Full Speed Ahead

Life happens fast. It is crazy to think how drastically my life has changed since my last post. Yes...it has been a while and as I sat and thought about it I found it ironic that I blogged of my life pre-marriage and not now because marriage has simply been the BEST.

 Being Married to your best friend definitely has its perks! And as we are closing in on 10 months of marriage I can honestly say these past months with him have been the best. Life demands growth and change....almost constantly. The opportunity to go through that growth and change with someone you love is a definite game changer. It is definitely not all roses and sunshine but majority of the time, especially with a husband like Jordan, it is.

 February has been absolutely CRAZY for us. It started off with the flu. Which was round 2 for me.......yeah the New Year has been REEEEAAAALLL good to me. Two days after I recovered we left the country for 10 days to El Salvador! Jordan served his mission there and it was simply an incredible...incredible experience. (stay tuned for a post completely dedicated to the trip!). Also my birthday and Valentines day were celebrated the El Salvadorian way. Leaving for 10 days in the middle of the semester...not our brightest idea (yet...totally worth it.)

The saga continues with knee surgery last Friday. Thankfully this time around (this is my third knee surgery) I will not be on crutches for an entire month and have been walking around pretty well. However getting life back in order after an entire month of crazy happenstances has been an adventure. Our little apartment is a mess, our laundry pile is the size of Mount Timpanogos, and our pantry and fridge are quite bare. However, life is always better with a little crazy. Life is wonderful. I am excited about the roads and milestones ahead, especially since it is me AND my adventurous side-kick, love of my life husband.

Be adventurous!
Avec Amour,
Lauren Elisabeth

God Gives TOO MUCH

September 22, 2014

Well my friends. This is the last. The last. SO WEIRD. This past week was crazy. We have had TOO many miracles to count. They just keep coming. And we feel so unworthy! We are just trying our best and putting full confidence in our Savoir.

This weekend we have two Investigators getting baptized! Barbara and Michal. What a blessing! They are both solid and love the Lord. We would've had 3 but Sonia is leaving out of town this weekend! We have had such amazing investigators. So blessed. Michal has been doing great. Solid from the beginning. He has been to church every week since the moment we met him! He has been praying for the past few weeks about baptism. Finally we sat him down and were lovingly bold. He had attended a baptism Saturday and was really touched. We have been praying for him for weeks now to come to the realization that he is ready. So after the baptismal service we asked him to pray specifically for next Saturday (the 27th). Well we met with him Last Night right before our movie night (watched 17 Miracles!! woot woot) And we asked him....and he said, "ya, je suis prêt" ("yes, I am ready") Me and Soeur Magleby did our best to keep our composure....but inside it was like this "modihnergnqig!!!!!nmertjmgqmsdlfjmme!!!!!!!!g,qmlrgjqsf!!!!" aka we were freaking out! SO HAPPY!! Its fun to see the change in someone. To see it in their eyes, to witness them show their faith! 

Sonia is still on fire!!! She is BLOWING through the lessons! We see her almost everyday and are the best of friends! She also has made serious changes!! She is about finished smoking and we taught her Chastity, in which the day after she broke up with her boyfriend, and Tithing, in which she happily accepted by saying "with the money I will be saving on stopping smoking I will just give to the church!". She is so prepared and loves us beyond words!! Unfortunately I wont be present for her Baptism BUT we already figured it out and I will Skype in hahaha 

SO funny story of the week!!! The ZLs had a baptism this week. Well when the time came for the ordinance to be preformed we discovered the font had drained. #disaster So they ushered everyone back in to the sacrament room to finish of the talks....while the rest of us scrambled to fill a baptismal font that normally takes HOURS to fill up in 15 minutes. We literally had every tap going in that church filling up buckets. It was quite the experience! I can honestly say I have never gotten such a huge workout at a baptismal service in my life!!! haha We got that thing filled SO fast!! It was amazing! By the end all of us missionaries were sweating, laughing, and felt way to accomplished! HAHA ohhh the memories! I LOVE my mission. It has been so far the best 1 and 1/2 of my life and of course the best 1 and 1/2 FOR my life! 

I don’t even know what else to say honestly. two many miracles to share, details, funny stories.....and with only a few days until I will be telling them. This last week I was crazy stressing about coming home. But then I talked with a few missionaries and they gave me some great advice to read my patriarchal Blessing and WOW it was a crazy enriching. I just came to the realization that I have work to do other than here in the mission and to continue progression it’s a normal thing to return home and continue! So I am super at peace about it BUT still gonna work my tail off these last few precious moments I have. Because once a missionary, ALWAYS a missionary!!! 

Love you all. 

See you soon. 

God bless you! 

PeanutS Butter Ice Cream

September 15 2014 

Where to even begin....Well we taught 21 lessons this week, 5 LA/RC, and engaged 3 to baptism...the Lord is setting our work on FIRE! 26 Lessons in one week...it was a BLAST! En plus, every single lesson was a legit RDV, no random street lessons. We were running around all week accomplishing the Lords work and it was FABULOUS! We saw so many miracles! Our investigators are soooo amazing and progressing super well. We found out Michal (the polish who is praying for the 27th of Sept) stopped drinking Alcohol a month ago after meeting us....another way the Lord has prepared him! Sonia is SOARING! She would've been baptized the 27th of September but is going out of town to Spain for a bit. Also found out she is a great filmmaker and has filmed things that have won awards at Indie festivals! #legit You can watch a short film she made on YouTube...its called "Invisible Old People". She is literally the best! We spent just about everyday with her! And she is now determined to marry in the church to someone with the same principles! She melts our hearts every time we teach her! She has continued to cut down on cigs. She is at 4 a day. from 20 to 4 in this short of time is a miracle! She has also stopped all coffee and beer! Woot Woot! Jamilla is also doing incredible! We are teaching full lessons and she is pounding out the LDM. We cry every time we think of leaving each other! We have decided a few nights before I leave we are having an American girls night (ice cream, candy, junk food, and tears!) hahaha 

This week I had my last Zone Conference. I had to give  the infamous "dying testimony"....it was miserable. I cried of course but people still understood it! I had loads of people come up and thank me....its weird to think its actually coming to a close. WAIT.....seriously? There is an end? Sigh. 

The Dating Academy Activity for the Young Women went fine...my oh my how France is different. They just don’t understand the idea of dating....its...weird. But I had them create a list of qualities they want in their future husband and put a focus on them trying their hardest to become those very qualities themselves! Light attracts light! They seemed to really like that idea. I told them to put faith in the Lord that if they are preparing themselves for a temple marriage someone else is preparing them for that too! Marriage is a vital step in the progression process! I am praying the CTR! 

Well...I came to the realization that I only have 14 days left. After Zone Conference I talked with Pres for a bit and he said, "Well I will be seeing you real soon"...of course I couldn’t even make eye contact with him in fear of bursting into tears. Then he said with tears in his eyes "you know its not easy for us to lose a Child but luckily I know I will see you again" We both cried a bit then I said my goodbyes to other missionaries. Real goodbyes...possibly never see again goodbyes. WOW. It was a bit tear filled but I survived. I don’t want my mission to end. I don’t. But Its what the Lord wants and needs. If I am to continue in his gospel plan it is a necessary step. I NEVER would have guessed I would be "that" missionary. That I would BEG for more time. That I would PLEAD to my Heavenly Father for time to slow down. But I am. And I am soooo proud to be a missionary for my Savoir Jesus Christ. To be His hands in the work of Salvation! I know he lives. I know this is true. Put your lives in order to experience the joy that comes from this Gospel. IT IS WORTH IT. 

que Dieu vous benisse! qu'il soit avec vous chaque jour!  

Avec bcp d'amour,

Soeur Richardson  

100% Reason to Remember the Name

September 8, 2014

This week was FILLED with Miracles!!! It just shows that with hard work and loads of Faith miracles follow!!!! 

So as you know we have had contact with Sonia!!!! She is a Miracle!!!! We taught her the Retab and at the end of it she said. "I am EXHAUSTED of looking for the truth. I have been searching my whole life...But I think that I feel a bit better." We invited her to pray to know if the LDM was true and if Joseph Smith was a prophet. Well....next rdv we followed up to see if she prayed. She had. That same night she had a dream. She was walking in the sacred grove and met Joseph Smith. She was dressed in all white. She talked with Joseph and after he laid his hands upon her head and she said she felt a peace she has never experienced in her life. (she has had a rough past). #MIRACLE We engaged her to be baptized for the 27th of Sept. But she might be out of town. SO SAD. I would have loved to see her story from beginning to end. Everyone start praying she doesn’t go out of town and is miraculously baptized. She is also in the process of stopping smoking. It’s hard. She got a blessing this Sunday after church and her smile after the blessing was HUGE. I love being a part of the work of God. 

Barbara our other investigator will be baptized the 27th. She is also miraculous! We taught her the plan of salvation and she was sooooo excepting!! After word we asked her, "well any final questions?" She said "yes just one....will you be there for my baptism?!" Of course my heart melted and I happily said "OF COURSE!!!!!" I love her sooo much!!! She was at church telling everyone about her baptismal date!! She is awesome! 

Our other ami Michel is praying to know the real truth. Is it the catholiques or the Mormons. HA I have no doubts or fears of what response he will be getting!! #heissincere He could also be baptized the 27th. He just needs to receive his answer!!! He is sooooo great! 

We have 3 potential baptisms for the 27th of September...so PRAYERS UNITE!! The work is BOOMING!! Our ward was out of this world happy when all 4 of our extremely cool amis came to church!! Sonia, Barbara, Michel, and Elise (with her two daughters!). Literally our ward has been giving our equipe references up the wazoo!!! They love us! We taught a JAs friend this Sunday. He is SUPER normal cool young guy! It went really well! His name is Fred. We are seeing him again next Sunday! 

It’s been such a fun week. All our investigators (ami's) LOVE US! Literally they keep saying...don’t leave Please!!!!!! One of our ami's broke into tears she was so sad I was leaving soon. I love Jamilla! She is the greatest!! She has been reading chapters in the Book of Mormon and LOVING them!! We have also been teaching her full on lessons. (we originally just went over to teach English). We had a dinner night with her! We made Egg in Toast or "wishing eggs" It was blast!!! 

This week has also been crazy busy with exchanges. We went to Dijon this week! It was weird to be out of Lyon. When we got back late the next night I felt like I had been gone for weeks and it felt good to be HOME!!! 

We had a crazy 1000-day. We united with the Paris mission and tried to find 1000 new potentials in one day! It was fun! We were also instructed to eat a mille-feuille pastery. Of course they two boulangeries we went to were SOLD OUT! Don’t worry we eventually found one! Mille-feuille translates to 1000 papers. It’s a pastry with 1000 sheets of pastry goodness and cream! YUM! 

Funny story! I contacted this lady on the metro and by the end of it she loved me sooo much she insisted on giving me this cute little angel necklace. GOODNESS, I love the people here. I love everyone. I just have felt this crazy overwhelming LOVE for every person here. I don’t want to leave at all. I don’t know HOW people know I am leaving. Honestly everyone comes up and asks how I am doing....they must of had some secret meeting about it or something! Soeur Magleby and I are so surprised each time some brings it up....HOW DO THEY KNOW! haha 

Long story short I am SO happy. I love doing the Lords work. LOVE IT. I am sooooooo happy. Leaving France will tear me apart.....not looking forward to it. But "it will all work out". God loves us, He knows us, and will give us what we need. 

Time Keeps Ticking

September 1, 2014

This week has been CRAZY. Literally.....crazy. I guess when you don’t really take a Pday that’s what happens hahah oh life..... Well this week was full of laughs, smiles, and tears. I get so emotional so fast! It just hits...often just so unexpectedly hahaha it’s quite humorous! 

Tuesday I went to my last Jedi Council. My last. Sigh. It was SPECTACULAR! Everyone presented well, Pres, Soeur Roney, and the APs! It was such a joy to attend. We finished with a beautiful video on the atonement. WOW....of course I was sobbing throughout it! And then the APs and President bore powerful testimonies #criedharder and then we sang our mission song #criedEVENharder Oh la la it was a little much! It just kind of hit me I guess. Time is limited. As I was literally sobbing through the song President just watch me and chuckled. I think he understood. He is the greatest. After I gained my composure we went around and said goodbyes. It was terrible as people said. "Soeur this is the last time!" Wow...ok people, come on! hahaha I had to say goodbye to some really good friends because I wont see them until after they get home. Long time. 

Ever since the Jedi council I just felt a little overwhelmed with everything. Life, Mission, Health...everything! The last week of last transfer I had really felt like I should get a priesthood blessing. But I just put it off. I knew there were probably loads of other missionaries who were much more in need of a blessing than me! But the thought just kept coming and coming. Get a priesthood blessing. Then I started thinking....from whom? All I want is my dad. I just want a blessing from my dad! But for very obvious reasons....that just wasn’t possible. So I debated just letting it go...but I just felt like I should get a blessing. So I did, but I felt SO stupid asking. How sad is that? Have I learned nothing on my mission? I just didn’t feel comfortable asking anyone but Dad. But then I realized I had to of my Best Friends serving in Lyon. Elder Taua and Elvidge. Literally they have become to me dear dear friends. And I asked. They were prepared and more than willing. Even with their CRAZY busy schedule (they are the APs) They found an hour out of their day to come and cater to the one sheep. Oh how grateful I am. I couldn’t have asked for a better answer to prayer. I feel so spoiled! I got a beautiful priesthood blessing from two of my great friends! WOW the lord loves me. Ever since the blessing I have had a renewed energy and I have been sleeping!!!!!!! I haven’t slept through a night in 6 months! I just have been floating on a cloud since. We are so blessed to have worthy priesthood holders on the earth today! 

Speaking of blessings we had a really cool experience with an Amie. Barbara (a less actives daughter) was supposed to come to church Sunday but didn’t show. We had some things to drop off at her Moms house so we went over. We found her on the couch stricken with pain. Tears were streaming down her face! We asked her cousin how long it had been going on for. It started last night. (viola why she wasn’t at church) We then prayed with them. I felt inspired to ask if she would be ok with receiving a priesthood blessing. She said, Yes. (an act of faith) We called David (a member in our ward) and he came over immediately. We talked a bit then he gave her a priesthood blessing. We continued to talk a bit and her pain was still there. Then about 10 minutes later she sits up, then stands up, and then with a BIG smile wiggles around dancing!!!!!!! LITERALLY biggest miracle I have ever seen!!! It reminded me of this bible video: 

https://www.lds.org/bible-videos/videos/peter-and-john-heal-a-man-crippled-since-birth?lang=eng

We were blown away....and in all honesty so was she and her cousin! Literally in shock! Of course we seized the opportunity to teach! She was basically hugging me at the end of our thought! She was SO happy. Best member present lesson EVER! David and us walked out of the apartment shocked at the miracle we just saw and so ready to take on the world! 

Speaking of miracles...we saw Sonya! I don’t know if you remember her she was the woman who had read the BOM on her own in a Library in Spain. We talked with her and she wrote in my planner Alma 26:12??? Well she is finally home from vacation AND is still the biggest miracle ever! We went to pass her, she was home, let us in, had an unplanned lesson with her, where she basically stated out where she was weak in her knowledge of our church. She said "I just have a few problems...I smoke"  we asked "do you want to stop" and she said "more than anything." #miracles She is golden! We are seeing her today #noPday PRAY 

There were so many BIG miracles we saw this week. It was MIRACULOUS! How blessed I feel to be a servant of my Savoir Jesus Christ! I LOVE MY MISSION. I wish it would never end. Sigh. I guess one day I will except the fact I am going home #nevergoingtohappen

Bonne Semaine! 

Bisous

Soeur Richardson