Friday, January 29, 2016

The news is in and I'm SAFE!

Hello Everyone
   We had interviews with President last week which were really good. I always love to talk to President and Sister Sweeney, they always boost me right up. President told me I'll be staying here in Taylor for my last transfer and Sister Ylisaari will be getting transferred to the valley. She is so excited to go down to the valley and escape the winter weather. I'm so happy for her! Like Sister Thumstedter, Sister Ylisaari will also be going to Phoenix to do French work. If only I had taken French in high school, I could have joined them. haha  I'll be getting my new companionthis Friday and I'll have 7 weeks to get her ready to take over the area! 

The Furbushs are doing really well, we had some really good lessons this week with them. Chris has received a testimony of the Book of Mormon! He finished the reading assignment we gave them and he just kept on reading and he loved Jacob 5, which kind of shocked us but was so cool! They are on date to be baptized the 20th of next month right now. 

This week was a struggle. In the afternoons all our set appts would cancel and no one we tried was home! But we just kept pressing forward. Yesterday in our ward conference the theme was 2 Nephi 31:20 which is my favorite scripture in the Book of Mormon. The stake presidency talked a lot about pressing forward. Nephi tells us to "press forward with a steadfastness in Christ". Pressing forward means that we are going to face trials, challenges, troubles and have to push through them. I know that with Christ we can push through and press forward. In 1 Nephi 8 in Lehi's dream only those who  pressed forward continually holding to the rod (vs30), or feasting upon the words of Christ, were those who eventually partook of the fruit. I invite you all to press forward, feasting upon the words of Christ EVERY DAY. I know that the scriptures will tell us "all things that ye should do". 

Love you all! Hope you have a great week! 

Sister Richards

Us sisters in Snowfake zone with sister Sweeney


Our Taylor district!



The sunrise one morning :) We had warm sunny days almost all week! It was so nice

Sunday, January 24, 2016

So much success! :)


Hey everybody! Sorry I didn't get an email out last week. This past week has been sooo good! We have had so much success and lots of fun. We had exchanges and zone meeting and it snowed all day Friday! That was an adventure. 

On Tuesday our STL came to Taylor to serve with me for the day and we saw a couple miracles! We were able to contact this less active family I've never met before and they invited us back. We also contacted a member referral and talked to this 17 year old boy who has LDS friends and is interested in the church! He said his family had met with missionaries before and that he would like to meet with us. He's actually good friends with Pernille and she invited him to the lesson we're going to have with her this Tuesday night, I hope he can come! 

The Furbushs are doing really well. They have been studying the Book of Mormon faithfully and they are growing in their testimonies so much! They weren't baptized on the 16th but they attended a baptism with us on Saturday and after the baptism Jenny told us she felt the spirit strongly confirm to her that this is what she needs to do. They have come such a long ways in the last few months and they recognize that. Because Jenny still has a port in from dialysis that can't get wet we will be waiting until it comes out for their baptism- which will be next month some time.

On Saturday we finally taught this part-member family that my companions and I have been working with since last summer. The wife is so prepared! She accepted the Restoration and committed to read the Book of Mormon. We are going to teach her again this week :) I am so happy! 

Yesterday was the cherry on top for this great week: this less active family I've been visiting the entire time I've been here came to church for the first time! It was so good to have them at church. The whole ward just wrapped their arms around them and welcomed them. I hope they'll continue coming. In this same ward Sister Ylisaari and I were sitting in the middle of the row with the Furbushs on one side and Brent on the other. During the meeting Bishop Owens and I made eye contact and we both had the biggest smiles on our faces. I could see him mouth to me "today is a good day". It was SO awesome to have all of these people at church. 

All of this progress is so great! But I am so nervous that I could be transferred next week. I am praying that I can finish my mission here if it be the Lord's will! I have so much love for these people and hope to continue helping them progress in the Gospel! I couldn't be any happier right now. 

I hope you all are doing well and that you haven't given up on your New Year's resolutions yet! 
Lots of love,
Sister Richards :)

​I LOVE the Snowflake temple :)







Sunday, January 10, 2016

Happy New Year Fun!


Happy New Year Fun!


Just wait until you see the elders i played ball with... One goes home next month and the other
has 18 months left 

I had a blast playing basketball all day with them!