The grass is greener... when you put in the work.
'Well... It has been a good... I am super grateful for all the things I learned the past two years. I will never forget all the many miracles I have seen. All the amazing people I met and all the many life changing experiences I had over here on the East Coast. The Branch members with the help of my Mom threw me a surprise going away party! They told me they were having some Relief Society meeting and that we could come and snag some food before we went to our appointments. It was fast Sunday so I was pretty hungry. We had just finished singing in a baptism when we went over there and everyone started cheering when I walked in! Hahaha it was so weird! Then they had a cake with my face on it! And Gilberto with the help of my Mom put together a slideshow of pictures from my life. I think then all the members and missionaries there learned they really knew nothing about me hahaha they only know Elder Richins. It was really cool though. They had me share my final testimony. It was a good time! So many emotions!!!! Saturday night I cut my hair... then this morning I cut Elder Shepherds hair... Last time doing that! Grateful for these missionaries... Not really much to say... Looks like I am getting transferred to the good ole' 801... See you there :) 2 Timothy 4:6-7... 6 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Let's keep on keeping on together. -Elder Richins' Happy Thanksgiving!!
T-texts are this Friday! Time to make your guesses of where I am going! :) This week was good! So much food! We went to dinner with a friend of Gilberto's from his work. He isn't a member so they were all kinda drunk, but the food was SO good! We ate so much! Then we had some flan and cheesecake, right when we were about to burst a member called and there was a confusion and they thought we were going there for thanksgiving so we went over there. The pan that the turkey was in broke in the oven and then it started on fire! hahahaha it was an adventure! we got the fire out and then they sprayed some cleaner in the oven while it was still hot and our eyes were burning haha we all had to leave the house! In the end we had to eat another thanksgiving, In total I had 5 plates:) Even with all that food I weighed myself after at Gilberto's and I had lost weight!!! Hahahaha I was so confused! But I felt so sick! It was a great day though! Thankful for a strong stomach and friendly New Englanders and the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The fun never ends out here in Worcester. Neither does the Thanksgiving leftovers! Neither does my growing testimony of the Savior. I love you all so much and am grateful for all the opportunities I have had to grow and the people that have so blessed my life! I will never forget how much I received from giving it all. Go to mormon.org and check out the #lighttheworld The world needs our light. -Elder Richins Polar factory, Popcorn balls, and baptizing nations 'This week was eventful!! We went to the Polar soda factory where our member Gilberto works! He was so funny, to get a soda for us they would be going on a conveyor belt super fast and he would just snatch one off the line for us. Then if you didn't want to drink it all you just pour it right on the ground and throw the can away hahaha it was awesome! We had a great time. On Friday we had Zone Conference... and exactly one year ago we had zone conference the same day and it was my first zone conference in the Boston Mission and they had me share my testimony.. and now friday was my last zone conference in the Boston Mission and they had all the departing missionaries give their testimonies... at that point it got real! On Saturday Felix and his family were baptized! It was such a beautiful moment seeing them get baptized!!! I was almost crying at one point! They had gone through so much in their lives!! Not believing in God then moving from Haiti and all over south american not speaking the language. Then having a 7 year old girl and the wife was pregnant they crossed the ocean to make it to the US going through a bunch of huge trials which led them to believe in God. They said there is no other way they could have made it other than God. So we met them in the street one day and they let us into their humble home. No furniture, a 2 month old baby, and speaking little spanish and no english... 5 months later they are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and they have all they need to continue their way to the temple to become an eternal family. It was the greatest humbling experience for me! They are amazing! And the day they got baptized was the little girl Maylie's birthday she turned 9. When we asked her what her birthday plans were she said. "I am going to get baptized, then I will pray, then I will celebrate my birthday, then pray 9 times, then celebrate some more!" S'cute. Anyway... then we had a Thanksgiving party and they wanted us to make something sooo we made caramel popcorn balls! They were a hit!!!! Everyone loved them! They disappeared pretty quick. good times... here are some pictures. love, Elder Richins' It is getting... cold. 'Howdy, This week was pretty good! One of the investigators in our district decided to get baptized this week! and then he was baptized earlier on Thursday! It was super spiritual and awesome! And then Felix, Marie, and Maylie are all ready for their baptism this Saturday!! I am so glad I get to see them make this decision!!! The primary program was on Sunday and the kids were so cute! At one point the dad was whispering in his sons ear what to say. And the kid repeated exactly how the dad said it. in a whisper, into the microphone, "Jesus loves me" haha so great! Our Zone P-day didn't turn out too great... but we still made it somewhat fun! Today we are going to do a tour of a soda factory. So that should be fun. We had some cold days here, I love the cold... but when it isn't cold enough to wear my biggest coat, then it is uncomfortable. Carmen and Odales ran into some problems in their progression, but they are still good! They have great testimonies! We met a woman from Puerto Rico named Liz, her sister in-law is a member and through certain circumstances, Liz is super prepared for the gospel! She is super humble and willing to read and pray, and find out for herself if she can really receive all the blessings we talk about. So excited! I love the time I get to just sit and study... I don't think there is any other time when I feel more peace then I do just communicating personally with God. He is there and I know it. The evidence is all around if we just open our eyes. :) I love this Gospel. Trust in your Fathers plan. Keep on keeping on Love, Elder Richins' The set up we get when there is no man home. Good Halloween
'Wow, It was a busy week! We were on exchanges for Halloween so it was like a little party with the other Elders. Oh and I played Risk for the first time! Anyway, We saw a ton of miracles this week!! We found so many people who were prepared... Although most spoke english it was still cool to know God was leading us in our work. So many people who seemed to be looking for us or the Church. And even one man in church said "honestly this is the path I was looking for, I want to be baptized." Literally one miracle after the other. Felix and his family came to church again. They told us they will confirm to us on Wednesday, they will make their decision whether or not they will get baptized this month. Pray for a good decision!!!! Well, We have a zone activity today so I don't have time to write. And here is the Drawing I finished... of myself to boost self esteem. Love you all!!!! Love, Elder Richins' Happy Halloween
'This week was pretty busy with the start of the new transfer and all. We had to plan for a lot of meetings so in the midst of it all I forgot to plan my talk... So I took the parable from D&C 101 and related it to missionary work and how we need to pay attention and be prepared, or the Lord cannot help us. I got some time right before I went up there and it wasn't too bad haha. Right after emailing last week we were playing volleyball and I guess my name tag fell off... so my original tag from mexico is gone forever in that volleyball sand... so sad! It rained a lot this week! we did a lot of tracting the peoples reaction was pretty funny seeing two super soaked young men at their doorstep! But... I know every minute was worth it. The most wonderful thing I get to do as a missionary is testify from my heart of what I know to be true! Those small moments when even when the person is 100% against you but I still have so much love and peace in my heart testifying to them that they have a Heavenly Father and if they would trust Him and obey his commandments their lives would be so much more full of joy and love... It is sad seeing people turn away Gods greatest and free gift... If you haven't read the Book of Mormon and asked God if it is true, you are missing so much!! I ask you to just try it out! And let me know if you don't receive countless blessings and joy in your life. I love this gospel so so much and I would be nothing without it. There is nothing else in this world that is more important, It will carry you through anything in your life and will bring an endless hope into your view. The small things make all the difference. Please take time to remember who you are and who you want to be. If you are willing God will change you into something even better than you could imagine. I love you all so much!!! Keep on keeping on! Love, Elder Richins' Staying in Worcester
'This week was good! Elder Hall and I are now the only New Hampshire Missionaries left in the mission... and we are serving together!! So that is cool! We had Stake Conference yesterday and I translated for half of it. It is easier when you close your eyes haha. I love translating now! But only English to Spanish! Not too much happened this week. We have a bigger zone now. elder Hall got a calculator watch... and we are going to play some sports today. But that is about it. We have some amazing investigators though! Carmen and Odales! Pray for them! Love you all so much! I hope you have an amazing week! Love, Elder Richins' Last week of the transfer
'This week we went on exchanges with the Assistants in Boston, Elder Xiao made me make a ton of goals for my last transfer. We had so much fun! Met some really cool people. We had a return missionary come back to Worcester so it was a big surprise for all the members. Another excuse for Latinos to throw a party!! wooh! Oh and we had lots of service at the food pantry and also Zone Conference. We got to listen to our leaders and learn how to be better people:) I love being a missionary and I hope that all is well in whatever you are doing back out west. Keep your head high and your faith in Jesus Christ. He will carry you through all your trials. Sorry for such a short email. I just don't use my time as wisely as I should during emails. I love you all! Love, Elder Richins' Sorry about the delay.
'Miracle of the week!!! We had about an hour before we had to go back home and all our plans fell through so we didn't know what to do. We prayed and asked God where he needed us. After the prayer I said "Left, Right, Left, Left," Then Elder Hall said "Right, Left, Right." So we followed those directions in the car turning whenever there was a road... and well it took us exactly where we were before when we started.... we were both so surprised so we trusted this is where we were needed... so we started knocking doors. Very first door was a family from Vietnam, Catholics that only accepted a card... the second floor door was a man from Nigeria He had met the missionaries in Rhode Island and lost contact when he moved... So the english missionaries are now teaching them... then the 3rd floor door... We met some El Salvadorian people and taught them the Restoration of the Gospel. His name is Alex and he has family that are LDS and a friend that is a missionary. He has had a really rough life! and It was perfect timing. He said he really needed us and that the door is usually locked and nobody visits them so it was a miracle we got in So we invited them to be baptized read and come to church and they said yes! Definitely glad we had Faith to follow Gods direction! Well that is all the time I have because yesterday was a holiday so the Libraries were closed. Sorry... I don't get much time today to email. Love, Elder Richins' |