WEEK 53 "Las Cucarachas...... but this time it's the size of my palm"

como le va? 

This week was very crazy. One of the highlights is that we had zone council with all the other missionaries. It is so much fun to all be working together in the cause of Christ. 

Another highlight is that we have been working a ton with part member families and that's how we've been finding a lot of our friends. We have been trying to meet with Kevin's family for the past 4 weeks and this week we were all finally able to find a time to get in there and to teach the restoration. This darling family has not been to church for over 5 years. However, due to Kevin's strong commitment to be baptized they came this week. It was so amazing to hear their testimonies of how a gap in their lives is being filled. Kevin is a genius and always comes up with the best questions... this week my favorite was, "If a prophet is called by God what happens if he rejects the calling?" I love teaching kids because they think in such a unique way. 

Whenever anyone ever asks me what my favorite part about missionary work is I always respond that it is when I see  a change in someones heart that is created through the spirit. This week I will share two experiences of mighty changes of heart. 

The first is when all of our plans fell through and we had planned to take one of the youth out with us. I prayed that we would be able to have an experience where this cute young women would be able to feel her testimony strengthen in Christ. As we walked down the street contacting everyone we came across a cute lady. We told her that we had met her daughter a couple days prior, and she was excited but told us that she needed to leave, Then the next minute she was whipping out her phone to share with us us the corkiest video of her cat being walked on a pink leash. Then as we kept loving her the next thing we knew she was inviting us in to meet her whole family and share a message. PEOPLE it is in these sweet and small miracles that makes this work worth it. When we testify about restored truths with Love in our hearts for our Savior and everyone around us we can feel the spirit. And the spirit works an intermediate change in our hearts through the power of the Atonement. By the end of our short message and an entertaining arobic act by their hilarious cat they were asking us where they could get a Book of Mormon. The Spirit is what changes hearts and I am so grateful for moments like these. 

Last night was another adventure. Sister Ward and I had the craziest day of our lives and then at the end of the night we had one hour left to get 5 lessons in to accomplish our Goal of thirty lessons that week. We prayed and told God our hearts were bound and we were ready to act on this goal. Long story short we went to the parking lot of "Fresco y Mas" (a super cheap Latin market) and started contacting people like crazy. I told her that we were not going home until we reached this goal:) we taught a cute family in their car eating Wendy's frotsties. They were sooo adorable! Then we taught another man that didnt believe in Christ and had another great 10 minute lesson while standing next to the grocery carts. Then with 10 minutes to go I thought okay lets go teach a lesson to that worker who is smoking outside. We ran up to her and starting getting to know her. She was very cold. She didn't want anything to do with us and gave us the typical response, "I'm Catholic and I'm saved." We just kept loving her. We shared some memorized scriptures to help her feel the spirit and then we started testifying.

As she told us that she needed to go back in to work we gave her one of our cards with a picture of the Book of Mormon on the back. She immediately asked us, "How do I get one of these books? I've always wanted to read it." I would have never imagined this woman ever saying these words. Even though I have been out for over a year now, God still seems to surprise me ever single day. I know He truly is in the details of our lives. I love a quote that says, "We change with every good thought, word, and action. As we willingly obey the principles of the Gospel we are immediately changed by the Spirit of God to become incrementally more like Him. Surrender your will. Withhold nothing." I know that as we live the restored gospel of Jesus Christ we will become the sons and daughters that He wants us to be. Little by little we will be sanctified through the spirit to one day be able to dwell in the presence of God. I know that this gospel is true because of the way our leaders of the church have been transformed into disciples of God. They are walking proof of the fruits of this gospel. They were born into imperfect families and they are still imperfect, but they have chosen to let the Atonement of Jesus Christ shape them into who they are today. I know Prophet Russel M Nelson is called of God. I know that the Savior leads and guides us in these days. 

LOVE YOU ALL!

xo,

Hermana Richards

ps If anyone has advice on how to kill cucarachas let me know hahahah pleaseeeee we were up late last night screaming and running around trying to kill them!