SISTER RICHARDSON
DECEMBER 2, 2013
Well folks, I'm in paradise, it's decided. I am having so much fun here in St. Augustine. The ward is great and passionate about missionary work. I love my companion and I love sign language! I have remembered and learned so much sign in the past few days.
St. Augustine is a cool city right on the coast. It's
been cold the last few days...but shouldn't last too long and it'll get
warm again soon. There is a really cool downtown with a lighthouse and
the old fortress (St. Augustine is the oldest settlement in the U.S...at
least for European settlements). There is also an alligator farm we are
told.
My new companion is Sister Sullivan. She is 22 and
is from Draper, Utah. She is getting her bachelor's degree in deaf
studies. So I am so glad she is here! Because she has had more
experience with sign and deaf people than I have. It is hard white
washing...putting brand new missionaries into a ward with no companion
that has been there before. But we are slowly getting there and finding
people to teach.
A great family in the ward had us over for thanksgiving! So that was fun and made it a not-lonely day.
We
helped the Elders teach a less-active deaf member on Saturday. It went
great! It really does make a difference when people feel like they can
communicate and feel understood. He prayed for the first time in 5
years and came to church yesterday for the first time in 5 years.
At church, I was instantly assigned to be the ward
pianist...no one plays piano! We sat with the deaf members of the ward
and met them. They are so great! And they are hilarious. So there are
several different types of deaf families here.
-both parents are deaf, children are hearing, or there are adopted children who are deaf
-the husband is deaf, the wife is hearing, the children are hearing...all of them sign
-both parents are hearing...the child is deaf
-single sisters that are deaf
One of the
hearing wifes interpreted sacrament meeting and they kind of spread
themselvesout to help interpret priesthood, relief society, primary,
young women. There is a deaf sunday school. We had a deaf investigator
come to church yesterday which was fun! They despereately need
interpreters here. They needed us to interpret relief society...I
lovingly let Sister Sullivan do that...I don't think I'm there yet...but
I will need to get to that advanced level soon! We have had fun
learning all of the church-word signs and praying in sign language in
our studies and throughout the day. We both LOVE sign and LOVE deaf
people. We both love being here and hope to stay here for a looong time.
I would be content to spend the rest of my mission here with Sister
Sullivan. Missionary work isn't hard anymore...before, it seemed to be a
test of endurance, but I am just so happy here constantly learning and
striving to be a better communicator with these people that need the
gospel and need to feel fellowshipped.
Life is good! Lesson for the week, don't try to have a conversation in sign while driving the car...doesn't work too well.
Love you all!
Sister Richardson
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