Hola Mis Amigos!

>
> Como estan?! Wow it has just been such a CRAZY few weeks in my life as a missionary! The past
three P-Days have been insanely BUSY! Life as a missionary, is a whole other ball game! I love it though!
Makes things interesting and keeps me on my toes! After spending seven months with my AMAZING
Garden 11th ward in northern Pleasant Grove, I have finally been transferred. We received a call on
Monday from President Killpack informing Hermana Flores and I that we will both be getting transferred
and our area would be receiving Elders. SAY WHAT?! We knew it was the right move for the Lord to do
with this area. We know that the new Elders will shake this area up and do a lot of good. I have been
reflecting back upon my time in that area, and wondering if I made a difference. The more I thought about
it, the more I realized, that the members of Garden 11th ward, have forever changed my life; instead of
me, changing theirs. I am so grateful for the time I spent getting to know them and their stories. I hope to
remain friends with many of them for years to come. I have been so blessed to have been in that area for
as long as I was. The Lord taught me so much and I know He will still continue to teach me in my new
area.
>
> As you can tell by my subject, my new companion is none other than, HERMANA RAPOZA! This is
Hermana is AMAZING! I love her with all my heart! I am so BLESSED to have her for a companion! She
is my first non-native companion here on the mission! I cannot even describe how EXCITED I am to work
with her and build our area here in Orem! The challenges here are different, but I know that I have been
called here to serve the people of this area and I will make sure to do so! I love my new district and zone!
What a good bunch of missionaries!
>
> Mari and Ever:
> They are on date for baptism and so far we have had two lessons with them and they are progressing
wonderfully. I hope to get to know them more and help them be prepared for baptism.
>
> Vero:
> She is coming back to church and has had a hard life the past few years. She is really straight up and
honest. We are trying to slowly teach her fiance about the gospel. She is starting to read her Book of
Mormon now, so that is a GREAT!
>
> Norma:
> Just had my first lesson with her yesterday and she has come a long way according to Hermana
Rapoza. She really seems to understand the need for baptism, so that in itself is a miracle.
>
> Those are just the few people we have been able to see the past few days since I have been here. SO
AWESOME!
>
> My spiritual thought for the week is from a Regional Conference we had with the southern part of Utah.
M. Russel Ballard gave us these six spiritual practices to make apart of our lives:
>
> 1) Sincere daily prayer
> 2) Faithful fasting
> 3) Regular study and pondering of the scriptures and the words of the prophets
> 4) Making the Sabbath Day a delight and partaking of the sacrament worthily each week
> 5) Temple attendance
> 6) Reaching out to the lonely, lost and destitute in the world around us
>
> Please look at these six spiritual practices and choose one to begin working on today, and when it
becomes a daily part of your life, pick another one to work on. I know that the spirit bore witness to me
that these six practices can help each of us put the Lord first in our lives.

>
> Have a WONDERFUL week! Please know that I love each of you!
> -> Con Amor,
> Hermana Alexandra Rackley
>
> Utah Orem Mission
> October 2014 - April 2016