WEEK 68 "NOT quite done yet... Minister to ALL"

This week went by faster than I was shaking my vibrato when we played at zone conference. I think I was nervous because I had to play the piece on a violin that was super old and I wasn't used to it. But overall it went great!! 

Okay, this week was quite the roller coaster. Zone conference was super spiritual but not as amazing as our temple tour with Elizabeth. She is from Peru and is the biggest miracle in our lives. Her friends in Peru had helped her find the church here in Hialeah and one day while we were at District Council at 9AM in the morning she just walks in and tells us that she wants to learn more. She has wanted to be baptized from the beginning and we have been working hard with her for over 5 weeks. We wanted to help her chase out the darkness in her life before her baptism on Saturday so we set up a beautiful temple tour with one of our favorite members. To our surprise when we showed up the Mission presidents wife was there walking into the temple. They got to meet and it was a beautiful tender mercy. Then we dove into our lesson of the Plan of Salvation and how temples make it all possible. It was one of the most special moments where we all felt heaven near. One of her sons passed away as a baby and she opened up to us about the story. As we bore testimony of eternal families and temple sealings we were all brought to tears. It was one of the most dulce experiences I have witnessed. We asked her what is the next step that she needs to do to enter into the temple. She said, "I need to be baptized." During the lesson, we knew that Elizabeth had concerns about her baptism but we didn't know what they were. We asked her how she was feeling in her heart about this decision, Then the spirit took over and allowed her to open up and she told us that deep down she really wants to be baptized in PERU by her friend who introduced her to the church. I was trying to keep my poker face on and not die at this news because this was the first time we had heard this concern and we were all planning on her baptism in two days. 

At this moment I knew that God had a plan and I knew that as we tried our best to help her He would too. Right now her baptism has been rescheduled for another day and we are still trying to talk her through everything but I know that Gods timing is perfect. And His ways are always higher than mine. I am just so happy every time we are with Elizabeth. every time that we talk about her story or when we are with her the spirit is strong. And I have never felt a love for anyone deeper. She is truly ready for this step we just have to wait patiently.

OkAY, so many other miracles happened here in Hialeah I will give a rundown super fast... 

Monday we were knocking in my favorite Venezuelan city named Doral. The whole time I have been here it has been a dream of mine to find and teach a Venezuelan family. They are my absolute favorites. AND GUESS WHAT God knows what's in my heart too and so BOOM our appointment fell through and the first door we knocked on was that family that I have been looking for!!! the sweet grandma named Nancy opened the door and was more interested in us that anyone has been in a long time. She literally asked us ten questions right off the bat... my favorite being, "Well what's the message of the day? I want to hear." She led us into her house and the next thing we knew we were teaching her whole family of four. Sister Atwood and I have been role-playing and polishing our Restoration lesson like crazy with memorized scriptures and inspired questions. So we both looked at each other as we entered and we knew what we needed to teach. This sweet Catholic family told us how they go to church for God but they don't like the leadership of the church and how it is run. We immediately laid down our power sentence that is our favorite right now... If you knew that Jesus Christ's church was on the earth again what would that mean to you? They said that they would join it. Then we went into the most beautiful Restoration Lesson I think I have ever given. They were bawling with tears of Joy and we left them to pray to know if our message was true. WOW, moments like these are the best parts of missionary work. I know that God had been preparing them for years to receive this message. Tonight we will be going back and we will keep you updated. 

Abraham is making lots of progress. This week we had the most inspiring MPL named Ramon join us. Ramon is a recent convert and left us all in tears. His story is unique and life-changing. He had so many addictions before his baptism but the power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ changed him. The power of the Book of Mormon allowed him to have faith in himself and in the Savior. As we bore testimony of the living Christ I was left in tears and literally knew that our Savior was in that room. Every time that we even speak of Jesus Christ the atmosphere changes. We are illuminated and filled with His power. I love Him and I am forever grateful for moments like these. 

Wow do I love this new invitation to Minister, it is just the best thing in the entire world! Sister Atwood and I have been currently loving the $1.50 cookie dough at Walmart ...it just makes visits so much better right? Well, that night we had two lessons with some of our favorite friends, and then we had plans to visit a cute Hermana that hasn't been to church for 5 years. We didn't know her at all; we just knew that her daughter had cancer. She let us in and to our surprise she even let us eat our own cookies we had made her with some nice Cuban guava paste on top. She was telling us the story of why she was hurt and wounded and didn't want to come back. We simply shared a video and a prayer and as we were walking out the door she followed us to our car. At that moment the spirit put words in my mind. They were not my own thoughts and then without even thinking twice the words were coming out of my mouth. I promised her, "That if you return to church God will heal your daughter." the spirit pierced the truth of these words into our souls and she said yes I will. I will come back. 

There is nothing more rewarding in this world than being on the Lord's errand and that is the plea that our Savior Jesus Christ extends to all of us. He needs us, each and every one of us to care and love after his Sheep. 

LOVE you all! (Even my family who is moving to another state;)

-Hermana Richards

(these are not Hannah...but I wonder if she is planning an activity like this in 10 weeks)