NYC week 7

Querido Friends and Familia,

Greetings from Nueva York. We were caroling on Christmas eve to some of the members in our ward and it started to snow, I was so happy! It didn't stick though, but that's okay because people in New York get frieked out when there is even a little bit of snow on the ground. One of our members asked me if they cancel school in Idaho if it snows too much. I said noooope they never cancel it. Ever. :) He was shocked!

This week not a whole lot happened, it's the holidays so a lot of people are on vacation so it has been hard to get a hold of our investigators. Sister Aguirre and I are trying to think of new ways of finding people and trying to think of ways we can teach so people will have the desire to get baptized. This is one of the things I am having a hard time with because it seems like Heavenly Father puts all these super legit people in our path and we start teaching them but then they always fade away and become uninterested. Are we doing something wrong or is this normal? I guess this just means we have to find more people! :) Something I am learning (and at times it's painful) is learning to be patient and have faith in the Lord's timing. Sometimes I get frustrated because I can't understand the members when they talk to me or I don't understand what's going on in a lesson because I have a hard time understanding the person's spanish. BUT, although these things are hard they are helping me grow. I just need to have more faith in the Lord and trust that he called me spanish speaking for a reason (and that I should be grateful that it's just spanish, and not mandarin or japanese or something) and someday I will find that reason out.

Last Friday we had a Christmas devotional with our whole mission. It was great and I met so many fun missionaries! We were also able to be reunited with our elders from the MTC! Elder Kerr and Elder Meek! They are so great! It was so fun to see them and hear their experiences of the last 7 weeks. Elder Meek has a super legit trainer and they have 7 people ready to get baptized, I need to learn his secrets ;)

Last Tuesday (the 18th) we were able to go do service at a Senior Center. It was SO great! At first I didn't know what to do and felt a little awkward but as soon as I jumped in and forgot about myself it was so fun! That is the secret to service. Forget yourself and go to work :D I keep having to remind myself of this daily. I love serving and have an awesome trainer who is the epitomy of charity and service. She never thinks about herself and is constantly reaching out to members in our ward or to investigators and helping them feel the love of Christ. I have to remind myself she has been out for 9 months and I have only out for 7 weeks. Someday I hope I can be like her! She loves her mission so much and last week when she hit her 9 month mark she was so distraught because she hates that time is passing so quickly. She is teaching me a lot about charity, selflessness, and love. She's the best!

Family I am so so happy and grateful for this opportunity to serve the Lord. It is definitely the hardest thing I have ever done. (I say that a lot but it's true!) Sister Aguirre pointed out to me yesterday that one LITERALLY give up everything to come out on a mission. Your comfort zone, food, friends, family, etc etc. I have been blessed to still have the luxury of being in the USA (I think Heavenly Father knew I couldn't handle being more than 2000 miles away from my family ;)) But you know what? With all my heart this sacrifice is worth it. To be able to talk to people about the gospel on a daily basis and bear my testimony many times a day of Jesus Christ is an experience that I will never have again. Talk to any missionary and they will tell you that their mission was their best 18-24 months of their life. We have such a huge job to do but Heavenly Father knows with His help we can do it. I can't wait to hear where my sister and brother, Missy and Willie, get called! Heavenly Father needs you out here. It's amazing to think that they are heading out with this new generation of missionaries. It's so exciting! 

In the MTC we sing "The Army of Helaman" but they changed it so the chorus reads:

We are as the Army of Helaman

We have been called in our youth

And we are now the Lord's missionaries

to bring the world His truth.

I loved singing this in the MTC and remembering it on a daily basis now that I am out in the field.

I can't wait for Missy and Willie to be able to experience the MTC, it's amazing!!!!!

Thank you all for your love and support, have a wonderful new year!!!!!

Con Amor,

Hermana Richardson