Turkey Day is a wonderful day November 30, 2015

My life is complete Except I took this before I got the package with the better chili of Gold Star goodness :)

Well I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving. There is much to be grateful for in our lives.

And I did get the box of wonderful goodies. It was very much appreciated. I was really craving some Gold Star for real. And I actually really wanted some of those freeze dried apples. Miracle! I actually found Skyline here at the King Soopers, which is just like Kroger. But Gold Star is better! They also have Graeters ice cream. Ballin'

Monday we had zone p-day and we played some good ol' volleyball. It was really fun. I did get a little

Zone P-day

competitive though... I definitely freaked some of the Elders out. Oh well. I can't really help it when I play volleyball. It just happens. But it was great.

Tuesday we did some awesome service of raking leaves. It was actually really fun. Nice day even though there was snow on the ground. We got to see Ray, Chris, and Stella. They are awesome. Ray thinks my companion is still Sister Dennis... awkward. 

Wednesday we had some good lessons with some less actives. We also had district meeting. That was really awesome. Some really good training about making the scriptures personal and getting the most out of planning. Good stuff.

Thursday we were not allowed to go anywhere unless invited so we just hung out and played some games cause no one invited us over. But we did have 2 dinners so that was great. And they were both with less active part member families. So it was really good. Nothing like your cooking mom but still good. I really miss your mashed potatoes. No one makes them like you do. But it was also snowing like crazy. I love snow. Which is funny cause I hated it when I was shoveling it at 2 in the morning. I'm honestly surprised I don't get some serious PTSD from seeing snow fall. But it was beautiful.

Friday we did this service at the Hmong New Year. It was really cool to see the culture and what they did to celebrate. I have never seen so many Asians before in my life though... oh boy. That's about all for that day

Saturday we talked to this man that was super religious. But he was really awesome. He told me things that I really needed to hear that day so it was a little tender mercy. 

Sunday we had dinner with such a wonderful family. Their kids were crazy. But she was so wonderfully sweet and made my day. Tender mercy again. 

But that was about it for my week! Happy Birthday to Keith and baby Kevin. I can't believe he is 2 already. Time flies. Any way I love you and hope you have a wonderful week!

Sister Tammy Swafford is just the best!

Love, Sister Richards

And be grateful too November 23, 2015

Well this week was pretty awesome! We found 3 new investigators and had 16 lessons! Woot woot! God works mighty miracles.

Tuesday it snowed and it made me so happy!! I got some boots too and they work pretty great! I also got to shovel snow for service and I loved it. Snow just makes me so happy!! I sadly didn't really get any pictures this week so maybe next week!

Wednesday we got to go to the Temple! It was great! I could not help but be so extremely happy in the Celestial room. Temples are just great!! And we taught four lessons and found our three investigators. Miracles from going to the Temple are real!

Thursday we went on exchanges and I was in Spanish again. That was fun. We also had an amazing zone meeting. I learned so much. Elder Lee used the pit from the Dark Knight Rises as an analogy and it was awesome. Dinner was actually really good. I don't know what it was but that's OK. We had a great lesson. I could feel the Spirit even though I didn't really speak the language. It's all good

Nothing too exciting happened the rest of the week. Sunday was Stake Conference and that was really good. Lots of good words of wisdom.

We are seeing lots of miracles and good things happening in this area!!

Sorry its so short, I had no time today!! Hopefully next week will be better!!!

I love you and miss you so much!!

Hope all is well! Hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving. Remember the Lord always for what He has done for you. Alma 34:38: 38 That ye contend no more against the Holy Ghost, but that ye receive it, and take upon you the name of Christ; that ye humble yourselves even to the dust, and worship God, in whatsoever place ye may be in, in spirit and in truth; and that ye live in thanksgiving daily, for the many mercies and blessings which he doth bestow upon you. I am so grateful for my family and the love and support I feel from them! God is real and He is mindful of you all!!

Much love,

Sister Richards

Winter is coming!! November 16, 2015

Well hello,

This week was pretty good!

Tuesday we got to see Ashley, our investigator that is on baptism date. She is so awesome! But she is not feeling ready for the 28th to be baptized so hopefully some time in December. Then we had the best service ever!! We got to rake leaves for 3 straight hours. I was having so much fun!! It also made me feel like I was working grounds again. It was great. It also made me miss home a little bit cause of all the trees and leaves we would rake in the fall. So much fun. I got some pretty nice blisters from that. But I wasn't as sore as my companion. We had so much fun playing in the leaves. I felt like a kid again. Also, it dawned on me that I am a Missionary on a mission. Weird, I know. I have only been out for almost four months. Well that is weird. Anyway, we finally got to see Ray for a little bit. He is just not doing too well. Also he has been diagnosed with dementia so that is sad. I really think he is going soon. After dinner we helped this kid with his math homework. That made me want to cringe, which actually makes me sad cause I used to be really good at math in high school. We also shared this video called Hope of God's Light. You should watch it if you haven't seen it yet. It is one of my favorites. 

Wednesday we had interviews with the President. I just love President and Sister Mendenhall. They are just the best. I am so blessed to have them. Sister Mendenhall is just awesome. Also she had a bowl full of tootsie rolls, my favorite. I wanted to take the whole thing. Then we had District Meeting. That was good. We talked about unity and it was much needed for me. It was great. Then we helped a lady move, that was fun. Also it snowed today. That was fun. I definitely am going to have to get some boots. :)

Sister Mitchell fell out of the trash trying to smash the leaves down and the dog attacked her

Thursday we did some more service at Barr Lake and I again felt like I was working grounds again. It was great until they had us wash windows. We made the windows look worse than when we started cleaning them. The stuff they gave us to wash with just did not work. It was a struggle. But its all good. For dinner we had french dipped sandwiches. Never heard of it. But they were pretty good. It was just like dipping a roast beast sandwich in soy sauce or something. It was good. But then we had the coolest experience. We had a lesson with a someone that wants to come back to the church. So that morning, Sister Mitchell for some reason felt that we should talk about humility and it was perfect cause that is what I have been studying humility lately. I was like okay that sounds great. So we read Mosiah 4:11-12:

 11 And again I say unto you as I have said before, that as ye have come to the knowledge of the glory of God, or if ye have known of his goodness and have tasted of his love, and have received a remission of your sins, which causeth such exceedingly great joy in your souls, even so I would that ye should remember, and always retain in remembrance, the greatness of God, and your own nothingness, and his goodness and long-suffering towards you, unworthy creatures, and humble yourselves even in the depths of humility, calling on the name of the Lord daily, and standing steadfastly in the faith of that which is to come, which was spoken by the mouth of the angel.

 12 And behold, I say unto you that if ye do this ye shall always rejoice, and be filled with the love of God, and always retain a remission of your sins; and ye shall grow in the knowledge of the glory of him that created you, or in the knowledge of that which is just and true.

(love those verses by the way) and we asked him what he got out of reading it and he was like I have actually been thinking a lot about humility and so it was just a perfect scripture for him. I was floored when he said humility. There were so many other things that he could have said from those two verses cause they are just loaded with goodness. But it was just really cool to see that God does know his children and that we can be lead by the Spirit to what they need to hear. And then that kind of humbled me cause then I was thinking about how important the Spirit truly is in this work. It was just a really cool experience and a great testimony builder for me.  

Friday we finally got to teach Ashley lesson one about the restoration and it was awesome. After I was testifying about how she can find out for herself she just said, that made me excited to learn more. It was so cool. She is seriously so awesome. 

Saturday was just a lot of finding and we actually taught 3 lessons so it was great

Sunday was all about the spirit. It was awesome!! 

That was basically my week. I will send some pictures from our adventure of the leaves. 

I love you all and I miss you tons!!

May God bless you in all you do! He is aware of you and is in the details of our lives.

Much love,

Sister Richards

 

I hate football November 9, 2015

Well, I don't really have a lot of time. But I loved those stories of Kevin and Dad. That was awesome! Happy Birthday Kevin! Guess what? You're old!!! Haha

Well we had an amazing lesson on Monday with a less-active and she is just so awesome. I can feel Heavenly Father's love for her so much every time we see her. 

Tuesday we went on exchanges and Hermana Tchan came to my area. I had seriously so much fun with her. We taught four lessons that day, got a referral, and wait for it... I committed our investigator, Ashley, to be baptized! I was so excited for her but I was so nervous to ask her for some reason. But she is so awesome. I just hope that she continues to learn and grow in this gospel. She is so awesome. Also, service was great fun with her. We were turning dirt. Yay. But we just laughed and laughed. Oh good times. 

We finally got to see Gabriel and he is reading the Book of Mormon and really likes it. So awesome!! He is so open to learn, it's great. 

Saturday we had breakfast with the Stake President and oh boy did he rip us a new one. He is just really stressing the importance of members in our work and wants us to make them feel uncomfortable. Awko-taco. But it was awesome. Members really are so crucial to our work as missionaries. 

Sunday my companion and I had to give talks in sacrament about missionary work. I don't even know what I said cause we both only had like 5 mins to talk. But I am just glad that it is over with. I don't know why I can teach people about the gospel but when it comes to giving a talk on missionary work, boy I was freaking out. But it was great. Oh and the reason why I say that I hate football is because every time there is a game on, people are so "busy" and just plain rude. Knocking on doors during a game is no bueno.

Anyway that is all I have time for today!!

Much love. Make a beautiful gingerbread house for me okay?

Love, 

Sister Richards

Happy Halloween November 2, 2015

Halloween night with Sister Mitchell

Well not going to lie, this was a rough week. Hardly anyone wanted to talk to us!! Rude.

But we did find a new investigator. It was kind of funny too. We were about to go back to our car after knocking for a straight hour and I see this guy smoking on his porch so I go talk to him. I asked if he would like to hear a message about Jesus Christ and he said yes! I was shocked and said, "really?". Yeah, I'm smooth. But it was awesome. He seems like he is really interested. We haven't been able to see him again but we will find him! That was Tuesday.

Thursday was a good day. We didn't find too many people but we had fun so it was good. We did talk to this lady that was so sweet. Her husband died a year ago and I totally made her cry on accident. I felt terrible. But we shared a message about Jesus Christ so hopefully all is well. 

My companion was sick all day Friday so that was fun. Not really cause we didn't get to see anyone but hopefully she gets better. We try our best when we can. 

Saturday we finally got to see Ray again. It has been a week since I have seen him last. But he is doing better. I think his time is coming but all is well. For Halloween we had to be in by 6 so we just ate lots of popcorn and cookies and watched the Restoration. Yeah that's about it. We watched some other church videos but that was the extent of our night. Great fun!! It was nice to relax for a little bit. 

Sorry my letter is so short today. I am not functioning very well right now. But this Gospel is good and I am loving being here and learning so much!!

Love, Sister Richards

Zone P-day    Happy Halloween