MTC week 4

October 4

Hola! This week has been a week of miracles! I attribute it to all your prayers and fasting in my behalf. Thank you!

I don't even know where to begin...let’s start with the fact that there has been a lot of talking about language this week, which is something I have been struggling with. It's hard to be patient in learning Spanish but I know Heavenly Father knows I can do it so I know I can too :) On Tuesday we had a workshop about learning the language and our teacher told us a story about his mission and how he struggled too, but when he turned it over to the Lord and humbled himself he was able to speak and understand like he wanted to. That was a tender mercy for me because I know that as I am humble the language will come. Also some of the elders from the other districts that left earlier this week came over to our classroom and handed us all their flashcards! There were TONS! Now I have lots of words to study and it's really helping!

I am so blessed! I never realized how blessed I am to belong to a family who has always been diligent in our scripture study, prayer, and family home evening. One of my MTC comps said they never did that stuff -- ever. How sad! I am so blessed to have such righteous diligent parents who made sure we did the little things because now as a missionary they are the big things! We watched a talk by Elder Bednar on Sunday night about becoming a missionary and he said when you get home "go home, but never leave the mission field." I wrote down that my parents never left the mission field because they made sure that they taught the gospel to their kids! It is amazing how many blessings I have! Thank you!

Also during that talk I was inspired  to "be" a missionary and not just "be on a mission." Before I went to bed on Sunday night I prayed to Heavenly Father to help me "become" a missionary and I got the sweetest assurance that I am on the right path and he is accepting my efforts. It was wonderful! I just love being a missionary :)

On Tuesday I ran into one of my friends from 9th grade Algebra...we actually only talked a few times but I thought he was really funny.  Then a couple months ago his name popped into my head so I looked him up on FB and was sad to see that he had fallen away from the church. BUT a few weeks ago I saw him in the cafeteria! I was like whaaaat and stared at him and he stared back and it was one or those awkward "I-know-we-know-each-other" glances but we didn't talk to each other. So on Tuesday we were waiting in line for the devotional and I saw him again and he said “don't I know you from somewhere?” So I said “Yes, were in the same math class in 9th grade!” We got to talking and I asked him why he decided to serve a mission. It's a long story but he has had a lot of tender mercies in his life and finally decided to serve a mission. My testimony was increased of the Atonement and that no matter what we have done the Lord loves us and has paid the price for our sins so we can repent.

Tomorrow is my one month mark as a missionary! Woot! I can't believe how fast time has flown. On Saturday it will be a month until we leave for New York! I can't wait!

A few days ago for my personal study I studied chapter 5 in PMG about the Book of Mormon. It was AMAZING! My testimony of Jesus Christ was strengthened so much! I read the scripture that talks about "We teach of Christ, rejoice in Christ...(I don't remember the reference, sorry!) and knew that we needed to teach one of our “investigators” about Jesus Christ. We went into our lesson and I talked to him about how the BOM testifies of Christ and had him read that scripture. I then bore my testimony of Christ and we commited him to be baptized! and he accepted! Woot! Our other investigator Ingrid is also getting baptized! Even though these "investigators" are not real, I love them so much and can't wait to get to New York so I can teach real people! I know that my Spanish will never be up to par with where I want it to be, but I know that as I do my best and bear my simple testimony to those in NY that will hear me, I can touch lives. We got a new district of elders last week in our zone and they are AMAZING! They are so diligent and I can tell they really want to do their best to be good missionaries.  Sunday was fast sunday and almost all of them got up to bear their testimonies in Spanish even though they had only been here for 4 days! Wow! I also bore my testimony. If nothing else when I get to NY, I will at least be able to bear a strong testimony :) We also got a new district yesterday and we have four new sisters! We are so excited because me and my comps have been the only hermanas in our zone since we have been here! Yay for new friends!!!! :)

I hope you all enjoy conference! Make sure to think of questions you would like answered and make sure to listen to what the spirit has to say to you. We are so blessed to be able to hear from a living prophet and his apostles this weekend! I can't wait!

Te amo mucho (mucho mucho),  Hermana Richardson