June 9

Dear Family and Friends,

Well this week has been so busy I hardly had time to breath!

We started off the week on Tuesday at MLC in Legazbi.  It is always so great to help the mission.  We talked a lot about mission rules and really tracking the progress of each companionship. We talked about working with the leaders in our wards and branches too.  It was as always very inspiring.

And in no time we put all those things into effect because on Wednesday we had exchanges with Sister Flake and Sister Nortarte.  I got to be companions with Sister Flake again! It was so exciting.  We had such a great time thinking about all the fun times we had together when we were companions.  We worked in my area while her trainee and Sister Amato worked in her area. It was crazy, Sister Flake is now training so it was like now you are training.  It was really great.  She is so great.  We talking about what it is like being a trainer and things.

On Friday we had zone training and then we went to Gubat to have exchanges there. In case you wanted to know Gubat means forest, so we went to the forest to have exchanges!  I was with Sister Hafoka from Tonga.  It was good too.  You learn so much in exchanges.

We got back on Saturday with enough time to do weekly planning and teach a few appointments and then it was Sunday again!  In total we only worked in our area 3 days, but we worked hard. That is the sacrifice of being a leader, but it is so great to be able to help others reach their potential and to learn from them. It is really great to see the blessings that are coming to our area because we are striving to be obedient.

When Sister Flake and I were on exchanges we went to Sister Gloria's house, she was the one that we taught two weeks ago, who had come home from work because she felt that someone would come and visit.  That first visit we had given her a Book of Mormon.  When we taught her this week, she had read the chapter we gave her in the Book of Mormon and said even though she has a hard time seeing the pages because she really needs reading glasses she wants to read the Book of Mormon. I showed her how she can use a small glass drinking cup and a little water as a magnifying glass so that she can read the Book of Mormon.  She was so excited- that is true faith there, and the power of the Book of Mormon. She promised that she would come to church, but something came up unexpectedly, but hopefully next week!

Well I can't think that everything is going way to fast. Before you know it I will just be telling stories about the times I have here in the Philippines.

Well take care!
Sister Richins