Pictures from the MTC

Elder Ruelas was able to finally send us pictures from the MTC.

September 1, 2012

Hey mom,
Yesterday I had infield orientation all day so I couldn't write an email to anybody. It was so good though and I learned a ton. It got me even more excited to go out to Cali and dont worry, I am going to have fun. I'm not about to go crazy these next 2 years.
Yes I got the letter that had the money. It was a different letter that I lost, but I found it yesterday before I went to bed. I'm gonna send all the letters I got back home plus some other stuff, like some books. I lost that daily scripture book that you got me in Nauvoo which was a bummer cause I really liked that. Now you have to send me the pictures of Isabel with her ears pierced. I liked the pictures I got and so did everybody else. The picture where she is passed out, she got that from Angelica. The picture where she is passed out and making a funny face, she gets that from me. The picture where Angelica is reading a book to her and looks mad, well we were never much readers lol. I'll call the house phone. I need to go buy a phone card from the store so I can call without being charged at the pay phones. If You see my friends you gotta tell them to write me cause I don't have any of their addresses. Tell Angelica and Bryan that if they need more room for stuff for Isabel, they can use my room. Just put my sneakers in my closet, nicely, and they can use whatever space they need. Yes I just said that.
That is funny about Adrian, my cousin. When I first read the first part that you said I thought that you ment that he moved in with you. I was like WHAT!!!!! Keep him away from my shoes! lol. You need to try the Cafeteria in Nauvoo! IDK if it is because the food here at the MTC is fake, but I love the food at the temple, plus it is cheap. No PJ didnt leave. He hasnt gotten his VISA to go to the Columbia MTC. He is just in the intermediate class and not the Advanced. I'm sorry I dont write more about him. I thought you just wanted to hear about me lol. No there is like 15 other people on my flight. I heard that there are both Elders and Sisters. I think they are all in the Begginers class though lol.
Tell Isabel I say "hi" back and I stuck my tounge back out at her too. Remember that the Post office is closed for Labor day so idk how the mail works, but I will only get mail on Tuesday and Wednesday morning I leave. Elder Payne is good and happy. He is going to Billings Montana. Another friend of ours got here on Wed. Wes Korper. It is soo good to see friends from college here. It stinks that one of my good friends  gets here the same day I leave. Its all good though, I'm gonna send you a list of names for people to look up on Facebook for me. I would really like to get a letter from Mason. Plus all of my friends but family is the best, friends in close second lol. That is funny about Isabel and Emmalena. Have they met yet? I also want pictures of Emmalena. 
      Ya I can't wait to get out to California. 4 more days left till I leave and I am pumped. I have learned a lot and I can't wait to learn more out there in the field. There is something new here where we might be able to send pictures but I am trying to send my pictures today. Otherwise I will get it done in the field. Love you Mom!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Don't miss you either! Tell everybody else I love them too and tell Lucy she stinks! lol
I'll let you know how it is in California as soon as I can and I will get the Mission home address to you as fast as I can cause I dont know where I am living yet.

Elder Andres Ruelas

August 25, 2012

WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Our Heavenly Father has really blessed us with a beautiful new member to our family! What is hooked up to her head though? Is she back home and out of the hospital yet? Man pretty much everybody I meet I tell that I am now an uncle, plus I show them a picture of her. Hopefully I can print these pictures out even though they will only be in black and white. I hope everybody got their letters. I didnt hear from anybody except dad. Everything is AMAZING here! Just got back from the temple and I cant tell you how much I learned. Literally. Lets just say that I cant wait to get back home so we can go to the temple and I can share with you what I learned. Also, do you know if the Nauvoo temple has a cafeteria? Provo does and the food is super good! Plus they give you a lot and it is really cheap.  But ya this week has been really good even though something sad happened in our district. I'll get there though. Well the week started like normal. Wake up, shower, change, so on and so on. It came time for personal study and this week I really wanted to read 3 Nephi Chapters where Christ is here in the Americas. It is because on Sunday we watched the Testiments. Wow I never thought I would say that that movie is one of my favorites but it is. It really helped me make the Book of Mormon a whole lot more real to me. It is our ancestor's heritage, that saw Jesus Christ too. Even though I didn't get to read as much of the chapters as I wanted to, I still read a lot and still am reading. There is a scripture that is really turning out to be my favorite. 1 Nephi 21:16. It talks about how Christ has the marks from the nails on his hand. He has done his part, now we, in this "prepratory state" have to do our part so we can recieve the forgiveness from God that we need to make it back into the Celestial Kingdom. It is kind of funny though because I didnt get or think about all this as the day was going on. I was mad and sad all at the same time. Devotional came around and it turns out that it was an APOSTLE! Finally after 7 weeks of hoping to hear from an Apostle, we get to hear from one. Elder Niel A. Anderson. Man the talk he gave was great. Since it was the Prophets Birthday on Tuesday he talked about what the Prophet would say to us as missionaries. There were 10 things. I dont have my notebook with me so I will write you a letter and tell you later but that talk was Awesome! Wednesday we finally got to be the host and show the new missionaries around. I didnt see anybody I knew but Spencer finally got here! Justin Bieber, my roomate from college? ya he is finally starting his mission.

I got your letter from earlier in the week but I lost it so I am going to try to answer the questions as best as I can remember. I leave September 5th. I finally got my travel plans and my flight leaves at like 11:30 and it is a direct flight to Burbank, CA. I will call you when I am at the Airport for however long I can. I have received some letters from the ward. Nobody from Relief Society has sent me anything. Make sure you get mad at everybody for me. Everybody who said they would write me, hasn't. And the people who didnt say anything, are the ones who have. Tell everybody I really like letters, especially when they are directed to me. lol. Ya I remember the Ahlstrom family. They had a son who was always with one of the girls his age, I remember. I'm not going to say no to a letter from them. I feel like I am forgeting something but if I remember I will tell you in my letter. Keep sending pictures of Isabel. I can never get enough. Take care of the family and be the example. Love you Mom!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and I don't miss you too! lol

ELDER RUELAS

August 10, 2012

Hey Mom,

Dang those pictures of the Spanish Branch in West Liberty are awesome! It stinks that the branch still isn't there but at least now the ward in Muscatine is getting too big that we might have to split. I agree with Brother Laughead. I want to be put into the afternoon one so that I can sleep in.  Seriously though that is awesome about the ward, it looks like the missionaries there are working hard. 

It looks like Chiquis and Demetrius´ wedding went well! It stinks that I couldn't go. I definetly would have been your dancing partner. Lets just say that I do not like the rule about not being able to dance. I dont need music I just want to bust a move or 2 when I am really happy. Like when a lesson goes really well and I am really happy. I just want to start dougieing? (the dougie is a dance in case you didnt know) but I can't do it because I will get in trouble if a teacher walks by. And yes it has happend already. Its like yes, I know exact obedience brings miracles but let me celebrate, since I am getting better at teaching! lol. I dont really remember a lot of things you told me. Again I don't have my letter with me because I just came from the temple. Did you get the book signed by my Tio Humberto? Did you have him sign it to me? lol  But how is everything going? Yes definetly make a movie list for me so when I get back I can watch them. Imma go albino since I will be inside watching movies all the time but you know how much I love movies! lol

It was awesome yesterday, I received the most letters. Ya I felt cool. It was funny because Ben's girlfriend sent me a letter and on the back it had a picture of Justin Bieber on it. I put it on my desk and everybody that saw it drew on his face and made him look terrible. Then our teacher got a little mad because nobody was paying attention but its whatever. Anyways keep telling people to write me cause I LIKE GETTING LETTERS. You need to TELL MY FRIENDS too. They told me they would write me but nobody has. Only a friend from SOAR has. Oh Wednesday, I saw a buddy of mine from SOAR. I completely forgot that he was coming. It was good to see him. 

I got sick again. I decided to go to the doctor because it wasn't going away as fast as it usually does. He gave me medication but I had to pay some of it. So I believe there is going to be a charge on my debit card for about $20. I dont want you to think that my card got stolen. Also I am going to need some more cash. I dont need it right now but more for when I leave on the 5th, just in case my bags are over the limit. They also told me that I get to call you when I am at the airport. Just a heads up. 

It stinks that I can't ask you too look up some talks for me so I can re-read them. The talks that are given here every Sunday and Tuesday are really good but they are only available to us. Tuesday was my favorite one this week. The guy talked about how we are going to be bringing the light of Christ to the lives of those who live in darkness. And that we must be ready at all times to have the spirit because if we aren't worthy to have the spirit, we can't have the light. Then he went on to explain some history of the Book of Mormon. It reminded me of a talk Jeffery R. Holland gave about the Book of Mormon. That one by Elder Holland you can look up and I recommend you do. (Anything by Elder Holland and Elder Bednar are really good) But it was just a great atmosphere to be in to hear someone who I have never heard of share their thoughts and their testimony of the Book of Mormon. I really felt my testimony of the Book of Mormon has grown a ton just from hearing his thoughts. Anyways I just want to share my testimony really quick before I run out of time. I know that this Church is true without a doubt in my heart. It is the Church of Jesus Christ and it is the same as when He established it on the earth. It was restored through the Prophet Joseph Smith. By the power of God he was able to translate the Book of Mormon. That book did not come from his mind. It is not like Twilight or any other book. It was written for us by Prophets who once lived on the earth. As I said The Book of Mormon was written for us so that we can learn and grow. It has the fullness of the gospel just like it says on the introduction page. If people will read it they will feel the power that it has and they will feel the Holy Ghost testifying to them that it is the word of God. and that the Book of Mormon is True. I say that in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

 

Elder Ruelas

 

I still want cookies! Not from Dear Elder.

August 3, 2012

Hey mom thanks for everything. I don't have any letters next to me so I am just going to tell you about my week instead of answering questions. Today was AMAZING!!!!!! I went through the temple again and when I was done I remembered that I wanted to see a sealing room. I asked if I could go sit in one for a minute or so and they said no, but instead they asked me if I wanted to be a witness to the sealing and fill in for the kid being sealed to their parents. It was AWESOME!!!!!!! The entire time this was going on I was thinking about how much I can't wait to get out to San Fernando and teach families. I wanted to focus on re-activating members but now I want to work for baptizing families because I want to know that they will be sealed together for all eternity. Plus, now I can't wait to have a family of my own and be sealed to my wife and kids! Don't worry I know mission first, then I can focus on marriage, but am just really thankful to my Heavenly Father for blessing me with my family that I have and for the family that I will have. 
That has been my day so far but this week has been soooooooo good. It started off the same, wake up, eat, study, eat, study, eat, study, go to bed. Then Tuesday came around and that's when the week started to get interesting. We got a new investigator named Jorge Delgado. I already knew that he was going to be tough by his picture and trust me he was. He knows a ton about the restoration and kept on asking question after question after question and wouldn't let my companions or I talk. I kept on freezing up and not knowing what to say. That was the first time where I started to question, "Why did I get called to San Fernando Spanish speaking Mission?". How am I supposed to get Latinos (Mexicans:) ) to trust me, especially when growing up I never really had an actual "Mexican" friend. I was upset the rest of the day. Ya I know I was being to hard on myself but its ok, I am better. The reason for that was because of the Devotional and the Talk that I heard. I forgot the guys first name but his last name is Pinegar? idk. One of the first things that he said to us was that we got called to where we got called to for a reason. God Knows us. He knows our weaknesses and our strengths and he called us to where we are going to bring the BEST out of us. The entire time I was like WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It is like this guy knows what happened that day and what I was thinking. He said some other stuff that I really liked but I can't remember because I don't have my notes, but he made me ready to go back and teach Jorge. Overall that was one of the best talks that I have heard here at the MTC.
Wednesday came and went then Thursday came. The big day where I get to teach Jorge again. We decided to teach him about the Plan of Salvation because he had a son who died when he was 14. The lesson went great! He wasn't doing the talking, we were. Plus I didn't freeze up. I taught my part which was about the Spirit world and I start to tell him that the gospel is being taught to be people who have died already and how they can be baptized. That is when he started asking questions. Instead of freezing up, I had something to say. I told him about baptisms for the dead. His big question was that he wanted to know what he could do now for his son. BOOM light bulb! I asked him if he would be baptized and he said yes. He was still kind of unsure but he did say yes. He wants to talk with his wife and his pastor because he still has doubts about Joseph Smith being a prophet therefore he is a little unsure about us having the priesthood authority from God. That's fine because we hit our hour mark so we had to wrap it up so we told him to keep praying about it and that we would come back and teach him more. That lesson was one of my favorite lessons I have given so far. The rest of the day went smoothly.
Tell dad I am going write him a letter today and mail it to him and also Angelica. Tell Angelica that I might not get a chance to finish hers today because I have a lot to tell dad. I was talking with one of the branch presidency and he told me to be as honest and straight forward with him as I was to him. Other than that I didn't get too many letters.  Well I only have 20 seconds left so I'm gonna rap it up. Send pictures. Keep telling people to write me. Tell Chiquis and Demetrius congrats! Tell my Tio Humberto and Tia Cindy, I said Hi and other than that I believe that is it. Tell me if I forgot something and I'll write you a letter.

LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Andy....Elder Ruelas

July 27, 2012

Mom,
Haha thanks for sending me my stuff. Reading my patriartical blessing really helped me feel better about my day yesterday. Ya I know I am a perfectionist but I just want to do the right things on my mission. I had never realized how much of my patriartical blessing talked about my mission. Lets just say I am ready to learn more. Thanks for the letters and the calender. Everybody got a good laugh about the the pictures and your letters are always awesome. That is crazy about Boyd. I'll be sure to keep him in my prayers. Dont worry I will always write more than 3 lines. I can say that everything will be in a good order, because I only have 30 minutes to write an email and I suck at typing but I will do my best!
I'm gonna write Angelica today, but can you tell her I said happy birthday from me and give her a hug? Yesterday I was thinking about grandma and then I remembered that I was going to get to go to the temple today!!! It was awesome. I was super tired but the feeling I had there kept me awake. I said a prayer thanking my Heavenly Father for everything. I asked him to please send me one more verification that everything I am learning is true. When I was done I was a little worried because I didn't feel like I had the spirit with me. I was in there for like 15 minutes waiting and listening. My companion wanted to leave so I went. and when I was done changing, I had to get my suit jacket. When I got to mine, I saw my name. ELDER RUELAS. Right underneath that it says La Iglesia de JESUCRISTO De Los Santos De Los Ultimos Dias. After I saw that I knew that this is where I am supposed to be. Heavenly Father knows me and was telling me yes to all of my questions, I am just not used to hearing the spirit. He knows that and He made it more obvious to me. I want you to know that I am working hard. I am giving it my all!
Those elders are some really good friends I made here at the MTC. Elder Martin is from my mission. His mom isn't active but I hope she will let me in to just talk to her that she raised a good son. The rest of the Elders are real cool but I wanted to tell you about Elder Martin so I can tell you thank you. YOU have helped me grow in the church. I always looked to you when I needed help and it kind of stinks that I dont have you here with me, but I know that I can turn to my Heavenly Father because he will help me  just like you have. Whenever I have doubts, he will set me straight. "Ask and ye shall receive, knock and it shall be opened unto you." My testimony of prayer has really been strengthened. I want to be able to testify with power about the things that I am teaching and I needed help with where to start. The next day we got taught a lesson about the Atonement. I thought that I knew a lot, but boy was I wrong. We read out of Luke chapters 22 and 23 and I learned even more about what our Savior had to go though just so that we can be forgiven of our sins to have the chance to be clean and live with him and your Heavenly Father again. I want you to read that because we can never learn too much. There is something that I like to say; Our life will begin with Faith in Jesus Christ and end with Faith in Jesus Christ. When we learn about the things He has done for you we will want to change our ways (repent), we will want to be baptized, receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost, and then after all of that WE ALL need to endure to the end. Going to the temple, marriage, having a family and learning more are all part of enduring to the end. There are a lot more things I want to say but I am running out of time. I just want you to know that I am happy here. I am learning a ton and you dont have to worry. I am not having doubts. I dont want you to think that because of what I said in this letter and in the one before. I am just working to CONVERT myself to the gospel. If I havent been converted how can I expect to convert the people I teach. I want to bring the Joy and Peace that this gospel brings to the lives of people and my life too. I love you and tell everybody I love them and to keep sending me letters. I dont have anybodys address so they need to send me a letter first. That is all I can get for now. You will get another letter in the mail because I dont have time anymore to email, plus I cant remember what I was going to say....

 

LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Elder Ruelas

July 13, 2012

Hi mom!!!!!!!!!!!! lol Wow I have had such a great week. It has been a fun AND spiritual week. I have really bonded with my companions as welll as my district. Turns out by the time word got to my teacher about moving to the advanced classes it was too late. So i get to bond better with my district. Too bad I cant send pictures through email. I just found out that I cant. One of the Elders, Elder Neff got hit in the eye and messed it up pretty bad. Everybody in our district is fasting because today we find out how well his eye is going to heal. THAT is how close we are. Its amazing that after 1 week I could be this close with a group of guys. Surprisingly I got sick this week. DONT WORRY! Its just a cough. I got really bad one day so I asked my companions for a blessing and after I was done I instantly felt better. I have never really asked for one so I didnt think it was going to work. Well that changed haha. Other than that life has been pretty simple. I got a letter from Ben saying that he hopes he made everybody else jealous that I got a letter. Thats ALL it said lol. I was laughing so hard! I also got a letter from the Stevens family? idk who they are lol. Thanks for the packege. My roomates had each gotten a packege from home from their families a day after each other so I was thinking that I better get one and I did! :) lol But ya from your letter- make sure to tell everybody that i am fine and HAPPY. Thats funny about my picture of my shoes. I REALLY miss them haha. I actually met this really cool guy from NYC who likes shoes too. I also met this Elder from San Fernando! He has really been helping me get ready to go out there. He told me the people are really nice and it is a great place to be. I'm really happy that I get to see that Elder on a day to day basis. Ya its really hot here! I'm really thankful for the handkerchief Ben gave me. It is great to hear you are walking everyday. Im playing basketball everyday. Thats how that Elder got hurt... but i didnt get hurt. Every day for every meal I get tons of fruit and a salad to eat and I eat whatever they give me just so you know that I am eating healthy. I will be waiting for Bro. Rees to write me and tell Angelica to write me a letter. I do type fast lol. Onto the spiritual stuff lol. If you can? can you get a preach my gospel in both English and Spanish. Im gonna need your help with dad. Can you  ask him to read the Atonement section of the 2nd lesson. I read that the first week here and my testimony has grown so much about that. The Atonement is ESSENTIAL in our life. I have been able to also read in depth about it. That is the 3rd lesson which is also my purpose as a missionary. To invite others to come unto Christ by recieving the restored Gospel through Faith in Jesus Christ and his atonement, Repentance, Baptism, Recieving the Gift of the Holy  Ghost, and Enduring to the end. What has stuck out to me the past couple of days other than the atonement is Baptism. I never realized how important it is. After we have faith then we can repent and be bapitzed. What that is a symbol of our faith in Jesus Christ. He is our perfect example to follow. Even though he didnt have to repent and be baptized because he was perfect, he still got baptized. Read John 3. What it doesn't mention is that Jesus walked over 14 miles to get baptized by John the Baptist. He had the PROPER authority. that is why our church is the true church. We HAVE the proper authority. There are some things I want to challenge you to do. Read the lessons of preach my gospel. You will get to know what I am teaching. Go to the baptisms in the ward. You will get to know the meaning of bapitsm like I am starting to learn. and Last Try to make an effort to become friends with the new members. Missionaries can only do so much. Members have to do their part to CONVERT the investigators. I feel like there is SOOOOOOOOOOOOO much more I want to tell you but I cant remember. Mom remember that I love you and I wish I can be at home with you right now but I have been called by GOD to declare his word. It is a blessing in the lives of the investigators I teach. Something that I was told was that if I want the investigators to know the things I know and the things that I teach, then I have to be my first convert. I have to Know the things I teach. How can I expect someone to know the feelings of the spirit if I dont. 33 seconds left. Gotta go! love you and miss you.

Your son

Elder Ruelas

Andy's 1st Email 7-7-12

MOM,                                      
COME GET ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! lol I'm just kidding. I'm having a blast and I have learned a whole bunch. I'll admit that I do miss you guys a ton and I did get a little homesick my first night here. It was partly because when I was trying to sleep, I couldn't drown myself in work. So it turns out that I can't go into the temple for 2 weeks and what is crazy is that I might get moved into the advanced classes! We will see. Well while I am here my P-days are on Fridays but today is an exception. I don't have any addresses so I am only sending you an email to remind people that I can't mail first, lol. It is crazy hot in here! I am sweating like no other, so when Ben gives me his address, I need to thank him for the bandana he gave me to wipe off my sweat. But ya since I have been here I have already lost a companion. Elder Cardenas got moved to the advanced classes so I was only with him for less than a day but now I am in a trio! Elder Misustin and Elder Dahl are really cool. Today we already get to teach our first lesson and I am super nervous but this entire experience has been a truly humbling experience because all of this is new to me. Everything I read about the Atonement or the Plan of Salvation I have to rely on my Heavenly Father to help me remember and the same with the language. All the people who are here, who already speak Spanish tell me that I speak really well and that I should be in the advanced classes which feels really good. They are people from Chile or Mexico telling me this. I have met tons of cool people. My thoughts are just everywhere so I don't know what to say so this my be short. But mom there are a lot of gorgeous sisters here. I was just talking to this girl from Chile who is really cool and so is her companion who is from Greenland. I got to remind myself not to hit on them.     But yeah can you ask my Tia Lucy to say my full name for me and tell her she stinks. I love and miss you guys tons! I want you and everybody to know that I am good and not to worry about me because I have never been happier. For the first time in my life I can truly say that I am actually learning a lot about the gospel. Like I said my testimony has grown a lot. I'm sorry this isn't longer but I need to get going. P-day is less than half a day today and I need to go finish my laundry. Please let everybody know that I would love to hear from them because I don't think I will feel as homesick at night. Last night I was fine but the first night was a long night for me.     I just want to share with you my testimony that I know that the Church of Jesus Christ is true. President Thomas S. Monson is a prophet of God and he does receive direct revelation from our Heavenly Father. There is a Plan for each and every one of us. We came to earth to learn to be like our Savior. Jesus Christ died so that we may be saved. He carried the greatest burden anybody could ever hold and he did it for each and every one of us who has, is, and will walk on this earth. I love my Heavenly Father for sending His Son. I love Jesus for coming and doing all He did for us and I love the fact that we have the Holy Ghost in our lives as a constant companion. And I say that in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Tell everybody I love them and I miss them.

Elder Ruelas....your son Andy!