5 Month Testimony

I just want to bare my testimony on the things i have learned this past month.  

I know God loves us.  I know He knows us as children individually.  I know that He WILL bless us with the things we need if we sincerely ask. 

This past month i have learned a lot about myself.  Ive learned that i can't do everything on my own.  I've learned how to put my trust in Christ.  Christ knows exactly what i am going through.  When i miss my family, friends, and home and it brings me down, Christ lifts me up.  When i get nervous or feel inadequate, Christ comforts me.

I know that no matter what i am going through, Christ has been there before.

I'd also like to bare testimony on the atonement.  the power and blessings of the Atonement are real.  When we fall short, we can be forgiven.  God loves us so much that as long as we truly repent and draw closer to Him, we are forgiven.  I know that the Atonement provides us strength.  Jesus Christ died for us.  He has felt the pains and sorrows we have.  

I am so grateful for Jesus Christ.  I'm grateful for the strength He provides me. I know i can do all things through Christ.  

I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. 

5 Months!

Hello Family!

 

This week was awesome!!!(:  We had tons of things happen and many miracles occur! 

 

This week we went on splits with some youth in the Houston ward.  Sister Merrill went with Maddie, and i went with Tia.  We didn't have any appointments, so we went to contact a referral.  Well the referral wasn't there so we did 4 minute finding!(:  That is where you pick a street and you go and knock on doors and you have 4 minutes to do it.  Well, cool story, i am terrible at tracting and it makes me super nervous.  But Tia isn't a missionary, she hasn't tracted before, and she was terrified.  So i had to step it up. Sister Merrill and Maddie knocked on a door and THEY GOT IN! Well, we knew they would be a while, so me and Tia went and knocked a few doors.  It was a really powerful experience for me.  It helped me realize that i can tract and that it isn't scary.  If i truly love and care for Christ than i won't be afraid.  All i have to do is Open my mouth.  It is that easy.  All i have to do is testify what i know about Jesus Christ.  It was really cool.  I realized that i am capable of things i didn't know i could do.  I prayed really hard and asked that i would be able to share what needed to be said.  So this week, i learned to love Tracting.  I can tell i am progressing everyday and becoming the missionary i know i can be!

 

We had another crazy experience this week with this guy named Jared.  We went to a recent converts house to meet him and while there his friend was visiting.  We asked him if he was interested in learning about the restored gospel.  He said he was lost and looking for direction in his life because he was homeless and his brother had just passed away. We were thinking perfect. The gospel can help with that.  We told him to come to the church that night to visit with the bishop.  So that night came and turns out. He was wasted, he has been kicked out of everywhere and he has some other problems. The bishop said he isn't safe to teach.  He didn't have a good feeling about him and he thought it best if we didn't get caught up in the situation.  It was sad, but i know God will watch over him. 

 

So update on Vicky and Kennith.  They were able to come to church this week.  This time, by car.  A member was so willing to pick them up and bring them to church.  We got into the chapel and saw them! I was so happy! (Fun fact of the day: Kennith only has 3 fingers. I shook his hand and almost had a panic attack!)  They were so happy to be there!  They went through all of church and at the end Vicky said, "I have always had to follow either my son or my dad to the church they wanted to go to and i never had a say in it.  But now that they are on their own i can finally go to the Mormon church.  I have wanted to attend my whole life because i know it is true.  Now that i am here, i am never leaving." WHAT?!?!? She isn't even baptized. We have only visited her once.  She is so incredible.  It is unreal.  I know that the Lord truly does have his hand in each of our lives.  I feel so blessed to be able to teach her.  I wish yall could meet her and know her. 

 

Fun apartment story for the week.  We locked ourselves out....Twice. So we were trying to think of ways to get in.  We have a window in our garage that leads to the bedroom, so we thought maybe...just maybe...it will be open. So we open our garage, and try the window...turns out. There isn't a lock on it. It doesn't even close all the way.  It is kind of freaky though because anyone could just open our garage and get in our house.  We also didn't have power in it for a few days.  It is definitely an adventure living in it.  I love it! (: ha.

This week during studies i learned something that i'd like to share.  It is in 1 nephi 22.  I love to look for patterns in the scriptures and Sister Merrill showed this one to me.  It says multiple times, "the righteous need not fear."  That is so comforting to me.  Often times i get a little freaked out about judgement day and thinking i won't be good enough to make it to the Celestial Kingdom.  I get worried thinking about the future and what is going to happen.  But it says right in the scriptures that "the righteous need not fear."  I know that as i strive to live a Christ-Like life that i will be blessed.  I know that as i follow the commandments, read scriptures, pray, and go to church that i will be blessed and i will be able to have peace in my heart.  It was so comforting to me to know that.  I love the scriptures.  I have such a powerful testimony on the influence the Book Of Mormon can have in our lives.  I know that as we read and ponder the things we learn that we will have power to overcome Satan.  I know that we will receive personal revelation and we will be able to feel of God's love for us.  I love the Book of Mormon and i encourage everyone to read it daily.  I know it can bless your life, because it has blessed mine. 

I love being a missionary.  I love Mountain Grove. I couldn't imagine being anywhere else.  I now know what it means to be truly happy.  It is a great time to be a missionary in the OTM!(: 

 

P.S. I have been out 5 months!!!!!!!!! 

 

Love, 

Sister Ritter 

 

pictures:

1) First time getting locked out.

2) Second time getting locked out

3) I hit my 5 month mark! Holla!

4) I love Sister Merrill!(: 

 

 

 

 

Miracles in Mountain Grove‏

Hello Friends and Family!

Oh my goodness! I love Mountain Grove. I am so thrilled to be here.  There are so many miracles that happen here every single day.  This is the best area to be in!  I wish i could put into words how happy i am about it(:

One of the biggest miracles that has happened this week is getting a new investigator!  The 3 day we were here we got a referral from a member to go and visit this inactive family.  The husband wanted us to come and teach his wife Vicky the lessons.  We didn't know if it was a situation where she was interested or if he just wanted her to take them.  So we show up on Thursday and we instantly started getting preached too by their family friend. Anything we would say, he would try to say we were wrong and prove it to us, but of course...never could. He left after about 40 minutes and Kennith said, "I am sorry. Sometimes i could pound him into the ground."  By this point i was terrified. But then we invited the spirit back and started talking to  Vicky.  She is what we call a golden investigator.  It went well and we invited her to church and to read the Book of Mormon.  She told us she would read but she wasn't sure about church. Well Saturday night rolls around and guess who calls us. VICKY!  She asked about Church and the times and wondered if we could get her a ride.  We told her we would and diligently looked for a ride.  The Lord blessed us.  We were able to find a ride and have everything work out perfect.  We were so excited.  We woke up on Sunday morning and the roads were a sheet of ice.  They live about 45 minutes away from the church by car, and in Missouri if it rains or ices everyone stays home.  We were not feeling very hopeful that they would be able to make it.  The members said they were not going to drive, so Vicky had no ride.  We got a text from her that said she didn't have a ride anymore, but she was going to ride her horses to church.  We told her not to worry about it and that church was cancelled anyways.  It was the best thing that has ever happened.  An investigator so excited to come to church that she would ride her horse in the freezing rain, miles away. It was seriously the best.  

Another Miracle. We were looking up some formers and potentials trying to find new people to teach.  We went to this house to visit someone named Nicky.  We pulled up and realized we had been to this house before.  We were inspired to look up the name that we had previously stopped for and realized it was Sherri.  We said a prayer that either of them would be home and that they would have a few minutes that we could visit with them.  Right after we finished praying a car pulled into the driveway. And it was Sherri.  She said she would love to have us over and talk with us, so we made an appointment with her.  It was incredible. Everyone is so nice here.  

This week we also taught a lesson at the Richardsons house.  Remeber how they have 30 kids? Plus adults, plus other families, plus recent converts.  We were terrified to teach that many people, but it went awesome.  The spirit was so strong.  We taught a lesson with 70+ people.  There is no way i could have made it without the Lord helping me through and giving me strength. It was a very powerful lesson!

Another Crazy story:  We were sitting at our desk and this battery just slid across the floor randomly like someone slid it.  Sister Merrill got a giant stick and went around our apartment stabbing things and in closets and under beds.  So thats cool. Our apartment is haunted. 

Random Fun Fact:  It is freezing cold here.  

Another Random Fun Fact:  One of the ladies that we have gotten to know really well and have grown to love has 26 dogs. I was in Heaven. (: Fed every single one a treat. 

There is countless other miracles and incredible events that have occurred this week, but i don't want this email too long, plus then i won't have any cool stories to tell when i get home. (; Just know that this is the best thing i have ever done.  I love this mission.  I love spreading the Gospel and relying on God to help me overcome the trials and difficulties we face in everyday life.  I love Sister Merrill and the time that we have together.  I love Mountain Grove and i am incredibly happy.  Hastening the work is JOY!(:

Love you XOXOXO

Sister Ritter 

Pictures: 

1) Feeding the dogs 

2)What's an email home without at least one selfie?

3) Frozen name tag

 

 

Mountain Grove, MO

Well Here i am in a new area, with a new companion!(:  I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT HERE.  Mountain Grove is a teeny tiny place here in Missouri, but it is the best area in the mission. (So i have heard from multiple sisters(; ) It is also in the middle of the meth capital in the U.S.  Welcome to the 417. The ward here is awesome!!! They are so missionary minded.  I know we are going to have great help from them!!

The bishop in this ward is amazing.  He has 30 kids!  They are all so sweet and so well behaved.  They are so focused and centered in the gospel.  It is like a party at their house every single night!  They have 3 kids on missions, one getting ready to leave, and a few preparing to go soon.  He is so supportive of us already.  I wish everyone could meet them.  (: 

Our apartment is MUCH different from the wonderful house in Ozark.  It is a little place.  Our neighbors are drunk a lot.  It smells like dog food all the time. The lights sometimes take a while to turn on and off, our stove smokes when we turn it on and the water tastes like Chlorine, but it is great!!! Our bishop is trying to get us a new apartment.  This morning it sounded like a bird was trapped in our cooler.  HA! It makes it more exciting.  

Sister Merrill is seriously the best.  I love her so much already.  We always laugh and make jokes.  She is so positive.  She notices every teeny little miracle that the Lord blesses us with.  She is adorable. She is from Highland Utah(: I am so grateful that the Lord placed us together.  We are going to kill it here in Mountain Grove.  We already decided we are going to stay here for multiple transfers(; 

It has been a little difficult trying to figure everything out here because we were shotgunned in.  We didn't know we were shotgunning, so that was an experience.  It has been really nice though.  We have been going through the ward roster and trying to meet everyone and figure out their situations.  There is a ton of recent converts here.  So that will definitely keep us busy.

Something i have been pondering and thinking about this week is urgency.  No one is rushing to go to church.  No one is rushing to read scriptures or to pray.  No one feels the need to quickly come unto Christ.  And it is really sad to me.  We are so close to the end. It is so important to read our scriptures, to pray, and to attend church and do all of those things that we learn from God.  We are getting our priorities mixed up.  I think it is so important that we think about Christ FIRST.  Every single day we should think about Christ.  Sunday is the sabbath day, but it isn't the only day we should be living and thinking about the Gospel.  The Gospel should be in our everyday lives.  In our everyday examples.  I would encourage everyone to put Christ first in your life.  Read scriptures everyday.  Even if it is only 1 verse.  Pray every morning and night to thank Heavenly Father for everything and ask for safety and peace.  Go to church on Sundays and take the sacrament, so you can be made clean again and again.  I know that it will make a difference in your life, because i have seen it.  I have seen the power of prayer and scripture reading, and i know that as you exercise faith in Christ, He will bless you with more than you can imagine.  I know that keeping the Gospel as a priority in our life and urgently following those things that it teaches, we will be inspired and blessed.  

I love you all.  Until next week(:

XOXO

Sister Ritter 

Pictures:

1) Goodbye BEST district in the world. 

2)MTC pals reunited

3)Me and the Beautiful Sister Merrill 

4)...and again (:   

 

 

Christmas!

This week was the week we have all been waiting for!  Christmas week!!!
So Christmas Eve was quite the day.  We had all the missionaries in our district over at the Peaks house.  We played pool, air hockey, watched Frozen, and basically just hung out as a big group of friends.  It was such a cool thing!  I almost forgot how to just party with a bunch of peeps!!! I love my district so much.  During Frozen, i decided to take a nap, because i had been sick.  Elder Connor touched my head and i jumped so high, it scared me to death.  Then i found out that i had been sleeping for over and hour and had different pictures taken of me.  WOW.  hahahha(:   We then went and made a "music video" in the sound studio.  I played the giant drum (whatever the real name for it is) It was a lot of fun.

That night, we had to go to an RLDS church.  We were invited to sing Christmas hymns there as a "religious Christmas truce."  It was definitely interesting and we aren't musical at all, but hey...it was a really cool experience i guess.  After, we went to Mcdonalds to finish out our night. Yup. Life of a missionary. 

Christmas day was thee fastest day in the history of ever!!!! Like for reals.  We got up, read scriptures and did the usual missionary stuff, and then at 10 we opened presents and just relaxed until it was time to Skype.  BEST DAY EVER,  I was so nervous to skype...but as soon as i got on, all was well.  Skype was a really great experience for me.  I learned so much believe it or not.  Talking to all of you and hearing your voices made me want to work harder.  I saw how wonderful all of you are and i realize that my family will always be there for me.  I want to be there for you.  I want to work as hard as possible so that because of my efforts, my family will be blessed.  I want all of my family to know just how important this gospel is to me and how much i would sacrifice for the Lord.  I love it so much.  I want to be together with all of you forever.  I want to receive the blessings of an eternal family. So i am going to give my all to the Lord.  It was really inspiring seeing all of you. 

The rest of this week, was kind of slow. Nothing really noteworthy.

Transfer results:  I will be transferred to Mountain Grove, MO. Not far from Ozark. (: I have been there 3 times on exchanges and i love it there!! Can't wait to see it again (:

Love you all!

Love,
Sis Ritter

Pictures:

1)Christmas Lights

2)Before presents

3) After presents

4)The District

5)The District part 2

 

 

4 Month Testimony.

I can't believe another month is here and gone.   I've learned a lot this past month.  I know God is real.  I know Heavenly Father knows us and loves us individually.  I know He can see the bigger picture.  I know that God is in control in our life and he will place us exactly where we need to be.  I know He guides us and directs our path.

I know He will bless us as we are diligent in keeping the commandments.  I know that by working our hardest to be Christ-like we will be showered with blessings. 

I know i am exactly where i need to be.  Serving the Lord on a full time mission. 

I say this in the name of Jesus Christ.

Amen.