WEEK 26 "No More Gated Areas"

Hola todos! wow! time flies when you are in Florida! Another week has come and gone. 

This area is night and day different from my last one. There are no gates here, a lot more Spanish speakers, and no mansions. I love the humble people of Hollywood. We have been soooo busy. I think I have taught more lessons here in just a week and a half than I did in 3 whole months in my last area. God is showering us with miracles. 

We are working with the cutest family. Lilian is a single mom and has 3 kids all under the age of 9. She works two jobs and doesn't have a car. On top of that, they are looking for another apartment right now because the rent is too expensive. Her life is so insanely busy and she never has a set schedule for work so that is a little hard. However, her kids LOVE when we come over and they never want us to leave. The 9-year-old son watches the 2-year-old baby and his 7-year-old brother while the mom is at work all day. All he wants in life is to learn more about Jesus and God and also become a famous soccer player so that one day he can buy his mom and siblings a big house. they are the CUTEST kids I have ever met in my life. We had an amazing lesson with them about the Atonement and gospel of Jesus Christ this week and what Christ did for us. The family really loved learning how Christ took upon every one of our pains, sicknesses, mistakes, and failures so that we can be comforted, healed and strengthened. 

Also this week we went to the biggest local farmers market in Hollywood that is only two street down from our house. I knew that one of my old friends that we were teaching in silver lakes was working an arepa stand there so I dragged Sister Doyle over there for lunch! and guess what we found her. That was such a tender mercy because I love that lady and her family with all my heart. I love how God kept me so close so that we can continue to help her. 

We also met the sweetest mom who was drowning in stress with raising her kids. We shared with the video called "alto me eleva" and she bawled to us and told us that this is exactly what she needs in her life right now. An opportunity to increase her faith and find spiritual strength to help her through those hard days. 

We also received a very cool referral this week!!! A very cute hipster Venezuelan lady Her family is also very against learning about the church and has threatened her that they will send her back to Venezuela if she meets with us. She still wants to meet up and we have met with her once. She is obsessed with the feeling that she gets when she reads the book of Mormon. We love her and know that her efforts to learn more about God will bring heavens blessings upon her. 

The biggest thing that I learned this week is that God has a perfect plan for each one of his children. Although we may have a plan for one of our friends... Gods plan always trumps. This is why it is so crucial to be in tune with the spirit so that our words, actions, goals, and motives line up with His will. I love my Savior, He is the reason why I am out here on a mission. He carries me through the hard days and puts color in my life in the good days as well. I am so grateful for this gospel and that we have the priesthood power restored on the earth again with a prophet who leads and guides us. 

Love you all so much! Tengan buen semana

-hermana Richards