SISTER MELISSA RICHARDSON
NOVEMBER 4, 2013
I'll try to catch up from last week and add stuff from this week! Lots of fun adventures!
We had an incredible mission conference this week where Elder Zwick of the seventy came and taught us for a whole day. It was a much needed time of spiritual replenishment and encouragement. It was cool to be with someone that was sent directly from the first presidency and twelve apostles to speak to us. I learned so so much and there are few other times in my life where I've felt the spirit so strong. They had us all come one by one to shake their hands and they told us all thank you for your service and that they loved us. President & Sister Craig (mission pres.) did the same. Is one of the craziest experiences of my life but I just had tears running down my face during my turn...it just felt like my parents hugging me as well as my Savior hugging me and telling me well done and that He was pleased with what I was doing with my life right now. Incredible! God loves us all so much and knows us individually! Some other cool things from that conference:
The Lord continues to bless us with new investigators as we do our part in seeking them. A man came up to us the other day in the library (where we do facebook) and just started asking us questions about our religion and what we do as missionaries. Then he asked us if we knew anything about family group records! It was great to tell him that we have a family history center right here!
We must be obedient! As 21-year-old Melissa Richardson, I have no idea what to do and how to be a missionary and a trainer. But Sister Richardson, a representative and disciple of Jesus Christ who is exactly obedient can work God's miracles through the inspiration of the Spirit. It's so great!
I continue to love and better understand the people here. There are so many faithful, God-loving people here. I can see how that prophecy will come true of there being more members of the Church in this area than in any part of the U.S. But what holds that back is people being close-minded. Not wanting to even try! Sometimes I just feel like whipping out Dr. Seuss' Green Eggs and Ham and teaching that principle that you never know until you try and that it doesn't hurt to try. That is something that I am praying about how to better communicate that concept to people. Because as soon as they read the Book of Mormon with an open heart and a contrite/humble spirit, then they undoubtedly will recognize it as the words of Christ. But I truly do love the people here and admire them for their faith and devotion to God! That same God that I have devoted my life to as well.
We had an incredible mission conference this week where Elder Zwick of the seventy came and taught us for a whole day. It was a much needed time of spiritual replenishment and encouragement. It was cool to be with someone that was sent directly from the first presidency and twelve apostles to speak to us. I learned so so much and there are few other times in my life where I've felt the spirit so strong. They had us all come one by one to shake their hands and they told us all thank you for your service and that they loved us. President & Sister Craig (mission pres.) did the same. Is one of the craziest experiences of my life but I just had tears running down my face during my turn...it just felt like my parents hugging me as well as my Savior hugging me and telling me well done and that He was pleased with what I was doing with my life right now. Incredible! God loves us all so much and knows us individually! Some other cool things from that conference:
-Showed us the ipad minis. Said we would be getting them
in the next couple of months. every missionary themselves will have
one. they think they will have us buy them ($50....so a subsidized
price) and then we can take them with us after our mission...so that
we'll take care of them better if they're ours. He showed us the new
program they've made...the area book and our planners and our goals and
EVERYTHING is on there. It is so so so so cool! He's showing us this
program, and we're all (especially the Elders) are in such awe...and
this one Elder shouts out "The church is true!" haha it was a great
moment.
-Pres. Zwick said that when Ezra Taft Benson was prophet, he
prophesied that someday there would be more members of the church in the
southern part of the united states than anywhere else in the
U.S....that means more than Utah. And I see how that is going to
happen. There's a not a more faithful, Christ-devoted people than those
down here. I am inspired every day by their faith and devotion. The
time will come when they will have the fulness, and it's going to be
great! I love being a part of it!
-Elder Zwick: "Sisters, because you've touched so many lives,
I promise you that as you are exactly obedient on your mission, the
chances of you finding a perfect companion are sure."
-"Don't limit yourself to what you think your capacity is, allow the Lord to expand your capacity and He will."
The Lord continues to bless us with new investigators as we do our part in seeking them. A man came up to us the other day in the library (where we do facebook) and just started asking us questions about our religion and what we do as missionaries. Then he asked us if we knew anything about family group records! It was great to tell him that we have a family history center right here!
We must be obedient! As 21-year-old Melissa Richardson, I have no idea what to do and how to be a missionary and a trainer. But Sister Richardson, a representative and disciple of Jesus Christ who is exactly obedient can work God's miracles through the inspiration of the Spirit. It's so great!
I continue to love and better understand the people here. There are so many faithful, God-loving people here. I can see how that prophecy will come true of there being more members of the Church in this area than in any part of the U.S. But what holds that back is people being close-minded. Not wanting to even try! Sometimes I just feel like whipping out Dr. Seuss' Green Eggs and Ham and teaching that principle that you never know until you try and that it doesn't hurt to try. That is something that I am praying about how to better communicate that concept to people. Because as soon as they read the Book of Mormon with an open heart and a contrite/humble spirit, then they undoubtedly will recognize it as the words of Christ. But I truly do love the people here and admire them for their faith and devotion to God! That same God that I have devoted my life to as well.
We experience miracles and blessings every day. Too many to write them all down in this letter.
We
had a fun adventure 2 sundays ago, we went with an investigator to
their church, the first African baptist church. It was an adventure to
say the least. We were the only white people there. It was kind of
like a big party celebrating Jesus which was cool! Just not the kind of
worship service that I'm used to. But oh man, the singing. Wish I
could have recorded it. The singing was incredible....everyone had
incredible voices and harmonized with each other and it was the cliche
southern negro spiritual singing. I LOVED it. My favorite song was "I
done been saved."
Last night was the Genesis Devotional. It's something
the church started back in the 1970s. It is meant to form more of a
community for African-American Latter-Day Saints. They do one every
month in this Jacksonville area. The singing. Oh my goodness, I died.
So so good. These people can harmonize and sing like you can't even
imagine. We all sang Sing Low, Sweet Chariot together.
There was a dinner at our church this past week for all
of the ministers in Camden County. It was a great turn out and was an
honor to hold it at our church this year. Bishop gave the opening
address. The overall theme for the night seemed to be joining together
in unity as Christians to serve the people of the county, especially the
youth. There was some great singing there that night as well.
This week we narrowed our investigator to 4. We sifted
out the people that weren't committed or progressing. It has been so
nice to just have those 4 now to focus on! We haven't forgotten about
the others, but have been able to put so much more power and thought
into those 4.
We started teaching a family from Haiti! We set up an
appointment with them, so hopefully I will be able to use my French this
week!
I have been trying this week, when I don't
know how to handle a situation or feel uncomfortable, I just ask myself
what would Jesus Christ do in this moment/situation. And then I am able
to love and hug those that are crying and comfort them.
It is the best feeling ever when you've invited people to
church or a church activity and they come!! Makes everything worth it
to know that they are there feeling the spirit!
I am
doing my best to try and learn new things every day and to be better
than I was the day before. It's hard work, but so much better to spend
the day thinking about others more than yourself. Love you all! Go
share the gospel!
Sister Richardson
Sister Richardson
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