Also a big thank you to Kari Rich for more amazing photos of the little
kids in the ward. The Halloween party looked like fun! Grandma and Grandpa
sent me the nicest Christmas package haha. Thinking ahead!! Maybe
grandma is where I get my organizational habits. Can't wait to decorate
my apartment in the Philippines with that santa head! Sister Renfro sent
me literally the best sugar cookies I have ever had. Haha mom get the
recipe! Soo yummy. Hanna Watkins sent me a super nice package with
scripture stickers, cute bandaids, bazzooka bubble gum from our good ol' road trip days and more! She's the best. And of course... mom and Christie, you really pulled through with EVERYTHING. Chris, I love that
photo book so much! That was so sweet of you and I love all the pics you
chose. Best part is the picture you put with the quote about see men as
they can become not as they are or whatever that one was hahahha.
slyyy. OK I LOVE those scriptures. Those are the perfect ones mom! And I
love the CD. Listen to it all the time. You know me too well with those Costco treats. THE BESTT!! AHHH. Christie all those pictures from the MTC literally got here like the day after I asked for them. Idk how you do
it. You're amazing. And the debit card!! Glad you made friends with the
people but sorry you had to talk to them for so long. Calling the bank
is like the worst thing ever so thanks. And I tried the card out and it
works. It's the same pin right? Cause they can only run it as credit
here so I didn't put the pin in but I think it stays the same. Hahah I
wanted to try it before I emailed you so I bought a sucker for 11 cents
and the guy was like.. uhh if you have a dime I'll spot the penny haha.
Nope! Debit please! Oh also! Good call with the granola Chris! I've
been eating that with bananas every day and it's so much better. They did
take the yogurt away though :( Sorry! Thanks though. That was so thoughtful
of you!
Alright. The garment top was great. If they sell them at the
booksore 1 more would be great. If you'd have to order it, don't worry
about it! I recommend you get one! They're the best. And really long.
Mom, you asked if I had asked for more family photos but I have plenty.
Thanks though! Oh Chris! If sometime this next week you could send me a
few ziplocks for packing that would be awesome!! Just like 5 sandwich
and 5 gallon or something? I just don't want to waste a whole box so if
you have a few you could send that would be legit. Thanks.
A couple of shout outs.. oh whattttt. Ok Happy birthday to TJ! You won't see him but everyone should email him a happy birthday. Also happy
birthday to Nugget! HAHA thanks for keepin me in the loop on that one Chris. Hope her cake was much less gag worthy than the one you made Molly that one time. (Throwing up just thinking about it) WELCOME HOME
CLAYTON!!!!! Ahhh that is so exciting! Shauna must be so happy!!! Tell
him that I miss him and good job on the mish and I can't wait to see
him... in 17 months.
Alrighty so family you tend to ask a lot of questions in your
letters so here are my answers. That is so awesome that the Don is doing
rugby!!! Will you also do LAX in the spring? Is Audz gonna do rugby
too? Mom, for the Christmas package I have no idea haha. You don't need
to send me one! I don't really need anything and I have no idea what
I'll be needing in 2 months haha. Christie. I love you like a missionary
loves the scriptures... nice. hahha I actually understood that dealing
when my new ones that arrived here!! So I agree, you did good with that new
saying haha. And Casey. I have plenty of DC but thanks for offering!!!
And yes, I remeber the advice you gave me about taking the mission one
day at a time like Dave Rich gave you. I have for sure been trying to do
that. The first week I would wake up every morning and think wow that
is some really lousy advice... There is no way I can last 16 more hours
until I can get back in my bed. But NOW! Great advice! I really am
loving it here. And I think it's because I try to focus on everything I
get to do one day at a time.
Ok a few stories and then I will tell you some neat things that
really strengthened my testimony this week. For one thing... fasting is a
blessing here... not just because of all the blessings that already come
from fasting. But I legitamately felt 100 times better on fast Sunday
than any other day. I think cause I didn't have this nasty food in my
body. I always think of that time we went to girls camp at Fiesta Island
and one night bishop came and snuck me and Mel some In n Out and told
us to go find a private place to eat it haha. I could really use someone
like Bishop Roberts around this place. Oh well! NINE more days! Ok mom.
You know how sometimes I say "kill me" and you get really mad. Welllll...
in the Philippines if something bad happens or they mess up, our teacher
said they yell ahhh patay ako!!! Which means kill me. So I guess I'm
off the hook for 17 months with that one? Maybe not. I'll try to stop.
Promise.
Today I printed out Madison's email that she wrote home and I read it earlier. I
love the part where she writes about the washer breaking and having to
handwash for a week. Welcome to the next little part of my life Mads
haha. If only washboard Annie were around to give me some pointers!!!
Dad! So excited my new closet doors are up! If anyone would like to snap
a quick pic and email it to me... I just can't imagine my room without
those horrid graffitied doors. haha. That's awesome though. you are such
a hard worker dad!
This week we hosted! That's when you greet the new
missionaries at the curb and take them all around and help them get to
class. It was so fun!! Highlight was when I hosted some girl from Europe
or something and I went to hug her when I was saying bye and she kissed
my cheek... haha. umm ok. Europeans... Soooo anyone who has ever helped
me with anything technology related knows how horrendous I am at all
things technologically. But hey! Guess which companionship got called to be
the zone online coordinators! Hollaaa! That means we help with all technology things. This should be interesting.
This week was great and the MTC is just a spiritual powerhouse. So
many things happen here that strengthen my testimony so much but I will
share just a few with you. For one, there is the neatest elder
here. He is in a wheelchair and is assigned to be in the MTC teaching
people over the phone and computer for the next 2 years. He did a piano
solo at devotional last week and it was amazing. He can't really move
his arms but his fingers were magical. It was so beautiful. He is from
Mt. Pleasant so I bet Ron and his family know who he is. His name is Elder Purcell I think. Really awesome guy. I talked to him the other day
in the cafeteria and he said he thinks he knows who Jesse is.
Mom! I
know you are a very busy lady but I was thinking the other day that I
don't really know your conversion story. If you have a little extra time
I would love if you could write that up and send it to me. I know you
were 16 and some sly girl slipped something on your desk but I would
love to hear the whole story. On Sunday
afternoon the elders in our district gave us all blessings. The other 3
girls really wanted them and I felt perfectly fine so I wasn't gonna
ask for one. Then they got to me and asked if I wanted one so I said
sure. They addressed so many things I didn't even know were concerns of
mine until they addressed them. It was amazing. It really strengthened
my testimony of the priesthood. I know that those who remain worthy, literally act for God. And that is so amazing. He knows us so much
better than we know ourselves. That was a great blessing. Then on Sunday
night we watched the Testaments movie after devotional. I hadn't seen
it in so long and I forgot how powerful it is. Everyone should watch it.
People have died to know the truth. Amazing. My favorite scripture of
the week is Mosiah 4:9! I'm not gonna quote it because I want you to go
grab your scriptures and read it. We are so blessed to have the
scriptures and I never took advantage of that enough. You will gain
power when you hold them in your hands and read the words of the
prophets! Do it! Guess who is giving the devotional on Tuesday?!?!
Oh ya knoww... just L Tom Perry!!! So stoked! It's gonna be good. Ok
quick thought for everyone who is going through some sort of challenge
(Ok... so everyone on the planet) Mahirap ang buhay pero kung magdadasal
para ang kapayapaan, KAYA PO NATIN!!! Life is hard but if we pray for
strength, WE CAN DO IT!!! Remeber that. Our father in heaven delights in
helping us, so let Him!
So in other news... Is the Philippines still a thing?!??!?!?! We
obviously have no way to check the news here and from a few of your dear
elders and the dear elders of other missionaries parents we have
gathered that the Philippines is having the worst hurricane in the
history of the earth. As of this morning 1,200 people had died and the
wind was at a constant 150 mph. Is this all true?! So scary, but hey! At
least I'm not scared of storms... SIKE. And they just had a huge
earthquake a few weeks ago right?! Pretty much, poor Philippines!
They are just getting hit one thing after another. PRAY FOR THE
PHILIPPINES please!!!!! To answer your questions we haven't heard of any
delays for our departure or anything like that and I reallyyyyyyy hope
this won't result in more time in the MTC. This place is great, but
it's time to go! We are thinking though that our first while in the
Philippines we will be doing a TON of service. Maybe like when Ry Neri
just did service for a long time when that Sandy storm hit. I'm not sure
but if you know anything more than what I wrote please Dear Elder it to
me... the workers/teachers here won't tell us ANYTHING. Butttt, all of
this disaster aside, I know that the Lord will watch over and protect
me. I also know that it is a blessing I am not there yet because we all
know I would be hyperventalating under a bed for the next 3 months or
so. So as of now. We are still heading out November 18th.
Which reminds me... yesterday everyone in my district got their flight
plans (like itinerary and all that) except for Elder Denning and me. And
in the other districts everyone has gotten them except for the 4 other
sisters going to Naga. So there are 6 of us still waiting on those. They
should be here Monday so next Saturday
I will be able to let you know when I can call from the airport and all
of that. Elder Leas is the only one going to Naga who has gotten his so
I'm not too worried about it. But I'll let you know! Alright! Well it's
almost temple time!!! So I gotta go. I love you all soooo much. Thanks
for all of the love, support, and prayers! You are the best! CTR!!!
Love, Sister Richmond MAHAL KITA!!!!!
Top 10
1. Seeing family at the temple!
2. Blessings from the elders
2. Blessings from the elders
3. Photo book from Christie
4. Awesome packages from Christie, Mom, Grandma and Grandpa, Hanna, and Sister Renfro!
5. New scriptures
6. Hosting
7. Yesterday and today are actually not arctic for the first time in a little while!
8. Single digits until the philippines (if it still exists??)
9. Christie
10. Healthy & Happy!!! :)
10. Healthy & Happy!!! :)
Sis McCoard and I rockin matching polka dot shirts
Costco's finest!!! THANKS!
The best cookies EVER from Sister Renfro! Yummmm
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