Sunday, September 8, 2013

SISTER MELISSA RICHARDSON WEEKLY LETTER #8 -- SEPTEMBER 3, 2013

SISTER MELISSA RICHARDSON WEEKLY LETTER #8
SEPTEMBER 3, 2013
 

Melissa didn't have enough computer time to write down everything she wanted to last week so sent a snail mail letter.  We then typed it up.

9-3-13
Weekly letter

Hello!  It’s been a great week here in the South with lots of BBQ aromas and empty beer bottles for this Labor Day weekend.  Here’s a smattering of weekly highlights:

·      Transfers are this Wednesday (9/4).  35 new missionaries coming in.  They are opening 9 new areas for sisters – like putting sisters in wards that usually just have elders.  There will probably be that many more with next transfer in October.  They also are creating a new zone this transfer and another one the next transfer.  Only 3-4 missionaries complete their mission and thus go home every transfer.  Exponential growth!  Also, the mission is short on cars with all the growth and the mission is not getting more until the end of September. The elders unanimously voted to give up their cars to any sister companionships that would be without one.  This is incredible to me because they are going to be biking for a whole month . . . and these are huge areas around here . . . lot of miles between everything.
·      How do I motivate Young Men to do missionary work? Ideas?
·      We went to a trainer training meeting this past week.  It was awesome and a necessary experience for me.  It was humbling to realize what a huge responsibility and trust the Lord is giving me.  I learned good things about how to lovingly correct and support new missionaries.  I had a very strong spiritual experience at the end when President Craig was bearing his testimony.  The Spirit taught me and I felt so strongly how much Heavenly Father loves this sister that I will be training!! It was incredible~  I don’t know why God gave me that experience . . . maybe if she will have a really hard time adjusting or maybe it will not be easy training, but I do know that God has called me to train someone specific and we will be together for a reason.  I pray for this sweet sister every day as she’s been in the MTC.  I am so excited to meet her tomorrow and introduce her to the awesomeness and the joy that is missionary work that spiritual experiences made me understand what being a mom will be like – how God will entrust me with souls that He loves so much and will trust me to raise and teach and love.  Cool stuff!
·      So people here for the most part work 40 hours/week minimum wage jobs.  So at the end of the month, people are out of money, out of gas, out of food.  We experienced something similar with our miles.  So we are allowed 1200 miles a month.  Which might sound like a lot, but it’s not!  With people all over, we could drive 100 miles/day easily.  But everyday we have to plan carefully and go to an area and stay there for a while, seeing people stay there for a while, seeing people in the same area for that day.  So, sisters in the past didn’t really care about going over miles and would have 1500-1600 a month, justifying it with us having a big area.  But Sister Hutchins and I want 100% obedience so we worked hard and planned well and stayed one mile under our limit.  It was hard and frustrating at times, but it felt so good when we achieved that goal.  And obedience brings blessings!  And we pray for people we know to be blessed every day.  So it’s worth it.
·      When we went to Jacksonville, I was a little shell shocked at the big freeways and tall buildings and shopping centers.  I didn’t realize how small St. Mary’s/Kingsland is.  There aren’t a lot of store options.  And you drive a ways through lots of green and two-lane roads to get to different places.
·      One day we went to the library to watch some training videos on the computers.  In those 2 hours, we helped so many people on the computers!  With simple things like how to delete more than one email message or how to close an internet tab or how to print powerpoint slides.  It’s funny when nobody seems to know how to use a computer.
·      In a district meeting, they were talking about having members do family history work.  Somebody said “You should get off Facebook and go save a soul!”  Haha, I was amused, mostly because it is true.
·      We might as well be in China because we don’t drink the water here.  Nobody does.  We buy jugs of water at the store.  The water isn’t unsanitary, but tastes like a mix of algae and frog slime.  Swampy water for the win.  So I can’t order water at the restaurants because I gag.  So lemonade it is for me.
·      Picture these moments and with the quotes you must read them with a thick Southern accent for you to really be there.
o   At the town famous southern BBQ food truck, asking what they would recommend to order, “Mmm that potato salad is just mmm, like nothing else.  You can just taste the love they put into it when they make it”.
o   At a gas station buying water, a man keeps looking at us as we’re checking out.  As we finish, he says “Now y’all don’t be offended or nothing, but y’all look like a bunch of church girls” Haha – we enjoyed telling him that we actually were church girls and who/what church we represent.
o   Talking to an investigator’s husband, an old black man.  We asked his name and he matter-of-factly responded – “ My name be Howard, but no one calls me that.  Err’one call me Bo Dilly.  Err’ since I graduated high school, I decided I din wawna be call Howard no more.  So err’one call me Bo Dilly.
Us: Can we call you Bo Dilly then?
Bo Dilly: Why o’course! I woon respond to nuttin else.”
Wow, so glad I didn’t end this life without meeting a real life Bo Dilly in St. Mary’s, GA! Boo Radley anyone?
·      I had some more delicious Filipino food last night at a member’s home!
·      Ward members mumble in the pews that they think his singing sounds like Kermit the Frog. Ha! I mean they are kind of right.  But mostly he just has a legit operatic tenor voice that I think is beautiful.
·      So, it’s hard realizing that Sister Hutchins won’t be here anymore to help me know what to do or who to see.  A bit humbling and overwhelming. Also, just because we are set-apart missionaries does not mean Satan can’t still try to bring us down.  In fact, he’s probably working double time.  For about two days last week, I wasn’t feeling the Spirit as much and was just kind of down and overwhelmed and having doubts about most everything and not being very mentally motivated.  But I realized that it wasn’t me being inadequate or unworthy, it was the adversary trying to hinder me from being a fantastic missionary and from having the enthusiasm that this message of love and happiness deserves.  I had an awesome prayer experience at the end of those two days where I felt like the dust of the earth.  I prayed to my Father and told Him that I was nothing without Him.  I was physically, mentally and spiritually weak without Him and without the Holy Spirit.  I invited the Spirit to be with me always. And ever since then it has been and things have been bright and lighter.  We are promised that we can always have the Holy Spirit with us, but that will only happen if we are humble and do our part.  We can’t just expect heavenly guidance at the drop of a hat if we are not inviting it and doing all we can to live a lifestyle where it feels welcome and at home.
I know that God exists and loves us.  And cares about us individually. Go have an awesome prayer experience! And read Alma 26:35!

Love,

Sister Richardson

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