The fields are ready to harvest...

HELLO DEAR FAMILY and FRIENDS  :)

Let me just say, I LOVE YOU ALL!!

This week has been the hardest week out here yet, but it has also been the most amazing week yet!!!

Let me start off by saying that we have 7 baptisms in the next month. 5 of them are technically mine and Sister Stanleys. Two families moved into the ward this past month with overage youth who had been taking the lessons before, so all we had to do was walk in and set dates with them! So Jacob (age 9) will be baptized on Saturday, super exciting!! And next Saturday Lisa and Kevin will married and baptized on the same day! They have been living together for the last 10 years so the bishop plans to marry them and then dunk them. The Crowther kids (4 of them) will also be baptized next Saturday. They are all so cute!! We've only met with them a few times but the kids love us so much, they even sat with us during Sacrament yesterday. The gospel is amazing and I am so grateful to be out here serving the Lord!

So last Saturday we went to a multi religious early Thanksgiving Dinner. There were a lot of Dubai people, a Jehovah Witness, and 4 LDS missionaries. It was really interesting. A lot of different beliefs and the J.W. guy just wanted to argue the whole time which the Dubai people are totally against. Then you have us, the little missionaries. We're all so little and everyone else is in there 50's.... so we talked about our beliefs and shared scriptures about Joseph Smith because they were the most confused about that. Overall it was good but strange.. The best part was when this lady burst into a Farsi prayer song, it was beautiful but utterly hilarious at the same time! 

Thanksgiving will be great! We have  been invited over to at least 5 houses, so Im planning on gaining 20 lbs this week. No big deal. I hope that you all have an amazing Thanksgiving and remember to be grateful for EVERYTHING! I've noticed that my prayers are getting longer and longer. They take like 15 minutes every night. THERE ARE TOO MANY PEOPLE WHO NEED GOD'S HELP!! And I don't even remember half of the people we meet on a daily basis. But I feel like Im making a difference so I pray for all of them anyways. 

Oh, the reason my week was a wee bit difficult was because my whole house is sick. Throwing up all over the place. I got to be mommy for a little and it was exhausting!!

So on the 30th I will turn 1 month old!! Crazy huh??? SO Missionary lingo. I was born on the day I entered the MTC. I will die the day I go home. So missionaries always explain it like this... " Sister -----, who is dead, was so funny this one time." It freaked me out the first couple times they said it because I was like, really they died, how? But no, they didnt die. They just went home! And my trainer Sister Stanley is my mom, and her trainer is my grandma. Sister Stanley also has another daughter who is training my MTC companion. So I'm an aunt. Basically my family tree is confusing and I dont understand all of it. But its fun!!

Also letters.... the only person I get letters from on a weekly basis is EVAN! And he doesnt count.... SO! Family, friends (except Cynthia because she loves me and writes me all the time)! Send me letters, and not emails because there isnt enough time to reply. LETTERS, LETTERS, LETTERS! Also if I don't get anything from Kathy and Karen soon, you will be fired! Karen, I know you read my blog. I"m calling you out girlfriend! Write me and I will send blessings your way!

Okay, I think I got everything covered! Love you ALL!!

LOVE

Sister Raubenheimer

(The best Missionary ever, well I'm trying to be)

 

"Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the ^afields; for they are white already to ^bharvest." (John 4:45)

First Email!!!

Hello ALL!!

SO the first week out in the mission field has been so crazy!!!

My companion's name is Sister Stanley and she turned 21 on Friday. She is so outgoing and loves to laugh so thats great! Im always reserved when I meet new people and she helps me be more lively. Our zone is called Bella Vista. We are in Queen Creek South stake, and Florence 2nd Ward. There have NEVER been sisters in this ward before so we're trying to figure that out. Its complicated because the Elders never left so we're sharing the ward with them and the Senior Couple (The Fishers). SO 6 missionaries in one ward. We have over 20 investigators…. we haven't even met all of them yet. Its totally overwhelming. So we have to share the ward with these Elders and they hate it because everyone already likes us better… like we're at the bishops house emailing and the bishop never even has time for them… Sisters just have it easier.

So you know how everyone said that Gilbert was super wealthy, well thats not my area. We have investigators that live in trailer homes. And we're in the middle of nowhere basically. The only store around is Walmart. It takes us a good 45 minutes to get to the Temple. Last night it was the Mission President Fireside and we drove past the temple, it was the most beautiful thing I've ever seen!!! The lights were on and it looked so heavenly! So amazing. And the Mesa temple will have Christmas lights, so we get to take our investigators down there. Its going to be weird seeing Christmas lights on Palm trees....

Oh, so we moved into a house that Elders have lived in for who knows how long. The bath tub was black!! SO GROSS. Dust everywhere and everything was dirty. Plus they left all their food and junk everywhere so we had to clean up after them. We use our half hour work out time in the morning to clean up the house because its still disgusting. It looks much better now. MOMs out there. Teach your sons how to clean!!!  

Our Ward Mission Leader is legit crazy about missionary work. On Saturdays at 6 AM we have a study session with him. He even goes tracting all over which we're not suppose to do but it works for him. I guess thats why there is so much success in this ward, he really cares about us and the investigators. We've been over there 3 times in the last week. His name is Bro. Jolley. They have 3 cute daughters under the age of 8 and Sis. Jolley is pregnant. Its fun hanging out with their family.

So funny story we had weekly planning and the Zone Leaders walk in with cups full of tea. I think they were trying to be funny because they looked ridiculous drinking their tea and updating us on all the announcements. Haha. Elders are funny. There are only two sets of Sister missionaries in our zone so it gets kinda crazy sometimes… but its all fun. We're going to go play basketball with the Elders this afternoon. Im ready to whip some butt. Lol 

Oh, we have a car because we drive all over but we use our bikes to ride around the neighborhoods. I love my bike, its so CUTE!

I can't think of anything else. So hopefully that answers all your questions!!

LOVING LIFE! And the people of Arizona. 

Know that you are in my prayers, and I miss you all very much!!!! 

-Sister Raubenheimer

my address is 

4096 E. Sierrita Rd.

San Tan Valley AZ. 85143

The next transfer is Dec. 17th. SO who knows if we'll be moving again. When it gets close to that date just send it to the mission home and the ZLs will get it for me.

Finally in Arizona

Pictures!!!!

                                        No letter this week but here are pictures

Everyone in her district's tag

 

Companions

Gilbert Girls

Gilbert Missionaries