week 50: australia style

Gday mum!!

This week was way good!!!  The district saw so many miracles this week it is crazy!  My companion and I were blessed to set 3 baptismal dates this week.  There names are Julianne, Malueth, and Maboot.  We have been so blessed, we have really been focusing on just working hard day in and day out and we are seeing results come from it. 

We experienced a huge miracle, we got a call on Friday from a guy named bro Brown.  He asked us if we could come to a place called Footscray to give a blessing to a non member that lived in our area.  This non member's wife is a long time less active member of the church, and she said a prayer because she was worried about if her husband would survive, and she received the answer to invite people to give her partner a blessing.  Her partner had a fall at work, and went into a coma and while in the coma they found out that he had a brain tumor.  So we went to the hospital and we waited for ages, and it was time for our cerfew so we just left...  The day after the 2 brothers that stayed gave the blessing and said in the blessing that this man would be fully restored to health.  One of the men that gave the blessing grabbed the arm of the less active woman and said after the blessing was over "don't you forget this miracle that is about to happen..."  As of last night the man that received the blessing woke up from his coma, and has a clean bill of health!  If that is not a miracle I don't know what is!!!  We are going to teach them both this week, and I am so very excited!!  I love this work!

Gday mum!!!!  How are you going???  Man I really like my new area, it has been a blast getting out to all of the new members!!  I am loving being a district leader as well, I have such an awesome district that is working so hard right now!!  As for the family trip I will go anywhere!!!  But I would like to go to Hawaii or costa rica!  Mum, I love being a missionary it has been such a blessing to me in my life...  My companion is really cool still, we love playing b ball together and that is what we are up to today!!  I cant wait!  Lets just say though, I have never ever ever ever ever seen so much food in my life.  I am in the danger zone mate!!  Hahahahahha!!!  I love you so much mum!!!  Thank you for all that you do for me!  have an awesome week!  Cheeers!

Love, Elder Richins

week 49: australia style

Gday mum!!

Well I have been transferred to a place called Hillside in the Deer Park zone.  Haha it is an islander area, so if I was worried about gaining weight before I should be heaps more terrified hahaha!!  It is good as though, I am serving as district leader so that has been pretty good!  My companion is the man, his name is Elder Parsons he is from New Zealand.  He is a very humble man, and I have really enjoyed serving with him the past couple of days.

The work this week went very well, my companion and I worked heaps with former investigators and were able to set 2 dates with a man named Riiny and also another man named Domingo.  They are both very keen, to learn more about the Gospel.  We also worked with a less active named Brother Williams, and we shared a message with him and he came to church for the first time in like 10 years.  He was so happy to get back, and it really strengthened my testimony that people can change, and that through Jesus Christ we can change.  I really love my new area, and the ward is great they are always looking to serve the missionaries I am excited to see the work progress here and also in the district.  My life is being blessed from the people that I am meeting!

Gday mum!!  How are you going??  I am going to have to apologize that I cant put any pictures up on the computer because I forgot my adapter.  It sounds like yous have had an awesome week with everything.  That story that you told me about the man that paid for your food was awesome as!  I am in an islander area right now, and lets just say I have never seen so much food in my entire life......  I am running wind sprints every morning to keep off the weight, and I am fasting during the day so I don't die at dinner time.  Haha I will send a picture of the feeds we get, it is awesome!!!  I am loving my new companion he has been out for 3 months and he is the man.  He loves basketball so we get along really well.  The district is pretty good as well, I have one of the Elders from my intake in it named Elder Noble.  I am excited to serve.  I love you so much mum!!!  Have an awesome week!  Cheers!

Love, Elder Richins

aka: Coopdawgggg

week 48: australia style

lava cakes

Gday mum!!

This week was pretty productive, we were able to teach quite a few lessons.  First off Navid, one of our progressing investigators came to church for the first time and he loved it, he really enjoyed the piano and the songs we sang.  His English is not the best, and he didnt understand a lot of the things said but you could tell he felt the spirit.  Another miracle we had this week was, we went to a funeral home and put our names down as clergy for people in distress and we got to talk to two very nice people working at the funeral home.  One of them had been to the states and had seen the Book of Mormon theatrical play and he was interested in learning more about the church.  So we set an appointment to see him on Sat!  It is crazy how the Lord prepares his children to learn about the Gospel.  

We had quite a few lessons fall through again this week which was a bit frustrating, but we managed to find some solid new contacts to follow up with in the coming weeks.  Elder Garcia Kempf is starting to lead in teaching, and man....  He is doing a great job.  Although he still speaks broken English, I could feel the spirit so strong when he taught.  I have really enjoyed my time with him these 6 weeks.  I am being transferred along with my companion.  It was a huge surprise to us both, mostly because the area is going really well at the moment.  But the Lord has a plan, and I will follow where he tells me to go.  But it is a little bit sad, to see this area go, because I felt like there are still people here for me to help.  The Lord needs me somewhere else.  I love this Gospel with all my heart, and although times may not be easy, as we rely on Jesus Christ and his Atonement all is possible.  

Gday mum how are you going???  Sounds like it has been a bit of a full on week.  I am sad to hear that Mac is struggling with his health a little bit, I am definatley keepin him in my prayers daily.  Man....  I am pretty suprised that I am leaving hey....  Kinda bummed out too.  But everything will work out.  This week has been pretty beautiful weather wise, there has been quite a bit of sunshine goin so that is really good.  I am really excited to see where I end up, to see who I can help next.  Today I need to pack, and then we are playiing basketball with the district and some members of Eltham ward so that will be heaps of fun.  I hate packing lol.  No folding required just chuck all my clothes in a bag a call it a bewdy mate hahahahah!  I love you so much mum!!  Thank you for all you do for me.   Cheers!

Love, Elder Richins

aka: CMONEY 

week 47: australia style

sparklers!!

spreading the gospel with an elderly man at the library

Croike dingo!!!

This week was pretty good, although we had quite a few appointments with our progressing investigators fall through.  We were able to do quite a bit of finding this week, and we found some solid people to follow up with this week.  We are seeing some massive miracles as we continue to use members as our focus for spreading the Gospel.  We were able to teach one member referral this week named Bianca, and she was really interested in prophets and how the Gospel was restored through a living prophet.  We have been leaving specific commitments for the members each week we see them, and this week's commitment was to invite one person to church or to learn about the Gospel in two weeks.  This got the members pretty excited and we are seeing some solid referrals in the making as we have done this.

I am loving being in Eltham, there are people being prepared here and my companion and I are doing all that we can to find them.  We are seeing blessings and miracles come as we are exactly obedient to the mission rules.  I feel my testimony growing so much in the past couple of weeks, specifically my testimony of Joseph Smith.  I have been basing allot of my studies lately on Joseph Smith, and because of that I really do know that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God.  I know that I have been called by a prophet of God to come to Melbourne at this time, and although I am very imperfect I know that I can do all things through Jesus Christ someone that suffered and died for all of my imperfections and heartache.  I love this Gospel so much and it is so real.

Croike dingo mum, how are you going??  Sounds like you have had a pretty full on week, with mac...  This week was really good.  I did get a chance to celebrate the 4th a little bit, we went over to an American couple's home in the ward and they had a big barby and rootbeer!!!  I hadnt seen rootbeer in ages!  Been like a year lol.  They also had jolly ranchers and a bunch of American lollies, they went all out they are awesome!  They also gave us a pack of sparklers, so Elder Garcia Kempf and I that night after planning went outside in the freezing cold and did sparklers!!  It was sweet!  We have done quite a bit of finding this week like I said earlier, and I am excited to follow up with the contacts that we found.  Although there is not much to report on, we still had a really productive week, and we are working as hard as we can.  I wish I was there when yous sang in Sacrament, I bet yous did great!  I love you so much mum, and I am thankful for all you do for me, I looked at my watch today and it said July 7th, and I was like "woah" I thought it was june still.  It is flying by I reckon!!!  Have a good week!!  Cheers

Love, Elder RIchins

aka:C$<3

week 46: australia style

Gday mum!!

This week was pretty good!  We were able to see a quite few miracles!  The first half of the week, we tried getting Steve prepared for baptism for the Sunday.  Unfortunately he just was not ready, and we didn't want to push him to do something that he wasn't ready to do.  But we were able to set 3 baptismal dates this week with a guy named Adib, who is awesome he asked us if he could come to church with us everyday.  Haha he is really excited to read the Book of Mormon and he said he would read the whole book this week.  So we will see how he went when we catch up this week.  He is the man, we also set 2 more dates with Navid who is Persian and he has a Muslim backround but is interested in switching to Christianity.  Also set a date with Muhammed who is also Muslim, and he is really excited to read the Book of Mormon.

My companion and I were so blessed this week, and we were able to find so many potential investigators on the train this week.  We are really excited to follow up with all of them this upcoming week.  I love my companion he is the man, he is a sponge and I really admire the work he is doing at this time, even with the language barrier he is an example to me of diligence.  Today I am grateful for the many tender mercies and blessings that God has bestowed upon me, I really do know that my mission has really developed my testimony and I am so very grateful for that.  I will serve the Lord to the end and I am doing my best to do the things that he commands me to do, because I have come to know that they are worth it.

Gday mum!!  How are you going?!  I am so glad that you guys had an awesome experience on trek, besides the rain hahahaha!!  I remember trek being such a tender experience for me as well, even when I was carried off in the emergency cart hahahahahhahhahaah!!  It is truly special the sacrifice that those families made to cross the plains, and the reason they were doing it was because they had a firm faith in the Lord.  I am very glad that you had such a great time, and I am so very grateful for the ward back home and their love and support for me.  It truly is a wonderful ward, with wonderful people.  This week for me was pretty good, we are starting to see some of the fruits of our labors which is always good to see.  The work is really moving forward here in Eltham and I am glad to be a part of it.  The land down under is the land of MIRACLES!!!  Mum I am so thankful for you and the loving mum you have always been to me, although I didnt express it much back home I am so grateful for those things you have done for me.  I love you so much and I am thankful for you and dad going on trek. I know our Heavenly Father is so very proud of you.  There is a scripture that comes to mind when thinking about this Gospel and it is found in Matt 11:28-30.  I really know that following the Savior and putting his yoke upon us brings us great peace and rest.  The Savior's promise includes everyone, that has the desire to follow.  I love the Savior.  That is a huge testimony builder for me and it makes me cry every time I think about it. I love you!  Have an awesome week!

Love, Elder Richins

aka:COOPDAWGYDAWG

week 45: australia style

found this cool as playground

Gday mum!!!

This week was pretty good!!  I really feel like I have grown quite a bit spiritually this week.  We had some pretty rough times this week, but my companion and I really feel like we have really developed a greater love and appreciation for Jesus Christ.  We had the opportunity to see Steve in the hospital this week, and he is doing heaps better.  We talked about Faith in Jesus Christ with him and shared with him the story of Alma and Amulek and how because they had faith they were delivered out of bondage.  He really enjoyed the story, and he is still looking good for his bap date this Sunday.  He sent us a text out of the blue the other day that said "I believe in Jesus Christ."  I wanted to do a happy dance!  He has come such a long way, and it is wonderful to see how much he has grown, as he has put his faith in Jesus Christ.  

As for the rest of the people we are teaching, they are having trouble with having the desire to learn more.  So we focused quite a bit on finding this week, and saw some success, and have some pretty solid potentials to follow up on this week.  I had a really cool miracle happen to me this week, so I was riding the trains with my companion talking to people.  And we needed to switch train lines in order to get to an appointment on time, and I reached into my pocket as I walked into the train station and I lost my white handbook which had my bus card in it.  I started panicking pretty bad, because I didnt want to get on a train illegally, so I sat down and said a prayer.  After the prayer I really felt calm and I knew that God would help me.  Two minutes later a man walked into the train station and he was part of the metro police, and he saw my companion and I and he said "Hey Elders!"  I was like "What......"  Then he said that he was a member of the church in Sunbury ward.  After he told me that I told him about my situation and he wrote me a ticket, so that I could ride the train back to where we needed to be!  WOW!  I really do know that prayer works, and our Heavenly Father hears and answers our prayers as we have faith.  This experience really strengthened my testimony of prayer.  

Gday mum!!!  How are you going??  Sounds like yous are pretty busy preparing for trek!!  Lagoon also looked like heaps of fun, I remember going on that swinging death trap SCARY!!  This week for me was pretty rough, everything that could go wrong went wrong except with Steve.  But my testimony grew in so many aspects this week, and I am really thankful for that.  My companion and I are getting on really well, he is so funny!!  He says heaps of funny things, he is trying to get the Aussie lingo down so sometimes we will just be sitting in the car totally silent and he will say "bewdy mate" and we both start busting out laughing!!  It is funny because he still has a really thick Spanish accent, and it is hilarious when he tries to mimick aussies!!  I love my companion!  I got 4 new sweaters and it is cool to have some variety with my winter stuff and I am definatley warm now!! I am really excited for this upcoming week, I just have a feeling that it is going to be an awesome week for both me and you!!  TREK!!!!   You guys will do great and I am really excited to hear your experiences!!!  I love you so much mum!!  Thank you for all that you do for me!!  Have an awesome week, and stay safe!!  Yous are in my prayers!  Cheers!

Love, Elder Richins

aka:Coopdawgydawg

week 44: australia style

tiffany's baptism

my ultimate masterpiece

Gday mum!!

This week was really awesome!!  Well first off.... Tiffany was baptized this week, and it was awesome!!  She was so ready, and it was so cool to see her excitement.  We had daily contact with her this past week, and she told us everytime we called her, how excited she was!  I was very honored to baptize and confirm her into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  She will be a great addition to the church for sure.  It was really cool, because at the end of the baptism program she got to bare her testimony, and I felt the spirit so strong...  She truly had a change of heart which enabled her to change her life through baptism.  She is so EXCITED!!  

This week was a little bit hard as well, two of our most progressing investigators dropped us and that was a bit hard.  Steve is doing heaps better, and he is in the hospital right now and he will be there for another two weeks.  I had the opportunity to visit him in the hospital with my companion and we had a really spiritual discussion with him and he expressed his appreciation for us always making sure he is ok.  He said that he wants to be baptized again on the 29th of June, but we will see how he goes!  I have faith in him!!!!  

We did quite a bit of finding this week, and my companion is doing so awesome!!!!  He found two people on the train, and man... I am so proud of that guy!  He has NO FEAR!!  Elder Garcia Kempf is doing really well, and his English is coming along very well.  He gave a talk yesterday in church and he spoke perfect English, it was such a miracle!  I am so glad to be with Elder Garcia Kempf, I am learning a whole lot from him, and hopefully he is learning something from me too haha!!  I love having the opportunity to serve, I am never going to forget the people that I have met and taught like Tiffany, she was truly prepared by God and I am very grateful that the Lord used my companion and I to help bring her back to the fold.  MIRACLES!!

Gday mum!!!  How are you going??  Happy fathers day to DAD and POPS, and maguire.... hahahahah!!!!  I hope you guys enjoy your time and mimsley and pops!!  Sounds like you have had a full on week, with work and preparing for the good ol trek!!  This week for me was mui frio!! (Cold)  I have kinda stopped running in the mornings now that it is like a freezer outside in the morning!!  I never really thought that Australia would be this cold, but it is hahah!  It has been a pretty productive week, we are in the works of building up a teaching pool again, so it is a bit hard at times but everything will be ok.  On saturday after the baptism Elder Garcia Kempf and I went to hungry jacks (burger king in the states) and we had a feast to celebrate the baptism, I spent 20 dollars on myself, and I thought I was going to die...  My stomach is still getting back to normal, I probably wont try that again haha!!  Elder Garcia Kempf is a crackkup!  He does a werewolf inpersonation, and it is pretty stinkin scary but I cant help laughing!!!  He is funny as, as I have gotten to know him a little bit more!  I am really enjoying life right now and all is going well!!  I will be on for a bit longer if yous have any Q's!  I love you so much mum!!!  Thank you for all of the love and support you give to me, it really means allot to me.  Have a great week!!  Say hi to errybody for me!  Cheers

Love, Elder Richins

aka: Coopdawgydawg