Courage NOT Compromise

July 6, 2014

Bonjour ma chère famille!! 

Well this week has flown by....just as the other weeks. It’s hard to believe that already another transfer is coming to an end! Were already on week 6!!! WHAT?!!! Someone make time stop. Please! This week has been miraculous! Last week was a bit rough in the moment but that is life. Sometimes we have a difficult time enjoying the moment and seeing the miracles that are in front of us. And I am here to tell you that, Miracles happen daily. 

Viola the miracles of my week:

The "Funny" Miracle: 

So I don’t know if you remember me telling the story of me and Soeur Mod guessing the code into a federal building (not knowing it was a federal building of course) WELL our code cracking skills are getting pretty dang good and we are just waiting on George Clooney and Brad Pitt to give us a call to join their Oceans 14 team! hahaha we have been on the search for Less Actives and guessed our way into another building. We were dying!!!!! Literally crying of laughter! Its truly a miracle it almost creepy!! We laughed all the way up to the top floor where they lived but....no one was home. We left a note on the door and our card! Soeur Mod and me have way too much fun together!! We are praying and hoping that we get another transfer together! We find out tomorrow! Keep your fingers crossed. 

The "Culture Mix" Miracle: 

So our Presidents son just got home from his mission. Still having that missionary fire he has been dying to continue doing missionary work, the only problem is he doesn’t speak French. Well we just happened to have a FHE set up with a partial member family that weekend. So me, Soeur Mod, Frere/Soeur Lepore, Carlos/Fatima (Carlos isn’t a member), and President Roney's son all sat around a table in France speaking in English, French, and Spanish!! It was such a crazy culture mix but SO FUN! We got around to the lecon and the spirit was so strong. We did it in French/Spanish and the testimonies were powerful! It was amazing to see how we were able teach with unity and by the spirit even though we were all speaking different languages! It was such a magical experience! I am soooo grateful for that opportunity! Carlos's heart was opened just a little bit more to the restored gospel...what a miracle! We are going to have another FHE this week with the clan! And then he will be attending the Elder Andersen Sacrament meeting.....oh ya...Elder Andersen is coming back to Lyon to speak to us! Well all the Lyon wards. #spoiled We feel so blessed to have him back and hear his council again! 

The "Family" Miracle

We taught an adorable family!! She actually contacted us and just died over how cute we were! hahah She is from Africa but married a Frenchie! She has two beautiful daughters Coline 7 1/2 and Dielle 3. We taught them prayer and they loved it! We explained it as writing a letter to God! First you address the letter (Dear gracious Heavenly Father) and then the body of the letter we can ask questions, thanks Him, etc. Then we sign it Au nom de Jésus-Christ. Amen!! They LOVED IT!! Coline had her not book and was taking notes on all that we said, it was adorable! They said they would pray together as a family each night. Unfortunately the Father is being a bit stubborn #frenchie but He will come around! I have such a strong testimony of families, I know that they are ordained of God and they are simply just miracles! It was a miracle! 

The "KFC" Miracle

Yes my dear family and friends....Kentucy Fried Chicken exists here in France. We had a fun FHE with a bunch of Young Adults and a Bucket of Chicken. Its so fun interact with all the Young Adults! They are such a huge support! I am so grateful for them! We had a great FHE and really got them to love/trust us! On the 4th of July we will be having a 4th of July Friday Fries Fest!! (#mychildhood #fryfests) They are really excited about it and are going to be inviting their nonmember friends!! Pray for all to go well! #america 

We spent today (Pday) at Presidents house! It was such a blast! His whole family was there! (Candice is getting married this weekend). It was so fun to play badminton with the fam, and just enjoy the sun! I love being around families! I love President. I love Sis. Roney. I love their Children! It was a perfect Pday! 

This week has just been great! My mission has just been a miracle. It has changed me. I am no longer who I used to be. I am constantly changing, trying my best to improve. And that is what we should all be striving to do. I read a winning talk by Elder Nielsen this morning in which he said, "even if 'everyone is doing it' wrong is never right. Evil, Error, and Darkness will never be truth even if popular." He then followed by the inspiring words of Pres. Monson "Courage, not compromise, bring the smile of Gods approval." Family and friends what are we compromising? Now is the time to change. Change is showing our love to Christ and His Gospel! Let us Change the world for the better! Love you all! Be safe!

Avec Amour, 

Soeur Richardson