Date
June 11, 2018
Area
Wheeling, WV
Companion
Elder Enoch Peter Davis
Week 19 in Wheeling, WV-CRAZY week!
My Dear Family!
Let me tell you the exciting news before I tell you anything else! I was absolutely so shocked and incredibly happy when this happened. So. Elder Davis and I were updating our area book one night before bed, and I got a message from Elder Fraughton, serving in Knox right now. This is what it said:
“Hey Elder Richardson, Shannan is getting baptized tomorrow at 6:30, and if you are available she would love it if you could video call in?”
My first reaction- “no way. This is not real.” But it was for real!! I have been so incredibly filled with joy all week! I knew she would choose to be baptized one day, but I thought it would take her a couple years to be honest! She’s definitely a searcher, and she wanted to know everything about the church before she got baptized, even though she felt it was true. Background on Shannan- So she used to memorize entire books of the Bible when she was a youth, and compete nationally in competitions with other kids to see who had the most memorized, so she knew her Bible REAL well! That’s the reason she let us in when we tracted into her, she realized over time that the Bible didn’t make complete sense, that there were holes and things missing, and she knew there had to be more, but she “knew not where to find it” as the scriptures say. Over time, she completely started to lose her faith in God because things didn’t make sense. Until we tracted into her! The Book of Mormon and modern revelation fill those gaps, and answers those questions that people have had over the centuries! We studied and prepared and prayed for and taught Shannan with every ounce of energy we had when we were in Knox, I am SO GLAD she exercised her faith and took this step! I know the Book of Mormon was a big part in her conversion. There is so much knowledge and doctrine contained in that book that were lost for such a long time, but now have been restored! #Ezekiel37:16. Oh I love the gospel! Anyways, President Bednar gave Elder Mickle and myself permission to Skype in so we could see the baptism, and even though I couldn’t see or hear anything on the screen very well, I was SO filled with joy and with the Spirit while I watched. I know this is God’s church! I’m so grateful the priesthood has been restored, and that we have the opportunity to partake of these wonderful covenants and blessings because of it. I didn’t get an opportunity to talk to Shannan or wish her congratulations in person, but I am excited to do so when we visit the mission!
So that was a definite highlight. I’ve been smiling literally all week! Elder Fraughton also told me that Lynn, Chloe, and Sayde are still doing so well. They were even there at the baptism for Shannan! And Elder Fraughton also said that Jeneva, a lady who has been taught by missionaries for a long time, who I taught while I was there, is getting baptized next week too! And so is Matti Thornton, another lady I taught while I was there. Knox is the place to be right now I guess! Haha
But Wheeling is amazing too!
We met with D.j. and Bridgette this week, and D.j. is just SO prepared. We helped him pick a baptismal date, for July 7th, and now he’s doing everything he can to work towards that! I am so grateful Bridgette has such a strong desire to open her mouth and share the gospel! Even as a recent convert. She has actually been preparing for a mission herself, so every time we go over, we teach D.j. the lessons and then answer all of her questions about missionary work. It is so great!
We also found a new investigator last week named B, who lives in a ginormous beautiful home, and he asked us to visit him at his work and we could talk some more. So we visited him at his work and it was a big ol complex, and we found out he is the CEO and President of it. But he was SO cool. He has been to Salt Lake City before, and he was wondering why all the Mormons he ever met were so kind, and good, and all such hard workers, and what they believe. He also has lots of questions about the Bible. So we taught the Restoration, and gave him a Book of Mormon, because you know the answers are all there! He said he would love to take his family to church one day. Hopefully soon! 🤞
We also have been working with a less active lady named Sister M, originally from Guatemala. She is so wonderful! We helped her build a fence and dig a ditch in her yard, and lots of the Elders quorum came to help thank goodness. And it was actually crazy, because I have been feeling so awfully sick this week, but I’ve still tried to work hard all day. Without fail, every time I start working and focusing on others, I forget my sickness and everything is fine. Miracles of being a missionary! Anyways, she has come to church the last 2 Sunday’s! We love Sister M!
Everything else this week has been great as well. Lots of good things have been happening! And Elder Davis has been doing a great job too! The “12 week” book we are given as trainers is honestly so wonderful and so helpful. For Elder Davis AND for me! I love the reminders. I need them!
I love the gospel so much, and I know the church is true!
Have a wonderful week! I love you all SO MUCH!
Love,
Elder Richardson
PS- I have loved all the quotes you have been sending! The one about listening is a quote from Preach my Gospel Elder Davis and I had just learned about. And it is so true!
Pictures!
1- Bad pic of a sunset.
2&3- District pics! We tried to do a pyramid picture but it kind of failed. And our normal picture failed too. 😂
4- We caught a bird.
5- Zone Conference Picture!