One Year.

With my year mark being just around the corner, I've been thinking a
lot about all that has happened over this past year and how much my
life has changed from serving a mission. I wouldn't be here if it
weren't for a loving Heavenly Father who knows just what I need. Last
June, I would have much rather been up in Logan and going to school
then getting ready to leave on a mission. One year before that though,
I received the most definite answer to a prayer that it was what I
needed to do, even if it wasn't what I wanted.

It has been HARD. Before I came out, I thought that missions were a
breeze. All you ever see is the happy, chipper side of missionaries!
Boy was I oblivious! There is speaking a different language which has
been a struggle, watching the people you love so much reject the
gospel, having enough faith to be exactly obedient, etc. The list
could go on.

BUT...

I can tell you that every single hard moment or trial of faith that I
have experienced has been worth it, and I would not trade this time
for anything in the world! I have grown and learned in ways that
wouldn't have been possible had I not decided to serve.

Each transfer that I have been out here, there has seemed to be some
kind of theme. Like one transfer was really focused on the plan of
salvation, the next on the importance of being humble, and another
about the blessings of the temple. Things that once didn't have a huge
priority to me now do. The gospel has become so real and it has been
the sweetest experience to see it changing the lives of the people
here, including my own.

Not only have I learned a ton regarding myself and the gospel, but I
have also had the chance to be around and learn from some of my
favorite people in the world. I never thought that I would be able to
talk with people from Chile, Mexico, El Salvador, Honduras, Peru,
Bolivia, Venezuela, Cuba, etc. I have been taught a ton about Hispanic
life. For example with Mexicans you should always expect to eat salsa
and a bunch of tortillas with every meal, and the tortilla is your
fork. It has been really fun learning all of the different ways that
people live!

Serving here in the Houston, Texas mission has been the best year FOR
my life. It has changed everything. I can't wait to see what these
next 6 months have in store!

It was a killer week. Especially with Ivonne and her family. Monday
night we had an FHE with them and she invited her neighbors! We played
"Don't Eat Pete" and related it to the Holy Ghost. We visited them the
next day and Stephanie (11) told us that she wants to be baptized! Two
days later, Ivonne told us that she wants to as well!
Ever since we met Ivonne, she has been very close to the spirit and it
is because she is so humble! She has recognized the differences in her
home and family as she has been going to church, reading the Book of
Mormon, etc. and because of that, she has been able to stay strong as
she has lost friends because of her choice to investigate the church.
So many of the people she talks to try to tell her terrible things
about the church, but she listens to her heart and has kept going
strong!
Because she listens to her heart and the spirit, she had a cool
experience this week. She had made plans to go out of town without her
kids, just for the weekend in order to go to a conference that she got
free rooming, food, and tickets for. Her mind was made up about it and
she was excited. On Thursday when we went to her house to visit her,
she told us that she felt like she needed to stay at home and so she
cancelled her trip. She was happy to do it because she felt like it
was very important that she was at home, even thought she really
wanted to go to meeting. Sunday morning came and her son ended up
having to go to the hospital because he was super sick and because she
listened to the spirit, she was able to be there when all of this
happened.

Great things are happening here! So many happy moments and miracles
are taking place! The gospel is real and the church is true!

Love,
Hermana Rupp