Dear friends and family,

This was a CRAZY week. and i forgot my planner....so i was hoping to just hit the most exciting parts and then go over a few things I've learned this week, because well....i always fell like i don't really include that into my emails.

But this Wednesday there was a BIG fire in Rancho. We woke up that morning and there was smoke everywhere! Me and sister Cook happened to be on exchanges that day though. So Sister Heine (the sister i was with) and I just went out to go to our appointments. At about 11:20 we get a call from sister Cook saying they will be evacuating the part of Rancho that she was in, and that 2 other sisters were being evacuated also. So Wednesday consisted of frantically getting all these sisters packed and over to our apartment. then deciding 8 sisters in one apartment is WAY to many. and then sending them to other apartments and then getting them bed's and things to sleep on. IT WAS NUTS! the whole day ash was falling and it was just crazy wind making the fire even worse. BUT it was all better by the next day. SO that was a fun little adventure during the week.

The other Highlight was that I got to go on exchanges with Sister Naitoko. She is from Tonga, and she is HILARIOUS! we were walking that day and i just died the whole day she was so fun and funny. At one point i said something that i guess she though was really funny, so she grabbed my head and headbutted me and rubbed our heads together. Haha it hurt pretty bad but it was soooooo funny. I really loved the chance to be her companion. Also it was amazing to see how the spirit can work through people who don't know the language very well. I feel that missionaries learning languages are better at following the spirit because they have to rely on it more. SO it was such a great experience to spend the day with her.

hahahahaha okay quick story...were in a community center, and we are in the computer lab right now that is FULL of older people and the worker was listening to music on his computer and it was like heavy rap and he didn't realize that it started playing out loud, REALLY LOUD. And all the old people freaked out, and he noticed and was super embarrassed. it was pretty funny.

Anyways,

I was thinking of something specific i wanted to share about things i have learned...But rather than do that i just want to share how i have changed. When i left for my mission i feel like i had a testimony of the things i was teaching, but I'm not sure how much of it felt REAL. That one day we truly would live with God again, that Christ did pay for our sins, that everything in the gospel was real. And I'm not sure if that makes sense....but i knew it was true, but at the sane time i think i missed what that really meant in my life. Because, now as i have had the chance to learn about the Gospel more, see it affect people's lives and just change people, i have felt myself change. When i think about the Gospel now, it isn't just a knowledge of it's truthfulness, but its an excitement. I think about the day that we will see God again and i get a little giddy haha. Its hard to explain, but i just feel as though i have come to know that the things i teach people are true. Before i believed, now i know. And i wouldn't trade that knowledge for anything. And i know it is such a blessing that everyone can know. And i just feel so lucky to be one of the people who gets to help other reach that in their lives.

Sorry if that sounds cheesy or anything. but i tried my best to explain it.

I love and miss you all :)

thank you for your letters and emails!

Sister Rebecca Redd

Oh also, i hit half way of my misison this week! woo!