Crazy!

March 10, 2014

Hello family, friends, loved ones, all of the above, 

This week has been "crazy". I got the call that I would be training...I am super pumped!! Leave for Lyon on Tuesday.  There are a total of 5 trainers. FIVE!!! That is "crazy"!! Rode the train...all alone (this was the first time being completely alone for almost a year). I get to the train station in Lyon and no one is there for me. As I tried to remain normal and not freak out that I was alone without another missionary. I walked around the GARE looking for signs of missionary life. After about 5 minutes, I get a call and the Sister Training Leaders came and saved the day. It was soooooo extremely weird being completely alone. Moral of this story: I am one of those weirdo missionaries now. Hip-hip-hooray!      

We ended up sleeping in the same apartment as the Blues but there was a strict “no talking/seeing the blues” rule. Slightly weird but whatever. We found out that they were all foreign. Which surprisingly didn’t freak me out...at all. So the next day we woke up and went to a Trainer’s training. Then we headed over to the office for lunch. I love Lyon. There are always fun missionaries and a great energy! I got to see Elder Asay...who is dying this transfer (crazy!!) and it was fun to catch up!! We were then ushered into the room to receive our Blues. Compared to the last time it was extremely anti-climatic because...well there were a whole 10 of us in the room! hahaha 3 Sisters (2 French, 1 Spanish) and 2 Elders (both EXTREMELY American, especially sitting next to the Europeans! haha). Well my Blue was the first to read of her new sector! Soeur Obel!!! She is from Paris, France. Her origins are from Congo and she has LOADS of energy!! But for reals...it makes me feel extremely old. I hope I can keep up with her! ;) She is soooo excited to be serving a mission and has a strong testimony!! AND she has amazing French....hahaha--Duh, she is French after all. Basically my French is going to hopefully SOAR this transfer. 

She was SO happy to get me. She told me that she even pointed to my picture on the missionary board and said I hope sometime I can serve with that sister (pointing to my picture). Well, thanks to divine inspiration her wilds dreams came true ;) And here we are in Chambéry ready to work!! And boy is she a great worker!! She has no fears of contacting, teaching, or of anything. She is down to do whatever. There are just a few cultural clashes. Such as: 1. Africans love to eat. I also love to eat but I also am trying to not gain/lose weight so that I don’t come home looking like baguette stuffed balloon. We came to a compromise and we will be incorporating salads into our meal repertoires! 2. Africans don’t really have any concept of time. They like to take their time going places, seeing things, eating, etc. Well that just doesn’t work with the missionary schedule hahaha !She says I walk too fast and I said she walks too slow, so now we go at a nice in the middle pace. hahaha We get along great. It’s such a blessing to be with someone who speaks the language fluently and also frustrating because she will correct me on every little thing, every other sentence. hahaha  I guess that sometimes you have to do hard things if you want to improve our abilities!! 

Soeur Obel and me had the great chance of getting to know the APs this week. Right after I got my blue in Lyon she had to see the nurse due to stomach problems. We ended up having to go to the Hospital to get it checked out. The APs drove us...yes in a car. What lucky ducks!!! I forgot how much I adore riding in cars. The APs are amazing missionaries/people. It’s always so fun to hear about other people’s families and dreams. Elder Gruber made me sing a solo and I gladly complied and choose a nice arrangement of a Hymn by Vocal Point. Everyone ended up joining in...haha that would have been extremely weird if I sang an entire song by myself. haha. As we were driving we were basically talking all in English (whoops, sorry Soeur Obel) and she finally said (note this conversation was in French), "Can I ask a question?" Elder Gruber said "Of Course Soeur Obel!" Soeur Obel: "What tribe are you guys from?" We all BURSTED out laughing!!! And she was so confused asking Why are you laughing?! haha It was just so out of the blue and random!! Oh it was so funny!!! We all then went around guessing and telling our tribes. We were all from the same tribe. And Soeur Obel belted out in English "WE ARE THE FAMILY!" (to the song of: We are family). We were all dying!!!! So funny!! We had had so many moments this week where she has messed up just a few words in English and it was SO funny. Foreigners are great :)  The APs also bought us new drawer sets! #hollar. They asked me if I had built anything before. And I proudly told them...yes Legos!!! They then asked me if I wanted them to do it. I had confidence in my abilities and said “no no...it’s fine. I bet these things will be up in 45 minutes.” They just chuckled and left!! Well 3 days later we finally got them all assembled. #ridiculous IKEA parts/instructions....are worthless!!! But we rearranged our whole room and it looks SPANKING NEW! We reported back to the elders and they just laughed. 

This Sunday I translated Church for some vacationers. They were from Washington State and their 19 yr.-old son was going to Weber. They were here to Ski at the resorts (lucky ducks) I love translating but I want/need to get much better at it!! I absolutely loved doing it!! What a blessing to know 2 languages! 

Over all I am happy and excited for this transfer!! We found loads of potentials and a new ami Osmie who is a daughter of a less active in our branch!! She is 11 years old and loves us! We have also scheduled appointments with a billion members this week. I just love our branch. Things are great and getting so much better. I guess what I learned this week is that I have true, lasting confidence in my Heavenly Father. And no `matter what gets sent my way, there will be highs, and there will be lows. But no matter the challenges big or small, I can put complete trust in him. I have confidence in Sunshine, I have confidence in rain, I have confidence that spring will come again, besides what you see I have confidence in me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (and my Savoir Jesus Christ) 

Love you all!! 

Soeur Richardson

ps. Pray for me, my comp, my amis, and my sector!! ;) Bonne Semaine!!