Hey there Everyone!!!
Here are the last few e-mails that we have received from Kayla!!! She seems to be doing really well, and she did say that they have permission to shop at Walmart now!! Yay!!! She was excited!! Anyway, as she gets ready to hit her half way mark, we are so grateful for all of you and the support that you give to her!!! We love you!! Thanks!!!
Happy Reading!!!
Look!!!
She highlighted her hair!!!
So cute!!!
March 10, 2014 E-Mail!!
Hey Everyone!!!
I hope everyone is just doing grand!
This week has been interesting!!! I was in a trio for the first couple weeks of the mission with Sister Kennach (Samoan) and Sister Strong (wannabe Samoan)... then we found out Thursday morning that an emergency transfer was going to happen, but he (our mission president) didn't know who was leaving yet.. so he said he would tell us Thursday night! By happenstance, because EVERYTHING happens in the Lords timing, we didn't find out until Friday night who was getting transferred... It happened to be Sister Kennach, and she had to leave Saturday morning...so we were all very sad!
I love, LOVE!!!! Charity is a wonderful gift!!! I've been studying it lately and have found that in order to gain it you have to pray... A LOT, and I'm constantly working towards it; but I've seen a miraculous change within myself and how I treat people! A lot of the time I think, "Wow! I should have done this earlier!!" So I challenge all of you to try this! Read Moroni 7:48 and take the challenge to pray with all energy of heart for "His love"! I promise that you will see a difference in how you interact with people around you! :)
I love you all!
Love,
Sister Richardson
March 17, 2014
Hello Everyone!!!
Today is my 8 MONTH MARK! Happy St. Patrick's Day to me! My mission is flying by and I'm not sure I'm ok with that!!! 8 months ago today I was dropped off at the Provo, Utah Missionary Training Center! Little did I know that this decision was going to be the biggest blessing I could ever ask for during this phase of my life! I have learned so much about myself and my Savior Jesus Christ! Every day is a new day to start over, to be better!
A lot of the people we are working with are going through hard times, they don't understand why they're going through these trials. And me, being my missionary self, thinks to myself, "These people have so much potential! God loves them so much!" And that's what I need to keep in mind when I'm struggling. We are given trials to strengthen our spiritual muscles! Those muscles are muscles like: faith, humility, charity, patience... the later being the hardest for me! As we strenghten these muscles our spiritual eye sight gets better and we are able to gain a new perspective. An eternal perspective!
I am so grateful for the wonderful things I've learned since I've been out, and if I've learned this much in the last 8 months, imagine what I get to learn in the next 10!
I love this gospel, I love this work. God lives, Christ lives, and they love you! Never forget that!
Love,
Sister Richardson
March 24, there was no letter!!!! : /
Here is her current zone!
March 31, 2014
Hey!
OK.. for all you men out there that weren't able to watch the women's general meeting... I highly encourage you to do so! The women's conference was amazing! God works miracles... seriously!! We had a former investigator text us on friday telling us that she had just been diagnosed with breast cancer... so we invited her to the women's broadcast, and had our relief society president sit with her! (our RS president has had colon cancer) They talked for a little while after it was over and she asked to be invited to other things like that as well! :) God answers prayers!! It's wonderful!
I also was given the privilege of speaking in church yesterday and that was so awesome!! My topic was "Lord, I Believe" by Elder Holland!!!!! I LOVE ELDER HOLLAND!!!! He's one of my favorite apostles! I know that I shouldn't have a favorite apostle...but he is... hahaha
This week has been a good one but tough on numbers... luckily it's not the numbers that determine the success of the missionary, it's the commitment!
I am so excited for General Conference!! It's awesome!! I love hearing the words of the prophets as they speak with the spirit so we can learn from the Lord! If you haven't invited someone to come listen to a prophets voice, then I highly recommend doing so. When you do I can promise you that you will feel the spirit testify to you that there is a prophet on the earth today and he is the Lords mouthpiece! That's all for right now! busy busy!!
I love missionary life!
Love,
Sister Richardson
April 7, 2014
Hey Everyone!!!!!
Wasn't General Conference AMAZING!?! All of the talks were filled with so much inspiration and revelation! If you were not able to watch the sessions I encourage you to look them up and watch them! These are men and women of God, called of God to call all of us to repentance and to warn us of the dangers that plague us in this life!
My favorite talks in particular are Elder Holland, Elder Ballard, and President Monson. Listen and study their talks. Apply their teachings! Not just in these tree talks but all of them will give you guidance on what you need to do to keep yourself on the path that God has for you!
Keep the faith brothers and sisters! I love you all!
Love,
Sister Richardson
And finally .... today's letter!!!!
April 14, 2014
Hey Everyone!!
This past week has gone by like a tornado...but a good tornado... not like a destructive one where people are running and screaming... Well... I guess people still run and scream from us...but it's been a good week! :)
Transfers were this last week and my companion Sister Strong was moved up to Ione, Washington...which is pretty much in the middle of nowhere... like 10 miles south of the Canadian border...so she's almost foreign haha My new companion is Sister Metcalf! She and I were in the MTC together! We weren't in the same classroom, but we were across the hall from each other! She is an incredible missionary and I learn so much from her EVERY DAY! She's 5'11" with flamin' red hair! She played volleyball for SUU! She's such a spiritual giant and I'm so grateful for her example!
This last week has been SO good with the Hastening of the Work! We are having so many new people say that they are interested in learning more about the gospel and the happiness it brings!
Seriously!!! The gospel is so incredible! As we follow the teachings of our Savior Jesus Christ we are keeping covenants that we've made with our Father in Heaven and allowing Him the opportunity to bless us! I have seen so many blessings and tender mercies this last week! My heart is full and I'm so grateful to my Heavenly Father for the blessings He's given me!
Thanks for all the support from all those that I love that are out there! Keep the Faith and Stay strong. Most of all... DO WORK!... the Lord's work!
Love,
Sister Richardson