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

April 29, 2013

Well, SURPRISE!! My P-day changed to Mondays......basically my whole MTC schedule changed. It stinketh. Breakfast at 6:30, lunch at 11am, and dinner at 4. I can't think of worse times.  But hey....nothing like a fun new curveball right?!!?!  So my P-days are now on Mondays until I leave for France...which is quickly coming up. I will get my "official" travel plans at the end of this week!! CRAZY! May 13th is coming quick!!

Well this week has been the most uneventful/eventful week. Basically things are getting a little redundant.  I mean when you do the exact same thing, eat the same things, do the same workouts...how can it not!  Luckily the weather has been on my side and I've been able to play sand volleyball! Boy is that a tender mercy!! Although...it does bring my competitive side out.  I am pretty good at controlling it and laughing things off.  The other day a Sister, who had "never even seen a volleyball" in her life, was serving.  She tried over hand and ended up hitting the girl directly in front of her! The whole court BURST out laughing.....and then of course I retorted with something witty and funny (haha ) by saying: "Wow it looks like someone needs a companionship inventory!"  And then I was like......OH NO, OH NO.  I did NOT just make a cheesy MTC joke!  The whole court was basically crying because of my joke and because of my reaction after it escaped my lips!  It was really funny!  So now I am known for coming up with witty, cheesy, MTC jokes...ha..not sure how I feel about that rep. ;)

            Elder Evans (Zach’s mission President?) gave a devotional! I didn't get to go say Hi afterwards though.  I did say “Hi” to the new YW General President, Sister Oscarson, who taught our Relief Society.  She did an awesome job!  She was way nice. Everyone did a fabulous job and was really nice and great!!

            Mom, Thanks everything especially the chocolate covered strawberries!!! WOW. My district about died!! As I did when I opened the package! What a fun surprise! You know me too well!! :)

            Souer Mod and I have started doing all our studies outside in the sun.  This has been very effective.  I am learning and happy.  I haven't felt like my French this week has grown at all. But in all honesty...it has! But I was expressing my concern of not progressing to my teacher. And she gave me a wonderful promise. She said, "I promise that if everyday you spend time reading the Livre De Mormon aloud, you will see progress in your language you wouldn't have seen otherwise." I have spent 30 minutes everyday and I have really felt the benefits so far. I am no longer using notes in my lessons. I am forming my own sentences and recalling things from my memory.  It has been a lot HARDER but it has been good. A few days ago I was teaching my "investigator" about the 1st vision and I tried SO hard to have it memorized before I went in. But I just couldn't get it. I was soooo sad...because I have a really hard time memorizing things. When I got in my lesson it came to my turn and I just put all my trust and faith in the Lord and began. It came out perfectly. I thought that all things are possible through Him. I then bore sincere testimony...and tears started flowing. The spirit was so strong. My grammar wasn't perfect...but the feeling that was there was. It was amazing. I got SO pumped to get to France. I can't WAIT to share my simple truths with FRANCE!!! Vive la France!!!!!

Make sure that you watch the talk by Elder Bednar called, "Becoming a Missionary." Please watch it! It’s AMAZING. Well...its time for me to get off the computer. Be good! Pray hard!

LOVE YOU ALL!!! XOXOXO

April 23, 2013

OH MY WORD. I will be in France in 3 short weeks!! My MTC experience is half way over?!?!?!?!?! WHERE DID THE TIME GO!! So this week has been fabulous!! Lost of fun stories!!

I just am so happy with the things that I am doing and I know its right. Its an amazing feeling knowing that you are doing exactly what the Lord wants you to do. I love it!!

Ok so lets get to the good stuff!! So how about a funny story! So my comp and I teach lessons every day! We have two investigators Fabian and Christopher. So one day in our lesson with Christopher we were teaching him the concept of prayer. And I used to jot down a few notes of point I wanted to hit or questions to ask...Well it was my turn to talk and as you can Imagine I was a little nervous...well somehow I just randomly asked him...."Will you pray for us.... like right now" You should have seen his face...and you should have seen my companions face... Surprise... confusion ...a mix of both...Oh man!! It was funny. I then realized what I had said and was surprised and confused myself!! What on earth!!!! But he did it so...I guess the bright side was I got him to pray. I mean overall the lesson went well it just was a not really the direction I thought I was going and then next thing you know I just drop a bomb on him!! Hahaha! When we left the room we burst out laughing!! My face was red with embarrassment but you just HAD to laugh!! SO funny! I definitely would say that was a highlight.

Now for a low point. So we do a thing called TRC. It is where volunteers come in and we give a visiting teaching type message to them. We get to know them then share a thought. Obviously we do all this in French. Well it got to my turn to speak and I opened my mouth and there were just no words to be had. My brain was blank and I had absolutely nothing to say. Immediately tears started to gush down my face (me...always a crier.) I had the craziest mix of emotions. I was scared, embarrassed, frustrated, exhausted but the spirit was SO strong. I finally just forced "Je" out of my mouth (which means "I") and words came. I bore my testimony on prayer and how it influenced me to be where I am today and how grateful I am to have that means of communication. It was an amazing experience. I literally had to leave it 100% to the Lord.  I don't think I really have ever done that before.  I am very comfortable with doctrine and discussing church related things...but I had nothing. I couldn't speak in English and I had to use a language I DONT even know how to speak. It’s frustrating to love and know the gospel with all your heart but not be able to convey those feelings because you can't speak the language. But you know during TRC...I was able to do both. And it was completely 100% because of my Heavenly Father. It was a wake up call. I cannot rely on myself to get things done. They just wont happen. "I need thee every hour." I am so grateful that good taught me that lesson only 3 weeks in. Because now, every single thing I do each day I do with Him—from laundry to teaching lessons. He is there every step of the way. 

Elder Scott spoke at our devotional last Tuesday and he spoke on Prayer. I realized how petty my prayers are. I was embarrassed to think that I had better conversations with my best friends than I did with my Heavenly Father. Ever since that talk I have made it my goal to approach Heavenly Father as my best friend. I make my prayers more conversational. I express my feelings the way I would to any of my friends. It has made the WORLD of difference. I think of how desperate Heavenly Father has felt for a conversation to me. I think of it this way: My Father has not really ever had a good, normal conversation with me in my entire life. Think of how strained our relationship is?! But fortunately He is my Heavenly Father. And He loves me in spite of my lack of sincere communication to Him. How grateful I am to my brother Jesus Christ, for his sacrifice on the cross. So I challenge each of you to just talk. Talk with your heavenly father as if he was your best friend. Last night a line in my prayer sounded something like this: "Heavenly Father...I am just down right exhausted. I feel like I am dragging a lifeless body from place to place. I need thy help. I need more energy. Help me to think of ways I can become more energized and ready for each day."  Prayer is wonderful. Everyone needs to be as addicted to it as I am!!

So here are some funny things people in my District have said while "popcorn teaching" (which is where you each take a few minutes of a lesson and then another companionship picks up where you left off): 1. “We should pray by your body.” HAHA so Soeur F. was trying to say: “We should pray with your heart.” But the word for heart is: coeur and the word for body is corps. When you actually say them...they sound very similar....oh it was great. 2. Ou est ce que Jesus-Christ a vous? Which means: Where is Jesus-Christ to you? Hahahah.  Elder that was playing the role of investigator was so confused and he said..."en le ciel??" which is: “In the sky?” hahaha.  We all burst out laughing! What he was trying to say, “Who is Jesus-Christ to you?”

So one of my teachers is named Frere S. He is MY AGE!! He just got home from his mission 6 weeks ago and he has a lot of mutual friends with me and Soeur Mod. from our freshman year!! It is the craziest thing!! One day in class I had just finished an apple and all of us always "shoot" our trash into the garbage can. Well, I NEVER miss. You know me ;) This time, however, I shot my apple core to the trash can and it and it barely nicked the edge of the table which diverted it right into Frere S.'s backpack.  It was so AWKWARDLY funny!! The whole class was dying with laughter and I felt sooooooo stupid!! The ONE TIME I miss--it goes into my teacher’s backpack during class!!

Oh and by the way...I was called as the Sister Training Leader which is the new calling for Sisters.  It is the equivalent to Zone Leader. It’s been fun! Especially that me and my comp were called together! It’s really helped us to get to know all the sisters in our Zone.  I can say that Sister Missionaries are the greatest!! Hearing each of their testimonies is such a blessing. A lot of the elders in our districts are here because its their "duty." Every single one of the Sisters, on the other hand, is here by choice. It brings such a different spirit to things. So future Elders of the world: if you view your mission only as a "duty," I can promise you that the first few months of your mission are going to be hard. Choose now to "choose" to go.

THANKS SO MUCH FOR THE PACKAGE!! Everything was PERFECT!! Oh and I want Tyler to go get Coconut Joy ice cream from BYU Creamery!! He would love it!! Wednesday and Sundays we get BYU creamery ice cream...I literally have two bowls of that stuff every time because it is SO GOOD!! And it’s the only food I enjoy in this place!! Oh and Dad, when are you going to be in Chicago?? In May?? I have a layover in Chicago while I am flying to France. My travel plans are SLC to Chicago. Chicago to Halifax, London. and then London to Lyon. I will be leaving sooooo soon!! I leave May 13th!!  Goodness time is going fast!! Oh and I also talked to Sister Esplin (from the Primary General Presidency). I told her to say Hi to you dad. She gave our RS lesson! Church here is the best!!

Well goodbye my family!!

Je vous aime!! Je sais que Dieu vous aime aussi!!

Hugs and Kisses.

Soeur Richardson