5th month anniversary!
'Soooo I had a couple crazy things happen this past week... A couple of people tried to take us home because we were "cute gringos". We had to tactfully evade. I have never walked faster in my life. Some little boy went to the bathroom right in front of us and we learned a lot of patience and the need to focus. We have been drinking so much water!!! It got soooo hot and then it got sooo cold the next day and rained. That's about it... I am sorry this email isn't the best. Not much happened this week. I gave myself another haircut! I think I am getting better! I don't have too much to say this week I am sorry about that. I grew a lot spiritually this week. I've only been out for 5 months now but I really am starting to feel the love for the people here. When you start really understanding the language, you really start to teach with love and through the spirit. I'm sorry this email wasn't very good. There was a lot of distractions... I love you all and miss you. Read your scriptures, pray, and love the people around you! Create a strong relationship with your Father in Heaven and do all you know to do that is right and you will see blessings in your life.'
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A Prophet looked directly into my soul...
'So this past week was physically draining and spiritually filling... It was a normal week other than meeting an apostle of the Lord and being so busy that I didn't even have much time to think. From the time I woke up I was busy studying or praying or walking or cleaning or trying to catch up in my journal or teaching... Then right when I get done planning at the end of the night I instantly fall asleep when my head hits the pillow. It was actually a very good feeling... A feeling of success. Soooo it was the greatest time meeting a Prophet. We all got together all 200 or something missionaries and took a picture with Elder Rasband. They had to do it with a drone because there was a few of us... But then we got the amazing opportunity to shake his hand one by one. I was so nervous... I don't know why. I spent the night before ironing everything! My suit! My tie! My socks! My eyebrows! I was so nervous... It came and past pretty darn quick that I honestly can't tell you too much detail because I don't remember it myself... I think he said good morning to me but I can't remember because he was looking directly into my eyes... It was the strangest feeling. After word when he was talking to us he apologized for not saying our names or looking at our name tags because he was too busy looking in our eyes. He said that he saw a lot of souls and that some missionaries were carrying burdens and he gave those missionaries a comforting word or too... It was the most amazing experience. I think I was too much in shock I couldn't take it all in. So much was going on. The spirit was so strong... His grandson is in our mission and it was so cool to see the love that they have between each other... Wow. I'll never forget that feeling. I can't explain what it feels like having a prophet of the Lord look straight through your eyes into your soul... Wow... The call to repentance was real! We can all do better no matter who you are and no matter what situation you are in. We may struggle we may have bad days but the one who has gone through it all is there waiting for us to plead for his help. Get on your knees and open your heart to your Father in Heaven. He wants to bless you with all he can! All we need to do is ask and prepare ourselves to receive those blessings... I can't stress this enough how important it is to read and to pray. We will never grow if we aren't trying. A quote that I love tells us boldly: "Si casi guardamos los mandamientos, casi recibiremos las bendiciones." - Bruce C. Hafen. In English... "If we almost keep the commandments, we almost receive the blessings." "So we must willingly give everything, because God Himself can’t make us grow against our will and without our full participation. Yet even when we utterly spend ourselves, we lack the power to create the perfection only God can complete. Our all by itself is still only almost enough--until it is finished by the all of Him who is the “finisher of our faith.” At that point, our imperfect but consecrated almost is enough." - Bruce C. Hafen. (The Atonement: All for All, April 2004 General Conference) Thank you all for your love and support. Alma 12:9-11... Give it your all. Jesus is the Savior of the world. Those that follow and obey have his promise. But don't take my word for it... Read the Book of Mormon and find out for yourself through prayer... D&C 82:10 Love you all. Thank you so much for everything. Keep your head up and your hand clenched to that iron rod. From New England, you have my love and testimony. In the name of Jesus Christ amen. <3 / Elder Richins' ¡Guanábana! 'Well hey there! So my new companion is awesome! Everyone says that we are the perfect companionship haha I don't know why. Also we have a lot of people asking what school we go to thinking we are 14... That's good I guess... He is 12 days older than me. Gotta live it up. This is my last year as a teenager! So my dad turned 32 yesterday;) EVERYONE go wish him a happy birthday! He is the best! So we had this member tell us about this fruit... The guanábana... ever since then everyone is talking about it how good it is... it looks like an alien so I dont know what the hype is all about. I tried some juice of it today... it was alright, it's said to cure cancer but my stomach isn't feeling to well soooo...... we went to a store and found all sorts of awesome ties 2 for $1!!! crazy right??? they were nice ties too!! So I woke up this morning and decided to give myself a haircut... it really doesn't look that bad! The other Elders thought I went to a barber shop. So I'm pretty happy about that. I think I messed up a little on the back trying to blend but it was a cheap hair cutter thing so no biggie. You can't even tell hahaha. I'll try a barber shop one of these days! So we went to the Joseph Smith memorial on Saturday and it was so good!!!!!!! The spirit was so strong there. I'll send pictures. I love my ward and district and mission and blessings... Wow I'm so lucky. Thank you to all that have helped me have this opportunity to serve a mission. We have been seeing miracles left and right.. We have been so busy with service and drinking juice and appointments and talking to people on the streets... This guy we stopped started singing to us haha we referred him to the other elders because sadly he lived right outside the boundaries of our area! My new companion Elder Miller is the Bomb! He keeps me focused and obedient. Sorry I don't have too much to say this week... Remember to have faith in all things. If you are praying, make sure you are doing it with faith. Knowing that you will receive. You will notice miracles by the hundreds! I promise you as a representative of Jesus Christ that if you are reading and praying with real intent you will find so much joy in your life when you act on the promptings you receive through the Holy Spirit. I gave my first blessing in Spanish... I don't remember anything that I said but I think it was alright! I also got to pass the sacrament with our recent convert for his first time! He did very good!!! It's the little things that bring the greatest joy. Thank you for all you all do. I love all of you. Joshua 3:5 -Elder Miller shared this one so I will do the same. Love, your east coast missionary, Elder Richins.' Pictures from the Joseph Smith MemorialMother's Day Week 'So we had an awesome week. We found a bunch of people to teach and we were just exhausted all week which is a good sign of success!!! Transfers came this last weekend, Elder Miskin is getting transferred to Hanover New Hampshire... So my trainer is leaving me... Sad. But yeah I'm still here in Lawrence same area... 3rd transfer. I love it! I'm Junior companion to Elder Miller now and before he gets to the apartment I gotta steal the big desk from Elder Miskin haha. Also Mother's Day was amazing! We ate at Bishop Campbell's house some amazing food!!! Obviously it's amazing. And the Tres Leche oh wow, it was soooo good. I then got to FaceTime my family, wow my family is awesome thank you for being awesome. The very first thing they started talking about when my face came on the big screen is how big my cheeks were!!! Haha;) they were nice and said I looked good though:) They even took pictures with my face on the big screen haha. Wow... After that though... I was in a limbo. It took about an hour to get refocused and come back to earth! Also my cheeks hurt way bad from smiling for an hour straight. But it was worth it. We got to teach a lesson last night so it got me back on track!! If you ever need an example of an amazing mother... Stop by my house and say hi, she's in there most nights. This Saturday we are taking a bunch of investigators and less actives and members to the Joseph Smith memorial!! That should be super fun! I am really excited to go there. I haven't been to the temple yet but I hope to go during this transfer. We also have a mission conference coming up with and we get to meet Elder Rasband! I'm really looking forward to that too!! I really hope you all are doing good. Remember that your Heavenly Father loves you and that we are all his children. It's easy to get caught up in pride. That is the adversaries most powerful weapon... Don't give that power to the adversary and remember which team is the winning team. Take it easy and keep the commandments. Thank you all for you kind words and loving support and for helping me become a better person. If you need an easy scripture to memorize... 1 Nephi 2:15 is pretty short. If you want a more spiritual touching one... Just study Alma 5. Either way, READ your scriptures!!!!! Hug your family and tell them you love them. Count your blessings and thank your Heavenly Father for them in prayer. Do everything you know to do that is right and God will provide. He will not ever let you fall if you are doing what he asks. Thank you for everything. Keep on keeping on. I love you all. Oh and one thing that happened in our area is the sun came out again finally.. It had been raining for a while and all our appointments were falling through... But now things are looking good! Also I always have stories about drunk people.. But I'll save those for when I get home haha. Oh and also we have a European car dealer that we pass everyday with Ferraris and Porsche and Lamborghinis... I don't know who buys them but yeah that's fun to see everyday:) OH and also I took a picture of me at Tyler street and everyone had my name on their mailbox and their trash cans and front doors... I felt pretty special even though none of them were ready to receive the gospel. Anyway... That's all I got this week. Love you, Your East Coast missionary, Elder T. "Lawrence" Richins' NO TIME
'Wow I am so sorry I don't have very much time at all!!! Good thing Mother's Day is coming up. I should be calling sometime around 4pm Utah time but I really have no idea... Soooo there is a new section in Gospel Library if you didn't notice... It is really awesome! Nothing much has changed here everything is going well! The Spanish is coming along great! This week we are having a competition in our district and we have 5 strikes and we aren't supposed to speak English. We will see how that goes. Thank you all for your support and your love. Keep doing the small things. Happiness is found through doing the small things. PRAY, pray with all your heart and pour out your soul to your father in heaven. READ, you may think you don't have the time or that its not very interesting... Well God is not putting those thoughts in your head. GO TO CHURCH, the church is not there to look pretty, it is there to give you more knowledge it is there to help you come closer to your divine purpose and identity. Do not take these things for granted. Talk with your families. Put down your phones and live life. I wasn't a very good example of that at all before my mission... I know. But that's why I know how much it can ruin your life. If you are sad or struggling, do the things you know God wants you to do. Be humble and become the person you are meant to be. Thank you for helping me become a better person. Love you all! Your east coast missionary, Elder Richins' |