July 9, 2012

July 9, 2012
 

Happy fourth of July! I didn’t know it was last week so I forgot to say
it then....but then we remembered and thought about the good ole US of
A. sounds like you were all lazy heads and missed the fireworks haha so
I guess I didn’t miss out on much.
We had a pretty good week. We had a good district meeting Wed and then
Friday morning we got to meet the new mission pres and his wife! His
wife is so funny we just love her already and she made us spaghetti,
rolls and salad! Wow that was semi strange but so so delicious. He is
very good too...I still have a hard time missing President Lee and his
happy smiling face, but Pres. Christensen is great.

This week we found 3 new investigators!  2 friends they are 20 ish and
fluent in English but its so cool cause they aren’t meeting to learn English!
We met one of them on the street and she said she’d meet again, and
then when we met she brought her friend! I was kinda worried that
maybe they didn’t understand why we wanted to meet and we were just
gonna go hang out but then I was talking to her friend and she said "I
don’t have religion, my family never has but I’ve heard your church’s name
before...can you tell me more about it?" haha um ....YES! so it went
pretty well in fact we met Sat and then yesterday again and they
accepted to a soft baptismal commitment! So hopefully they will
continue to progress well!  We cant see them this week though :( we
also met another guy he stayed in Utah with a member family so knows a
lot about the church. Hard thing is his parents are hard core Buddhist
so even though he believes in Jesus Christ he cant do much about
it...he said his mom has torn up every bible she’s found of his. we
tried to give Book of Mormon and he said he really wants to accept it but he
knows it wont go ok at home. But he is going to come to church next
week! So hopefully through coming to church and meeting with us he
will recognize that God will provide a way for him to join us.
That’s kind of the highlights of the week. I don’t have much time for anything
else :) ill try to go send pics really fast! I love you so so much!
take care and always traveling because, be safe!
LOVE
Richardson 자매                                                  Our Zone

July 2, 2012

We had a good week. Picked up a new 구도자, its so much easier to write
then investigator so from now on...just know that that’s what it means.
She is so cool...40's married, got an English flyer from missionaries
awhile ago and called but they never answered so then just recently
she has a miscarriage and was pretty down and needed to do something
to help stress and what not so wanted to do English, called and got
us! She’s an artist! She gave us a ton of her brochures and even a huge
book with famous Koreans. and she’s in it! She’s so fun and we were able
to meet her twice this week. she doesn’t have much church background
but after making an appointment with us she said she had a dream with a
cross and she’s like i don’t know why cause I’m not religious but I think
it has something to do with meeting with you guys. Since she’s artist
she was open minded and willing to learn, she also knew someone who
studied English with us and is a member so she thinks very highly of
our church! We are so excited and hope to see her progress.

We started an activity with the ward, we are using Mosiah 18:21 and wanted to try
and unite the ward somehow so we made hearts with the scripture on one
side and then we are giving them to some members to start the chain,
they write a note on the other side to another member and then we
deliver to that member and they write a new one too...so its been fun
tracking people down and making them share the love :) Our Bishop liked
the idea and even named the project i don’t know exactly what its
called in English but basically "one heart".

We are expecting rainy season to start any day...it rained a while
last week just one night and up until we left the house so it was
perfect timing but other than that its just been sunny and swimming
through the thick air.

This morning I was walking here and thought dang my calves are really
tight...so I thought back to the week and said well yeah we’ve gone
running every day...except when it was peeing.   ( and when i first
thought that, it made perfect sense because rain in Korean sounds like
pee in English....so I threw in the Korean vocab into my English train
of thought and then I realized how weird that sounds.)

Well I have to go renew my visa today! How weird I’ve almost been here for a year!    

 

We had a little time after getting my Visa renewed and stopped off at this park for a little Study Time! (Sister Rovelsky)

  

our friends...old grandpa and 2 grandsons are out playing on our
street everyday so we love to stop and visit...the boys had just
gotten home from school and showed us what he made. glasses! SO CUTE!

Sis Rovelsky eating this ice/ice cream/red bean yummy dessert and since we were "Jesus people" the lady gave us free duk boggi! (I sent you chips that were that flavour)

Our new Mission President is here! I think we will meet him on Friday.
ok bye.
love
me

June 25, 2012

Well we got transfer calls last Monday night.... I am now emailing you
from 목동 (moke-dong)! My dear Mongolian sister G is now in a 3-some
with greenie and another Korean....and I am with my sister.
Literally....we had the same trainer (which for mission family history
is our mom...which makes us sisters :) Her name is Sister Rovelsky,
from Ohio.... gorgeous...fun...hard working...fun.... and a runner :)
Thanks for your prayers :) 

She called me Monday night kinda laughing
and said....we don’t have any investigators...I was like ok this is
going to be a good transfer! Time to get to work...and no worries about
English only interest people. So far we have had an awesome week... as
soon as we walked out of our house Wednesday said Hi to 3 women and they
said “Oh we want to learn English!” Since then we have met with one of
them and she is one of our new investigators!  We do actually have
another man ( kinda weird I haven’t had a man investigator since last
August!) he seems like he is really interested and we had a pretty
good lesson with him. Since he’s male we had to have a female member
with us, and she did such a good job, and she’s amazing and so fun, she
took us to dinner after the lesson, and we found out she was less
active for like her whole life, and then ran into the missionaries and
decided to go back. Now she’s so solid...so neat.

I met Sister Reidhead from Prescott! She is in my zone! We went
streetboarding and even had dinner with them last night! Very
nice...she’s still pretty tired though hehe. Fun to hear the stuff
that’s weird about Korea cause you forget it’s weird...speaking of
weird...oh mylanta!!!! I have a bed! I hate it!!! haha. I saw it and
just felt so uncomfortable...she said you can have the bed this time I
had it last transfer I was like no no no i don’t want it. But she made
me...I haven’t been able to sleep super well....every time I move it
moves...and I’m so close to the ceiling, feels like...its so weird...so
I told her we have to switch every week :)

The ward here is super super small, I think under 40 people were at
church....tons of less actives and so we came up with a project to
kinda help them be more united and hopefully reach out to the less
actives, we will see how it goes.

I had to speak in church yesterday, it was pretty fun, also there are
2 Americans in our ward...one girl served here awhile ago and came
back for some school thing for a few months and then another guy who
served in different mission but in Korea is in our ward to...i don’t know
why he is here...but he spoke in church yesterday too...his Korean
definitely made me look ridiculous but whatev.

Pig Foot - Ok, but not my Fav!                                       

 Above - I took the pic just a little late - but people push and shove everyone to get into the subway car...packed in like sardines - we decided to wait for the next one!

Our last day in Suji :(  Me and Sis Ganpurev

O

  We were first at transfers.  We all meet at a central subway and everyone switches and goes separate lines back.














OK I want to go see if you wrote anything I'll write again.
사랑해요!

June 18, 2012

Wow. what a week.
I wish I had miracles like crazy to share with you, but they're small
and I'm afraid only I know how to appreciate them, you are right,
I'm learning a lot and having good and bad experiences. I'm grateful
for all as long as I can learn from them...but some experiences I just
look at and wonder....what was the point of that...I don't get it.  I
feel like I found a lot of people here and they seem to have
potential...why else would they meet with us...but they just don't
progress...no interest..and then they are gone...and that's it.  I
guess I haven't quite figured out how to find the truly prepared
ones...maybe my mission will just be a seed planting one.

This week started with a sweet soccer game against another zone
hehe...they all bought matching jerseys and talked up a storm about
beating us...but they put me in goal and do you know how many balls
can get past a brick wall???? hehe. ok actually one can  but still
....it was fun....we had people come into the place and stand on the
outside of the fence watching in amazement foreigners trying to play
soccer...since i was the only girl out there they loved me the
most...every time i touched the ball I was cheered on like it was the
world cup...living the dream haha.

We came back and went to a bath house with our family ...they say in
Korea if you eat together and go to sauna..you are family. its so true,
as we were together we were all laughing and playing together and so
happy and  I kinda had one of those moments like...this is what God wants..
He just wants us to be happy!!! but its been hard to see them not progressing
 in the gospel which would bring them the most happiness. I thought the mom was
slowly but surely...but now I'm not sure...and I want to have faith in
her...but I'm afraid if I leave this area the next people will drop
them and they wont ever accept. I knew missions were hard...but I
didn't expect it in this way.

We got to meet one of our investigators I haven't seen in awhile..she
hurt her foot and, anyway it was so so good to see her, shes amazing
woman,  but shes had things happen in her life where she always just
asks "Why me?" as I thought about that question and how often it
probably comes out of everyone's mouth, I thought well we don't always
deserve things that are hard, but we don't always deserve the blessings
either....why don't people complain about getting blessing they don't
deserve too? I guess life's not fair...and I'm sure glad it's not. I prob
don't deserve any of the blessings I've received.

 
This Thursday we had our zone conference...mission presidents last
time to talk to the mission together. He will still be behind scenes
till end of month but we got to hear his last "last words"  it was
amazing and amazing hard all at the same time. 

I will miss them so much, but I think it will be interesting to have English speaking President
too. Since the conference started early and we had to go to that area to teach Mongolians we went up Tuesday night and taught them...stayed
night at other sisters house and were there for the conference it was way nice. We met 2 Mongolians, they are so nice lady's and one of them
has only been in Korea for 2 months and shes like fluent. I'm  jealous..in a non sinning way. k maybe a little sinning, but their language has similarities so I understand.

I cant believe we get transfer calls tonight. Everyone thinks I'm
leaving this area. Sis G says I'll open and train...that would be
fun...but yikes...I guess we will see...next week if  I say new
area...I wont lie ok.
Well I better get going. I love you so so much. please stay safe and
healthy. and feed the missionaries hehe something delicious, but don't
make them eat more if they are full. and maybe if you see them outside
and its hot...you should take them popcicles cause that's awfully nice
of you. :)
You are going to Roosevelt with out me. I understand. hehe. be safe!
sunscreen is now my friend so i will encourage you to wear it too.
good luck packing mom...don't stress... well you can stress a little
cause a little stress is actually good ( i just learned from health
doctor conference so you can believe me) but not too much! :)
LLLLLLLLOOOOOOOOOOOOVVVVVVVVVVVEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
thanks for letter and magazine.  BYE!
Richardson 자매

June 4, 2012

Hi Family! Happy June!  We had another good week here in good ole
Korea.  Sorry again for the confusion and lack of message last Monday.
all is well....and I live in a nice apartment hehe. 

This week was kinda special we had a zone conference on Wednesday on health and
safety stuff, and then we had to go back into Seoul on Friday to meet
a new Mongolian investigator! Sis G found her one p-day and referred
her to other missionary's. but she doesn't really speak Korean or
English! So we are going to have to go there every week to teach her.
Well i don't teach I just follow my comp there and smile. Because we
had a lot of meetings this week we got pretty behind on contacting people.
 

Our goal this week was 100 and we were far from it, so Sunday was
out all day on the streets talking to people....we got 82 contacts! It
was a miracle. and we are going to work really hard this week so we
don't have to do that again! haha. We weren't able to meet with very
many of our investigators...our schedules just wouldn't match up, but we
got to meet with the little family I tell you about. Carly is 12 and
her little sisters name sounds like "tiny" its cute. She is 6. She reminds me 

of Evanna and Carly reminds me of Rylee. I told Carly I got
Avery paper (Stationery)  and she said...you never gave me paper! haha so I had to
take her paper yesterday and she wanted to write Rylee and Tatum! So I
need their address so I can send it! She is so excited she really
wants to hear back from them. She said make sure you tell them lots of
efforts in this hahaha...
Well you again didn't mention what the plan is in October....i guess i
will just tell them you are not coming. and if we are able we can come
back later on.
I got returning papers already! We have to do stuff a lot in advance
but it was quite depressing to receive.
I better get going this week. I hope you have another good week. 

 LOVE YOU!
Ree-cha-duh-sun chamaenim

Mom wrote: "We have decided to meet you at the airport and we'll go back with you a little later."

Sister Richardson wrote: "Well the transfer ends on Wed. but we have like last Temple trip and
Presidents interview and one more free day then fly out Friday October 26, 2012. I'll fly with other missionary's that are leaving  at least for the first part of the way i think. love you! bye!!!

June 3, 2012

Mom writes: "Hi YOU STINKER!  We wait for two days for some kind of message from you -
> and then you trick us!!! So - you didn't get transferred....you are still
> traveling between two areas and you are with Sis Ganpurev.  Right?"

Sister Richardson writes: 

Hi!  hehehe sorry. On our way to soccer one day I saw that building
and...well I had to. I need a little entertainment haha. no actually
last Monday was Buddhas b-day so a lot of gov buildings were closed
and we couldn't email. We went to a different wards picnic cause they
have a lot of Mongolians in there ward. so Sister G got to go speak
with them and it was pretty fun. We are same area same companion...no
worries hehe. Tuesday we were supposed to email earlier but had
appointments so couldn't do it till late that night. SORRY!
 

Speaking of genealogy we taught our English class about family history
and they really liked it. I got to show them pedigree chart and stuff
it was fun. So preparing for it I read through some of the history's
you gave me. So stinkin' cool. So then we also visited our member whose
calling is family history and we have a "library" in our church
building! I thought it was a different wards clerks office but it just
has computers in it and apparently they are just used for family
history. One guy at English was very interested and was asking where
he could go for help and all that. Pretty neat.
I did get the box last week! Thank you so so so much! Beautiful
bracelet and scarf! and the candy is almost already gone! I forgot how
delicious those are!  I'll go read and see if you are on! love you!
Richardson S

MAY 29, 2012 Emergency Transfer!!!

HI! Sorry we didn't get to write Monday. We were a little busy! Got a call Sunday night and were told we had to move up north! I don't know why so fast but we packed up and we are out in a new area. Still getting used to it, a little different than our last house haha. I attached some pics. yeah that brown shed looking thing

 

 .....home sweet home. :O

 

 

  The good news is we are really close to the church! the brick building literally 2 steps away! We met our members yesterday....all 8 of them. they are super nice...and maybe I'm the first blonde they have ever seen...I think they were actually a little frightened by me.. haha we are out in country side so not sure what to do yet...not very many people to talk to but I suppose I may learn how to farm.  Thanks again for the crocs...really easy to clean!! (At her request - we sent her Crocs - they look like Dress Shoes but made of the rubber material - so she is ready for Monsoon Season!)

I also attached pics from our temple trip...i want you to see my beautiful Mongolian comp.We are still together so I'm still happy :) 

 

 

 

 

OK well I'll tell you a  little about our week before all the craziness went down....

oh actually I think I need to start with Sister Ganpurevs quotes of the week

 

Sis G:  "What is this called?....Godhead? "

Me: " um.no....that would be your forehead"

 

About our district leader who is maybe a little bit dry

Sis G: " where was he when God gave to people the emotion?...the toilet?"

 

While planning

" AH. a mosquito just kissed me!"

 

She's adorable.I don't think I've laughed so much on my mission the amount I've laughed in a week with her!

 

Well this week was a little hard as far as meeting with people. A lot of you investigators that usually meet and were pretty consistent haven't been able to meet, and if they do its so short we aren't able to get a good lesson in. Last week was a little hard for me cause it finally got to me that I'm just being an English teacher here.... Everyone's so interested in English only and then when we talk about the gospel they either rush us or just ask...why should i believe in God. It's so hard to be patient with them...and to know like yeah you aren't going to progress or maybe I just need to give you time. It's hard to keep faith that maybe they will accept. The family I often tell you about ...ah they are so adorable...and I would do anything to see them accept the gospel...but it would be a true miracle...and I'm just trying to hold on and faith that will happen.

 

We had a crazy huge thunder storm the other night!  It woke us up and kept us up for awhile, the lightning was so bright and not even 2 sec later the thunder just rattled the sky. the first time was so loud i woke up and seriously thought we got bombed it was so so so loud. It kinda scared me...Sis G and I were like 5 year olds again wanting to crawl into bed with mom and dad. not only did it remind me of the importance of 72 hour kits haha but it made me feel so small. Like i could be gone in an instant and everything that seemed so important just isn't. I was like uh oh Gods mad cause its Buddhas b-day and people are celebrating! and they aren't listening to us so we are just all gonna get struck by lighting!

OK sorry out of time no more rambling

Have a good week! talk to you soon. be good. remember whats important. and remember how much i love you

Sister Richardson

p.s. I didn't really get transferred. that's not really my house. hehe sorry

(Her Sister says "She's been on her mission too long! Missionary Humor")