Halloween Email!

Hey y'all!
This week has gone by SO fast! It feels like I was just writing you an email. My week is going great. We had some really good speakers this week. Sister Mottsumori(sp?) from the Primary general presidency gave the lesson in Relief Society. She talked all about how to teach primary aged children the gospel. She showed this really cute movie with little kids. I started to cry because I missed Brook, Ash, and Maddy so much!! We also learned the sharing time song for 2010. It is so good. It talks about Christ blessing the children and crying because of them. I have to say that it really made me miss my baby nieces :(
On Tuesday we had Elder L. Tom Perry speak. It was so amazing. He spoke on using the spirit to teach. His brought all fo his grandchildren to sing a song(there was this little girl that looked like Brooklyn, so I started crying again). They sang this song called "My kindness shall not depart from thee" I LOVE that song. Such a good devotional. Also, all 3000 missionaries sang Called to Serve. I cannot even begin to describe to you the feeling of singing that song with the power of 3000 missionaries. It was a very spiritual experience for me and most people around me. It confirmed to me why I am on a mission and the reason I am here.
So....I know that Taylor Swift came out with 7 new songs on Tuesday. Has anyone heard it yet?? wanna give me the dish?? Hahaha...I am kinda sad I cant hear it(Maygen...i NEED lyrics) HAHA!
I had a pretty cool experience at the RC on Wednesday. Remember the RC is where I call people. So I called this 23 year old guy in Detroit, to ask him if he recieved his Book of Mormon he requested. And we talked for like 20 minutes about the gospel! He has read all the way to Mormon. I even asked him to read a verse with me over the phone and he had his BOM with him as he was walking home from class. I got him to agree to meet with the missionaries and pray about the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon. It was so AWESOME!!
Thanks again for everyone who wrote me letters. I feel SO blessed. I can honestly say that my one companion has only recieved 1 letter since being here. I feel really bad. Maybe mom...you guys could do something for them. I dont know. A little candy or something??
So next week I begin teaching in Spanish...I am going to pee my pants! lol! I really am kinda an idiot when it comes to Spanish, but I am working hard. Teaching lessons in English comes really easy for me so I think I really need to concentrate on Espanol.
Oh! I heard that you are doing a biggest loser challenge with the family! I am so down!! Maybe I will do it here. I can weigh myself once a week. I think I might have lost some weight because I dont eat a lot(i dont really likethe food) and I am always walking up stairs. I am so excitedf or you guys! Keep it UP!!!
Jessica-I am obsessed with your Dearelder! It made me miss your personality. Especially about the old people. Haha
Denise-Jake is awesome! I think I made him kinda nervous when talking to him cause he was trying to be really nice to me. Go for it!!
Maygen-Any cool date stories?? My companions and roomates are dying for more! :)
Sam and Linds-I love you and think about you A LOT! HUG!!(that is a hug from me :)
Thanks again for everything you guys! It is so great to know that I have such a huge support group back at home. I love it! I love and miss you all. OH!! I NEED pictures from Halloween.
Love, Hermana Richards
Mom- if you want to send my companions something it is the same address. Their names are Megan Stevens and Robyn Wright. Thanks! I LOVE YOU!

Week 2 Letter!!! Her Testimony is in Spanish!!!!!

Hola everyone!

First off, I have to thank everyone for the letters and packages!! It has been so wonderful to hear from all of you. My district kind of hates me because I get the most letters and packages. Hahaha!! That doesn't give you permission to stop. :)
My week has been so great! I joined choir. I love it! Plus we get an awesome seat for the devotional. I also really like Sunday's because we get to watch films. Last week we watched the Joseph Smith movie. I cried of course. It is crazy here because we are in class most of the day and if we are not in class we are studying. It sometimes is rough because I dont have time to study and retain the things I am taught. Especially the Spanish. I am really surprised at how much I am learning. The Lord has definitely blessed me. The MTC is an amazing place.
On Wednesday we went to the RC for the first time. Basically the RC is were missionaries make phone calls to people who have reqested a BOM or other things. We call them and try to get them to agree to meet with the missionaries. I had a couple of people commit to meeting with the missionaries. And I also had a couple of mean people but oh well! We also can chat online with people on Mormon.org. Its really cool!
It has been amazing to feel the spirit here at the MTC. It is crazy the energy and strength that is provided for you to accomplish all you can to become the best you can. I am LOVING the work I am doing. Now that I am on a mission it has only confirmed to me the desire I have had for years to serve. It is amazing. I wish I could explain it better but I cant. Only those that have experienced the MTC can understand the overwhemling feeling of love from Heavenly Father that you feel.
It is weird sometimes to think about you guys. I definitely miss all of you! I love the many funny stories you tell me about and even just the day to day things make me happy to read about. My biggest struggle here at the MTC is being tired. I at times just want to take a nap so bad! But then suddenly I will wake up and be totally fine. It is amazing!! I hope you are all doing well. After I finish this email I am going to write you letters. It is realy hard to get everything you want to say in a short time period and when you are surrounded by about 50 missionaries doing laundry. I love you all so much!! Thank you for the support. I am so blessed!!

Yo sé Jesus es el Salvador. Estoy agradecio por la expiación y el plentitud del Evangelio. El libro de Mormon es verdadero! Le estoy agradecido a mi padre celestial por este oportunidad servir de un misión.

Love, Hermana Richards

Sister Richards' 1st Email!!!!!

Hola Mi familia!!

Wow!! I can't believe it was only a few days ago that I was with all you guys. I feel like I have been at the MTC for weeks! These last few days have been so great. After you dropped me off I spent a lot of time in lines getting my keys, room, etc. We then later that night had a huge meeting with all the new missionaries. So my companion decided not to show up. Sad I know!! Once I met with my District Presidency they then put me with two other Hermanas in my district. And guess what?? They are also going to the Texas Houston South Mission! Spanish speaking. Hermana Stevens from Idaho and Hermana Wright from Washington. In my district alone we have a total of 6 missionaries going to my mission. All leaving the same day to go to Texas. The Elders in my district are awesome!! They are very respectful of the Hermanas.

The last few days we have been in cass A LOT!! We have been learning the first lesson in Preach My Gospel and how to pray and testify in Spanish. I am VERY grateful for the little Spanish I know. I really do wish I had paid more attention in Spanish though. It has been really weird singing in Spanish. I am having trouble getting the tune of the song and trying to sing in a language I dont know at the same time. Haha! I would totally mess it up and then laugh out loud....oh man.

One thing that has been hard is that one of my teachers is sick. So we haven't meet her yet. Because of that we have had up to 7 or 8 different teachers. They wouldn't know what the person before them has taught so we often get lessons very similar or almost the same. I feel like we are a little behind as a district. But no worries, we are all working really hard to learn as fast and effective as we can.

How are things at home? I realize now how amazing it was to be a part of Pauls discussions and baptism. I feel like I can realate in the role playing to the investigator a little bit because I sat in when Paul was taking the discussions. Me and my companions taught the first lesson today to some other Hermanas in another district and it went SO well! I was so happy when we were done. Afterward they just kept saying how they could not believe it was our first week because we did so well.

Thank you so much for the letters!! It really has uplifted me. Oh! Funny story...so right after you guys dropped me off the Elders helping me at the curb said that our goodbye/curb drop off was the best Sister drop off they had ever seen. So good job family for not crying for 20 minutes and making a scene!

I love you all SO MUCH!! I am doing great. Really! i have only cried once and it was because of an experience I will have to tell you more about later :) I have noticed how much Heavenly Father has blessed me so far. He has given me SO much strength. I can even begin to expain the feeling of His love for me. I have felt it stronger here than I have ever had before. Please write!! Have a wonderful week.

Love,Hermana Richards

Missionary Training Center

Maygen looks like she is about to break down in tears again

Sister Richards finally entered the MTC yesterday. We hated how we now just "drop" them off now. The MTC really uses the analogy of saying goodbye is like taking off a band-aid, the faster it is the less it hurts. Here are some pictures of her right before she OFFICIALLY started her 18 months of serving the Lord!

OFFICIALLY Sister Richards

Sarah got set apart tonight as a full time missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. She leaves tomorrow to go to the MTC on Wednesday!

Sarah's Farewell BBQ TEXAS STYLE!

Sarah with Ashlyn (her niece) and her sister Jessica

All of our family that was there!

Sarah, Brooklyn (Sarah's niece), and her friend Denise


We had a BBQ a few weeks ago in Henderson for Sarah's family and friends to come say goodbye and give her advice! It was soo much fun! We played water kickball, ate some tasty Texas food, and enjoyed wonderful company from many family and friends!

Sister Richards is getting packed and ready to SERVE THE LORD!

Sarah has been called to serve in the Houston Texas South Mission speaking Spanish! She enters the MTC on October 14th (10 days)