NOVEMBER 5, 2019

 WHAT A WEEK

Howdy y'all! 

Since being here (up north) everyone expects me to talk like that because I'm from the south. They also try to see if I have a southern accent and I don't. And when they find that out, I tell them that I'm from Russia, and the change on their face is priceless! 

Also many people here tell me that they don't know where Arkansas is and it just makes me laugh, but I love them 😂

How is everyone doing! This week has gone by so fast! I honestly don't remember all that has happened but I'll do my best. 

Since my mission is a biking mission, we are to bike everywhere. Don't worry we have a car but we are limited on how many miles we can drive. My first week here we have biked almost everywhere! It's actually been kinda fun. I honestly wasn't looking forward to riding a bike before my mission but so far I have liked it. I have mastered the skill of riding with out hands, so that's awesome! There was a time when my companion and I were biking and then it starts to rain, cold rain and we had to get to an appointment! By the time we got there we were so wet! That was fun. 

It feels like I have been here a month but only a week and half has gone by! My companion and I are so busy with investigators and less active members that it feels like a month. We sometimes dont get to eat cause we are so busy. We really work to meet with everyone but sometimes you just can't and that's okay. Im trying to remember who everyone is and its hard cause the Marysville ward has around 250 people! That's a lot of people and not to mention the amount of people we are teaching. There is this dry erase broad that is 3 1/2 ft wide and 2 1/2 ft tall and it is cover with people that we are working with! It so cool to see that this many people want to have a closer relationship with God and Jesus Christ! (I can't show you a picture of the board because there are personal things written on it but I hope that the size of the board will give you enough visual of how big it is.) 

We have 2 Baptisms on the way! One is on the 9th and another on the 23rd! We are so excited for these people because they have such strong faith and a desire to be closer to God through the baptismal covenant (a promise you make with God and he makes a promise with you). The first one is James and let me tell you he has such a fun personality that it's hard not to laugh when we teach him! He just loves the gospel and the people that are apart of the Church. He loves it so much that he wants to share it with his family. 

Then we have Shawn! He is very sweet and has been through a lot. The first time we asked him he wanted to baptized he was all for it! It was crazy! So now we have a date set up and we are helping and teaching him so that he can be baptized! He has so much faith and whenever we teach him something new he says that makes sense and that it brings him peace and joy. 

I wanted to let all you know that Pday (Monday) is the only day were I can read your letters and write you back. So if I dont answer during the week that's why.

If you want to send letters to me, you can send them here: 316 Lakeside Circle Marysville, OH 43040. 

I don't have that much time to write but I love you all and miss you!  

So sorry this letter is so late.

Pictures 

3. Saying good by to Shaun! This is a different Shaun, he is moving away so we dont get to teach him sadly but he is going to find missionaries in his new place. He is AWESOME!

1. View from my apartment 

2. Bought some fig bars because I wanted to treat myself. 

OCTOBER 22, 2019

 WEEK 3 & 4 SAYING GOODBYE AND HELLO

Hello, hello everybody!  

I know I missed last week's email and I'm sorry about that! Last week was so busy and I didn't have time to write one but don't worry I'm still alive! 

LAST WEEK (WEEK 3)

Week 3 was my last week at the MTC and I had my last few classes. My teachers were Sister Roderick and Demares and I could not have asked for better teachers! I learned so much from them, from lessons to asking questions,  I just have learned a lot! Now that I have been out in the field I have used so much of what they have taught me. So thank you Sister Roderick and Sister Demares!!

I had to say goodbye to my district which was really hard. I grew so close to them and they have become some of my best friends. Sister Roberts, Sister Sengsourysack, Elder Polly, and Elder Messecher all left on Monday morning to Arizona, as well as Elder Dodge and Elder Burton. They left to go to Kentucky! Since Monday was our last class we had half of our district gone and it was weird to say the least. Tuesday, Elder Berezay and Elder Mouser departed early that morning to Washington. Lots of goodbyes were said and I can't wait to see all of them again! It was just my companion and 3 other elders left and we all couldn't wait to get out to our field! 

I also had to say goodbye to our previous sister training leaders that were in our zone! Sister Cutler, Sister Cox, and Sister Tanner are all going to South Korea for their mission! They were the best at helping us get use to the MTC. Sister Cutler actually knows some Russian and so I was always asking her how so say things in Russian even though she was trying to learn Korean, haha. She taught me the Russian alphabet and I can now read Russian better than I used to! She's the best! Sister Cox has such a beautiful talent for music! I always loved listening to her during devotionals when she would either play her violin or the piano! Sister Tanner is actually half Korean and it's so cool that she get to learn her native language! She so much fun! 

These sisters are amazing and I'm going to miss them! I wish the best luck to them on their mission!

And so the MTC era has ended and the work has begun! 

WEDNESDAY 

The rest of us, at 4am, all left to head out to our mission field! Elder Radle left earlier to fly out to Alaska... and then there were 4 of us. :(  My companion and I with Elder Crane and Elder Marler all made it to Ohio! We stayed with our mission President for the night and the next morning we were off.

THURSDAY 

Fresh out of the MTC they throw us into the work (I mean that in the best way). That morning we walked on Ohio University campus and started talking to people. Crazy but kinda cool at the same time! Later that day the newbies (meaning me too) all went to the church for some orientation and lunch. The anticipation to meet my new companion was intense. Most of the sister missionaries were there for transfers and the thought that one of them would be my companion made me nervous and excited. My new companion is Sister Jung! She is Korean, like what?! She is so patient with me as I try to learn and follow the rules. It was sad to leave Sister Reynolds my companion! We have been together for 3 week and its weird not seeing her. After meeting Sister Jung we went right to our assigned field in Marysville to go to our appointments.

REST OF THE WEEK

Up until now we have been on the go! I have met so many amazing people here in Marysville! Many are ready to learn Chirst's Gospel and it's exciting to get started teaching. Marysville is an older town but I like it because it has charm and character to it. 

I have loved meeting Vern and Anna! These two are amazing! Vern is a veteran, who lost his legs. He loves the Gospel but is hesitant to baptized because he has already been baptized 3 times. One of which was a profound experience, when he was baptized in the River Jordan. He is so close to making the decision to be baptized by authority. Anna is special, I love her! She has been through a lot and deals with seizures. My heart aches for her because she has to deal with this! I wish I could take that pain away from her, but I can't! I just know that her Heavenly Father loves her so much and that she has a divine potential! She has such an open mind and loves learning the gospel! I can't wait to see what comes next for her!

Being out here has been amazing! I can see how the knowledge of gospel has brought peace, hope, and joy to people's  lives. I know that it can bring you that if you read the scriptures and pray to your father in Heaven. He loves each and everyone of you and wants to help you so much! I invite you all to set a time, not the amount of verses or chapters, but a time to read your scriptures and pray to know how Heavenly Father can help you. I know that you will receive an answer and that you will feel more peace and joy in your life. I have seen it in my own life! I love you all and pray for you! 

Love Sister Richardson

Pictures 

1. Sister Roderick and I! Our last day! 

2. Sister Jung and I found a blow up football helmet on some random porch 

3. Sister Cox, Sister Cutler and I! Our last night😢

4. Meet Sister Mittens! The MTC cat

5. Plane ride with Sister Reynolds 

6. My mission President and his wife

7&8. Last 2 district photos! 

9. Saying goodbye to Sister Cozens and Sister Kennedy 

10. Anna made us dinner!

11. Sister Tanner and her companion from Korea

12. Sister Demares 

13. Ran into Sister Davis who is from AR!

OCTOBER 18, 2019

 SAFE ARRIVAL

Hello Richardson family

Attached is an email that I am sure you will enjoy seeing!  Since some of the companionships are changing areas, be sure to ask Sister Richardson what her address is when you speak with her on P-day!

Cordially

Sister Linda Nelson

Ohio Columbus Mission Office

Sister Rachel Richardson

 

She made it! 

The missionaries arrived last evening after a full day of travel.  We had a nice dinner and a quick visit before they headed off to bed.  They are all excited to be here and I thought you might enjoy seeing a picture of your daughter with Sister Stratford and me, as well as her new companion, Sister Jung.

Companions for new missionaries are selected after much prayer and careful consideration.  Be assured that your daughter will be in good hands!  We have included her new address so that you will be able to send mail and an occasional package (don’t overdo it—let her learn the valuable lessons associated with independence.  Likewise, learning to survive on a budget will give your missionary the opportunity to gain self-control over her finances).

I have attached a sheet which will give you some guidelines related to the important role you will play during your daughter’s mission.  Above all, trust in the Lord to watch over and bless your missionary.  Remember that she is in the Lord’s hands, doing His work.  May His choice blessings be with your family as we strive to build the kingdom together here in Ohio!

Faithfully yours, President and Sister Stratford

Ohio Columbus Mission

ljn

To the Parent(s) or Designated Others of our Ohio Columbus Missionaries

Thank you for the love and support you give your missionary son or daughter serving in the Ohio Columbus Mission.   Preparing for and serving a mission in today’s world requires tremendous faith and commitment!  When missionaries know that their families are supportive and they do not have to concern themselves with the day-to-day details of life back home, they are enabled to be much more centered on their work and focused on their responsibilities here.  The time they spend on their mission doing the Lord’s work provides many opportunities for spiritual growth and self-reliance and will bless their lives—as well as the people they teach—forever!

Missionaries have been given firm guidelines regarding communication with family (weekly) and limited communication with others.  As parents, you play an important role in assisting your missionary by strengthening their commitment to honor mission rules.  This, in turn, leads to greater spirituality and increased competency.  I would appreciate your review and observance of the following:

 

·        Your missionary is allowed to initiate a phone call each week on Monday—their Preparation Day.  This call should never be initiated by parents

·        If you wish to communicate by email, send messages ONLY on Preparation Day (Monday).  Missionaries have limited time to respond to emails, in addition to all the other personal and housekeeping details they need to attend to that day.

·        Exercise good judgment in your communication.  Share uplifting, spiritual thoughts and stories.  Missionary work can be very challenging and requires determined effort to stay focused.

·        Please do not contact local leaders/members for information about your son or daughter.  Trust that they are doing their best and do your best to encourage them in your weekly email. 

·        Limit the number of packages you send.  This is an important, independent time in their lives. 

During the course of their time here, there may be major life events (such as the death of a parent or family member, divorce, serious accident or illness) that you will want to relay to your missionary.  I would ask that you call me when these situations occur.  My direct number is (614) 354-8839.  If I can’t immediately answer, leave me a message so that I can return your call as soon as possible.  I want you to know that I am always available to you when major life events may affect your missionary’s life.    Trust that I will choose the most appropriate and least disruptive time to share complex or sensitive information with your missionary.

In your missionary’s call to service, they were counseled to “devote all your time and attention to serving the Lord, leaving behind all other personal affairs.”  Parents can make a huge difference in their missionary being able to accomplish this and thereby fully consecrate themselves to the work.  I hope you will join me in making this experience “the best two years (or 18 months, for sisters) of their lives!”  

Again, thank you for your willingness to commit your son or daughter to the Lord’s work during this important time.  May the Lord bless you and your family as we strive to build the kingdom together here in Ohio.

Sincerely

Val T. Stratford, President

Ohio Columbus Mission

ljn

OCTOBER 9, 2019

 Rats Of One Pack

Hello, hello!!

Another week at the MTC! This week was long but went by so fast! The days feel like weeks and the weeks feel like days! I feel like I'm in a time warp and very soon I'll be leaving to go to my field! 

To my family and friends who are humans. "I have come to the conclusion that the MTC is simply summing up every spiritual experience in your life time, multiplying that by 10, then getting hit by a train!" close quote, sister Roberts 

With all that we are learning and applying, it feels like getting hit by a fire hose of knowledge. We definitely need Jesus Christ, cause we can't do it alone.

DAYS

Usual daily schedule 

Wakeup-> breakfast -> class -> lunch -> class -> dinner -> exercise -> personal and companion study -> bedtime -> and repeat! 

Our time here was filled with classes and TRC's (Training Resource Center). TRC is when we go teach people about the gospel of Christ. People will volunteer or come to the MTC to be taught and we don't get to know if they are members or non-members. One of mine and companion's TRC's was Nate! This guy plays soccer and dances! He is so cool! He is very smart and likes to learn the doctrine of our church. Durning one of the lessons, I messed it up! Absolute train wreck! I answered all of his questions without the spirit. I could feel the spirit leave as I went full mode to tell him everything I knew. I was upset about what I did and knew I needed to change the way my companion and I taught him. This was a perfect lesson to be learned. So my companion and I worked hard and prayed to know what we needed to do better. On our last 2 meetings with him we slowed down and worked to get to know him and his relationship with God. Right there we knew that we were teaching him not the lesson. We felt the spirit so strong and we were able to feel the spirit touch his heart. Both my companion and I were filled with so much joy! 

 Upon many things Elder Crane decides to call us rats! (Roll the R) So now our district mascot is a Rat, with the motto "Rats of One Pack!" We play volleyball (to be more specific; spike ball) to see who will be the Rat King! All the others who lose are called rat peasants! 😂 Elder Crane wants so bad to be Rat King that he works hard to win! However that is not the case, cause most of the time he looses. This is one way how close as a district we have become! 

We have applied our mascot: rats to the gospel. Rats spread like a plague (the black plague), so we say we are like rats spreading the gospel like a plague. The blue plague not the black plague. (The Book of Mormon  is blue)

Memorable events that happened this week. -Anytime we hop on to the elevator we sing the song Little Einsteins, Haha, we never grow up. We also named the elevator Gandof. (No explanation, you just have to get the reference). 

-Sister Roberts found out that her bed had bed bugs cause she woke up with her hand covered in bites that aren't mosquito bites. So she moved to another bed and hasn't had a problem since.  So yeah that happened. 

-Our district, in class, loves to roll around in chairs singing Broadway songs; our favorite, "Popular" from Wicked. Surprisingly we all know the words and it's the best thing in class! 

-I have been trying to teach Russian to the Sisters (roommates) and our favorite things to say is пойдем- (poydem) which means let's go, сестра- (sestra) means sister and Спасибо- (Spasibo) which means thanks! I also taught them how to say "hot guy" in Chinese and now we say it to each other and no one knows what we mean! It's the best!

-One of our teachers is Sister D and she is planning her wedding. The elders are so interested that they circle around her to listen and give advice to her about her wedding! It's the cutest thing!

Just being here at the MTC has been the best experience and I am eternally great to experience this time with my District! They seriously are the best and I wouldn't have it any other way.

LETS GET SPIRITUAL

I'm going to say it again but it's been hard to push through my sickness and fatigue this week. I have struggled more to focus and be diligent in my studies. It's has made me sad that I can't function to my full capacity because I just keep pushing and pushing. I have pictures to show it! Haha! However I finally got to a point were I could not stay awake in class and do the things I was supposed to. So I asked my district leader (Elder Berezay) for a priesthood blessing of healing. During the whole blessing I had more than a spiritual experience, my body, I could feel the spirit all through out. I felt physically different and made whole. I really needed the blessing. 

General Conference 

General Conference is when we get to hear from our prophet and apostles. Through the power of God they give us guidance and strength to help us in this crazy life.

The cutest thing happened during conference when President Nelson said we could call him our grandpa! He is such an amazing man! I'm definitely taking up that offer! Hahaha!

In the Women's Conference (is a specific time when the prophet and his apostles take time to reach out to the women in the church) President Nelson announced what new temples were going to be built. When he said the Arkansas, Bentonville temple, I burst into tears! All the sisters around me were wondering why I was cry but when I told them that our closest temple was 4 hours away, they became so happy for me because they could see that it takes a lot to get to the temple! I couldn't believe that we were going to get a temple! We have waited so long and have made huge sacrifices to make going to the temple a huge priority. All I could think was our prayers have been answered and that this was all in the Lord's timing. Brothers and Sisters I want to testify that temples are so important and essential for us in this life!! Ever since getting my endowments out I have grown a new love for the temple and realized its importance. There is so much work to be done and the Lord has prepared a way for us. 

I want to talk more about what I learned in General Conference but that will have to be another email cause this one is already long! Haha

I want to bare my testimony that this church is true and that the work I am doing is God's work and that He is pleased with me. I know that so many need and want to hear the truth we have to offer and how much it can bless their life if they come closer to their Savior Jesus Christ. 

I love and miss you all! I hope y'all are doing great!

1. This is Sister Mittens!

2. Going to the eye doctor to check and see if my right eye was okay

3. Part of our district, being weird.

4. What Sister Sengsourysack and I look like after classes

5. Learn Russian! (Thanks mom for the Dictionary!)

6. District sitting together for General Conference!

7. Sister Roberts and Elder Marler stole my phone and took pictures :)

8&9 giving piggy back rides to snacks

10. Sister Roberts asleep after class

11. My companion (Sister Reynolds) point to our mission on the big map!

OCTOBER 5, 2019

WEEK 1: WELCOME!

Hey guys!! Welcome to my email! I will be serving for 18 months for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Columbus, Ohio. Some reading this email are not non-members our my church so I will do my best to explain how things work or what they mean. I will only be emailing on P-days which is a preparation day for missionaries. (P-days are usually on Monday's but for now in the MTC it will be on Tuesday. ) 

Wednesday

Okay, okay just let me tell you the first day of the MTC was intense but y'all some how I was so happy and peaceful. My journey began when I flew out to SLC, Utah Monday morning at 6am (the 23rd)! Early I know! My brother picked me up at the airport and took me to his apartment. I stayed with him till Wednesday (the day I would report to the MTC). Bethany and Luke took me to get some ice cream at Brooker’s Founding Flavors! Super good! That Monday night I fell asleep so fast and slept for 17 hours. Oops! I was just so tired. Tuesday my brother took me to his work! Guys my brother works at the coolest place, the VOID, which works on Virtual Reality! I got to do it with him and it was a blast! Being short, it was kinda hard to get the gear on but I managed. We experienced the Star Wars and Wreck-it Ralph VR, crazy amazing! 

Wednesday came and I said goodbye to my brother. That was it I was on my own...well for a split second til a sister came to take my luggage. I slapped my name tag on and was ready to go! I have been waiting a long time for this moment and just couldn't believe it was here!! Right after that I went straight to class and little did I know I would be come best friends the guys in my class! I met my companion Sister Reynolds and she is the best!!! She is so kind and we get along so well! (Picture down below). She gets to deal with my weirdness and somewhat try to keep me focused. I love her! She and I will both be going to Ohio together and it's going to be fun! She has a way of seeing the needs of others and is ready to help anyone! Sister Reynolds and I also have two elders going to our mission! They are so funny!! Elder Crane is a hoot! There is just no words to explain him, you just have to meet him. He doesn't fail to make me or the district laugh!! Elder Marler is awesome! He is so patient with Elder Crane and has such a strong spirit with him. 

I just need to talk about my roommate cause y'all it's party each night!! Here we have Sister Robert's, she's quite something!! Not sure what to do about her. Will we ever know?...no. She eat popcorn and fruit snacks like nobody's business!!! So clumsy that she trips everywhere but will give you a Broadway performance!! You just gotta love her!! We're already so close! One of my favorite people I have met here! Moving on to Sister Sengsourysack!! (Try saying that!) She is Lao and Thai but that doesn't matter cause she is from Connecticut! For the longest time I kept thinking that she was from Kentucky because Connecticut sounds like it starts with a K. Now if she and I were companions we would get nothing done! I'm serious, like we have so much fun together!! She laughs at everything I do cause you know I'm weird, especially when I'm slap-happy. She can't open things to save her life! It makes me laugh! I just can't explain our relationship!😂

These two will be serving in Arizona, which I'm sad about because we won't get to be together for the rest of my mission! So I will treasure this time that I have with them! God is so amazing! He knew that I needed these sisters and I wouldn't have it any other way!  Something special we do each night is a prayer circle. We all hold hands and go around saying what we feel in our hearts to Heavenly Father. This has been a testimony builder for me because God really knows each of us, knows who we need and what we need to hear. I look forward to our prayer circle each night cause it just brings so much happiness, love, and peace. 

Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday

This day was full of classes. Class after class. Don't get me wrong, I love the things I'm learning but it's a lot to take in and takes so much of my mental energy. I'm learning to teach people and not lessons. We have already started teaching people and it's been a good experience. Lots of work to work on but I'm learning slowly but surely. My district makes it 10x better though! (A district consist of 15-20 missionaries that are serving) There are 9 elders and 4 sisters in my district. Our leader is Elder Berezay who we call Mama (Bear)zay and he loves it! Through the course of this week I have had some interesting things happen to me. For one after Book of Mormon study with my group, I decided to challenge Elder Crane to a high kicking contest, cause for some reason he loves kicking high! :) Can you guess what happened? Well right as we went to kick up, I slipped right on my bottom! My roommate capture the perfect picture for this incident and it made us all laugh! What can I say, classic me. I also seem to fall into ice chest and hit my head against opening doors. It's been a rollercoaster of a week! 

I love and miss all of you! I'm so excited to share my journey with you! I know that Heavenly Father really knows each of us and puts people in our lives to help us. I know that this gospel is true and that we have a living prophet to be the mouth of the Lord and guide us. I have such a strong testimony  of the Restoration and Joseph Smith. Without this gospel I don't know who I would be or where I would be. I'm so grateful for my Savoir and his atonement. 

       Love, Sister Richardson

1: Sister Reynolds behind me, Sister Robert's next to her, and Sister Sengsourysack on the right.

2: The gang after companion study

3: Lunch with the whole district

4: got caught taking a selfie with my burrito 

5: Sister Reynolds and I taking a selfie

6: me being me

7 : Sister Sengsourysack and I at the temple

8: The high kick incident 

9: The Sister squad 

10: Our favorite snack; Muddy Buddies

11: Ohio Crew

 

12: I have taken it upon myself to learn Russian!

13: Leaving my brother!

14: My companion and I 

15: Sister Robert's and I