130+ Attend a Musical Soirée!

September 16, 2013

Well, well, well, another transfer bites the dust. Not much has happened this week besides a girl’s night, transfer calls, our Soirée Musicale, slumber party, eight rendez-vous, ten member experiences, and salvation! So ya...I guess a pretty dull week, right? NOT! This week has been crazy...CRAZY. But it’s been crazy in a good way.  In fact, it’s really crazy good! Last week was pretty rough on me...sigh. I decided to rely on the Priesthood power (thanks mom for your email/for the RS having a lesson on the Priesthood). I received a blessing from Elder Williams, he is the Senior couple in charge of the Young Adult Centre. It was a beautiful blessing. I have found a new dedication and drive. It’s time for confidence. The blessing was a really neat experience. Soeur Caldwell and I ended up both getting blessings.  We were all crying and then laughing and then crying again. I love the senior couple! The Williams are the sweetest!! 

We started off our week with a "girls night" with some of the JA (Jeune Adulte). We played games and ate dinner together! My mission President has been really stressing things called "member experiences.” These are opportunities where we can build relationships with the members and get them excited about us and our personalities.  Hopefully this creates a fitting environment for them to introduce their friends. I am really pumped about it. We had a girl’s night with Virginie (recent convert), Marion, and Millicent (another recent convert). I am in LOVE with them!! Really though...Virginie is like my best friend!! She is so strong...so converted! The girls’ night was a super success! We introduced them to twice baked potatoes...they were obsessed!! Also to Pop Rocks and nerds...again...obsessed!! It was sooooo funny! I videoed the pop rocks...they were freaking out! It was awesome! 

So this week was also crazy because Soeur Caldwell and I put on a Soirée Musicale event! Let’s just say it was a hit—a  HUGE hit! 130+ people there.  Hello everybody, this is FRANCE and 130+ people at a church activity—well, that’s almost unheard of! There were loads of less actives, non-members, and members. It was a massive success and everyone wants another Soirée! The day after at church everyone was hugging us and complimenting us.  It was great (AKA Soeur Caldwell and I know how to throw a party). I took some great videos. We had a hug buffet and a concert lined up. Basically members/investigators preformed. We had a good mix of all types of music from opera to classical to pop. It was GREAT! 

This week has also been bitter sweet cause Sister Raney is "dying" (aka going home).  Soeur Caldwell and I planned some fun things that we did throughout the week to make it special for Sister Raney. We had a last super and a slumber party. We put her on a train this morning.  It was so hard. She is one of my great friends—we lived together 2 transfers.  We were all a mess! It’s hard to see a missionary so dedicated and in love with the work go home! She was a great example and friend. 

So you are probably on the edge of your seats wondering where I got transferred.  Well…Je reste! (aka I am staying!) Toulouse Round 4! I was pumped!!! I just kept praying....Heavenly Father just 1 more transfer! PLEASE!! When I got the dreaded transfer call its like they knew what I wanted.  In fact, their exact words were, "your dreams came true and you’re staying!" I squealed like a 12-year-old girl at a Justin Bieber Concert. The second half of the good news is that Soeur Caldwell and I are staying together!! YAY!  This is my first companion that isn’t leaving me! We are really excited! This past week we have really bonded and I feel like this next transfer is going to be full of miracles!  Woot, Woot!!  This means that I get to spend my 6 month mark in Toulouse! My home! The other great news is that practically my whole district is staying as well! Elder Hapairai-Hansen, Phelps, and Sagers!! All is well in Zion! (HaHa).

Thanks for all the prayers of love and support! I could really feel them!! You can still reach me at the same address and please continue to pray for my investigators!! We had a great week with all of them! 

Challenge of the week: Throw a party. Find something to celebrate and make it a big deal! Bake a cake, put up balloons...make something as simple as a great day a big deal! Lets get the world to party (and make saving covenants with the Lord :) (haha) Love life!! Because there’s a lot to love thanks to this Gospel!! 

XOXO 

Soeur Richardson 

Exhausted!

Monday, September 9, 2013

        What a week. What a week. I am EXHAUSTED.  I am physically, mentally, and emotionally exhausted. I realized how much support from the other side of the veil I have had just to keep me going. I had an exchange this week with Soeur Mata (she is my STL). She came down to Toulouse and Soeur Caldwell went up to Bordeaux. S. Mata and I were going to Bordeaux to switch back but we missed our train. It turned into a huge mess. We arrived in Bordeaux and then complication after complication kept happening...sigh.  Basically the story ends with me sleeping on the floor under the Soeur’s Kitchen table in my skirt, makeup, and contacts. The saga continues! Our train home was delayed on the tracks for an hour! Basically this week has been CRAZY. But that’s the weird thing—This is the life of a missionary. It is just crazy. Things with our Amis feel like they are at a standstill.

Keep praying for my Amis...ya, we have 5 amis we are working with...Holler! This is great especially when considering we started with basically 1 at the start of this transfer. We have done some great work!

God is good. The church is true. I may be exhausted but that won’t stop me from trying my best. I know that my Redeemer lives. 

Challenge: Find or create your holy place.  Please read that talk by Sister Dibbs. It is from the YWs meeting. 

Love Me Some Members!

Monday, September 2

Another week has just flown by.....oh my word....time is going way to fast!! I have my five month mission anniversary on the 3rd of this Month!!! WHAT?! I am slightly freaking out! I am almost a 3rd of the way done with my mission.  I could cry. I LOVE it. LOVE IT!! Everyday...even the ones that are really rough and hard are soooo worth it! So things are going great here in Toulouse. News of the week....our investigator from way back from my 1st transfer, who moved to Australia, IS BACK!!! I got a text from her and about dropped the phone! I can’t help but feel that is one of the reasons I have been sticking around in Toulouse! We had breakfast with her Saturday and she just broke down...she just isn’t happy. I am really excited to start working with her again and bring the joy of the gospel to her!! She has even been reading her Book of Mormon while in Australia! Other big news is our other investigators are also better at reading the BofM! And he even texted us, "hey save me a seat today, I am coming to church!" BOO YA! Things are slowly looking up! But it is going slowly and that is just one thing I think I am going to have to adjust to.  My personality is just go, go, go! But this work takes time. The work is good, however, and we have had some great numbers this week! Our mission is starting to keep track of “member experiences” (experiences to build members faith/visits...) Soeur Caldwell and I blew it out of the water we had 10! Then add on top lecons taught, the less actives we are reactivating, and all other aspects of missionary work...it’s been a great week! It has also been a week filled with lots of learning experiences. My companion is great. I am grateful for her and all she does. 

Sooooooooo Its time for a cat story :) I got attacked this week!! Which only made my hate for cats grow stronger. Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE KITTENS...but any thing older...not a fan. I basically just got scratched by the darn thing. So I really love personal study because it gives me time to dive into the gospel while also thinking about life and eternity.  Basically my mind gets blown away every morning (hahahaha). But I was sitting in my rolly desk chair contemplating the next year and a half and wow, that isn’t a lot of time.  In fact, I only have about a year left and another transfer is coming to a close! WHAT?! I don’t want time to go sooooo quickly. I am in love with the people, the work, and of course, THE FOOD (hahaha). I just realized the importance of forgetting yourself. Now the cool part about forgetting yourself is that you don’t have to be a missionary to do this. Most people are afraid that if we forget ourselves, then we will never get ourselves taken care of BUT...we will. Just think. If EVERYBODY forgot themselves, then all everybody would be doing was charity/service for others.  This makes it impossible for a person to refuse acts of service as well. So that is what I want your challenge to be this week: A week of completely forgetting yourself. Even if its super inconvenient for you, even if you get nothing in return, please FORGET YOUR SELF. Now this is not an easy task because our very human nature goes against this concept. Our hunger, our tiredness, our…well, basically everything. And also go to the temple. Sigh. I REALLY miss it. 

I was really sad to hear about the updates from home. Yet another Richardson girl knee surgery....GREAT. Now I am going to tear something...for some reason when one of the girls does it then the other one follows.  Oh wait, I did my meniscus in the Fall--so I think we are now even!! If not, please don’t tell me. I don’t want any bad karma (hahaha). God is very aware of our situations and needs. She can take comfort in that. I know it. 

Oh in case you were all wondering...yes, I am still reigning champion at ping-pong. I played a guy from Paris and while it was a close one, I still beat him 21-17.  Thus, all is well in Zion (aka Toulouse) because it’s the best place in the world! 

        Soeur Calwell is doing really well and is being able to use her talents in awesome ways! Love her! 

Have a great week everyone! Forget yourself, and remember the Lord!!! 

Baby Steps

Monday, August 26, 2013

C'est moi!!! Bonjour ma famille! Oh my word, what a week it has been!!  Sooooo, to start things off I just would like to say....I love France!!! This week we made some progress with our Amis!! And I think that is the lesson I learned this week. The progress wasn’t huge or life changing but it was a small step to something bigger and that’s the way it works. Obviously miracles happen, but it’s by small, simple gradual acts. We had one investigator, who has been taught by the missionaries for years, finally partake of the sacrament!  We taught a lecon on the sacrament and what it means. When I told her she could take the sacrament it was like seeing Elle’s face on Christmas morning. She was SO excited! We sat by her in Sacrament and she took it and looked at me with the biggest smile. I had to hold back tears. Now I just wish I could spark that same excitement and love for baptism!  But it’s baby steps! I thank God for that little miracle that I was able to see. Some of our other investigators are at a bit of a standstill. We talked about it with some Elders (Elders Haparai-Hansen and Phelps...Elder H2 is my District Leader) and we came to the conclusion that we are going to have to give them a bold challenge to apply the Book of Mormon in their life, read, and pray every night and see if they can see/feel a difference. So we are just going to have to be bold about. Goodness. The moral of the story is please pray for us so we will be completely guided by the Spirit in our words for him and that he will feel/see a difference!!

This week I had an exchange with.....Soeur Sopi!! So I live with four sisters (including me) Soeur Sopi, Soeur Raney, Soeur Caldwell (obviously), and me. I love them all so much! Soeur Raney is "dying" this transfer aka her mission is ending. Soeur Sopi is French...yes a native!! RARE. It’s sooo lucky! It has helped my French improve sooo much!! And I got to go on exchange with her....yes, a whole day just speaking French!!! ONLY FRENCH!! She doesn’t speak a lick of English! My exchange was sooo fun!! We were laughing, joking around, and enjoying the work! It’s such a testimate (testimony) that God is there and that the gift of tongues is real!! I have been in France for 18ish weeks and I am going full days communicating only in French. THAT IS A MIRACLE. Soeur Sopi is a wonderful missionary who is here to serve the Lord with all her heart! I am glad God gave us an exchange together so we could get to know each other better. 

This week we also had a lot of member visits...9 to be exact! That is a lot but I LOVE THE MEMBERS!! Its so fun getting to know them! One of my new favorite days of the week are Thursdays. We hold a Soirée Familiale for Amis, Members, Non-pratiquants, basically whoever. We were in charge this week and had a Birthday Party for the Prophet!! It was sooo fun!! We had German Pancakes, blew out candles, and a member brought a cake! It’s a great way to get to know people in a more relaxed way! I love Thursdays!! Our church also has a ping pong table! Oh man...I creamed everybody. Elder Phelps played me like 3 times...but no luck.  My ping-pong skills were just too much for him! (hahaha) I think everyone is surprised by seeing a girl who is actually athletic—and they loved it! Seriously they couldn’t get over the fact I was a soccer player! And now add in my ping-pong skills—that’s a win win! (hahaha) In all seriousness though, the members here are great! Loads of hard situations, but strong testimonies! This gospel is a HUGE blessing! 

So you are probably wondering what my challenge of the week is. The challenge for the week is solidify your habits. What habits do you have? If some of your habits don’t include daily scripture study and daily prayer...then repent. But seriously, those are vital habits for salvation. Re-read your patriarchal blessings. Take a lot at your habits you have and ask yourself, “is this profiting the kingdom of God?” If you aren’t in a habit of prayer and scripture study, then now is the perfect time to start. Begin right now. Seriously...right now! Go grab your scriptures and read them—right now! Then pray for the strength to continue building the habit. allez! 

I love you all sooooooo much! God is waiting to pour blessings down upon you. But he can’t unless you ask and choose the right. Unless you follow the 5 principles of the Gospel (1. Faith in Jesus Christ, 2. Repentance, 3. Baptism, 4. Gift of the HG, and 5. Endure to the end). I pray for you all specifically. And I thank you for all your prayers for me and my Amis. Your prayers make a difference. Love you all. Take the challenge! 

Soccer in a Skirt!

August 19, 2013

Howdy!! Well well well!! This has been such a fun week! Basically it was fun because we've met some great people. We were contacting in the Royal Jardin a few days ago and met these two women. I did the usual introduction and asked, “Would you like to know more about our message?” And the said, “Yes, lets sit right here on the grass and talk.” As we began talking to them they told us that they were into this meditating ritual thing and it helps people feel the light of Christ in our lives. She then asked if we would like to see how its done.  “Of course,” I said (hahha). So we sat cross-legged on the grass while they hovered there hands over our foreheads and we “meditated” there for about 10 minutes.  At around 9 minutes into this they started saying some yoga sounding chant thing.  I was trying so hard not to laugh and chuckle because I just kept thinking, is this against the white handbook rules?  After the “meditation,” we chatted about the Book of Mormon and other points of the religion. The best part about this whole experience was that we saw the Elders walk by and they came over to say hello.  I realized how strange we must have looked. There we were all sitting cross-legged in a perfect circle and our copy of the book of Mormon perfectly in the centre of the circle (#secretcombinations)??? Just kidding. The Elders faces were priceless! It was actually a really neat experience and I truly feel like we got to know those ladies simply because we took the time to listen to their ideas.  As a result, they were more than willing to listen to ours. Unfortunately they live in Carcassone :(.  This means we got to give their info to the Sisters in that area! Yeah, for all working on the same team! 

We also met this great guy while contacting. We gave him a copy of the Book of Mormon and thanks to the persistence of my Bleu!! It was great! I contacted him by telling him that our church has 5 basic principles of our gospel and if we do our best to live by these 5 principles, we can have unimaginable joy! He was awesome and we were wrapping the contact up when my bleu pulls out a copy of the Book of Mormon and says, “C'est vrai! (Its true!)” and handed it to him! I just love her!! I wish I would have been more like her at the commencement of my mission! She is a great example and a very effective communicator.  This is one thing I am really learning from her. She is very patient with me. In fact, we have had some great heart to hearts and we are really supporting each other. I am excited for the rest of this time together! She is from Orem and went to Mt. View High School. She graduated from high school the same year I did and is in the Design Program at BYU. We are really using her talents for our gain (making flyers, etc.). It’s awesome. We had her first "magnez-vous" (manger=to eat, vous=you), So basically it translates to “you eat.” It’s the term we use to say we are going to eat at a member’s house! Our “magnez vous” was with La Famille Mayer. They are awesome!! It was so fun! It’s been great because my comprehension is way up and my speaking ability has really soared. I kind of feel like I am getting a personality! Hahah! This was hard for my bleu, however, because she didn’t really understand anything and I could tell she was frustrated with it.  Oh, I can remember feeling that way, believe me after all, it was just a few weeks ago that I was brand new! Hahaha. I will always whisper little things so she can follow along with what is being said and what is going on, etc.  It works great! I love working with the members! They are fabulous! 

We also had a ward activity on Saturday. IT WAS SO FUN!! We went on a hike...and got lost! This was slightly funny because we didn’t get the memo that we were hiking.  There’s nothing quite like getting lost in the woods in a skirt and flats! After finding our way again, we picnicked by a lake. I just love living in France. The BEST part of the picnic was I got to play...SOCCER! A bunch of the ward kids and I played together. After which they all thought I walked on water! Hahaha!  When they would choose teams, I would get picked first every time (brush my shoulder off). Eventually some dads joined in the game and that’s when it got real competitive! Actually, it was soooooo fun!! I felt like I really built some solid relationships through this.  Funny, just because I am athletic I was able to win their confidence and trust! Hey, I will take it, and do whatever furthers the work of salvation!! Hahaha. Just imagine me playing competitive soccer...in a skirt. It is true that Soeur Udulgie-Taulfik could not stop laughing at me.  She loved it! I just didn’t want to sit on a bench and watch. I had to play!  Especially since they all were way good! Overall the picnic was great!! I got to know loads more members and really connect with them! By the way, I also played bocci ball (actually that’s not what it is called that here).  DANG, the members are soooooooo good at it! Soeur Caldwell and I were killed by these two little French kids. It was pretty funny. I love the members here!

Things with our Amis are going well! Vacance (aka worst thing ever aka months of vacation) are almost over! Finally! All our Amis will be back into town! Hurrah! Little by little they are progressing! Overall things are great in Toulouse!! I love it here. I have a feeling that this might be my final transfer here and I could cry about leaving. God knows! I have been so blessed with a great companion, a great city, an awesome ward, and awesome Elders!  My fabulous District leader challenged us to do the 40-day fast purification process. It was so inspired. I was really lucky to have a wonderful DL and Zone leaders! Basically my mission has the best missionaries! 

So challenge of the week: Try something new! This week I tried contacting in a different way and even tried the meditating thingy (hahaha).  As a result, it brought about a lot of good. So break your routine and try something a little different.  You don’t know what your are missing until you try!! 

Keep being an inspiration!!