Hi Mom!

Monday, June 1, 2009

Dear Mom,

It's wonderful to hear that all is in check now with your blood pressure! It's good to know that all that needed to be done was actually taking it your medication and not something hugely complicated.

(I became very ill the week before with some very troubling symptoms. My blood pressure was 190/120, etc. This resulted in a complete cardio workup. The same day I had the tests, that night I needed to refill my pill case. So I empted that evening’s compartment so I could fill for two weeks instead of 13 days. When I did so, I noticed that my blood pressure medication was missing from that evening’s compartment. The only thing I can come up with is that I had been off that medication for two weeks resulting in the decline on my health. I got back on the medication and within 4 or 5 days was much improved. Once the situation was resolved, I had written Heather about it.)

Could you please write your testimony (simple choice of words and phrases please b/c I would translate it) to Flor? She is 17 yrs old now and she has had the first 3 lessons and all but a couple of principals of the 4th lesson so she is prepared for baptism except she now has conflicting thoughts regarding church to her family relationships.

Some background: her family is Catholic but none except her mother practice their religion and only go to church once every blue moon or else they go to whatever church. Her parents live in El Salvador. From my understanding of it, they seem to be okay with what she is doing, but not supportive if that makes sense. I guess consent but no blessing is the best way to describe it. She lives with her older brother, sister-in-law, who is an inactive member, (but you didn't hear that from me!) and 3 yr old nephew, Nefi. Her brother does not see any need to go to church b/c "we'll all be okay in the end" kind of thinking. But if you do go, go to the nearest one. And he is always drunk (but you didn't hear that from me either!). Of course, her family is central in her heart and she has burdens from feeling as if she is disappointing them or betraying tradition. She also hears a bunch of trash talk from brother all the time.

I read your letter to me from thanksgiving with your conversion story. I was so impressed that my dream to bless someone like my Mom was blessed is here now, and her future family will be eternally grateful to Flor for her choice if she will but go forward with this sacred and great covenant. That’s why I would like your testimony to give to her.

Thanks for all you do! And for all of your love and support!

Love,

Heather

Happy Memorial Day!

Monday, May 25, 2009 1:12 PM

Dear Family,

It’s great to hear of all of the fun things that are going on right now! I hope that everyone continues to be happy and grateful for all that we have. So guess what?! Saturday night Hermana Medlyn and I were at the Aguilar’s home (they are recent converts) and we had just finished our lesson (all recent converts receive the lessons again and then a few other lessons as new members) about the Word of Wisdom and Obedience. We were really happy because Hermana Aguilar’s brother is living with them now and he is not a member but he has listened to us a couple of times and came to church last week. Well, the phone rings and it’s Hermana Veliz! She called to talk to us and to tell us that we are not missing anything by being missionaries and how she misses the work so much. I asked her about her visit with you and Hna Escobar and she just loved seeing you, Kat!

Yesterday was a great day!! Eleven people attended church and come to find out only two other companionships have more scheduled baptisms than Hermana Medlyn and I, and they both are in our zone!

A brother from an English ward, Bob Hendrick (not the ward we are over) is having a BBQ today and we are going as he has invited his next-door neighbors who happen to be the Escalante family (the ones with baptismal dates next month).

We ate with Pres. Carrasquillo and his wife Saturday night. He is from Costa Rica and she from SLC (she served in Argentina). They are awesome and I love them so much!! She made homemade oatmeal bread, fresh from the oven with homemade strawberry jam. She is the only person who has served homemade bread on my mission and it has been great because it’s like what Mom makes. Pres.’s mom is in town from Costa Rica for their daughter’s graduation from HS and we ate some of the food she had made (delicious!) although she was too scarred of us to join – she’s Catholic – but I’m used to people being scarred or upset with me so it was a bit funny! She had made some kind of ground beef and egg dish like thing with plantains around it – kind of looked like how you put together filet mignon. The plantains were sweet, I ate two of them and two pieces of bread, and jam and she served homemade bi-level chocolate cake with chocolate whipped cream and shaved chocolate on top. I was stuffed! Sister Elmore also made us stuffed pasta shells with cheese and spinach and marinara sauce Friday, which I ate a lot of and so I felt like a pig. I guess I just miss cooking like Mom’s!!

We spent a lot of the week visiting previous investigators who had been “dropped” for different reasons. Although we didn’t have the opportunities to teach any of them we have return appointments for this week so we are excited to help them get back on track progressing in the gospel!

We had interviews and training Tuesday with President Smith and that was great! I am so lucky to have such a great, loving, and supportive Mission President and his dear, sweet wife!

Going to head on out now – we are using the family history center’s computers as it’s a holiday today!

Love you all so very much!

Heather

I plan on sending a "real" card to her today too!

-----Original Message-----

From: "Ann C. RICHARDSON" <a_c_richardson@yahoo.com>
To: Hermana Heather Lynn Richardson <heather.l.richardson.tdm@myldsmail.net>
Date: Mon, 25 May 2009 11:41:21 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Thanks for Lindsey's birthday wishes

Just got Lindsey's email as they are sitting down to eat a sandwich for their lunch. She was THRILLED!!! Thanks so much for helping to make her day even more special.

Love ya lots and loads, tons and bunches!
Mom

Happy Birthday Lindsey!

Monday, May 25, 2009

Dear Lindsey,

I hope you have a fantastic birthday with loads of love and fun! You are such a great girl and I am so proud of how you are an example of being like Jesus to others. I know that you have a sweet heart and I hope that you have a wonderful day and an amazing year. I love you!

Kisses and Hugs from Texas!
Love, Aunt Heather

May 18, 2009

Dear Family,

Week 1 of the transfer has been crazy busy! Guess what. I'm the designated driver. That means I do all of the driving. I have to tell ya’ll that when I got behind the wheel for the first time I was so uncomfortable. And then I started thinking how long it had been since I had operated a vehicle. 8 months!!! I sure did feel as though I was 15 and a half all over again but thankfully I'm getting back "into it" without many hiccups - just a couple of not so smooth stopping's and going's at first! Yikes...ohh!

So, more about Hna Medlyn who is my new companion. I called it like it is. (Meaning that she guessed correctly whom she would be serving with.) She served in Grand Prairie for about 10 months! I served in the branch with her when I was in Grand Prairie. She hasn't served in this area so we are having some adventures with getting to know the area and the people as the area is large enough that I wasn't able to "know it all" before the end of last transfer. But that's okay because I'm faking it as if I know exactly what I'm doing! "Oh that...I meant to do that...because of this one reason that I don't have proof of with me right now, but I can get it to you like the next time I see you.” I’m just kidding!

So Hna and I set the new "standards" for the number of baptism dates that we have!

Love you all!!!
Love, Hna Richardson

Dear Mom,

Thanks for the great letter! At the transfer meeting I received from the Elders a letter sent from you on March 25 (the one with the updated insurance card) and a letter from Sis. Bassarear sent May 4 about her mission reunion. It's best not to send any mail to my "home" address after week #5 in the transfers have begun as I may not be lucky enough to have as thoughtful of Elders to save them and remember to get them to me.

Side note - one of them that lives now in the apartment that I used to in GP and took over that area is E. Dytrt that was in my MTC district. That may have some reason to do with the letters getting to me. The Monday of week #5 in this transfer is June 8th.

I can see pro's and con's to having a "journal" kind of letter sent to me instead of each letter. I didn't have any temptation at all to open them - Heavenly Father helped me not have that desire! I thought it was going to be hard but it was amazing how just making the decision to make this a goal caused me to be just fine until today. the downside is that it is very well probable that some weeks I wouldn't receive the letter with the past weeks events in time for Monday and then I would be two weeks behind in news and that could cause some major confusion. So, I guess just send them as you normally have!

Thanks so much for your thoughtfulness, and love, and support! I love you VERY much!!!!

Love, Heather

Hi you all!

Monday May 11, 2009, 12:38 PM

Dear Family,

It was amazing to talk to you yesterday, although I have to admit I felt a bit awkward at times not knowing what to say. But I really loved having the chance to talk to you all! I hope that everyone will have a great week and it sounds like it might be a bit of a crazy one for some of you. I got the letter in the mail from Katie this morning so Heavenly Father has made my Monday letter-reading goal really easy on me this week as I received it today

Sounds like everyone is good and busy and that the kids are growing up a bunch. I’m sure I’ve noticed it to a greater extent as it has been a little while since I’ve talked to them. I hope that you kiddos keep doing great in church, school, sports, and with your friends. I know that you are being great examples to them!

Brooke and Eric: I forgot to ask what the progress is on the plans for the condo development. How’s it going?

Kat: It’s great to hear that your ward is really wonderful and that you have been able to get things cleaned up a bit in your apartment!

It doesn;t feel like I talked as much to everyone as I would have liked to (sorry if any felt ignored) but I know that it’s good to be obedient even when it’s hard or we don’t completely understand.

So Flor’s baptismal date is on May 31 and her confirmation on June 1. The Escalante’s, Vidal, Beatrice, Roberto and Claudia’s, baptismal date is set for June 14 and their confirmation on June 21.

The Evans family was the family that was kind enough to host us yesterday and we were sure to give them our help with dinner, clean-up and our thanks. I can get you their address later if you would like, Mom.

I love you all very, very much!
Hermana Richardson