Week 29: Slugs, Artists, Mirrors and Flirting

Week 29

August 5, 2013

FAMILIA

I hope y'all enjoyed that title. It pretty much sums up this week for us. 

First of all, MIRACLE YESTERDAY. We still haven't had any of our Spanish investigators at church, but a less active we have been working with came to church AND bore her testimony. It was amazing. Sister Healey and I couldn't even hold in all of our joy. 

This is the story that I sent to my mission president, so I figure I'll just copy and paste:

"Yesterday Sister Healey and I had one of the BEST Sundays we have ever experienced in this ward. We have been visiting this less active named Sister Carlisle and on Saturday night she asked us if she could follow our car to the church building, so she could know how to get there. She was a really active member when she lived in Franklin and went to church in the building right next to the temple, but she hasn't been to church since she's lived here in Hopkinsville- and that has been a couple of years. After she followed us over to the church we said goodbye and said "See ya tomorrow!" but she told us "I'm not promising anything." WELL the next day we were heading into the church building and saw her shaking hands with the Bishop. When we passed by the Bishop he told her that he had never met her, but had the prompting to say "Welcome home." 

Well, fast forward to sacrament meeting we sit down next to her and I had the prompting to go up and bear my testimony. When I came and sat down again she gave me a hug because it was a pretty emotional testimony for me where I bore my testimony about the Plan of Salvation. Then you know those last five minutes of sacrament meeting where no one wants to go up and everyone just sits there in silence? Well, imagine our surprise when Sister Carlisle got up! Sister Healey and I were just about going to die. She bore her testimony about how for years she had avoided the Elders, then one day the sister missionaries and "Sister Pam" came to her door and she answered. She also talked about how coming back to church was like "coming home" and how grateful she was when Bishop told her "Welcome home." Later Bishop was asking us how much he should push with her. We told him that she had told us once that she was someone that needed her own time and not to be pushed.... then he said he chatted with her just as she was leaving the building. He told her that he would take things on her time, but she just responded "Bishop, I'm back." WE ARE SO EXCITED. 

We get so many false promises about our investigators or our less actives coming to church so we are so grateful when others are able to make the leap and actually be there. We have such a big place in our heart for Sister Carlisle. She is amazing. 

It's funny President. I feel like I haven't been able to see a lot of the "success" that I would like to as a missionary, but when I get those miracles that are small and are tender mercies, it makes everything else so worth it. I can't explain it. I think the Lord wants me to learn a lot of patience and gratitude. I guess I have to recognize and be grateful for all of the little things before I can see that BIG MIRACLE that I'm looking for. 

The church is true. I know it is. I can't deny it. "

Oh and Sister Carlisle is a super talented artist and author. When she becomes famous someday I will be sure to let everyone know that I met her when I was serving my mission in Kentucky. It's funny, I feel like I'm adopting a lot of grandparents here in Kentucky. I think it fills the hole I have to still have grandparents of my own that are living. They are all amazing and they have really touched my life. 

Oh, and slugs. The other night after companionship prayer Sister Healey and I were getting in bed and it was already 10:30... when she notices this baby snake in the corner of the room. We spent about ten minutes examining it when we realized it was a gigantic slug (okay, maybe it was only a couple of inches.) It was a funny night trying to get rid of it out of our room and we were super over-dramatic about it. Sister Healey is going to have a blast once she makes it to Argentina, isn't she? haha. 

Mirrors... remember my Nacho Libre story last week with the corn field? Well, I guess I have awful luck with this car because last week we were driving through some pretty intense construction and we were driving past those big orange construction barrels. Then you know, all of a sudden this giant orange barrel comes and hits the side mirror and then runs away.... haha just kidding it. I hit a construction barrel going about 40 miles an hour and nicked the side view mirror. The only damage I did was take out the mirror part of it though... I guess I hit it just right? Hope y'all enjoy the picture I will attach. 

And flirting. We feel like we have so many investigators; and we have some really good relationships built up with them. I still feel like I have the "greenie" faith and hope that all of the people we meet are in some way prepared, but I'm getting pretty tired of teaching all of these young hispanic guys where we feel like there is so much potential.... but no, they just want to flirt with you and never make any commitments like coming to church :/ We're not sure what we are going to do with our investigator Jesus :/ 

I love you family! Sorry this email is so short, but you are all champs! 

Con Amor, 

Hermana Rich

Week 28 "WE FOUND JESUS"

Week 28 

July 29, 2013

FAMILIA! 

Well, there were quite a few funny things that happened to me and Hermana Healey this past week.

I guess one of the most exciting things that happened was..... WE FOUND JESUS. Well, if you really want to get technical, his name is more like the Spanish Jesus....

Last friday night Sister Healey and I were directed to this area to go and do some work. We've been able to find Spanish there before so we decided to go and check it out. Well, first we meet this older lady sitting on her porch and talk to her a while, then her daughter comes out and starts talking to us. She had been taking the lessons years ago and she still remembers the names of the sister missionaries who taught her! It was super cool that we were able to find her again. It was an English contact so we will see if we decide to go back and do anything with it or not. I remember saying to my companion, "I wonder if the missionaries who taught her originally were praying that missionaries would find her again..." WELL then the next door we decide to knock on is a house where we have seen hispanics go in before (yeah we are pretty creepy like that) and guess what? It was that awkward-you-are-knocking-on-their-door-and-then-a-car-pulls-into-the-driveway-and-you-are-standing-on-their-porch-and-they-are-like-"whoarethosewhitegirlsstandingonmyporch?maybeifIspeakspanishtothemtheywontknowwhattodoandthentheywillleave..." Well, did we fool him! We are some white girls that speak some broken Spanish! haha But we started talking to him and he speaks English as well and his name is Jesus and he is from Mexico. After we said hi and everything he asked us what we had to teach him.  He said that he had been taught by missionaries before and that they made a big impression on him. Well, Jesus seems like a pretty golden investigator. He is looking for the truth and he knows he is missing something in his life. Man, we sure hope that we can continue to teach him and that he will be able to recognize that we were specifically sent to him again. We were teaching him again last night and he told us that he thinks a lot about the Elders who first taught him. He hopes that they are still serving God and that they are doing well raising their family... then he told us he hopes the same for us. It was really cool. Jesus is definitely prepared and I know that the Gospel is everything that he needs and is looking for in his life right now, it is just a matter of if he wants to change or not. 

Sister Healey and I have been talking a lot about the people we come in contact to. I have faith that the people we meet have been prepared in some way to receive missionaries. It has been disappointing that a lot of them are able to come to know for themselves that it is true, or that they believe it is true, but they don't want to change at all. We work with quite a few less actives who are like that too, they just don't want to change. They don't want to quite smoking. They don't want to stop working on Sunday. They aren't ready to put God first. I wonder a lot about why I was sent to this area if I'm not seeing anyone become converted and really make those steps to 

One of the things that I love about my mission call is that we meet so many people who love Jesus. The people in the South LOVE JESUS. And most Hispanics with their Catholic background LOVE JESUS. They love God, they recognize that He is the most important thing in their life and that He has done everything for them. I think that is one of the reasons I was called to "preach to the Lamanites" in the Tennessee Nashville Mission. I was supposed to learn something from these people who love God and love Jesus so much. I'm grateful for my mission because it is teaching me that we really do need to put God first in front of everything else. One of the biggest things that has brought me to my knees on my mission is making sure that I am doing what is most pleasing to God. Sometimes (a lot of the time) it feels like other missionaries are driven my numbers and they are so number oriented. I know that God counts numbers, but I also know that He is the first person I should be reporting to.

On Saturday Sister Healey and I met our first Jehovah's Witnesses. We hear a lot about them and somehow they always find the Spanish houses before we do. Not going to lie, there have been a few times where me and my companion discover some JW material on the porch of an investigators house and we sneak it into our bag... 

Back to Saturday: Well, it was kind of funny because Sister Healey and I already looked like little school girls in our skirts and blouses eating ice cream (we found the ice cream man... ) and then we saw them walking back to their car. They were the cutest little hispanic family dressed up in their 

Oh, another story I'll have to tell yall about when I get home. We were visiting our neighbor Bonnie trying to use our time effectively before 9:00 when we needed to be in. Bonnie is a super Christian and we asked her to pray for us before we left. She prayed for about 10 minutes super passionately and then went off into speaking in tongues. When Sister Healey and I got into our house we just looked at each other like... "uhhh... did that just happen? Yeah, that happened."

Another funny story to lighten the mood:

So, Hermana Healey and I were driving out to our ward mission leaders home out in the corn fields of Kentucky (soooooo pretty) and we were jamming out to your EFY 2008 Cd when.... I start quoting Nacho Libre.... you know "Git that corn outta my face!" and I look over to enjoy the beautiful Kentucky corn field scenery then almost run into a ditch.... I freak out and swerve back onto the road and my companion just sits there cracking up. It was one of those brilliant moments where the Nacho Libre quote couldn't have fit more beautifully. 

We also had 14 people in attendance at our Spanish FHE this week! Which was awesome because our "Mission Mom" (Sister Andersen) was there in attendance. The Spanish speaking members are really starting to pick things up. At the end of the FHE they were like "So who is bringing the treats next week? "Who is teaching the lesson next week?" It was really awesome. I think one of the most rewarding things is when MEMBERS take the lead in teaching situations. Missionary work goes so much more smoothly when members are leading. I hope that I can apply that when I get home from my mission. I hope I can always be a missionary when I get released. The Lord is really hastening and we get to see so much more of that when we are out on the Lord's errand. 

Well, I should probably peace out soon. I love you. I hope you are all doing well. Good luck with all of life's endeavors and remember the lessons that I have learned from the people here in the South to just keep putting the Lord first and everything else will fall into place. 

Con Amor,

Hermana Rich

"Let Jesus in your boat, he will calm your troubled waters"

"You can't alter the past so leave the past at the alter"

"The best ability is dependability"

"Believe in Jesus. Just do it."

Semana 32

Semana 32

26 de Agosto, 2013

FAMILIA!

Nuevas noticias de la Hermana Rich!

La Hermana Healey recibe su visa!

Sister Healey got her visa! We found out Friday evening and then Saturday afternoon we found out I would be leaving the area to serve with a sister in McMinnville, TN. It is the Spanish Branch right next to where I was serving before in Manchester, TN. I remember when I left Manchester I thought that I was going to come back. And I guess I did in a way.... maybe I have more to do in the area. 

Entonces, this morning Sister Healey and I drove our car down to Nasvhille and I'm already in McMinnville with Hermana Jensen. She was also serving with a sister who got her visa to Argentina. She's only been in the are two weeks, so lots of good things await the two of us for the next four weeks of this transfer. We've got lots of new people to meet and relationships to build. I'm excited that we will both be getting to know the area together because we will both have to depend on each other. 

Our last week in Hopkinsville was full of lots of miracles! Jesus and his friend came to church and we feel like we were having so much success with the recent converts and returning members that we were working.

Funny thing that our first Spanish investigators at church was my last Sunday in the transfer. The ward is excited to take over Spanish for us even though we won't be there anymore.

The Lord keeps the work progressing even without the missionaries. That's a beautiful thing. The Lord could do the work without the missionaries, but he still uses to do fulfill a purpose. 

I did hear today that they will be sending a Spanish senior couple next week! THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT THIS AREA NEEDS. 

The Lord is in the details. 

I was sad when I found out that I was leaving Hopkinsville, but I know I had a purpose there and I know that I fulfilled it. There was an Elder talking to us who I feel like helped put it into perspective: the Lord knew the work that we were going to do in Hopkinsville and that is why He sent us there. He didn't send us there to fail, but rather the Lord is in the details of our life and in the details of our investigators and our mission. 

I feel like I'm ready for the change and I know that I grow the most when I get transferred. I'm ready to grow more and to become more of the person that my Heavenly Father would have me be. I prayed and fasted last week that I would become what He wanted me to become, I made a lot of new goals for myself, too. I think this is exactly what I needed. 

I'm excited to serve with Sister Jensen! She is from Cedar City, Utah and is also a 20 year old missionary. 

Hasta la semana que viene!

Con Amor

Hermana Rich

Week 27

Week 27

July 22,2013

Familia!

I don't have much time, so I will make it quick!

That picture of Rae Dell really struck a cord with me. I hope she is doing well. I love her so much and I will be heartbroken if I am not able to say goodbye to her. I know my personal testimony of the Plan of Salvation will increase so much more though. It really is the Plan of Happiness, isn't it?

We are working hard and are teach about 25 lessons to investigators a week (which is a lot considering we came from nothing in this area).

Kentucky skies are the most beautiful thing I have ever seen in my life. 

The bugs love Hermana Healey's legs, but I've been able to get through it pretty well. 

Our investigators love having us come over, but a lot of them aren't keeping commitments. We have also run into a lot of them falling back into their Catholic beleifs, so it has been a challenge overcoming...

 Our Spanish is getting better though and we are able to better communicate ourselves. So that is definitely a blessing! 

I just finished the whole Book of Mormon again. I am so grateful for it and I hope I study it for the rest of my life and that I continue to have copies and copies of it for different theme studies that I'm doing.

We are learning a lot about patience with our investigator Jasmin right now. She is so hard to catch at home, but everytime we see her she is so happy and takes things in so well. She is so prepared and I know that if anything, Hopkinsville was reopened to Spanish work for her. All of the struggles and disappointments that I have experienced on my mission opening up new areas will all be worth it for Jasmin. She is a 17 year old girl though and is really busy all the time. So please pray for her!

Well, I should go! Love you all! Grateful for Heavenly Father's plan that will keep us all together!

Con Amor,

Hermana Rich

Week 25

Querido Familia!

July 8, 2013

How was the good ole Fourth of July? Sister Healey spent dinner at a member's house and then had to be in our apartment by 7:00. After planning we built a fort and watched "17 Miracles." Let's just say there was a consistent flow of tears. But it was really fun. That makes for two fourth of julys down and one more to go before our whole family is together. Just think, the last one where we were all together (2011) was Pre-Nolan time. Who will be the next addition to the family (cough, cough, Katie & Nick?) (cough, cough KC?) (cough, cough or will it be me who brings someone else in? haha). Hope it was grand!

And can I please take some time to bear my testimony about how powerful 17 Miracles is. Yall should watch it. It is beautiful. After I watched it I couldn't do anything but be grateful for the pioneers who took their trek to Zion. I don't know if I have told yall this, but there are a couple of members here in our ward who are really big into Kentucky history with the church. There is a lady in the ward who bought me a book that was published all about Kentucky and church history. Charles and Sarah are in it. Did you know that Charles is the only Kentucky-born apostle? Pretty cool, eh?

This week: Well, we didn't have any investigators at church this week, that was a bummer. Jasmin still hasn't been to church, so that means we are pushing her date back, again. I really hope it happens with her and I hope that she is able to be baptized before school starts for her.

We have several investigators who are progressing though, including an older gentleman that we have been teaching who lives in an old folks apartment complex. We will probably have to pass him off to the English Elders soon, but he is a hoot.He is so sincere, we just love Larry.

There have been a lot of TMI stories that have happened to us this week, but Sister Healey and I are staying strong together. Sorry I don't have as much to say this week. I forgot my camera card as well so I don't have any pictures to send yet. 

So last night Hermana Healey and I went to go and visit an investigator who we had only met with once before. We got there and then I noticed a snake on the AC box on the outside of their house! GROSS. Just then, the husband was pulling into the driveway and we were able to get his attention to it before IT SLITHERED INTO THEIR HOUSE. Ah, we tried to come in and have a lesson with Erika, but then all she could think of was her husband in the other room who was moving furniture, doing something with a hammer and vaccuum and walking back and forth between the room and outside.... In other words, Sister Healey and I liked to call this event: the Garden of Erika. The snake was such a distraction! And it was definitely a distraction from Satan. We were only able to share a quick scripture with her, but hopefully we can come back soon. 

Love you! Hope you are enjoying your summer! Send me lots of pics, sorry I can't respond back individually! 

Con Amor,

Hermana Rich

Week24

Querido Familia

July 1, 2013

We had our first investigator come to church! It was our neighbor Tina. She speaks English, but it was still pretty exciting to see her there and to go around with her. 

TRANSFER NEWS: Hermana Healey and I are staying in the area! It wasn't too much of a suprise because she is still in training. I also feel like we have such a strong connection with so many of our investigators and some of the less actives, or recent converts that we are working with that it just wasn't quite time for us to leave yet. If we stay together for another week she will be the longest I have had a companion on my mission (My longest is only 7 weeks... I guess that is longer than I've even had a boyfriend... oh wait, haha) 

I have had some great laughs and some good times with Hermana Healey. We are thinking she will probably get her visa sometime this transfer... so hopefully we can have a baptism before then! 

We set a baptismal date with Jasmin! But then she couldn't come to church :/ So that will set us back a little bit. She is such a sweetheart. The cutest 17 year old, awkward teenage girl from, braceface from Mexico! Pray for her and our other investigators. I would really appreciate that. 

We are getting a new mission president this week! I'm kind of nervous, but it will be a good time and I think we have all come to terms that it is time for the McKees to come home. They have given so much to us in their service. They are an incredible family and have made such a difference in the Tennessee Nashville area. 

Love you family so much! Hope you are enjoying life and summer. Soak up the summer sun for me! I've never been this white in my life! 

Stay safe and send me some pictures of fourth of july. Sad I am missing another one, and will miss next year's too. I'll be thinking of you. 

Love you!

Con Amor, 

Hermana Rich

"Let Jesus be your rock so you can be on his roll"

"Does God seem far away? Who moved?"

"Christian is our trademark, not a question mark."

"Get in touch with God through KNEE-Mail."

Week 23

June 24, 2013

 

Familia!

 

We had our second Spanish FHE! This time there were nine people, and they were all from Hopkinsville. That is a success because last week we relied so heavily on the Clarksville Spanish Elders to help us out. We had one less active, three members, a member's friend, and two investigators and then some of their kids. Sister Healey and I taught the 10 commandments with hand signals and that was pretty fun to get everyone involved.

 

The Broadcast last night was pretty cool! It was sad to see it at the Marriott center though. I feel like that place is another one of my homes... but some really cool things were said. I'm super excited to see what changes come in the mission for us, and my new mission president was in the crowd somewhere, that's a weird feeling. I don't know if I have told you this, but the Tennessee Nashville Mission is a pilot mission for facebook. President McKee in his email today wrote about pushing more of us missionaries to get on facebook.I have the option to be one if I would like, but I really don't know how I feel about being a facebook missionary to  be honest, but we will see if the Spirit directs. I just think that there are so many better ways I could be using my time here in Hopkinsville. There is so much finding that we need to do and so much more building to really prepare the way for a Spanish branch....

 

I wish I had some funny stories to tell you, but everyday is funny with Sister Healey. We always find something to lift our spirits. We don't take any pictures, so hopefully I will be able to change that soon with the new camera you sent me! (Thanks Dad!)

 

Also, Nolan looks so different. Sorry to break it to you fam: he is the best looking one of us all... haha. But he is so big, I can't beleive it! And Cougar... hair cut soon? Your hair looked so good before I left... I like it short...

 

Hopkinsville Miracles?

 

I will tell you about an investigator of ours named Jasmin! I think I might have mentioned her before... I found here with Sister McNab last transfer. We had a really amazing first lesson with her and soft committed her to baptism. It was awesome! Then she kept being busy... had school... and then finals... and then she went to Mexico... but then didn't really leave for Mexico... but then did leave...it was a mess. Sister Healey had only met her once but then last friday we went to try and see if she was back from her trip to Mexico yet. When we got there she answered the door, and let us in. She got out her book of mormon that we had left her and she told us she had only read a little bit of it. We asked her how much she read and, what do you know? She was in 2 Nephi 4.... are you kidding me? So then her aunt came into the room and asked about the book. I caught her aunt up with the Restoration (try giving that lesson in 5 minutes or less) and then we taught the Plan of Salvation with them. We asked them to be baptized for the 14th of July and they are both praying about it. The next challenge is getting them to come to church on Sundays. Hispanics are hard to get to come to church because they work ALL THE TIME. Also, the church building here in Hopkinsville only has services in English, so we will have to find someone to translate for us. I guess these are all just little things on the road of miracles that Heavenly Father has in store for us.

 

Angel and Oscar were also the investigators that were able to make it to our Spanish FHE. We heard a rumor that they are moving to Nahsville. I really hope that is not true because they are awesome! Super funny and such a blast to have around. Angel has prayed about baptism and wants to be baptism. We haven't been able to have him come to church yet though... so we will have to do some adjusting for a baptismal date....

 

There is also another investigator that we have been working with named Roberto. We met Roberto trying to contact an old potential named Fernando. Instead he answered the door and started asking us questions. He had a lot of good questions and since we spoke to him in English the conversation flowed so naturally. We have taught him a couple of times now and he came to one of our Spanish FHE's a couple of weeks ago. The other night we had a lesson with him and he went off talking about how he didn't think it was coincidence that we knocked on his door looking for Fernando, but found him. It was amazing how he recognized for himself that we were sent to him. It is also crazy that he is in Hopkinsville because there are so many reasons for him to not be here.... he is stationed at Ft. Campbell military base and his wife is stationed at Ft. Knox. He was at Ft. Knox and his trying to get back there, but he will be in Ft. Campbell for a while until he can get out there. If there is anyone prepared, it is Angel, Roberto and Jasmin... I can't even tell you. I haven't had any baptisms my whole mission. Before coming out, I knew that I didn't want baptisms to be just a number to me, but it is getting to me that I'm almost a third of the way through my mission and I haven't had one yet... I know there are so many miracles that lay ahead for Hopkinsville and I know I have worked so hard to be here. Opening new areas is tough, especially when I'm still learning all a lot about missionary work. Also, I got another cold virus... again! I swear I have had the same cold virus four times on my mission already! I was feeling really sick on Saturday, but was still trying to convince myself to go out and work. Let's just say, I had a "conflict" with the curb... in a mission vehicle... so Cougar, don't feel too bad about your accident in dad's car. Your sister out in Kentucky left a nice mark on the bumper of the Lord's Ford Fusion...

 

There is also a maintenance guy that works on our apartment a lot. He saw our apartment loaded with all kinds of church material and one day asked us for a book of mormon. We gave it to him willingly, then yesterday we saw him around the apatments. We asked him if he had had any time to read and he said that in his spare time he tries to... and what do you know? He tells us he is about a fourth of the way through it in Mosiah... are you serious? haha.

 

We are also teahing another neighbor who likes to sit out on her porch at night. Awesome person to visit for the awkward 8:30 hour? YES. Well, if anyone needs the gospel, it is Tina. She is super cool though and we love being able to talk to here when we can. We gave her a book of mormon yesterday, so I really hope she reads it. I'm not sure how long it will be until we can get here to read the book, but

 

Also, have y'all heard of Duck Dynasty? Well it is huge here in the South and I think you should start watching it. 1) So you can give me an idea of what it is like 2) So y'all can have a better insight into what Hopkinsville, Kentucky is like :) Haha, let me know.

 

Also, we find out about transfers next week, but I feel like I should be staying. I feel like I still have so much more of a duty to fulfill here in Hoptown, and I feel like I'm still waiting to see the fruits of my labors.

4 people pryaing for baptism, 3 progressing investigators and others who are starting to come out of the woodworks. Please start praying for them to be able to make it to church! That would be super awesome if they could come. I know a lot of them know it is true and I just want them to be able to come to church to help them in their conversion process...

 

Love ya fam. Still trying to work my hardest, but I never feel like my hardest is good enough. Sister Healey has a saying, "The Lord is easily pleased, but not easily satisfied." I am working so hard, but still trying to satisfy the Lord here in Hopkinsville.

 

Good luck with all your endeavors family. Can you beleive it is almost July? THAT's crazy. I'm sorry I don't have time to write y'all back individually like I would like too, but I feel like there is always so much more that I could be doing that I'm not. I have to learn to how prioritize through it all.

 

But...

Mom & Dad: good luck refinancing the house!

Cougar: good luck with football this summer? and piano lessons! you don't beleive how incredibly blessed you are to have that opportunity

KC: awesome news about ragnar! and you are moving to Arizona this summer?

Katie, Nick & Nolan: hope the fam is doing well. is there another one on the way soon?

 

Love y'all.

 

Hermana Kristy Rich