He's Home!

And we couldn't be happier!!!

Elder Raines will report on his mission:

Sunday, June 23, 2013 

9:30 a.m. 

Lehi Cedar Hollow Stake Center

Hola Familia Raines,

Saturday   6/8/2013

 

I finally got a bunch of letters from home, about 7, I guess they came at a good time, right before I'm done.  I got Caroline's announcement and as I saw that it hit me that Caroline really graduated!  That's so weird!  I'm kind of in this weird little world here in Colombia where I feel like nothing at home has changed at all, even though pretty much everything has changed.  It will be very interesting to see how much everything has changed and what has happened.

I was shocked by Margaret´s little note that she wrote me with all the rest that you sent me back in April, that got here a couple of days ago.  She was reading the Hunger Games!  She really has become a good reader. That's a great skill that she is going to use when she gets older.  But I was also shocked at how well she writes and her grammer and what not. You really have gotten big sis!  Yesterday we were at a house of some members and some less actives, and there was a girl there who is 11 years old, and when she said that I said, there is no WAY that you are 11, because my little sister is almost 11 and the girl looked old, well not old, but older that I what I remember Margaret as.  Margaret still is 8 years old in my head more or less.  And Caroline is still 16, not 18 and graduated!  That will be fun to finally realize.

So yes, the friends of Ginny did find me and it was awesome!  They came to the offices and we met out front in the mall there and they gave me a card from Ginny.  They were a really nice family from Bogotá that are neighbors of Ginny´s and Davids.  I opened the note when we got home with my comp and there was money in it!  It was a really nice letter that told me how I am doing a good work on behalf of the Raines family. It was very nice and it was nice to hear from that side of the family.  Please tell her thank you and that I love her.  

I am going to buy the rest of the stuff that I want to buy.  I pretty much have got all the things I was looking for and what not.  This week we are going to Yopal and I want to bring back some stuff from there, but other than that dad, I really don't need anything else. I am good to go.  I just will need stuff when I get home, some clothes, garments.  Don't worry about planning anything special when I get home, it will just be a special day whether or not we have any super plans.  I am excited to be back with my family.  I miss you all so very much.  I have tried so hard to not think about home as much as I can avoid it without getting homesick, but not its starting to become inevitable.  I was feeling meloncholy last night and I asked the lord for guidance.  I felt like I should go just open up my English scriptures and I did and I opened to D y C 99:7 and 8 and got a good answer from heaven about what I need to do.  

This week we had the mission leadership council and I was able to give a capacitation and bear my testimony.  I only remembered then that it was there in that same chapel in Tierra Linda where I gave my first testimony here as a missionary, and fittingly I gave my last one as well.  My comp and I had an hour and a half to teach the missionaries, because President said he was tired from all of the interviews and wanted us to do it for him.  

We talked about our purpose as missionaries, and how we need to depend on the Lord for everything we do.  We really hit John 15:5, I think we were lead by the spirit to that scripture and I really like what it says.  On Monday we went to Duitama and had our intercambios there with the zone leaders.  This Monday in the night we are going to be headed off to Yopal and will be there all day Tuesday and will head back to Bogotá Tuesday night.  President says that he is going to call the new assistant that Wednesday so that I can teach them both a bunch of things with the transfers.  I go home 3 days or so before the transfers and before the arrival of all the new missionaries, so I gotta show them a couple things about how that's done and what not.  

I have come to realize that the very last days of the mission of the Savior were the more important.  He basically performed and fulfilled his mission in the last three days of his life.  That's a good example to us at how it doesn't matter if we are at the beginning, or the very last end, we have to endure to the end, not just as a full time missionary, but as a son or daughter of God. If we don't we wont pass the test, and wont be able to make it back to his presence.  

I will see you in one week from today.  I love you all so much.  Keep me in your prayers asI keep you in mine.  

Elder Raines.

Dear Raines Family!

Saturday   6/1/2013

Well, I feel so happy that Lauren and Jake finally had their baby! He looks so cute and looks like he will be a good baby like Lillie. Good genes mixed makes a good baby. I love his name! Cooper Scott, With a name like that he is destined to be amazing. No, but really that was very special for me to read that you would name him after Dad and I. I love you Lauren and Jake. I love you so much. I have been praying for Lauren and Cooper and I am glad that the Lord answered my prayers and kept them both well and healthy. 

This week I was in Bucaramanga, and it was exhausting. We left Monday night and got to Barranca first and spent the day there all day Tuesday. There were some problems there so President had us do some interviews to figure out what was going on and we got that all solved and figured out. That was really weird to interview a missionary like that. Peoples eyes tell you so much. It's like the door to their spirit.

Then that morning we got up at 3:00 and caught a bus that left at 4:00 and then we got to Bucaramanga at about 6:30 or so. I love that city so much, so yes I was there when you saw that video of the lady from Bucaramanga on that t.v. show. We were there with the two zones. One zone on Wednesday and then the other zone on Thursday. I bought some traditional Santanderian candies there that dad might remember, maybe, we´ll have to see. Thank you for putting in some money in my account. I'm gonna go buy one of those Colombian hats today and try and find a church bag. There is a nice little store here close to the offices. But then Thursday night we came back to Bogotá with an Elder who finished his mission yesterday. 

I'm glad that the girls are now out of school and happy. That is so weird that Caroline is now out of High School. WOW. And Margaret is going to be in the 6th grade! How weird! 

I had an interview with Presidente yesterday because he is doing the interviews for all the mission. I sure love you all. Keep me in your prayers and keep sending me pictures. I love seeing pictures of the new baby. He is so cute! I bought  a white bow tie for his blessing. I dunno if you´ll want to use it, but either way, it was cheap and good looking so I bought it a couple of weeks ago. I sure love you all.

Elder Raines

Hola Familia!

Saturday   5/25/2013

I cant believe that Lauren might have her baby soon! That is so exciting to hear! I really hope she has him soon. You need to pick a name! I thought that Daniel might be good, you could call him Danny. I will keep thinking of good names while I write here.

I'm sorry you couldn't go to St. George Margaret! I'm sure mom and dad will take you sometime soon. How is Jenny doing? Why did she have surgery? How are the Coxes doing? How have these last few weeks of school been going? I can't believe that Caroline is really in Washington DC. That's so weird to me. I told my comp that on Thursday while we were on the bus I said, Hey my sister is in Washington DC right now. 

Here is the chapel in Villa del Rosario, we took pictures of it because it looks like the Nauvoo temple.

We had to leave for Cucuta on Sunday at 6:00 p.m.. And we got there at 10:00 a.m. the next day. Then on Wednesday we had planned to go in the night, but the last bus left at 9:00 at night, so we had to wait till the next day. Elder Alves told me that there was a bus that left at 7:00 and other that left at 9:30 or so. So we decided to go at 9:30 to not be too rushed. Yeah when we got there, the lady told us the next trip was at 3:30. So we went and just read and waited for a good 6 hours, ate lunch and what not. 

Then when 3:30 rolled around, a guy came in and said hey so the bus going to Bogotá crashed so you´re going to have to wait til the next bus leaves at 5:30. So we had to wait another 2 hours after that. I asked them if there was some kind of customer deal that they could give us, like some money back or what not, but they just said no and laughed at us. That was pretty frustrating. 

But I have come to really take one scripture to heart, 1 Nephi 19:9 where it explains all the things that the Lord had to take, and he just took it without any word. He was patient in his afflictions and us as His people, His sheep, His saints, who have taken upon us his name must do the same. I think maybe that was what the lord wanted me to learn.

This is my comp in front of those dumb buses in a stop they always make right outside of Tunja. 

This was my comps first bus ride, poor guy. He had a hard time sleeping. This next week will be pretty busy as well. Keep me updated on whats happening with Lauren! Les quiero mucho!

Were going to eat Mexican food today because I'm at 2 years. There is a restaurant here close to the offices. Chao! Send me pictures. Lauren will be in my prayers! I love you all!

Elder Raines.

Here are some pictures from my comp. On the terrace of the house in Motilones, and then us at McDonalds eating breakfast. It was so expensive!!

Hola Familia!

Saturday   5/18/2013

How are you all doing? It was really weird to talk to you last Sunday. I cant believe that that was almost a whole week ago. Time seems to be just flying, literally flying by. I don't know where its all going. It was weird because I felt like I was already home with you guys. I felt pretty home sick after, but the Lord sure does bless us when we need it. As we got on the bus to go home, we ran into a brother from another ward who was going to visit a friend of his who he said, hey Elders come visit her with me, you can teach her. And we were able to teach the restoration to her and her son who is about 18 years old. It was a small angel sent from the Lord to get us back into the work and not worry about home. I'm not worried about home mom, don't worry. I've got too many things to worry about here. Don't be worried about me, be worried about finishing Jesus The Christ, and that Margaret can get her 19 short books read in like a month! I am tired but my strengths really have been lifted this week. We had some really special experiences in the intercambios.

I felt like I really did something good with them and helped them out all of the zone leaders with whom I was able to do changes with. I felt like I had done something I promised to do in the pre-earth life. That is a good feeling.  Elder Guajardo is an excellent missionary and I have been so happy to work with him. He has done really well and I am grateful for such a good companion. 

It has been a good week and I really feel like I will be able to do the rest of the intercambios that we have to do. Tomorrow we will be going to Cucuta where we are going to be there til about Thursday. This week will go by very fast. And then the next week we will be on our way to Bucaramanga til Thursday night and then we will have to get back to help President with an Elder who is going home on the 31st. We will be pretty busy here this whole transfer.

That's so weird that Lauren and Jake are now home owners! You need to send me pictures of their new house! Any news on the new baby´s name? I will have to think of some cool names for the baby.  That's so great that Caroline got such a great scholarship! way to go sis!! How do you feel about that! That's amazing!  Margaret, quit worrying! Its not good for your little heart! You are going to break into hives again! Just enjoy school! Okay?

I sure love you all, thank you for all the support you give me. Please keep me in your prayers these last few weeks here. Keep up family home evening and I hope all goes well for you tomorrow with your busy Sunday! I will be on a bus! WHOOHOO!! Que les vaya bien, les amo.

Elder Raines

Hola Familia!

Saturday   5/11/2013

Okay, first things first. We will be calling here from the offices at about 3:00 tomorrow, so that will be like 2:00 your time. We may be a little late, I'm not sure, because we are going to have lunch I'm guessing. But it's already set up here, supposedly, that's at least what the secretaries said, and if not, they will be in big trouble. But be ready for me to call sometime between 3 and 3:30. I am so excited to be able to call you guys! It really feels like it was only 2 or 3 weeks ago that I was calling you guys from Funza. I really cant believe at all that its now time to call you again and that it will be the last time.

That's really weird that William is now married. I hope he is doing well. If you see him would you tell him hi for me? Also, please tell Sister Fueston hi for me. She sent me a letter the other week and has sent stuff throughout my mission. Tell her Happy Mothers day that I love her and appreciate her as do all the boys who she helped get eagles. 

As far as Caroline going to Washington DC I only have two things to say and they have nothing to do with my opinion and I want them to be read in the presence of Lauren. 1) There once was a time where you didn't let Lauren and I go with Nikelle and Bryson bowling in the middle of the day. Lauren was 18. 2) Way to go Margaret for being born last, you are going to get whatever you want!

My companion and I get along really well. I really took to heart the quote you sent from President Hinkley about just being happy. Even if I'm not, to slap a smile on my face. That was the answer the Lord gave me as far as this last transfer is concerned just to be happy. Do my duty, be obedient and be happy. Thank you for that mom! I really have gotten along well with Elder Guajardo. He is a really good guy and is very faithful and very easy going with very little stress. 

Elder Guajardo and Elder Raines in the mission office on p-day.

We are crammed into a really small apartment with a really small ward and are sharing with 2 other Elders. There are now 208 missionaries in our mission. We will have about 240 by the time I'm gone. The limit is 250, so we´re pretty close up there. President will have a lot of work to do. But president was talking to us yesterday that he wants to just keep us two in the ward. Our ward is called Dorado, estaca dorado. its good.

We have a list of members less actives, but I'm almost positive that it hasn't been updated since 1990 or so. So it does us no good because people move around here so much. In Modelo, the ward we were at before, there was a less active man that hadn't gone to church for a good 5 years and no one knew why. So one guy was called to be Elders Quorm president, and he went to look for him. It turned out he died 5 years ago. Sad huh? No one knew. Its a little frustrating, but none the less we must go on with our job. I cannot lift for everyone, but I can lift for myself and help those around me to do the same.

I want to wish you a Happy Mothers Day mom! Even though I will be able to tell you tomorrow, I love you! Thank you for all you do for us and have done for us. We owe you our lives. We all love you so much. I'm excited to talk with you all! Tell Sister Dixon Happy Mothers day for me as well.

Nos vemos mañana!

Elder Raines

Hola Familia.

Saturday   5/4/2013

In about 8 days I will be able to skype you all! I am looking forward to that. I decided I wanted to call you because I will have a month after to work. I wasn't going to if I had to go home in the month of May, but now that I'm staying until June, I wanna call you. I am going to see if we can't get cameras here in the offices and call from here to you guys. It's free and better internet I imagine.

I'm sorry to hear that you have had a stomach flu mom, that is terrible. That's surprising to me that you have 18 piano students! Since when did you have so many? Who takes piano from you now? Do you do them all after school or do you have some that come before school in the morning? That is such a great job. Are you teaching Margaret piano as well? Since when did Margaret know how to play the piano for activity days? I'm proud of you Margaret for not saying no in the church! When we say no in the church, we are saying no to the Lord, because it's his church. That's not good.

Its so strange to me that Caroline is now working like a grown up! Tan lindo! I was looking through some of the pictures I have from home and I have the ones from Carolines sophomore year, jr year and sr year and boy has she sure changed. I guess I still can't really even say anything because I haven't really even seen you all for such a long time, even thought it doesn't seem so long. maybe like 8 months or so?

Yesterday we were with 2 Elders who left for home. They were two of the best missionaries in the mission. You could tell that the Lord was really pleased with the work they each had done for the Savior here in Colombia. We were able to go to the temple with them and I put your names in the temple here, so I hope you can feel the faith and prayers of the Colombians all the way out there in Utah.

My comp doesn't leave til September. I´ve got 3 months on him. But he has been an Assistant since about November, so about like 6 months. President is going to call a new one, his name is Elder Guajardo. He is from Mexico and is a really cool guy. So I will be ending my mission here as the Assistant to President Andelin with Elder Guajardo as my companion. I am excited because he is such a good guy and a really strong missionary. But they are going to put us in a new ward, he is going to put us in the Dorado ward, Estaca Dorado, its a little bit further away from the offices so that will be interesting. I am excited. Though I can not believe that this will be my last transfer.

This week we had our activity as I told you all in cucuta, which went well. We played a lot of soccer. Then on Thursday we had the mission leadership council with all of the zone leaders and the sisters who are assigned to teach the other sisters and do intercambios with them. It was a really good meeting. President talked about obedience. Obedience is the first law of heaven, we cant get back to our fathers presence with out it in our hearts. Elder Uceda said, "there are no disobedient Gods in the universe."

When President gave us the transfers he was pretty sick, and it was the first time that he had been sick on the mission. He asked us to give him a blessing, my comp and I.  I anointed and my comp gave the blessing. When I was anointing him, I really felt the power of the Lord come through me and I didn't feel like I was even doing anything. The next day he was all good to go. He explained that we have power in our hands to heal, we have power in our feet to walk, power in our mind to discern and many other things. He explained that through us, others are going to learn of Christ. By the way we talk others are going to learn of Christ. By the way we walk, others are going to learn of Christ.

I feel like that isn't just for the missionaries, but for all members. Others will learn of Christ by watching us and seeing what we do, as followers of Christ. People always are watching us, be them members or not, all eyes are always watching. The Lord needs us to be good examples of who He is, so that more and more may come unto Him and receive everlasting life with our Father. I know that no one can get to the Father unless it be by and through Jesus Christ and His power to heal and sew and fix for all eternity every broken heart and contrite spirit. He does that through baptism and ordinances of the temple. I know that's true. How blessed we are to have those at such close access as Latter-day Saints!

I will be calling you guys on skype on the 12th, but I don't know what time. I will let you know, don't worry. I love you all. Hang in there Caroline before you graduate! Que estén bien todos, les amo!

Elder Raines