Queen Lluvia

Ha...ok don't hate me but this computer won't let me add pictures. So....you may never know what my hair looks like :) muahaha.

But I have some awesome news! This morning we spent some time doing family history...AND I'LL HAVE YOU KNOW THAT I AM ROYALTY! That's right! What up!


I was able to find as far back as 217 A.D., who was Gewar, King of Norway. The Raines line is intensely English, but since royalty marries people from other nations to keep the power, we have some Scandinavian, Irish, teeny bit of Northern German and Prussian. Whaaaat??? Among the notable names we have Louis Metz IV (King of France). Most of the names I found were from the Wessex area. So Austin! Go find some of my cousins out there! Incredible. I wasn't able to look into my mom's side much yet, but preeeetty pleased with the short time I got to see of the Raines today. Moral of the story: everyone should go do their family history!


Also news for this week. We had a strange dilemma because our car needed to be fixed on Wednesday, but we had visitors' center shifts Tuesday through Thursday, two in Waterloo which is two hours from our place in Irondequoit. So! This was what I worked out for rides:
Tuesday:
Drop off car at mission office
Webster sisters drive us to our shift at the Smith Family Farm on their way to the Book of Mormon publication site
Smaellie's take us from the farm after our shift to the Marion sister's house to sleep for then night
Wednesday:
Howell's pick us up at 8 from the sister's house and drive us on the way to our shift in Waterloo since they work that shift with us and live in Palmyra
Fuller's work the afternoon shift in Waterloo, but we work all day, so the Fuller's take us to site meeting by 7
Yearsleys (live in Waterloo) take us from site meeting back down to Waterloo
Thursday:
Specialized training in Waterloo
Irondequoit sisters drive us to our shift in the afternoon at the Book of Mormon publication site on their way back to Irondequoit from training
Henrietta sisters drive us to get our car from the mission office after their shift at the Hill Cumorah on their way back towards Rochester


Best part? IT TOTALLY WORKED. We got everywhere we needed to without anyone going out of their way. It took a lot of phone calls and a lot of brain power. Badabing! I just wanted to brag just for a second. It really felt like sophisticated hitchhiking.


Ok time for something I've been reading which really struck me this morning. It's been a pretty heavy transfer because I've been so slow at adjusting to change I think. So this morning I was reading in Ether (in the Book of Mormon) and specifically chapter 6 got me. This group of people called the Jaredites were being led to the promised land (all of scripture seems to be a tale of exodus) and after building barges, it says "the Lord God caused that there should be a furious wind blow upon the face of the waters, towards the promised land; and thus they were tossed upon the waves of the sea before the wind." The chapter goes on to talk about how the trip was rough, but that as they trusted in God they always came out on top. So often we feel like we're getting jerked around, but it seems to me that God is the one actually trying to get us to our destination. Think about it- we are here to become something, not just coast through life and think a few things. We are put in situations so that we can react and build faith. As the winds blew them towards the promised land, the waves got bigger. But that wind was the only way they were going to go anywhere. So often I find myself wishing for an easy life, but where would I really end up? I'm grateful for the circumstances in my life that get me where God wants me to be. Now all I need to do is to make sure I don't drown :)


So this week is Thanksgiving! This great family is having us over and I am really excited. I hope everyone has a really great Thanksgiving! I know sometimes holidays are really bittersweet. Just focus on the positive, if you can. And if you struggle to find positive, I suggest finding someone who doesn't get to have Thanksgiving this year and helping them!


I can think of nothing else for now. So...bye!
Love,
Sister Raines

P.S. We spent more time downtown this week and I guess Sister Hausauer got kind of nervous....I opened her bag to get something and found a meat tenderizer! Haha! Sorry I just had to tell you. Don't worry everyone- my companion will take good care of anyone will ill intentions.