WEEK 23 "Find While You Teach, Teach While You Watch The Copa Mundial"
Happy Fourth of July!
Thank you for all the sweet birthday wishes. I am so grateful for each one of your kind letters and words of encouragement!
This week we taught Mayra and her family again! We had an amazing discussion on the Book of Mormon and how it helps our families understand the Gospel of Jesus Christ in its perfect form. Through building on the Gospel of Jesus Christ we taught her that her children will learn where they can turn for peace, comfort, strength, forgiveness and protection. I love sharing the verse in 2 Nephi 25:26 and then linking it to Alma 7:11 which reads...
11And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people.
12 And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities.
She loved the concept of helping her children gain more spiritual strength through the Book of Mormon so that they can meet their challenges that are occurring now and in the future. This family has such a deep faith in Jesus Christ and have amazing intentions to align their will with God's. This is one of my all time favorite parts of each week. And it is so cute to see their kids get so excited to learn more about Christ. They also gave me the cutest gift for my birthday, they are some of my dearest friends. I hope they come to church with us this week:)
Another highlight was teaching Leen and Carlos in a member's house/mansion this week. These two kind men live in the boonies in a tiny trailer park. Neither of them have a car, a steady job or a family here in Florida. They have been through so much in their lives but yet they still have such a strong faith in God and his love for them. Although Carlos was in the hospital the day before church he still managed to put God first and came to church the next day. These men have touched my life for good and I am excited to see what this upcoming week has in store for their progression.
Another epic lesson was with Anna this week. We were knocking a large apartment building. We knocked into a sweet woman named Anna from Coloumbia. She told us she was too busy and didn't want us to come in to share a message. However my comp heard the world cup going on in the background and she asked who was playing. Anna's face lit up as she told us Russia was playing Croatia. I have been obsessing over the copa mundial for the past few weeks with our latin friends and so I instantly asked if we could come in and watch it with her for a second. She immediately let us in. We watched the last five minutes where the game was tied with an amazing header off of a corner kick. Then we taught her a short lesson during the commercial, watched the Pk round and then got a return visit and left. hahah We are going back this week to teach her more. this was the best miracle of the whole week!!!! I got to watch the world cup and find a new friend:)
This week I learned the power that is in one small Jesus card. A year ago one of my friends here named Sister Measles left a Jesus card on a man's door. Fast forward to now, he still has it and called us this week to tell us he wants to come back to church. This touched my heart deeply because he and his family haven't been to church in ten years! This man Luis knows that no matter how long or how far you've felt you've traveled from God, His hands are always outstretched. God's grace is free and perfect for everyone. I love the scripture when Christ says, "Come unto me all ye ends of the earth, buy milk and honey, without money and without price." Christ has extended this invitation to everyone, to come unto Him. Each one of us will inevitably turn away from Christ at sometime but this is why we have the incredible gift of repentance. Repentance is any act that brings us closer to Christ. I love My Savior and I am grateful for this message of peace and salvation that we bring into the lives of others.
Les Quiero mucho!!! Tenga buen semana:)
xoxo,
Hermana Richards
me- "These fireworks are really loud."
some random lady we knocked into- "Yeah it's great we are celebrating this amazing moment of us meeting each other. I would love to come to church... all of this makes perfect sense what you have told me."
Me- "Alejandro, how long have you been speaking in your British accent"
Alejandro (14 year old boy who always speaks in a British accent) "since I was in fourth grade."
Me- "wow! that's a really long time."
Alejandro- "yeah my friend in fourth grade thought I was from British.. that's not even a place."
Mayra (his mom) - "I don't know where this accent came from because Alejandro is definitely 100% latin."
