Email sent 26 January 2009

Hello from Grand Prairie, Texas
Monday,26 Jan 2009
From: "Heather Richardson"

Dear Family,

How are all of you doing? I'm great, but unfortunately in a big hurry to get to Dallas for the Sister Missionary conference at the Pres's home! Yay! We want to go early to go to Moon's store near the temple (much like a Seagull or Deseret Book Store which are Utah bookstores carrying LDS products). We woke at 5 am to get cleaning, laundry, and shopping done, but are running late still. We have one member taking us to Dallas and another coming to pick us up. Hna E_____ and I each bought a chocolate bar, have thank you cards ready, and think we will try to talk them into letting us pitch in on gas money b/c neither really have much.

Got the mail package notice Saturday I think but just picked it up from the post office this morning. Thank you so so, so much! That includes you David! Thanks for dropping it off and Mom, for getting it all together!

Hna J_____ is now in a wheelchair (we saw her middle of last week I think) but yesterday the R.S. Pres. announced that she has now lost her vision from the tumor in her brain. We continue to pray for her. Her family and the Branch family are a good support to her.

Hermano P_____ has a baptismal date set for Feb. 22nd and he is getting married on the 20th to Hna M____!

We met a new family from a referral from a Finding Faith in Christ DVD request. We have big hopes for them. Mom (Roxana), Dad (Samuel), and on girl about 8-9 and a 2 yr old boy.

Will have to write you more via snail mail! Gotta go to the Sister Conference!

Love you all so very, berry much! Con mucho carino,
Hna Richardson

Snail mail letter written 19 January 2009

Copy of Snail mail letter

Enero (Janaury) 19, 2009 pagina (page) 1

Dear Family,

I loved getting all of those email and letter this week!!! I will print them off next week at the library since we are using a member’s computer today. I could hear the TVs at the laundry mat talking about the presidential swearing into office. So I know a little bit about the inauguration.

So, I need to tell you more about my companera (Companion) , Hermana (Sister) E___. She grew up in California – in the LA area – actually the Arcadia Mission area. She is bilingual. Her dad is from Guatemala and her mom from Mexico-Guadalajara. Her parents taught Spanish and English to their kids. I talked to her mom for a couple of minutes on the phone on Christmas Day and she speaks English very well.

I am able to learn so much from her! I love our companionship. I am glad we got to stay here together this last transfer! We both try to be obedient so it is easier than it was with my last companera at the MTC. I am beginning to enjoy teaching.

Pagina 2

So, A_____’s baptism was done by Hnas. V____ y (and) M_____. (NOTE: She means they taught her. Elders have the Priesthood and perform the baptisms.) She is so cute! Actually, we are at her family’s apartment now using the computer. (NOTE: In her last letter she sent the baptism invitation of a young girl. She was such sweetheart!)

The boys singing the song about hot chocolate are so cute and full of energy! They were saying, “Now we’ve only got one rule . . . never, ever let it cool – HOT CHOCOLATE!” It was probably difficult to understand through their accents. (NOTE: This was in response to our comments about two cute little boys she send a short video of to us. We couldn’t understand what they were saying except for HOT CHOCOLATE! We thought the song was in Spanish and only HOT CHOCOLATE was being said in English.)

I would love to have pictures of the things and people at home!!!

I plan to return those awesome steer head pj pants to Walmart (I bought them, they weren’t a gift) b/c they don’t fit a woman’s body. All of us sisters bought some, and they fit none of us well. Don’t know who designed them, but there is no room in the seat and hip area.

Pagina 3

Hermana E____ wet to BYU before her mission and plans to go back this fall. Hna leaves the mission April 1^st L, but good for her. J So . . . Kat . . . she would love to meet you and the rest of the family. She would be a good local source for math homework help because she wants to be a math teacher. That’s great b/c I don’t think David would like you to stuff him in a suitcase to take Eric and Brooke’s house! :-)

Sounds like you’re fighting the good fight mom! I was laughing from pride (the good kind) just imaging your making your comments at the meeting! “All of you, who don’t agree, please raise your hand.” :-) WOW!

Pagina 4

Maybe you could print and mail copies of Aunt Jackie and Uncle Mike’s Mission letters. I would love to read about their mission experiences!

Hna. J_____ gave me, and the other sisters, Christmas gifts of socks, washcloths, and toothpaste so I’m good on those things. Thanks for thinking about me!!

Hna J____ has already been though remission and her cancer has spread aggressively now. I believe that she is now terminal. Hna. E____ told her about my experiences but Hna. J____ has such faith and peace, and knowledge of the plan (of life). Out visit consisted of her teaching is and bearing testimony. Her husband has problems with faith – he isn’t a member yet. She was able to come to Sacrament Meeting last Sunday though.

I want you all to know that I love you so much! I really enjoy reading your letters and seeing your pictures. Hope that everyone is doing well – we are here!

Love Y’all!

Hermana R________

Photo 25 November 2008

November 25, 2008

First day as companions

Sister E and Sister Heather
and President and Sister Smith,
Texas Dallas Mission

Photo taken Christmas day while talking to her family

Hermana Heather
Taken at a member's house on Christmas Day as she talked with her family.

Email sent Monday, 2009-01-19

Heather's email for Monday, 2009-01-19

We usually hear from Heather twice a week. She sends an email when she gets her 30 minutes on the computer each Monday and then usually writes some more by snail mail. That usually comes at the end of the week. When I think necessary, I will insert an NOTE to explain what is being talked about.

Here is the email we got today, 2009-01-19

Dear Family,

Since today is Martin Luther King Day, we have permission to use a members computer. However, I will make this short as the two other sisters walked in and will need a turn. (NOTE: Missionaries serve in pairs. So she’s now saying that four sister missionaries are all going to use one family’s computer to write home.) We have zone preparation day today and then we are going to play sports at the church. So we will be speedy with our other preparations today. But I will be sure to write you a good letter while the sisters use their email!

Tell the future sis missionary that we are so excited for her to come and that sisters get cars here! (NOTE: Through Face Book, I met another young woman who will be going to same mission Heather is serving in. She had asked me a few questions and Heather is answering the question “Do sisters ride bicycles in the Texas Dallas Mission?”)

There is no need to print pics for me b/c I have a good deal at the CVS pharmacy with my card they give out (like Albertsons does) and I also am trying to keep my load light so any printing can be done when I get home. :)

(NOTE: Last week we tried freezing and then mailing some on El Matador’s famous salsa to Heather.) Unfortunately, the salsa had defrosted when it arrived. It was still cold, but it was cool when we picked it up from our box at 9 pm. Because it had been warm that day, I took your advice and I didn't eat any. Well, I smelled it, then put it in my mouth and didn't taste anything wrong, but then I got this vision of me hugging a toilet all night or daylong and decided not to chance it!

Got to go now! I love you sooooooo much and will write you now via snail mail!

Love you very, very much!
Hermana Heather

New direction for my blog

I started this blog last spring and had such great plans for it. Unfortunately, things didn't progress as I dreamed they wood. After making one post, my computer savvy daughter suggested that I had posted a lot more than I probably wanted to share with all of cyberspace. I had to agree, so we took that post down.

Since I then, I wasn't sure where I wanted to go with it all, so I didn't do anything. I think I know where I want to take it now, so I'm going to try something new--for me. My sister-in-law gave me the idea.

She and her husband are serving a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Arequipa Peru. During their previous missions, Jackie sent regular emails to interested parties with details of their lives as missionaries. This time she is putting them on a blog and interested readers may check in for updates at their convenience.

So while I may still post items of general interest on this blog, I am now going to post the letters my daughter, Heather, sends home with details of her mission to the Texas Dallas Spanish-speaking Mission. We’ll try it and see how it works. Maybe I’ll like it and maybe I won’t. Maybe I'll figure out how to post Heather's earlier letters and maybe I won't. Any at rate, wish me luck