Air Space

Welcome to the insanity that is the Hill Cumorah Pageant!

It really has been a beautiful week. Tiring! But beautiful. I really don't even know where to begin! We have 5 hours shifts of giving tours as Sister Missionaries. Sister Thomas and I have been at the Joseph Smith family farm for most of the week and then this coming week starting Wednesday we'll move down to Fayette and have 7 hour shifts at the Peter Whitmer farm. Friday and Saturday we had over 3,000 people come through the JS farm alone- that's each day we had that many. Sunday quite a bit slower and I expect today to be slower too since there's no pageant tonight, but we expect it to pick up again tomorrow since the show will be on every night from Tuesday to Saturday. In a lot of ways it's sad to give tours like this since we stand at a station for hours rather than getting to know a family as we take them through the sites, but it has been SO fun to see so many people from all over the world. There have been more Spanish bus tours than I expected! And there are only 5 Sisters who speak Spanish so they've kind of assigned me a radio whenever I'm on the grounds in case I need to translate. Normally someone in the group speaks English well enough, though. It's been nice to use the language. Some of the most memorable people from other places in the world were from Tahiti, French-speaking Canada, the Philippines, Sweden, and practically all of the Spanish speaking countries. I don't think I've met anyone from Nicaragua or Cuba yet this week...but the other Spanish speaking countries I have. SO fun. And terrifying :)

Another cool thing about being here for a few weeks is that we get to live with a bunch of other people! We live with 2 other sets of Sisters: Meister, McManama, Earl and Wall. They are really wonderful in their own ways which has been fun to observe. One of my favorite things is to look around at all of our suitcases draped across the floor. Everyone has a different style and different habits. I'm still learning to be satisfied with who I am and where I've come from. Sometimes I'm a little disheveled and weird. That's alright, you know? Sometimes you forget that living with the same people for extended periods of time.

On that note, I've been thinking a lot about personal choices. There's no avoiding the fact that our choices create our environments- they make life good or bad. Sometimes I think it's easy to get stuck on what we've personally decided though and then transfer it to all of those around us. On the mission where so much of our lifestyle is uniform, the little things come out more: eating habits, the way we teach, the way we study, narrowed music and clothing choices. Isn't it strange that human nature seems to lend itself to judgement? We all seem to want to justify ourselves by either assigning priority to our own personal way of doing things or by becoming completely apathetic. AKA If no one cares what anyone does about anything then no one can justifiably correct us. Truth is it should be somewhere in between. That's one of the trickiest aspects of law! Can we really impose ourselves on other people? How about when they want to hurt someone? What about when they want to hurt themselves? What if they wear clothes we don't like? Or no clothes at all? It's just been interesting to see how small scale that same syndrome goes.
We were recently talking with the Henrietta Sisters (McManama and Meister) about Literature vs. literature. (Big L vs. little l) Modern day prophets have counseled us to be careful about what we watch and listen to, etc. We are taught correct principles and then we're left to govern ourselves. It's easy to put lines on media and call it appropriate or not appropriate, but how edifying is it? We talked about how pointless it would be to watch Dora the Explorer all the time even though it's safe. Those lines would keep us from material that would make us bigger and better. Anyways there's a whole lot more along those lines but I don't really have time so...that's it for today :) I hope I didn't confuse anyone. 

Random!
-Every once in a while someone will come through with a son about my age and when I ask if they have any questions one of the parents will ask: "Can you marry my son?" Hello awkward. It's really terrible. For everyone.
-There are Anti-mormons who sit outside the pageant every night yelling things. Most of the things they yell are pretty funny if you ask me. I just hope they don't give anyone a hernia. Haters gon hate.
-I'm sorry I'm not sending pictures this week! I forgot my camera :( Next week!
-This week I was lucky enough to see Chelsea Cordell, Kevin O'Keefe, Baydon Hilton and his family and Hermana Santa Cruz from the MTC! It was great! I have some seriously amazing people in my life. So grateful!

Ok that's it for this week! Next week we will have the results of transfer calls! Wooo! Love love
Sister Raines

I am a traveler

This was my last week in Buffalo with Sister Thomas! Most likely. By that I mean that one of us is probably getting transferred and we are in Palmyra this week and next! So we said goodbye to normal missionary life for 2 weeks. Weird! And...actually really scary! When we rolled into Palmyra some of the set up for the Hill Cumorah Pageant was already up and for some reason I was filled with terror! Ridiculous! It just hit me that I would be giving tours (English and Spanish) to thousands of people over the next 2 weeks and I haven't given a tour in 4 months! I just kind of feel like an imposter! In my head I'm sure it'll all be alright, but MAN this is scary! Exciting scary, but scary nonetheless.

Also I haven't heard anything from McKenna or Chelsea or Kevin? Or anyone else? So I'm not actually sure that anyone that I know is coming to pageant ha. All of these people have been coming through from Utah who know Sisters Thomas and Brown. Mormon life on the East Coast is so different! I will forever represent!

This week was preeeetty good. Elaine is not meeting with us anymore, but Akelis is chugging along and we started teaching a new guy named Sal! He is recently separated and beginning to realize that he didn't treat his wife the way she should have been treated. Unfortunately, it seems the damage may be too much for her to overlook at this point, but hopefully he'll be able to be a different person for the future. Who knows? Sister Thomas and I secretly hope she takes him back yada yada wonderland. He's got a good heart underneath it all. He brought his little boy, Evan, to church yesterday and it was great! Some people who haven't been to church in a few years showed up, too and we got to teach them a bit. It's just a nice feeling to watch people return to faith. It happens all the time to varying degrees, whether it be one night deciding to pay more attention when you pray, or dropping harmful addictions and turning your entire perspective around. No matter what, that change is beautiful to watch. I love having front row seats as a missionary.

Speaking of that process, I have realized that I really need to be a more charitable, loving person! I love people for sure, but not as much as I should. It hasn't really finished processing in my head so I have nothing eloquent to say on the matter for now. But maybe soon! Maybe my head is just too full of crazy pageant stuff to think about anything else! Ah! I'm sure there will be more exciting news next week haha.

Sister Lee and me snugged up in the back seat on the way over to PALMYRA!

Sister Wills! This is the lady who has been through so much that I mentioned a few weeks ago. Breast cancer, losing children to a house fire, her husband's death, and now Parkinson's and old age. Always cheerful, always giving. I need to be more like her.

Ok luv 2 u guyz bye
Hermana Raines

Old Man River (July 2nd)

Well friends, not too much this week.

In fact, in the flourescent light it appears that nothing significant has happened this week.

We taught a few more lessons to the same people with the same fears and problems. We walked the same streets in the same clothes. We ran into the same kind of rude, closed people. We had the same kinds of beautiful moments of peace.

Sometimes it can get frustrating to look at what you're doing and not see any progress. This is when I realized that in this life we are asked to work on a letter in a novel! It can be easy for me to lose hope in myself and those around me when I lose perspective, because when we stare at one letter we really have no idea what the storyline even says. In all seriousness, these few years we have on Earth are so little compared to the expanse of eternity! God's been operating the trends of history for much longer than we've been alive, and he'll continue to do. Right now I'm learning to be satisfied with the tiny part that I have been given to play. I just hope one day when all of this is said and done I'll be able to say I did some good in the world.

Since I really don't have anything else to write for the week, I'm sending these lyrics which say it much better than I could:

Are you a jombie? (June 25th)

This week I am emphatically grateful for two things: the law of chastity and the word of wisdom.
To clarify, the law of chastity is direction from latter-day prophets that warns about sexual relationships outside of marriage. Pretty easy. The word of wisdom is essentially a health code. Right now I'm especially grateful that it has kept me from drugs and alcohol.
Kind of a weird way to start an email, I know. Let me explain!

This week for some reason we've had a chance to catch many glimpses of the misery so many people LIVE in. Not pass through- they LIVE there. I don't know of anything that can yank the steering wheel of our own lives out of our hands more effectively than drugs, followed closely by sexual relationships. Pumping gas earlier in the week a lady slinked over completely out of her head begging for any kind of money or pain killers. My heart broke. A lady in the ward we've been working with has been in and out of rehab because of drugs. After years of dealing with it, her husband couldn't take it anymore and divorced her. Her children are tired of being hurt and manipulated by her habits. Now it appears she has no one on Earth. Someone we started teaching this week is going through a recent breakup because she cheated on her boyfriend because she was intoxicated. Her entire frame is wracked with guilt, self-hatred, disrespect and hopelessness. She doesn't even know which way is up. This woman, Alex, came to church yesterday and would randomly catch wind of what she had gotten herself into and slip back into sobbing on Sister Thomas' shoulder while I entertained her two young boys. She's only 28. She's also only one case out of many we've met who gave themselves away too soon and too often and now can't help but feeling forever vulnerable and tarnished.

The second part of these two evils is that once they've sufficiently destroyed what you once knew, whoever effected is left with the impression that they don't deserve anything better- maybe it doesn't even exist! So why try? They're stuck thinking that now that they're dirty, if you will, there's no point in trying to get clean. It's just not who they are. That second phase is the one I hate most of all. I hate that beautiful, wonderful people with worlds of potential can be led to think they've lost it all because of past mistakes. It's just not true.

It's interesting to me that one of the biggest slabs of beef people have against the church is that we have "too many rules." Too many restrictions that keep us from having fun or being ourselves. Maybe other people need to experiment with hell, but I am grateful that I've never had to figure those things out the hard way. People can say whatever they want to about restrictions, but I'm grateful for the rail that has kept me from falling. Sure- it was my choice to follow the guidelines. I'm just grateful I knew they were there.

Other than that...I really don't have much new to report haha. I am learning more to take things as they come, enjoy the ride, and look forward. Every once in awhile something from somewhere in the short past I've gathered catches up to me and it stings. I have to remind myself that the past is over and that I'm facing forward >> It doesn't matter anymore. At least, not if I don't let it. (Insert Rafiki here: "its een dee past!")

Random from this week!
-We started doing P90X every once in a while haha and it kiiiilllls but it's been fun
-I got a letter from the illustrious Alexander Christman! I miss that guy! And I'm so proud that he's on his mission! I'm sure he'll be great. I really am so proud of the progress he's made over the two years I've known him. I have some of the best friends
-The Hill Cumorah Pageant creeps ever closer! I'm terrified and oh-so-excited! I will admit much of my excitement is to see who comes up (at least I know I'll see McKenna, Chelsea and Kevin!) but I'm also just excited to meet so many people from all over the world! I'm terrified because I'll be giving tours to thousands of people and we don't sleep very much for those two weeks but hey it'll be worth it, right?

Ok see yous guys lata! Peace n blessins
Hermana Raines

We'll call you (June 18th)

Hey it was a weird week!

So the smoke of success died down, human nature set back in and brought reality with it. Many of those we found ready and open have resorted to evasion. Some have even gone as far as hiding and lying. I'm still pretty puzzled as to what would cause a grown man or woman to avoid two young "church people." One mom told us she would be out of town with meetings all day and when we went to the neighborhood to check on Onna, her neighbor across the street, we discovered she was busy meeting with a lawn chair and the sunshine. This kind of behavior only frustrates me because I realize we are grossly misunderstood. In NO way am I here to corner or convince people! If you don't want to meet with us that is totally fine! When she saw us she panicked and went inside. Later she came back out and we ended up talking to her, letting her know that it was totally fine if she didn't want to learn more. She's still a great lady! And as missionaries we only invite. Her response was that since she "already has a bunch of rosaries it would just be easier to stay Catholic." Good luck to you, my friend.

Another problem we run into is that EVERY time we introduce the church into someone's life or they start learning more, someone comes out of nowhere spewing false information about the church. It could be anything from claiming we're a cult and worship the devil or that we're not actually Christians or that Joseph Smith wrote the Book of Mormon. People indoctrinating others makes me so mad! It's disrespectful, and most of the time they don't care enough to ask us what we actually believe. The concept that we would claim to believe something that we don't actually believe (aka would lie about it when asked) is so funny to me! It kind of makes us out to be superhuman. As if once your baptized a Mormon you lose your soul or something really terrifying. While being a missionary I've really come to see the part of people that is superstitious and scared stiff. By all means- don't talk to those 20 somethings. They'll ruin your life. Anything you do, just don't be open-minded. When I was younger there was a Baptist church that had a sign outside that said, "Don't pray about the Book of Mormon. That's how they get you." So funny.

On a nicer note, while we were visiting Onna we went to check on a few other people in the area and were stopped by this guy working on a house. He spouted out his address and phone number, saying that he learned about our church a long time ago but then when he got married he stopped looking into it. He (Carlos) wants us to teach his family! He has a twelve year old daughter and a ten year old son. He talked about how he realizes now that his family is lacking religion and is curious to see how being taught by us might help in unity and peace. He was great! We hope to be able to meet with their family this week.

In other news! We had a dinner over at the Castillo family's house with Akelis (remember the lady from Cuba we're teaching?) and it was really fun! Akelis speaks English really well and wants to be a teacher so we normally speak to her in English, but the Castillo family is less comfortable in English so the whole night was in Spanish! I love getting back into the flow where it feels normal and I can pretty much just speak my mind without a problem. It was cool to see Akelis open up a little more, too. Language barriers always seem to cause a bit of a problem, even if you speak another language well. There's something significant about your primary language! Akelis is really great. I'm grateful to know her. Elaine is doing well also, in case anyone was wondering :) She's just so cute. Love Elaine!

I'm sending pictures of the beautiful skirt Austin sent me! Laney Hawes happened to wear a skirt really similar so of course at least one picture had to be taken. Laney is the best. She's also recently been extremely curious about "Sister Raines' missionary and if we will actually get married." She keeps asking Sister Thomas whenever we're far enough apart. Haha! Laney is also convinced that I should cut my hair and just when I think she's forgotten she brings it back up. So tempting! But I don't think I will yet. No worries, everyone.

This week I have also really missed Austin! Ha I guess that makes sense considering it was our 2 year, but I just realized that I'm really glad I get the chance to understand what it feels like to be without him for so long so that when I get a chance to make it work I don't do anything stupid! We talked to one of the older women in our ward yesterday for a while (Father's day, her husband has passed away- not a great day for her.) and she talked about how earlier in their marriage it was really hard! Sometimes they were both really dumb (she told stories haha wow!) but by the time they were older she looked at him as one of the greatest men ever to walk the Earth. Quite the change! She advised us to be patient and selfless in our relationships. Sometimes it just takes a lot of time haha but people turn out okay in the end. I'm grateful for people who help me to avoid future mistakes!

Oh I almost forgot to mention! Last week the whole zone went on this crazy beautiful hike and so I'm sending a few pictures! It was so great. I love days like that.

That's pretty much it for this week! I hope everyone is doing well. Till later!
Hermana Ray

It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood (June 11th)

This past week will probably always be known as one of the most noteworthy weeks of my mission! I don't even know where to start!

First of all, you are probably all wondering what happened with transfers. Welp I'm staying! And so is Sister Thomas!! We get another 6 weeks together at least! That was the best possible scenario so I am quite pleased. For those of you coming to pageant, (AHH! One month!) we will be shipped back to the sites for 2 weeks while it's being put on, so I'll still see you all! The interesting thing is that none of the Buffalo gals are leaving. We were expecting Sister Lee at least to go back to the sites, but all of us will have lived together for 3 transfers! Here goes nothing! After the brilliant week we've had Sister Thomas and I would have been extremely unhappy had anything changed.

So to give you a bit of background, North Buffalo has a history of small teaching pools. People are pretty closed. I think I've mentioned this before, but the joke between the missionaries in Western New York is that "we're all set." Everyone always says that and it just makes us laugh. One man even went so far here as to inform us that he "can't possibly get any closer to Jesus Christ." Those who esteem themselves as comfortable enough never care to learn more. Heck if Christ himself came to their doorstep I assume they would tell Him they know enough about Him and that He could use his time better somewhere else. Funny. So! With that in mind: Wednesday was spent meeting family after family who wanted to learn more. By that I don't mean someone who said, "yeah, yeah sure come back whenever." I mean people with real questions who we sat down with and talked with right on their front porch. People open to answers, willing to see for themselves if we hold them or not. At the end of the day we had 4 new families to teach- 15 individuals. By the end of the week we had 18 new individuals to teach, and about 14 more potentials who had asked us to come back at a better time. I really have NO idea what just happened. In a mission where everyone knows everyone and what is happening in that area, the news spread like wildfire. Believe it or not, there are people searching for truth. Whether or not they come to build faith in the Book of Mormon or modern day prophets, it is comforting to me to know that there are people who are seeking truth. It's a beautiful thing.

I have to expound a little more about one of the families- the crowning event of that unbelievable Wednesday! We came to a house where a lady (Jasmine) was sitting outside smoking. We introduced ourselves, asked if she'd be interested in learning more, and she said, "Well I'm not really interested, but I think my mom would be." She led us inside, and we quickly found ourselves sitting with Jasmine, her mom (Tiffany), and her husband (Christopher). They didn't say much at first but listened intently. We ended up teaching there for around 2 hours! After a half hour of talking with them, they decided their 13 year old son, Justin, needed to hear our message so they called him down. They a half hour later their daughter, Tierra, got home and they taught her what we had said before we even got a chance to. Then, realizing this was a legitimate deal, the 15 year old son, Devontaine, came in and wanted to know what was so important. Each of the family members had been going to different churches and it had kind of been tearing them apart. After listening to us for awhile, they started opening up about some of the concerns they had as a family in different religions. I really can't express what an amazing experience it was to be sitting there in that living room! We're going back this week- we have been in contact with the family over the weekend and they are doing well. I never thought this would happen in my mission. Keep in mind, that was only one experience out of back to back teaching that day! I love teaching about the gospel of Jesus Christ. It just feels good. It feels right.

So we are also teaching this great gal from CUBA! Yessirs! She's wonderful! Her name is Akelis. She is young, recently divorced, and has recently found a love for the Bible. She didn't grow up religious and it's been really inspiring to see how much she can't get enough of it. The word of God really does heal wounds! I need to remember that more, I think. Sometimes when it's always there I think we learn to take it for granted.

Quick stuff!
-This week Sister Thomas was trying to remember the name of the Grand Canyon and said, "What's that big crevice in Arizona?" Hahaha busy weeks do things to your head. If she wasn't so intelligent it wouldn't have been quite so funny.
-Today we're going on a hike with the rest of the Buffalo Zone! The best part is the hike is called "eternal flame." So unnecessarily epic.
-Happy 2 years to Austin this week! Crazy, isn't it? Most unexpected and best 2 years ever. Cheers to many more.
-Happy Fathers' Day to my dad and also to Dad Dressman! I miss both of you and hope you have the greatest patriarch's day ever.
-Sister Thomas and I sang "Brightly Beams Our Father's Mercy" in church yesterday! Scary. But it went well! Our voices are pretty dang different but they blend surprisingly well so that was cool. She's easy to sing with.
-Last week I wrote 22 and a half but I'm really only 21 and a half. Thanks for noticing that, Dad :) I must not have been able to believe that I was 22 and a half because...I'm not. Ha! That explains it.

Welp my brain is done for this week I think so...that's all. See yous guys next week!
Sista Rayynes

PS the picture I'm sending is our district from this past transfer! Elder Harris is getting moved to Penn Yan (near my first area), Elder Halterman will be with Elder Pascual, and Elder Hole will get a new trainee. We are pretty ticked about losing Elder Harris, but hopefully the new guy will be good!

Kenmore Pool

Hey so a lot happened this week but I forgot to write points I wanted to mention so forgive me if I forget or come off a little scatterbrained! Ha.

So first topic: Spanish! Por fin!
The most amazing thing happened on Thursday! We have district language study on Thursdays right before district meeting since 2 of the district are from Mexico and almost everyone in the district was called Spanish speaking. So in the middle of language study, this man walks into the church (the church is normally locked when it's empty since its in the middle of downtown) and happens to find not only all of the missionaries for at least 50 miles in the same room, but all of the Spanish speaking missionaries for the entire Buffalo zone all in one room at the same time. His name was Francisco, and he's from Puerto Rico. He just walked in and said he wants to learn more about the church haha. He has family members who are Mormon and he promised them he would find the nearest church and be taught by missionaries. So cool! If he had come in at any other time during the week, no one would have been there, and if they had been there they wouldn't have been able to understand him. Incredible.

Last night we got someone to teach in Spanish! Her name is Elsa and she is from the Dominican Republic. She is Catholic, but very open. At the beginning of a Spanish lesson I always get pretty nervous because my tongue gets slow after so much time of not speaking, but it was nice to get back into the groove after a few minutes. Sister Thomas always leaves a little frustrated after any Spanish run ins because she has only had a little bit of training and there's only so much that study can do, but I'm grateful to have her! It's nice to have someone who can understand and speak- even if it's only limited. I am grateful also that I had a chance to learn the reverse with Sister Fetuli so that I could be more appreciative of Sister Thomas now :) Tongan apparently doesn't sound much like Spanish. Hmm.

This time next week I'll know if I get to stay in Buffalo or if I'll be moved! The Hill Cumorah Pageant and the 4th of July AND Sister Thomas' 23rd birthday will be within this transfer! Come on! I've gotta stay! It seems likely that I'll be moved back to the sites though since it's getting really busy and President wants more Spanish speakers there. We'll see. The nice thing is, I'm sure whatever happens will be good. I am slowly learning from Philippians 4:11!
Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

Other news! Sister Thomas decided I needed a half birthday party! I am now 22 and a half, thank you. Ahem. How did we celebrate, you ask? Apple pie of course! It was glorious. Sister Thomas is the best. 

Happy Birthday to my darling McKenna Maye! And a huge happy birthday to Mama Donna! I'm so grateful for the both of you in my life. SO blessed up here. 

Something else that happened this week! We went and visited this little lady from church who is from Puerto Rico. She is kind of known as being a LITTLE crazy. She has mulitple screlosis and has been through quite a bit with her family, so sometimes she comes of as...a little bold. We cleaned her birdcages, cooked lunch, and Sister Thomas in her infinite mercy changed and cleaned her. Sometimes when people demand help it's harder to be so willing to give it, but after all was said and done and we watched thishttp://youtu.be/wz41YxNiHEg with her, my heart was really softened. I watched this tiny, frail woman as she so attentively watched the little video. I thought about how her pride must have been wounded. After years of taking care of other people, she has been so reduced that she cannot even take care of her own basic needs. She is aware that without the kindness of others, she would not exist. How often have I realized that I am the same in regards to Heavenly Father? Does it take spiritual multiple screlosis to convince me that I'm not the one in control here? I'm grateful for the blessings of service, and the strength of those who surround me. I will never see that lady the same.

Well, friends. That's all I can remember for now. Tune in next week to find out where I'll be! Se cuidan!
Hermana Ray