May 6, 2013

HOWDY!!! So this is most likely the last time I will be emailing you from USA soil.  STRANGE! I fly out Monday morning. We leave at 7:30 from the MTC and leave for Chicago @11am!! I am SO excited!! Such a great experience is ahead of me!

SO. Lets start this letter off on a good note. A VERY good note. I get to go to the temple on my P-days as you probably already know. So this morning we chose to do a session since this was the last opportunity for about 17 months. It was an amazing session.  So powerful.  About midway through my heart began to swell. I could feel waves and waves of love in my heart. I truly felt the personal love of Christ in my heart this morning. I can't describe it. I couldn't even try to begin to. Tears began two flow down my cheeks. The veil was so thin. I felt as if Christ's arms were wrapped around me.  It was as He was personally testifying to me, showing me His love. I have never been happier in my life. I love being a missionary. I already know I will bawl like a baby when it is time for me to remove my tag and be released. When I went into the Celestial Room I was taken back by how thin the veil felt. Tears started coming down harder as I felt the presence of my ancestors, as if they were gathering to say goodbye to me.  After all I will not return to the temple for over a year.  I had to sit down before I fell to the ground. I could feel Granddad at my right and Alice Greenwood at my left—encouraging me, lifting me up, and loving me. I can't even explain the full feelings of what went on in the temple today. I will treasure it in my heart now and into the eternities. The veil was so thin—SO thin. I went into the temple with a STRONG love and testimony of this Gospel but I came out of the temple truly CONVERTED.  A true disciple of Christ. This experience has truly changed my life for the better. Moral of the story: GET TO THE TEMPLE. I will miss it every week I am gone.

         I am going to miss every single one of the Elders in my District! Although there have been some challenges, when it comes down to it...we love each other. I wouldn't change my District for anything! I have learned so much from them.

I AM SO EXCITED TO GET TO FRANCE! Is it weird that I can't wait to go and have an “epic fail” in trying to talk to someone in France?!?  Yet I am so excited to go speak my horrible French and spread the gospel. I love it with all my heart. I love the French people already.  I love the Language. And I love my Savior. If God wants me to go talk to someone...I will GO! I know that I have been called and set apart to do this. The language of the Spirit is far more important than the French language. So BRING ON THE EPIC FAILURES!! I am ready!

GUESS WHAT I DID!!??!?!?! I sang in Church hahaha! Ya...I did a musical number! Are you guys just soooooo surprised right now?!?! I, Sister Richardson, sang in front of a crowd! WOW! It’s amazing the things you will do to share your love for the gospel. An Elder and I sang a duet, "Lead Kindly Light." I sang alto the first verse, soprano the second, and then we sang the third verse in unison and in French. Let’s just say...a ton of prayers were said that morning! hahaha.  It was a good experience! I realized how much I love singing! But I know Mom, Dad and TJ already knew that...considering I would sing Michael Buble and Tangled getting ready every morning.  You know you miss it ;)

So Soeur Mod and I had a sweet experience together. We prayed to know what to teach one of our investigators and we felt really good about talking about the Holy Ghost (Saint Esprit).  We then I thought...we should pray to see if that is right. So we prayed with that specific topic in mind and it just felt SO right. Our lesson plan flowed sooooo well.  We found perfect scriptures…it was amazing.  We taught her...and we got her to pray AND come to testimony meeting....SCORE! I’m not going to lie, it took a TON of convincing but it was awesome. I got a little teary during the lesson...but I was able to get it under control so I was able to clearly express myself. It was an AWESOME lesson.

We watch movies on Sunday nights and we choose Legacy. It was a sad day.  But on the up side, we all looked at each other after—most of us with tears in our eye—and said how grateful we were that we KNOW we are where we are supposed to be. And then things weren't so sad anymore.

I am really going to miss all my roomies. We get along sooooo well. I am especially going to miss my Comp, Soeur Mod.  I may cry myself asleep for the first week in France.  She is the best.  Soeur Mod, oh my goodness I am really going to miss her. We are secretly hoping we get to be comps again in our last transfer! We can dream right?!?!?!

         Thanks for the scotch-a-roos...my district devours them!! We love it! I have already begun packing (hahahahha) it’s a process for me :) I am so Happy to hear that Matt F. got transferred.  That is SO EXCITING!!! I know how precious sleep is so I know he will enjoy those extra few hours!! Heavenly Father is so loving.

Love you all! Keep the Faith!

#TJisthebestkid #loveyouall #peacenandblessings

Until next time,

Soeur Richardson