"When we find Him, will we be prepared as were the wise men of old, to provide gifts from our many treasures? They presented gold, frakincense, and myrrh. However these are not the gifts Jesus asks of us. From the treasure of our hearts Jesus asks that we give of ourselves. 'behold, the Lord requireth the heart and a willing mind.'"
-President Monson
I seriously LOVE Christmas! I love sharing messages about the birth of our Savior and of this season. This time of year can be some much more enjoyable if we would forget ourselves and help others. It is then that we are really happy. And we can say that when He shall appear that "we shall be like Him". (Moroni 7:48)
Ok...first off. I for some reason feel sick so it is hard to type. Sorry if this email is short.
Hermana Stevens hurt her foot last p-day so it was a rough week. She couldn't walk for too long. Which totally hinders missionary work. Hopefully this week we will be back to normal.
Dulce and Jorge are going to the Mexican consulate on Wed. with the Bishop to get her ID so they can get a marriage licence to get married. She will be baptized as soon as that all comes through. It is SO tough to get non-citizens married. We are hoping that either this Sunday or Christmas she will be baptized.
Julia officially has a date for Jan. 2nd but is praying to see if she should get baptized the 26th. She even already asked Hermano Osorto to baptize her. I am super excited!
I saw Jhon Wilches....my favorite convert on Sunday. He may or may not have run after me in the church to see me. HAHA! He is awesome.
I am excited to talk to you all next week! I included the phone number on an email so you can call me. Calls are in the afternoon this time at 4pm(my time). I am SO excited to talk to you!!!
Have a wonderful week!!!!
Hermana Richards
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
There Can Be Miracles
I want to recount to you my day yesterday but to fully understand I need to start back almost a year ago.
While in my first area I received this really cute skirt from someone. I immediately fell in love with it but it didn't fit me. But in that moment I thought to myself, "who knows maybe I will lose weight on my mission." Ever since then every time I was transferred and packing my bags I saw the skirt and thought to myself "Why am I keeping it?? It is just more stuff to cart around." But something inside of me said "just keep it".
Yesterday was a crazy day. We had to get everyone to church in order for them to be baptized on the 19th(weekend in white-mission goal). We had a ton of people scheduled to come and I felt like I hadn't tried harder to get people to church. A few of our investigators showed up but Jenny and Juan-an amazing family that we are working with were not there. It wasn't 12 hours that we had left their house from an amazing lesson with the Bishop where they said they were for sure coming. As the sacrament started, I cried. I think it was more of the stress and pressure but I was SO sad that they didn't come.
Right after church and meetings we went to their house to see what happened. Jenny then proceeds to tell me that she felt embarrassed because she didn't have the money to buy a skirt. She said if she was going to church she wanted to give a good first impression to the people. The Christmas Devotional was that night and Jenny expressed her want to listen to the prophet but needed a skirt. It was Sunday, I couldn't go buy her one. But my thoughts immediately went to the skirt packed tightly away in my suitcase where it was been for a year. We ran back to the apartment to grab it and then I prayed the entire way to her house that it would fit. I thought it would be too small. She put the skirt on and it looked like it was made for her!!!! It was so amazing to see the smile on her face. She looked beautiful. It was a small miracle for me yesterday. They came to the devotional and the baptism of another family right before. The spirit was so strong. I leaned over to Juan and said that one day he will be the one baptizing his little son Steven. He then smiled back and said "It would be an honor for me." The night before I asked Juan how he felt when we were in his home. He then said that he felt protected and safe. Like there are angels in my sight." This is the same Juan that had never prayed and didn't even know what faith was when we first visited him.
Another family we are working with(Dulce and Jorge) I hadn't been able to get a hold of at all yesterday. But finally she called us at 5:45 and said she wanted to go to the devotional but didn't have a ride. I then proceeded to call EVERY Hermana in my phone to see if they could give her a ride. I finally called Hermana Nolasco and she told me that she wants to but because of economic troubles they cannot afford the gas to go to the church again. She said she wouldn't have the gas money to get to work the next day. I then told her that no one else could do it. She agreed that she would do it even though she didn't have a clue how she was going to get to work. She came to the devotional with Dulce and her girls and as they were leaving I handed her $10 but she refused to take it from me. REFUSED! I had tears in my eyes as she said, " I know that the Lord will provide a way." This Hermana has been a member less than a year. When was the last time I had that much faith? I pray that the Lord pours blessing upon blessing to her family.
A scripture comes to my mind. "Whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it." Matt 16:25. I have found more of myself here in this work then doing anything else. As I have stressed and cried and suffered, but I have found the real Sarah Richards. The Lord breaks us down into little pieces only to build us up stronger and more whole(maygen 2007). I know that the Lord can do more with us than we can do for ourselves. Miracles can happen. I saw it manifested yesterday as I saw Jenny in that skirt and as I looked into Hermana Nolasco's eyes. Any sacrifice I have ever made, any trial, every tear---HAS BEEN WORTH IT! I found myself Saturday in a lesson saying to myself that I would sacrifice ANYTHING for the Lord and the gospel. It is THAT worth it. And great has been my joy to see that same love and peace in the eyes and faces of my investigators and the many members who sacrifice everything. I know that Jesus Christ lives. I know He is the Son of God. He is my Savior and my Redeemer. He lives! Shout it from the rooftops....He lives.
I love you!
Hermana Richards
While in my first area I received this really cute skirt from someone. I immediately fell in love with it but it didn't fit me. But in that moment I thought to myself, "who knows maybe I will lose weight on my mission." Ever since then every time I was transferred and packing my bags I saw the skirt and thought to myself "Why am I keeping it?? It is just more stuff to cart around." But something inside of me said "just keep it".
Yesterday was a crazy day. We had to get everyone to church in order for them to be baptized on the 19th(weekend in white-mission goal). We had a ton of people scheduled to come and I felt like I hadn't tried harder to get people to church. A few of our investigators showed up but Jenny and Juan-an amazing family that we are working with were not there. It wasn't 12 hours that we had left their house from an amazing lesson with the Bishop where they said they were for sure coming. As the sacrament started, I cried. I think it was more of the stress and pressure but I was SO sad that they didn't come.
Right after church and meetings we went to their house to see what happened. Jenny then proceeds to tell me that she felt embarrassed because she didn't have the money to buy a skirt. She said if she was going to church she wanted to give a good first impression to the people. The Christmas Devotional was that night and Jenny expressed her want to listen to the prophet but needed a skirt. It was Sunday, I couldn't go buy her one. But my thoughts immediately went to the skirt packed tightly away in my suitcase where it was been for a year. We ran back to the apartment to grab it and then I prayed the entire way to her house that it would fit. I thought it would be too small. She put the skirt on and it looked like it was made for her!!!! It was so amazing to see the smile on her face. She looked beautiful. It was a small miracle for me yesterday. They came to the devotional and the baptism of another family right before. The spirit was so strong. I leaned over to Juan and said that one day he will be the one baptizing his little son Steven. He then smiled back and said "It would be an honor for me." The night before I asked Juan how he felt when we were in his home. He then said that he felt protected and safe. Like there are angels in my sight." This is the same Juan that had never prayed and didn't even know what faith was when we first visited him.
Another family we are working with(Dulce and Jorge) I hadn't been able to get a hold of at all yesterday. But finally she called us at 5:45 and said she wanted to go to the devotional but didn't have a ride. I then proceeded to call EVERY Hermana in my phone to see if they could give her a ride. I finally called Hermana Nolasco and she told me that she wants to but because of economic troubles they cannot afford the gas to go to the church again. She said she wouldn't have the gas money to get to work the next day. I then told her that no one else could do it. She agreed that she would do it even though she didn't have a clue how she was going to get to work. She came to the devotional with Dulce and her girls and as they were leaving I handed her $10 but she refused to take it from me. REFUSED! I had tears in my eyes as she said, " I know that the Lord will provide a way." This Hermana has been a member less than a year. When was the last time I had that much faith? I pray that the Lord pours blessing upon blessing to her family.
A scripture comes to my mind. "Whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it." Matt 16:25. I have found more of myself here in this work then doing anything else. As I have stressed and cried and suffered, but I have found the real Sarah Richards. The Lord breaks us down into little pieces only to build us up stronger and more whole(maygen 2007). I know that the Lord can do more with us than we can do for ourselves. Miracles can happen. I saw it manifested yesterday as I saw Jenny in that skirt and as I looked into Hermana Nolasco's eyes. Any sacrifice I have ever made, any trial, every tear---HAS BEEN WORTH IT! I found myself Saturday in a lesson saying to myself that I would sacrifice ANYTHING for the Lord and the gospel. It is THAT worth it. And great has been my joy to see that same love and peace in the eyes and faces of my investigators and the many members who sacrifice everything. I know that Jesus Christ lives. I know He is the Son of God. He is my Savior and my Redeemer. He lives! Shout it from the rooftops....He lives.
I love you!
Hermana Richards
Monday, November 29, 2010
(No title)
We taught this amazing lesson on Tuesday night to a mom and her two teenage girls. Come to find out during the lesson the mom, Maria is in Kidney failure and is in constant pain. She receives dialysis two times a week. As I was listening to this, looking at the pain in her girls' eyes I prayed so fervently to my Heavenly Father that I could teach to the needs of this family. The daughter Alpha began to cry as she told me that she just wants her mom better. She said if she could wish for anything it was for her mom to live. In that moment I felt like the task before me was more than I could handle. How could I express the love that Heavenly Father has for them and the wonderful plan He has set for them? I wanted to take the pain in their eyes away and calm these girls fears. I prayed that as I opened my mouth that the Lord would fill it. A scripture immediately came into my mind. Revelation 21:4 "And God shall wipe away all the tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain." I then testified of the Plan of Salvation and how we can live with our families forever. I shared Tylers story(something I don't do often) and we left with a prayer that brought peace to my heart and hopefully to the hearts of that family. I am so thankful to my Heavenly Father that in that moment He gave me the guidance I needed. My purpose there was made clear to me. I love the Lord!
Thanksgiving was......interesting. Thursdays are planning days so we planned in the morning then later that afternoon we had a Thanksgiving dinner at the Bishops house. For a woman from Mexico she did an amazing job cooking a good old American thanksgiving dinner! She is so cute! Well....we left the Bishops house and went to this area so we could contact people on the street. Not even 5 minutes later I felt this thing on my neck. I go to touch it to see what it is when a huge wasp/hornet totally stung my finger! It hurt SO bad!!! I thought I was going to die. I was literally crying on the side of the street! We rushed off to Wal-greens(the people there know my name I swear) and got me some meds. My finger was swelling up pretty bad so I took some benadryl. While doctor Hermana Stevens removed the stinger from my finger(I guess she did it a lot growing up on the farm). Needless to say my thanksgiving was spent me knocked out with a finger twice its size. HAHA! My finger is normal now ;)
Sounds like all of you had quite the adventures on black Friday! LOVE it!!
The mission right now has a goal for 500 baptisms for the year 2010. Our mission President designated the weekend of the 18th and 19th as "white weekend". Which means that every companionship is to have a baptism that weekend. Right now we have 5 people set with a baptismal date for that weekend. It is going to be tough to have someone ready but we have complete faith that we can do it! It is amazing, right now we have so many people with baptismal dates. The trouble is getting them to be ready for it and come to church! The Lord is blessing us so much. Last night we ended the week breaking my mission numbers. Heavenly Father is definitely preparing people in this area right now. :)
Oh! mom----do you know that book "You are Special" I think years ago Elder Devey shared it with our family? I want to get it as a gift for Dulce's little girls. Can you maybe find it in Spanish and send it to me? I have decided that if you all are going to buy me Christmas presents I will then just give it away to my investigators. They have nothing. SO don't worry about getting me anything :)
Well, I feel like I could write for days but time is up. LOVE YOU!!! All is well here....most of the time ;)
Sarah
Thanksgiving was......interesting. Thursdays are planning days so we planned in the morning then later that afternoon we had a Thanksgiving dinner at the Bishops house. For a woman from Mexico she did an amazing job cooking a good old American thanksgiving dinner! She is so cute! Well....we left the Bishops house and went to this area so we could contact people on the street. Not even 5 minutes later I felt this thing on my neck. I go to touch it to see what it is when a huge wasp/hornet totally stung my finger! It hurt SO bad!!! I thought I was going to die. I was literally crying on the side of the street! We rushed off to Wal-greens(the people there know my name I swear) and got me some meds. My finger was swelling up pretty bad so I took some benadryl. While doctor Hermana Stevens removed the stinger from my finger(I guess she did it a lot growing up on the farm). Needless to say my thanksgiving was spent me knocked out with a finger twice its size. HAHA! My finger is normal now ;)
Sounds like all of you had quite the adventures on black Friday! LOVE it!!
The mission right now has a goal for 500 baptisms for the year 2010. Our mission President designated the weekend of the 18th and 19th as "white weekend". Which means that every companionship is to have a baptism that weekend. Right now we have 5 people set with a baptismal date for that weekend. It is going to be tough to have someone ready but we have complete faith that we can do it! It is amazing, right now we have so many people with baptismal dates. The trouble is getting them to be ready for it and come to church! The Lord is blessing us so much. Last night we ended the week breaking my mission numbers. Heavenly Father is definitely preparing people in this area right now. :)
Oh! mom----do you know that book "You are Special" I think years ago Elder Devey shared it with our family? I want to get it as a gift for Dulce's little girls. Can you maybe find it in Spanish and send it to me? I have decided that if you all are going to buy me Christmas presents I will then just give it away to my investigators. They have nothing. SO don't worry about getting me anything :)
Well, I feel like I could write for days but time is up. LOVE YOU!!! All is well here....most of the time ;)
Sarah
Thanksgiving
"To express gratitude is gracious and honorable, to enact gratitude is grenerous and noble, but to live with gratitide ever in our hearts is to touch heaven."
---President Thomas S. Monson
This Thanksgiving I am thankful for so many things.I decided to make a list of a few thigns I am thankful for.
-being a missionary-greatest experience of my life!
-family
-mail-you dont even know how much it helps me
-little kids-their pureness and love
-singing--when I am frustrated or annoyed, I sing :)
-the spirit-the constant love I can feel from my Heavenly Father
-my Savior
-chocolate during 3 hour planning sessions
-my leggings that keep my legs warm under my skirt
-new sister missionary rules that allow me to paint my nails and not feel ugly
-when my companion will kick(lightly)the cats so they dont come near me(they know how much I hate animals)
-magic(that one's for you denise)
-the gift of tongues----who ever knew I could actually speak Spanish?!
-my hair-a lady in the ward has cancer and has lost all her hair and where would I put my pen so it couldn't be more handy than in my hair?
-flowers :)
Dulce and Jorge=BOMB! Dulce came to church for the 3rd time. We for sure set her baptism for Dec. 8th. I am SO excited! I have never taught someone so ready. On Tuesday she asked us "What can I do to better prepare myself for my baptism?". She is so amazing! Well, she already reads her Book of Mormon for at least 2 hours everyday and I taught her how to use the references on the bottom of the Book of Mormon in her studies. She will soon know more about the Book of Mormon than me! HAHA! Jorge wants to get baptized too but has to work on Sundays. He said he will get days off in December and on his 3rd Sunday at church he wants to get baptized. Jorge described the spirit so amazingly the other day, he said "it feels like we are the only ones in the world and that nothing else matters. I feel warmth all over and love. My heart is beating so fast that I feel like I need to catch my breath." Dulce then agreed that she felt the exact same way.Their cute little girl Ashley came up to me during the lesson and handed me this drawing she made for me. It was of Hermana Stevens and me. Maybe she made Hermana Stevens 2 times as big as me, maybe she didn't. HAHA!! Made me laugh. Hermana is pretty tall. I had a third eye and Hermana Stevens arms are coming out of her head. I put it up on my wall so I could look at it while studying. :) OBSESSED!
Hermana Stevens has been sick all weekend. She barely had a voice. Made for a fun time trying to get all of our 70 OYM's or contacts. She would start the contact by saying "Hola!" then I would finish it. Each week each missionary needs to get 70 contacts-like with people on the street, knocking doors, etc. I made it a goal a long time ago that I would ALWAYS get my 70. SO by Sunday night I barely had a voice from doing the contacts for both of us and teaching all the lessons. Haha....little bit of man voice today-that's for sure.
About 3 months ago this little girl gave me one of those plastic bracelets that is in shapes of things. She gave me one with a Princess. For some reason I always wear it and when I would put my watch on in the morning I would always put on this pink little bracelet. Well, the other day I was having a hard time(to say the least) and we visited this investigator. Her cute little 5 year old daughter was talking to me and I showed her my Princess bracelet. She then said "its a princess...to tell you that you are a daughter of God". She is SO cute! OK.....almost bawled my eyes out right then. What a tender mercy from Heavenly Father in that moment. To be reminded that I am a daughter of a King- which makes me a Princess. Definitely helped me make it through that rough patch.
Have a fabulous Thanksgiving!! I love you all and will be thinking of you on Thursday. Eat lots of turkey and pie for me, ok?
Sarbear ;)
---President Thomas S. Monson
This Thanksgiving I am thankful for so many things.I decided to make a list of a few thigns I am thankful for.
-being a missionary-greatest experience of my life!
-family
-mail-you dont even know how much it helps me
-little kids-their pureness and love
-singing--when I am frustrated or annoyed, I sing :)
-the spirit-the constant love I can feel from my Heavenly Father
-my Savior
-chocolate during 3 hour planning sessions
-my leggings that keep my legs warm under my skirt
-new sister missionary rules that allow me to paint my nails and not feel ugly
-when my companion will kick(lightly)the cats so they dont come near me(they know how much I hate animals)
-magic(that one's for you denise)
-the gift of tongues----who ever knew I could actually speak Spanish?!
-my hair-a lady in the ward has cancer and has lost all her hair and where would I put my pen so it couldn't be more handy than in my hair?
-flowers :)
Dulce and Jorge=BOMB! Dulce came to church for the 3rd time. We for sure set her baptism for Dec. 8th. I am SO excited! I have never taught someone so ready. On Tuesday she asked us "What can I do to better prepare myself for my baptism?". She is so amazing! Well, she already reads her Book of Mormon for at least 2 hours everyday and I taught her how to use the references on the bottom of the Book of Mormon in her studies. She will soon know more about the Book of Mormon than me! HAHA! Jorge wants to get baptized too but has to work on Sundays. He said he will get days off in December and on his 3rd Sunday at church he wants to get baptized. Jorge described the spirit so amazingly the other day, he said "it feels like we are the only ones in the world and that nothing else matters. I feel warmth all over and love. My heart is beating so fast that I feel like I need to catch my breath." Dulce then agreed that she felt the exact same way.Their cute little girl Ashley came up to me during the lesson and handed me this drawing she made for me. It was of Hermana Stevens and me. Maybe she made Hermana Stevens 2 times as big as me, maybe she didn't. HAHA!! Made me laugh. Hermana is pretty tall. I had a third eye and Hermana Stevens arms are coming out of her head. I put it up on my wall so I could look at it while studying. :) OBSESSED!
Hermana Stevens has been sick all weekend. She barely had a voice. Made for a fun time trying to get all of our 70 OYM's or contacts. She would start the contact by saying "Hola!" then I would finish it. Each week each missionary needs to get 70 contacts-like with people on the street, knocking doors, etc. I made it a goal a long time ago that I would ALWAYS get my 70. SO by Sunday night I barely had a voice from doing the contacts for both of us and teaching all the lessons. Haha....little bit of man voice today-that's for sure.
About 3 months ago this little girl gave me one of those plastic bracelets that is in shapes of things. She gave me one with a Princess. For some reason I always wear it and when I would put my watch on in the morning I would always put on this pink little bracelet. Well, the other day I was having a hard time(to say the least) and we visited this investigator. Her cute little 5 year old daughter was talking to me and I showed her my Princess bracelet. She then said "its a princess...to tell you that you are a daughter of God". She is SO cute! OK.....almost bawled my eyes out right then. What a tender mercy from Heavenly Father in that moment. To be reminded that I am a daughter of a King- which makes me a Princess. Definitely helped me make it through that rough patch.
Have a fabulous Thanksgiving!! I love you all and will be thinking of you on Thursday. Eat lots of turkey and pie for me, ok?
Sarbear ;)
Monday, November 15, 2010
Spaghetti Mess!
President Saylin has recently written a talk in our mission newsletter about the Sacrament. I have realized that recently I haven't been as focused on the Sacrament as I could be. I am so worried about investigators, if they have a good experience, if members sit by them, not to mention playing the piano---that I have taken my mind off of the importance of the Sacrament. I tried really hard yesterday to be reverent and partake of the sacrament in a manner that is respectful. It was such a spiritual experience for me. I have been missing out these last few months. President Saylin said, "May we not forget in our hearts-even always remembering-what He has done for us and for those we love. With such remembrance, none of us would ever do anything contrary to His will or decline opportunity to repay the debt owed to Him." Remember what President Packer said, "Reverence invites revelation."
First off, I am not getting transferred. Hermana Stevens and I are staying together another transfer. When I told Dulce yesterday that there was a chance I was leaving she started to cry! LOL! I am OBSESSED with her. Her and I are best friends. She is so cute-at Church yesterday she was taking notes and marking her scriptures. She and her husband went to the Thanksgiving activity last Friday with their girls and I guess they stayed till 11pm and danced(ya, I didn't know ward parties went that late...but then again I am in a Spanish ward. LOL). She is probably the most prepared person I have ever taught. Its really awesome to be a part of.
I was on exchanges 2 different times this last week. It was a good experience but on Tuesday we had a bunch of problems and I ended up having to take a sister missionary to the mission office to go home. LONG story. But a little stressful to say the least. I think I am done with exchanges at least for a little while. I feel like I have lived out of my suitcase.
One of our investigators wanted to learn how to make spaghetti so on Friday I made her and her family their first spaghetti ever! It tasted pretty delicious if I do say so myself. The funny thing was that Hispanics do not use forks....like ever. Most of the members only have forks for when the missionaries come over to eat. SO we ate with spoons. Well, cute little 4 year old Fanny(Stefany-short) couldn't do it so she ended up eating it with her hands. It was SO fun to watch the cute kids eat Spaghetti for the first time, with their hands! It was a mess that's for sure! And the hug from Fanny on the way out with her sauce covered face and hands was even funnier. Yes I am washing that skirt today. LOL!!
I ate menudo(cow stomach) and cow hoof on Thursday. I wanted to kill myself. I went to go wash the bowl and throw the rest away when Hermana stopped me and told me that I have to cut the fatty looking stuff off and eat it. "Es bien rica y tiene vitaminas!" NO it is NOT delicious and how does fat have any vitamins??? Torture...no wonder most missionaries gain weight on their mission.
It was hot one day-sweating.....freezing the next. Ok houston.....make up your mind. Have a good week! LOVES!
Sarah
First off, I am not getting transferred. Hermana Stevens and I are staying together another transfer. When I told Dulce yesterday that there was a chance I was leaving she started to cry! LOL! I am OBSESSED with her. Her and I are best friends. She is so cute-at Church yesterday she was taking notes and marking her scriptures. She and her husband went to the Thanksgiving activity last Friday with their girls and I guess they stayed till 11pm and danced(ya, I didn't know ward parties went that late...but then again I am in a Spanish ward. LOL). She is probably the most prepared person I have ever taught. Its really awesome to be a part of.
I was on exchanges 2 different times this last week. It was a good experience but on Tuesday we had a bunch of problems and I ended up having to take a sister missionary to the mission office to go home. LONG story. But a little stressful to say the least. I think I am done with exchanges at least for a little while. I feel like I have lived out of my suitcase.
One of our investigators wanted to learn how to make spaghetti so on Friday I made her and her family their first spaghetti ever! It tasted pretty delicious if I do say so myself. The funny thing was that Hispanics do not use forks....like ever. Most of the members only have forks for when the missionaries come over to eat. SO we ate with spoons. Well, cute little 4 year old Fanny(Stefany-short) couldn't do it so she ended up eating it with her hands. It was SO fun to watch the cute kids eat Spaghetti for the first time, with their hands! It was a mess that's for sure! And the hug from Fanny on the way out with her sauce covered face and hands was even funnier. Yes I am washing that skirt today. LOL!!
I ate menudo(cow stomach) and cow hoof on Thursday. I wanted to kill myself. I went to go wash the bowl and throw the rest away when Hermana stopped me and told me that I have to cut the fatty looking stuff off and eat it. "Es bien rica y tiene vitaminas!" NO it is NOT delicious and how does fat have any vitamins??? Torture...no wonder most missionaries gain weight on their mission.
It was hot one day-sweating.....freezing the next. Ok houston.....make up your mind. Have a good week! LOVES!
Sarah
Monday, November 8, 2010
Hace Frio!
"The earth is not our home. We are away at school, trying to master the lessons of 'the great plan of happiness' so we can return home and know what it means to be there."
-Elder Bruce C Hafen
On Friday night we brought our ward mission leader to a lesson with Jenny and Juan. I love them! Hermano was such a huge help and they committed to get work off so they can come to church. I sat down with their two little boys as we used my little pictures to put together the plan of happiness. I have been studying the Plan of Salvation a lot because I am working on re-doing my lesson plans and I am on the second lesson(The Plan of Salvation). The quote by Elder Bruce C. Hafen just hit me because its so true!
We have to be away from something to really appreciate it. For example, I have been away from my family for over a year and I feel like my love for you has grown stronger because I had to take a step back and realize what it felt like to not be with you. Once I get home I will better appreciate it because I will know what it means to be there. To be together again. It is the same with our Heavenly home. We will be thankful to live with our families and God forever because of all the work we did to get there. Just trying to have a more eternal perspective I guess.
It has gotten super cold here. I got out all my scarfs and jackets that have been packed away in my suitcase for 8 months. LOL! I like the cold but it is harder to contact people because every one is inside and warm. Plus- it gets dark by 5 pm. Little bit more rough as a missionary.
We had Presidents interviews on Thursday. It was exactly what I needed. President Saylin is such an amazing man. He told me I have done an amazing job building up the area. I really needed to hear that because it has been super hard. But I really feel like I have never had better investigators and I think it means more to me because I was the one who started it with all of them. I knew them from the beginning. I am really excited for what is to come in this area this next transfer. If all continues to go how it is now we should have 2 families baptized next month with 2 other women. So tight!
We ate lunch at a members house on Thursday and found out that her baby daughter has been super sick. Well, as we were teaching the lesson I asked if they had thought of a Priesthood blessing. Hermano has only been a member for two years and he said that he doesn't know how to give blessings. What good is the Priesthood if you don't know how to use it? I called up a Priesthood holder from the ward to come over and teach Hermano how to do it. I was so amazing to see him, so nervous and humble, put his hands on his baby's head and give her the cutest blessing ever. Hermana cried because her husband has been having a hard time going to church and just lost his job the day before. His spirit was low. What a great way to unify this family! I learned a lesson on the importance of the Priesthood that day and how the importance of having it in the home. How often do I take for granite the sacred power the Priesthood holders have? I need to do more to support the Priesthood.
We are working with this amazing family, Jorge and Dulce. They have two adorable little girls and have totally loved and accepted the gospel. We came back for the second visit and I asked how their prayers went. They had never prayed before. They both looked at each other and said "We are still a little uncomfortable praying. I mean we pray two times a day as a family now and say our personal prayers but we still feel nervous." I almost fell off my chair. How many members pray ONCE a day with their family? They are awesome. Dulce and her little girls came to church and LOVED it! Everyone thought they were already members. Jorge had to work(pray he can get next week off). AND they are actually married! 95% of Hispanic couples are not married. It is super hard cause we have to get people married before baptism. They have a baptismal date for Dec. 5th! YEAH! Most humble people I have ever met.
Transfer calls are next Monday. I think I might die if I have to leave this area. Literally. I think I say that every time but so far these are my favorite investigators. I love these people way too much. We will see what the Lord has in store for Hermana Richards. I only have 3 transfers left-sick. My gut is telling me I am going English next transfer....I hope not.
I love you all a lot. Sorry I am a slacker on writing letters. Just not enough time. Have some fun in the snow for me! Wal-mart totally has all of their Thanksgiving/Christmas stuff up. I all of the sudden got a huge craving for some of Grandma's cooking and pumpkin pie. Hispanics dont really celebrate thanksgiving so it might be just a normal day for me. We will see. Love ya!
Sarbear
-Elder Bruce C Hafen
On Friday night we brought our ward mission leader to a lesson with Jenny and Juan. I love them! Hermano was such a huge help and they committed to get work off so they can come to church. I sat down with their two little boys as we used my little pictures to put together the plan of happiness. I have been studying the Plan of Salvation a lot because I am working on re-doing my lesson plans and I am on the second lesson(The Plan of Salvation). The quote by Elder Bruce C. Hafen just hit me because its so true!
We have to be away from something to really appreciate it. For example, I have been away from my family for over a year and I feel like my love for you has grown stronger because I had to take a step back and realize what it felt like to not be with you. Once I get home I will better appreciate it because I will know what it means to be there. To be together again. It is the same with our Heavenly home. We will be thankful to live with our families and God forever because of all the work we did to get there. Just trying to have a more eternal perspective I guess.
It has gotten super cold here. I got out all my scarfs and jackets that have been packed away in my suitcase for 8 months. LOL! I like the cold but it is harder to contact people because every one is inside and warm. Plus- it gets dark by 5 pm. Little bit more rough as a missionary.
We had Presidents interviews on Thursday. It was exactly what I needed. President Saylin is such an amazing man. He told me I have done an amazing job building up the area. I really needed to hear that because it has been super hard. But I really feel like I have never had better investigators and I think it means more to me because I was the one who started it with all of them. I knew them from the beginning. I am really excited for what is to come in this area this next transfer. If all continues to go how it is now we should have 2 families baptized next month with 2 other women. So tight!
We ate lunch at a members house on Thursday and found out that her baby daughter has been super sick. Well, as we were teaching the lesson I asked if they had thought of a Priesthood blessing. Hermano has only been a member for two years and he said that he doesn't know how to give blessings. What good is the Priesthood if you don't know how to use it? I called up a Priesthood holder from the ward to come over and teach Hermano how to do it. I was so amazing to see him, so nervous and humble, put his hands on his baby's head and give her the cutest blessing ever. Hermana cried because her husband has been having a hard time going to church and just lost his job the day before. His spirit was low. What a great way to unify this family! I learned a lesson on the importance of the Priesthood that day and how the importance of having it in the home. How often do I take for granite the sacred power the Priesthood holders have? I need to do more to support the Priesthood.
We are working with this amazing family, Jorge and Dulce. They have two adorable little girls and have totally loved and accepted the gospel. We came back for the second visit and I asked how their prayers went. They had never prayed before. They both looked at each other and said "We are still a little uncomfortable praying. I mean we pray two times a day as a family now and say our personal prayers but we still feel nervous." I almost fell off my chair. How many members pray ONCE a day with their family? They are awesome. Dulce and her little girls came to church and LOVED it! Everyone thought they were already members. Jorge had to work(pray he can get next week off). AND they are actually married! 95% of Hispanic couples are not married. It is super hard cause we have to get people married before baptism. They have a baptismal date for Dec. 5th! YEAH! Most humble people I have ever met.
Transfer calls are next Monday. I think I might die if I have to leave this area. Literally. I think I say that every time but so far these are my favorite investigators. I love these people way too much. We will see what the Lord has in store for Hermana Richards. I only have 3 transfers left-sick. My gut is telling me I am going English next transfer....I hope not.
I love you all a lot. Sorry I am a slacker on writing letters. Just not enough time. Have some fun in the snow for me! Wal-mart totally has all of their Thanksgiving/Christmas stuff up. I all of the sudden got a huge craving for some of Grandma's cooking and pumpkin pie. Hispanics dont really celebrate thanksgiving so it might be just a normal day for me. We will see. Love ya!
Sarbear
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
November? Weird
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life...that the world through him might be saved." John 3-16-17
Yesterday we were OYMing(contacting) people in this apartment complex. I started talking to this woman about the gospel a little bit. She then proceeded to go off about how Christ was only a prophet and how he is just like you and me, etc. She was really forceful and told me that I was wrong and she hoped one day I would find the truth. I stood there and something deep inside of me stirred. I then testified that I KNOW that Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer. That only through him are we able to receive eternal life. I felt a power as those words came out of my mouth. I had never felt more sure of anything I had said before. It was an experience that really helped my testimony grow. I guess the gospel has always just made so much sense to me that sometimes it really is sad when others do not have this knowledge. But that's why I am here! I will find you and I will teach you! I LOVE being a missionary. I have never felt closer to my Heavenly Father because I am serving Him by serving His children.
I had to give a talk yesterday in church. I was super surprised at how comfortable I felt at the pulpit. Yes, my talk was in Spanish. Heavenly Father really blesses his missionaries. That's for sure. I sang a special musical number also. Who knew I wouldn't even be at all nervous to sing solos anymore? I guess I have done it so much that it doesn't even phase me. Plus, Hispanics think even if you can sing on key then you are superstar. LOL!
End of the month this week...which means out of mile for our car===BIKES! yeah! haha. NO, I really do like my bike. I just wish we didn't have to use so many miles on exchanges, meetings in the other mission, meetings with President Saylin, etc. Luckily it will start getting cool here. It is SUPER humid today. Feel like I walked into a shower.
We ate lunch at a member's house on Tuesday. While my companion was in the bathroom, the member and I decided to play a joke on Hermana Stevens. She had a chicken foot in the soup to give it flavor but we thought it would be funny if she put it in Hermana Stevens soup to "have her eat". You should have seen the face of Hermana when she saw her bowl. I deserve a Grammy award for how well I went along with things. I leaned over to her and said, "Hermana you cannot offend her. You have to eat it!" HAHAHA!!!! The member then busted out laughing form the kitchen. SO funny!!! I love the members. I love getting to know them and become friends with them.
Halloween was a normal day. We had to be in at 7:30 last night. I just cleaned and caught up with writing in my journal. But of course I ate some candy. LOL! There was a Halloween activity Saturday with 3 wards. I loved it cause the other wards were ones I have served in so I got to see the members and my recent converts and everything! Melody a cute 10 year old from my first area came running up to me and wouldn't let go of our hug. SO cute! She is the one I gave all that Twlight stuff you sent me last year.(did I tell you that...whoops-ya I give away a lot of stuff).
I cannot believe it is November! Anyone else wondering where the year went?? Thanksgiving is coming up soon! I don't think many Hispanics celebrate it cause they are not form here. oh well. I can eat lots of turkey next year :)
I hope all is well with you! Love you tons!
Sarah
Yesterday we were OYMing(contacting) people in this apartment complex. I started talking to this woman about the gospel a little bit. She then proceeded to go off about how Christ was only a prophet and how he is just like you and me, etc. She was really forceful and told me that I was wrong and she hoped one day I would find the truth. I stood there and something deep inside of me stirred. I then testified that I KNOW that Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer. That only through him are we able to receive eternal life. I felt a power as those words came out of my mouth. I had never felt more sure of anything I had said before. It was an experience that really helped my testimony grow. I guess the gospel has always just made so much sense to me that sometimes it really is sad when others do not have this knowledge. But that's why I am here! I will find you and I will teach you! I LOVE being a missionary. I have never felt closer to my Heavenly Father because I am serving Him by serving His children.
I had to give a talk yesterday in church. I was super surprised at how comfortable I felt at the pulpit. Yes, my talk was in Spanish. Heavenly Father really blesses his missionaries. That's for sure. I sang a special musical number also. Who knew I wouldn't even be at all nervous to sing solos anymore? I guess I have done it so much that it doesn't even phase me. Plus, Hispanics think even if you can sing on key then you are superstar. LOL!
End of the month this week...which means out of mile for our car===BIKES! yeah! haha. NO, I really do like my bike. I just wish we didn't have to use so many miles on exchanges, meetings in the other mission, meetings with President Saylin, etc. Luckily it will start getting cool here. It is SUPER humid today. Feel like I walked into a shower.
We ate lunch at a member's house on Tuesday. While my companion was in the bathroom, the member and I decided to play a joke on Hermana Stevens. She had a chicken foot in the soup to give it flavor but we thought it would be funny if she put it in Hermana Stevens soup to "have her eat". You should have seen the face of Hermana when she saw her bowl. I deserve a Grammy award for how well I went along with things. I leaned over to her and said, "Hermana you cannot offend her. You have to eat it!" HAHAHA!!!! The member then busted out laughing form the kitchen. SO funny!!! I love the members. I love getting to know them and become friends with them.
Halloween was a normal day. We had to be in at 7:30 last night. I just cleaned and caught up with writing in my journal. But of course I ate some candy. LOL! There was a Halloween activity Saturday with 3 wards. I loved it cause the other wards were ones I have served in so I got to see the members and my recent converts and everything! Melody a cute 10 year old from my first area came running up to me and wouldn't let go of our hug. SO cute! She is the one I gave all that Twlight stuff you sent me last year.(did I tell you that...whoops-ya I give away a lot of stuff).
I cannot believe it is November! Anyone else wondering where the year went?? Thanksgiving is coming up soon! I don't think many Hispanics celebrate it cause they are not form here. oh well. I can eat lots of turkey next year :)
I hope all is well with you! Love you tons!
Sarah
Happy Halloween
" The Book of Mormon teaches us truth and bears testimony of Christ. But there is something more. There is a power in the book which will begin to flow into your lives the moment you begin a serious study of the book. You will find greater power to resist temptation. You will find the power to avoid deception. You will find power to stay on the strait and narrow path. The scriptures are called 'the words of life', and nowhere is that more true than it is of the Book of Mormon....'Every latter day saint whould make the study of this book a lifetime pursuit' ". ---Ezra Taft Benson
Recently I have been studying the Book of Mormon a lot. The importance of it and how it answers the questions of our soul. I love the Book of Mormon. " In a world ever more dangerous..the Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ has the nourishing power to heal starving spirits of the world". (Boyd K. Packer) I just started reading the Book of Mormon again and I want to challenge all of you to read it with me. I have 5 months left of my mission which means you have to read 3 pages a day to finish by the time I get home. Will you do it? I promise you that if you do the Lord will bless you with the power to resist temptation and you will have the Spirit enter your heart and be a guide for you. The Book of Mormon is the word of God and is true.
Ok....I am feeling a little overwhelmed right now. With exchanges, trainings, covering 2 areas, companion, etc. I just want to scream but I will save that for my pillow tonight while my comp is in the shower. I really am doing good. Just stressed. LOL! and we ALL know that Hermana Richards is not the best at handling stress. HAHA! We covered 2 areas most of last week and we are week two. It has been interesting. When I get nervous I bite my nails....whelp, my nails are super short night now. Cause I feel like my brain is going to explode. :)
At Jiffy Lube the other day they played Taylor Swift's new song. My heart literally hurt. I felt physical pain. :) HAHA!!! Even after a year I still love my Taylor Swift. Enjoy her new cd that comes out tomorrow. Think of me as you listen. LOL
My favorite investigator in my last area got baptized last week! Fransico-he is truly amazing. His Dad is a pastor in Honduras(intense). But he finally said he couldn't deny the spirit telling him that he needed to get baptized and follow this camino(road).He is the one who bought me a water fountain when I got transferred. I am so happy for him!
I found out my companion knows how to braid hair. Needless to say in the last week my hair has been braided 4 out of the 7 days. LOL! So much easier. Especially cause it is STILL HOT HERE! Yes who know I would sweat outside in the end of October? Welcome to Texas humidity.
We had some great lessons this last week. Jenny and Juan are still progressing. We taught them on Friday and we wanted to teach a third lesson(the gospel of Jesus Christ) but by the end of it we had taught a third, most of a 2nd, prayer, and church--Most intense 45 minutes! Luckily our member was the bomb.com and had answers for all of their questions.
Maygen---thanks for the conference talks! Exactly what I needed. You are awesome :)
Janet--the Halloween card is too cute! Man your kids look so big!
We found lots of new people this week. One day I think we walked for like 6 hours if not more. Luckily we had already met most of our goals so we weren't stressing about sit-downs. But my dogs were barking(maygen...thats for you). LOL
Ok...I feel like this email shows a ton of Hermana Richards sas/attitude. Sorry, been a long day-already. I hope you all have a fabulous Halloween!! It will be a normal day for me here. I love you!!!
Sarah
Recently I have been studying the Book of Mormon a lot. The importance of it and how it answers the questions of our soul. I love the Book of Mormon. " In a world ever more dangerous..the Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ has the nourishing power to heal starving spirits of the world". (Boyd K. Packer) I just started reading the Book of Mormon again and I want to challenge all of you to read it with me. I have 5 months left of my mission which means you have to read 3 pages a day to finish by the time I get home. Will you do it? I promise you that if you do the Lord will bless you with the power to resist temptation and you will have the Spirit enter your heart and be a guide for you. The Book of Mormon is the word of God and is true.
Ok....I am feeling a little overwhelmed right now. With exchanges, trainings, covering 2 areas, companion, etc. I just want to scream but I will save that for my pillow tonight while my comp is in the shower. I really am doing good. Just stressed. LOL! and we ALL know that Hermana Richards is not the best at handling stress. HAHA! We covered 2 areas most of last week and we are week two. It has been interesting. When I get nervous I bite my nails....whelp, my nails are super short night now. Cause I feel like my brain is going to explode. :)
At Jiffy Lube the other day they played Taylor Swift's new song. My heart literally hurt. I felt physical pain. :) HAHA!!! Even after a year I still love my Taylor Swift. Enjoy her new cd that comes out tomorrow. Think of me as you listen. LOL
My favorite investigator in my last area got baptized last week! Fransico-he is truly amazing. His Dad is a pastor in Honduras(intense). But he finally said he couldn't deny the spirit telling him that he needed to get baptized and follow this camino(road).He is the one who bought me a water fountain when I got transferred. I am so happy for him!
I found out my companion knows how to braid hair. Needless to say in the last week my hair has been braided 4 out of the 7 days. LOL! So much easier. Especially cause it is STILL HOT HERE! Yes who know I would sweat outside in the end of October? Welcome to Texas humidity.
We had some great lessons this last week. Jenny and Juan are still progressing. We taught them on Friday and we wanted to teach a third lesson(the gospel of Jesus Christ) but by the end of it we had taught a third, most of a 2nd, prayer, and church--Most intense 45 minutes! Luckily our member was the bomb.com and had answers for all of their questions.
Maygen---thanks for the conference talks! Exactly what I needed. You are awesome :)
Janet--the Halloween card is too cute! Man your kids look so big!
We found lots of new people this week. One day I think we walked for like 6 hours if not more. Luckily we had already met most of our goals so we weren't stressing about sit-downs. But my dogs were barking(maygen...thats for you). LOL
Ok...I feel like this email shows a ton of Hermana Richards sas/attitude. Sorry, been a long day-already. I hope you all have a fabulous Halloween!! It will be a normal day for me here. I love you!!!
Sarah
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
When the Lights Go Out
" This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends..." John 15-12-14
I love it here when Jesus Christ calls us his friends. Can we call Jesus Christ our friend? Do we have this relationship of love with him? I was studying about love the other day and the infinite love that our Heavenly Father has for each one of us. I have found that as I have served God's children I have had a greater love for them and I felt closer to my Heavenly Father. Charity in the Bible Dictionary is defined as the highest, noblest, strongest kind of love. I am really striving to have more charity. I am trying to see everyone through the eyes of Heavenly Father. I think when we give of ourselves that is when we truly find out who we are. There is a quote....don't know who it is from, but it says "nothing is truly yours until you give it away". Look for opportunities to lighten the load of another. Jesus Christ was the perfect example. Maybe then we will know what it is like to call Jesus Christ our friend. Because we would then have a glimpse of the love that he has for us. The same love that brought him to suffer for our sins, pains, and sorrows. The same love that can make us whole.
The temple was so great! I sat in the waiting room area and just looked at this picture of Christ with outstretched arms. I knew that I was in the house of the Lord. There is just a special feeling of peace and love that cannot be found anywhere else. It was in the temple that I opened the Bible and read those verses in John. It was just a great time to talk with my Heavenly Father and to feel of His love for me. The temple is a healing place! I took pictures and am going to try and send them this week.
On Tuesday night we had a lesson with this family. We have just recently started teaching them. We arrived at their house and she told me that the lights had been turned off because they couldn't pay the bill. She felt really bad and felt stupid for having to tell me that. I looked at her and said no problem, I have a light. I then took out the little flashlight that you gave me for my birthday and read the scripture to myself written on it- "Let your light so shine". We ended up lighting candles and passing my flashlight around to read the scriptures. It reminded me of the talk by President Monson at conference. I just sat there in the candle light and looked into these peoples eyes. I feel like I saw a glimpse of heaven when looking at there two sons smile when talking about "Jesus". We end the lesson with a kneeling prayer. There is something amazing about kneeling in prayer with a family who has never prayed together before. Juan, the father's voice shook because this was his first prayer, ever. I prayed fervently to my Heavenly Father that he would help them feel of his love. It was an amazing lesson. I walked out and felt like I had to catch my breath. When the lights go out miracles happen.
We stopped by to visit Carlos. He is so amazing. But his wife is really shy and timid. She is afraid of change. So she didn't want to come out of her room to listen to the message. I saw the pain in Carlos's eyes because he wants this for both of them. He has come to Church a few times now and has LOVED every minute of it. He even tries to sing the hymns with full voice even though he doesn't have a clue what they sound like. LOL. We taught him about forever families on Saturday night. The poor man started to cry. He just really wants it for his family and he has been through a lot in his life. He said that this knowledge gives him hope and the reason to press on. Please pray for Carlos. He is one strong, humble man who I know can change and one day be sealed to his family.
The primary program is next week so the primary president asked if me and my comp would go to primary to help the kids learn the songs better. It ended up being so much fun! I LOVE primary. Kids just have a special spirit about them. I love it.
I hope you all have wonderful week! I love you!
Sarbear ;)
I love it here when Jesus Christ calls us his friends. Can we call Jesus Christ our friend? Do we have this relationship of love with him? I was studying about love the other day and the infinite love that our Heavenly Father has for each one of us. I have found that as I have served God's children I have had a greater love for them and I felt closer to my Heavenly Father. Charity in the Bible Dictionary is defined as the highest, noblest, strongest kind of love. I am really striving to have more charity. I am trying to see everyone through the eyes of Heavenly Father. I think when we give of ourselves that is when we truly find out who we are. There is a quote....don't know who it is from, but it says "nothing is truly yours until you give it away". Look for opportunities to lighten the load of another. Jesus Christ was the perfect example. Maybe then we will know what it is like to call Jesus Christ our friend. Because we would then have a glimpse of the love that he has for us. The same love that brought him to suffer for our sins, pains, and sorrows. The same love that can make us whole.
The temple was so great! I sat in the waiting room area and just looked at this picture of Christ with outstretched arms. I knew that I was in the house of the Lord. There is just a special feeling of peace and love that cannot be found anywhere else. It was in the temple that I opened the Bible and read those verses in John. It was just a great time to talk with my Heavenly Father and to feel of His love for me. The temple is a healing place! I took pictures and am going to try and send them this week.
On Tuesday night we had a lesson with this family. We have just recently started teaching them. We arrived at their house and she told me that the lights had been turned off because they couldn't pay the bill. She felt really bad and felt stupid for having to tell me that. I looked at her and said no problem, I have a light. I then took out the little flashlight that you gave me for my birthday and read the scripture to myself written on it- "Let your light so shine". We ended up lighting candles and passing my flashlight around to read the scriptures. It reminded me of the talk by President Monson at conference. I just sat there in the candle light and looked into these peoples eyes. I feel like I saw a glimpse of heaven when looking at there two sons smile when talking about "Jesus". We end the lesson with a kneeling prayer. There is something amazing about kneeling in prayer with a family who has never prayed together before. Juan, the father's voice shook because this was his first prayer, ever. I prayed fervently to my Heavenly Father that he would help them feel of his love. It was an amazing lesson. I walked out and felt like I had to catch my breath. When the lights go out miracles happen.
We stopped by to visit Carlos. He is so amazing. But his wife is really shy and timid. She is afraid of change. So she didn't want to come out of her room to listen to the message. I saw the pain in Carlos's eyes because he wants this for both of them. He has come to Church a few times now and has LOVED every minute of it. He even tries to sing the hymns with full voice even though he doesn't have a clue what they sound like. LOL. We taught him about forever families on Saturday night. The poor man started to cry. He just really wants it for his family and he has been through a lot in his life. He said that this knowledge gives him hope and the reason to press on. Please pray for Carlos. He is one strong, humble man who I know can change and one day be sealed to his family.
The primary program is next week so the primary president asked if me and my comp would go to primary to help the kids learn the songs better. It ended up being so much fun! I LOVE primary. Kids just have a special spirit about them. I love it.
I hope you all have wonderful week! I love you!
Sarbear ;)
One Year?
"Wherefore, I call upon the weak things of the world, those who are unlearned and despised , to trash the nations by the power of my Spirit;
And their arm shall be my arm, and I will be their shield and their buckler; and I will gird up their loins, and they shall fight manfully for me; and their enemies shall be under their feet; and I will let fall the sword in their behalf, and by the fire of mine indignation will I preserve them. And the poor and the meek shall have the gospel preached unto them, and they shall be looking forth for the time is nigh at hand-" Doctrine and Covenants 35:13-15
I recently came upon this scripture and feel in love with it. I love the imagary it paints in my mind. Me, with my shield and my sword, fighting the things of the world to bring the gospel message to the poor and meek. And He will preserve me. I am definitely one of the weak things of the world. But I have been called and so I came. Prideful, unlearned, selfish, weak Sarah has been called. Through Him and the help of the Spirit I have been an instrument to bring about a mighty work here. My weaknesses have been made into strengths. I love the Lord. I know that we have a living prophet on earth today to lead and guide us. Joseph Smith did in reality see God, the Father and Jesus Christ. I know that light that Jospeh saw. For it has been that same light that has given me power to press on and it has been that same light that has lead me in the dark. For when I am weak then can I be made strong. Jesus Christ is our Savior. Turn to Him and He can make you whole.
It has been a year! wow-I cannot believe that I have been a missionary for a year. On Thursday we get to go to the temple. What an amazing opportunity I have to spend my year mark in the temple. I am so excited. This year has been the fastest, longest, most stressful, rough, amazing year of my life. I wouldn't take back this year for anything. Thank you for always supporting me and for all your prayers. There were definitely days that I could hear the rallying cry of my family through prayer. Thank you!
I got to sing at a fireside and a zone meeting this last week. I sang one of my favorite EFY songs called "I will not be still" It turned out well. Look up the words.....missionary song at its finest :)
I had a huge migrane on Thursday-which is planning day. We planned for a few hours but then went to a lunch appt at a members house. Oh boy my head hurt. I was sitting there eating thinking I was going to die at any second, trying not to throw up/cry when we were finally done. Well, you always ask if there is anything we can do to help or whatever. 95% of the time people say no. BUT of course the one time I feel like garbage she asks if we could take everything out of her fridge and freezer and clean it out. I almost laughed out loud it seemed ludicrus to me. I then said a silent prayer and Heavenly Father blessed me with the ability to do it. He is always there in our time of need. He knows our name and He knows our circumstance. I love the Lord.
Time is up. I want to write all day long. I jsut want ot tell you my heart. I want to tell you everything but I cant. Just know I love you and there is a Vegas lovin' girl here in Texas that loves you. Keep smiling and as Taylor Swift would say "stay beautiful" :)
Sarah
And their arm shall be my arm, and I will be their shield and their buckler; and I will gird up their loins, and they shall fight manfully for me; and their enemies shall be under their feet; and I will let fall the sword in their behalf, and by the fire of mine indignation will I preserve them. And the poor and the meek shall have the gospel preached unto them, and they shall be looking forth for the time is nigh at hand-" Doctrine and Covenants 35:13-15
I recently came upon this scripture and feel in love with it. I love the imagary it paints in my mind. Me, with my shield and my sword, fighting the things of the world to bring the gospel message to the poor and meek. And He will preserve me. I am definitely one of the weak things of the world. But I have been called and so I came. Prideful, unlearned, selfish, weak Sarah has been called. Through Him and the help of the Spirit I have been an instrument to bring about a mighty work here. My weaknesses have been made into strengths. I love the Lord. I know that we have a living prophet on earth today to lead and guide us. Joseph Smith did in reality see God, the Father and Jesus Christ. I know that light that Jospeh saw. For it has been that same light that has given me power to press on and it has been that same light that has lead me in the dark. For when I am weak then can I be made strong. Jesus Christ is our Savior. Turn to Him and He can make you whole.
It has been a year! wow-I cannot believe that I have been a missionary for a year. On Thursday we get to go to the temple. What an amazing opportunity I have to spend my year mark in the temple. I am so excited. This year has been the fastest, longest, most stressful, rough, amazing year of my life. I wouldn't take back this year for anything. Thank you for always supporting me and for all your prayers. There were definitely days that I could hear the rallying cry of my family through prayer. Thank you!
I got to sing at a fireside and a zone meeting this last week. I sang one of my favorite EFY songs called "I will not be still" It turned out well. Look up the words.....missionary song at its finest :)
I had a huge migrane on Thursday-which is planning day. We planned for a few hours but then went to a lunch appt at a members house. Oh boy my head hurt. I was sitting there eating thinking I was going to die at any second, trying not to throw up/cry when we were finally done. Well, you always ask if there is anything we can do to help or whatever. 95% of the time people say no. BUT of course the one time I feel like garbage she asks if we could take everything out of her fridge and freezer and clean it out. I almost laughed out loud it seemed ludicrus to me. I then said a silent prayer and Heavenly Father blessed me with the ability to do it. He is always there in our time of need. He knows our name and He knows our circumstance. I love the Lord.
Time is up. I want to write all day long. I jsut want ot tell you my heart. I want to tell you everything but I cant. Just know I love you and there is a Vegas lovin' girl here in Texas that loves you. Keep smiling and as Taylor Swift would say "stay beautiful" :)
Sarah
"Because of Your Faith My Joy is Full"
First off----THANK YOU SO MUCH for the Birthday stuff!! I loved the packages, cards, etc. It made the day special. Thank you!
My Birthday ended up being really good. Every Wednesday we meet at the Bishops house to eat lunch then talk about less actives and investigators. Well, they planned a surprise Birthday party for me. One member who works at like the Ace of Cakes Houston Hispanic style made me this HUGE Birthday cake. He used tons of foundant icing and it looked like a missionary tag. With my name and everything. I took lots of pics and plan on printing some off today for ya'll. Super fun!
We got transfer calls this morning. I am staying here but I am getting a new companion. I hate changes. Especially because I hate losing a companion. I really love Hermana Wright. The first few days of a new companionship are a little tough. I am excited to be staying in this area though. We will see what Wednesday brings.
Wasn't conference amazing?! I watched most of it in Spanish because we had investigators there. But even when I couldn't understand everything going on I could feel the Spirit testify that President Monson truly is a Prophet of God. My favs include: Elder Holland, President Monson(cried at the widows story), President Eyring(my #1 fav) and Elder Packer(SO strong and powerful!). I LOVED conference! It is just such a filling of the spirit. Was truly a blessing from Heavenly Father.
I am so grateful for all of you. I sat there and listened to President Monsons talk about gratitude and thought to myself----how much do I show my appriciation for my family and friends? I dont think you all realize how much it helps me knowing that I have people at home who love me and support me. Thank you. From the bottom of my heart. I pray for you. I pray for your success and for you to feel gods love. I wish I could put into words the love I have for my family(am friends who are considered family). It hurts me sometimes to be far from you. But what I have been given here has blessed me far beyond anything else. I love you!
Sarah
My Birthday ended up being really good. Every Wednesday we meet at the Bishops house to eat lunch then talk about less actives and investigators. Well, they planned a surprise Birthday party for me. One member who works at like the Ace of Cakes Houston Hispanic style made me this HUGE Birthday cake. He used tons of foundant icing and it looked like a missionary tag. With my name and everything. I took lots of pics and plan on printing some off today for ya'll. Super fun!
We got transfer calls this morning. I am staying here but I am getting a new companion. I hate changes. Especially because I hate losing a companion. I really love Hermana Wright. The first few days of a new companionship are a little tough. I am excited to be staying in this area though. We will see what Wednesday brings.
Wasn't conference amazing?! I watched most of it in Spanish because we had investigators there. But even when I couldn't understand everything going on I could feel the Spirit testify that President Monson truly is a Prophet of God. My favs include: Elder Holland, President Monson(cried at the widows story), President Eyring(my #1 fav) and Elder Packer(SO strong and powerful!). I LOVED conference! It is just such a filling of the spirit. Was truly a blessing from Heavenly Father.
I am so grateful for all of you. I sat there and listened to President Monsons talk about gratitude and thought to myself----how much do I show my appriciation for my family and friends? I dont think you all realize how much it helps me knowing that I have people at home who love me and support me. Thank you. From the bottom of my heart. I pray for you. I pray for your success and for you to feel gods love. I wish I could put into words the love I have for my family(am friends who are considered family). It hurts me sometimes to be far from you. But what I have been given here has blessed me far beyond anything else. I love you!
Sarah
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
"I Got a Tooth....and It's Sweet!"
"Every choice you make helps define the kind of person you are choosing to be." -Martin Luther King
For some reason I dont know why it is so hard for me to start this email. I have written and then re-written the first paragraph like 3 times. My week was a little rough. We have just had a hard time getting people to listen to us this week. On Thursday we got home and I was washing the dishes. The last four days had been full of walking around and finding people, all day. I was exhausted. My companion was in the shower and I just began to cry. 1-because it was so hard and 2-because I could really feel the love of my Heavenly Father and my family. I felt like I could almost hear you guys cheering me on. In that moment I was extremely grateful for all your prayers and support. I recently have really been able to feel the hand of Heavenly Father changing me. Its kind of weird. Things I wanted before aren't there and my desires have changed. I didn't think I would be able to feel it so clear. If I needed to have a rough week to mold me then so be it. I want it that bad. I want to be more Christlike. I am willing to suffer so that I can be made more better. Keep praying please. I am trying to make the choices that are right so that I can be what Heavenly Father wants me to be and what I have imagined I could always be.
The subject of the email is just a quote from one of our recent converts....he is so awesome! Him just telling us he wants candy. LOL!
Ok...imagine this....A BIG FATTY bowl full of fish and shrimp!!!! YUM!!!! NOT! I had that bowl put in front of me on Tuesday. Of course my companion and I had just eaten. Hermana Wright looks at me because she knows how much I hate seafood. I start peeling off the skin and legs off the shrimp and pray. I have never had such a hard time eating something. I really wanted to die. At one point I had tears in my eyes. It was worse than eating the cow stomach. One of my biggest trials. ew.....just thinking about it makes me sick.
We did get to watch the Relief Society broadcast. It was in Spanish....so I got the gist of what was being said. But I didn't get any of the jokes President Monson said. Conversational Spanish is still my weakness. Could you send me a copy of his talk? Everyone says it was awesome. I don't really know. HAHA!!
I helped one of our investigators break into her car after she locked her keys in. Hanger and srewdriver is all it takes! LOL!!! Maybe I asked the gangster black man to help, maybe I didnt. :)
Yes...it my Birthday on Wed. WEIRD! Where in the world did this last year go?? 22 sounds way too old. gross. Thanks for all the packages and mail. Aunt Janet---you rock! MOM---you always know what I like :) Even if on my Birthday there isnt anything special I will love it because I am a missionary. The only Birthday I get as a missionary! LOL!!! A day never to be forgotten.
Keep pressing forward. The Lord loves you! "Remember the rallying cry: Remember Him"----$20 bucks for whoever finds out what talk that is from and what its about. One on the greatest lessons I have learned on my mission. (not really $20 bucks...im poor. I will give you a smile though :)
I love you!
Sarbear
For some reason I dont know why it is so hard for me to start this email. I have written and then re-written the first paragraph like 3 times. My week was a little rough. We have just had a hard time getting people to listen to us this week. On Thursday we got home and I was washing the dishes. The last four days had been full of walking around and finding people, all day. I was exhausted. My companion was in the shower and I just began to cry. 1-because it was so hard and 2-because I could really feel the love of my Heavenly Father and my family. I felt like I could almost hear you guys cheering me on. In that moment I was extremely grateful for all your prayers and support. I recently have really been able to feel the hand of Heavenly Father changing me. Its kind of weird. Things I wanted before aren't there and my desires have changed. I didn't think I would be able to feel it so clear. If I needed to have a rough week to mold me then so be it. I want it that bad. I want to be more Christlike. I am willing to suffer so that I can be made more better. Keep praying please. I am trying to make the choices that are right so that I can be what Heavenly Father wants me to be and what I have imagined I could always be.
The subject of the email is just a quote from one of our recent converts....he is so awesome! Him just telling us he wants candy. LOL!
Ok...imagine this....A BIG FATTY bowl full of fish and shrimp!!!! YUM!!!! NOT! I had that bowl put in front of me on Tuesday. Of course my companion and I had just eaten. Hermana Wright looks at me because she knows how much I hate seafood. I start peeling off the skin and legs off the shrimp and pray. I have never had such a hard time eating something. I really wanted to die. At one point I had tears in my eyes. It was worse than eating the cow stomach. One of my biggest trials. ew.....just thinking about it makes me sick.
We did get to watch the Relief Society broadcast. It was in Spanish....so I got the gist of what was being said. But I didn't get any of the jokes President Monson said. Conversational Spanish is still my weakness. Could you send me a copy of his talk? Everyone says it was awesome. I don't really know. HAHA!!
I helped one of our investigators break into her car after she locked her keys in. Hanger and srewdriver is all it takes! LOL!!! Maybe I asked the gangster black man to help, maybe I didnt. :)
Yes...it my Birthday on Wed. WEIRD! Where in the world did this last year go?? 22 sounds way too old. gross. Thanks for all the packages and mail. Aunt Janet---you rock! MOM---you always know what I like :) Even if on my Birthday there isnt anything special I will love it because I am a missionary. The only Birthday I get as a missionary! LOL!!! A day never to be forgotten.
Keep pressing forward. The Lord loves you! "Remember the rallying cry: Remember Him"----$20 bucks for whoever finds out what talk that is from and what its about. One on the greatest lessons I have learned on my mission. (not really $20 bucks...im poor. I will give you a smile though :)
I love you!
Sarbear
My Super Sweet Ward Party!
"Every happiness and every joy that has been worth of the name has been as a result of keeping the commandments of God and observing His advice and council". -President George Albert Smith
One of the biggest things that I have learned on my mission is that of obedience. At first it really hurt to change and to make the appropriate goals to be better. I liked the way I was. But I know that if I wanted to be a missionary with the Spirit and had the help of the Lord, I had to submit to the will of Him. I have found that as I have tried to be exactly obedient that the Lord has not only poured blessings down upon me but that I am actually stronger and better able to deal with hard things. We have these commandments for a reason. We learn in 1st Nephi that that Lord gives no commandment less he shall provide a way to accomplish it. As hard and as difficult it may seem, with the help of the Lord we can do what we all know we should be doing. It just requires something of our soul. Life is not easy because Salvation is not cheap. Make it a goal to recognize where you fault and CHANGE! It will hurt for a while but boy will it be worth it.
My week was great! Hermana Wright killed ourselves to make our goals. On Tuesday we were able to get 9 sit-down lessons! That's a lot for those of you who don't know. Haha! Heavenly Father has really blessed us this week. We exceeded our goals and I beat my mission records. LOVES IT! We had an amazing lesson on Tuesday where we taught this part member family. We taught the Plan of Salvation and had a really good discussion about the Atonement. In Preach My Gospel it says that one of the ways you can know if you are teaching by the spirit is when you learn something new. In that lesson I really felt like my testimony was straightened and I learned more about my Savior. It was a wonderful experience and made me have the desire to have all my lessons like that. No one could deny the spirit that was there. Sometimes in your mind things are just so clear. That was one of these moments for me. I could say that without a doubt in my mind that I know we all can be cleansed from our sins. Jesus Christ came and paid that price for us. Apply the Atonement in you life and I know it will bless you and make you whole.
On Friday we had a Ward party. Ok.....it was like the most hoppin' Ward party that I have ever been to. LOVED IT!! It was a celebration of the independence of all the countries(like 4th of July for us). Everyone dressed up in authentic clothes from their country and we had tons of food. My favorite part was the dancers they had there. they did all sorts of Hispanic dances with the huge, gorgeous dresses. The guys in full uniform with sombrero. Don't worry I took tons of pictures! Thats why I titled my email like My super sweet 16....cause it was that hoppin' HAHA!
We had a really good lesson with Marisol and Raimundo on Thursday. We taught them the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It was so funny cause Raimundo was taking notes! LOL! Love him! And he was marking his scriptures and everything. I really love them a lot. The problem is that we cannot get their butts to church. Kinda frustrating. Please pray that they will come to church!!! They are so ready for the gospel.
Ok....who is excited for general conference????!!! I am dying to watch it! Needless to say it is like Christmas for missionaries when it is conference time. LOL
Well, gotta run! I love you all a billion percent! Keep smiling! Its getting cooler! The car said it even got down to 83 degrees yesterday. I cried. HAHA!
Hermana Richards
One of the biggest things that I have learned on my mission is that of obedience. At first it really hurt to change and to make the appropriate goals to be better. I liked the way I was. But I know that if I wanted to be a missionary with the Spirit and had the help of the Lord, I had to submit to the will of Him. I have found that as I have tried to be exactly obedient that the Lord has not only poured blessings down upon me but that I am actually stronger and better able to deal with hard things. We have these commandments for a reason. We learn in 1st Nephi that that Lord gives no commandment less he shall provide a way to accomplish it. As hard and as difficult it may seem, with the help of the Lord we can do what we all know we should be doing. It just requires something of our soul. Life is not easy because Salvation is not cheap. Make it a goal to recognize where you fault and CHANGE! It will hurt for a while but boy will it be worth it.
My week was great! Hermana Wright killed ourselves to make our goals. On Tuesday we were able to get 9 sit-down lessons! That's a lot for those of you who don't know. Haha! Heavenly Father has really blessed us this week. We exceeded our goals and I beat my mission records. LOVES IT! We had an amazing lesson on Tuesday where we taught this part member family. We taught the Plan of Salvation and had a really good discussion about the Atonement. In Preach My Gospel it says that one of the ways you can know if you are teaching by the spirit is when you learn something new. In that lesson I really felt like my testimony was straightened and I learned more about my Savior. It was a wonderful experience and made me have the desire to have all my lessons like that. No one could deny the spirit that was there. Sometimes in your mind things are just so clear. That was one of these moments for me. I could say that without a doubt in my mind that I know we all can be cleansed from our sins. Jesus Christ came and paid that price for us. Apply the Atonement in you life and I know it will bless you and make you whole.
On Friday we had a Ward party. Ok.....it was like the most hoppin' Ward party that I have ever been to. LOVED IT!! It was a celebration of the independence of all the countries(like 4th of July for us). Everyone dressed up in authentic clothes from their country and we had tons of food. My favorite part was the dancers they had there. they did all sorts of Hispanic dances with the huge, gorgeous dresses. The guys in full uniform with sombrero. Don't worry I took tons of pictures! Thats why I titled my email like My super sweet 16....cause it was that hoppin' HAHA!
We had a really good lesson with Marisol and Raimundo on Thursday. We taught them the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It was so funny cause Raimundo was taking notes! LOL! Love him! And he was marking his scriptures and everything. I really love them a lot. The problem is that we cannot get their butts to church. Kinda frustrating. Please pray that they will come to church!!! They are so ready for the gospel.
Ok....who is excited for general conference????!!! I am dying to watch it! Needless to say it is like Christmas for missionaries when it is conference time. LOL
Well, gotta run! I love you all a billion percent! Keep smiling! Its getting cooler! The car said it even got down to 83 degrees yesterday. I cried. HAHA!
Hermana Richards
Monday, September 13, 2010
:)
" I don't know their needs, but God does."
This last week has been really good. We have been teaching some amazingly ready people. One family that we are working with is really progressing. We had left them with a chapter in the Book of Mormon to read. Well, we came back and I asked how their reading was. She then told me that they had read 4 chapters and reviewed the introduction(which is what I had read from and taught them). I talked about how we can know for ourselves that these things are true by the Spirit. She then opened up the BOM and shared a scripture she read that reminds her of that. They are amazing! I have a lot of love for them. They always fed us dinner too. Last time they gave us iced tea and I had to tell them why we dont drink it and gave a small version of the Word of Wisdom lesson during dinner. They always say "our house is your house". We met these people like 2 weeks ago! I came home that night and felt really overwhelmed with the carga(load) on my shoulders---basically cried my eyes out to Heavenly Father. I didnt know why or how Heavenly Father has me, really imperfect me, teach these people. I dont speak Spanish well enough and I still lack a lot of knowledge. I didnt feel good enough to have these peoples souls in my hands. I want this for them so bad. I dont want to screw it up. I know that only by the spirit can I teach. So I have been basically handing myself over to the Lord. I dont know these peoples needs and trials. I dont exactly understand them. But God does....and I can be His mouthpiece. He calls weak people and makes them strong. And as for my strength I know I am weak but in the Lord I can do all things.
Every week we eat at the Bishops house on Wed. and then talk about our investigators. I love it!!! It is such an awesome opportunity to talk to the Bishop and work with him to help strengthen the people. He is a really good Bishop to be working under and I am so grateful to be in a ward that is functioning well. Its hard to find in Spanish Wards.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY KARA!!!!! Well....on Sunday. :)
We had more trainings this last week. We had Zone Conference. We did more role plays and practices. I took another 4 pages of notes. LOL!!! This whole learning thing as a missionary never changes. Always more to learn and always something to improve on.
The good thing about lots of meetings is that I get to see my old companions. I seriously LOVE them. Especially Hermana Hammar. I feel bad cause she is struggling with her comp right now. I feel like she is my family out here. The thing about Hermana Hammar is that 1-she is my mom(mission mom....my trainer) and 2-she really doesnt open up to a lot of people and really never tells people she loves them or hugs them 3-she is the one that in my blessing President gave me that he said we would be friends for the rest of our lives........I love her. She said she loved me the other day. I almost cried. Because unlike other people in the world she uses that word rarely and means it when she says it. She was there for me when I was a snot nosed greenie that was homesick. And for that I will be eternally grateful. I'm sure you may not understand why I feel like I need to put a whole paragraph about her in my email. I am just really grateful for her. There are very few people in this world-besides family-that I feel like I love as much as her. Heavenly Father has really blessed me to know her. I am going to cry my eyes out when she goes home in December.
I feel like this email is basically looking into the feelings and mind of Hermana Richards. I hope some of this makes sense. I am just really grateful to my Heavenly Father for His love. Especially when I am such an imperfect person. Missions are hard but its a decision that I will be thankful for the rest of my life that I made. I hope you all have a wonderful week!!! I LOVE YOU!!!!
Sarah
This last week has been really good. We have been teaching some amazingly ready people. One family that we are working with is really progressing. We had left them with a chapter in the Book of Mormon to read. Well, we came back and I asked how their reading was. She then told me that they had read 4 chapters and reviewed the introduction(which is what I had read from and taught them). I talked about how we can know for ourselves that these things are true by the Spirit. She then opened up the BOM and shared a scripture she read that reminds her of that. They are amazing! I have a lot of love for them. They always fed us dinner too. Last time they gave us iced tea and I had to tell them why we dont drink it and gave a small version of the Word of Wisdom lesson during dinner. They always say "our house is your house". We met these people like 2 weeks ago! I came home that night and felt really overwhelmed with the carga(load) on my shoulders---basically cried my eyes out to Heavenly Father. I didnt know why or how Heavenly Father has me, really imperfect me, teach these people. I dont speak Spanish well enough and I still lack a lot of knowledge. I didnt feel good enough to have these peoples souls in my hands. I want this for them so bad. I dont want to screw it up. I know that only by the spirit can I teach. So I have been basically handing myself over to the Lord. I dont know these peoples needs and trials. I dont exactly understand them. But God does....and I can be His mouthpiece. He calls weak people and makes them strong. And as for my strength I know I am weak but in the Lord I can do all things.
Every week we eat at the Bishops house on Wed. and then talk about our investigators. I love it!!! It is such an awesome opportunity to talk to the Bishop and work with him to help strengthen the people. He is a really good Bishop to be working under and I am so grateful to be in a ward that is functioning well. Its hard to find in Spanish Wards.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY KARA!!!!! Well....on Sunday. :)
We had more trainings this last week. We had Zone Conference. We did more role plays and practices. I took another 4 pages of notes. LOL!!! This whole learning thing as a missionary never changes. Always more to learn and always something to improve on.
The good thing about lots of meetings is that I get to see my old companions. I seriously LOVE them. Especially Hermana Hammar. I feel bad cause she is struggling with her comp right now. I feel like she is my family out here. The thing about Hermana Hammar is that 1-she is my mom(mission mom....my trainer) and 2-she really doesnt open up to a lot of people and really never tells people she loves them or hugs them 3-she is the one that in my blessing President gave me that he said we would be friends for the rest of our lives........I love her. She said she loved me the other day. I almost cried. Because unlike other people in the world she uses that word rarely and means it when she says it. She was there for me when I was a snot nosed greenie that was homesick. And for that I will be eternally grateful. I'm sure you may not understand why I feel like I need to put a whole paragraph about her in my email. I am just really grateful for her. There are very few people in this world-besides family-that I feel like I love as much as her. Heavenly Father has really blessed me to know her. I am going to cry my eyes out when she goes home in December.
I feel like this email is basically looking into the feelings and mind of Hermana Richards. I hope some of this makes sense. I am just really grateful to my Heavenly Father for His love. Especially when I am such an imperfect person. Missions are hard but its a decision that I will be thankful for the rest of my life that I made. I hope you all have a wonderful week!!! I LOVE YOU!!!!
Sarah
Hermana Richards is....Hitch?
I bet you are all wondering what the significance of the title of my email is. It all starts yesterday.....
The first little prize was when we were driving to an appt yesterday and it was raining really hard. I was driving, and we had to drive through this puddle thing. Well, after we get through the puddle/pond I hear this weird sound. We pull over to find that this peice of plastic is hanging off our car!! great. We are already late for an appt. I swear ONLY ME would this happen to. I have the worst luck. So I get on my hands and knees to check it out. It is raining and there was so much mud and dirt. I realize that the part is hanging on by one screw. Right about then me...in my skirt, is on the ground looking under the car, when these 2 Hispanic men walk up and asked if we needed help. Perfect. Luckily I speak Spanish and could tell them what was up. They then proceeded to get under the car-all muddy and gross to look at it. After about 10 minutes they had it off so I wouldn't be dragging this part as I drove. Count it---this is now the 2nd time a Hispanic man has to come to my aid to fix my car. they are so nice!! The funniest was when they were walking away and both of them were COVERED in mud and dirt. Yes, of course they used the puddle rain water to wash themselves off. LOL! Thank you Hispanics!
But dont you worry my night of fun does not end there. We then get to our Dinner appt and cute little Hermana Martinez made a feast as usual. Well, Hermana Wright and I were eating when Hna. Martinez asked why we were eating any of the chiles. She then proceeded to put one on our plates. After picking off the seeds, I ate mine. Kinda hot but I could handle it. I look over to see the puppy dog eyes of my companion. I forgot that she cant eat really spicy food. So I sneak and eat hers as well. Everything's good. I finish eating when of course I have an itch in my eye. Me-being the idiot I am-touch my eye. Then came the BURN! I forgot that I had just used that hand to pick out the seeds out of the chile. I excuse myself to the bathroom where I shove my face under the water faucet to get rid of the pain. I am sure I looked ridiculous because I was franticly in the bathroom using water, towels, anything I could find to get rid of this pain. I almost screamed out ot my comp in pain. finally I was able to get my contact out(Kill me) and the burn wasnt as bad. I then look at myself in the mirror------Yikes!! I looked like straight up Hitch off the movie. My whole left side of my face was red and swollen. My eye was SO red. I walk out of the bathroom and tell my comp we have to leave. Luckily the member is tight and wasnt upset. We then ran to wal-greens to get my eye drops and benydryl. It was just like the scene out of the movie Hitch. LOL!!! I really thought I was going to die. I think I was having some sort of reacton so I opened the benydryl before I even bought it and took some. We went home and I feel asleep by 8pm. Oh my life! I am going to wear my glasses for the next few days to be safe(lame). My eye looks normal for the most part. Dont you worry----I def took pictures last night of my eye. HAHAHA!!! Gross.
So that was my day yesterday---full of rainbows and sunsets.
On Wed. and Thurs. all day we had Sisters Trainings. It was really good but imagine sitting in one chair from 8-6. We would be taught a principle then we would break into groups to role play(my fav.-not) It was really good but draining. President Saylin asked if I could sing Abide with me tis eventide. So I did the EFY version of that.
I realized that Sunday was my year mark from going to the temple. Me and Hermana Wright happened to take out our endowments on the same day. It was a nice reminder of the importance of the temple and the blessings that come.
We found 3 less- actives this week. My nickname in the mission is basically the LARC (less active-recent convert) Queen. I find more less actives than anyone times like 5. I guess I am just lucky like that. One family we found is awesome and we are excited to get them coming back to church. They are so amazing.
My favorite person we are teaching right now is Julia. Her son, Kevin (8years old) just got baptized and now we are working with her. She wants to be baptized and knows that it is the right thing to do but she is scared of falling after. She doesnt want to make any mistakes. We have been teaching her about the atonement like crazy. PLEASE pray for her. She is praying about a baptismal date right now. She is so ready. she is basically already a member with how much she is involved in FHE and activities. I love her!
Hermana Wright and I are working so hard and really trying to follow the Spirit. We realized how much we have been blessed recently. Hermana Wright is so amazing. She is just so nice. One day I got out of the shower and she had made my bed and everything(cutie). She also made me this cute little picture of Christ with this quote(one I told her was my fav) so I could hang it on my wall. she is jsut so nice. She is helping me try and be better. I definitely lack in the nice/thoughtful section of my life.
I hoope all is well with you! Happy Birthday DAD!!! Glad the Utes won!
I love you!!
Hermana Richards
The first little prize was when we were driving to an appt yesterday and it was raining really hard. I was driving, and we had to drive through this puddle thing. Well, after we get through the puddle/pond I hear this weird sound. We pull over to find that this peice of plastic is hanging off our car!! great. We are already late for an appt. I swear ONLY ME would this happen to. I have the worst luck. So I get on my hands and knees to check it out. It is raining and there was so much mud and dirt. I realize that the part is hanging on by one screw. Right about then me...in my skirt, is on the ground looking under the car, when these 2 Hispanic men walk up and asked if we needed help. Perfect. Luckily I speak Spanish and could tell them what was up. They then proceeded to get under the car-all muddy and gross to look at it. After about 10 minutes they had it off so I wouldn't be dragging this part as I drove. Count it---this is now the 2nd time a Hispanic man has to come to my aid to fix my car. they are so nice!! The funniest was when they were walking away and both of them were COVERED in mud and dirt. Yes, of course they used the puddle rain water to wash themselves off. LOL! Thank you Hispanics!
But dont you worry my night of fun does not end there. We then get to our Dinner appt and cute little Hermana Martinez made a feast as usual. Well, Hermana Wright and I were eating when Hna. Martinez asked why we were eating any of the chiles. She then proceeded to put one on our plates. After picking off the seeds, I ate mine. Kinda hot but I could handle it. I look over to see the puppy dog eyes of my companion. I forgot that she cant eat really spicy food. So I sneak and eat hers as well. Everything's good. I finish eating when of course I have an itch in my eye. Me-being the idiot I am-touch my eye. Then came the BURN! I forgot that I had just used that hand to pick out the seeds out of the chile. I excuse myself to the bathroom where I shove my face under the water faucet to get rid of the pain. I am sure I looked ridiculous because I was franticly in the bathroom using water, towels, anything I could find to get rid of this pain. I almost screamed out ot my comp in pain. finally I was able to get my contact out(Kill me) and the burn wasnt as bad. I then look at myself in the mirror------Yikes!! I looked like straight up Hitch off the movie. My whole left side of my face was red and swollen. My eye was SO red. I walk out of the bathroom and tell my comp we have to leave. Luckily the member is tight and wasnt upset. We then ran to wal-greens to get my eye drops and benydryl. It was just like the scene out of the movie Hitch. LOL!!! I really thought I was going to die. I think I was having some sort of reacton so I opened the benydryl before I even bought it and took some. We went home and I feel asleep by 8pm. Oh my life! I am going to wear my glasses for the next few days to be safe(lame). My eye looks normal for the most part. Dont you worry----I def took pictures last night of my eye. HAHAHA!!! Gross.
So that was my day yesterday---full of rainbows and sunsets.
On Wed. and Thurs. all day we had Sisters Trainings. It was really good but imagine sitting in one chair from 8-6. We would be taught a principle then we would break into groups to role play(my fav.-not) It was really good but draining. President Saylin asked if I could sing Abide with me tis eventide. So I did the EFY version of that.
I realized that Sunday was my year mark from going to the temple. Me and Hermana Wright happened to take out our endowments on the same day. It was a nice reminder of the importance of the temple and the blessings that come.
We found 3 less- actives this week. My nickname in the mission is basically the LARC (less active-recent convert) Queen. I find more less actives than anyone times like 5. I guess I am just lucky like that. One family we found is awesome and we are excited to get them coming back to church. They are so amazing.
My favorite person we are teaching right now is Julia. Her son, Kevin (8years old) just got baptized and now we are working with her. She wants to be baptized and knows that it is the right thing to do but she is scared of falling after. She doesnt want to make any mistakes. We have been teaching her about the atonement like crazy. PLEASE pray for her. She is praying about a baptismal date right now. She is so ready. she is basically already a member with how much she is involved in FHE and activities. I love her!
Hermana Wright and I are working so hard and really trying to follow the Spirit. We realized how much we have been blessed recently. Hermana Wright is so amazing. She is just so nice. One day I got out of the shower and she had made my bed and everything(cutie). She also made me this cute little picture of Christ with this quote(one I told her was my fav) so I could hang it on my wall. she is jsut so nice. She is helping me try and be better. I definitely lack in the nice/thoughtful section of my life.
I hoope all is well with you! Happy Birthday DAD!!! Glad the Utes won!
I love you!!
Hermana Richards
Bikes-Yikes!!
"God never leaves us alone, never leaves us unaided in the challenges we face." ----Elder Holland
I was reading the talk "The Ministry of Angels" this morning and this quote is from a part of it. I know that Heavenly Father loves us and that He has a plan for each one of us. Even if at times we can't really see why things are happening to us and why we have certain adversity. Turn to him and He can make you whole.
I bet you are all wondering where I got transferred to........drum roll..........I am now serving in Houston 8(yes, I know that has no meaning to you) HAHA!! I basically moved one area over from where I was before. I still meet at the same church and so I will see all my people every Sunday. BUT listen to this----my companion is Hermana Wright. Now for all of those that don't remember she was my comp. in the MTC. YEAH! We are back! I love her so much. The tough thing is that she really has a hard time with her Spanish. SO I have the weight of the world on my shoulders trying to speak and understand everything going on. Even after only 5 days I have really learned a lot and grown. It has made me stretch a ton! (sometimes it hurts :( ) I know I say this every week but PRAY for me! We have some amazing investigators and I dont want to screw it up. LOL!!!
Leaving my last area was hard. I was just starting to love those people. My investigator Francisco gave me a water feature(just a fancy way of saying a platic water fountain) to remember him by. You bet you bottom dollar I have it on my desk and just need to get batteries to operate it! haha...love him.
We have a set number of miles that we can use per month. Well, I got to my new area to find that we didn't have any miles left. SO I have been on my bike looking beautiful, glistening(ya right) in the blazing heat. I actually like my bike cause I can contact more people and it just makes you feel more like a missionary. If only it wasn't a million degrees outside.
We had Stake Conference yesterday. They had this youth choir sing the EFY Melody-in spanish of course. Well, I guess I was emotional or something because just looking at the kids on the stand, knowing their backround and lives- made me cry. I loved it! It made me realized how much I really do love the Hispanic people. Which was something I struggled with at the beginning of my mission. I will basically do anything for these people.
My address to my apartment is: 6601 Harbor town #1222 Houston, TX 77036. You can send letters to that address but send packages to the mission office. Its just easier.
I just love you all so much. I hope you know that you are all in my prayers. I marvel at what the Lord can do if you submit to His will and are obedient. I have seen miracles happen. I love you!!!
Sarah :)
I was reading the talk "The Ministry of Angels" this morning and this quote is from a part of it. I know that Heavenly Father loves us and that He has a plan for each one of us. Even if at times we can't really see why things are happening to us and why we have certain adversity. Turn to him and He can make you whole.
I bet you are all wondering where I got transferred to........drum roll..........I am now serving in Houston 8(yes, I know that has no meaning to you) HAHA!! I basically moved one area over from where I was before. I still meet at the same church and so I will see all my people every Sunday. BUT listen to this----my companion is Hermana Wright. Now for all of those that don't remember she was my comp. in the MTC. YEAH! We are back! I love her so much. The tough thing is that she really has a hard time with her Spanish. SO I have the weight of the world on my shoulders trying to speak and understand everything going on. Even after only 5 days I have really learned a lot and grown. It has made me stretch a ton! (sometimes it hurts :( ) I know I say this every week but PRAY for me! We have some amazing investigators and I dont want to screw it up. LOL!!!
Leaving my last area was hard. I was just starting to love those people. My investigator Francisco gave me a water feature(just a fancy way of saying a platic water fountain) to remember him by. You bet you bottom dollar I have it on my desk and just need to get batteries to operate it! haha...love him.
We have a set number of miles that we can use per month. Well, I got to my new area to find that we didn't have any miles left. SO I have been on my bike looking beautiful, glistening(ya right) in the blazing heat. I actually like my bike cause I can contact more people and it just makes you feel more like a missionary. If only it wasn't a million degrees outside.
We had Stake Conference yesterday. They had this youth choir sing the EFY Melody-in spanish of course. Well, I guess I was emotional or something because just looking at the kids on the stand, knowing their backround and lives- made me cry. I loved it! It made me realized how much I really do love the Hispanic people. Which was something I struggled with at the beginning of my mission. I will basically do anything for these people.
My address to my apartment is: 6601 Harbor town #1222 Houston, TX 77036. You can send letters to that address but send packages to the mission office. Its just easier.
I just love you all so much. I hope you know that you are all in my prayers. I marvel at what the Lord can do if you submit to His will and are obedient. I have seen miracles happen. I love you!!!
Sarah :)
HOLY GARBAGE......WHAT????
Ok...so I got a call about an hour ago telling me that I am getting transferred!!!! I was completely shocked. I just got to this area 6 weeks ago. My comp has been here for a while so I was dumb-founded. I will know on Wed. where I am going. CRAZY!!! I seriously JUST unpacked all my stuff and put up my pics. Lame!
I am really going to miss the people in this area. In only a short 6 weeks I have really grown to love them. I am sad because we have about 3 people lined up for baptism and now I have to leave. :( Not to mention I love Hermana Taff....I feel like I have become best friends with all of my companions. Its really sad to leave them sometimes. We are totally bummed. I am going to try and send pics soon. So dont send anymore mail to the address on Rampart. Send only to the Mission Office-4627 Austin Parkway Sugar Land, TX 77479.
Speaking of addresses....I need the address for Denise and Sam &Linds(new apartment). You may have told me and I am an idiot and lost them ;) I have a letter for Denise but dont have an address for her.
Most important information in the email---------------HAPPY BIRTHDAY MAYGEN!!!! Mi amor!
Have a rockin' Birthday! I am sad I am missing it but I am SURE you are going to be OBSESSED with my Birthday card. I know I was ;)
I was able to go to Galveston on Saturday for Javier's baptism. It was so awesome. It was a surprise that I was going to be there. So when the family showed up I was hiding and I jumped out of the bushes. Maria- the mom started bawling when she saw me. She is so cute. I found out right before the baptism that Javier wanted me to give a talk. It turned out well-even though it was in Spanish(thank you Heavenly Father) and they had me sing. I picked I feel my Savoirs love. Its one of my favs. The baptism was so great and he was so happy. Javier is 16 years old and his mom is a member. They are a family that was in-active when I found them in Galveston. Now they are completely active and going strong. I consider them one of my greatest blessings and miracels of Galveston. I love them a lot.
We got a new car on Thursday. I feel like I am a queen! My comp. cant drive cause she got in an accident a couple transfers ago. I drive 24/7---which you all know I like cause I always like to be the driver. BUT...guess what???!! I was so used to the old car with its automatic lights that I may or may not have left the lights on Friday night. We had a major dead car battery in the morning. We called our zone leaders(cause they are the only ones who have a car who are near) and they came to help us jump it. The only problem was that the parking spaces next to the car were taken. We tried to put the car in neutral but the instrucions were really detailed and would take forever to do. I had this feeling(the spirit) that I needed to knock on this one apartment door to see if one of the cars on either side were theirs. The apartment was random and kinda far from the parking lot. But I did it anyway. I asked the lady(in spanish....dont think there are white people where I live) and the black SUV was hers. I nearly died! I couldnt believe it. She moved her car and an hour later we had our car fixed. It took forever and we were all sweating in the blazing hot sun! I am grateful for the help of the Spirit. Otherwise I dont know how we would have gotten the car fixed in a timely manner.
Raul's baptism had to be pushed to next Sunday. It was this huge drama----because of a member. Dont worry he is so ready and still planning on getting baptized. I am sad because I might not be able to come back for it. :(
We were eating dinner at a members house on Thursday and as we were eating I counted 12 cockroaches in the kitchen/dinning room area. Hermana Taff wanted to die. I killed one with my shoe as it ran passed me. Welcome to my life family. Disgusting.
I had probably the worst experience on my mission thus far on Wed. We went over to a less- actives house and it turned into her saying some really nasty and mean things about us and the church. She had some bad experiences in the past. After an hour of recieving her wrath she kicked us out. I said one word the entire time. We left feeling like failures when the Bishop pulled up and said "Hey Hermanas how are you??" What a tender mercy from Heavenly Father. We just got killed with words by a less active and then the Bishop comes right after to cheer us up. We got in the car to leave and Hermana started bawling. It really was probably the worst experience thus far on my mission. Rough!
Well, I now realize that I have to go back to the apartment and throw all my junk into my bags again. Kill me! You should see that amount of stuff that I cram in those bags. Maybe I sit on the bag to close it, maybe I dont. LOL!!!! HAHAHA!!
I love you all a lot! You are in my prayers. Maygen----Have a fabulous Birthday- Te amo!!
-Hermana Richards
I am really going to miss the people in this area. In only a short 6 weeks I have really grown to love them. I am sad because we have about 3 people lined up for baptism and now I have to leave. :( Not to mention I love Hermana Taff....I feel like I have become best friends with all of my companions. Its really sad to leave them sometimes. We are totally bummed. I am going to try and send pics soon. So dont send anymore mail to the address on Rampart. Send only to the Mission Office-4627 Austin Parkway Sugar Land, TX 77479.
Speaking of addresses....I need the address for Denise and Sam &Linds(new apartment). You may have told me and I am an idiot and lost them ;) I have a letter for Denise but dont have an address for her.
Most important information in the email---------------HAPPY BIRTHDAY MAYGEN!!!! Mi amor!
Have a rockin' Birthday! I am sad I am missing it but I am SURE you are going to be OBSESSED with my Birthday card. I know I was ;)
I was able to go to Galveston on Saturday for Javier's baptism. It was so awesome. It was a surprise that I was going to be there. So when the family showed up I was hiding and I jumped out of the bushes. Maria- the mom started bawling when she saw me. She is so cute. I found out right before the baptism that Javier wanted me to give a talk. It turned out well-even though it was in Spanish(thank you Heavenly Father) and they had me sing. I picked I feel my Savoirs love. Its one of my favs. The baptism was so great and he was so happy. Javier is 16 years old and his mom is a member. They are a family that was in-active when I found them in Galveston. Now they are completely active and going strong. I consider them one of my greatest blessings and miracels of Galveston. I love them a lot.
We got a new car on Thursday. I feel like I am a queen! My comp. cant drive cause she got in an accident a couple transfers ago. I drive 24/7---which you all know I like cause I always like to be the driver. BUT...guess what???!! I was so used to the old car with its automatic lights that I may or may not have left the lights on Friday night. We had a major dead car battery in the morning. We called our zone leaders(cause they are the only ones who have a car who are near) and they came to help us jump it. The only problem was that the parking spaces next to the car were taken. We tried to put the car in neutral but the instrucions were really detailed and would take forever to do. I had this feeling(the spirit) that I needed to knock on this one apartment door to see if one of the cars on either side were theirs. The apartment was random and kinda far from the parking lot. But I did it anyway. I asked the lady(in spanish....dont think there are white people where I live) and the black SUV was hers. I nearly died! I couldnt believe it. She moved her car and an hour later we had our car fixed. It took forever and we were all sweating in the blazing hot sun! I am grateful for the help of the Spirit. Otherwise I dont know how we would have gotten the car fixed in a timely manner.
Raul's baptism had to be pushed to next Sunday. It was this huge drama----because of a member. Dont worry he is so ready and still planning on getting baptized. I am sad because I might not be able to come back for it. :(
We were eating dinner at a members house on Thursday and as we were eating I counted 12 cockroaches in the kitchen/dinning room area. Hermana Taff wanted to die. I killed one with my shoe as it ran passed me. Welcome to my life family. Disgusting.
I had probably the worst experience on my mission thus far on Wed. We went over to a less- actives house and it turned into her saying some really nasty and mean things about us and the church. She had some bad experiences in the past. After an hour of recieving her wrath she kicked us out. I said one word the entire time. We left feeling like failures when the Bishop pulled up and said "Hey Hermanas how are you??" What a tender mercy from Heavenly Father. We just got killed with words by a less active and then the Bishop comes right after to cheer us up. We got in the car to leave and Hermana started bawling. It really was probably the worst experience thus far on my mission. Rough!
Well, I now realize that I have to go back to the apartment and throw all my junk into my bags again. Kill me! You should see that amount of stuff that I cram in those bags. Maybe I sit on the bag to close it, maybe I dont. LOL!!!! HAHAHA!!
I love you all a lot! You are in my prayers. Maygen----Have a fabulous Birthday- Te amo!!
-Hermana Richards
:)
Mi Familia!
"There is no tomorrow to remember if we dont do something today and to live most fully today we must do that which is of greatest importance. Let us not procrastinate those things which matter most." -President Monson
I love this quote. President Monson is so amazing! It is SO true, verdad? Some of my greatest memories-on and off the mission are from moments when I have been doing that which is most important. I LOVE this work. I LOVE being a missionary. I feel like I have found a greater happiness as I have focused on the things of the Lord. For my mission my mind has been off the things of the world and onto the things that bring eternal happiness. Live today like it were your last. "Live like you were dying"------(country song quote?? what?) Smile through the trial and find joy in the journey.
This week flew by!! I was on exchanges with Hermana Knapp for 3 days. She is this cute greenie that is serving in my old area. It was fun to get an update on the people and area. She has only been on her mission a couple of weeks. She reminds me a lot of myself. The only thing was that she doesn't speak ANY Spanish. I could not get that girl to open her mouth for the life of me! LOL!!! SO that means Hermana Richards was on her own for all the lessons, talking, etc. We got home Wed. night and I had lost my voice from talking so much(7 lessons later!). On thurs with Hna. Knapp we taught a gypsy----scariest thing of my life! I didn't understand her accent very well(hers and Cubans-never). I prayed the entire time during the lesson that I could understand her and teach to her needs. It ended up going well....huge tender mercy from Heavenly Father.
Raul is all set for his baptism next Sunday! So excited! Last Sunday they announced a singles dance and he totally went on Friday. He is solid. Yesterday he was making all these comments in the gospel doctrine class and obispo(bishop) asked where he learned all of that and he pointed at me. HAHA!! I love him! We had a bomb member lesson with him with a couple here in the ward. Love him! PLEASE pray for him cause yesterday he told me he was super nervous about his baptism and he is not sure if he knows enough yet. The fact is that he is super intelligent and knows more than I think most Hispanic members. Next sunday is going to be great cause we have 5 baptisms for our district set. YEAH!
Ok...so super sad---I wasn't able to go to Galveston yesterday to see Sandy get baptized. I was bummed. I am just glad she finally made the decision about baptism. I didn't need to be there. But luckily Javier is getting baptized on Sat. so I can go then. Galveston here I come!! I am dying of happiness!
In the mission there are certain goals that you try and always meet. 2 of them being getting 20 sit down lessons each week and and average of 10 OYMs(contacts) per day. Hermana Taff and I got our 20 sits by Sat. so we had to spend most of our time yesterday talking to people. It was SO hot!!!!! I literally wanted to die. At one point my companion was so hot she finally just sat down under this tree and almost started crying(I am laughing while typing this cause looking back it is funny). I was able to convince her to keep going but only with the bribe of giving her my Gatorade. LOL!!!!! love her! I really am grossed out at the heat here though. Ugly August is really turning out to be true! There is no way to NOT be ugly in this heat. LOL!
Funny story----Our Bishop(he is white) here teaches the Gospel Principles class. He is a teacher so it is always so good. But sometimes when he speaks he will be speaking normal and then all the sudden he will go into this creepy, story tellers voice. I laugh almost everytime(I hide it of course). But yesterday one of our investigators, Francicso heard it and then looked at me with this really funny face. I laughed so hard. Luckily I was on the end so no one saw or heard me.....maybe it was one of those you have to be there moments. LOL!!! I think he goes into creep voice when he is trying to use conjunctions---like when he is adding an idea. I have examined it in detail cause I think it is hilarious!
It is really nice to be back in the same church building as my first area. I see Missouri City ward members all the time. Not to mention I get to see Jhon Wilches every week. He is still active and doing good. I am obsessed with that man! He said once he gets papers(who knows when that will be) he wants to come to Vegas so I can show him how to gamble. LOL! He was just joking but you get the idea of how awesome he is.
We have been getting trained like crazy on all these new stuff....well old stuff but new trainings. It has been a good learning experience. Now I just gotta figure out how to put it all into practice and remember it all. There is so much to remember as a missonary!
Welp....I feel like I have been rambling this whole email. Ya'll just got a look into the mind of Hermana Richards for a while. I am grateful for your support and love. I feel Heavenly Father blessing me everyday! I pray for you and I know that Heavenly Father will bless you and help you as you turn to Him. He loves you. My eyes have been opened to the blessings that come when you are obedient and do all possible to follow Jesus Christ. Follow Him and He will lead you along. Down a path that is less traveled but worth it. I love you with all my heart. Keep smiling!
Love----Hermana Sarah Richards
"There is no tomorrow to remember if we dont do something today and to live most fully today we must do that which is of greatest importance. Let us not procrastinate those things which matter most." -President Monson
I love this quote. President Monson is so amazing! It is SO true, verdad? Some of my greatest memories-on and off the mission are from moments when I have been doing that which is most important. I LOVE this work. I LOVE being a missionary. I feel like I have found a greater happiness as I have focused on the things of the Lord. For my mission my mind has been off the things of the world and onto the things that bring eternal happiness. Live today like it were your last. "Live like you were dying"------(country song quote?? what?) Smile through the trial and find joy in the journey.
This week flew by!! I was on exchanges with Hermana Knapp for 3 days. She is this cute greenie that is serving in my old area. It was fun to get an update on the people and area. She has only been on her mission a couple of weeks. She reminds me a lot of myself. The only thing was that she doesn't speak ANY Spanish. I could not get that girl to open her mouth for the life of me! LOL!!! SO that means Hermana Richards was on her own for all the lessons, talking, etc. We got home Wed. night and I had lost my voice from talking so much(7 lessons later!). On thurs with Hna. Knapp we taught a gypsy----scariest thing of my life! I didn't understand her accent very well(hers and Cubans-never). I prayed the entire time during the lesson that I could understand her and teach to her needs. It ended up going well....huge tender mercy from Heavenly Father.
Raul is all set for his baptism next Sunday! So excited! Last Sunday they announced a singles dance and he totally went on Friday. He is solid. Yesterday he was making all these comments in the gospel doctrine class and obispo(bishop) asked where he learned all of that and he pointed at me. HAHA!! I love him! We had a bomb member lesson with him with a couple here in the ward. Love him! PLEASE pray for him cause yesterday he told me he was super nervous about his baptism and he is not sure if he knows enough yet. The fact is that he is super intelligent and knows more than I think most Hispanic members. Next sunday is going to be great cause we have 5 baptisms for our district set. YEAH!
Ok...so super sad---I wasn't able to go to Galveston yesterday to see Sandy get baptized. I was bummed. I am just glad she finally made the decision about baptism. I didn't need to be there. But luckily Javier is getting baptized on Sat. so I can go then. Galveston here I come!! I am dying of happiness!
In the mission there are certain goals that you try and always meet. 2 of them being getting 20 sit down lessons each week and and average of 10 OYMs(contacts) per day. Hermana Taff and I got our 20 sits by Sat. so we had to spend most of our time yesterday talking to people. It was SO hot!!!!! I literally wanted to die. At one point my companion was so hot she finally just sat down under this tree and almost started crying(I am laughing while typing this cause looking back it is funny). I was able to convince her to keep going but only with the bribe of giving her my Gatorade. LOL!!!!! love her! I really am grossed out at the heat here though. Ugly August is really turning out to be true! There is no way to NOT be ugly in this heat. LOL!
Funny story----Our Bishop(he is white) here teaches the Gospel Principles class. He is a teacher so it is always so good. But sometimes when he speaks he will be speaking normal and then all the sudden he will go into this creepy, story tellers voice. I laugh almost everytime(I hide it of course). But yesterday one of our investigators, Francicso heard it and then looked at me with this really funny face. I laughed so hard. Luckily I was on the end so no one saw or heard me.....maybe it was one of those you have to be there moments. LOL!!! I think he goes into creep voice when he is trying to use conjunctions---like when he is adding an idea. I have examined it in detail cause I think it is hilarious!
It is really nice to be back in the same church building as my first area. I see Missouri City ward members all the time. Not to mention I get to see Jhon Wilches every week. He is still active and doing good. I am obsessed with that man! He said once he gets papers(who knows when that will be) he wants to come to Vegas so I can show him how to gamble. LOL! He was just joking but you get the idea of how awesome he is.
We have been getting trained like crazy on all these new stuff....well old stuff but new trainings. It has been a good learning experience. Now I just gotta figure out how to put it all into practice and remember it all. There is so much to remember as a missonary!
Welp....I feel like I have been rambling this whole email. Ya'll just got a look into the mind of Hermana Richards for a while. I am grateful for your support and love. I feel Heavenly Father blessing me everyday! I pray for you and I know that Heavenly Father will bless you and help you as you turn to Him. He loves you. My eyes have been opened to the blessings that come when you are obedient and do all possible to follow Jesus Christ. Follow Him and He will lead you along. Down a path that is less traveled but worth it. I love you with all my heart. Keep smiling!
Love----Hermana Sarah Richards
Friday, August 13, 2010
Ugly August
"Do you want to be happy? Forget yourself and get lost in this great cause. Lend your efforts to helping people...stand higher, lift those with feeble knees, hold up the arms of those that hang down. Live the gospel of Jesus Christ."---President Hinckley
As a missionary there are tons of times when you feel over whelmed and weighed down. This last weekend was one of those. Saturday night I was stressed because we had worked so hard that week to obtain our goals and I realized we wouldn't achieve them. I then realized that with the help of my loving Heavenly Father I could do anything. I could conquer the world if needed. I teach and meet amazing people that the Lord puts in my path. I find myself feeling and saying things beyond my past experience. In times of discouragement I need to put all my trust in Heavenly Father. He gives us times of trial to help us grow and become a more perfect people. He will make you supposed weaknesses into strengths if you turn to Him.
I am going on exchanges this week. Well, my companion is going to Galveston(jealous) for 2 days while I have a brand new missionary for 2 days. I am excited about it except that I really don't know the area yet. I am going to be really lost! LOL!! No but seriously. Hopefully Lola(my GPS) will be friendly to me for those 2 days.
I got permission to go to Galveston next Sunday to attend my investigator, Sandy's baptism. I am SO excited to go back to Galveston for the day. Especially because I love Sandy a lot and am so stoked cause she is getting baptized. She is so ready! I will definitely take pictures and send them next week.
It is really hot here....big surprise, i know. Hermana Taff and I have named August-"ugly august". There really is no possible way to be cute when in the disgusting sun all day long.
Our investigator Raul is progressing toward his baptism in 2 weeks. He is really smart and every time we teach him he basically teaches me something new. He is this old, bald man with a Santa like belly. HAHA! I love him. We have some really cool investigators right now. They all seem really prepared for the gospel.
I dyed Hermana Taffs hair. It looks bomb! I also convinced her to cut her REALLY long hair--which also looks cute. My hair is in a disgusting pony tail everyday. I only use a straightener/curl iron maybe once a week for church. Thus, you will not be receiving many pictures of Ugly August.
I feel like this email is really boring-sorry! This week was really full of good old missionary work. We worked our tails off! If we weren't teaching a lesson we were talking our faces off trying to find new investigators. Luckily my area is packed full of Hispanics!
Well, I hope you all have a good week! Enjoy the last few weeks of summer before schhol starts up again. I love you!!!
-Hermana Richards
As a missionary there are tons of times when you feel over whelmed and weighed down. This last weekend was one of those. Saturday night I was stressed because we had worked so hard that week to obtain our goals and I realized we wouldn't achieve them. I then realized that with the help of my loving Heavenly Father I could do anything. I could conquer the world if needed. I teach and meet amazing people that the Lord puts in my path. I find myself feeling and saying things beyond my past experience. In times of discouragement I need to put all my trust in Heavenly Father. He gives us times of trial to help us grow and become a more perfect people. He will make you supposed weaknesses into strengths if you turn to Him.
I am going on exchanges this week. Well, my companion is going to Galveston(jealous) for 2 days while I have a brand new missionary for 2 days. I am excited about it except that I really don't know the area yet. I am going to be really lost! LOL!! No but seriously. Hopefully Lola(my GPS) will be friendly to me for those 2 days.
I got permission to go to Galveston next Sunday to attend my investigator, Sandy's baptism. I am SO excited to go back to Galveston for the day. Especially because I love Sandy a lot and am so stoked cause she is getting baptized. She is so ready! I will definitely take pictures and send them next week.
It is really hot here....big surprise, i know. Hermana Taff and I have named August-"ugly august". There really is no possible way to be cute when in the disgusting sun all day long.
Our investigator Raul is progressing toward his baptism in 2 weeks. He is really smart and every time we teach him he basically teaches me something new. He is this old, bald man with a Santa like belly. HAHA! I love him. We have some really cool investigators right now. They all seem really prepared for the gospel.
I dyed Hermana Taffs hair. It looks bomb! I also convinced her to cut her REALLY long hair--which also looks cute. My hair is in a disgusting pony tail everyday. I only use a straightener/curl iron maybe once a week for church. Thus, you will not be receiving many pictures of Ugly August.
I feel like this email is really boring-sorry! This week was really full of good old missionary work. We worked our tails off! If we weren't teaching a lesson we were talking our faces off trying to find new investigators. Luckily my area is packed full of Hispanics!
Well, I hope you all have a good week! Enjoy the last few weeks of summer before schhol starts up again. I love you!!!
-Hermana Richards
Even My Tan Lines Have Tan Lines! (August 2, 2010 Email)
Hey family!
The title of this email is funny but really true. It has turned SO hot here recently. My comp and I are dying. We came up with these random points for you to understand our hottness(not to be confused with hotness- looks):
~Tale of two sweaties
~Sweat, Sun, & Gatorade
~I have a permanent backpack shadow
~My sweat rag is completely wet after 1 hour of pros.
~Headbands are no lnger a fashion but a neseccity to paste down our sweaty hair
~When making a return appt with someone the sweat drips off your face and makes the pen on your planner smear
~Turns out that 2 gatorades and 1 water bottle are not enough for one day---we now pack a cooler everyday
These last 2 days are the only days in 3 weeks that it hasn't rained! But it has turned on the heat...perfect.
A recent convert in the ward like to sew and make clothes so she offered to make me and my ocmp a skirt. I am super excited! She is so sweet to offer that.
4 of my investigators in Galveston are getting baptized this month. I am going to try and go down for one of them but it is hard cause we have to get a member to give us a ride. It is about 2 hours away from where I am at now. I am super excited that some of my favorite people are getting baptized!
We went to a recent converts house cause he wanted to give us some food....thats fine. Well we get there and it is a huge fiesta! Really awkward cause people were drinking and the Mexican music was up really loud. He said we could take our food and leave. We get to the car and look inside the box..........literally there was a pigs ear!!!!! A grilled ear of a pig was chillin in my hands(in the box of course)....it still had hair on it! I threw up in my mouth! Thank goodness I didnt have to eat it. What if the member had given to us and wanted to watch us eat it. Sick!
Raul last Tuesday basically tauhgt us the Word of Wisdom. He is so awesome. His baptism is going to be on August 22nd.
Francisco is doing awesome! He loves to read the BOM and go to church. The problem has been that his dad is a pastor in Honduras and feels like he shouldnt get baptized again. Well we gave him 2 Nephi 31(the Gospel of Jesus Christ) and we came back to visit him and he said he was now confused.....or has doubts. He isnt so sure of his being baptized when he was young. He now feels a conflict-----which is a step. He is now opening up to the idea of be baptized becuase it needs to be by someone that has the authority. He is praying to find out if he needs to get baptized again. Pray for him!!!
We had a really good BOM training on Friday. We are now focusing on using the Book of Mormon more. I know that the Book of Mormon has a power to change hearts and has the answers to the questions of our soul. The Book of Mormon is the greatest tool we have today to strengthen our testimonies. I encourage everyone to read more regularly and look for things to learn from the pages within. I know that I have been extremely blessed since being on my mission and studying it more fully.
Hermana Taff and I are doing really well. I know that there really are people in this area that are prepared to hear the gospel mesage. I am excited! We are able to find tender mercies and miracles of our Heavenly Father daily. He really blesses His missionaries.
I hope everyone has a fabulous week! Know that I pray for you and for your happiness and success. I am grateful for your support and constant love---even when I know I dont write you enough to tell you that. I owe everything to this church. I am and will be eternally grateful for my mission and the testimony I have. I have been given the great blessing of being born in the gospel. I often wonder how I was so lucky to be born into the family that I was and to have a knowledge of the Gospel. I took it for granted. It wanst until I came here and talk to people in the most horrid of spiritual and physical conditions that I have begun to see that. Be grateful for what Heavenly Father has given you. Even if at times it doesnt seem like a lot. But the fact is that our knowledge of a loving Heavenly Father and our purpose here is a greater blessing and knowledge than most people in the world have. Press on....go forward with faith. And take a minute to pause and thank Heavenly Father for all we ahve been given. Because we often do not deserve it.
I love you. I truly do.
Sarah
The title of this email is funny but really true. It has turned SO hot here recently. My comp and I are dying. We came up with these random points for you to understand our hottness(not to be confused with hotness- looks):
~Tale of two sweaties
~Sweat, Sun, & Gatorade
~I have a permanent backpack shadow
~My sweat rag is completely wet after 1 hour of pros.
~Headbands are no lnger a fashion but a neseccity to paste down our sweaty hair
~When making a return appt with someone the sweat drips off your face and makes the pen on your planner smear
~Turns out that 2 gatorades and 1 water bottle are not enough for one day---we now pack a cooler everyday
These last 2 days are the only days in 3 weeks that it hasn't rained! But it has turned on the heat...perfect.
A recent convert in the ward like to sew and make clothes so she offered to make me and my ocmp a skirt. I am super excited! She is so sweet to offer that.
4 of my investigators in Galveston are getting baptized this month. I am going to try and go down for one of them but it is hard cause we have to get a member to give us a ride. It is about 2 hours away from where I am at now. I am super excited that some of my favorite people are getting baptized!
We went to a recent converts house cause he wanted to give us some food....thats fine. Well we get there and it is a huge fiesta! Really awkward cause people were drinking and the Mexican music was up really loud. He said we could take our food and leave. We get to the car and look inside the box..........literally there was a pigs ear!!!!! A grilled ear of a pig was chillin in my hands(in the box of course)....it still had hair on it! I threw up in my mouth! Thank goodness I didnt have to eat it. What if the member had given to us and wanted to watch us eat it. Sick!
Raul last Tuesday basically tauhgt us the Word of Wisdom. He is so awesome. His baptism is going to be on August 22nd.
Francisco is doing awesome! He loves to read the BOM and go to church. The problem has been that his dad is a pastor in Honduras and feels like he shouldnt get baptized again. Well we gave him 2 Nephi 31(the Gospel of Jesus Christ) and we came back to visit him and he said he was now confused.....or has doubts. He isnt so sure of his being baptized when he was young. He now feels a conflict-----which is a step. He is now opening up to the idea of be baptized becuase it needs to be by someone that has the authority. He is praying to find out if he needs to get baptized again. Pray for him!!!
We had a really good BOM training on Friday. We are now focusing on using the Book of Mormon more. I know that the Book of Mormon has a power to change hearts and has the answers to the questions of our soul. The Book of Mormon is the greatest tool we have today to strengthen our testimonies. I encourage everyone to read more regularly and look for things to learn from the pages within. I know that I have been extremely blessed since being on my mission and studying it more fully.
Hermana Taff and I are doing really well. I know that there really are people in this area that are prepared to hear the gospel mesage. I am excited! We are able to find tender mercies and miracles of our Heavenly Father daily. He really blesses His missionaries.
I hope everyone has a fabulous week! Know that I pray for you and for your happiness and success. I am grateful for your support and constant love---even when I know I dont write you enough to tell you that. I owe everything to this church. I am and will be eternally grateful for my mission and the testimony I have. I have been given the great blessing of being born in the gospel. I often wonder how I was so lucky to be born into the family that I was and to have a knowledge of the Gospel. I took it for granted. It wanst until I came here and talk to people in the most horrid of spiritual and physical conditions that I have begun to see that. Be grateful for what Heavenly Father has given you. Even if at times it doesnt seem like a lot. But the fact is that our knowledge of a loving Heavenly Father and our purpose here is a greater blessing and knowledge than most people in the world have. Press on....go forward with faith. And take a minute to pause and thank Heavenly Father for all we ahve been given. Because we often do not deserve it.
I love you. I truly do.
Sarah
"Ssssome Ice Tea??" (July 26, 2010 Email)
This day has been a complete charlie fox......We totally had a flat tire on our car this morning(I may or may not have ran over the curb last night)...I didnt think it did anything to the car. Well....we look in our car to put on the spare and of course we dont have all the tools. So we call the Elders and they come to help us put it on....well this one Elder insisted that he knew "a lot" about cars so he proceeded to try and fix it. As he is about to put the spare on the car, the jack falls over and the car falls to the ground. Lovely! Some nice liquidy stuff comes pouring out of the car and we are in shock......2 seconds later these 2 Hispanic men come walking over looking like our heros---they then help us get the car off the ground, we use their jack and we drive immediately to the tire place were we sat for forever to fix it. All the while sweating cause it is a million degrees outside....joy.
My week was good. It rains everyday here. Not sure why but it does. My umbrella is my BF.
I LOVE the pic Grandma sent me of Rick and the boys baptism. I put it next to my desk....I am slighty obsessed.
The new area is good. I get lost a lot. All we have is apartment complexes and they are all different so it is hard to know where you are. And they are not liek the ones at home. These are like a MAZE!
We have some awesome investigators.....3 of them are named Francisco so we call them (not to their face) Teddy Bear Francisco, Body Francisco and little francicso. They are all awesome!
This week we took a recent convert to one of our appointments. It started out great, we sat down and we were going to start but then our investigator got up and was like "let me get you something to drink" with his cute little mexican accent. So he's in the kitchen for a while and we were just talking (us and our recent convert) and next thing we know he comes walking, practically prancing into the room with two big glasses of brownish-orange drink, and says, handing the glasses to us "Sssome ice tea." Hna. taff immedeately look over at me and says "what do we say" as he walked out of the room to get another glass for the member... I don't know if you know, but in the hispanic culture, it's really rude not to accept anything that someone offers you, seriously. A number of ideas flashed thru my mind; accept it but just leave it on the table, take it but pour the contents into the plant sitting on the coffee table, or turn it down... My comp then looks at me with puppy dog eyes and I tell him that we dont drink ice tea. It was so awkward and we felt soooo terrible, but our member was there to smooth it out a little bit. I seriously wanted to die! It actually turned out ok though because we taught our lesson and the spirit was there, so we'll see :). You probably don't think that this story is very funny but I seriously can't tell you how much Hna. Taff and I laughed about it all week. When I get home I'll do the impression of it and we can all laugh together.
We laugh a lot. Random funny things like running over the curb, or me tripping up the stairs(always up never down), or really cute sweat marks in our clothes, or member lessons where the member is arguing with our investigator---basically yelling(ya never bringing her out EVER again). so ya...mission life never gets old.
Well I gotta run and go to Fiesta--the only grocery store in our area and it is basically a hispanic store. LOVES it! Have a fabulous week! I love you!
Sarah
My week was good. It rains everyday here. Not sure why but it does. My umbrella is my BF.
I LOVE the pic Grandma sent me of Rick and the boys baptism. I put it next to my desk....I am slighty obsessed.
The new area is good. I get lost a lot. All we have is apartment complexes and they are all different so it is hard to know where you are. And they are not liek the ones at home. These are like a MAZE!
We have some awesome investigators.....3 of them are named Francisco so we call them (not to their face) Teddy Bear Francisco, Body Francisco and little francicso. They are all awesome!
This week we took a recent convert to one of our appointments. It started out great, we sat down and we were going to start but then our investigator got up and was like "let me get you something to drink" with his cute little mexican accent. So he's in the kitchen for a while and we were just talking (us and our recent convert) and next thing we know he comes walking, practically prancing into the room with two big glasses of brownish-orange drink, and says, handing the glasses to us "Sssome ice tea." Hna. taff immedeately look over at me and says "what do we say" as he walked out of the room to get another glass for the member... I don't know if you know, but in the hispanic culture, it's really rude not to accept anything that someone offers you, seriously. A number of ideas flashed thru my mind; accept it but just leave it on the table, take it but pour the contents into the plant sitting on the coffee table, or turn it down... My comp then looks at me with puppy dog eyes and I tell him that we dont drink ice tea. It was so awkward and we felt soooo terrible, but our member was there to smooth it out a little bit. I seriously wanted to die! It actually turned out ok though because we taught our lesson and the spirit was there, so we'll see :). You probably don't think that this story is very funny but I seriously can't tell you how much Hna. Taff and I laughed about it all week. When I get home I'll do the impression of it and we can all laugh together.
We laugh a lot. Random funny things like running over the curb, or me tripping up the stairs(always up never down), or really cute sweat marks in our clothes, or member lessons where the member is arguing with our investigator---basically yelling(ya never bringing her out EVER again). so ya...mission life never gets old.
Well I gotta run and go to Fiesta--the only grocery store in our area and it is basically a hispanic store. LOVES it! Have a fabulous week! I love you!
Sarah
New Comp! And New Area! (July 19, 2010 Email)
This morning we(missionaries in my zone) all watched this movie called "The District 2". The movie is something the church did to help train missionaries better. It is basically real life missionaires and their experiences. It was so awesome!!! They taught real people and shared their stories. It was amazing to see how the people progressed and then got to baptism. It gave me a lot of encouragement and excitement to do the work. Right now we have some really awesome people progressing towards baptism and we are totally looking forward to having a baptism soon. My companion-Hermana Taff(I will talk more about her later, dont worry) has never had a baptism in the year that she has been on her mission and she feels bad about it. I am determined to change that here! It was just really nice to watch the movie and feel the spirit. SO many of the stories and testimonies shared I feel like were close to my heart and could be compared to me(example:one sister missionary's brother had died while on her mission). So often as missionaries we are giving out the spirrit so much that sometimes it is nice to be the one to sit back and feel it. Not the one giving it out. The Lord just gave me a tender mercy this morning and gave me the opportunity to see how I can improve and change.
OKOK.....I am now serving in Houston. It isn't the main downtown city but it is right next to it. The area is flooded with Hispanics. I see one white person for every 50 Hispanics. I AM in little mexico. HAHA!!! Everyone I talk to is Hispanic which is nice cause that means we have tons of people to teach. I like the area so far. It is all apartment complexes = consusion to find my way around. LOL! They are all different and have weird gates and stuff to get around. Let alone hte parking-to find a visitors spot that is open so we dont get towed. ALSO-yes I do have a car but still have my bike of course. Our area is small enugh that we can do it on bike. And cause I love my bike so much I have convinced my comp to use it about 4 times a week!( yes I know I sound like a crazy person.....I my bike. :)
My new companion is.....Jennifer Taff. She is from Longview, Washington. She is super cute and hilarious! She went to BYU Idaho before the mission and is a art ed major. I was sad cause I felt like I wouldnt get another cool comp cause I LOVED my last one. BUT she is tight. If I could have picked anyone to serve with(out of my choices) she was the one I wanted. LOL!! THANK YOU HEAVENLY FATHER!!! HAHA!! I really am lucking out.
We got 2 baptismal dates on Friday! YEAH!! Raul has aleady been to church 3 times and has a date for August 1st. I really think he will be ready but he wants a for sure answer from Heavenly Father. He loves reading the Book of Mormon so if he continues to do that and pray with real intent I know he will be ready. We are teaching Word of Wisdom tomorrow---pray that it goes well.
Our other date is a woman named Flor. We OYMed her(talked to her on the street) and taught her the 1st lesson(Restoration) and I extened a baptismal date for Aug 15th and she said "of course....what do I need to do to prepare for my baptism?" Then she referrred back to her baptism like 5 other times in the lesson.....like "when I get baptized"....realize that we had just meet this woman 10 minutes before and now all the sudden she was getting baptized. Missionary life is crazy!!!! Welcome to a sneak peek.....
Not too much else has happened. The mosquitos are eating my face off. I have to buy more repelant today. One that has like 600% DEET.
OH!!! Here is the addres to my apartment:
5401 Rampart st #349
Houston, TX 77081
Just send LETTERS here....I dont know it well enough to know if it is reliable with packages. I get mail every Friday from the office so send packaegs there....the Sugar Land one. SO no biggie.
Yes I am sweating my face off. Yes it is HOT!!! It is actually hotter in Houston cause we dont have the breeze of the ocean like in Galveston. Lame. I do miss Galveston. Lluvia(one of my favorite members) and Sandy(my investigator) totally got me the cutiest going away gifts. I guess there are pics on my facebook that she tagged me in.....I'm sure the ones where she silly stringed me are cute(NOT!) LOL!!! I seriously LOVE them!! the rest of my goodbyes last week weren't too terrible. My favorite Rivera Family took us out to dinner. I miss it a lot but I really am plannning to come back and visist them all again.
Well.....I feel like this email is boring. Sorry I dont have any cool/funny stories. I will try harder next week. I dont have Hermana Birds emails anymore to make you all laugh. I love you!!!! Have a fabulous week!!
Love, Hermana Richards
OKOK.....I am now serving in Houston. It isn't the main downtown city but it is right next to it. The area is flooded with Hispanics. I see one white person for every 50 Hispanics. I AM in little mexico. HAHA!!! Everyone I talk to is Hispanic which is nice cause that means we have tons of people to teach. I like the area so far. It is all apartment complexes = consusion to find my way around. LOL! They are all different and have weird gates and stuff to get around. Let alone hte parking-to find a visitors spot that is open so we dont get towed. ALSO-yes I do have a car but still have my bike of course. Our area is small enugh that we can do it on bike. And cause I love my bike so much I have convinced my comp to use it about 4 times a week!( yes I know I sound like a crazy person.....I my bike. :)
My new companion is.....Jennifer Taff. She is from Longview, Washington. She is super cute and hilarious! She went to BYU Idaho before the mission and is a art ed major. I was sad cause I felt like I wouldnt get another cool comp cause I LOVED my last one. BUT she is tight. If I could have picked anyone to serve with(out of my choices) she was the one I wanted. LOL!! THANK YOU HEAVENLY FATHER!!! HAHA!! I really am lucking out.
We got 2 baptismal dates on Friday! YEAH!! Raul has aleady been to church 3 times and has a date for August 1st. I really think he will be ready but he wants a for sure answer from Heavenly Father. He loves reading the Book of Mormon so if he continues to do that and pray with real intent I know he will be ready. We are teaching Word of Wisdom tomorrow---pray that it goes well.
Our other date is a woman named Flor. We OYMed her(talked to her on the street) and taught her the 1st lesson(Restoration) and I extened a baptismal date for Aug 15th and she said "of course....what do I need to do to prepare for my baptism?" Then she referrred back to her baptism like 5 other times in the lesson.....like "when I get baptized"....realize that we had just meet this woman 10 minutes before and now all the sudden she was getting baptized. Missionary life is crazy!!!! Welcome to a sneak peek.....
Not too much else has happened. The mosquitos are eating my face off. I have to buy more repelant today. One that has like 600% DEET.
OH!!! Here is the addres to my apartment:
5401 Rampart st #349
Houston, TX 77081
Just send LETTERS here....I dont know it well enough to know if it is reliable with packages. I get mail every Friday from the office so send packaegs there....the Sugar Land one. SO no biggie.
Yes I am sweating my face off. Yes it is HOT!!! It is actually hotter in Houston cause we dont have the breeze of the ocean like in Galveston. Lame. I do miss Galveston. Lluvia(one of my favorite members) and Sandy(my investigator) totally got me the cutiest going away gifts. I guess there are pics on my facebook that she tagged me in.....I'm sure the ones where she silly stringed me are cute(NOT!) LOL!!! I seriously LOVE them!! the rest of my goodbyes last week weren't too terrible. My favorite Rivera Family took us out to dinner. I miss it a lot but I really am plannning to come back and visist them all again.
Well.....I feel like this email is boring. Sorry I dont have any cool/funny stories. I will try harder next week. I dont have Hermana Birds emails anymore to make you all laugh. I love you!!!! Have a fabulous week!!
Love, Hermana Richards
Kicked off the Island :( (July 13, 2010 Email)
Trust in the Lord.
I have been repeating those words in my mind for the last 48 hours. I found out on Sunday night that I am gettting transferred cause my companion will be training a new missionary(she is scared to death). SO that mean tomorrow I will be going to a new are awith a new companion. When she got eh call I immediately started crying. President Saylin knows me well and asked if "this Wed is going to be another funeral service"(when I left Mocity I cried the entire transfer meeting...this one will probably be similar. LOL. He did say that where I am going and who I am going with will make me smile....so we will see.
I spent all day yesterday packing. Then last night we went to an AWESOME noche de hogar. We had 3 families in the branch there. We went to hitchcock(a small town 15 min away) to have it at one of the members house there. We had a lesson then played this game called "papa caliente" which is basically hot potato. One person claps and then we pass teh ball around. once the noise stops, teh person who has the ball land on them has to pick something out of the secret bag( the bag is full of funny items to wear)....SO MUCH fun!!! Of course the two macho men get the dresses and the mumu thing. LOL!!! I took pics and will send them next week. All 20 of us looked ridiculous by the time the game was over. But super fun!!!
Well......The Fuentes family(part member family that we are teaching) gave us a ride to the noche de hogar. I hadent told them I was gettting transferred cause I didnt want to spoil the FHE. Os as we were getting out of hte car I gave Maria(the mom) a hug and told her. She then got histerical and started bawling. she was hugging me and kept saying "porque??!!!!" In the car is her 6 year old daughter crying screaming and telling me that she doesnt want me to go. Javier the 15 year old son then gives me a hug(freaked me out cause im not supposed to hug boys) needless to say it was the most dramatic goodbye ever!!!! Seriously!!! I was crying the whole family was bawling. I told her I could come back if Jaime and Javier get baptized, I would just need to find a ride. She said she would drive to canada to get me back!! :) I love these people.
It is going to be a hard couple of days. I dont deal with change well. But we will see. I have about 8 more goodbyes like that I have to do today. I am not excited to say goodbye to Mary Beth or my other Fav people here. :(
Almost every morning Hermana Bird and I take a walk to the sea wall and watch the sun rise. It is amazing. I am going to miss Galveston really bad. This is paradise island!!! the members are amazing!! I am so sad. Hermana Bird and I are best friends----we are the same person! But we are going to be friends after FOR SURE!!! she is so amazing nad I am so excited for her to train. We are only getting a new baby Hermana about every 3 transfers so I might never have to train and I am TOTALLY ok with that cause it is really hard.
I actually think I will miss my bike too. I have my own bike and I will take it with me till the end of my mission then leave it. I might use the bike randomly but nothing like everyday here in Galveston. :(
Part of Hermana Birds email:
"""""""""""Hermana Richards is the acting mother of the van (driving the vehicle, conducting a symphany while pushing the buttons to open and close the automatic sliding doors, etc.)...I was the acting co-mother (providing the fresh fruits and veggies to the hungry kids in the back)...the family van is awesome!!
So, I must tell you about how the fit for survival sometimes overtakes companion responsibilities to protect each other...
...outside in the 110 degrees..no clouds...pure sun...two chairs...only one in the shade...so the question begins...who is going to have to face the entire lesson in the blazing hot sun?...the one who tans easy? or the one that burns like a lobster?...Hermana Richards neglecting her already pink companion, runs to be the first in the shady chair...so what do I do you ask??? I sweat, sweat, sweat....as the sweat drips off my face, and down my neck I keep my trusty handkerchief at my side...dobbing and whipping when needed..aka the entire time. All that I can see from the corner of my eye is Hermana Richards...smiling...laughing...and totally content in her shady bliss....fanning herself lightly with a For Strength of Youth Pamphlet...so don't worry I left the lesson with a huge BURN!!! Got to love it!""""""""""""""""""
I love her and am going to miss including her stuff in my email.
So dont send anything anymore to the Galveston address...send it to :::: 4627 Austin PKWY Sugar Land, TX 77479..........until next week when I email you. REMEMBER email is now on Monday. So send them before Monday morning. :) :)
Well, I love you all SO much!! I really cant mean it more. When serving other people you learn to love them. even when you have nothing in common wiht Hispanics. Please keep me in your prayers these next fewe days and I will update you all next week on everything. I am praying for you and miss you!!! LOVES!!!
Hermana Richards
I have been repeating those words in my mind for the last 48 hours. I found out on Sunday night that I am gettting transferred cause my companion will be training a new missionary(she is scared to death). SO that mean tomorrow I will be going to a new are awith a new companion. When she got eh call I immediately started crying. President Saylin knows me well and asked if "this Wed is going to be another funeral service"(when I left Mocity I cried the entire transfer meeting...this one will probably be similar. LOL. He did say that where I am going and who I am going with will make me smile....so we will see.
I spent all day yesterday packing. Then last night we went to an AWESOME noche de hogar. We had 3 families in the branch there. We went to hitchcock(a small town 15 min away) to have it at one of the members house there. We had a lesson then played this game called "papa caliente" which is basically hot potato. One person claps and then we pass teh ball around. once the noise stops, teh person who has the ball land on them has to pick something out of the secret bag( the bag is full of funny items to wear)....SO MUCH fun!!! Of course the two macho men get the dresses and the mumu thing. LOL!!! I took pics and will send them next week. All 20 of us looked ridiculous by the time the game was over. But super fun!!!
Well......The Fuentes family(part member family that we are teaching) gave us a ride to the noche de hogar. I hadent told them I was gettting transferred cause I didnt want to spoil the FHE. Os as we were getting out of hte car I gave Maria(the mom) a hug and told her. She then got histerical and started bawling. she was hugging me and kept saying "porque??!!!!" In the car is her 6 year old daughter crying screaming and telling me that she doesnt want me to go. Javier the 15 year old son then gives me a hug(freaked me out cause im not supposed to hug boys) needless to say it was the most dramatic goodbye ever!!!! Seriously!!! I was crying the whole family was bawling. I told her I could come back if Jaime and Javier get baptized, I would just need to find a ride. She said she would drive to canada to get me back!! :) I love these people.
It is going to be a hard couple of days. I dont deal with change well. But we will see. I have about 8 more goodbyes like that I have to do today. I am not excited to say goodbye to Mary Beth or my other Fav people here. :(
Almost every morning Hermana Bird and I take a walk to the sea wall and watch the sun rise. It is amazing. I am going to miss Galveston really bad. This is paradise island!!! the members are amazing!! I am so sad. Hermana Bird and I are best friends----we are the same person! But we are going to be friends after FOR SURE!!! she is so amazing nad I am so excited for her to train. We are only getting a new baby Hermana about every 3 transfers so I might never have to train and I am TOTALLY ok with that cause it is really hard.
I actually think I will miss my bike too. I have my own bike and I will take it with me till the end of my mission then leave it. I might use the bike randomly but nothing like everyday here in Galveston. :(
Part of Hermana Birds email:
"""""""""""Hermana Richards is the acting mother of the van (driving the vehicle, conducting a symphany while pushing the buttons to open and close the automatic sliding doors, etc.)...I was the acting co-mother (providing the fresh fruits and veggies to the hungry kids in the back)...the family van is awesome!!
So, I must tell you about how the fit for survival sometimes overtakes companion responsibilities to protect each other...
...outside in the 110 degrees..no clouds...pure sun...two chairs...only one in the shade...so the question begins...who is going to have to face the entire lesson in the blazing hot sun?...the one who tans easy? or the one that burns like a lobster?...Hermana Richards neglecting her already pink companion, runs to be the first in the shady chair...so what do I do you ask??? I sweat, sweat, sweat....as the sweat drips off my face, and down my neck I keep my trusty handkerchief at my side...dobbing and whipping when needed..aka the entire time. All that I can see from the corner of my eye is Hermana Richards...smiling...laughing...and totally content in her shady bliss....fanning herself lightly with a For Strength of Youth Pamphlet...so don't worry I left the lesson with a huge BURN!!! Got to love it!""""""""""""""""""
I love her and am going to miss including her stuff in my email.
So dont send anything anymore to the Galveston address...send it to :::: 4627 Austin PKWY Sugar Land, TX 77479..........until next week when I email you. REMEMBER email is now on Monday. So send them before Monday morning. :) :)
Well, I love you all SO much!! I really cant mean it more. When serving other people you learn to love them. even when you have nothing in common wiht Hispanics. Please keep me in your prayers these next fewe days and I will update you all next week on everything. I am praying for you and miss you!!! LOVES!!!
Hermana Richards
Rain Rain Go Away! (July 6, 2010 Email)
The computer is kicking me off early for some reason so I am just sending Hermana Birds email to you.....SORRY!!!! I am so sad!!
My week was good!! 4th of July fireworks rocked!! I have been soaking wet all weeek but its all good. We got huge effects from Hurricane Alex. So much rain!!!
Jess-thanks for the letter and jolly ranchers...LOVED IT
Dad---thanks for the gift card. I loved the pictures :)
Transfers are next week. I will let you all know next Tuesday if I am going....I think I am :( I will be crushed if I leave, seriously.
"""""""""Things are AMAZING here in Galveston. I cannot tell you how many things have started happening here! We have been teaching the husband (Jaime) and son (Miguel) of a less active member (Maria Fuentes) and now all of them are coming to church every week. Jaime will have to give up smoking and drinking and thus hasn't been too excited about the church and when he lost his job last week he is devoted to getting back into church things! Even though it's super sad, sometimes people need a little hardship to remember our Heavenly Father (Heleman 12). So now they are on the fast track to baptism...Miguel is a little more ready than Jaime but the gospel is really bringing them together....LOVE IT! We also have an amazing investigator Sandy who's best friend is an awesome member of the church and she is really progressing....just feels like she needs a stronger testimony...but we are on it! Well...the Lord is, haha.
We got DUMPED ON this week. Four days straight we had to come in and change because the rain water seaped through our rain coats...thank you hurricaine alex! But I feel like all the moisture is probably good for my skin...who knows...
Funny story::
So I(hermana bird) have gotten into the bad habit of drinking soda...I blame it on the hispanic culture...haha...but there is a woman (Maria) that we visit that collects cans and then trades them in for money...so really i'm just drinking soda for a good cause right? Well, the day soon came when Maria was going to trade in the cans so I was told to bring all my cans that I collected to our appointment...aka a HUGE white trash bag full to the brim! So I tie the huge bag to the back of my backpack and take off biking the 30 blocks to her appartment. The bag bangs against my bike and back the whole way making this tinkling sound...hermana is behind me laughing at me saying I look like a homeless person the entire way...passer-byers are staring and laughing...alltogether it was a huge scene...but don't you worry...the cans got to her all in one piece...and she was SUPER grateful....but it was so funny.....I feel like you have to be really secure in yourself to go around making a fool of yourself everyday...but all for a good cause!
So the 4th of July was AWESOME! We just went out talking to people who were getting ready for their barbaques or going to watch fireworks. Then when we came home around 9 we got to watch the fireworks out on the back porch. It was just sweet to just kinda watch them out across the swampy/lake thing in the back. It's not really a huge hispanic holiday...so no parties or anything but it was just kinda small and beautiful all in it's own special way. Just me and my compy(hermana Richards) ...
So that's Galveston! "Tansfers are next week...wierd..." says Hermana Richards who is faithfully sitting by my side....watching me so that I don't go look at my facebook...like everyone is doing around us...you would be surprised what people do on a LIBRARY, PUBLIC computer...wierd...some days I am just so thankful I am a missionary and stuck in my own little purity bubble."""""""""""""""""
LOVES!
Hermana Richards
My week was good!! 4th of July fireworks rocked!! I have been soaking wet all weeek but its all good. We got huge effects from Hurricane Alex. So much rain!!!
Jess-thanks for the letter and jolly ranchers...LOVED IT
Dad---thanks for the gift card. I loved the pictures :)
Transfers are next week. I will let you all know next Tuesday if I am going....I think I am :( I will be crushed if I leave, seriously.
"""""""""Things are AMAZING here in Galveston. I cannot tell you how many things have started happening here! We have been teaching the husband (Jaime) and son (Miguel) of a less active member (Maria Fuentes) and now all of them are coming to church every week. Jaime will have to give up smoking and drinking and thus hasn't been too excited about the church and when he lost his job last week he is devoted to getting back into church things! Even though it's super sad, sometimes people need a little hardship to remember our Heavenly Father (Heleman 12). So now they are on the fast track to baptism...Miguel is a little more ready than Jaime but the gospel is really bringing them together....LOVE IT! We also have an amazing investigator Sandy who's best friend is an awesome member of the church and she is really progressing....just feels like she needs a stronger testimony...but we are on it! Well...the Lord is, haha.
We got DUMPED ON this week. Four days straight we had to come in and change because the rain water seaped through our rain coats...thank you hurricaine alex! But I feel like all the moisture is probably good for my skin...who knows...
Funny story::
So I(hermana bird) have gotten into the bad habit of drinking soda...I blame it on the hispanic culture...haha...but there is a woman (Maria) that we visit that collects cans and then trades them in for money...so really i'm just drinking soda for a good cause right? Well, the day soon came when Maria was going to trade in the cans so I was told to bring all my cans that I collected to our appointment...aka a HUGE white trash bag full to the brim! So I tie the huge bag to the back of my backpack and take off biking the 30 blocks to her appartment. The bag bangs against my bike and back the whole way making this tinkling sound...hermana is behind me laughing at me saying I look like a homeless person the entire way...passer-byers are staring and laughing...alltogether it was a huge scene...but don't you worry...the cans got to her all in one piece...and she was SUPER grateful....but it was so funny.....I feel like you have to be really secure in yourself to go around making a fool of yourself everyday...but all for a good cause!
So the 4th of July was AWESOME! We just went out talking to people who were getting ready for their barbaques or going to watch fireworks. Then when we came home around 9 we got to watch the fireworks out on the back porch. It was just sweet to just kinda watch them out across the swampy/lake thing in the back. It's not really a huge hispanic holiday...so no parties or anything but it was just kinda small and beautiful all in it's own special way. Just me and my compy(hermana Richards) ...
So that's Galveston! "Tansfers are next week...wierd..." says Hermana Richards who is faithfully sitting by my side....watching me so that I don't go look at my facebook...like everyone is doing around us...you would be surprised what people do on a LIBRARY, PUBLIC computer...wierd...some days I am just so thankful I am a missionary and stuck in my own little purity bubble."""""""""""""""""
LOVES!
Hermana Richards
Happy 4th of July! (June 29, 2010 Email)
"Sacrifice brings forth the blessings of Heaven"
I dont know if I already did this quote but it is one of my favorites. One of my good friends here Ivan is leaving on his mission Monday and he always quotes this. As he bore testimony Sunday at church I was reminded of this and how we really can be blessed when we are willing to give of ourselves and serve. This is not my mission but it is the Lords. Sometimes I lose sight of that. Everything I have is given to me from Heavenly Father. I need to be willing to put more on the altar and serve Him at all costs. Because that is when I will have blessings poured down on me and that is when I will be refined into a more Christlike person.
Mary Beth got baptized!!! It was truly an amazing day. The spirit was so strong at her baptism. Everything for the most part ran smoothly. I sent some pics yesterday. I love her!!! Funny story though: When we were filling up the font the elders told us there is a small leak so fill it up FULL. So we did. We filled it up to the top. We get to the point to baptize her and we open the curtains to see that the water is only knee deep. :( So Bishop(the one baptizing her) gets in the water and baptizes her...except she didnt go under all the way....Oh no!! 3 trys later she gets it. Only after bascially laying down on the bottom of the font floor could we get her completely in. Oh my life?! but other than that everything worked out!
My 3 songs this week turned out good. Heavenly Father really blessed me even though I was super nervous!
After we left Zone Conference all 6 of us missionaries got in the family van and we all starving! Well it takes like 2 hours to get back to Galveston so we stopped for food at sonic. imagine this: Me front set taking order from everyone and telling the lady on the intercom....I felt like a mom. HAHA!!!! I love the family van.....and at times the elders do seem like little kids. ;)
Everyone at zone conference saw my brown hair and freaked out. Everyone loves it!!
I have no time left but have so much more to write....
I am planning the zone activity this next Monday. Its going to be outside water games 4th of july activity....including a watermelon eating contest, 3 legged race, and water kickball....Its going to be a blast!!!
EXCEPT::::: We might have a hurricane coming our way these next few days. WE have been advised to have our 72 hours kits ready and to keep the gas tank on full. DONT WORRY!! President will keep us safe. We might be evacuated for a few days. We will see. Watch the weather channel. Hurricane alex might be on its way!!
I love you!! Write me letters ;)))) hint hint
Love---Hermana Richards
I dont know if I already did this quote but it is one of my favorites. One of my good friends here Ivan is leaving on his mission Monday and he always quotes this. As he bore testimony Sunday at church I was reminded of this and how we really can be blessed when we are willing to give of ourselves and serve. This is not my mission but it is the Lords. Sometimes I lose sight of that. Everything I have is given to me from Heavenly Father. I need to be willing to put more on the altar and serve Him at all costs. Because that is when I will have blessings poured down on me and that is when I will be refined into a more Christlike person.
Mary Beth got baptized!!! It was truly an amazing day. The spirit was so strong at her baptism. Everything for the most part ran smoothly. I sent some pics yesterday. I love her!!! Funny story though: When we were filling up the font the elders told us there is a small leak so fill it up FULL. So we did. We filled it up to the top. We get to the point to baptize her and we open the curtains to see that the water is only knee deep. :( So Bishop(the one baptizing her) gets in the water and baptizes her...except she didnt go under all the way....Oh no!! 3 trys later she gets it. Only after bascially laying down on the bottom of the font floor could we get her completely in. Oh my life?! but other than that everything worked out!
My 3 songs this week turned out good. Heavenly Father really blessed me even though I was super nervous!
After we left Zone Conference all 6 of us missionaries got in the family van and we all starving! Well it takes like 2 hours to get back to Galveston so we stopped for food at sonic. imagine this: Me front set taking order from everyone and telling the lady on the intercom....I felt like a mom. HAHA!!!! I love the family van.....and at times the elders do seem like little kids. ;)
Everyone at zone conference saw my brown hair and freaked out. Everyone loves it!!
I have no time left but have so much more to write....
I am planning the zone activity this next Monday. Its going to be outside water games 4th of july activity....including a watermelon eating contest, 3 legged race, and water kickball....Its going to be a blast!!!
EXCEPT::::: We might have a hurricane coming our way these next few days. WE have been advised to have our 72 hours kits ready and to keep the gas tank on full. DONT WORRY!! President will keep us safe. We might be evacuated for a few days. We will see. Watch the weather channel. Hurricane alex might be on its way!!
I love you!! Write me letters ;)))) hint hint
Love---Hermana Richards
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