~From what we know this is Heather's last email that we are going to be getting.~
Dear family and friends,
Well this has been a crazy week. There was a pretty large hurricane here on Tuesday we don't have power and probably won't for a month so my dear friends this will be my last email until I come home . I am in manilla right now heading to the USA embassy to get cleared for my departure in month(aug 21). So you are lucky that you get this email.
So this week the hurricane hit is on Tuesday. We were perfectly safe in our apartment. But we watched homes destroyed and power lines topple. We traded our skirts in for t-shirts and shorts. We have been helped people clean up all week and just trying to cope with the disaster. Legaspi, sorsogon and bacon were hit the worst. We will continue the clean up into this week and maybe begin our prose letting later this week. Please keep all this people in your prayers.
Well I know this is short but I love you all thank you for everything. But I will see you all when I get home.
Sister Richins
Sunday, July 27, 2014
July 14
Dear Family and Friends,
Wow what another great week. I know that all of you have heard about the typhoon or tropical storm coming our way. As far as we know it is pretty weak storm and we should be okay.
I really can't believe how fast the time goes. I have five weeks left in my mission and I keep on hoping that time would just slow down for a second so that I can breathe. I just make to make every moment every day count. I am working hard up until the very last day.
Well as always this week was great. Our our exchanges got canceled because the sisters got sick, so it was just a normal week in Bacon. It was a really great week. On Saturday, we had what is called a One Day Mission. So all the members came and worked with us for a day. We all divided into four groups and then went to different areas. So it was kind of like an exchange because I was companions with one of the members, it was really fun. It was so great to have members because they could really relate and they know bicol (the native language here), I still struggle with that the 2nd language in Bacon. I am working on it though. I can understand a lot of it, just not the speaking yet. The language of Bicol is really funny because it is different in every city. In Bacon it is different than Bulan and if you go 30 minutes to Sorsogon it is different too. That is why it is so hard to understand the different dialects of Bicol. It is a good thing that everyone knows Tagalog. The members here are so great. I love and learn so much from them.
On Friday night we went were going to go to one of our investigators. We didn't have an appointment, but somehow felt maybe we should go there. While on the way we met a lady named Linda. She was going to get water for her house. But should invited us to her house. We went there and found out that her husband was a member of the church. Her husband is in Australia ( this is common for a lot of families here. The husband works abroad because there are more opportunities for work). We taught her a simple lesson and we have a return appointment tomorrow. The Lord truly does place people in our paths to teach. Obedience brings miracles of that I am so sure.
I know that this is God's work. I know that this is not my work or the work of people, but this is God's work and I am merely an instrument in his hands. I am so grateful so every minute here.
Well have a great week!
-Sister Richins
Wow what another great week. I know that all of you have heard about the typhoon or tropical storm coming our way. As far as we know it is pretty weak storm and we should be okay.
I really can't believe how fast the time goes. I have five weeks left in my mission and I keep on hoping that time would just slow down for a second so that I can breathe. I just make to make every moment every day count. I am working hard up until the very last day.
Well as always this week was great. Our our exchanges got canceled because the sisters got sick, so it was just a normal week in Bacon. It was a really great week. On Saturday, we had what is called a One Day Mission. So all the members came and worked with us for a day. We all divided into four groups and then went to different areas. So it was kind of like an exchange because I was companions with one of the members, it was really fun. It was so great to have members because they could really relate and they know bicol (the native language here), I still struggle with that the 2nd language in Bacon. I am working on it though. I can understand a lot of it, just not the speaking yet. The language of Bicol is really funny because it is different in every city. In Bacon it is different than Bulan and if you go 30 minutes to Sorsogon it is different too. That is why it is so hard to understand the different dialects of Bicol. It is a good thing that everyone knows Tagalog. The members here are so great. I love and learn so much from them.
On Friday night we went were going to go to one of our investigators. We didn't have an appointment, but somehow felt maybe we should go there. While on the way we met a lady named Linda. She was going to get water for her house. But should invited us to her house. We went there and found out that her husband was a member of the church. Her husband is in Australia ( this is common for a lot of families here. The husband works abroad because there are more opportunities for work). We taught her a simple lesson and we have a return appointment tomorrow. The Lord truly does place people in our paths to teach. Obedience brings miracles of that I am so sure.
I know that this is God's work. I know that this is not my work or the work of people, but this is God's work and I am merely an instrument in his hands. I am so grateful so every minute here.
Well have a great week!
-Sister Richins
Sunday, July 13, 2014
July 7
Dear Family and Friends,
Well I am glad that everyone had a good 4th of July. We had an exciting 4th of July here. Well actually it turns out they don't celebrate it here, who would had thought? Anyway though it has been an interesting week.
So first off on Friday night we were walking home after our last appointment of the day, it was about 8:55 and we saw this lady walking down the street, it was funny because we almost know everyone that lives next to our apartment and have ended up teaching them one time or another, but I didn't recognize her. But she was kind of caught off guard because we were two foreigners walking in the night. But we stopped to talk to her and about the church. It came to turn out that her and her husband own a lot of the land next to our apartment, they live in Manila, but are here to harvest the coconuts. She was staying in one of the many resorts next to our apartment. We set a return appointment the next day. On Saturday we taught her and it was a really great lesson, it turns out that she was inside her guest room the night before and had been praying to know what to do to help her family. She then had gotten a little bored so she went for a little walk at 8:50 at night. And then she met us. She was like, I don't think it is a coincidence that we met last night. We were like no of course not it was not a coincidence. I am so thankful that we stopped to talk to her. She is leaving for Manila tomorrow, but we gave her a Book of Mormon and we will pass her contact information to the missionaries in Manila. What a miracle.
On Tuesday we also had MLC in Legazbi. It was great. We talked about how to help our investigators attend sacrament meeting, but working to get the members and missionaries on the same team. President was talking how in the weekly letters that he gets from missionaries, everyone's happiness is related to if their investigators attended sacrament meeting. "None of our investigators attended sacrament meeting, we are so sad." or " We had lots of investigators attend sacrament meeting, we are so happy." President was like what are we doing here, letting someone control our happiness. He was like, we have been sent to earth to be agents of our own selves, not to be acted upon. (2 Nephi 2:14, 27). He was like we have the power to change, we have control over IASM. We can carefully plan so that our investigators will attend sacrament meeting. It was a really good workshop and it got everyone fired up to increase our IASM.
In not so exciting news, this week one of our Less Active/Returning member that we had been teaching passed away. It is really unexpected, especially because we say him the night that he passed away and then in the morning we learned that he had had a heart attack and passed away. He had just started to become reactivated in the church. Brother Pedro Betichadio, he was 65 years old. So on Saturday, President Desuyo called a meeting for us to plan the funeral service. They decided that Sister Amato and I would be the speakers. I am not going to lie, I was really nervous to speak at the funeral service. It is hard to know what to say at a funeral. I just made and plan and prayed that the spirit would take over. We prepared and got ready and on Sunday night we had the service funeral service in Sorsogon. How blessed we are to know about the Plan of Salvation. The plan of salvation is such a perfect plan. I am really going to miss him, he lived really close to our apartment and we always saw him at least 5 times a day, he always had a smile and his face and was always "Hello Sisters! "
We also had exchanges with the other Sister's in Bacon. I was with Sister Erickson from Holliday, UT. It was fun, it was back to two white Americans. I love going on exchanges and getting to see the miracles that happen. Something really funny that happened on exchanges: We were going to one of their investigators they had been teaching the mom, but they had just started teaching the dad. The Mom was washing clothes and was busy at the moment so she told her husband to tell us to come back later that day. I guess was he really shy to talk to us, and later that day his wife told us. That he was so shy to talk to us because we were both Americans and that we didn't know Tagalog, He was like you just tell then, and she was like they know Tagalog, but I guess this dialog went back and forth and then he came out and did an action with his hands "Maglaba" (She is washing clothes) and "Mamaya" (Later). It was really funny.
Well another week, can't wait to see what it brings.
-Sister Richins
Well I am glad that everyone had a good 4th of July. We had an exciting 4th of July here. Well actually it turns out they don't celebrate it here, who would had thought? Anyway though it has been an interesting week.
So first off on Friday night we were walking home after our last appointment of the day, it was about 8:55 and we saw this lady walking down the street, it was funny because we almost know everyone that lives next to our apartment and have ended up teaching them one time or another, but I didn't recognize her. But she was kind of caught off guard because we were two foreigners walking in the night. But we stopped to talk to her and about the church. It came to turn out that her and her husband own a lot of the land next to our apartment, they live in Manila, but are here to harvest the coconuts. She was staying in one of the many resorts next to our apartment. We set a return appointment the next day. On Saturday we taught her and it was a really great lesson, it turns out that she was inside her guest room the night before and had been praying to know what to do to help her family. She then had gotten a little bored so she went for a little walk at 8:50 at night. And then she met us. She was like, I don't think it is a coincidence that we met last night. We were like no of course not it was not a coincidence. I am so thankful that we stopped to talk to her. She is leaving for Manila tomorrow, but we gave her a Book of Mormon and we will pass her contact information to the missionaries in Manila. What a miracle.
On Tuesday we also had MLC in Legazbi. It was great. We talked about how to help our investigators attend sacrament meeting, but working to get the members and missionaries on the same team. President was talking how in the weekly letters that he gets from missionaries, everyone's happiness is related to if their investigators attended sacrament meeting. "None of our investigators attended sacrament meeting, we are so sad." or " We had lots of investigators attend sacrament meeting, we are so happy." President was like what are we doing here, letting someone control our happiness. He was like, we have been sent to earth to be agents of our own selves, not to be acted upon. (2 Nephi 2:14, 27). He was like we have the power to change, we have control over IASM. We can carefully plan so that our investigators will attend sacrament meeting. It was a really good workshop and it got everyone fired up to increase our IASM.
In not so exciting news, this week one of our Less Active/Returning member that we had been teaching passed away. It is really unexpected, especially because we say him the night that he passed away and then in the morning we learned that he had had a heart attack and passed away. He had just started to become reactivated in the church. Brother Pedro Betichadio, he was 65 years old. So on Saturday, President Desuyo called a meeting for us to plan the funeral service. They decided that Sister Amato and I would be the speakers. I am not going to lie, I was really nervous to speak at the funeral service. It is hard to know what to say at a funeral. I just made and plan and prayed that the spirit would take over. We prepared and got ready and on Sunday night we had the service funeral service in Sorsogon. How blessed we are to know about the Plan of Salvation. The plan of salvation is such a perfect plan. I am really going to miss him, he lived really close to our apartment and we always saw him at least 5 times a day, he always had a smile and his face and was always "Hello Sisters! "
We also had exchanges with the other Sister's in Bacon. I was with Sister Erickson from Holliday, UT. It was fun, it was back to two white Americans. I love going on exchanges and getting to see the miracles that happen. Something really funny that happened on exchanges: We were going to one of their investigators they had been teaching the mom, but they had just started teaching the dad. The Mom was washing clothes and was busy at the moment so she told her husband to tell us to come back later that day. I guess was he really shy to talk to us, and later that day his wife told us. That he was so shy to talk to us because we were both Americans and that we didn't know Tagalog, He was like you just tell then, and she was like they know Tagalog, but I guess this dialog went back and forth and then he came out and did an action with his hands "Maglaba" (She is washing clothes) and "Mamaya" (Later). It was really funny.
Well another week, can't wait to see what it brings.
-Sister Richins
June 30
Dear Family and Friends,
We are moving into the first week of July! I can't believe that you all will be celebrating the fourth of July over there on Friday. I honestly feel that you all were just talking about the last 4th of July last year. This week has been quite adventurous for me here. I tried Octopus this week, ya I know that is crazy, but it wasn't so bad. Also it has started into the rainy season so it rains almost every afternoon with big thunder and lighting storms so that is kind of exciting. It is great because it is not as hot.
This week was a great week, we had exchanges with the Sorsogon Sisters. I was with the trainee of Sister Flake, Sister Natarte, she is really sweet. She is from Baguio, which is the only place in the Philippines to have Strawberries. We worked here in Bacon, it was pretty exciting. I love exchanges so much. It helps remind me of the excitement of missionary work. While on exchanges we were in one of our areas, where all of the houses are all the same and they all have tin roofs. It turns out when it rains really hard, you can't hear anything in houses with tin roofs. We were teaching a lesson and then it started pouring and it was pretty soon it was useless to continue.
We had a great week finding this week. On Tuesday we were working with some of the Branch Missionaries and our appointments fell through so we went tracting. It was funny because one of the Branch Missionaries really didn't want to tract in that area because he was from that area and all the people knew him. We would go to each house and he would say, oh they are not interested. But yet we continued until we got to the last house and they let us in. We taught Liro a 21 year old mom, with one little boy that has cancer and is blind. She was great and really wanted learn. Her question for us was when we were going to come back so that we could teach her more.
We also taught the Dellosa Family, which is a new investigator this week too. We taught them on Saturday night. We had taught there daughter, Sailene, before and we were going back to teach her again, but this time her dad listened too and he was so excited, he felt the spirit as we taught about Joseph Smith and then we asked him how he felt and he said he felt so great inside.
I love finding, I know that the Lord's hand is in this work.
Happy 4th of July everyone!
-Sister Richins
June 23
Dear Family and Friends,
Well another week is over. I still can't believe it. We started off the new transfer. I love this area and I love my companion.
It was the first week of the transfer so we didn't have any exchanges. But it was just a week to work really hard in our area. We could really feel the power of obedience this week. How true that is. All that really matters is obedience, that is all that God is worried about in the end. We strive for exact obedience. If we strive to be exactly obedient, we can really see the miracles in the work.
This week was a great week. We were in daily planning last night and we were like wow this was a great week, we have investigators that are starting to progress and new investigators and investigators attending sacrament meeting. It is just an exciting time in the mission.
Of course we do have our challenges too, we have to help all those new investigators progress and resolve their concerns. We also are trying really hard to help the less actives here, but that is one of the things that make me the saddest to see the less active struggle, but they don't have the faith to make it through. We continue to help them though we just teach by the spirit and hopefully one day they will understand.
We were teaching Brother Don yesterday and it was really funny he was talking about his testimony of the church. He was talking about one of the talks in sacrament meeting about staying strong and the speaker talked about less active members. And brother Don, if someone got baptized and then left the church, then they don't understand the doctrine, they don't understand the church. We were like ya that is right. That is something that is really unique about brother don because understands the doctrine so well and I honestly feel that we have hardly done anything, he searches to find, and we are just there to answer questions.
I love being here. I really don't want this to end.
Well we are off to the start of a busy week. Exchanges start up again and it is just a long sprint to the finish.
-Sister Richins
June 16
Dear Family and Friends,
Wow, how the time passes. We just finished another transfer this past week. And I am staying in Bacon for another transfer, which makes me wonder if this will be my last area of the mission!!!! Hopefully, I love this area so much and am so happy to stay here with my companion.
So we had an good week. Besides the fact that we almost got attacked in our apartment by this moth/locust things. It was quite the experience. On Friday night we noticed all this flying things swarming around the light post close to our apartment. We went into our apartment and turned on the light and before you knew it they were all trying to get to the light inside our apartment. They found any little hole they could find. We were running to close all the windows, but they still found their way in. It was quite an experience, you could here them hitting the windows just trying to get in. But don't worry we did survive and we all was fine.
So this was the last week we had exchanges in Sorsogon. I was with Sister Lesa from Orem, UT. She is absolutely hillarious and we had so much fun together. It reminded me just how fun missionary work is. I love going on exchanges because you learn so many things, so that you can really learn how to become a great missionary! I got to work with Sister Lesa in her area and we taught a lot of less actives. Trying to help them build their faith to come back into the fold.
We also were able to work hard in our area this week. We were really able to see investigators start to progress. Which is so great. We had a special district conference saturday and yesterday and brother Don came to the Saturday session. Sister Gloria the one that I told you we met one day when she came home from work early without knowing why is really progressing. She is so funny she has a hard time seeing the words in the book of mormon, but she still reads. I am so happy to finally see some of all our finding efforts start to turn into progressing investigators.
We also had a lot of new investigators too! We did a lot of tracting and tracting. We also say well President Guanzon says we need 200 street contracts to get one baptism so we just keep going and keep on finding. That is our biggest chanllenge right now. We have a lot of new investigators, but we are struggling to help them become progressing investigators.
So for all you back home remember that missionaries live on refferals because that is the most successful way of missionary work. Don't forget to pray for a missionary experience today so that you can share you testimony to someone today. It may not be a non member at all, but maybe a less active that has strayed from the fold. We need them all back to the fold.
I mentioned eariler that we had a special district conference. It was a little different we started with the district president speaking here locally and then they had a live broadcast from Salt Lake City. Elder Cook spoke and Brother Davies of the presiding bishopbric as well as Sister McKonkie. I guess it was a special Northern Philippines Conference for all those in the Northern Philippines. They gave some really great talks about the family. Sister McKonkie talked about the significance of marriage and families. Which is actally really significant because here in the phlippines marriage is not a super important part of the culture. It is acceptable just to live in without getting married. She talked about incorrect tranditions and really strengthening families in the church in the philippines.
Elder Cook talked about not living on borrowed light which was really interesting. He talked about the celestial kingdom is compared to a sun because it produces its own light the terrestial kingdom is compared to a moon becuase it lives on borrowed light from the sun. He was pretty bold that we can't live on borrowed light we need to constantly strengthen our testimonies of the gospel.
Well it has been a great week. The time is going way to fast.... I was like this past transfer has been the fastest transfer ever.
Well have a great day and week!
-Sister Richins
Wednesday, June 11, 2014
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
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
June 2
Dear Family and Friends,
Welcome to the month of June!
This week was challenging but rewarding. I think it is really funny. Because everything in missionary work leads up to Sunday. We teach and you teach and find, and then comes Sunday. Sometimes you go and pick up investigators and then you wait to see who will come to church. Sometimes those tense seconds on Sunday are the worst. This week during weekly planning session. I was like how can we help these precious souls progress. We were just struggling to help investigators attend church. We started our fast on Saturday and I was just fasting that we could help people attend church and progress. On Sunday, we waited and waited and then finally 15 minutes into sacrament meeting Brother Don shows up. I was so shocked. He had just expressed his concern to us about how he had studied to became a pastor in the catholic church and had started a small church where they live. But there was brother Don. It was really exciting, you could really see a difference in him, to experience church. After we asked how church was he said it was good and next week he was going to bring his whole family. Blessing.
Well that was the end of the week, but the other part of the week was great too. We had exchanges with the other sisters in Bacon. I was with Sister Estrada, she is from the part of the Philippines where the new temple is being built. She was really fun to work with and we had a great time. I worked in her area. We were walking maybe 8:30 at night and he started talking to this boy that was like 18 that was just sitting and smoking a cigarette on the street. But Sister Estrada was great and started talking to him. He wasn't really interesting, but he said his sister might. So we went to his house and taught his older sister. Sometimes when they don't look at all interested you never know, so that is why we talk to everyone!
We also had zone conference on Friday. It was really great, any time to learn from President Guanzon is really great. The workshop for zone conference was about companionship study, It was a little different kind of workshop, but it was really helpful, how we can make companionship study more effective and making our planning more effective. A good day really starts off with a good companionship study. It was a great conference and I learned so much. I am trying to sprint to the finish, strive to be exactly obedient and work hard.
This week should be exciting. We just realigned the areas in Bacon so that it was more equal in the areas closest to the chapel, so this week we are in a sense opening an area. We are also going to try to use the book of Mormon to really help our investigators progress.
I have talked so much about how great the branch leaders are in this branch because they really are. They strive to magnify their calling. We had a meeting with the branch presidency and we talked about something the Branch is working on to save the rising generation. They are tracking the Young adults and the Youth and making sure that no one gets left behind. The missionaries and the branch members are one in this. President Desuyo said we are a team to really help them become truly converted. Part of the plan is to have them work with the missionaries more, so they can share their testimony and thus be strengthened.
Well I hope everything is going well for all of you. I love being a missionary, I love it.
-Sister Richins
Welcome to the month of June!
This week was challenging but rewarding. I think it is really funny. Because everything in missionary work leads up to Sunday. We teach and you teach and find, and then comes Sunday. Sometimes you go and pick up investigators and then you wait to see who will come to church. Sometimes those tense seconds on Sunday are the worst. This week during weekly planning session. I was like how can we help these precious souls progress. We were just struggling to help investigators attend church. We started our fast on Saturday and I was just fasting that we could help people attend church and progress. On Sunday, we waited and waited and then finally 15 minutes into sacrament meeting Brother Don shows up. I was so shocked. He had just expressed his concern to us about how he had studied to became a pastor in the catholic church and had started a small church where they live. But there was brother Don. It was really exciting, you could really see a difference in him, to experience church. After we asked how church was he said it was good and next week he was going to bring his whole family. Blessing.
Well that was the end of the week, but the other part of the week was great too. We had exchanges with the other sisters in Bacon. I was with Sister Estrada, she is from the part of the Philippines where the new temple is being built. She was really fun to work with and we had a great time. I worked in her area. We were walking maybe 8:30 at night and he started talking to this boy that was like 18 that was just sitting and smoking a cigarette on the street. But Sister Estrada was great and started talking to him. He wasn't really interesting, but he said his sister might. So we went to his house and taught his older sister. Sometimes when they don't look at all interested you never know, so that is why we talk to everyone!
We also had zone conference on Friday. It was really great, any time to learn from President Guanzon is really great. The workshop for zone conference was about companionship study, It was a little different kind of workshop, but it was really helpful, how we can make companionship study more effective and making our planning more effective. A good day really starts off with a good companionship study. It was a great conference and I learned so much. I am trying to sprint to the finish, strive to be exactly obedient and work hard.
This week should be exciting. We just realigned the areas in Bacon so that it was more equal in the areas closest to the chapel, so this week we are in a sense opening an area. We are also going to try to use the book of Mormon to really help our investigators progress.
I have talked so much about how great the branch leaders are in this branch because they really are. They strive to magnify their calling. We had a meeting with the branch presidency and we talked about something the Branch is working on to save the rising generation. They are tracking the Young adults and the Youth and making sure that no one gets left behind. The missionaries and the branch members are one in this. President Desuyo said we are a team to really help them become truly converted. Part of the plan is to have them work with the missionaries more, so they can share their testimony and thus be strengthened.
Well I hope everything is going well for all of you. I love being a missionary, I love it.
-Sister Richins
May 26
Dear Family and Friends,
Well we are approaching the last week of May. The time goes so fast. It is hard to think of buy as school comes to a close over there, Everyone is getting ready to go back to school this week.
Not going to lie it was a little difficult week, we had to drop a lot of investigators. Sometimes the outside influences of family members and friends is really hard for people. Sometimes it is just a hard part of missionary work, even when people have really great experiences and they just can't withstand some social temptations. It just reminds me of the quote from Elder Jeffery R Holland that said that of course missionary work is not easy, it was never easy for the author of Salvation, even our savior Jesus Christ. He also said that Missionaries and investigators will have to feel a little of what the Savior felt. That is how we come to know our savior.
But other than a few disappointments we did have a good week in Bacon. We had one investigator sister Rose Ann. We have been teaching her for a while. She was a referral from Sister Alma Carrido when she was an investigator. She knows that Book of Mormon is true and loves reading it, but has just been so shy to come to church. She lives really close to our apartment so we have tried 3 times to pick her up for church, but is is says next time, next time. So on Saturday they branch has a picnic dinner really close to her house. We decided to see if she would come to the picnic with us. We went to get her, but she said she was too shy because she wasn't a member yet. We we went to the picnic and enlisted the help of the members. Sister Alma volunteered so Sister Alma and three of the Relief society sisters went to Rose Ann's house to get her. She was still shy so she she sent her kids instead, when they got to the picnic her little daughter decided that she didn't want to come, so sister Alma walked her back to her house and then when she came back we saw Rose Ann with her kids and Sister Alma. It was so great. The Branch was so quick to fellowship and was like okay I can come to church. This is why we need members!
We also found this investigator this week that was really prepared by the Lord, she has a lot of trials in her life and has been having a really hard time, she was suppose to be at work, but for some reason she felt that she should stay home and they we came and she said it was like and answer to prayers. She was so happy, we gave her a book of Mormon and taught her to pray. She was like I didn't know how to pray sister. She was so happy. It is these moments that make me so glad that I get to be an instrument in God's hands.
-Sister Richins
Well we are approaching the last week of May. The time goes so fast. It is hard to think of buy as school comes to a close over there, Everyone is getting ready to go back to school this week.
Not going to lie it was a little difficult week, we had to drop a lot of investigators. Sometimes the outside influences of family members and friends is really hard for people. Sometimes it is just a hard part of missionary work, even when people have really great experiences and they just can't withstand some social temptations. It just reminds me of the quote from Elder Jeffery R Holland that said that of course missionary work is not easy, it was never easy for the author of Salvation, even our savior Jesus Christ. He also said that Missionaries and investigators will have to feel a little of what the Savior felt. That is how we come to know our savior.
But other than a few disappointments we did have a good week in Bacon. We had one investigator sister Rose Ann. We have been teaching her for a while. She was a referral from Sister Alma Carrido when she was an investigator. She knows that Book of Mormon is true and loves reading it, but has just been so shy to come to church. She lives really close to our apartment so we have tried 3 times to pick her up for church, but is is says next time, next time. So on Saturday they branch has a picnic dinner really close to her house. We decided to see if she would come to the picnic with us. We went to get her, but she said she was too shy because she wasn't a member yet. We we went to the picnic and enlisted the help of the members. Sister Alma volunteered so Sister Alma and three of the Relief society sisters went to Rose Ann's house to get her. She was still shy so she she sent her kids instead, when they got to the picnic her little daughter decided that she didn't want to come, so sister Alma walked her back to her house and then when she came back we saw Rose Ann with her kids and Sister Alma. It was so great. The Branch was so quick to fellowship and was like okay I can come to church. This is why we need members!
We also found this investigator this week that was really prepared by the Lord, she has a lot of trials in her life and has been having a really hard time, she was suppose to be at work, but for some reason she felt that she should stay home and they we came and she said it was like and answer to prayers. She was so happy, we gave her a book of Mormon and taught her to pray. She was like I didn't know how to pray sister. She was so happy. It is these moments that make me so glad that I get to be an instrument in God's hands.
-Sister Richins
Sunday, May 25, 2014
May 19
Dear Family and Friends,
Well this was just a fantastic week. We started off with MLC on Tuesday and ended with the Brother and Sister Carrido's baptism on Saturday. We are still on the big summer heat wave, even with the sun, we keep on moving forward. The fan is a forever friend these days. But maybe in June everything will cool down when school starts again. That is crazy school will start here when everyone is getting out over there.
So MLC of course was just so great, we always learn so much. The assistants had a workshop about lesson planning and making our lesson planning more effective, but focusing on the baptismal interview questions and teaching to commitments. It was really helpful. Lesson planning is so important because the spirit works with us when we have a carefully planned lesson.
On Saturday we had a great baptism. It was a lot different than other baptisms that I have been to here in the Philippines. Other baptisms were great too, but none have been as spiritual as this one. It was truly a spiritual experience for them. We were all in a tricycle coming home and sister Alma was next to me and was so happy, she was like wow it feels so good to be baptized. Everyone in the room could feel the spirit bear witness of this scared ordinance. The best part for me was when Alma and Ronnie bore their testimonies. That family means so much to me, they are so special. They have such strong testimonies. We are working to teach their two kids that were not baptized with them to that they can be complete and next year can enter the temple as a family to be sealed.
On Sunday President Guanzon came to church in Bacon. It was really exciting for all the members. It has been something that President Guanzon has been trying to do in all the branches in the mission. He comes to church and then does a missionary fireside afterwards. It was really great. He spoke in Sacrament meeting and was impressed, he even though the meeting house was humble by the world's standard, it was full of the spirit. He talked about the simple commandment of obedience and particularly tithing. After the block, he gave a great fireside. He focused on hastening the work of salvation by members and missionaries working together. He had put together some numbers and showed to the members that if they had the same goals as the missionaries than they could be a ward in one year and in 7 years a stake! It got them really exciting and hopefully it will really help our area here.
During the fireside President Guanzon talked about 1. Retention, 2. Activation, 3. Conversion. When he was talking about activation President Guanzon gave the statistics of Bacon Branch, there are 200 members and the sacrament attendance is usually around 50. That means there are 150 that are lost and need to be rescued. It was then that the newly baptized and confirmed brother Ronnie Carrido asked, but why do they leave? I have really pondered that question yesterday and today. Why do they leave?
The answer to that question is something that I have pondered my whole mission. Some say they are offended, some say that the church is too far, the reasons could go on and on. But the ultimate is that they didn't have enough faith. They testimonies were not strong enough when trials came. Brother Ronnie could not understand how anyone could leave the joy that they had found and hopefully that made him make up his mind that he is never going to leave.
The rest of the week was great too. We were able to find a lot of new investigators. One new investigator Sister Janice, we gave a book of moron to her the first visit and when we came back she was already in 1 Nephi 15 and wanted to know more. We also have another new investigator Brother Nilo, who when we taught him was talking about all these things that he felt were wrong in his church. He was like they don't do things like Jesus Christ. It was like the perfect questions, and powerful when we shared the restoration of the fullness of the gospel. We also have many more new investigators with a unique story. The Lord is hastening his work and I am so thankful to be a part of this.
Of course don't think that everything is just perfect here, missionary work has a lot of challenges too, but days like Saturday make it all worth it!
Well it should be another great week! Here are some pictures from the baptism.
-Sister Richins
Well this was just a fantastic week. We started off with MLC on Tuesday and ended with the Brother and Sister Carrido's baptism on Saturday. We are still on the big summer heat wave, even with the sun, we keep on moving forward. The fan is a forever friend these days. But maybe in June everything will cool down when school starts again. That is crazy school will start here when everyone is getting out over there.
So MLC of course was just so great, we always learn so much. The assistants had a workshop about lesson planning and making our lesson planning more effective, but focusing on the baptismal interview questions and teaching to commitments. It was really helpful. Lesson planning is so important because the spirit works with us when we have a carefully planned lesson.
On Saturday we had a great baptism. It was a lot different than other baptisms that I have been to here in the Philippines. Other baptisms were great too, but none have been as spiritual as this one. It was truly a spiritual experience for them. We were all in a tricycle coming home and sister Alma was next to me and was so happy, she was like wow it feels so good to be baptized. Everyone in the room could feel the spirit bear witness of this scared ordinance. The best part for me was when Alma and Ronnie bore their testimonies. That family means so much to me, they are so special. They have such strong testimonies. We are working to teach their two kids that were not baptized with them to that they can be complete and next year can enter the temple as a family to be sealed.
On Sunday President Guanzon came to church in Bacon. It was really exciting for all the members. It has been something that President Guanzon has been trying to do in all the branches in the mission. He comes to church and then does a missionary fireside afterwards. It was really great. He spoke in Sacrament meeting and was impressed, he even though the meeting house was humble by the world's standard, it was full of the spirit. He talked about the simple commandment of obedience and particularly tithing. After the block, he gave a great fireside. He focused on hastening the work of salvation by members and missionaries working together. He had put together some numbers and showed to the members that if they had the same goals as the missionaries than they could be a ward in one year and in 7 years a stake! It got them really exciting and hopefully it will really help our area here.
During the fireside President Guanzon talked about 1. Retention, 2. Activation, 3. Conversion. When he was talking about activation President Guanzon gave the statistics of Bacon Branch, there are 200 members and the sacrament attendance is usually around 50. That means there are 150 that are lost and need to be rescued. It was then that the newly baptized and confirmed brother Ronnie Carrido asked, but why do they leave? I have really pondered that question yesterday and today. Why do they leave?
The answer to that question is something that I have pondered my whole mission. Some say they are offended, some say that the church is too far, the reasons could go on and on. But the ultimate is that they didn't have enough faith. They testimonies were not strong enough when trials came. Brother Ronnie could not understand how anyone could leave the joy that they had found and hopefully that made him make up his mind that he is never going to leave.
The rest of the week was great too. We were able to find a lot of new investigators. One new investigator Sister Janice, we gave a book of moron to her the first visit and when we came back she was already in 1 Nephi 15 and wanted to know more. We also have another new investigator Brother Nilo, who when we taught him was talking about all these things that he felt were wrong in his church. He was like they don't do things like Jesus Christ. It was like the perfect questions, and powerful when we shared the restoration of the fullness of the gospel. We also have many more new investigators with a unique story. The Lord is hastening his work and I am so thankful to be a part of this.
Of course don't think that everything is just perfect here, missionary work has a lot of challenges too, but days like Saturday make it all worth it!
Well it should be another great week! Here are some pictures from the baptism.
-Sister Richins
May 12
Dear Family and Friends,
Things are going great in Bacon. It is a new transfer, my new companion is Sister Amato, from Wellington, New Zealand. We are now both the Sister Training Leaders for Sorsogon Zone. She is great. It is exciting to get new eyes on an area.
We are doing great. We are continuing to find and find. So that was exciting. We do have one Brother Freddie that we have been teaching on and off because a lot of times we don't have a sister present, but he came to church on Sunday so that is exciting. We also have this really great investigator, Ann Rose, who was a referral from sister Carrido. She told us this week about her experience with the book of Mormon and how she felt when she prayed. She was like it is probably feels great to go to church too, but didn't know if she was going to be able to make it. But than we asked if we could pick her up for church and she completely changed. She was happy to go to church with us. It is just goes to show that it is really important to pick up investigators to come to church so that they don't feel shy.
So we are starting to harvest some of those seeds we planted the past two transfers. As always it is an exciting to be a missionary at this time. I am learning so much. Tomorrow we go to Legazbi for MLC so as always that is an exciting time to learn from President Guanzon.
-Sister Richins
Things are going great in Bacon. It is a new transfer, my new companion is Sister Amato, from Wellington, New Zealand. We are now both the Sister Training Leaders for Sorsogon Zone. She is great. It is exciting to get new eyes on an area.
We are doing great. We are continuing to find and find. So that was exciting. We do have one Brother Freddie that we have been teaching on and off because a lot of times we don't have a sister present, but he came to church on Sunday so that is exciting. We also have this really great investigator, Ann Rose, who was a referral from sister Carrido. She told us this week about her experience with the book of Mormon and how she felt when she prayed. She was like it is probably feels great to go to church too, but didn't know if she was going to be able to make it. But than we asked if we could pick her up for church and she completely changed. She was happy to go to church with us. It is just goes to show that it is really important to pick up investigators to come to church so that they don't feel shy.
So we are starting to harvest some of those seeds we planted the past two transfers. As always it is an exciting to be a missionary at this time. I am learning so much. Tomorrow we go to Legazbi for MLC so as always that is an exciting time to learn from President Guanzon.
-Sister Richins
Thursday, May 8, 2014
May 5
Dear Family and Friends,
Welcome
to the month of MAY! Time continues to fly by.
Well
this week finished up the transfer, and Sister Iqbal will be transferring. I am
really sad to have her go. She means so much to me. I love you her
so so much and I feel really close to her. It is always hard to get a new
companion after you understand them so well. Well that is the way that
missions go. It is now a time to learn and grow even more. I am so
thankful for the past three months we had together.
This
week was exciting. We were finally able to teach this less active that is
always hiding from us when we go and visit her. She has a strong
testimony, she was just offended and doesn't want to come back to the church.
Hopefully we will be able to continue to visit her and help her come back
to church.
We
also have been teaching this Part Member family, the wife is a member, but the
father, Don, is not. It is interesting to teach him because he is really
versed in the bible. He studied to be a priest in the catholic church.
He is really interested in the Book of Mormon and loves to read it-in
English! Slowly slowly with a lot of prayer he will understand. I see so
much potential in him, he could become such a power leader in the church.
On
Sunday, it was fast Sunday, and Brother Romy and Alma both bore their testimony
about how much their life has been changed, and how they want their teenage
daughters to join the church too. It is like they are already are member.
They are doing so well and after a lot they are finally able to abstain
from word and wisdom and will be baptized in May!
Well
anyway this week will be a week of change and growth! I look forward to talking
to you all next week.
-Sister
Richins
April 28
Dear Family and Friends,
Well we had a great District activity at this beautiful beach. I will try to send you pictures next week. But things are going great. I am loving it here in Bacon. The branch is really starting to support the missionary work here.
This week was we had exchanges with the Gubat Sisters on Wednesday. I went to Gubat with Sister Atienza. She was so sweet to me. It was a lot of fun. We had a great day. We did a lot of tracting and tracting, but still managed to teach 7 lessons. So there your a lot of miracles. We taught one of their great Recent Converts. He was so cute. He is 61 years old. The sisters were talking to his wife one day while she was walking. When she came home. Brother Carilito asked who she had talked to that day. And she said she had talked to the Mormon sister Missionaries. He said that he knew that she had talked to someone special that day because he had a dream about it. He was so excited and is a golden recent convert. He wants to go to the temple and be sealed to his wife and family. He has such a strong testimony of the gospel. It is so much fun to go on exchanges and meet all these great people and work with all these great sisters.
We continue to teach the Carrido family and brother is trying so hard to give up word of wisdom problems. It was a really powerful lesson this week. He said it had been years since the bible was shut in their house, but they are so grateful that it has been opened again in such a glorious way.
I realized though on exchanges how much I love my Bacon, as much as you can love another's area for one day, I really love me beloved Bacon and the people here and my wonderful, sweet, companion.
Well we are finishing up the transfer this week, we will see what happens here.
-Sister Richins
April 21
Dear Family and Friends,
What a great week. So first off it was holy week so everyone was really really busy. On Thursday they had a Parade depicting Christ's death. Easter here is pretty non existent. All the Catholics here will get up at 3:00 in the morning and walk down the street as symbolism of the Resurrection of Christ on Sunday morning.
Our work this week has been great. We went on exchanges on Wednesday. I was with Sister Abasanta from Cebu City, Philippines. She lives 30 minutes away from the Cebu temple. She has 17 kids in her family! They are all members and 9 have served missions and 3 are currently serving! Isn't that just crazy. Anyway though she is just super sweet and so happy. We worked in my area. We had come back from one of our far areas and had about an hour before 9:00 so we went tracting close to our apartment. Of course we had already tracted this many times before, but we both had a prayer in our heart that we would be able to teach one more lesson before the night was over. Finally, after being turned down a lot of times, we started talking to a lady on the street. She was saying that she had finished her dinner early because she felt that she would have a visitor that night. She let us in and we taught her about our message. She told us about her life and when she lost her youngest daughter. There was almost tears in her eyes as she talked about how she was mad at God, but she was so happy to talk to us. We testified of God's love and his perfect plan for us. Miracles happen all the time.
On Thursday we had interviews with Preisdent. It is always so great to learn from him. He is so great. He talked about how he wants us to knock on every door within 1 km of the church house. Of course the gospel he said is for everyone, but we don't want to baptism into inactivity, we went people to be able to walk to church. He gave the example of my beloved Bulan how we walked everyday and everyone was so close that they could walk to church. He was really impressed at the work that we did there. In my interview we talked a lot about Bulan and how we could help all areas become like Bulan. Where the people have so much respect for the missionaries and the people know the missionaries schedule.
Other big thing president talked about was giving a baptismal date in the first lesson. He even challenged us to give a baptismal date while we are talking to people in the street. He told us to get the conversation to talking about following Jesus and then invite them. If we truly love these people we will not be scared of rejection.
Inviting in the first lessons is so wonderful, because it shows people why we are there, we are not there to just study the bible we are there to bring them closer to Christ. The spirit works and they accept. I can see the difference in the investigators we invite in the first lesson usually are more serious and progress faster.
We are still working to help Brother Romy gain enough faith to overcome problems with the Word of Wisdom. It is so funny, he has so much desire to change, but doesn't want to lose his friends. He has two mindsets. That is sometimes the cost of discipleship, to stand up for beliefs. I know that he will do it, it just will take a little time.
Well have a great week!
-Sister Richins
Sunday, April 20, 2014
April 7
Dear Family and Friends,
It sounds like conference was great, everyone's email is talking about it. I am excited to watch it this week. The branch president isn't sure if we will be able to watch it in our little meetinghouse or not. Hopefully we will be able to, if not we will go to the Sorsogon District Center and watch it. So I am looking forward to that later this week.
So we had a great week. On Tuesday was MLC so Sister Natividad the other STL in Sorsogon went to Legazbi. It was a great meeting. I just love learning from President Guanzon. It is always so inspiring. President and the Assistants did a workshop about finding and particularly the faith to find. It was really great. They talked about acting in faith to find-staying out until the very last minute of the day finding. It was really inspiring.
The rest of the week went great. We were able to find a lot of investigators. On Wednesday we were walking to an appointment and we stopped to talk to this lady outside her house. We got to talking and she said how she was the cousin of President Roman. (Remember president roman was the district President in Bulan that died and we went to his funeral). She said that she had been taught by the missionaries before, but she would lose contact because sometimes she would go to manila to work. We came back on Saturday and were able to teach her whole family and give them a baptismal date.
Well more great weeks to come.
-Sister Richins
It sounds like conference was great, everyone's email is talking about it. I am excited to watch it this week. The branch president isn't sure if we will be able to watch it in our little meetinghouse or not. Hopefully we will be able to, if not we will go to the Sorsogon District Center and watch it. So I am looking forward to that later this week.
So we had a great week. On Tuesday was MLC so Sister Natividad the other STL in Sorsogon went to Legazbi. It was a great meeting. I just love learning from President Guanzon. It is always so inspiring. President and the Assistants did a workshop about finding and particularly the faith to find. It was really great. They talked about acting in faith to find-staying out until the very last minute of the day finding. It was really inspiring.
The rest of the week went great. We were able to find a lot of investigators. On Wednesday we were walking to an appointment and we stopped to talk to this lady outside her house. We got to talking and she said how she was the cousin of President Roman. (Remember president roman was the district President in Bulan that died and we went to his funeral). She said that she had been taught by the missionaries before, but she would lose contact because sometimes she would go to manila to work. We came back on Saturday and were able to teach her whole family and give them a baptismal date.
Well more great weeks to come.
-Sister Richins
March 31
Dear family and Friends,
Well it is the last day of March, Where has the time gone? April
starts tomorrow! It is the summer season here, we are feeling the heat
and everyone is out of school! We are working to contact more people,
now that everyone is less busy. Last week all the schools had
graduation so we had a lot of dinner appointments which was a change
because we never have dinner appointments. Whenever there is an
occasion here, they always have a big dinner and invite all their
friends and family. It is actually a good finding activity, so that
was fun, and lots of yummy philippino food.
We had one investigator an women named Chona that we met tracting on
my first day in this area finally come to church! It was so great.
She said that she had somewhere to go after sacrament meeting, but she
just didn't want to leave, so she stayed for the whole three hours.
Hopefully now she will really start to progress. And her husband
will come next week. Of course we continue to teach the Corrido
family, and they are excited for their baptism next month.
We also have some other investigators that we are working with. We
have had to contact all the investigators that we found last week and
teach them again. We also have a lot of less actives that we teach in
this area. Less actives are a huge challenge. I have heard so many
stories of why they can't come to church. It's too hot, It was
raining, but there is always a deeper reason. It is different to
teach less actives, but it is all the same purpose we are inviting
them to come back unto Christ. They know these things they just need
to increase their faith and testimony.
You have to take a look at this (the article I attached here from the
May 2012 issue of the Liahona entitled Funds help members to the
temple), I have told you that Sister Iqbal is from Pakistan right? She
showed me this article from the liahona earlier to day. It is her
cousin that introduced her family to the church. It is about his
experience of going to the temple. The closest temple for them is the
Manilia temple, which is really far away. I just can't even imagine
that. It makes me think a lot of how blessed we are that we have
temples so close. We have 2 temples in our city. That is so crazy.
There are some members that wait a lifetime to enter the temple.
Also this week we went to Legazbi to the Patriarch's house so that
Sister Iqbal could receive her Patriachtical blessing. It was a
really special experience for her. She is actually really cool. She
has been through so much. She has only been a member for 2 years. It
is really interesting to learn about what life is like there in the
church.
Well this week should be exciting we are working to keep the energy
and enthusiasm high and find, find, find, teach, teach, teach.
Have a great week!
-Sister Richins
Well it is the last day of March, Where has the time gone? April
starts tomorrow! It is the summer season here, we are feeling the heat
and everyone is out of school! We are working to contact more people,
now that everyone is less busy. Last week all the schools had
graduation so we had a lot of dinner appointments which was a change
because we never have dinner appointments. Whenever there is an
occasion here, they always have a big dinner and invite all their
friends and family. It is actually a good finding activity, so that
was fun, and lots of yummy philippino food.
We had one investigator an women named Chona that we met tracting on
my first day in this area finally come to church! It was so great.
She said that she had somewhere to go after sacrament meeting, but she
just didn't want to leave, so she stayed for the whole three hours.
Hopefully now she will really start to progress. And her husband
will come next week. Of course we continue to teach the Corrido
family, and they are excited for their baptism next month.
We also have some other investigators that we are working with. We
have had to contact all the investigators that we found last week and
teach them again. We also have a lot of less actives that we teach in
this area. Less actives are a huge challenge. I have heard so many
stories of why they can't come to church. It's too hot, It was
raining, but there is always a deeper reason. It is different to
teach less actives, but it is all the same purpose we are inviting
them to come back unto Christ. They know these things they just need
to increase their faith and testimony.
You have to take a look at this (the article I attached here from the
May 2012 issue of the Liahona entitled Funds help members to the
temple), I have told you that Sister Iqbal is from Pakistan right? She
showed me this article from the liahona earlier to day. It is her
cousin that introduced her family to the church. It is about his
experience of going to the temple. The closest temple for them is the
Manilia temple, which is really far away. I just can't even imagine
that. It makes me think a lot of how blessed we are that we have
temples so close. We have 2 temples in our city. That is so crazy.
There are some members that wait a lifetime to enter the temple.
Also this week we went to Legazbi to the Patriarch's house so that
Sister Iqbal could receive her Patriachtical blessing. It was a
really special experience for her. She is actually really cool. She
has been through so much. She has only been a member for 2 years. It
is really interesting to learn about what life is like there in the
church.
Well this week should be exciting we are working to keep the energy
and enthusiasm high and find, find, find, teach, teach, teach.
Have a great week!
-Sister Richins
March 24
Dear Family and Friends,
Well it is another great week in Bacon. Transfer announcements came and Sister Iqbal and I will stay together for another transfer. I know that we were going stay together last week because President told me that he had never seen Sister Iqbal progress as much as she did this transfer.
Well weather here is starting to get really hot. In fact the this is last week of school for everyone. All the kids are getting ready for summer break. The school year is different here. Summer Break is from now until June. So all the kids are getting excited and all the college students have finals with week. I am excited because then it means that next week everyone will be home during the day. Also everyone is getting ready for holy week, apparently that is a really big deal here.
We had a really great week. We were super busy, but it was great. The best thing was that Brother Corrido finally came to church-with his whole family. He had been promising and promising, but finally he came to church! He said it was great. We taught the Corrido family on Wednesday night and it was a really great lesson it was really interesting. In Preach my gospel it says that no one can not the true gospel or truth without prayer. It was funny because I was studying that earlier that day and then we went to teach them that night. We were going to teach him the Word of Wisdom, but the first question he had was "If I am going to change religions, I want to make sure that I have no doubts in my heart." We testified about the power of prayer-that is how you know about the truth and there is no other way to know the truth of the gospel. I think that sometimes we just take prayer for granted, but it is really the only way to know. It was a really powerful lesson, with the Branch President there. We went back on Saturday night and he said he is still waiting for an answer, but says he felt that he needed to come to church too in order to know. So that is great! I love that family so much.
On Wednesday we had exchanges with the other sisters in Bacon Branch. I was with Sister Roroa from Kirabati. It brought make a lot of memories of training when Sister Oberia was my companion. It was great and I learned lots. It was a really great experience, because we had finished in our far area that we were at by 6:15 pm and we had a appointment with the Corrido family at 7:00. We had to quickly run to our apartment to pick up something and I was kind of tired and hungry and thought to myself lets just take a little snack break before our appointment. But I said no, we will go tracting. So we did and the second house we went to let us right in and we were able to teach a husband and wife and we have a return appointment with this week. The times when I don't feel like tracting is always the best time.
It is so great to see the miracles that the Lord puts in our path. So I am exciting to see how everything plays out this week. I can see our area book filling up with names and it is just wonderful to see all these little miracles everyday.
-Sister Richins
Well it is another great week in Bacon. Transfer announcements came and Sister Iqbal and I will stay together for another transfer. I know that we were going stay together last week because President told me that he had never seen Sister Iqbal progress as much as she did this transfer.
Well weather here is starting to get really hot. In fact the this is last week of school for everyone. All the kids are getting ready for summer break. The school year is different here. Summer Break is from now until June. So all the kids are getting excited and all the college students have finals with week. I am excited because then it means that next week everyone will be home during the day. Also everyone is getting ready for holy week, apparently that is a really big deal here.
We had a really great week. We were super busy, but it was great. The best thing was that Brother Corrido finally came to church-with his whole family. He had been promising and promising, but finally he came to church! He said it was great. We taught the Corrido family on Wednesday night and it was a really great lesson it was really interesting. In Preach my gospel it says that no one can not the true gospel or truth without prayer. It was funny because I was studying that earlier that day and then we went to teach them that night. We were going to teach him the Word of Wisdom, but the first question he had was "If I am going to change religions, I want to make sure that I have no doubts in my heart." We testified about the power of prayer-that is how you know about the truth and there is no other way to know the truth of the gospel. I think that sometimes we just take prayer for granted, but it is really the only way to know. It was a really powerful lesson, with the Branch President there. We went back on Saturday night and he said he is still waiting for an answer, but says he felt that he needed to come to church too in order to know. So that is great! I love that family so much.
On Wednesday we had exchanges with the other sisters in Bacon Branch. I was with Sister Roroa from Kirabati. It brought make a lot of memories of training when Sister Oberia was my companion. It was great and I learned lots. It was a really great experience, because we had finished in our far area that we were at by 6:15 pm and we had a appointment with the Corrido family at 7:00. We had to quickly run to our apartment to pick up something and I was kind of tired and hungry and thought to myself lets just take a little snack break before our appointment. But I said no, we will go tracting. So we did and the second house we went to let us right in and we were able to teach a husband and wife and we have a return appointment with this week. The times when I don't feel like tracting is always the best time.
It is so great to see the miracles that the Lord puts in our path. So I am exciting to see how everything plays out this week. I can see our area book filling up with names and it is just wonderful to see all these little miracles everyday.
-Sister Richins
Sunday, March 23, 2014
March 17
Dear Family and Friends,
Well this week was interesting, it was a little rough in the middle, but last night was wonderful. So on Tuesday we had MLC (Mission Leadership Council). It was really great. I just love learning from President Guanzon. He is so amazing. He talked about how to improve our teaching skills so that people will say about us what they said about Jesus Christ. "No man has ever taught like he did, he taught as one having authority." He just talked about jumping straight to the doctrine, bear powerful testimony and then MOVE ON. Move on means leave the house, and let them ponder the message that we taught them. We also had a great council meeting where we talked about the needs of the mission. It was different being on the creating side of the mission vision. We added two new Standard of Excellence one for investigators attend sacrament meeting and Investigators with a Baptismal Date. It will make us stretch, but it really help us. Afterwards we had interviews with President and we talked about specific challenges and strengths in our zone. It was really inspiring too.
The rest of the week was great too. We had a great time teaching, and finding. One of the things that we talked about in MLC was finding families. How we should focus our street contracting to Men with families and then when you teach the family, teach everyone but focus on the head of the household. It is so true, the church is for families, so that is what we tried to do this week. I think about when we first started teaching the Corrido Family. At first we were just teaching sister Alma, she was progressing, but once we started teaching her husband, that is when that family really started to progress. When we invited them to be baptized, it was Alma that looked to her husband and asked if that is what they were going to do. The family is really under attack, I hear news about it from home and I see it here too. Families are not super close here, and it is really sad. But the gospel blesses families so much. It was so special when we committed the Corrido Family to be baptized, brother said YES! YES! with my whole family!
I love the Corrido family so much! I love teaching them so much. Something that has been on the back of our minds as we have taught is the Word of Wisdom, we hopefully we will be able help him increase his faith and be able to abstain from those things. I am so certain that brother will be the next branch president, we just absorbs everything we teach him.
The other thing we talked about in MLC was how president had this vision that we teach lots of people around our apartment so that we can stay out until 9:00 at night teaching. So he challenged us to talk to all our neighbors, which is what we did. We actually had a lot of success and we have return appointments with almost all of them.
We also had an inspiring District Conference on Sunday with President and Sister Guanzon.They are so great. Sister Guanzon was talking about hastening the work, and we have to be bold as members and say "oh yes I am a mormon and you should be too." President Guanzon was really bold too about Member Missionary Work. He said you need to fill the missionary planners. Really plainly he said everyone around you all your neighbors and friends that are 8 years old or older that are not members can not return to our heavenly father-They need the gospel we need to introduce them to the missionaries and invite them.
I have to share this experience that I learned this week. So on Wednesday I could tell that I was catching a little cold so on Thursday I didn't feel the best, but I didn't want to miss the opportunity to teach, so I went out and taught the whole day we came back home at night and my voice was pretty horse, but at least I got to teach. Then the next day I woke up and I was feeling a lot better, but I couldn't talk at all. No voice at all. So I just had to sit silent in Zone Training, and turns out it is really central to teaching to be able to talk. So we couldn't teach for two days because I didn't have a voice. It was the WORST! What is the the lesson that I learned. Don't run faster than you have strength. . Now we are back to normal I have my voice back and we can TEACH!
Well I hope everything goes well at home!
-Sister Richins
Well this week was interesting, it was a little rough in the middle, but last night was wonderful. So on Tuesday we had MLC (Mission Leadership Council). It was really great. I just love learning from President Guanzon. He is so amazing. He talked about how to improve our teaching skills so that people will say about us what they said about Jesus Christ. "No man has ever taught like he did, he taught as one having authority." He just talked about jumping straight to the doctrine, bear powerful testimony and then MOVE ON. Move on means leave the house, and let them ponder the message that we taught them. We also had a great council meeting where we talked about the needs of the mission. It was different being on the creating side of the mission vision. We added two new Standard of Excellence one for investigators attend sacrament meeting and Investigators with a Baptismal Date. It will make us stretch, but it really help us. Afterwards we had interviews with President and we talked about specific challenges and strengths in our zone. It was really inspiring too.
The rest of the week was great too. We had a great time teaching, and finding. One of the things that we talked about in MLC was finding families. How we should focus our street contracting to Men with families and then when you teach the family, teach everyone but focus on the head of the household. It is so true, the church is for families, so that is what we tried to do this week. I think about when we first started teaching the Corrido Family. At first we were just teaching sister Alma, she was progressing, but once we started teaching her husband, that is when that family really started to progress. When we invited them to be baptized, it was Alma that looked to her husband and asked if that is what they were going to do. The family is really under attack, I hear news about it from home and I see it here too. Families are not super close here, and it is really sad. But the gospel blesses families so much. It was so special when we committed the Corrido Family to be baptized, brother said YES! YES! with my whole family!
I love the Corrido family so much! I love teaching them so much. Something that has been on the back of our minds as we have taught is the Word of Wisdom, we hopefully we will be able help him increase his faith and be able to abstain from those things. I am so certain that brother will be the next branch president, we just absorbs everything we teach him.
The other thing we talked about in MLC was how president had this vision that we teach lots of people around our apartment so that we can stay out until 9:00 at night teaching. So he challenged us to talk to all our neighbors, which is what we did. We actually had a lot of success and we have return appointments with almost all of them.
We also had an inspiring District Conference on Sunday with President and Sister Guanzon.They are so great. Sister Guanzon was talking about hastening the work, and we have to be bold as members and say "oh yes I am a mormon and you should be too." President Guanzon was really bold too about Member Missionary Work. He said you need to fill the missionary planners. Really plainly he said everyone around you all your neighbors and friends that are 8 years old or older that are not members can not return to our heavenly father-They need the gospel we need to introduce them to the missionaries and invite them.
I have to share this experience that I learned this week. So on Wednesday I could tell that I was catching a little cold so on Thursday I didn't feel the best, but I didn't want to miss the opportunity to teach, so I went out and taught the whole day we came back home at night and my voice was pretty horse, but at least I got to teach. Then the next day I woke up and I was feeling a lot better, but I couldn't talk at all. No voice at all. So I just had to sit silent in Zone Training, and turns out it is really central to teaching to be able to talk. So we couldn't teach for two days because I didn't have a voice. It was the WORST! What is the the lesson that I learned. Don't run faster than you have strength. . Now we are back to normal I have my voice back and we can TEACH!
Well I hope everything goes well at home!
-Sister Richins
March 10
Dear Family and Friends,
Well this week on Thursday marks the my one year mark on the mission. It is crazy to think that a year ago I entered the MTC, I didn't know any Tagalog, and I didn't know what to expect. Now a year later I can't believe how much I have grown. I have learned so much, I have been changed by some amazing people. My testimony has been strengthened so much, and I love every second here. I am going to work hard up until the last day I leave here. I am so thankful for the choice I made to serve a mission.
This week has been good. Slowly slowly my companion's language is improving. She knows how to make basic sentences so we are making progress. We are working the the doctrines of the lessons so that she can teach more and more.
We had a good week. We were able to find quite a few new investigators which was really great. I can see so many miracles in this area!
Last week I told you about the Corrido Family. The mom, Alma, and her 2 boys have come to church twice now, and her husband was almost so certain he was going to come to church and then he cancelled right at the last minute. He still has a concern that we just haven't solved yet. Brother Remy though is my absolute favorite to teach. He just absorbs everything. We know we can only focus on one principle at the time, because he wants to understand it perfectly. The taught about the plan of Salvation and he was just so amazed. He was so happy to understand the purpose of life. Then he was concerned about repentance and baptism. It is just so rewarding when you see the light of understanding when he understands these principles that he has been searching for so long.
We had exchanges this week with the Gubat sisters. It was really exciting. Sister Alabanza came to here to Bacon and worked with me. It was really great. I learned a lot. She is a great missionary.
So last week in our coordination meeting with the Branch Presidency, was so funny. One of the members of the Branch President started talking about how the missionaries ought to use public sermons as a way to attract more people to the church. He went on and on about how we wanted to have a big public event and the missionaries could preach. It was so funny. The Branch president tried to explain that maybe that wouldn't be the best idea, because that is not how the Lord has revealed now, but he just wouldn't stop. He said that all the other churches do it here so it is really effective. on and on finally the branch president was able to reign back in the meeting. So who knows we might start a whole public sermon thing.
Well I love this area. It is really great. Defiantly the prettiest area- right next to the beach, we get a nice sea breeze in the morning, which is definitely a plus.
Have a great week,
-Sister Richins
Well this week on Thursday marks the my one year mark on the mission. It is crazy to think that a year ago I entered the MTC, I didn't know any Tagalog, and I didn't know what to expect. Now a year later I can't believe how much I have grown. I have learned so much, I have been changed by some amazing people. My testimony has been strengthened so much, and I love every second here. I am going to work hard up until the last day I leave here. I am so thankful for the choice I made to serve a mission.
This week has been good. Slowly slowly my companion's language is improving. She knows how to make basic sentences so we are making progress. We are working the the doctrines of the lessons so that she can teach more and more.
We had a good week. We were able to find quite a few new investigators which was really great. I can see so many miracles in this area!
Last week I told you about the Corrido Family. The mom, Alma, and her 2 boys have come to church twice now, and her husband was almost so certain he was going to come to church and then he cancelled right at the last minute. He still has a concern that we just haven't solved yet. Brother Remy though is my absolute favorite to teach. He just absorbs everything. We know we can only focus on one principle at the time, because he wants to understand it perfectly. The taught about the plan of Salvation and he was just so amazed. He was so happy to understand the purpose of life. Then he was concerned about repentance and baptism. It is just so rewarding when you see the light of understanding when he understands these principles that he has been searching for so long.
We had exchanges this week with the Gubat sisters. It was really exciting. Sister Alabanza came to here to Bacon and worked with me. It was really great. I learned a lot. She is a great missionary.
So last week in our coordination meeting with the Branch Presidency, was so funny. One of the members of the Branch President started talking about how the missionaries ought to use public sermons as a way to attract more people to the church. He went on and on about how we wanted to have a big public event and the missionaries could preach. It was so funny. The Branch president tried to explain that maybe that wouldn't be the best idea, because that is not how the Lord has revealed now, but he just wouldn't stop. He said that all the other churches do it here so it is really effective. on and on finally the branch president was able to reign back in the meeting. So who knows we might start a whole public sermon thing.
Well I love this area. It is really great. Defiantly the prettiest area- right next to the beach, we get a nice sea breeze in the morning, which is definitely a plus.
Have a great week,
-Sister Richins
Friday, March 7, 2014
February 24
Dear Family Friends,
We had a really small group at church yesterday. Only 35 in the little meetinghouse. That was because it was raining all day yesterday. Literally all day. Turns out rain is a great excuse for not coming to church here. At church, I was playing the opening hymn on the little electric piano and then the power went out, or as they call it here "Brown out." The power stayed out for all the meetings. The little old meeting house, has a lot of holes in the roof. It was quite the sight watching all the buckets fill up with water. We would have to empty them throughout the meeting. But you know it was just one of those things that you say the church is still true-even in the old building house that we meet in.
It was kind of a rough week. We are still are working to get our area to the standard of excellence. I don't know this week has just been a hard one for me. I am not sure why, but sometimes I just feel really alone because it is hard to communicate with my companion. I am just trying to figure out how best to do help this area and our companionship.
We were going to go on exchanges on Wednesday with the Sorsogon Sisters, but then the Finance Elder called and said that we needed to go to Legazpi so that Sister Iqbal could sign some forms she needed for her exit clearance. So we spent the day traveling to and from Legazbi.
We did finally find a apartment. It is a nice bright pick house right next to the beach. So now we will be able to enjoy a nice sea breeze as we study each morning. I hate figuring out all this apartment stuff. We spent a lot of time on the phone with the finance elder to figure out the contract and things. Our new apartment is even equipped with a catholic idol. So just in case you wanted that. There is one inside and as a bonus they also have one outside.
We have such a busy week. The Philippines area president is coming for a mission tour and so we have leadership training tomorrow, zone conference/mission tour Wednesday and moving day on Thursday. So maybe we will have a little time to do some missionary work.
We also had a great week teaching and things. I was a great week.
-Sister Richins
We had a really small group at church yesterday. Only 35 in the little meetinghouse. That was because it was raining all day yesterday. Literally all day. Turns out rain is a great excuse for not coming to church here. At church, I was playing the opening hymn on the little electric piano and then the power went out, or as they call it here "Brown out." The power stayed out for all the meetings. The little old meeting house, has a lot of holes in the roof. It was quite the sight watching all the buckets fill up with water. We would have to empty them throughout the meeting. But you know it was just one of those things that you say the church is still true-even in the old building house that we meet in.
It was kind of a rough week. We are still are working to get our area to the standard of excellence. I don't know this week has just been a hard one for me. I am not sure why, but sometimes I just feel really alone because it is hard to communicate with my companion. I am just trying to figure out how best to do help this area and our companionship.
We were going to go on exchanges on Wednesday with the Sorsogon Sisters, but then the Finance Elder called and said that we needed to go to Legazpi so that Sister Iqbal could sign some forms she needed for her exit clearance. So we spent the day traveling to and from Legazbi.
We did finally find a apartment. It is a nice bright pick house right next to the beach. So now we will be able to enjoy a nice sea breeze as we study each morning. I hate figuring out all this apartment stuff. We spent a lot of time on the phone with the finance elder to figure out the contract and things. Our new apartment is even equipped with a catholic idol. So just in case you wanted that. There is one inside and as a bonus they also have one outside.
We have such a busy week. The Philippines area president is coming for a mission tour and so we have leadership training tomorrow, zone conference/mission tour Wednesday and moving day on Thursday. So maybe we will have a little time to do some missionary work.
We also had a great week teaching and things. I was a great week.
-Sister Richins
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