WEEK 18 "Didn't know elevation existed in Florida"
I officially completed my second transfer in Florida this week. wahoo! We had transfer calls last night and I found out that I am staying in Silver Lakes but I am getting a new companion! Her name is Sister Jensen and she is literally the only sister I knew coming into the mission! I AM SO EXCITED! crazy how God knows everything perfectly. I am very sad to say goodbye to my cute trainer who has helped me learn so much.
It's a little nerve racking to take over the area but I am super excited to see what this transfer has in store. I have a feeling my Spanish is going to be stretched like crazy this transfer which I am very pumped about. Sister Jensen is only two transfers ahead of me and was in an English area last transfer so I am going to have to have to step up my Spanish game! I feel super confident that we will be able to to still keep up the rocking success as we work hard and rely on lots of prayer!
My last week with sister Thurman was one that I will remember forever! It started out with a fabulous district meeting. Its Elder Ajai's last week on his mission and his testimony of the Savior all brought us to tears. It was the most tender thing I have ever listened to. After we hit up lunch at a local hot dog stand that we had been dying to go to for the past three months. We got two hot dogs and two chips for $6.50 total. The sweet man was not interested at all in talking about the church but we hopefully brightened his day a little by stopping by.
Leonardo is still progressing like crazy. We had another great lesson with him this week. My favorite part of the lesson was when he leaned over to Hermano Yacaman ( one of our members) and said, "I want you to push me under the water when I get baptized." Leonardo is loving church and the family that he has found in our cute little branch. They all have taken such good care of him. I am so grateful for our members.
This past Sunday I played my violin in church and Leonardo had his phone with the flash going off the whole time. It was classic! That man is so faith filled. He has the strongest testimony of Joseph Smith and Knows this church is true. I am forever changed because of this opportunity God has given me to love and serve him.
One lesson that I have learned this week is the law of consecration. When we do all that we can given our specific circumstances and resources, God will add to it. I have seen God's power especially come in full force when we don't want to do our part but do it anyway. One night we had been knocking all day and it was getting dark, I was exhausted and wanted to go home. But my companion told me let's just knock 20 more minutes. When all odds were against me... I had to go to the bathroom, I had a headache and it was 8:30 at night I said okay let's just do it anyway.
It was right after I said that we knocked into the most beautiful Venezuelan lady who just barely moved to the U.S. She immediately let us in to share a short message about the Book of Mormon. PEOPLE it is a straight miracle that we knocked into this lady. God had been preparing her heart to hear our message, and He lead us straight to her after I showed Him I was willing to consecrate my life to Him, even in the hardest times.
I am so grateful for my Savior Jesus Christ! He is everything to me and I know that He is at the head of the this work. I love the amazing people of Florida and the life changing opportunities I am having. There is truly nothing like a mission.
Have a great week:) LOVE YOU ALL!!
xoxo,
Hermana Richards
Highlights:
-We found a hill!!!!! BEST DAY OF MY LIFE!!
-found Jeff knocking one day. We helped him weed his garden. He is the happiest guy I know. Two days later we went back to teach him again and he had passed away. Now I know my ancestors are helping teach him in the spirit world:) SO grateful for the short time we had together.
-sis montifur is one of our favorite members and this week she showed us how to do a hip swing to relive pain in the low back. She is almost 80 and is a hoot!
- We had another NINER NINER. I spent it with Hermana Mercado. We saw tons of miracles that day!!!
-Some memebers took us out to eat this week. I felt propmted to ask the waiter if she wanted to pray with us over our food. She later expressed her deep gratitude that we did that. She was touched and needed to be reminded of God.