Tuesday, December 11, 2018

DECEMBER 11, 2018 - WEEKS #39/40

THESE HANDS WILL LIGHT THE WORLD
Dec 11, 2018

Because Michelle speaks mainly Chinese, it's kind of hard for us to make sure that she's doing well and to keep supporting her because she is being taught by the Chinese-speaking Missionaries, so we don't get to see her during lessons. But We found a way! Michelle has offered us multiple times to get free massages, at her spa, so one P-day morning we just dropped by with one of our members and talked for a while, and she had us get free foot massages! (That was a very strange experience. I wasn't super fond of that part...) 

Michelle had us go into this back room, but we were a little scared because we didn't know what was going on. But when we came  back out to the Lobby, ushered us back in! We tried to look over to our member for help, but she didn't know what to do either! She later told us that she felt like a mother abandoning her children! It was weird, but that was funny! Plus, it was good for Michelle to be able to make a new friend, and for us to talk to her a little more, so we're probably going to be going back some other time for a manicure or something, haha!

We were very blessed to have a family invite us over for Thanksgiving Dinner, and they made us feel very welcome with their family that night. In fact, they did such a good job, that Elder Mills and I didn't even get to share our Thanksgiving message, so we went back another night to share it! We had made a little video of a bunch of little scenes from thanksgiving, and I got to use our little Google Photos app to edit it all together, and I really enjoyed doing that! The family really enjoyed the finished product when we showed it to them that night, too! That's something I'm going to be looking to do more often, because it's not too hard, it's fun for me, and it's a great way to show the people we're working with that we love them!

We also got to go with Lourna to the Temple! It was really exciting to see her feel the spirit in there, and she absolutely loved it! I was just reminded of what a blessing it is to have temples, so that we can feel closer!

Unfortunately, it also got to be transfer time. I'm still in Palm Springs, thankfully! I really love the Ward, and have a lot of good friends I've made here! But it was Elder Mills' time to leave, sadly. 

But Elder Brown did come! Funnily enough, Elder Brown is my first companion that I had met before! We served in the Yucaipa Zone at the same time, even if he was on the  other side of it... But we had had a couple adventures with each other during that time! One of them involved running on a hike, and the other involved dog food, so I don't necessarily know what that means for our transfer together, but here we are!

Elder Brown is a very hard worker, but he's also a smart thinker! He's always trying to weigh our options, on whether or not we are doing the Best thing or the things that the Lord most wants us to do right then! It's been a really exercise, because what ends up happening is that by the end of the day, we can feel comfort from us having given the Lord our all that day! Our plan has just been to hit the ground running and don't stop!

Also, with this Transfer, we are Biking now! Hooray! Basically, the Mission had to get rid of 10 cars (Which is a lot!) so other Missions could use them, and so a lot of areas that haven't (or maybe shouldn't) be on bike are now biking! I've missed my bike. And the Exercise! It's been exhausting, though! Palm Springs is a big area, as most desert areas are! One night, we biked 17 miles just to get to two appointments and back home! Thankfully, our ward, which loves us dearly, has taken pity on us, and they are giving us rides and food to help us out! :D

We also got to have our "LightTheWorld" kickoff activity! It was a lot of work, but we had a lot of fun! "Light the World" is a Christmas Initiative the Church is doing to help us to all  focus on being lights to others by serving them! We created and showed a video, and then went and painted everyone's hands with Glow in the Dark paint. After that, we shut off all of the lights and took a picture with a banner that says, "These are the Hands that will Light the World!"

I know that Christmas is coming up, and Everyone knows it's a special time of the year! But Our hands can Light the World of someone  who really needs it! I'm trying my hardest to find ways to do that for others, and I know that you don't have to be a Missionary to brighten somebody's life! Jesus said that "Ye are the light of the world!" (Matthew 5:14) That means you!

So go out there and Light The World this Season!
Elder Richardson

1) We had a little photo booth at our Light the World activity, and here's all of my district in a very dignified photo!
2) Here is the Thanksgiving Spread and crew!
3) These Hands will Light the World!
4) OK, I don't know what these are, but there are these freaky giant Baby statues IN A PIT, and they are in Palm Springs. It's Art???
5) Elder Mills getting a Manicure from Michelle (Teehee...!) 

Benjamin Richardson

California Redlands Mission

Feb 28, 2018 - March 3, 2020

















DECEMBER 9, 2018 - COMMUNICATION ABOUT 
GRANDMA CLEA BEACH'S DEATH

FROM MOM:
Just need to let you know that Grandma Beach graduated to the other side of the veil yesterday afternoon.
I love her and miss her but am glad she is free from the limitations of old age.
She is with Grandpa and her son Allen, her twin brother Cleo and many others.  It had to be a glorious reunion!

FROM BENJAMIN:
Thank you so much for letting me know. I had hoped that I would get to see her after my mission one more time, but There's a lot of work that needs to be done, and so she must be needed on the other side of the veil!

Could you send me a picture of her and/or a picture of Grandma and Grandpa Beach over Email? I was thinking that maybe I could make a post on Facebook, at least in the Roy and Clea Beach group, just bearing testimony of the Plan of Salvation? I don't know, what do you think? Would that be good, or would that almost be disrespectful? I'm not too sure.

I love you Mom! I'm praying for you, too! I know that this is hard, but I know that Grandma is doing great now!
Elder Richardson

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