Soooooo .... Funny Story!!!!

Hello Everyone!!!

It sounds like this week was a good one!!!  Enjoy this one!  I laughed and laughed!!!

Hey Everyone!!

I went on my first exchange this last week and it was AMAZING!! I went to Pullman.... like 10 min down the road from Moscow... and worked with Sister Johnson there....who happened to be in one of my classes last semester at BYU!!! Weird RIGHT!?! Anyways we had an awesome time!!! We worked so well together... contacting was so easy because their school WSU was already in session so we got to do a lot of contacting while walking to the institute, and conversations were much smoother than stopping someone walking the other direction and explaining that we were missionaries...blah blah blah. We got to learn about different people and eventually they asked us what we were doing, then we were able to share the gospel! AWESOMENESSS!!!

And I thought the hills in Moscow were bad....I hadn't biked in Pullman yet.... they don't have hills....they have mountains! and it's not just mountains....these mountains have no flat parts on them WHAT SO EVER.... therefore, we were either biking up a mountain or biking down a mountain....I prefer the down part....but then once you get to the bottom....the uphill part starts and it really is just an endless, merciless cycle. SO.... I got quite the workout, but we were able to teach a lesson to a girl we contacted and had a good conversation about acting and being acted upon.... There's a really good part in a talk entitled " The Atonement and the Journey of Mortality" by Elder Bednar if you want to look that up.... however she was the later...and it was kind of frustrating, but we got her to pray to ask God if she needed to start reading the Book of Mormon again... so I guess we could consider that a success :) 

We were also able to teach this super cute girl while still on exchanges....she had sent Sister Johnson a text the previous night saying that she didn't want to take the discussions anymore. We asked if we could meet with her to talk about why that's how she felt. When she came we had a good lesson with the Spirit present and she still decided to drop us... I literally felt my heart break, because SHE KNEW! She did! You could see it in her eyes, but as she left I had a thought come into my head. Maybe she has to experience life without it again to realize what she is missing... as i voiced this thought to Sister Johnson and the member we had with us, the member, Hannah said, " I thought the SAME THING!" The church is true people! :) haha the spirit is felt everyday and it's amazing to experience it :)

Funny story: 

Anyone who knows me knows I HATE bugs.... especially bees and hornets.... well.....while cooking dinner the room started to get a bit smokey so Sister Hardy and Sister Richardson decided to open the two doors they have in their living room to get a cross breeze going so the fire alarm doesn't go off. It was so nice outside they decided to leave them open for a little while. While Sister Hardy excused herself to use the restroom, Sister Richardson was doing dishes. As she turned around to put some things away she was greeted by a hornet coming in her direction.... She whispered, "Sister Hardy" as the threat advanced on her, her whisper turned into a scream, "SISTER HARDY!!!!!!" As she ran away from this terrifying threat Sister Hardy came out of the bathroom to see Sister Richardson with a kitchen towel ready to defend herself against the terrible monster. As it landed on the screen of the window (which was also open) Sister Richardson was getting ready to pounce and kill this threat to her life then Sister Hardy in the most calm manner possible went over and shut the window, locking the hornet inside the window and said, "There, now we just wait for it to die!" Satisfied she started walking away. However, now seeing the hornet trapped and trying to get out, hopelessly facing its doom, she felt sorry for the creature and was determined to save it...... I know.... don't ask questions. With a bit of coaxing on Sister Richardson's side they opened the window to try and help this hornet who minutes ago was trying to take her life, when out of nowhere a second hornet appeared!!! Still determined to save these two hornets. Sister Richardson and Sister Hardy got two cups and with amazing skill managed to trap both of them against the screen. Sliding a piece of paper between the screen and cup they had successfully captured the two hornets. They looked at each other, "Now what" As they were trying to decide what to do the chances of escape from these two hornets was imminent! They couldn't be held forever! "How do we open the door!?!" As Sister Richardson maneuvered her elbow into the grasp of the door handle she was able to push down and open the door. As the two sisters set the cups with the hornets on the floor. They decided counting down would be the best option. They readied themselves... " 1....2.......3!" Knocking down both cups they dove into their apartment screaming and slamming the door behind them. They had SURVIVED! curious to see if they were successful in freeing their new friends they looked out the peephole. They didn't see anything. Sister Richardson bravely opened the door a crack. As the door got wider she stuck her head out and looked out in both directions.....The coast was clear. They had done it! 

moral of the story EVERY CREATURE IS GODS CREATURE! If it's not a threat don't kill it! ....except spiders...always kill spiders! :) 

Hope everyone is having a fantastic week! 

Spread the gospel!!! The world needs to hear it! 

Love,

Sister Kayla Richardson

Ok!  

Now here is the e-mail that we received today!!!

Sounds like she's loving the miracles!!!!

Happy Reading!!!!


Monday, August 19, 2013

Hey there everyone! 

I have seen so many miracles this week! One of them being on myself! ...Let me explain... I'm a rugby player.... I like to work out! So one morning I decided to start a workout program with our RS president in our singles ward. the program was the one that they had the stars of the new superman movie do (Thank you Brian)... Well this workout involved a lot of squats, plyometrics, and cardio..... ya.... I noticed that throughout the day it became a little more difficult to bike and walk....I knew I was in for a treat the next day. 

When I woke up....I had a difficult time getting out of bed. My legs were so tight I had to walk with them straight for a little while for fear of snapping my quads in two... so here I am waddling down the hall like a penguin to the bathroom...lets just say sitting on the toilet was not a pleasant experience that morning! I went out to "work out" and decided stretching was the better alternative. I rolled my legs out with my 5 lb hand weight and was almost crying in the process. I knew I was in for it today. We had a full day of biking and tracting ahead of us and I had no idea how I was going to do it. However, my pride kicked in and said...."Suck it up, You're a Richardson... You play rugby... You can do this!" So I did... We biked and tracted for 5 hours total that day... 4 of which were in the beginning of the day and with little to no success anywhere!! I tried not to complain, but my mind was far from the work as I was trying to concentrate on not crying in front of my companion or our mini-missionary that we had with us...

Eventually we made it back to our apartment for dinner... Begrudgingly I went and took a nap instead of eating... when I woke up, I felt so beat up I did the best I could to kneel and I prayed. I asked the Lord to take the pain away long enough for me to do His work and for my mood to be lifted. When people speak of miracles working within them....this is LITERALLY what i felt. My legs kind of tingled and although the pain hadn't completely subsided I knew He was numbing them to a degree where I could do His work and His will! After the pain was gone...my mood did become lighter....funny how that works hahaha anyways.. we did our last hour of tracting we had for the day and we had so much more success than we had the previous 4 hours! 

Many people believe that the Atonement is only used for sins....but I know without a doubt that it can be used for EVERYTHING and ANYTHING! even the leg pain of a stubborn missionary! I thank my father in heaven for sending me on a mission everyday and I just want to do His will! He is my rock and stay! 

 

Keep the work moving along!

Love 

Sister Richardson

"This is Truly God's Country!"

Hey everyone!!!

Here is Kayla's e-mail from last week!  We didn't get it until Wednesday, (which was a really crazy day for me, by the way)!!  Kayla was able to attend the temple, on Wednesday, and that changed her p-day!!!  (Good to know for future reference!)

Happy Reading!!!


Wed. August 14, 2013

HELLO ONE AND ALL!!!

I am sooooo grateful to be on my mission!! The Lord has blessed me in so many ways! I have an excellent companion, I have a beautiful apartment, and the field is white and ready to harvest! (no really, there are wheat fields EVERYWHERE up here!) 

This truly is God's country! *sigh* It is so gorgeous up here! and I love being on campus to talk to people that are my own age! 

We do a lot of campus contacting and tracting, but a lot of service as well! We have helped numerous amounts of people move out and in just because there's a big law school and medical school up here and their schools start earlier. However, we are starting to get a lot of the sorority girls coming in, so maybe we can convert a whole sorority!! That would be fantastic! Keep that in your prayers. ;)

We had what was called a mini-missionary last week! She was soooooo amazing!!!! It's this program that the stakes up here in our mission have where teenage girls (in high school) come out and are a missionary for a week! They do everything we do! It's so cool! Her name was Sister Blake....and funny story...She knows Ali Smith!! One of my rugby girls! But she doesn't just KNOW her....oh no....THEY'RE BEST FRIENDS!!!! How AWESOME is that!!!!???!!!! I love how the Lord put people in our lives just to say... "hey I'm thinkin about ya!" She went home on sunday, but we are getting another one today! We are so excited!

We have had so many miracles and tender mercies this week! We've been looking really hard for people to teach and have prayed to know where to go, and the last couple days we have seen the Lord soften the hearts of his children so many times! We were contacting on sunday and literally had 3 batismal invitations on the street and 7 mini lessons as well as 9 church tour invites!! That is SO many compared to what we've been getting, and the miracle, is just that the numbers have been increasing throughout this week! We are so excited to see what the Lord has in store for us!

One thing that has been hard for me to do is to initiate a conversation about the gospel with people...I mean I can talk to someone about life for hours, but the gospel is something that is so near to my heart that it's hard for me when people reject it, so I've made goals to increase talking to people about the gospel, and I have already seen the impact not only change my life but those around me as well!! 

I know this is the fully restored gospel on the earth today! I know there is a living prophet named Thomas S. Monson who is the Lords mouthpiece to direct His church on the Earth today. I know the 12 apostles are righteous men that are all called of God to bear witness of Christs divinity and His sacrifice through the Atonement and resurrection. I know my Father in Heaven knows my name, and knows how I'm feeling at all times! I know He loves me and wants me to be happy! I know that even though I may go through trials, that He STILL loves me! I know that we are all brothers and sisters and God loves everyone...from that beggar on the street to the CEO of that major corporation and He wants EVERYONE to live with Him again. I know families can be eternal! I'm so grateful for my Heavenly Father for calling me and for qualifying me to be His servant in this day and age where people just don't seem to understand the love and blessing that come from our loving Heavenly father!! I know He's real. I love this gospel and I know with no doubts in my heart that I am here for a reason!! Time is running out for those around you who do not know the truth! Help them understand and see that God loves EVERYONE! 

I love you all and I'm grateful for all of your support! You're in my prayers! 

LOVE, 

Sister Kayla Richardson

Happy Week #2!!!!

Hey Everyone!

Sorry this is late being posted, but I have been out of town for a few days and didn't have access to a computer!!!

Here is Sister Richardson's very first e-mail from Moscow, Idaho!!!

I hope you all enjoy reading about her adventures as much as I do!!!



Hey Everyone!!!! 

I LOVE MISSIONARY WORK!!!!! 

That's about it....hahaha *sigh* but really the Lord's work is indescribable.

I am currently serving in the 1st and 2nd wards of the Moscow Idaho University Stake! I am in a singles ward as well as a young married ward! The members here are amazing and so so soooo strong! We are on the campus of University of Idaho and I couldn't have asked for a better place to start my mission! I love working with people my age because I can relate to them better! However, because school hasn't started yet, it's kind of dead.... haha we've tracted and contacted, but most of the buildings are empty and campus is pretty bare so I'm extremely excited for when school starts up again! 

Oh!! It's also a Full biking area! This was an answer to a prayer, because I had definitely put some weight on while at the MTC haha and believe you me...it is anything but flat here....If i go a day biking round here and not get out of breath from riding up a very very VERY steep hill, than it was a day wasted! 

Ok, so I tell my companion this every day, but I live in a computer screen wallpaper! Moscow (pronounced Moss-co), Idaho is such a gorgeous place and not at all like Rexburg!! I LOVE IT!! There are 6 missionaries in my district! Sister Hardy, Me, Sister Workman, Sister Lin, Elder De Oliveria, and Elder Rawson! We all get along really really well! 

I'm so happy to be out here doing the lords work! I know this is His work because I feel Him with me EVERY step of the way...He is walking beside us constantly and it's an amazing reminder of how much He loves us and cares about ALL of His children!

Sorry this is so short, but I am short on time! The Church is true people!! 

Love,

Sister Richardson