This is from last week, but she wasn't supposed to say anything until Thursday, so it's past Thursday--here's what she had to say!

I get a new companion (and I get to stay with Sister George)!!!!! We got transfer calls yesterday and guess what!!!!! I'M GOING TO BE A TRAINER!!! ALREADY!!!!! I'm a little nervous, but I'm excited!! That means that the rest of my 6 weeks of training is getting put on hold and it may not even happen with Sister George... Kinda random, but hey! It works. Also, our new greenie is a visa-waiter. She is going to Brazil eventually (hopefully) (I don't know what mission yet though) but she's just coming right from the MTC! I'm so excited!

 

It's funny because when Pres. WIlson called and asked me to be a trainer, he asked me if I'm obedient. Not if I know the lessons, PMG, the pamphlets or even the order of the books in the Book of Mormon. He asked me if I'm obedient and I told him I'm trying, but that really put into perspective what is important. It's just like success as a missionary is based of off how committed you are. Not how many member presents you have or how many baptisms you have. It's how committed you are to try your very best to invite others to come unto Christ. It's awesome that I have this opportunity after only 6 months!! Luckily, Sister George and I are co-trainers together so I don't have to do this alone. The only thing is, because she's waiting for a visa, we have no idea how long she'll be here. But that's ok. Things will work out the way the Lord wants and needs them to :)

And this week (two different perspectives):

My first week as a trainer was hard. I've been having a really hard time this week and I've had a migraine for about 3 days. So today, I couldn't do anything when I woke up so Sister George made me go take a nap. It was good because now my head is mostly fine. I'm also feeling a lot better because I got a blessing this week and the Zone Leaders, my District Leader, and my Sister Training Leaders all called to make sure that I'm doing OK. I'm doing mostly OK and everyone says once you've finished your first transfer is one of the hardest times of the mission. Luckily, I'm able to have fun with my comps and work hard. Sister Olsen (our Golden) is hoping to someday go to the Brazil Sao Paolo Interlagos Mission. I am learning little bits of Portuguese ( I can understand way more than I can speak) and it's a lot of fun!! She's from Oregon and she's 20. We have a wonderful companionship and we are working on being fully united.

Well, this week was interesting. We milked goats, taught a couple lessons (only 4) and visited a sick member in the hospital. Sister Maxey was in the hospital because she had a bad fall. We visited her and sang her favorite hymn for her. We sang "How Great Thou Art" which happens to be my favorite hymn as well. I kinda cried a little bit because I could feel that she didn't have very much longer. We are going to visit her again, but I'm glad we at least got to see her once. :)

 

We milked goats at an investigator's house and apparently I'm horrible at it. Next time we go over there, he's going to give us some goat milk because I should be able to handle that, so I may be able to have cheese again!! Goat cheese, but we'll see how that goes haha :)

 

Another investigator's heart is softening more and more every time we see him :) It's amazing to see the change in his life :)

Thanks for the package Mama!! I got it 2 weeks ago and forgot to tell you :) Haha. But thanks a bunch!! I also got a package from some of the young women in our stake and ward (like the Hunter Copperhill Stake) and that was really cool :) I was excited :)  Thank you!

Well, I love you--and everyone help the missionaries in your area find people to teach!! It's way easier to get referrals from members than to knock doors because then they know someone besides the missionaries!! Love y'all!!

Much love,
Sister Simona Richardson

And:

Training is amazing!!!!! Our Golden's name is Sister Olsen. She's from Oregon and she is hoping to someday go to the Brazil Sao Paolo Interlagos mission. :) We have to do Language Study with her, so I'm learning a little bit of Portuguese. It's pretty cool :) She is 20 and amazing!! We have a wonderful companionship. I've only been gone from home 2 weeks longer than her because the whole time I was actually in Virginia, she was in the MTC :) She is excited to be here because she kinda has 2 missions :)

Everything is going pretty great. My jeans ripped, so I had to buy a new pair of jeans because they got torn in a funny place on a fence and I tried sewing them and it just didn't work. Plus, it looked really dumb and I have to look at least presentable. So I had to get a new pair of jeans. But, today all I'm going to buy is peanut butter, bread, and lactose free milk. Did you know that they have that?? Lactose free milk is awesome because even though I can't drink it straight, I can cook with it and put it on my cereal and it's normal milk, just without the lactose and with an extra enzyme to help with digestion. It's really awesome stuff :)

Well, I love you all!

Love,

Moni