March 10, 2014

This week was a little strange, but it ended with great success.

We visited a lot of less- actives, including Erlinda, who claims she's catholic and hasn't been to church in years. We've visited her a few times, and we were ready to 'lay it down'. Not in a bad way, in a loving missionary way. We kindly explained to her about perservering and how important it is to endure to the end, or we will not inherit the celestial kingdom. We asked her if she knew the church was true. There was silence. 

"But I was born catholic, my whole family is catholic"

"Hermana, this is about you. If you don't know, you have to pray. It's the only way to know. 

"If God wants me to I will"

"God always wants you to pray, and he sent us to you, showing he wants you."

Then on sunday as we were walking down the hall, we saw her walking in the church building. We stood there in shock. After recovering we cheered to ourselves and high fived and ran over to greet her. Then we were blessed to see Tania and her family, that we've been visiting for a while walk in. Then we saw Silvia and her daughter, a lady who we visited and again invited to church. Then amazingly, our mamita Josehpina walked in with her husband and her grandson, whom haven't been to church in quite a few months. Overall we had the blessing to see 7 less- active families who we are working with come to church. It was a beautiful sunday. 

We're still teaching Frank, who is so ready to be bapitzed. After teaching the plan of salvation, I asked him if he believed in what we taught. He said yes. I challenged him to be baptized. He said he needs to learn more first. But the amazing thing was, he said that everything we teach comes from the Bible. First person I have heard to admit that. 

This weekend we saw miracles and changed hearts, and one of those was also mine, which was just as sweet. The spirit changes hearts, breaks down barriers, and helps us feel happy. Always chose the right to have the spirit with you. God wants you to feel his love. He loves you more than you can imagine.

Hermana Richardson

Hermana Palomino and I in the plaza in Iquique

March 3, 2014

I can't beleive it's March. Really, crazy how time flies.

Tuesday morning I arrived in Iquique at about 9ish. My companion picked me up from the TurBus station with another hermana who was waiting for her companion. Hermana Palomino is... I don't even know how to explain her. Just hillarious. She's from Argentina, and when people say that Argentine's have pride, they're not kidding. Seriously. But her country pride is just funny, so it's all good.

Our sector is a little flaide (like sketchy, gangstery), which is completely different from Los Pimientos, but it's way cool. I like the people here. They're friendly and fun. 

While trying to visit an investiagator who wasn't there, I contacted her nephew that answered the door. I told him that we had a message for him. He said that he was newly baptized in the Pentacostl church, which I said, well can we just teach you just a little. He was interested and said we could return.

So we came back the next day and talked with him and his mom. His name is Frank, and he's really interested in religion, and wants to feel closer to God. A different day we shared with him the Restoration and the video of Joseph Smith. The dogs kept barking and moving, but during the first vision, everything was still. He watched amazed. We told him that this is true, and we too can receive answers from God if we ask in faith. He said that we could come back and that he wanted to come to church with us :)

We also have a mamita for food here, so I'm being well fed everyday, which i'm not sure is such a good thing.

Just a small story to show the tender mercies of God,

Before coming to Iquique some Hermanas told me to visit a Hermana Yayi. They told me we had to visit her or she'd come visit us. She's an RM and loves the missionaries. We went to visit her and had an intersting time. She talks and talks and talks and paces around her house. she also has a handicapped son that runs around and claps and laughs and tried to steal my chapstick a number of times. It was hard to pay attention as she was talking so fast and her screensaver was a rotaion of temples. I was waiting for my temple to come up when Jans, her son stood in front so I couldn't see. I sulked to myself for a second, until he moved. It was the Provo, Utah temple. Next, it was the Palmyra, New York temple. I couldn't believe my luck, when next the Newport Beach, California temple. I knew in that moment that Heavenly Father loves me and was mindful of me. I decided that if he cared enough about me to let me see the temples I love, something so small and insignificant, that he loves hermana Yayi just as much. I turned my attention to her, and learned that she loves music and we had a great conversation about Handel's Messiah. 

God loves us and watches over us, even in the smallest ways. Don't forget to look for the small things. They're all from him. Have a lovely week!

Hermana Richardson

March 10, 2014

Thecity where I serve. We were going to climb the hill, and I got up to a point, and looked back to see the other hermanas still farther down and they waved me down. They were too tired. I'll climb it one day haha. When I don't have a companion with asthma. We went back to the pension and they all took naps, I wasn't tired at all ;) like my argentina jersey?

February 24, 2014

On Saturday we received cambio calls, and I'm leaving Copiapó! My new area is Zegers, Iquique. A beach city up north. I will be taking a 14 hour bus ride up there tonight.

Yesterday was an amazing but sad day. The Bishop had me give my testimony as a farewell to our ward. I told them how much I loved them, and how much God loved them. I also mentioned how one day I wanted to come back and see them all there with more. Later during church just about everyone told me I had to keep to that promise, and that they would wait for me and wanted to see me return. I am going to miss Los Pimientos so much.

I also forgot to mention that this week we went to Santiago! Hermana Miner had to get a mole removed, so we took a day tip to Santiago (and slept two nights on buses). The surgery was about 20 minutes, so the rest of the day we were able to visit the distribution center, eat a real dinner with the missionary couple there, and go to the temple. It was beautiful, and we had a great experience. I love serving in the temple, and I can't wait for when I return home and can go as much as I wish!

The week was a little uneventful due to our trip, but we still had great spiritual experiences and wonderful moments. Yocelin is on track to be baptized next week, and Pato and Felipe are still ready for the 8th. I'm sad I won't be able to be there with them for such an amazing time in their life, but I know Hermana Miner and her new compañera will take good care of them.

I have felt so much love here in Los Pimientos. Yesterday as I said farewell, I could feel the love that the members had for me. I know that that kind of love comes from our Heavenly Father. He loves each of us perfectly, and when we are kind and obedient, he gives us portions of his love for others. I love the feeling of a changed heart after praying and working for this kind of love. I can not wait to see my family from Copiapó again. I know I will be with them forever as well as my immediate family. It was sad to say goodbye, but through the atonement of Christ, it is not a lasting goodbye, it is only temporal. I will see them all again.

I love this gospel with all of my heart, and I love sharing it with the world! I love being a missionary!

Hermana Richardson

Me on a mountain (copiapó is in the fog) and Me with Karen, Elda, and Valeria. Karen's nickname is the Reference Queen. I love her so so much!

February 17, 2014

This week was really amazing. So hard, but so so good.

On monday night we had a noche de hogar with a family from our ward. We just started teaching two new investigators, Felipe, the best friend of Cristobal the one young man in our ward, and Julio (we call him Pato, which is duck in spanish) who is the brother of Cristobal's mom, Carol. We taught them about the Restoration. I have been trying my best to teach using the examples in Preach my Gospel. Missionary work is a little different down here in Chile, but I want to do my best to teach as the prophets and apostles have encouraged, because I know that is the Lord's way. 

We asked questions, checked for understanding, shared scriptures and bore testimony. They were so attentive and seemed to really accept everything that we taught. I had the opportunity to teach about Joseph Smith, which I always love, given my love for him and his story from all my summers in Palmyra. I explained his story, and had the amazing opportunity to recite the first vision.

 We were outside teaching at their table (we eat outside during the summer) and as I started to use the words of Joseph Smith, everything went still. Their was no wind, no noise, and no movement. Our member family, the investigators, Santiago, and Hermana Miner were all fixed on me. The spirit filled my soul, and filled the air around us, touching each person. Hermana Carol's eyes started to well with tears, and everyone else just looked intently at me, as I repeated the words of the prophet Joseph. I have never felt so strongly before in my life that Jospeh Smith truley saw God the Father and his son Jesus Christ. The Holy Ghost clearly tesified of this to me that night, and all who were present.

Needless to say, we have taught Felipe and Pato two more times this week, they came to stake conference, and they accepted to be baptized on the eigth of March. We are so excited for them. 

On Saturday night we had the adult session for stake conference. Every talk was on missionary work. Old and new converts spoke, as well as the stake mission leader (who is awesome!) and the stake presidency. We watched a video from CEM, a missionary trainging camp like youth conference that the youth in the Copiapò stake went to, and a mormon message about Tyler Haws, about practice, and when he left for his mission. Our missionary choir also sang. It was an amzing night, inspiring night, and we closed with Called to Serve. The congregation sang with us on the last verse, and the excitment and spirit of missionary work was so strong. There were smiles and tears and beaming faces. Simply amazing

Sunday morning was awesome too, as it was a broadcast from Salt Lake. Two elders from the seventy spoke and Elder Cook, from the quorum of the twelve apostles. I learned so much. 

The Lord knew my week would be rough, but he blessed me with so many opportunities to feel the spirit, to know that he loves me, that he is mindful of me, and that he is taking care of me. 

Much love,

Hermana Richardson

I also got to hike a mountain this morning, I will send pictures next week, as this computer does not have a place to upload. I miss hiking! I will most definitely go on the next backpacking trip with you dad :)

February 10, 2014

I have been on my mission for 5 months! Crazy how time flies. I feel like I just got to Chile.

Maty is still in Arica, Alberto gets back from the mine this week, and we have been having an amazing time teaching Yozlin. She already knows she is going to be baptized, we are just teaching all the lessons to make sure she's fully prepared.

Last night we taught her the ten commandments using hand signals to remember them all. By the end  everyone was doing the hand signals and reciting the commandments. It was a fun time.

There was a big catholic celebration this week for the Virgen de la Candelaria, so there was a gigantic Feria all week on the street next to our apartment. There were way more people out then usual, especially at night, with drums and traditional dancing going on right outside our window. It was great to get into the culture, but not so great that they went on until about 2 in the morning. However, there were tons of people, so we made tons of contacts. Success. I was also able to buy tons of delicious fair like foods being sold all along the street, like manjar filled churros,salchipapa ( french fries covered in onions and hot dogs), corn on a stick like in Nacho Libre, giant meaty shishkabobs, empanadas, jello, churasscas. Lots of great foods that I'm going to make all the time in the future :)

We have really felt led by the spirit lately. A lot of people we visited told us how they had been feeling down, and had thought of us, then almost immedietely we had showed up. I love that God knows the small needs of each individual person. I feel so blessed to be an insrtument that he can use for his purposes. It feels great recognizing when our path or a lesson had really been guided by the Spirit. God knows us each personally and will give us the things we need. However we do need to ask with faith as well :)

I was able to give my testimony of missionary work in church yesterday for the missionary work program, and i talked on the impact that members have on the people that we work with. I challenged them to go out of the comfort zone to love and invite others. Just simple things like a phone call, a note, cookies, a lunch, an invitation. Small things that can really help others feel loved. And thats what the gospel is all about, love! I hope you can all be able to feel the love this week, I know I will! My savior's love for me and the people in Los Pimientos :) I love missionary work!

Hermana Richardson

Salchihpapa, with a completo in the background

February 3, 2014

Another wonderful week ! Every week the work just gets better and sweeter. I was listing all the things I loved about Chile and most of them had to do with my friends that I've made here in my ward. These members are just awesome.

We had intercambios this week and I stayed in Los Pimientos. We stopped by less actives and references, which usually can mean a lot of walking, BUT we found a really receptive less active Flavia and three new investigators Viviana, Viviana, and Kristal! All three were interested and two wanted a Book of Mormon, which we promised to bring the next chance we got. However, all three were leaving for vacation within the next few days, so we couln't visit any of them, and have to wait for them to get back from Caldera, La Serena, and el Sur. 

We have been trying to focus on following the spirit more during our proselyting time and in our lessons, trying to really figure our who needs us, and then what their needs are. It's been really beautiful to see the hand of the Lord change our plans and give us better ones as we follow the subtle promptings. Many times we have just barely caught someone, or finally found a person based on certain time tables that would not have worked out had we been somewhere else or followed another route. The Lord really works bringing us to those who need us.

We had a ward activity on Friday on strengthening missionary work. And it wasn't even our activity. Santiago our powerhouse mission leader assistant planned it. He's a recent convert and is amazing. He fellowshipps like none have before, is always willing to go to lessons with us, and is always wants to help with everything in the ward. He loves everyone, and everyone really loves him. He's preparing for his mission, so we've been working a lot with him to get him ready to go. He also wants to learn English, so I've been teaching him a few things like, What's up dude?

So, as of now, all our investigators are on vacation, so we did a less active week, bringing treats and scriptures and love to our menos activos. We love so many of them, and when they give us food, we know they love us too :)

I have been studying the general conference talks from the last 2 years, and wow, there is so much that I missed! I am so glad I reveiwed and studied everything. President Monson said in one of his final testimonies that he hopes we will gain greater strength as we read these inspired talks in greater depth after they have been given. I have felt personally strengthened and enriched by reading them again and again. I challenge all of you to read as many conference magazines as you have time for, they are truley inspiring!  I hope you all have a wonderful week, look for the good things, and don't forget to give thanks to God.

Love,

Hermana Richardson