WEEK 29 "Hood Street Miraculously Turned Into Hope Street"

Que tal? 

This week was one for the books! We saw a huge pattern of God leading us to the people who were ready to hear our message. People are so humble here in Hollywood and I have never felt so much love from random strangers in my whole life. 

Last Monday night we were knocking. We only had 30 mins to knock in between two lessons; so we prayed real hard to be lead to someone who needed our message. The second door we knocked on was the cutest family (mom/daughter) from Honduras. They let us in instantly to hear a message about the Book of Mormon. As we taught them that this record was written by perhaps their ancestors the spirit filled the room so strongly and I have never felt something to be so true. Their faces lit up and told us that they believed everything we taught them. They have been reading lots and we are going back tonight to teach them more.

Then on Tuesday, we had interviews with our mission president. He is the most inspired man. I strive to be like him and his wife, they are spiritual powerhouses. At the end of the much-needed interview with my "best friend" he prayed that we would be able to find the people who were "pure in heart and ready to hear the gospel." That night the first door we knocked on we met the most amazing guy named Jovanni! As we described to him our purpose and why we were standing on his front porch trying not to make it awkward (door approaches are always a little bit awkward) he instantly told us that God had worked through us to answer his prayer.

He told us that the night before he prayed with all his heart to have God reveal His true church to him. And in that moment we all felt the chills and knew it was the spirit testifying that God had let the stars align in that very moment because He needed Jovanni to know that our church was true. After we took a minute to take it all in we taught him the restoration. Jovanni is progressing towards baptism and is the most humble, incredible human being. The best part was that the Street that Jovanni lives on was changed recently from "Hood Street" to now "Hope Street." And this is what caught our eye when we were trying to find a place to knock. 

Knocking miracles continued on Wednesday as well. Each morning we set daily goals for finding, committed people to come to church, and members present at lessons. That morning we felt very inspired to find and teach three new friends. We were very committed to this goal. Yet again, God lead us to a different part to knock on "Hope Street" and the first door we knocked on a kind southern baptist man instantly let us in to teach him and his wife.

They asked us if we were selling books. They were receptive to our message about the Book of Mormon and told us to not be surprised if we saw them at church on Sunday. The wife couldn't stop flipping through the pages and marveling at the pages. She told us that at the beginning she was mad her husband let us in but now she can't wait to read it and have us come back. Then right after meeting Elloise and Willy the coolest deacon and deaconess, God lead us to find Herbert...Another friend for the English Elders. God truly works through our faith. I have seen this time and time again on my mission as we align our will with His. 

On Saturday we were on a blitz with our district. I was with sister Mercado and the first door we knocked on we found the most adorable family from Mexico. I love the spirit that we feel each day as we testify of the gospel of Jesus Christ and the happiness it brings to families. Angela and her family were very prepared by the Lord to hear our message!

The biggest miracle of the week, though, was seeing Liliana have a change of heart. She is one of our dearest friends whom we have been teaching for a month. She has been wanting to get baptized for the past couple of weeks but has been waiting for her answer from God. After lots of praying, studying, and fasting we are on cloud nine because she has gained a testimony for herself and is getting baptized this Saturday. Liliana is one of the most influential people I have met on my mission because we truly know her inside and out. We have been through the thick and thin of it together. I never once doubted that God would bless her with an answer to her humble prayers.

The most rewarding feeling in the entire world is going through hard times and rising out of it with our Savior. I know that it is only through our Savior's infinite redeeming power and love that I was able to keep the faith through this experience and also that Liliana was able to experience true conversion for herself. Each morning as we watch the sunrise during exercise time, I am reminded that Christ truly fills our lives with color. The sun always, without fail, fills the dark clouds with bright pink colors as it rises. We can too, can experience this transformation through repentance. Repentance is such a joyful experience that we all need to go through to be converted. As we are spiritually reborn each day our dark patches of grey are once again filled with light and color through the literal Son of God. I love my Savior and I love this beautiful journey of life that our Father in Heaven has given to each one of us. 

Les quiero mucho!

-hermana Richards

Highlights: 

-We celebrated 1 month together in Hollywood with our trainees with breakfast and cake

-We woke up early this morning to see the Sunrise on the Pier

-Our neighbor stopped us and told us how he was in a very dark spot on time in His life. He prayed beucase he desperately needed Gods help to overcome this darkness and immediately God helped him feel of his love through one of our advertisements on tv

-Ward party with Food and Latin dancing to celebrate our old bishop and all he did for us