So Grateful!

July 22, 2013

I hope everyone is having a wonderful day today!! 

Thank you for all of your letters! They always make my day and I can't even tell you how much it means to me! I will try and write back when I can.  

  

So this week was filled with miracles(as every day always is:)), but a lot of them happened on Sunday! 

We are now officially teaching Kayla who is a wonderful example to me of enduring trials! Wow, she has been through so many, but she still has faith in God and wants to do the right things! She is a mom who has so much on her plate, and still wants to do what is right! Sometimes she struggles with understanding why bad things happen to good people, but we all do! She is an inspiration to me! I really hope that as she reads the Book of Mormon daily she will feel the peace and comfort that comes with it.  I just remember sitting in the last lesson we had with her and thinking, don't give up!!!!  

Last night we met a man doing yard work, and he told us to knock on the door and talk to his wife. Crazy, cause that hasn't ever happened before!  She was soooo nice to us and was so excited that we were talking about Jesus. She LOVES Christ and told us that she isn't sure if any religion is true but wants to know.  We gave her a Book of Mormon and will see what happens! I just remember looking at that house and having a really really good feeling about it! So I am so glad we were able to share the gospel with their family!

Since it was so hot this week, 3 people let us inside their house and gave us water! That's pretty unheard of! We were let inside 2 times in one day! None of them were interested in hearing more about the gospel, but they were all such a blessing to us! One lady, Mary, gave us ice packs to put on our necks to cool us down. She was so cute! And she knows someone in our ward.  Another lady, who we taught a lesson to, made us milkshakes :)  And the other couple had a Book of Mormon--he even got it out and showed us!  People are so nice here!

Bethany Hartt, Sister Udall, Sister Hansen,
and Ann Marie. Bethany and Ann Marie
are in Rachel's current ward.

I remember sitting at dinner one night (at a member's home) and just being so content. I thought, I would have never met these people if I weren't on my mission! And all of these members are such stalwart examples and so fun! I feel so blessed to be out here! I know that Heavenly Father blesses us so much--and sometimes even more than I think I deserve.  So bottom line is that I am so grateful to be out here.  I was even happy as we were walking around in the sun Saturday afternoon talking to people! I looked really hot and gross, but I was still happy.  Sharing the gospel is such a happy thing! Today I am so grateful to be here and for everything that Heavenly Father has blessed me with!

I am so grateful for the gospel of Jesus Christ and this Church! I know it's true and know that it's the reason my life is so blessed!

Love, Sister Udall

As a missionary mom, I also want to express my gratitude for all the angels out there who watch and care for her while she is serving her mission. No matter what kind of angel you are; whether it be a letter/package, a stranger inviting her into their home because it is so hot or having her for dinner...these tender mercies mean a great deal to me and gladden my heart. As a mother, it is daily spiritual exercise of faith to have Rachel serve for 18 months, especially when I am so limited in what I can do for her. I am absolutely dependent on the Lord and angels

to watch over her. Again, I too am "so grateful" to those who I don't know who take care of her and those I do know who support and love her while she is in Virginia. It means the world to me. Thank you! 

This one is of Brother Roberts who we have been teaching! He is the best! And too cute! After our lesson last Monday he asked if he could get a picture with us! He probably took 15...we felt like we were famous :)

Sister Hansen, Sister Udall and Bethany Hartt
at Chipotle

Perfection vs. Progression

                                                                                   July 15, 2013

Hello!

I am officially one transfer into my mission! And yes, I am still with Sister Hansen in the Great Falls Ward!  Six more weeks here, I can't wait to see what will happen!  We have both decided we really need to work hard this summer.  Everyone tells us that the ward shuts down in the summer and that everyone is gone on vacation, etc.  Well we are finding that that is true.  HaHa!  This week was a little rough because most of our investigators (all the ones that we have talked to recently)  just told us they will be out of town for an entire month!  So SAD!! A month is a long time, and I hope that they don't forget about us!  So sad to say, we don't have too many investigators right now, but that's ok because we will find more!!! It will happen! But Sister Hansen and I set up more specific goals for our finding this week, so since we are focusing on it, we are going to find those that are ready to listen to us and hear more of our wonderful message.  During our personal study yesterday, Alma 21 and Mosiah 24 were both really comforting chapters for us (and Mom it is so neat how you mentioned Mosiah 24 as one of the scriptures in your letter! You are so inspired) 

This week, we got two referrals from the Hermanas in Bella Vista (the spanish ward in our stake).  And we were able to teach a lesson to 5 Egyptian guys because of it! We walked up to their apartment and two of them saw us and were so nice.  They invited us in! (And don't worry we had a member with us!! Bethany actually!)  We then started talking to them and taught them the restoration.  One by one, more of their roommates started to come out of their rooms.  By the end, we had 5 listening intently to us! It was so cool!  It was kind of crazy because they were all at different places with religion, understanding the language etc., but I could totally feel the Spirit!!  One of the guys even came to church on Sunday! Since I was giving my talk, I saw him walk in late. Unfortunately he had to leave right after Sacrament meeting because of work, but he said he would come again!  I am sad that he wasn't there for the sacrament, but he came!  (Oh, my talk went well apparently.  Everyone said it was good.  And I felt good about it.  It was really cool to see how Heavenly Father really knows the need of the ward, because all 3 of us that spoke really had the same message...Share the gospel!  I hope that I am able to help the members start making missionary work an even bigger part of their life.  There is already so much good that they do!) Sunday was so good! So many miracles, and missionary work is just the best! That's all I have to say!  Something I really liked from a return missionary (it was his homecoming talk, so he spoke) was that your "all" on your mission is seeing the progression that you make as you are trying your best everyday. It's not about becoming this "perfect" missionary, but seeing a change in yourself over time. I hope that I can say the best at the end of my mission is much greater than the best that I am giving right now!

But I am so grateful for this opportunity to be out here on a mission! I know that this church is true and that it will bless all of our lives! I know that the center of this gospel is Jesus Christ and His grace.  We can all access this grace as we humble ourselves, have faith, and are diligent!  (D&C 104:78-80)

I love you all and know that we can all make a difference every day as we strive to have charity just like Christ!

LOVE A MILLION!

Sister Udall

Heavenly Father is watching out for each one of us!

July 8, 2013

Dear Family,

It is so crazy how fast the weeks are flying by!  I can't believe it has already been 6 weeks that I have been out here!  And this week FLEW BY!!  Transfers are this week, don't know what will be the outcome of that (probably just staying here), but it is just crazy to think that I have been here 1 transfer already. 

Lets see...the highlights of this week.  There were so many!!

We were really busy to say the least.

On Tuesday we had dinner at Outback Steakhouse with an older man in our ward, Brother Larson.  He is so sweet to take us out to eat every single week, and he always is finding ways to help us out.  He had a few people in mind, and we were able to help him figure out how to bring up the gospel with them.  It was a really neat experience.  We also met the host and hostess at the restaurant and we gave them "Thank You cards" which were pass along cards with a note on the back.  The host started asking me questions about the church and was interested, but before I could explain more he had to help someone else. So that was the end of that.  But I hope that he looks at mormon.org like I told him to!!

Happy 4th! We are matching! And it was a long and hot day.  This is at the end of our long day so we don't look the best haha

But I am wearing the bow you gave me!!! It was so cute...you just can't see it!!

THE 4th of JULY was great! And really hot, but that's better than rain!  We had a ward breakfast, and there were 3 or 4 non-member families that came.  It was so fun to talk to them and get to know them.  They are all so great.  It was really good to get to know the members better.  They are all so fun, and this ward is starting to feel like home. We then went to the Vienna festival and talked to a couple people.  We talked to one man who had restored his car that he drove as a teenager.  Way cool.  Then we had the miracle of the day:  We checked on a lady that Sister Hansen had met before I got here.  We knocked on her door and found out that she didn't live there anymore.  But we found someone else who seems really interested in learning more!! She said we could come back next week and teach her more. Miracle!  Then we went home and did our studies at night (kind of a backwards day) and then went to a members house to have dinner and watch the fireworks.  Yeah, we got to watch fireworks! President Riggs made an exception and said that we could as long as we were home by 10:30.  One of the girls in their family reminds me so much of Emily...it's crazy!!!! 

We have had 2 people call us back in the past two days (when we called them weeks ago) who have wanted us to come back over.  We had a lesson with one of them yesterday.  She is such an amazing and strong woman and has been through so much! I just hope we are able to help her see how much the gospel will help her in her life!!

I went to a New Member Fireside last night.  It is a fireside where recent converts speak and share their conversion story.  It was such a neat experience to hear how different each person's conversion was but really how the blessings are all the same and all glorious! I have had a desire to have greater charity, and last night at the New Member fireside I realized something really important. These are HEAVENLY FATHER'S CHILDREN that I am teaching and talking to! I knew that before, but it just made sense.  They are the same as me, they just don't have the gospel yet. But they all have their own challenges and concerns, and learning takes time for EVERYONE. I realized that I just need to do the Lord's work HIS way and take things on HIS timetable so that these people I talk to are truly converted. I just need to have patience with them and show them that I love them. That just clicked with me last night, and I pray that I can apply that to my efforts this week. 

We did get names from the members, and lots! It has been fun to see how the members are doing their own missionary work and seeing success! There is a lot we have to do to follow up with them now, but I love that we can help the members out with their efforts!!

We also got to help our investigator's family move last Saturday. It felt so good to do service.  I mean I am trying to serve everyday, but it was good to just work hard in a different sort of way.  We also had help from the ward! Yay! It made me feel so good to see the ward reach out and help.  I know that means the world to our investigator!

Today we went to GREAT FALLS! There are actually waterfalls out here! Pretty great!  It was so fun to hike and be out in nature.  That was my mini "weber trip" this summer.  And it's so beautiful there!!

Rachel at Great Falls, VA
July 8, 2013

Great Falls, VA
July 8, 2013

I am so grateful for all of the miracles that have happened this week!!!!! I know that Heavenly Father is watching out for every single one of us and that he LOVES us all so much!  I am so grateful for this gospel and know with all my heart that it is true!

Love,

Sister Udall

PS: Tell Tom and Karen and Julie and Cameron THANK YOU FOR THE PINEAPPLE!!! That was such a surprise and made my entire day!!

This picture was texted to me by Bethany Hartt.
Bethany is someone in the ward where Rachel is serving in Great Falls.
Bethany was running and snapped this photo of Rachel
and her companion street contacting (talking to people
on the street). To say the least I was thrilled to receive
such an unexpected picture.
June 22, 2013

Serve with Heart, Might, Mind and Strength

July 1, 2013

HELLO!!!

So thanks for all the birthday wishes and packages!! My birthday was pretty awesome, I can't complain!  We went to DC and took the metro there.  I felt pretty cool! Then we went to the National Mall and went in a couple of the museums.  I could have spent all day there it was so cool! Definitely on my bucket list of things to do now! 

But here are some pictures of the exciting trip!

Capitol Building, Washington, D.C.
 June 24, 2013

Capitol Building, Washington, D.C.
June 24, 2013

Museum of National Archives, Washington,  D.C.
June 24, 2013

Rachel and the Washington Monument,
June 24, 2013

Happy 21st Birthday Rachel!

Sister Rachel Udall and
Elder Diego Alfaro
The Alfaro's moved from Burbank
10 years ago.

This week was the week of meetings! It was our Whole Mission Conference right before the mission split.  We not only have 6 zones in our mission. So sad, but the Richmond, VA mission is pretty lucky! They are getting some great missionaries!! It was crazy to meet with the entire mission, but so awesome! We were given so much great counsel from President Riggs and  Sister Riggs.  President Riggs talked about establishing patterns on our mission that we will use for the rest of our lives.  There are so many, that's for sure! But something that I realized later in the week is that Heavenly Father uses patterns to help us learn and grow.  It's an important principle to master.  If you thin about it, we go to Church every week, we read our scriptures and pray every day, we do soooo many things that have a pattern to them. I've realized that repetition and simplicity is so important!! We also had a meeting Tuesday that was kind of mind blowing!  Elder Ritchee talked all about Moses 1 and how once Moses knew his real potential he was instoppable.  He was able to resist Satan's temptations and to become the person that Heavenly Father wanted him to become.  If you think about that for a second...WOW!! Once we know who we are and what our purpose is in this life, we have POWER!!! I also loved Return and Report, which was on Friday.  We got lots of good counsel and instruction yet again!  But one thing that was little but stuck out to me was that President Riggs told us to make sure our language is dignified.  Dad you will appreciate this...he told us we need to stop using the word "like" as a filler.  Well Dad, you and President Riggs know best!!  Haha

We also have a progressing investigator now! David from Burma...he's the best!  His wife made us noodles again! She is too sweet.  We haven't met her yet, but he wants his wife to learn what we are teaching him! We had a lesson with him on Tuesday, and as he has been praying and reading the Book of Mormon he said that he now knows that the Joseph Smith story is a miracle. He was really skeptical when we told him about it the first time, but his heart is softening more and more! He really has a desire to know for himself if this is true, and has not recognized his answer yet if the Book of Mormon is true and that Joseph Smith is a prophet.

This Sunday our Bishop had every member write down a name of someone that they could start to share the gospel with and what they were going to do to start to share the gospel with their friend. He gave us all of the names and what the members will do, so we now have all these names to work with as we help the members in their missionary efforts. I hope that I can show the members how simple and easy it is! I am striving to be the missionary they need in the Great Falls Ward!

I feel that I am truly learning the Christlike attribute of patience more and more everyday. I know that I also need to work on humility and relying 100% on the Lord!!! I am going to strive to pray for more humility and trust in the Lord so that I can truly open my heart up to Him and let Him guide me. I know I NEED to serve him with all my heart, might, mind, and strength, but my pride gets in the way at times.  I just want to serve Heavenly Father with ALL my Heart, Mind, Might and Strength for the next 17 months. Oh yeah, I'm one month into my mission, officially yesterday. How crazy!!

Adorable cottage in Great Falls/Vienna

I love you ALL! Happy 4th of July to everyone!!!

LOVE,

Sister Udall

I am so blessed...GO and DO!

Hello Family!!

Happy 21st Birthday Rachel!

Thank you for all of the birthday wishes! And the presents.....I am too spoiled! I AM SO BLESSED!  It has been a wonderful birthday so far!  After this letter we are headed to Washington DC for the day! I am excited.  We get to take the Metro, look at some sights, etc.  It is supposed to be a hot day, but bring it on! I can't wait!  We both (Sister Hansen and I) have never been to DC, so we thought it would be smart to take a member with us to be our tour guide.  So we are going with Bethany Hartt, the one that sent the picture last week.  I will let you know all about that later!  But I attached a picture of my "birthday outfit" that you sent me! And I am in front of the Davis's house (the member's home that we live at).  Sorry all of my pictures are so lame.  I know that I need to be better, I just always forget!

But some fun little things I keep forgetting to tell you about...

Brother Davis makes these Chocolate Ice Cream Sodas.  They are like root beer floats, but with chocolate soda instead of root beer.  They are so good, and he has offered us them at least 3 times this week.  He is so sweet! We have only taken him up on the offer once, but hopefully again soon!

Bambi

The Davis' also have a little circular driveway, so that is my little "track" that I run on in the morning.  It is super little, but still great to get out and exercise!  This morning, there was a deer that was probably 15 feet away from me while I was running.  Every time I would go by, she would just look up at me.  Oh, and the really blurry picture of the deer, that is what I get to look at while I am studying.  It's really pretty up here! 

I have gotten a couple big bug bites already! I'm sure I will get plenty more, but let summer begin!

This week was great, once again!  We were able to find another investigator.  He is 92 years old, and a genius! Oh, and his name is Bob, and he apparently worked for Senator "Mo" Udall.  He recognized my name :) Bob has such a faith in God and has the neatest conversion story to go with it!   He has taught a bible study class for 50 years, so he knows the Bible really well...kinda intimidating, but I know that I have a testimony of this gospel.  That brings me such great comfort and strength!  Our two lessons with him this week were really long because he talks a lot, but with patience and love I hope he will truly recognize that we are representatives of Jesus Christ and have a SPECIAL AND UNIQUE message that will improve his relationship with Heavenly Father even more!   He did read the pamphlet that we gave him about the Restoration and had questions!  That's exciting, because he kept the committment we gave him!  One story that he has brought up a couple of times is that he has been praying about a water project that he has been working on.  He doesn't know how to fix the problem, and feels like he hasn't received an answer.  I don't think he knows how or hasn't really felt like God has answered his prayers before, or is not answering this one at least!  I think that maybe helping him receive an answer to his prayers will help him progress in his faith.  He also has the sweetest wife! She has alzheimerz (sp?), but you can tell that they love each other so much! TOO SWEET!! 

We also had a really wonderful experience this Sunday.  We checked on a former investigator, Kayla.  When we opened the door she let us in and then said that when her phone rings she has to take the call, but she wanted us to stay.  The phone rang as soon as she had invited us in, so we just sat there waiting and wondering what was going on.  Then she came back in and let us know that we had come at THE PERFECT TIME! She said that she felt that God had sent us here. WELL HE DID!!  And she wanted us to pray with her.  She is going through a lot.  Her daughter is in Tanzania on a service project, but she is going through some rough stuff.  So Kayla is really worried about her daughter.  I could only imagine being worried about your daughter who is soooo far away!! We shared John 14:27 with her about peace.  That was actually something that President Riggs had talked about at Zone Conference this week.  I love that so much because as we rely on Christ, we receive a peace that can't come from anywhere else.  It is unlike the peace of the world and I LOVE THAT! That means that we can have that peace with us whenever...even during the hardest times, not just when life is calm and without contention, etc. But Kayla was so grateful for us coming over, and I am just so grateful that the Lord is so mindful of each and every one of us.  Prayers are always answered. And in unexpected ways as well!!

I am so excited and love the work more and more every day!!!!  The broadcast last night was another reminder about how much we need to show the members that we want to help THEM, not them help us. This is their ward that we are strengthening.  These are their friends and their loved ones!  Bishop Richardson came up to us after the meeting and said that in the combined Priesthood/Relief Society meeting next week he wants to get all the members to write down 10 names that they can share the gospel with!  The work in Great Falls will be moving along very soon!  I am just praying that I will be a worthy missionary that can help all of their friends learn more about this wonderful gospel!  During the broadcast last night I just felt such a urgency to LOVE everyone and let them know what a blessing this gospel can be in thier lives! And I also had such a strong impression that this next generation, the youth right now, the little kiddos, and even my kids and being prepared for such a MARVELOUS and WONDERFUL WORK!! I just can't even imagine what great things will come because of it! (And I know that I have been prepared because of all the wonderful teachers, friends, and family that I have!)  But I know that the Lord has confidence in all of us as we look to him and prepare.  Something this week that has really comforted me is knowing that WE CANNOT MESS THIS WORK UP!! So  just GO AND DO--open up your mouth and share the gospel!!! Let them know how much it has blessed your life and show them that you do it because you love them! Faith and action is all it takes!  I know that that seems easy on paper, but it will take a lot of work, patience, diligence, and perseverance.  I know that the Lord is CONFIDENT in EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US MEMBERS (new, old, experiences, inexperienced, etc.) because He has asked that ALL OF US go and share the gospel!  So I am going to keep on working at doing my part!!! So keep up the work wherever you may be...it all makes a difference, every little bit! (John 4: 35-38)

LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH!
Sister Udall

PS If anyone didn't get to watch the Broadcast, WATCH IT! It was AMAZING!!! You're missing out if you didn't see it!

Miracles and Sunshine

Dear Family and Friends,

Hello!!!

 

This week was full of miracles and lots of sunshine!!! 

 

We have two new investigators!! One of our new investigators is someone that we found from tracting on my first day in the field! He is an older gentleman from Burma and is so kind. The first time we met him at his door, he said we could come back and "convince him". Well, we won't convince him, but I know that the Spirit can if he keeps all the commitments we give him.  He has A LOT of questions about the church and is extremely impressed with the success of the church, but says that he wants to learn more. It's almost intimidating how much he knows! haha  He was asking me the other day about fast offerings.  He is a prepared soul, that is all I have to say!  He knows a couple in our ward, and he has cousins that are members.  At our lesson, he said that he could see himself joining the church at this time.  He said he had a good feeling about us missionaries and just needs to gain a testimony for himself! 

We had so many miracles with some less active memberes in our ward.  We visited two sisters who have not been to church in a while, and both of them came to church on Sunday!  I know they are both unders so much stress and have a lot on thier plate, but they still came!  It made my heart so happy to see both of them there!  I know that as we go to church we are blessed more than we can ever know!!  Another sister that we have been visiting is too sweet to us!  We talked about preparing to go to the temple and preparing family names to take to the temple.  At the end of the lesson, she told us that she will be at our temple sealings some day! 

We also found two really amazing people that are interested in learning more about the gospel! They both took a Book of Mormon, and were so kind, nice, and interested.  We gave a Book of Mormon to a girl about my age, and she is so awesome!  She has already heard about the Church and wants to read the Book of Mormon.  She loves Christ and has just recently started praying more!  It is truly amazing how the Lord is preparing people for us to talk to, and that this is HIS work...no if, and or buts about it!

 

Sister Udall and Sister Berg

I went on an exchange with Sister Berg this week.  That was an amazing experience.  We got to teach two lessons, and both of them were so powerful and beautiful in thier own ways. For one of them we watched the Restoration film, and it was amazing to feel the presence of the Spirit in the room!  The young man also said that his friends told him he shouldn't get baptized, because once he is baptized you get a "negative energy".  Sister Berg asked him what he thought about that, and he smiled and said, "I want to get baptized, and I have only felt a positive energy so far!"  It is so true! The Spirit has a positive influence on our lives!   The other man that we taught was amazing as well.  After we had said a prayer with him, he said that that was the closest he has ever felt to God before.  It made me so happy to hear both of them talk about how the Spirit has touched thier lives already!  Sister Berg is also one of the most inspiring people I have met! And it is because she is the queen of thoughtfulness and service!  She was always complimenting me and was as positive and excitied about missionary work as anyone could ever be! It was contagious! Then she made omlettes for us in the morning!  She is so thoughtful, and I hope that I can follow her example more. 

 

So the picture that Bethany Hartt texted you is actually a cool one...the man I am talking to is from Switzerland!!! I almost died when he said he was from Switzerland.  I was so excited!  His name is Fritz (such a cool name, right?).  He was very nice and kind.  I don't know how interested he was in the gospel, but he made my day! (Oh, and Bethany Hartt just got her mission call to the San Fernando, CA Mission! What a small world.  She is speaking spanish, but look out for her in August or so.)

 

I also saw my friend Melissa Lund at church on Sunday! Her ward meets right after mine...crazy!  It was so fun to see her!

 

"Random animals everywhere, even at the
Bed, Bath and Beyond parking lot."
 What should we name this new friend of Rachel's?
Name contest...winner gets a prize!

This week went by really fast, and I hope that is because I am doing my best and working hard.  It is amazing how many miracles I have seen in the past week (and weeks).  I am so grateful for the hand of the Lord in all of our lives!  He truly does know us, and is there for us all the time.  We just need to open up our heart and let him work miracles in us!  I am learning that every day, and don't know where I would be without it!  It is amazing to see how the gospel is being spread to all the world and how the work is hastening on.  I know that it is moving forward everywhere!!  It really shows how much God loves all of us.  He doesn't want us to wait another minute to share it with others.  They need to know how great it is ASAP! 

 

Love you all so much!

Sister Udall

 

D.C. South Mission Possible, Week 1

Dear Family and Friends,

Rachel's email came today along with 6 pictures. Most of the pictures are from the MTC and one is from the day she arrived in D.C. The captions are my words. I was thrilled to get some pictures she took.  

FYI, Rachel's 21st birthday is June 24th.  Please keep this a "blog secret," I never told you it was her birthday! What happens on the blog stays on the blog.  She likes to keep things very low key and not draw attention to herself.  Just thought you might like to know in case you want to drop her a birthday note.

Lots of love,
Kristin  




Hello!!!

Rachel's 1st day at the MTC (I think)
 This picture makes me smile and I just want to hug her!

So I have just completed my first full week in Virginia!! The time really flies!  The days are long, but I can't believe it is already p-day again. 

This week was tough in some ways, but it was rewarding as well!! Here are some of the highlights...

Monday was a good day! We were out trying to contact some people that we had talked to the previous week (either given them a pamphlet to read, a Book of Mormon, or said to come back at a better time), and we weren't having too much success. Then we remembered an older couple that we had been trying to contact last week.  We decided to give them a try.  Well, we were in luck!  We knocked on the door and the wife was so excited that we were there! She is the nicest ever, and was so excited to sit down and talk with us.  We were able to teach her about the restoration and Joseph Smith.  She really liked the story of Joseph Smith and said that it made sense that God would also give us prophets today, just like in times of old.  It was really neat to teach a lesson, and not expected.  We haven't taught very many lessons here, but this week was a good week! 

Tuesday we went to district meeting.  That was really good, and it was fun to see fellow missionaries.  We got to teach another lesson, to a friend of one of the members in our ward.  It was so neat to see how much the members really bring to the lesson.  The member family practically taught the lesson!

Wednesday I got to go to a meeting called "New Expectations"...for all of the newbees like me!!  It was fun to see everyone from the MTC.  I ended up driving there, and I am glad that we had a GPS!! The roads are so crazy here! I don't know if I mentioned that in my last letter, but they are! They will have streets that will stop and then pick up 3 blocks later.  All the streets are windy, and I never know which direction i am going.  But everything is getting more familiar.  They also have really similar street names.  Like Turnpike Rd and Turnpike Ct and Turnpike Ln...all different! I'm just not used to it yet. haha  My companion and I don't have a GPS yet, so it was a BLESSING to have one when we went to this meeting.  We did service at a alternative youth home where we organize thier donations that we get.  That was fun, and I love to organize so it was almost therapeutic! That night we taught another lesson, and our mission president came!!  He is amazing, and it was so great to have his counsel and encouragement. That night for dinner we had a member feed us, but she bought this nice, expensive tray of bbq food from a restraunt because she didn't have time to feed us.  It was HUGE!  I thought it was so funny to see this huge tray of food and just two missionaries sitting in a park eating all that food.  We are still working on the leftovers, but it was delicious!

Thursday we did service at a members house where they have a retirement home in thier basement.  There are the three cutest ladies there that we talked to and played games with.  They are very funny! We played "guess that song" with them.  Both Sister Hansen and I would play the piano and they would guess what song it was.  They were way good at that!  We also played pictionary.  I am excited to get to know them better!  We had another lesson that went well!  It was so exciting to teach people and help them understand more about the scriptures.  We were reading in the Book of Mormon with her, and it was so neat to see how the scriptures can really help people understand what this gospel is all about! 

Friday we had dinner with one sister who is just coming back to church! She is so kind and sweet, and I love her so much already!!!

Saturday and Sunday we visited quite a few members.  It was fun to get to know them more.  Our ward has so many wonderful people in it! I am grateful for the support that we do have.  There are some members that are so busy, but still make time out of thier busy lives to help us out! 

All in all, this week was great!  I am definitely learning PATIENCE and HUMILITY every single day.  I am also learning to just relax and to really focus on the people.  Sister Hansen is so good about helping me take a step back and enjoy the moment!! She said that her trainer reminds her a lot of me, so it was meant to be that now I am her trainee!! Heavenly Father really does know us all!! I know that He is watching out for me, and everyone else!! He prepared Sister Hansen to be my trainer, and she is such a wonderful companion!!!

I know that Heavenly Father loves each and every one of us so much, and more than we can imagine! I know that His hand is in all of our lives! I know that He loved us enough to send His son, Jesus Christ, to suffer and die for us so that we can all return to Him someday! I know that with all my heart! I know that we are all precious sons and daughters of God! I know that missionary work is so important, and I hope to be the best servant I can be!

I hope that everything back home is wonderful and well!! I LOVE YOU ALL!

Love,

Sister Udall

 

Rachel at the MTC with other sister missionaries going to D.C.

Rachel takes on the world, specifically D.C. South!

Rachel's MTC district (I assume)

The 38 missionaries who arrived at the Washington, D.C. South Mission
May 29, 2013
Where's Rachel?