. You are always so happy and positive and i love that.  Keep working hard and doing your best.  I am so happy to have you here."  It made me realize that even if i feel down, that if i pretend to be positive, people will notice and it will change my attitude as well.  I learned from him, "Your Actions and thoughts control your feelings.  Don't let your feelings control your actions and thoughts."  I had a  lot of revelation this week on attitude and have been pondering situations a lot this week of how i can change to be happier.  It was really cool.

Crazy mission story. We were talking to Mirissa and doing the reading program with her.  Her mom walks out of the room into the bathroom, with no pants on. HA! Sister Pereira's face was priceless...

We also asked Heidi why she wanted to be baptized this week.  Her answer was awesome.  She said, "It's like a watch store.  You walk in and you see some good watches but they aren't anything special. You don't really like any of them.  So you go to the next store and the same thing happens.  You go from store to store looking for the perfect watch. And then you are at the last store and you see this beautiful, perfect watch.  It is perfect, it fits right, everything is in place, and you just love it. That is how i feel about this church. It fits perfect, everything has gone right since i have taken the lessons.  From the first time i walked into the church i felt at peace and happy.  I know this is the right church."

I know God loves us.  I know He can help us through any trial.  I know that if we pray and ask for help sincerely He will help us overcome our trials.  I know that our trials in life are for a reason.  I know that the power of the atonement is real and because of Christ we can overcome. I know that if we change our attitudes and look for the positivity and miracles in our lives, we will see them.  I know that God has his hand in my life and he is directing my every step.  I know that as i continue serving him that i will see miracles.  This is the best time in my life.  I have learned so much already and i have grown to love Heavenly Father and the Gospel more than i could ever know.

Love,

Sister Ritter

Pictures:

I love dogs!!!

A better picture of Pete

A giant fly swatter i got from Heidi and Kathy.