Another one for the books August 15, 2016

Well folks, this week was a rough one. I log that away. But that's the life sometimes. And I have decided that missionary work is really rough in the summer.

Anyway, we had zone pday (preparation day) on Monday and that was bomb diggity. We played a bunch of minute to win it games and I totally won the one with catching marshmallows in a cup on my head. It was pretty great! I was pretty proud of myself. But it was really fun. We also played some good old volleyball. Oh how I have missed that game. 

Tuesday was... kind of hard for me. But not in a bad way. We just lost a good missionary in the mission that day. It is really weird. But we had some good fun doing service at the Task Force. I just love organizing. It makes me happy. But the rest of the day was just a lot of finding... We did run into this LA (less active member) that doesn't think that he is a member and didn't even know what the Church was... So that was interesting but he invited us back, so that's awesome!

Wednesday we did more service and that is always good. I have to tell you a story about Smores (the horse) though. He farted on me!! So rude. I was just brushing him down and I was getting close to his bum and he just lifted his tale and let one rip right in my face. I mean really? But we had dinner with the cutest family ever. They are just my favorite. Except I have too many favorites. But the best part of the day was when we got to teach the Laurels class about missionary work. It was so much fun. It just got me thinking about how much I have learned on my mission so far and how great the work really is. And it made me want to be a youth again. Those were simpler times. And so much fun.

Thursday we had a pretty bomb zone meeting. It really got me thinking about the blessings we miss out on by not being obedient. And that is crazy. I also had to give a training and that went terribly. My brain was just not working. But the rest of the trainings were really good. The last one was just that we need to give it our all! Be all in. It was awesome! Good meeting.

Friday was so awesome! We talked to so many people and we actually tried to apply what we learned in zone meeting and it was awesome. We were getting real creative with our approaches. You really have to though. If you do the same thing every time, your gonna get the same results. We even taught two lessons that day. They didn't become new investigators but it was good to teach. It's been pretty dry here lately. But I guess its the drought before the storm right?

Saturday was a very long day with a whole lot of nothing but rejection. But we had Stake Conference and

We are missionaries :)
​

it was so amazing. The Spirit was so strong there and we even had Benji come. He loved it. Our Mission President spoke and basically told all those that were in the meeting that aren't members to think more about baptism. And Benji talked to them at the end and it was way cool. Benji has come a long way. Still has a way to go but hopefully prayers will be answered and he will stop thinking and do it. So it was a really good meeting. Just a lot about missionary work and how we are to be like the Shepherd. 

Sunday was a lot about the Temples and how important they are. And we taught a couple of active members. I love those members. The Nelsen's are just the coolest. They love to do missionary work and they just invite and talk to everyone! And then the Ogden's/Grieves, they have a special place in my heart. We just go and read scriptures with them but it always leads to uplifting conversation. It's great.

So, sorry this is not the greatest email ever but nothing really is going on right now. I'm hoping this week gets a little better at least. But let me just tell you though that being a missionary is great. So much fun. Being an instrument in the hands of the Lord is my glory and my joy is in those small moments when you see someone being helped by the Gospel. This really is a great work!
I hope you have a great week! Good luck with the calling mom. You got this! 

Much love,

Sister Richards

We have some good fun

 I wasn't feeling good and my companion thought this was a good idea.... I think not...

This little girl made this for us. Its us with her. She is so cute.

God is good! August 8, 2016

What a week it has been. But first let me just tell you those pictures are bomb. That sounded like a freaking awesome party. I want to go. Can we do it again when I come home?? Sounds super fun. And Owen is so presh! Love it!

Back to the week...

Monday we had sisters pday (preparation day) and it was pretty awesome. We went to our members home that has a theater in their basement and watched Legacy. That movie is good let me tell you. I was crying like a little baby. But then we played some great games like Russian twister and human knot. Good times. It's a good thing we all like each other right? So that was awesome.

Tuesday we were on exchanges and I was with Sister Tracy again. Good times. We had lots of fun together. But the day was pretty terrible. So that's all I'm going to say about that. Oh, we got a waffle maker from June, the lady we helped, and we make waffles all the time now and it's awesome! I love waffles.

Wednesday was awesome! Mainly because we got to go to the Temple. And I am sorry, I am a poo poo head cause I forgot the names... again. I was really upset with myself. But hopefully in November, I won't forget... again. Sorry. But I had a really cool experience in the Temple. We didn't even make it to the Endowment session. I was in the chapel and God spoke to me--through the scriptures, of course, but it was like he was right there. I was just praying to feel something and get answers to my prayers and I opened randomly to Doctrine and Covenants 6:15 [Behold, thou knowest that thou hast inquired of me and I did enlighten thy mind; and now I tell thee these things that thou mayest know that thou hast been enlightened by the Spirit of truth;] and I was just overcome with God's love and the knowledge that God knows me. It was really just what I needed. I just love that section though. I read the rest in the Celestial room and it just hit me again. God spoke to me. So that was awesome! Not a lot happened that day but the Temple made it all worth it. 

Thursday was pretty awesome too. We had district meeting and that was so good. It was Elder Bird's last district meeting and he gave an amazing training on finding joy in the work. There is already joy in this Gospel and in serving the Lord, we shouldn't be bringing worldly joy into the work. It kind of changed my life. So since it was his last district meeting, we made him a candy gram. I also made a no bake bird head cookie. The best part was his reaction though. He was really grateful that we did something for him. It was sad at the same time though. After that meeting we were all so pumped and just felt the love. So we went to work and talked to these two guys and it was really cool. They listened. They didn't want to continue learning but I feel like the Spirit was there and we did our job of inviting them so. But they were so nice. Then we found a new investigator. He is not very serious and is actually moving in a couple of days so... But then we had the most powerful lesson with Benji we have ever had. I don't know if I have told you about him but he likes to push my buttons. And he wont pray about the Book of Mormon so that is super frustrating. But we were in a member's home this time so he was on his good behavior. And we talked about the importance of prayer. It was so cool. The Spirit was there and we were calm and he really listened. AND he committed himself to read and pray before we did. So cool. And he said the prayer at the end and it was the best prayer we have heard from him yet. It was way cool. He was actually serious. It was great. So we are going to try and work on him hard for the next couple of weeks to get him to find his answers and gain that testimony he needs to be baptized. Hopefully, if it be God's will, he will soon.

I am going to skip to Saturday. We were tracting our lives away and it was hot, hot, hot. But we taught these two kids about the Plan of Salvation and they became new investigators too. Again, not super solid but who knows, only God. But the cool part was actually when we met John Gibbs. It was a very interesting meeting. He was very bipolar. First he was nice, and then he was like, "girls, get to reality", and then he was crying. What? But let me tell you, God is real and the Spirit works wonders. He didn't become a new investigator or anything but it was still a really awesome experience. The Spirit was so strong when we were talking to him. His wife just got diagnosed with breast cancer and he was really struggling to know that God is there for him and that he cares. And I made a silent promise to God that I would tell everyone when I felt God's love for them and boy did he need to know that. So moral of the story is that God cares, He knows us and He loves us all personally and individually. God is good. We also went to June's church that day. That was very eye opening. Very interesting. Kind of strange but still fun. I do love Christian rock music so that was good. But I learned a lot. 

Sunday is always a good day. Gotta love 6 hours of Church! But we always see Brother Ogden and Sister Grieves, his daughter, on Sundays and that is always a delight. We are going into Revelation and that is very eye opening... when I can understand what its talking about. But we love going over there.

So I learned a lot this week and I love my Savior. Christ is so amazing and I love being able to share him with others. 

I hope you have a great week! Remember Christ and know God loves you!

Much love, 

Sister Richards

Exchanges

Sister Wilcox at the Temple.  I just love her!

Yes, a prairie dog:)

Bird Cookie

What fer? There's only three little ones? August 1, 2016

This is June:)

OK, my companion and I have been quoting Seven Brides for Seven Brothers so much lately and it just
makes me smile. Love that movie!

Anyway this week was a pretty good one. Kind of slow still but we are getting there. 

Tuesday we met this really cool lady that just proved to me that God will put people in our path. She was super open to listening and when she asked what was different and we told her, she was like, OK that's different. That was pretty cool. She totally just was open to everything and it was great! 

 

Wednesday we found a new investigator. He got invited to the Temple open house and so we are doing a little Temple prep thing with him and that is pretty awesome! He is super cool and super open to everything and wants to always feel God's love. Temple is the perfect place for that. 

 

Thursday I had to give a training on receiving referrals. That was actually really good. I learned a lot preparing for it if no one else did. But then we did some service for this crazy funny lady. She is quite the hoot. I will tell more later about her. We had a lesson with Shirley the super sweet old lady. She was so confused and that was so sad but she is still willing to listen

and learn. So that's awesome! 

Friday we did lots of service for June, the crazy lady. It was really fun because the Elders came to help and she was just all over them. So funny. 

 

And then Saturday was a lot of helping her again. That took forever. 

Sorry this is so short and lame. I am short and lame on time and my brain can't function. 

I guess all you need to know is that we did some work and had fun doing it. 

Much love,

Sister Richards

Ps I did get the cards and now that I think about it, I think I remember getting some in May too... oops

Also what is this new Harry Potter book that I keep hearing about?

 

 

 

 

She likes to hold my bad handle for some reason... I don't understand

 

Party July 25, 2016

So I totally forgot to tell you about something that happened on Monday. Sister Larson told our dinner that it was my year mark so we had a party. She made Cafe Rio. Waz up! Best day ever. It was so fun. And I just love the Updikes. They are the best. I just loved it.  :)

I got a cake! They sang "happy one year mark"

Nailed it! :)

Oh I forgot something else in my email. President told us that our companion is still sick in the mtc. She is having a lot of anxiety I think. So she will be delayed another 2 weeks. We are super sad cause President doesn't think that she will make it out. So bummer. But thanks for praying for her. :)

Satan is a babe.....apparently July 25, 2016

So my lovely companion is convinced that Satan is a babe. And it kind of makes sense because you know how they talk about in the scriptures that Christ will not have any form of comeliness as to not desire him? So she thinks that he is very desirable and that is why he is such a turd and so good at getting into peoples hearts. She is funny. We have great talks about Satan. Mainly just yelling at him because he is so dumb.

Anyway this week was a pretty good one. Tuesday we got a new investigator. Her name is Shirley and she is as old as can be and so cute. We had a really good lesson with her about the Plan of Salvation. She was really open to it and it left her thinking. She had never heard some of it before. So that was cool.

 

Wednesday was bittersweet. We did some good service and then had interviews with President and Sister Mendenhall. That was really good. Sister Mendenhall was talking about marriage with me. I was like, hold the phone! I still have 6 months and probably a lot longer after that before marriage is going to enter my mind. Geez! But it was good to talk to them. And it did get me thinking about goals and whatnot. Then we did some more service for one of our investigators, Susan. She is a Buddhist and very interesting. She likes to feed us and she even gave us water bottles. They are freaky fresh. So that was good. She is super sweet! So kind. Then we had a very sad but powerful lesson. We had to pass Sydney off to the Parker ward Sisters. We found out that she is not actually in our boundaries. I don't remember if I actually told you about her but she is so awesome. She is golden but doesn't want to be. She has been to every church you could think of and this was the only one she likes. She takes notes during our lessons and is just so sweet. Oh and she is 15. So adorable. But it was so sad because we had to pass her off. But it was still a pretty powerful lesson. I could just feel so much love for her. She will get there some day. And I better be invited. Just sayin...

 

Thursday we had a pretty good District meeting. We talked about different ways of finding and helping our investigators with their Spiritual conversion. It was really good. Then we had a very frustrating lesson with Benji. He is just ridiculous. He refuses to pray about the Book of Mormon and we just don't understand why! So dumb. So we are going to try one more time and then have to cut him off for real. I don't even want to say anything else about that day. It was pretty terrible.

 

Friday I hit my year mark. And I had quite the breakthrough personally. I knew that it would be quite the turning point of a day, seeing as I now only have 6 months left to kick my own butt into gear and preach the Gospel. It makes me sad to think there is an end. I never thought this day would come and now I don't understand how it came so fast. What is life? But I have a changed attitude and am working on positive thoughts. But we had dinner with the Bennions and that was awesome. We had breakfast for dinner and I have come to realize that I love when people make me breakfast. Probably because dad would make it a lot for us when I was younger. I miss that. Thanks dad. :) But then they showed us their theater room and holy crap, it is the bomb. I want a theater room when I grow up. So, yeah, that was cool. And we had another interesting experience. We got to teach a lesson to a random lady and her daughter. It was super Spiritual and when we asked them to commit to something they straight up said no. I was shocked. That hasn't really ever happened to me. At least not for a long time. How can you deny the Spirit you have felt!? That darn agency. But it was a great experience. Maybe one day their hearts will be soft enough.

 

Saturday we had a great mini Zone meeting where we got trained on how to use the Temple approach. It got me so excited. Oh and in case you didn't know, Fort Collins Temple open house is Aug 19- Sep 10. So that is exciting. So we have just been inviting everyone we see to go to the Temple. It's been great.

Sunday we had a good day. There were a lot of good lessons. And we got to visit with Brother Ogden. He is active but his wife is not and they like to expound upon the scriptures. We did Revelation 1 last night. Did I understand any of it? Not in the slightest. But I also felt like I learned a lot... so that was good.

 

So not a ton happened this week but we laughed a lot more than we have in the past couple of weeks and that just makes everything better. So it was great. I hope you have a wonderful week! Keep smiling! And #behappy!! 

Much love,

Sister Richards

 

Thanks Eric....

She didn't want to take a picture with me.

 

Remember, Christ is the driver July 18,2016

Free Slurpee Monday!!!:)

So I don't really have a lot of time, sorry. But I will tell you that this was a struggle bus of a week. But that's why you need to remember that Christ is the driver.

Anyway, Tuesday we received some pretty sad news. Our companion that was supposed to come out on Wednesday is sick, so she couldn't come to us. We were so bummed! So we have been praying for her a lot this past week. Well, that is actually a funny story. We found out that our companion was supposed to be Sister Casalino. She was a visa waiter going to Italy. So we thought that was who we were supposed to pray for. Turns out that President did a little switch and Sister Casalino is actually here with someone else and our sick companion is actually Sister Jammet. Since we were going to be in a trio, it was just better to switch it. So now we are praying for Sister Jammet! We hope that she makes it to us soon! So if you would pray for her too that would be great! It's kind of a confusing story but... there it is. 

It was weird to not actually transfer this transfer. But I do love Sister Larson and we are having a grand old time! I am trying to be positive so I don't have a lot to talk about. It was just one of those weeks. We got told we were wrong by a lot of people and that was so fun. Not really, I hated it. But I have been learning a lot. 

We had a pretty good District meeting this week. We talked about being bold which is something I need to work on. But it was great!

That is sadly all the time I have. Sorry. I promise I will do better!

I am still loving the work and loving the experiences I am going through. 

I love you! Hope you have a great week!

Sister Richards

Ps I am super jelly of you going to a Reds game and being so close!

We found the best toy ever!!

Just Keep Swimming!! July 11, 2016

First of all I must say congrats mom on the new calling! You are going to rock it! I will pray for you! ;)

And 2nd I am super jelly that Beth is in Ireland.... without me.... again. Lame! But that's cool.

So today we were supposed to find out about transfers but there is no news... I am freaking out! Although I do know some things. So Thursday night we got a call while I was getting ready in the bathroom so Sister Larson just answered it. I come out of the bathroom and she falls to the floor crying. I was like, what the heck just happened?!! She got a call to train. I knew it. I have this curse of getting a new companion every transfer and most of my companions get a call to train or be a leader. So she was super upset because we both wanted to stay together. So we went to the trainers meeting on Friday and it was a really good meeting. After, President came up to me and said, "you are looking really happy". I was like, "well I was happy until you took my companion away from me to train!" And then he just gave me a look and I was very suspicious. But then he proceeded to tell me that we are not leaving each other, but that we are going to be in a trio and training a new missionary. I got super excited. So I looked over to my companion who was talking to Sister Mendendall and was being told the same thing. Her reaction was crazy funny. She freaked out. So we knew about transfers but we just want to make sure it's staying that way. So now we are trying to figure out how we are going to be in a trio and train and do all the other things we need to do, while trying to fit another person in our tiny apartment! Its going to be quite the adventure. But we are excited. It's going to be awesome!

 

Anyway, I am just going to tell you of the wonderful things that happened this week.

Sydney

We had an amazing lesson with Sydney this week. It was seriously so Spiritual. We were just talking about the Gospel of Jesus Christ and I was just getting so excited about the Gospel. I just felt the Spirit and was just so happy about faith and being able to repent. I am grateful for being baptized and the gift of the Holy Ghost is an amazing gift! I was almost jumping for joy. Sydney is so awesome too. She is progressing so well. She even took notes during our lesson. Sad news though... We are not allowed to teach her anymore so we have to pass her off. I am so sad!! I really think she will get baptized one day! Hopefully I will still be here for that. Gosh, I just love this Gospel. It is so simple and wonderful.

 

We also had a really good zone meeting this week. It was quite amazing. We talked about what we are willing to pay to have the best mission experience possible. It just really made me think. I have been thinking a lot about going to the Missionary Training Center and when I first came out to the field. I just had that fire and I am getting a glimpse of that fire back. I know this is where I am supposed to be. We also talked about small victories. And that is something I really need to do better. Notice the small things that are going well. Notice Gods hand in the details, because He is in the details of our lives. So that was a good meeting to really refocus and recommit.

 

I already talked about the trainers meeting. I got to see lots of friends too. It was really cool to be in that meeting with all the other trainers and I just felt so much power. Here were humble missionaries that aren't Sister Training Leaders or Zone Leaders or District Leaders. These were just missionaries that were going about a great work! I felt at home with them. All these leaders freak me out. Don't get me wrong, they are awesome, just a little scary sometimes. hehe.

 

We also got to teach Angela. She is a really sweet lady that is open to learning. She even taught her husband what we taught her! Ballin! So that was cool.

 

Saturday we got to go to a baptism in Aurora. Sister Larson's investigator from there was getting baptized and we were singing a song for him. It was such a cool experience. Watching him get baptized really just strengthened my testimony that baptism is real and important and true. I love this Gospel. And there were a ton of other missionaries there with their investigators and I just felt that humble power again. It was really cool. They were so kind and so wonderful. It was a great experience. Unfortunately the song probably wasn't that great because I have this head cold thing going on right now. But it was still awesome!

 

The work is moving along! This is an amazing work and I love being a part of it. I hope that you all have a wonderful week and keep the faith. You can do all things through Christ! Make Him your center!

 

Love you!!

Sister Richards