"In the depth of winter, I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer." -Albert Camus
I came across this quote....now I don't remember from what. I think it is from a talk. I was reading and studying so many things this last week. One of them being the talk by Elder Wirthlin called "The Abundant Life". Such an amazing talk. I think that often we are so caught up in the future and what is to come that we don't enjoy the moment and what we have going for us right now. I definitely do not wish away this time right now I have in my life, for I know that I will really miss it. Even the moments when I m contacting people in the freezing weather and people are hating on me. It is all about perspective. Enjoy life and enjoy it now. Create a masterpiece of your life!
I was also studying a talk by Neal A. Maxwell....it blew my mind. I have read it three times and I am still trying to capture it all. It is called "Consecrate thy performance" It is just exactly what I am trying to do to change. Not leaving any portion of myself but giving it all to the Lord. Being swallowed up in the will of the Father and not what the world or myself thinks is what will bring me joy. How could I not give of myself to the Lord? Because it is when I lose life for the Lord that I really find it.
This week went well. I cannot believe how fast time is going. Our zone had a really fun zone activity last p-day. Basically a bunch of relay races. Whose team won, you ask? YEAH!! We totally dominated. I was really fun. Its funny how little activities are so exciting in the missionary life. LOL!
We found this really cool new family. I am really excited. They have 3 kids and seem really ready and receptive to the gospel. We are visiting them today and extending a baptismal date. I pray they accept it.
Last time we went to Julia's house my hands weer freezing because I didn't have gloves. She kept talking about how cold it is outside and how I need to keep myself warm to not get sick. So she totally went out and bought us gloves and gave them to another Hermana that we were having our dinner appointment that night. I love Julia. She included a cute note telling me how much she loves me and how she will be forever grateful for the gift I have brought into her life, the gospel. I didn't do anything seriously. She was the one ready and prepared by Heavenly Father. The people here would seriously give you anything if they knew you needed it. Very humble.
We were walking to an appt and this young teenager turns and looks at my companion and I and gives us a dirty look. Hermana Ruplinger says, " wow, I don't think she likes us very much" I said "no....she isn't looking at us. " Then the girl turns and yells "curse ya'll mormons!!!!" I couldn't help but laugh! She was looking at us. Whelp, welcome to missionary work. I think I have become desensitized to weird things like that. LOL
Work goes forth and I am receiving many blessings! Many I do not deserve.
I love you!!
Hermana Richards
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Kaden Tyler= mi amor!!!
I am officially obsessed with my baby nephew! HAHA!!! I think it's sad that Amanda is sick all the time though. But I LOVE the name that they chose for him. YAY!!
We got to go on and explored mormon.org last week and we were looking at some of the profiles. Maygen--LOVED your profile. You look beautiful in your pic. Everyone else needs to make a profile!! Our mission President is asking us missionaries to make one as well. Not sure when, but soon. You all can go on and stalk me ;)
Last week we gave Juan a copy of The Testaments because he loves watching movies. We came back on Tuesday and he had watched it 3 times! Jenny, his wife(girlfriend really), said "he wont tell you because he is embarrassed but he cried every time at the end when Jesus came." You have to know Juan, he is this big Hispanic man that works in construction. He barely prays because it may show too much feeling. It is really cool to see how much they have progressed. Pray that they can make the decision to get married and then baptized. Tong we are bringing the hammer down on Word of Wisdom!
It has gotten SO cold here. I forgot how cold it can really get here. I now wear tights and leggings under my skirts to stay warm.
Julia, my recent convert, went to the temple to do baptisms for the dead on Friday and loved it! How great that she could go to the temple and feel of the great spirit there within one week of her baptism. She is awesome.
I was thinking/talking to Hermana Ruplinger yesterday and it amazes me how different my life is now in comparison to a year and a half ago. Basically everything has changed. But the cool thing is that I feel like I have found so much more of myself by removing myself from all the worldly influences. Things that used to define who I was before do not even have a place in my life. And I am better! Its just a weird feeling.
My favorite way to contact people is when I can start it with football. HAHA!! This man the other day was walking across the street in full Steelers gear! I could not NOT talk to him! He then proceeded to tell me a play by play of the game Saturday night. HAHA!!
I love receiving mail and emails but the problem is that it costs(what is that meaning in english?.....it is questa is spanish.....um....it takes me a lot...i dont know. My English is so messed up) me a lot to write. I have NO desire to write letters or emails anymore. I am so sorry. I really just don't want to. LOL! Sorry if I have been a slacker on letters and my emails are lame.
Have a fantabulous week! Good luck with starting school everyone! love you
Sarah
We got to go on and explored mormon.org last week and we were looking at some of the profiles. Maygen--LOVED your profile. You look beautiful in your pic. Everyone else needs to make a profile!! Our mission President is asking us missionaries to make one as well. Not sure when, but soon. You all can go on and stalk me ;)
Last week we gave Juan a copy of The Testaments because he loves watching movies. We came back on Tuesday and he had watched it 3 times! Jenny, his wife(girlfriend really), said "he wont tell you because he is embarrassed but he cried every time at the end when Jesus came." You have to know Juan, he is this big Hispanic man that works in construction. He barely prays because it may show too much feeling. It is really cool to see how much they have progressed. Pray that they can make the decision to get married and then baptized. Tong we are bringing the hammer down on Word of Wisdom!
It has gotten SO cold here. I forgot how cold it can really get here. I now wear tights and leggings under my skirts to stay warm.
Julia, my recent convert, went to the temple to do baptisms for the dead on Friday and loved it! How great that she could go to the temple and feel of the great spirit there within one week of her baptism. She is awesome.
I was thinking/talking to Hermana Ruplinger yesterday and it amazes me how different my life is now in comparison to a year and a half ago. Basically everything has changed. But the cool thing is that I feel like I have found so much more of myself by removing myself from all the worldly influences. Things that used to define who I was before do not even have a place in my life. And I am better! Its just a weird feeling.
My favorite way to contact people is when I can start it with football. HAHA!! This man the other day was walking across the street in full Steelers gear! I could not NOT talk to him! He then proceeded to tell me a play by play of the game Saturday night. HAHA!!
I love receiving mail and emails but the problem is that it costs(what is that meaning in english?.....it is questa is spanish.....um....it takes me a lot...i dont know. My English is so messed up) me a lot to write. I have NO desire to write letters or emails anymore. I am so sorry. I really just don't want to. LOL! Sorry if I have been a slacker on letters and my emails are lame.
Have a fantabulous week! Good luck with starting school everyone! love you
Sarah
Thank goodness for soup and crackers :)
I was reading this amazing talk by Elder Holland and one of my favorite quotes is this: "Beware the temptation to retreat from a good thing. If it was right when you prayed about it and trusted in it, it is right now." I think sometimes we can doubt ourselves and the decisions we have made. I believe firmly that the Lord gives us guidance but then expects us to go and do. Don't doubt only believe. I know that He has a plan for each of us. Don't doubt that you were supposed to move or go to a certain school, at first I doubted if I was really cut out to be a missionary. I shouldn't have doubted that witness I received. If it was right then, it is right now. Dont doubt cause it gets tough.
Remember last week when my companion was super sick and throwing up?? Whelp.....my greatest dream came true. I was super sick Saturday and yesterday with the same thing. I literally thought I was going to die. Death probably would have been more enjoyable. HAHA!! The zone leaders in my district came over to give me a blessing and brought a member with them. I officially received my first blessing in Spanish. It was actually a really cool experience. I understood everything that was said and the spirit was strong. Later Sat. afternoon I thought that we should probably go to the store to get me some sprite and soup, ya know sick person stuff. But the thought of prying myself off the bathroom floor made me want to hurt myself. I prayed silently that the Lord would provide a way for me to get the stuff I needed. 2 minutes later there was a knock on the door and the Elders had come back with tons of groceries for me. They bought tons! I almost started crying. It was a tender mercy from Heavenly Father. Super nice of them.
We had an investigator fireside last night and my recent convert Dulce was asked to speak. She did AMAZING!!!! She got there and told me that on the car ride she was looking through her Book of Mormon and found this scripture and she felt the spirit tell her to share it. She asked me to read it and see if it was good. She then told me it was Moroni 10:3-5. I kinda laughed silently to myself and said "yes, that would be perfect". She was nervous cause because she said " she still is isn't used to feeling and recognizing the spirit". I am obsessed with her. Her husband, Jorge, is doing great! He finally after a miracle(story for another email) got work off and was able to come to church. He is really excited to get baptized. If all goes well and as planned he will be baptized Feb 4th. I feel really blessed to have taught Dulce and her family. She is basically my best friend in the mission. Just a different connection. I love her a lot. And her little girls too! I gave them the children's songs on Cd and I guess they play "I hope they call me on a mission" over and over again. Lupita yesterday told me she wants to be my companion. HAHA!!! I'm down with that! Too bad she is 4 years old. LOL!!
I am doing good. Hermana Ruplinger is doing awesome! It is super cold today and I think because my immune system was down for a few days I picked up a sore throat. Lovely. Life goes on...
OK!!!! Shout out to AMANDA!!!! YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am obsessed with the thought of having a baby nephew :)
LOVES!!
Hermana Richards
Remember last week when my companion was super sick and throwing up?? Whelp.....my greatest dream came true. I was super sick Saturday and yesterday with the same thing. I literally thought I was going to die. Death probably would have been more enjoyable. HAHA!! The zone leaders in my district came over to give me a blessing and brought a member with them. I officially received my first blessing in Spanish. It was actually a really cool experience. I understood everything that was said and the spirit was strong. Later Sat. afternoon I thought that we should probably go to the store to get me some sprite and soup, ya know sick person stuff. But the thought of prying myself off the bathroom floor made me want to hurt myself. I prayed silently that the Lord would provide a way for me to get the stuff I needed. 2 minutes later there was a knock on the door and the Elders had come back with tons of groceries for me. They bought tons! I almost started crying. It was a tender mercy from Heavenly Father. Super nice of them.
We had an investigator fireside last night and my recent convert Dulce was asked to speak. She did AMAZING!!!! She got there and told me that on the car ride she was looking through her Book of Mormon and found this scripture and she felt the spirit tell her to share it. She asked me to read it and see if it was good. She then told me it was Moroni 10:3-5. I kinda laughed silently to myself and said "yes, that would be perfect". She was nervous cause because she said " she still is isn't used to feeling and recognizing the spirit". I am obsessed with her. Her husband, Jorge, is doing great! He finally after a miracle(story for another email) got work off and was able to come to church. He is really excited to get baptized. If all goes well and as planned he will be baptized Feb 4th. I feel really blessed to have taught Dulce and her family. She is basically my best friend in the mission. Just a different connection. I love her a lot. And her little girls too! I gave them the children's songs on Cd and I guess they play "I hope they call me on a mission" over and over again. Lupita yesterday told me she wants to be my companion. HAHA!!! I'm down with that! Too bad she is 4 years old. LOL!!
I am doing good. Hermana Ruplinger is doing awesome! It is super cold today and I think because my immune system was down for a few days I picked up a sore throat. Lovely. Life goes on...
OK!!!! Shout out to AMANDA!!!! YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am obsessed with the thought of having a baby nephew :)
LOVES!!
Hermana Richards
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
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