Week 2: Washington Bound (Sept 14, 2015)

Hey everyone! Thanks for all the emails! I love hearing from everyone. This week has gone by so fast, I cannot believe I have already been in the MTC 12 days and that I am leaving tomorrow! To be honest I am a little scared, but excited to just get out and get to work. I am done living with six girls and eating food that makes me sick all day ha. I cant wait to use my blender(:

So this week was such a spiritual week! Well I guess any week at the MTC will be, but my companion was a lot more stable and I wasn't that sick so it was awesome!  I got to teach my first "real Investigator" ha however real they are. Sister Marsden and I worked so well together during our lessons with our three investigators. We theoretically got one baptized and got one to not hate god anymore so that was pretty awesome. I am still getting the hang of this whole teaching thing and I am really working hard on being bold and confident. I have also been working on being an effective missionary and how to get my investigators to want to be apart of this gospel. I am a super convincing person in general, but it has been hard for me for some reason to tell my investigators what I want to tell them (yep its all a mental game). I have loved using the spirit of revelation and Sister Marsden decided to try singing a song in one of our lessons to have the spirit in there. It was like a blast from a bomb, but a spiritual blast of course. That whole lesson was so awesome. One day our teacher brother Ries wanted us to observe him and one of our elder companions as they taught him. It was such a cool experience to see from an outsiders perspective. I learned so much from that 20minutes and grew so much as a person. He also had us do door approaches it was scary, but a good learning experience for me. When it wasnt our turn we would watch from inside our classroom and you could tell Brother Ries was getting a kick out of the whole thing. He is a way good actor and I couldnt have asked for a better teacher. 

We got to go to the temple this week and I was so so happy we got to go! We took lots of pictures and one of the Elders from my district is helping us get them all uploaded. Such a nice dude....elder. This week we have really come together as a District. I didnt think we would get that close, but just sitting at meals, going to firesides together and playing in the gym together has made us all really close. I love all my Elders and Sisters in my district. I am going to miss them so much. We play a game called "would you rather" (if you dont know what it is go ask someone. Anyways Elder sutton and Bosshardt and I play it all day and we just have a blast. I see the importance of a district and how much support they bring to everyone. 

Have a great week everyone! I love you all and you are all in my prayers. 

-Sister Richards

Week 1: Easter Egg (Sept 7, 2015)

So I am still alive and yes I really cant believe it either!! First off thanks for all your support and love, it has meant so much to me! I definitely understand the saying, " I can feel the love" from all your prayers. Don't really know how, but I can. Summarizing my week is like fitting the world in an Easter egg. My egg is the space I have to explain what I have been doing and learning and the world is everything I need to tell you.  

My companion- She came late and I was nervous to meet her.  When she came to our class I didn't really have the chance to meet her or say anything because we were already learning stuff. It all worked out though don't worry!  She is from Bountiful, Utah. She has such a large heart and a sweet spirit. I know why the lord put us together and I am so beyond grateful to him for putting her in my life and as my first companion. She is a super funny person and we laugh so much during our spazzy moments. She is a singer and did theater in high school.  She as she says, "we are steam rollers together." Statement: so true.  We just went at it in our studies all week and I couldn't have grown more spiritually as a person thanks to sista Marsden (her thug name)! She has taught me so much as a person and I have loved her the moment I meet her. I love every second I get when I serve her and help her when she needs an extra boost, because she does that for me (even if she doesn't know it). She and I are alike in a lot of ways.  We love to have fun, we love to talk, we love people, we get bugged easily (YES MOM THERE ARE PEOPLE LIKE ME), we are introverts and extroverts when we need to be, so needless to say we get along so well. She has been struggling a lot whether to know if she should stay in the MTC or leave. My heart breaks for her and I just want her to feel my love for her. I have never prayed so hard for someone. Pray for her please. I wrote this in my journal to help you better understand how amazing she is, "If I had Sister Marsden for a companion for my whole mission I would enjoy every moment of it and never regret a thing."

My teachers- I have two awesome teachers who are so enthusiastic about helping us learn and grow as missionaries. Brother littlefield is amazing and teaches me so many things.  I love learning from him because he is funny yet serious about the gospel.  He teaches in an easy relatable way.  My other teacher is from those District episodes I watched before I left. GO WATCH THEM. He is the poli guy...Elder Reise. I cannot describe him in words because he is so amazing. He teaches in a way that makes me want to keep learning. He pushes us to be better missionaries and I love that. Both my teachers make my four hours of learning fly by! I get so sad when we have to go to our next activity. They again are another miracle from god. 

The MTC- The rooms are like dorms and the beds are so not comfortable.  Mom I know you know me and how much heat I produce, but I regret not bringing my blanket because I have been cold every night. MY FAN DOES WORK. I am so happy haha and blessed. Be grateful for the little things in life. I pray so much, like every time. I have learned to embrace it and I love saying prayers! I have been challenged in my confidence to teach, but I have grown so much spiritually and I have learned to trust in my lord and personal revelation. I literally feel the spirit 24 hours a day and I never want to be in a place where I cant feel it again. I have so much love for the gospel and for my savior. He gave us a way to reach god again because our natural man is imperfect. Go find Elder Bednar's talk he gave 10 years ago at the MTC during christmas. He teaches on the character of christ and how we need to fallow christ's example on how to get rid of our carnal state (as men in the world) Turn inwards in humility and serve everyone around you.  Dont let your selfishness turn you outwards. Anyways I am not good at what dad does when he talks about the gospel because I still know nothing, I am nothing without my god. 

Just know I love you all and the food really isnt that bad Noah. I am always thinking and praying for you. I am on the Lord's time here as a servant of him and I love it.  I love learning and I love having the spirit as a constant companion. I love my ability to grow my relationship with my Lord. I have been sick all week, but its not stopping me from becoming what god wants me to be as a missionary. I can do anything with my father in heaven and the holy ghost. I am so grateful for all the amazing examples all the sister's and Elder's that have gone on missions before me. When I get down all I have to do is think about all those who have gone through this before me and know I can make it because they have. I love my family and am so grateful for everything, all you have taught me, all the memories and all the love. The lord gave me each one of you for a reason and I cannot thank you enough for being my little sibling and my mother and father. 

Ill send pictures once I figure out how this system works...sorry

Sister Richards (sounds so weird to say that still)