Amazing Conference and three new investigators! - 11/20/2017

HELLO MY BEAUTIFUL FRIENDS AND FAMILY!!!

So, many things happened this week which made it seem like way longer than one week. But, at the same time we were kept busy and so it seemed like it flew by! That is mission life right there. 

So, first of all, we had an AMAZING conference with Elder Pearson of the Seventy on Tuesday. he talked to all the missionaries in my mission and we learned so much. He really got us excited about talking to EVERYONE and not getting discouraged when someone doesn't accept your message. Sister Koehler and I have been determined to work extra hard ever since that day. and it has paid off!

On Thursday we got THREE new investigators! We taught these three young guys who are friends and we set a baptism date with all of them! They are really cool guys and I hope we are able to continue working with them. They were really an answer to our prayers. We have been struggling to see success recently and they really lifted our spirits.

On Saturday we attended the funeral of a man in our ward. He loved the missionaries and we got to know him pretty well while he was alive. Sister Koehler and I sang Nearer My God To Thee at the funeral. It was a lovely service but he will be greatly missed. We know that he is in a much better place now and everyone only had good things to say about him and his life. He was only about 30 when he died and it was pretty sudden. But we are able to talk to his non-member family now. They have invited us to continue coming over and spend time with them. So, that is exciting!

And, after his burial we went and saw Selena's grave! For those who don't know, Selena was a really famous singer from Corpus Christi and she died really young. The whole city was in morning when she died. There is a memorial to her downtown by the beach and everything. But she was buried in the same cemetery as Mark (the man who passed away) and so we took a little detour and got a picture purely for bragging rights. 

Priscilla, our one most solid investigator hit a rough patch this week. She was supposed to be baptized this past Saturday but it didn't happen. She just recently started a new job and she said she felt overwhelmed. We are helping her to set another goal for a day she wants to be baptized. She is a really amazing person and I have so much love for her! The fact that she wasn't baptized this week made us sad but we are happy to help her feel more comfortable first.

Yesterday in Church Sister Koehler and I both gave talks about prayer! It went really well and I was really grateful for that opportunity. I can testify that daily prayer is a commandment for a reason! DO IT. 

I hope this email finds you all well! The Lord lives and loves us!  John 14:27 <3

-- 

-Hermana Lara Richardson

Hey Mommy!

Okay so first of all, I know what i actually want for Christmas! I want one of those DNA testing kits where it tells you all about your family heritage! i think that would be awesome because we talk about our family history a LOT. speaking of family history, this thursday i couldn't go on because i was on exchanges. BUT pretty much all other thursdays I will be on from about 10-12ish am (my time) and I will be researching! Woohoo! I have definetly developed the Spirit of Elijah here. Our mission is big on FHW and I love it! 

I pray for you and Dad every day! i will pray extra hard today for daddy. 

Mom, being a missionary is the best. I love it so much. Literally my full-time job is to love people, help people, and teach them about christ! IT CAN'T GET BETTER THAN THAT!!!!

Thank you so much for all the packages! i will for sure be sending one  package back (probably next P-Day) though. I love that grayish sweater you sent me. I wear it a lot. It is cardigan weather some days and some days It is way too hot for that. I am sending the bigger sweaters back. I also do have my pink lining that I am considering sending back as well. i just don't need it! Hopefully it doesn't get crazy cold all of a sudden! 

any other questions you have for me?

hna koehler got your letter and she is writing you back! 

love,

looie :) 

So the food here is good! There are NO paneras and i am very sad about it. There are subways, chick fil as, McDonalds, Panda Express*, and Wataburgers haha. There is at least one of all of the bigger fast food chains here. But no panera ); Corpus is actually a pretty big city. it is probably a little smaller than Grand Rapids. :) 

Can you send me all the info you know about Mary 'Little Dove' Hyanno? And any other cool ancestors i have? I easily have at least one Family History conversation every day. it is really cool! 

We were able to talk to a guy in spanish FINALLY. He said we could come back but when we went back he pretended like he wasn't home... sad :(

that happens a lot. We usually have really good success getting return appointments but when we go back they aren't there or they forgot or they cancel or something. It's a struggle! But, On Tuesday Hna Koehler and i got blessings from our district leader. It was amazing because he said a few similar things to my setting apart blessing! He told me again that there are people prepared for me to teach here! My question is, donde estan??? (Where are they?)

Anyway, life is good! 

I haven't gotten muffins yet!! I am pumped! 

That is crazy that dad didn't get the job but you guys are awesome because you have trust in the Lord that everything will work out anyway. I love you guys! i know wherever you end up it will be by divine guidance. :) I want to see that movie "Wonder"! i read the book and really loved it. I am happy to know that the movie turned out well. I am excited for you and Dad to get a little break. maybe that's also why Dad didn't get the job. Ya'll need a break! 

also... I am sick right now. i may or may not have the flu or some other kind of cold. I am powering through but it is way hard because I want to just keep working and moving on but I physically can't. Please pray for me that I will be able to heal quickly and get back to work!