Homeward Bound-April 18, 2016 (She's coming home!)

The gospel changes lives. As I have had the opportunity to sit back and reflect a bit on the whole course of my mission, it has really put into perspective for me that God has a plan. EVERY single little thing is of great significance. I have been able to notice how well everything truly does twine together. As long as one is living righteously and going forward in the work with good intentions, everything that happens is for a reason. And that even if its not recognized at the moment as great significance, those moments can turn into personal revelation, a testimony that God exists and that His plan of salvation in which we are part of is perfect. I have seen examples of this time and time again on my mission, where I have been able to look back at the beginning of my mission or even at my life before the mission and realize that God was preparing me for the experiences and things I would face each day and the opportunities that would be given me.

 Although I have been blessed to see many of the people I have taught on my mission enter into the waters of baptism, an example I would like to share of seeing the plan God truly laid out is about a less active I taught in my first area. It all started in the MTC, one of my teachers, who had just happened to serve in the Washington DC South Mission not too long before gave me and the 2 other Hermanas lists of people he remembered and taught on his mission that we HAD to meet. :) When I arrived in my first area I asked my trainer if she knew one of the names I had on the list for that area, Springlake. She said she didn't recognize the name but that we could try her. Turns out she was an inactive due to work issues, and that slowly she had distanced herself from the church, 1, 2, then a few years. We worked with her a lot and I was able to find such a love for her and desire to help her, that we were able to be bold with her and promise her that if she would quit her job on Sunday's that the Lord would provide, and a better option would present itself--Alma 32:21. 

Come to find out a few weeks later she quit her job and had gotten her "dream" schedule at a different job and was able to come to church on Sunday's again! As she was reactivated and became stronger and stronger and I was transferred out of the area, the other Hermanas were able to work with her and were able to teach and baptize her daughter, and are in the process of helping them get to the temple! At a new and returning member fireside not too long ago she was able to bare her testimony of both finding the gospel and being baptized, falling away and then returning again. What a sweet experience that was to see her and hear those amazing words. I will never forget the impact being a missionary has had on my life. For I know that as we truly lose ourselves in the service of our God, that we will FIND ourselves and we will eventually be able to stand at the right hand of God one day, having finished our course. 

    I love each and everyone of you. Sorry no pics this week, but I look forward to seeing you all! 

   Con todo mi corazón,

   Hermana Mariah Riddle ❤️

   Washington DC South Mission

   October 2014-April 2016

Riah went to Great Falls this P-day.  Didn't get any pics this week but Hermana Peabody's mom saved me once again.  We have to do that for each other every once in a while:) 

AHHH!! I can't believe our missionary is coming home:)  What a sweet letter. Brought tears to my eyes just thinking of this being the last missionary email that I will be receiving from her!  I will truly miss looking forward to an email from this beautiful missionary every Monday but I will cherish the time I get to hold her in my arms again.

For all of you reading her blog. THANK YOU!  Thanks for all the support you have been to Hermana Riddle.  She loves you and so do we!

I will post again when I get a chance after she returns home. For now, I can't believe this is over. On to new adventures!!

Woah There! April 11, 2016

Hey everyone, so... not a lot of time this week--again, as usual.. haha. I hope you will forgive me!! We had some awesome things happen this week, and are looking forward to another awesome week ahead of us! Just running running to the finish line!!

Again I am REALLY sorry today just got really busy but I will email next week I promise!! :)

Love you all so much!! :)

xoxo

Hermana Riddle

Riah told me that this past week was a crazy busy week.  She said that she felt like it was only 2 or 3 days long. Her past few P-days have been super busy with trying to site see but also trying to get stuff squared away for Mexico, School and also getting ready to come home.  Below are the only pics that we got this week thanks to Hermana Peabody's mom who got them from someone else:)  We do what we gotta do!

Mt Vernon- April 4, 2016

Hello everyone!

Ok, so I know you all probably want to kill me with how short my emails have been the past few weeks but things have just been super busy and it's been hard to find time! BUT--Things have been going super well and amazing, general conference was AWESOME.. if you missed any of he sessions PLEASE go watch them. Those people who talk in general conference are truly inspired people and can point us in the right direction in our lives!

Well here are some pics from today! Learned a lot today and I'm super grateful for this country despite the setbacks that it sometimes may have!

I love serving as a missionary here, and I love YOU!!

Hermana Riddle :)

Hermana Peabody's mom sent me this photo that she got this week.  Things are winding down for Riah. She is so busy and I am grateful for that.  Lets me know that she is pushing it to the end.  Just over 2 weeks and we'll have this cute Hermana home! Can't wait!!

Easter and Cherry Blossoms- March 28, 2016

Hello all! Ahh, ok so today was super super busy again! These last few pdays probably are going to be though... We went to DC for the cherry blossoms and they were super beautiful!

This past weekend was Easter as you all know as well, and I was really able to think and ponder more about the atonement of Jesus Christ and all that He truly has done for us all, and for me personally. 1 Corinthians 15:22 "For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive." All I can say is that I have simply found new life through Jesus Christ, and without His help as my brother, friend, and Savior I would not be here. I would not be at this point where I am in life, and I would never have been able to recognize the bigger picture that our Father in Heaven truly has for each of His children.

Things are going great with the work here in the Little River ward! We've been able to see a lot of progress and changes within these past few weeks! I wish I could talk about more but there just so much and so little time!

Hope Easter went great for all of you, and that you were able to reflect on all that your Savior Jesus Christ has done for you!

Love YOU!

Hermana Riddle :)

*So Riah sent me a quick email in the morning letting me know that she was going in to DC and that she would send a email later. Of course, I always know that when she goes in to DC the group email always ends up being a little short.  Sorry about that:/  And then..next thing you know she sends me an email telling me not to worry that she's ok and that they caught the guy who was shooting at the capitol building. Luckily our missionaries were not at the capitol building- but some were.  We saw many posts with missionaries on the steps outside the building. Riah said they got a text telling them all to get out of DC but they were just getting on the metro to go home when they got the text. It kinda freaked me out a little but I am so glad all those missionaries were protected. 

For we walk by faith, not by sight. March 21, 2016

So this week was pretty eventful!!

We were able to have a lot of lessons and see a lot of people make big changes for the better. I LOVE being a missionary and seeing the difference the gospel can make in EVERY single person's life!! I would say one thing I have learned the most this week is that God truly does listen to us and answer our prayers. Now as a missionary I am testifying of the veracity of that statement every day, but this week especially I have really been able to reflect on how much God really does listen and how many times the little things are answers to my prayers! As we do the small and simple things required of us and just FOLLOW the commandments, the Lord is making changes in our lives, one small and simple answer at a time. God is never going to put the full path in front of us, for that would not be walking by faith. We are NEVER going to know everything that lies ahead. That is just not possible (and it's not fun either!! ;))

I know that God has a plan for each of His children individually and as I keep moving forward in my mission, step by step I know I am going to be able to complete here what Heavenly Father would have me do. 

Praying for you all everyday that you have a happy life full of success and joy!! Keep being awesome, love you!!!

Hermana Riddle :)

So I found Mint milk last Pday and decided to buy it for St patricks day.. it's actually really good haha :)

The ones that look like crabby patties are Alfajores.. They are cookies with dulce de leche and coconut in them... we helped a member make them and they are SO GOOD. 

What A Week! Mar 14, 2016

Haha hey everyone, I know it's been SO "long" since I emailed you all last Wednesday... haha :) But these past few days have been awesome!! With Easter coming up I have been able to study and reflect on the Atonement of Jesus Christ a lot and what it means to me. And especially what it means to me that He has RISEN! Which makes it possible for all of us to be resurrected again as well!!

There is a new video that came out by the church yesterday for Easter called "Hallelujah." Everybody go check it out, it's amazing! If you remember seeing the one from Christmas "A Savior is Born," pretty sure it's all of their parents haha :)

On Sunday I was able to play the piano for the Primary and can I just say that my testimony of the fact that we need to become like little children (like the scriptures say), has grown and proven itself so much to be true! Ahhh just the things they say!! "...submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father." I know there are many times in life where it may seem that life isn't fair,  but in all reality one learns so much from not "getting his own way" and learning to submit to the will of something better. Just like a parent knows what is best for their child in certain circumstances since they have already lived through that stage of life, our Father in Heaven knows EVERYTHING and knows what is better for us than we do! I know that sounds cliché to say that God knows what's best for us but when you truly think about it it really does make sense. I would encourage you all to go to the Book of Mormon and open up to Mosiah 3:19 in preparation for this Easter Sunday coming up. Ponder about what "the natural man" means and what it means to put it off or get rid of it.

I love this gospel and the ability I have gained to be able to understand it fuller and more deeply on my mission. I pray that all of you will have that same spirit and desire to gain more understanding of the words of our Father and His Son, Jesus Christ as we search and ponder the scriptures and listen to the words of our modern-day prophets and apostles.

I love all of you and hope you have an amazing week!! :)

Con amor,

Hermana Riddle :)

P.S. So haha last night we went to go pull out of our parking spot to head home and as we were walking to the car we heard sirens super loud and then as we got in the car we saw the trucks coming and long story short they just parked it RIGHT in front of us as we were in the middle of pulling out and almost CLEARED our car!! I had to back it up a bit right before they hit us haha but we were stuck behind it for awhile just waiting and watching them set everything up.. it was super funny!!

Today we also had our Hermanas activity (all the Spanish speaking sisters in the mission, AHHH our lil group is getting so small!! :( ) and we played volleyball :)