Last email, Fast & Testimony in CA, P-Day, and many other lastsl!!!!!

This is crazy! I'll be home in a little bit. haha

Honestly I don't even know what to say! I will just tell you everything when I get home! We had BBQs meals like crazy!

I'M COMING HOME!!!!!!!!!!!

LOVE YOU!

Elder Ruelas

Soon to be just Andy Ruelas!

Happy Last Day In June:)

MOM I'M COMING HOME!!!!!

Man it is my last week! I can't wait to be home. I just wanna take 1 big long nap! haha. 

Well this week was my departing missionary temple trip. It came up last minute because of the fact that this Friday is 4th of July. It was super cool because I got to see President Hall and some other missionaries I was friends with. It was great!!!

This week we also found a ton of new investigators. We ended up doing a Family Home Evening with the family we found last week. We picked up the kids as new investigators and they really like  FHE. The dad even said that it is something he wants to do with his family every week. We didn't even start the game yet. We read the Proclamation to the Family and they really liked it. We also found this girl that just had a ton of questions about our beliefs. The best part of the week though is the lesson that we had with 2 of our investigators. The father and the son who we found on the street. We taught them the Plan of Salvation and the dad just looked at us and said "Ya'll are the first church that says good things about Adam." At the end of the lesson we invite him to be baptized. He looks at his son and asks- do you want to do this. They both said yes. The best part of that is when we asked why. He said that he wants to feel happy again. He hasn't felt happy for so long and he is just sick of it. His date is for July 19th. 

So dad is getting the Melchezidek Priesthood? That is awesome!!!!! 

Well I gotta get going Mom. My time is about to run out.

LOVE YOU!!!!!

Elder Ruelas

You can still send me mail up to Monday, just saying.

Happy 2 weeks left this coming Wednesday:)

MOM!!!!!!

Dang this week was a crazy week! Lets just say that I am glad I get home in 2 weeks. Can you believe it though?  2 and a half weeks. Next Monday I have 10 days left! I remember when I was barely out and thought  "Can I do this for 2 years?" Wow! Lets just say that I am super greatful for my Savior Jesus Christ because I would have not been able to complete my mission without his help.

Hey so today I bought 2 new shirts and a watch online from JC Pennys. I am planning on taking all of my old shirts, my old pants, my sheets, towel, and pillow to Goodwill. I am just taking home the new shirts, my suit, shoes, and clean ties.

So this week was a really good week. We found a ton of new investigators. We found a father and a son and they are both really interested. They even came to church. That was super nice since we haven't had a single investigator show up since I got here. Then we found a husband and a wife that are going through family problems. The wife is really interested but is going to another church and the husband is semi interested since he works a ton. What is really nice is that they are friends with and live right across the street from a really super cool and strong family from church. Their kids always go over to the members house because they say that it feels different there. The best part of the lesson was how at the end, the wife asked us what chapter in the Book of Mormon gives good advice on how to be a better parent. We had already given her Mosiah 2 and we told her we would let her read that chapter and come back with another chapter that would give her more answers to her prayers. The next 2 was a Mother and Daughter and it was mainly the mom asking a ton of questions. She was asking questions like why does God allow so much suffering to occur and how does a divorced family get sealed. What happens to the kids that belong to a different dad. She was a bit more challenging but what was nice is that she is related to another strong member family. We had the son with us and he answered some questions. The 2 teens that came out with us really impress me. I know that I wasn't anything like them. I wasn't that willing to go out with the missionaires and didn't know as much as them. They are gonna be really good missionaries.

So did dad sell the car? How is dad doing? How is everyone doing? What is my niece up to? Tell that booger I will be home soon.

Well mom I believe that is it that happened this week. 2 weeks!!!!!!

Love you

Elder Ruelas

Happy 3 weeks Elder!!!!!

Whats up Mom

It is awesome to hear about dad! What did he think of my letter? Thanks for the letters on my Birthday! It was actually a pretty fun day. Worked hard and came home and my roomates surprised me with a cake and it turned into a cake fight!  Haha

The week was a decent week. We set a baptismal date with one of our investigators and she is super interested. We also found a super cool new investigator that seems really interested. I was on exchanges and not in my area when they found her but I guess they were going to set a baptismal date with her and then the kids got super super rowdy. She dropped everything she was doing just to listen to us. You dont see that happen that much so that says a lot. The worst part of the week though was hearing our super cool investigator just deny everything he has felt since we have been teaching him. He flat out said "I think my life would be better without Christ in my life." It was terrible. His brother says he still wants to come close to Christ which made us really happy but.

Gotta get going but I love you Mom

I WANNA GO HOME!!!! Haha

Elder Ruelas

Happy 1 month left on your mission and Happy 21st Birthday week!!!!!

What's up Mom!

So the visit from the 70 went well? What was dads reaction? How come you didn't send a  picture to Elder Nelson, Elder Garns, Elder Martinez or Elder Nash? I wanted them to interrupt the meeting just for me haha! What did President Hansen saying about me? 

So this week was Pretty good. We had 2 really good lessons with our investigators who ended up accepting a baptismal date for July 5th! (MY 2 YEAR MARK!!!!!!!) We were super pumped after Elder Nelson came and he spoke to us. What I really liked about what Elder Nelson said is that they don't judge how successful a mission President is by how many baptisms they had when they were President, they judge by how many of their missionaries go to the temple to get sealed with their families. That brought peace to my heart.  It truly is about conversion. Then he taught us about our lineage. How we are truly decedents from the 12 tribes of Israel. That helped me understand a part of my Patriartical Blessing. I started studying that topic and I have learned so much about the blessings God has given all of us. It's all there in the scriptures we just need to look. Then Elder Nelson talked about how we truly were chosen to stay in Heaven for this time. To come here at this time and fulfill proficy about the gospel being spread through out the world. His whole talk basically got me to think "Have I been doing that in my mission?" Everybody else was saying that they were going to do the things he was saying but not me. I kept asking myself that question. I am still asking that question. The best part of his visit was the promise he left us. I couldn't write it all down but the 1 thing that did catch my attention more than anything was that he said that we will learn the things we need to know to bring the gospel to our Family and Friends back home. That was truly an answer to my prayers. My entire mission I have felt that that was all I was doing. I wasn't helping anybody but I was still learning a lot. I felt like the things that I was learning wasn't helping anybody here. Then I started to ask for help to take what I learn and be able to help others back home. Then when he said that I was like "YES!" That isn't a bad thing to ask for. Overall it was a super great lesson. 

I got your package. Thank you! I appreciate it. I am giving all of the candy to my roommates though haha. I need to lose weight! I also got a letter from My Aunt Debbie today. 

Anyways I gotta get going.

LOVE YOU!!!!!!!

Elder Ruelas

1 MONTH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Happy 6th Week Elder Ruelas

Whats up Mom!

 

I just got my flight plans!!!!!!! I am gonna get home around 10 p.m.!!!!!!! I'M COMING HOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Dont worry Mom I am not trunky!

 

Well this week was pretty good. Usually the last week of the transfer is the longest but this past week went by fast. We have been getting a ton of referals from the members so they are keeping us busy. I am not gonna lie though nothing much really happened. We got back in contact with 2 of our solid investigators only to hear that one of them was going to start working a 14 hour job. I did realize that one of the families in our area reminds me of us. The mom is super busy and has had to work a ton lately so she hasn't gone to church and if she doesn't go the rest of the family doesn't go. We are gonna start having Family Home evenings with them starting tonight to keep them going but I really like this family. There are 2 families here that I really like a ton.

 

So my comp and I are staying the same. I'm cool with that. We are gonna work our butts off this transfer. My last 2 companions have told me that the last 3 weeks are the hardest though. So he might have to drag me along those last 3 weeks, just joking, haha.

 

Well that's about it. Love you Mom!!!!

 

Elder Ruelas

52 days and Counting:)

What's up mom!

So this week was kinda slow. We got our hopes up with this lady that stopped us. She was telling us how she was just going through a really rough time. She recently lost her husband and she said things went down from there. She was drinking a bit but she wanted us to say a prayer for her. We did and she grabbed our hands which was pretty funny. What was even funnier though was when we were saying the prayer she started to fall over and wouldn't let go of our hands. We kept her up though. We kept talking afterwards and we ended up walking her home so that she wouldn't go to the party. We get to her house and meet all of her kids. She has 13! They range from 20 to 3 months. Then she starts telling us how she wants her family to become more unified. She wants to be a better mother. Then she looked at us and said "Thats where you guys come in right?" Um YA! So we set up a return appointment cause we had to get home. We come back for the appointment and they were home but refused to open the door. That was probably the most exciting thing that happened this week. 

How is everything going at home? It has been SUPER hot here.  

I have one and a half Months till I get home!!!!!! Less than a month till my birthday!!!!! Can I buy a pair of sneakers for my birthday? haha

I gotta get going mom but I love you! Take care and I will find out Saturday if I am leaving or staying.

Elder Ruelas

Happy 2 months week:)

Whats up Mom,

Thanks for the pictures and the money. I am far away from any good shopping places to buy stuff haha. Don't worry mom I am trunky too. I am counting down the days. Mornings are hard but once 12 o'clock comes around we are out working like dogs just so I can keep my mind off of going home. 

This week was a pretty mellow week. We found 2 new investigators but most of our lessons got cancelled. We did have a super good lesson though with our 2 teenage investigators that are doubting if God is real. The spirit was there without a doubt and they even read what we left with them the time before. Their desire to go and find out for themselves is growing so much and now it just up to them to actually do something. We will see how it goes with them. Other than that nothing much really happened. Some members really wanted us to stay and watch the Mayweather vs. Maidana fight on Saturday. I REALLY wanted to stay and watch it too but I had to put my Trainer/District Leader pants on and say no. Man 2 Months and I can watch a boxing match, a basketball game, a soccer game without even feeling guilty anymore haha. There was also a Cinco de Mayo festival and parade on Saturday that was super cool. We went for a bit and handed out pass along cards but we couldn't stay for that long. 

So yes I did get the letters from Relief Society. I am letting my companion go first at like 3 or so. I figured since it is his first call home he can go first. I was thinking like a Honda Civic or something that is really good on gas. A truck will use up too much. Or I can take your Juke.... Has my car gotten sold yet? That thing needs to get sold.

Well I am gonna go now. 

LOVE YOU!!!

Elder Ruelas

2 months and 4 days!!!!!!

Happy 1st week in May:)

Whats up Mom!

I sent some pictures. Sorry you know I don't have patience to upload pictures haha. It is good to see Isabel is getting a whole lot bigger! I am SUPER excited to see her! I got the letter you sent me. Thank you! I put 2 of the pictures on my last planner! I can't believe I can say that! I have 10 weeks left!!!!!!! Next week I will be down to single digits! Yes I am trunky but don't worry I am working my butt off. 

So how was the Reunion? It is good to see that my Tios showed up and my Tia Ana. Did I get a shirt? My last one shrunk so it doesn't look that good anymore. Is anything crazy happening in the family? What all did you do at the reunion? Next year I am going no matter what.

So this week was kind of a slow week. We didn't find anybody new to teach but we had some really good lessons with our investigators. We set a baptismal date, then we had a Super good lesson with this lady. She knows that what we are teaching is true but she is saying that there is about 10% in her that doubts. I told her about you and how you are the backbone of the family that has gotten all of us to church and how dad is now little by little going to church. Thank you Mom for being that example to her too. Yesterday we had a lesson with our investigators that are full of questions and are doubting that God is real. We read Alma 32 with them and you could tell that they felt the Spirit. The questions they were asking were because they were feeling the Spirit. It was a really amazing lesson.

The members are really cool here. They have taught me how to make 3 leches! It is super good too! Last Monday night I hit a dog and it was crazy because we ended up setting a return date with the neighbors of the owners of the dog. Things happen for a reason.

Well time is running out mom I gotta get going. Pretty much 70 days left till I get home! I AM GOING HOME!!!!!!

LOVE YOU

Elder Ruelas

 

 

I learned How to make 3 leches

Spider Bulldog.....luckily it was chained up so it didnt go far haha

We got bored and decided to take a picture dressed as H-U-D-A rats

Its 1 of my piggy banks that I bought out here haha

 

Happy Easter week!

Whats up Mom!

So the new area I am in is called Wasco. It is a really small town but I really like it. It is an agricultural town with a whole bunch of Latinos. It feels just like home. I am in a ward that is having me do Bilingual work. It is weird teaching in English but I really like where I am at. 

It is good to hear that Dad made it home safely. Did he mention if missionaries went by?  Did Mari Cruz let the Sisters in? How is Texas? I AM ALMOST HOME!!!!!!!!! I can't wait! Right now I am in a 4 person Apartment and there are 2 brand new missionaries. It is fun being the oldest missionary! It took a while to get one of the missionaries to open up to me but I got him. He didn't know that I like to work first and then have fun so he thought I was super strict and all that but he is coming around. The week was pretty good. We found a really cool investigator. Then we found another new investigator that same day. She is pretty cool. Other than that the week was slow but I did get to know a lot of the members.

Easter Dinner was cool. We had it with an English family named the Slades. It was funny because the other missionaries were reminiscing about the pranks they pulled on each other the last transfer. My companion (Elder Thompson from Michigan) had a ton of pranks pulled on him. I need to toughen him up. If you have any ideas for pranks let me know and I will tell you how they go haha.

Well I gotta get going. 

LOVE YOU!!!!!

Elder Ruelas

Happy Good Friday This Week!

Whats up Mom!

I AM GETTING TRANSFERRED!!!!!!!!!! Hahaha I am super excited  and at the same time a bit bummed out. I don't know yet where I am going but am going to be a district leader and finishing the last 6 weeks as a new missionaries trainer. I am pumped but at the same time pretty nervous because there is a place that has opened up that is very....open..... It is supposed to be an English area but there are some Latinos there so President thought it would be a good idea to make it a Spanish area. I will be in a car. 

This week was a pretty good week. We found a really cool new investigator that knows 7 languages. They offered to give us food. My companion learned how to make yogurt. Homemade yogurt. I don't have the picture but my companion had to keep the pot warm and our stove would be too warm so he put it on an iron that he propped up with 2 t-shirts. I can't believe that it worked out haha. 

Sounds like some good stuff happened at home. I sent the missionaries to everyone down in Mexico. I hope everybody lets the missionaries in! I hope I get an email from Fernanda too. Tell her she should write me or something.

2 and a half months till I go home!!!!!!

LOVE YOU!!!

Elder Ruelas

p.s. please send me the pictures of my shoes on me bed so I can put them on my planner.

Happy 3 Months this Wednesday!!!

Whats up Mom!

Ya so General Conference was SICK! It was the highlight of the week. It was full of meetings so by the end of the Sunday Afternoon session I had to stand up and watch the rest of the conference. I really like the Priesthood session. I also really liked the Saturday morning Session. I have a feeling I am going to have to study this session a lot when I get home. I just got that feeling. (Something that is said in my Patriatical Blessing) It was pretty funny cause I kept on getting trunky cause I would hear the Apostles say stuff and then I would think "OK I am going to do that when I get home." Then I would start to think about going home and what I am going to do and all of this stuff so I had to stop and think about other things haha. What did you think about conference? I really recommend going back and listening to or reading the Saturday Morning session. It was really REALLY good. 

I got your package and I already spent some money. We found some SICK piggy banks and so I got a Glass Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Piggy bank and an Optumis Prime Piggy Bank. I am gonna try to go back and get a minion from Dispicable Me for Isabel. I got Dad's letter too. I haven't had time to write him back though. I am going to try to do that tonight before I go to bed and also to my converts down in the Valley. 

Thank you for signing up for my classes. I plan on going back in the Fall. I need to stay busy and keep working hard. I don't want to start slacking. I am nervous for school but I am super excited! I get to see a whole bunch of girls! haha But when I get home I need to eat Healthy cause I gotta lose weight and look good for the girls at college just saying.

Hey so I had to buy a new SD card because I can't figure out what happened to the one that I had. I was gonna try to send pictures and I did something and now the pictures don't show up on the camera and I can't take any new pictures. 

Love You!!!!!!

Elder Ruelas

Your Son

100 Days Left

HAHAHA Everyone loves it here! 

Elder Ruelas

Happy 100 days left on 3/31/2014!!!!

Whats up Mom!!!!!

I love the fact you are counting down for me! I have 14 weeks left, 3 months left, 99 days left, 2376 hours left, 142560 minutes left, 8553600 seconds left! Not that I am trunky or anything. I have already planned out what sneakers I want to buy when I get home. I have already had missionaries start making me trunky music and movies lists haha. I am SUPER trunky. You know....just saying.... I need to get out of this area. I have been here for 8 months!!!!  I am planning on going on an exchange every day next transfer if I am going to be staying in this area. This week was pretty good. It has been the same old same old but we did find a new investigator that is pretty cool. She is super funny. We don't know how much she remembers but she says some pretty crazy funny stuff. We helped one investigator move and it was pretty fun. I was called cute by a half Japanese half  Mexican lady. I think she wanted to hook me up with her twin 28 year old daughters....  Ladies love me! We were moving beds and we also had to put together our investigators daughter's bed. So I have been telling other missionaries that I helped make a hot girls bed haha. I want to see the reactions of other missionaries so that I can give them a hard time for assuming things. 

I haven't checked the mail but I probably got your package today. I can't wait for this weekend. General Conference!!!!!!  It is gonna be super good. I can't wait to see what crazy stuff happens. Tell dad I hope my abuelo is alright. I'll pray for him. Have the missionaries teach a dinner lesson on the Plan of Salvation then commit the 2 of you to re-teach it a week later back to the 2 of you. We have been doing that with the members here. 

Mom I have lost 7 pounds!!!!!!!! I am gonna come back looking GOOD!!!!! You are gonna have to be my bodyguard mom haha. Nah probably not. Maybe when I get to BYU though. Hey so you are gonna have to sign up for classes for me. I won't be able to do it since it isn't my P-Day. 

Well I gotta get going mom

LOVE YOU!!!!!!

Elder Ruelas

Happy last week in March!!!

Whats up Mom,

Hey so I was trying to load pictures but now my memory card is busted for some reason. Now I can't even take pictures....

I can't believe my last General Conference on the mission is coming up. You are right, these past 2 years have just flown by. It definetly hasn't been easy but I will without a doubt say that these have been the best 2 years FOR my life. I have 3 months left and I am working hard till the end. I have learned a lot but still want to learn more. More than anything I still have 3 more months to testify of the truth.

So this week was pretty funny. My companion fractured his pinkey and we had to go to the doctor a lot. Then we tried to figure out how he can tell the story of how he busted his pinkey on his mission to girls and we couldn't figure anything out haha. Back to a more spiritual aspect, We had a pretty good week. We set a baptismal date to help this man have more motivation to keep trying to quit smoking and keep staying on good behavior. Our zone has been doing super good lately. We have had 2 baptisms and could've had 3 but one was on probation. We have another 2 or 3 baptisms this weekend. We will see how the month finishes. This week we are going to the temple. I can't wait to drive through all of my old areas again. There is a missionary in the zone that I went on exchanges. He is a Spanish elder but he wants to go to English work. I tried to help him understand that Spanish work is where he was called to serve but it just wasn't getting to him. We will see what happens. Hopefully he doesn't change but who knows. 

I can't wait to see Isabel. I have a lot to do when I get home but she will have my full attention. Hey so I was thinking that in my last transfer you could send me my gold watch and a new bottle of the Vicotria Secret cologne that way I can wear it when I fly home....just saying.

So those are the classes I want to take for the fall. Why did you say no to Jazz? I really hope I can get those classes though because I think the schedule will be great! But ya'll can sign up for me right? If not I am going to have to let President know that I need to sign up myself. 

LOVE YOU!!!!!

Elder Ruelas

Happy March Elder Ruelas!!

Whats up Mom!

Dad is getting closer to the temple isn't he!?!?! HAHA We are getting there. 

This week nothing really happened again. We did go to the temple on Wednesday! It was awesome!!!! That was the most peaceful that I have felt at the temple. It was the first time with just my comp and I and it was awesome! Every other time I have gone it is like some social party in the celestial room that just kills the spirit. This time I did not want to leave at all. We got in at like 10:15 and got out at 1:30. When I get home I want to go at least 4 times before I go to college. I prayed about going home early and I can't say that I have received an answer. I got yes and then I got no. I got to go home the last week in June, June 10th, or July 9th. I don't get it. I am still praying about it. Luckily my new companions birthday is in March so I get to go to the temple again. 

Other than the temple I was privileged to confirm the kid that I baptized 2 Sundays ago. He is one of the funniest kids ever. His sister gets confirmed in Spanish and I ask if he wants his in Spanish or in English. He looks at me and says "English, English would be Great!"  We also got back in contact with this family that we couldn't go see. We are gonna work as hard as we can with them. That family is super cool and needs the Gospel in their lives. 

I am staying in the same place for another 6 weeks. Its gonna be hard but I got a super cool companion.

You should send me a picture of the girls that just moved in. Plus are the girls 18 and about to graduate? C'mon mom you gotta do the digging for me since I am not home yet haha.

Well I gotta get going

LOVE YOU!!!!!!

Elder Ruelas

Happy 3 months or 4 months starting tomorrow:)

Whats up!

Thanks for the package. It was nice getting mail haha. I really liked the quote. Sounds like nothing much happened back home. Nothing happened here either. My new comp is super cool. He is from the San Fernando Mission too. The week was full of meetings. I think I got my answer though as to whether I should go home early or not. I think I am going to stay the whole 2 years. I have 4 months left and I think I need to learn long suffering haha....

We had to pass off an investigating family to the new bike Elders and that was really hard. I absolutly love that family. I wish I was on a bike just so that I could teach them. They have been through a lot and the Gospel will without a doubt bless them and bring more Joy and Happiness to their lives than ever before. Their house is one of the few places where I feel at home. I realized how much of a perfectionist I have become though haha. I just need to let the missionaries work and whatever happens, happens. I just really want the best for them. 

Ya I bought the oil vials. I bought 2 just in case I lose 1. I am going to the temple again this month. But hey I have to get going cause we still have to go shopping. 

LOVE YOU!!!

Elder Ruelas

Hola from Iowa!!

Whats up Mom,

Ya so I am going to go home July 9th. There is this missionary that had to go early because of a bum knee that he has. He really wanted to stay the full 2 yrs, but absolutely had to go home and he was really sad.

So this week was pretty good. The Zone is doing awesome. The zone has a ton of baptisms for this month. Our week was kind of slow, but we did find this really cool new investigator. He is really smart and most of the words he says I have no clue what he is talking about. We wants to be like and Astrophysics  He is sooo cool though. We also taught this less active member that hadn't been to church in 15 years and he came to church yesterday. It was funny because he made bogus excuses like how he was blind and he can't go to church but we just told him that he doesn't need to see to feel the Spirit and he just stopped talking and said that he was going to go to church this Sunday and he did.  

Ya so that was pretty much it. Sorry it took so long. Missionaries want to just talk to me. I guess I am popular for once haha!

LOVE YOU!!!!

Elder Ruelas

Cold in Iowa :(

Whats up Mom!

I hope you are feeling better. Tell Isabel I say Hi.  She has made my planner cover. This week was alright. Elder Shuar and I are staying together! We are super excited and are planning on celebrating everything. We gotta have fun. Hey so what did you tell President Wilson? Watch he says June 17th....just saying. 

Hey so I am out of money. The missionary that was using my bike paid me $250. Can I use the money he gave me? I have no money at all. 

Love you!!!!

Elder Ruelas

Happy one week less :)

Whats up mom?

So have you written the letter to President Wilson? June 17th sounds really good right now haha. I got your letters. I really liked the pictures from Angelica. I put them on my new planner. It is obviously going to be the best planner in the entire mission. This week was alright. We had a bit of a scare with one of our families,  luckily now everything is going better.  I really like this family mom. They make me feel like I am at home. 

I make a pretty good New Years card huh? It's good to hear that everyone got theirs. We have another awesome investigator and I want them to accept the gospel, but they have take the step! It is really frustrating! UGH!! Tithing is real. It is a commandment of God. I can't wait to go home and pay tithing. It is the best way to recieve tons of blessings. I have to get going mom.

LOVE YOU!!!!!!