Week 18: "But They That Are Sick"

Helllloooo Zimbabwe!

Or America, or wherever any of you are reading this. This week we did about nothing, so I apologize that this email will be super, super boring. 

Tuesday we had Zone Meeting, and I was asked to share my testimony at the end. I have yet to attend one Zone Meeting or Conference that I have not born my testimony or spoken at. Just waiting for these peeps to get tired of me. That day my companion was sick, so we just came home so she could rest. Wednesday the political riot things went on again, so we weren't allowed to leave the house. Thursday we had to go to Highlands for interviews with President Mkhabela (who is my favorite person in Zimbabwe), so that was another blank day. But Friday and Saturday we were in the field, and it felt soooo stinkin good! Sunday I spoke in Church about Missionary Work, and so we're hoping for a lot of referrals to come in this week! 75% of our missions baptisms come from member referrals, crazy huh?

We have two baptisms coming up this next week, which are the first two baptisms in Mabvuku where I have been there for all the lessons, so I'm super happy! Praying that they go through, because these kids are really prepared. People in Zimbabwe are just impossible to track down like 98% of the time, so baptismal interviews are always an adventure haha. But I have faith! 

I had a really nice experience during personal study this week, so I thought I would share my thoughts. I was studying in Matthew 9, when the Savior says, "They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick". I was thinking how each and every one of us is sick. We are heavy laden with burdens and trials, which make us sick. But how incredibly grateful I am to be sick, because without my sickness, I wouldn't need a physician. I'm grateful for the burdens I have, because without them, I would not know my Savior. I'm grateful to be able to help the people here in Zimbabwe find their physician and Savior. 

Well I hope you all had a more exciting week than I had, but I'm anxious to see what this week holds. God is good, mission is good, everything is good!

Love, Sister Richards 

Week 17: "And Then You Passed By"

No, that is not the name of the newest chick-flick in Zimbabwe, but the title of the most AMAZING experience I had this week! This week was such a great week, so I'll try to remember everything that happened. 

First off, we had 14 investigators at church! That sets the record for my mission so far, although that is split between the two wards we serve in. Still though, super exciting!

A man in Mabvuku 1st passed away this week, and it was very unexpected and tragic. Sister Ngwenya and I are pretty close with his two daughters that are both in young womens. We went to the funeral home to see the coffin carried out and it was the coolest thing! All of the ladies from the ward and the neighborhood were gathered around the body just singing in shona so loudly and clapping and dancing! They do that so the family will forget that they're sad and just celebrate the life that the person lived. I wish I had my camera that day, but they were all in their african wraps and wow it was just such a cool experience!

There was some political riot thing this week, so there was a day that none of the missionaries in the mission were allowed to go outside. So we had one day just stuck inside the house. Let me tell you, you can get through A LOT of conference talks in one day. Fortunately, that day we had power! We went four days this week without power AND water which makes life really difficult, but it came back on last night and I almost shed some tears of joy. 

Okay now for my story. So on Thursdays we go to Chizhanje (chee-janj-ay), which is about an hour and a half walk from where we stay. So our first couple appointments near home were all fall-throughs, so we started to head to Chizhanje early. I brought my camera that day, and so there was this funny funny street that my companion wanted to go down to get a picture. So we're like okay we have time so spare so we went. So as we're walking down this street, there's this lone house in the middle of nowhere, and a couple guys out front. They start yelling at us in shona, so we just wave and keep walking, then we decide to turn back and contact them. Well we ended up talking to them for almost two hours, and we able to answer a lot of their questions, and teach them the whole restoration! There was such a special spirit there, and I know the spirit led us to that home, even if it did just feel like a coincidence! The best part was, at the end, one of them said to me, "You helped me keep believing. I was about to give up, and then you passed by". Wow, my heart. They came to church on Sunday, and so we'll see them a couple more times this week! 

Congratulations to Bethany on the engagement! Welcome to the best family on earth, Dallen. Hope you all have an amazing week, and don't forget to be grateful for power and running water!

Love, Sister Richards

also didn't see the rat once this week so I'm hoping it's dead 

#1. finally did my photo wall this week!

#2. we had quail last week at our braii! super yummy 

#3. my very dirty, dusty, and windy mabvuku

#4. Area

#5. Area

#6. The ward had a Mormon Helping Hands activity this week that we stopped by for on our way to Chizhanje

#7. I learned how to wash by hand this week. My hands are RAW. It was so stinkin cold outside and the water was cold! Overall a really good experience, though.

#8. The bright and shiny result of my washing. Don't worry, the holes were there before.

#9. Gogo gave us the wraps to wear while we cleaned. We felt so african. 

Week 16: I LOVE YOU AMERICA

Family and Friends!

The weeks here in Mabvuku are flying! I can't believe we started week three today? So crazy! We had 11 investigators at church yesterday, and had a baptism on Saturday! Things here are going so well and I'm super super happy.

Other than my favorite pen dying, here's the most traumatic thing that happened to me this week.

*me peacefully eating dinner in the kitchen*

me: (whisper shouting at sister walbeck in the other room) sister walbeck, I think I'm staring at a rat

sister walbeck: you think?

me: it hasn't moved in a really long time

sister walbeck: well don't just stare at it, move!

me: (waits for about a minute) IT MOVED!

And then I proceeded to run around the house screaming. So pretty much I try to keep my eyes shut while I'm in the kitchen. Which is actually really hard to do while you're trying to cook. But I successfully went 48 hours without seeing the rat, but then saw it again yesterday, and the screaming commenced. The ZL's are bringing rat poison today. Hallelujah. Amen.

Anyways, on a happier note, we contacted over 200 people this week! We walked and walked and walked and found so many people. I'm super excited for this next week so we can go into these individuals homes and teach them! So great. 

Wellington, who I taught in Chi Town, blessed and passed the sacrament this week! I seriously almost cried when my old companion told me! Baptism is not the end result of teaching these people. Baptism is just the start of the many blessing that will come for the rest of their lives!

I also made it through my talk in Zone Conference on Wednesday, and it went super well! A couple people have asked for copies of it, so my hand is almost dead because I have to hand write it all over again haha. The Lord has truly promised us so many blessings if we go through tribulations with a cheerful heart. In D&C is teaches us if we endure our adversity well, someday "we will be crowned with much glory". 

I love missionary work, I love the gospel, and I love America!!! Someone drink a diet coke under the fireworks for me (miranda graves this is for you) 

Love, Sister Richards 

My companion hit 9 months this week so we had a feast! Her hat sums up her personality perfectly haha!

Americanized my planner. Happy Birthday, America!!!

I saw Sister Erickson when she came to pick up her new companion and it was probably the happiest moment of my life! We screamed and then gave eachother a big hug and everyone in the office started clapping. It was so funny!!

Week 15: Rabbits and Guinea Pigs and Cows, Oh My!

First week in Mabvuku! What in the. I feel like I've been here for about 80 million years but it's okay! My companion is great and can talk until you would think a person wouldn't physically be able to talk any more, but we're doing just fine haha. She's powerful and the people here ADORE her. 

The area is probably about the size of all of china and russia and every big thing in the world combined, and we talk a ton! Mabvuku is pretty much just a ghetto version of Chi Town, so we have to be super careful, especially at night. We work in two wards (which means 6 hours of church on sunday wow) and the members here and SO involved! Seriously! Every single day we have members working with us which is so nice because of the language barrier. The members love to feed us, as in LOVE to feed us, and I'm not gonna lie, my skirts are getting a little bit tight (how does that even happen in a week), so some serious action needs to be taken ASAP!

Yesterday we were able to give four baptismal dates! If anything, the people of Mabvuku are prepared! We're teaching this family who belonged to this super crazy church before, and they want to be baptized so bad! At their other church they couldn't eat anything while the sun was up, they weren't allowed to go to school or be formally employed, and a bunch of other insane things. They're so great, and I'm so happy to be able to invite them to a not so crazy church. 

My companion, Sister Ngwenya, is making me try so many new foods! This week I had rabbit twice, guinea pig, sugar cane, and some part of a cow - I was too scared to ask what part cause it was funny funny. Haven't gotten sick yet. So many blessings.

I'm speaking in Zone Conference on Wednesday, so that's consuming my study time for now. When my Zone Leaders called to tell me, I told them that they must have called the wrong Sister Richards, but they assured me that I am, in fact, the only Sister Richards serving in the Zimbabwe Harare Mission. So I'll be speaking on staying cheerful in times of tribulation. Throughout the scriptures are pleads for us to be of good cheer, so I've loved studying more of those verses. The gospel is truly a message of hope! 

"These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." John 16:33

Love you all! 

Love, Sister Richards 

My companion, sister ngwenya!

Sister Walbeck, my favorite person everrrr

Week 14: Ndeipi Mabvuku!

Family and Friends!

A great week in Chitungwiza, but sadly, my last. I leave today for Mabvuku, which is about an hour out of Harare town. Chitungwiza was the same distance away, just on the other side. I'm suuuuper sad to be leaving Chi Town, but half of it was closed, so it's okay. My new companion is Sister Ngwenya from South Africa, and I'm way excited! I've had two Zulu companion's in a row now, and since it's a clicking language, I'm getting pretty good! In the house I'll be with Sister Kapinga who was in the Chi House with us, and Sister Walbeck from my MTC group and I'm PUMPED! It should be awesome.

We're right smack in the middle of winter right now, which means high 70's during the day, so it feels so nice! We had some really nice lessons this week, although it lasted about 75 thousand years. I told you about the gogo and baba that we're teaching, and they're the cutest ever! So gogo says she's having a hard time being able to remember what she reads after she's read her Bible and she asked us what to do. So we told her to always start with a prayer, and ask Heavenly Father if he'll help you remember what she read. So we came back after a couple days, and she was SO excited to tell us everything that happened. She had read the introduction and Joseph Smith's testimony at the front of the Book of Mormon, and told us in detail about everything! It was incredible! She remembered everyyytthing from Joseph Smith's testimony, and let me tell you, even I get confused because Moroni comes so many times! But it was so incredible and she's the best. 

We started teaching Brother Lovemore the week I got here, and he's so funny haha. He speaks fluent English which is nice, and is thoroughly convinced he's the single greatest person in the world. Anyways, we dropped him awhile back because he wasn't keeping commitments, but we saw him on the streets a couple weeks ago and I told him I'd fall dead if I ever saw him at church. Well, the next week he showed up and we laughed cause I'm definitely still alive. Anyways, he accepted a baptismal date this week! I'm sad I won't be here for his baptism, but he will be such a great contribution to our ward. 

I got a camera this week and have been taking pictures like crazy so brace yourselves haha. I'm so happy and I lock it up every single night cause I don't want this one stolen too! Pretty much I'm just pumped for Mabvuku and to see a new area and everything. 

"Many mighty miracles we have wrought in this land (CHI TOWN), for which we will praise his name forever"

Love you all!

Love, Sister Richards 

#1: Sister Jili and me!

#2: First pic with my new camera YEEYUH

#3: Sister Kapinga!

#4: Sister Ziqubu, we were in the MTC together. I love this girl!

#5: Last day with our beloved car, Snow White. Real life tears.

#6: Sister Jili and Elder Tsongora, my DL is Chitown.

#7: my favorite gogos in our ward! I will miss them soo much.

#8: cute little patricia

#9: Ruth! Her family had us over to dinner every Saturday. She calls me her "doll"

#10: Chi Town District (minus Sister Stegs and Kapinga) with the Bishop and his wife. 

#11: Mmmm my favorite food here. Chicken stew, rice, and lots of coleslaw. My house jokes that I would never accept drugs, only chicken stew and rice. WOW I LOVE IT. 

#12: Steers, a burger place in Harare town. Kapinga's obsessed with it, but it does not even compare to american burgers. Sorry, Steers.

#13: We went to the rural areas for soccer on Saturday. Week 6 we always have an activity the day of transfers. It was called Domboshava, and it was the bush! We almost died getting there! But it's okay it was super pretty.

#14: Last sunday in the tent for church. I was so sad. 

Week 13: You're Supposed to Pray About That

Ah my peeps!

Today I am just sitting here beaming with happiness because I just love everything so much! Today we were able to get money from the bank (hallelujah) and I came to the mission office to find a package from Abby with OREOS! I am just spoiled rotten these days! Thank you all so so so much! 

This week was so stinkin good! Sister Jili and I have been working our very hardest, and we come home at the end of the day just exhausted. I mean EXHAUSTED. There's really no better feeling, though!  Missionary work is so good! Transfers are coming this week and tensions are high. It's one of those transfers where you have NO idea what's going to happen. There are 20 Elders going home and only one coming, which means about 9 or 10 areas are going to be closed, so Chi Town might be closed, and we all might be going. I'm going to be so sad to say goodbye to all the sisters in the house because we've been through so much together! But I'm excited to see who my next companion will be. 

This week we had about one trillion lessons and it was amazing. We got to teach the restoration to a ton of new investigators and hear about their experiences after praying about Joseph Smith. The baba I talked about last week was so cute when we asked him how his prayers went. He said, "I asked God if Joseph Smith was true, and I closed my eyes and all I could see was Joseph Smith in the trees with angels above him. That's when I knew it was true". How incredible is that! The Restoration is SO important and there's nothing I love teaching more. 

We're teaching this 15 year old boy named Paddington, and he is the best ever! I always think of cute Daniel who loves Paddington bear, and just can't help but smile when I see this kid. He wants to get baptized so bad and is so dedicated! He traveled all the way to Mbare and sat through two verrry cold hours of stake conference, and he's not even a member yet! If nothing else, the people of Zimbabwe are DEDICATED. 

This week, we were planning on starting the recent covert lessons with Albert, who was baptized in May. He has a strong testimony, but sometimes just doesn't quite get it. A couple weeks ago when I was teaching gospel principles, I asked the class what A in the steps of repentance stands for. We teach it as ABCDE, Admit, Be Sorry, Confess and Correct, Don't Do It Again, and Endure to the End. Albert so confidently raised his hand and said very loudly, "Alcohol!". Well, not quite, but yes that's something you can repent from. Anyways, so we go to teach him this week, and he invites one of his friends in and just starts teaching him his own version of  The Gospel of Jesus Christ. He starts asking his friend what all of his weakness are and every time his friends says one Albert goes, "Oh yeah you're supposed to pray about that". The guy's a hoot. Definitely have some work to do before he's our member present, but he's trying so hard! 

"Oh, what joy, and what marvelous light I did behold; yea, my soul was filled with joy as exceeding as was my pain! Yea, I say unto you, my son, that there could be nothing so exquisite and so bitter as were my pains. Yea, and again I say unto you, my son, that on the other hand, there can be nothing so exquisite and sweet as was my joy". I've experienced a different kind of pain on mission than I never have felt before, and let me tell you, it was been exquisite. But as I have taught and testified with my companion about the truthfulness of this gospel, there has been nothing that has brought me such exquisite joy! "O my son, the Lord doth give me exceedingly great joy in the fruit of my labors" 

I love you all so stinkin much! Thank you for the love and the prayers and everything you do for me!

Love, Sister Richards 

Week 12: Diet Coke & Miracles

Hello my people!!

Good week down in Chi Town! Definitely starting to see some success, and the work is moving forward!

First off, major shout out to my one and only Mother Mary for the heaven-sent package of Diet Coke and candy from Ghana. Honestly has kept me alive this week (you think I'm kidding, but I'm not). Sister Jili and I laid on our beds, drank diet coke, and enjoyed the serenity of a chopin nocturne playing in the background. I thought I was in paradise for a second but then I was like shoot still definitely in Zimbabwe. Although, Zim comes pretty close to paradise sometimes. THANK YOU, MOM!

Before I get to the good stuff, you may have seen on the news, but Zimbabwe is experiencing a major financial crisis, there's pretty much no money in the whole entire country. So when I said the package was keeping me alive, I was serious because we have hardly any food. All the missionaries were joking that it was easy to fast on Sunday because we actually had no choice haha. We're hoping to find a bank with cash today, and praying that Pick n Pay will let us swipe our cards so we can get groceries! Nevertheless, God will always take care of his missionaries, and somehow someway, we've been able to eat every day!

On a happier note, we had a baptism this week! Brother Godfrey, my favorite human being in all of Zimbabwe, was baptized yesterday and it was so happy. He bore a powerful testimony of the Prophet Joseph and the Restoration afterwards, and wow I was just so happy. Baptizing father-led families is so important, because generations upon generations will be blessed from that one family!

We've found a lot of new people to teach this week, and it's been great! We have this baba and gogo that I love so much, and they came to church yesterday! As we taught the restoration this week, I recited Joseph Smith's first vision, and at the end, baba sat up and said (edited version), "Well shoot! This is a miracle!!". I think we often forget how miraculous the restoration of the church is, but this baba so kindly reminded me (with a little bit of colorful language) that I witness a miracle every day! Haha the best.

"Blessed be the name of my God, who has been mindful of us, wanderers in a strange land." 

Zimbabwe is definitely still a strange land, but for sure throughout this week, I have seen that God is mindful of all of us, no matter where we are!

Love you all!!

Love, Sister Richards 

Brother Godfrey at his baptism!!!!! I was so happy!!