Hola from Carrollton, TX

Monday

April 6, 2009

Dear Family,

These last couple of weeks has been packed! I am (as I guessed) here in Carrollton with Hermana Brundage! It has been a lot of work and great fun! We have a great, big area here. We cover Carrollton, Farmers Branch, a little bit of a city called The Colony, a bit of Plano (although Hna. has only been there once as the changes to the area have been recent), and Louisville. Wowie! I am also having a new experience in that we have a portion in our area that we are to teach in English! I feel so awkward praying and teaching in English sometimes I don’t feel bilingual at all, or even unilingual, rather half-lingual! So silly! But I am really enjoying the work here and love the members I have met so far since General Conference was yesterday!

Hna. Brundage is so cute, smart, charitable, and humble! I have been so blessed to have companions that have been such great examples of faith and love for others. I feel that I am growing bit by bit to be a better person and missionary. Sometimes I feel as though I would be lucky to become half of the missionaries that they are and know that with the Lord’s help I can become better.

Hna has a twin brother and like myself, is the fifth of five children! She also loves candy. I think more than I do! She wants to open a candy store someday!

Way to go Doug, being a good example to others! You really are such a good leader.

(This is in response to my sharing an experience Doug had. At a district music competition, because of their excellent reputation, Woods Cross High School was asked to perform last so all the other high schools would have a chance to hear them. One band director [I think from Roy, but I digress] particularly asked his bass trombone player to pay attention to the WX bass trombonist, who is Doug. This young man was so impressed; he talked to Doug afterwards asking for some tips and direction to improve his playing. A day or two later, Doc Shannon got a phone call from this other teacher relating that for the first time, his bass trombonist after talking with Doug had spent an hour practicing! Doc embarrassed Doug by sharing this with the Jazz band at one of their practices.

But then at the mandatory parent meeting for the music trip, Doc brought it up again.
In giving direction and expectations for the music trip, it was mentioned by Mr. H (Choir director) that you never know when you will influence someone else. To illustrate, Doc called out, “Doug? Doug Richardson? Where are you?” He then related this experience to the 400 or so people in this meeting.)

The baptism and confirmation for Hno. Alfonzo Hernandez was amazing! He is so happy and I know that he will continue to be great. He has such strong faith and has a great testimony of Jesus Christ! It was disappointing to have to leave Grand Prairie and not see him progress more. Hna. Brundage however, served in G.P. as well and we plan to go to the temple this month to see the sealing of the Hernandezs (not related to Alfonzo) and Rivera families.

Speaking of G.P., about a month or so ago I met for a short minute (as we had to go get investigators to church) a Sis. Graham (maiden name I think) at the church who is a friend of Pat Crookston. She said hello and I told her I would pass along her hellos to you all. I feel bad for forgetting for this long to do so!

I don’t remember if I told you all about church my last Sunday in G.P. but in case I didn’t, I’ll go ahead and share. All four of us Hermanas were invited to share our testimonies. It was really special although I felt so nervous inside! The second to last Sunday was also amazing! President Porter (Stake Pres. for Dallas) bore his testimony with the help of Hno. Weening to translate. He was so powerful and he loves the people so much! He is such a good example of love as he always greets people and even did so on his way out as he had to leave Sacrament Mtg. early to go to another mtg.

Great to hear that Kat and Susan won some prizes and that you all were able to go treat yourselves to some gelato! (We told her about going to Deseret Book’s Ladies Night during the Priesthood Session on Saturday, April 4.) I know that Susan will enjoy Temple Square and the movies!

I’m surprised to hear you are putting together an album for me although I am excited to get it after all of the work and love you have put into it Ma. There is no rush on it and I wasn’t even expecting one so take your time on it, and thank you for being thoughtful to make it for me! It means a lot! I’m also excited to get the picture from Jake and have been enjoying all that Jake, Lindsey, Maggie, and Ben has sent me!

I also sent one more box home so hopefully it arrives sometime soon! Let me know when it gets there!

I love you all! Hope you all are doing great!
With lots and lots of love, Heather

Hola mi Mama!

Monday

April 6, 2009 11:27 AM

Hola mi Mama!

Since I am writing a quick note to you first, I might as well tell you where I've been transferred to! I'm here in Carrollton and loving it!

I just wanted to let you know that the cavity (or dark spot) has disappeared! I had checked by brushing thoroughly more than once to be sure that it was a permanent spot on my tooth and not some food, but the last few mornings Mr. Spot has not been home. So I count myself blessed that I don’t need to get myself to a dentist after all!

I will probably like a listing of Doctors in case I may need to see one.

Love you very, very much!
Con much carino!
Heather

Dear Kat

Mon,
Mar 30, 2009

Dear Kat,

I just wrote you an email and it didn’t send and now it’s all gone! So here is a short version!

I heard from Mom that your talk in Church was great! If you have a copy I would love to read it!

I love all of the b-day presents! I especially loved and ate all of the rice krispy treats! But I did remember to share too! Thanks a million!

Hna Escobar is planning on returning to the Y this fall. She is a blast and I know that it will be fun for you to meet her. (I think meeting Katie will do a NUMBER on Hermana Escobar's brain!!!)

I Love You Oodles!
Heather

Baptism of Hermano Hernandez

Hermano Hermano Alfonzo Hernandez's Baptism

I'm packing my bags

Monday,
March 30, 2009 11:23 AM

Dear Family,

This last week has been a busy one!

Hermano Alfonzo Hernandez was baptized on Saturday and was confirmed with the Holy Ghost yesterday!!! He is so happy and says that he feels so clean! Hermana Escobar and I went in on a white shirt and zip up tie for him b/c he didn't have any special Sunday clothes. He looked so happy in them yesterday.

All of us sisters were invited to bear our testimonies in Fast and Testimony Mtg. yesterday. Many complimented me telling me I have great pronunciation and others tell me that they think I'm smart. Their kind words help me feel like the Lord is continuing to bless me with the ability to speak in Spanish!

So I got a call from the Assistants Saturday night with the news that I am to pack my bags b/c I am headed for a new area! Hna Veliz and Escobar are of course going home but Hna Medlyn will stay here in G.P. in the south and get a new companion. They will have two Elders transferred into our area. Some say that they don't like the idea of having Elders and others are excited. So funny the members' reactions :)! It was nice to say goodbye to everyone yesterday and a couple more today.

We plan to have an FHE with the Picazo family tonight! We think we will do an activity helping them to learn an Article of Faith. They are so cute! The other night they called us b/c they were having trouble finding a scripture that they wanted about tithing. They were studying the scriptures together! He will be ordained next week!

I am mailing a whole bunch of things home b/c I was feeling a bit heavy! So I'm sending the letters I have received home for Brooke (St John—our neighbor) to scrapbook along with some teaching materials clothes that aren’t working very well for here.

Love you all very, very much!!!
Hermana Richardson

Hello from Grand Prairie

Monday, March 23, 2009

Dear Family,

How is everyone doing? Sounds like some pretty great things are going on there.

Mom - Thanks for the Benny card! I received it and now have it in my wallet. I also forgot many moons ago to respond that I do have an insurance card with me. I'm sorry that it has taken ages to receive my answer!

Transfers are next week. I don't have any information as to whether I will be staying here in G.P. and receiving a new companion or if I will go conquering new territory. This happens Tuesday of next week (so I have at least one more Preparation day here). I think I may have a cavity and may need to see a dentist, so will you please send me info on who is on our plan.

We have been able to teach Ana Perez a couple more times recently but haven't gone over much in those visits, as the kids needed a lot of her attention both times. We also have met a couple weeks ago, I think, a really cute couple. They live in an apt. complex that only has one English man there, and the rest are Hispanic. They are really great and we are excited to teach them more. Turns out that she has learned a little bit from missionaries before in Mexico. They like it that as a white girl I know Spanish. So many are impressed that I would learn Spanish so I can communicate with them. I feel that it helps them understand how important the message that we are sharing is, that myself, and many other missionaries put so much work into learning another language in order to teach.

Hno. Alfonzo is amazing and is excited for his baptism this Sat. at 4pm. The missionaries that taught him in Arlington have received permission to attend his baptism in our mission! Hna. Escobar and I want to work it out for one of them to baptism him. We pray that it can happen!

We met a woman, Camelia (Kuh-may-lee-uh), this last week. She told us that she doesn't let "church" people come into her home very often but felt "something" good tell her that we are sincere and truthful. She reads a lot from the Bible and wants to learn more about the B of M. We are excited to go back tonight!

I've a bit of a tan going! Amazing huh? Never thought it would happen! :)

We are planning on going to the zoo today with the rest of our district today (4 other elders) instead of the museum. The zoo is cheaper! And probably more fun for the Elders! :)

Going to wrap this up now!
Love you all very, very much!

Email from Grand Prairie, TX

March 16, 2009

Hey Everyone!

How's it all going? It's going great here! So Alfonzo Hernandez (the man we gave a Book of Mormon to back in Jan. but lived in Arlington, but now lives in G.P.) has a baptismal date for March 28!!! He's so amazing in his testimony! It turns out that that day in Jan. that we met him was his birthday and he was so sad b/c he hadn't received a gift from anyone. He said that out of all of the many, many people there that night that we gave him the Book of Mormon (a gift from God on his birthday)! He said that it was so cold that night and that there were so many people that he is so happy that we met him. What a miracle!

If you could do me another favor Mama, it would be great! My mailbox is getting full. Perhaps you could print off anything that should be printed off, and delete the old stuff? I'll send you via snail mail, my password and how to access my email account if that is okay.

We had Zone Conf. this week on Tuesday. It was great! We learned more about how to have the Spirit with us in our teaching and all that we do. I can't believe that Hna Escobar is going home at the end of this transfer on the 30th! Hna Veliz is also going home! So sad! We are going to be getting two new Spanish sisters in May! Yay! We will have six Spanish Sisters then. But then Hna Brundage goes home in July and Hna Medlyn in Aug.!

We are going to go play baseball today! I've to wrap this up now!

Love you all so, so much!
Hermana Richardson