9 Months Serving in God's Army!!!

Hi everyone!

It's crazy how much I have learned this week and all the miracles we
have seen and blessings! We are working hard here in Claremont!

I love being a trainer! It's so great! I think I'm learning more from
her than she is from me! She is so prepared and doesn't even need
training! So on Tuesday I was with some sisters in Glendora until I
had to go to Arcadia to pick up my trainee. A member from my ward
drove me over there. There were 20 new missionaries and only 4
sisters, 2 Spanish  and 2 English! We had a trainers meeting before
and it is so cool that we were chosen to be the trainers. They choose
trainers before they do anything else with transfers! The meeting was
nice, I had some good nerves going! Eventually we went into the room
where the trainees were and there at the front were four sisters! I
saw one who had blonde hair and had a white blouse and orange scarf
on, I knew that she would be my companion! She turned around after we
had sat down in the back. She smiled then as she was turning forward
again I saw that she was so nervous and scared! I instantly felt so
much love for her and began praying that she would have her nerves
calmed and that she would be able to overcome her challenges. They put
the Spanish missionaries together first. Trainer then trainee. Then
with English they did it backwards. Trainee then trainer. So when the
sister with the orange scarf got up -she got called before the other
English sister- they called my name to be her trainer! I was so happy!
So my companions name is Sister Thatcher from Holiday, Utah from the
Valley View 10th ward. She just turned 19 in June and is so on fire!
She is so dedicated and hard working! I love her! So we then heard
from President Villanueva. His spirit is so powerful! I'm so excited
to work with him more! We drove home and our ward mission leaders
family took us out to dinner then we went to teach our investigator. 
We had a brief companion study so I could update her on our
investigator and what we would be teaching. Earlier that day I was
praying she would be able to share an awesome experience she has had
with temple sealings and she did! I didn't tell her that in our study
either. It's amazing how the spirit guides us and our lessons to fit
the needs of our investigators!

Wednesday we taught a couple lessons but had a long time where I
explained to her to all our investigators and people we work with. It
was good. She has such a love for all these people but she hasn't even
met them yet! Well that day she hadn't, she has now, for the most
part. We wanted to see some of our investigators but they weren't
answering so I asked Sister Thatcher where we should go and she said
she felt like we needed to go contact some of our referrals so we
walked down to a bus to go contact some referrals we haven't gotten a
hold of from headquarters and at the bus stop we started talking to a
lady and she told us how her brother is Mormon and she went to a
Christmas play and right after was a baptism and she said she felt
happy there and we talked a little more and tried to get her number so
we could see her again but she didn't have a phone and we had to get
off the bus so hopefully we will run into her again. We left her with
our number and a gospel of Jesus Christ pamphlet. She was the reason
we needed to contact the referrals. They weren't home. But we found a
potential the elders would see a lot and had a lesson on his porch. He
also gave us a referral. So it was a good day! We also taught our
recent convert.

Thursday was district meeting. It was all about commitments and
following up. Which I need to work on! Then we taught good lessons! We
set a baptism date with one of our investigators who we just picked up
again a few weeks ago. It is a goal that we are working towards,
August 16th! One of her concerns was not to be pushed and that she
wanted to come to church to check it out also. So we set it up so she
could come to church. Later that week we introduced her to the member
who would drive her to church and talked about what to expect. And!
She came to church! She really enjoyed it too and the relief society
topic was baptism! Perfect! We also taught another investigator of
ours and focused on priesthood authority. It left her a lot to pray
about. We were lovingly bold! That night we had a relief society
activity that was fun then went out to contact some more.

Friday was a long weekly planning being Sister Thatcher's first one.
It was good though! We set some good goals! We taught a few less
actives and that went well. That night we had a ward picnic in the
park and Sister Thatcher was able to meet the ward. It was great!
There were a few nonmembers there and we were able to get closer with
the young women and activity day girls.

Saturday we taught 6 lessons! It was a good day! We picked up a new
investigator . One of the members in the ward has their niece
staying with them and when she stayed with them in the past the elders
taught her. She is turning 14 today! Sister Thatcher connected with
her so well! Later that night we taught another one of our
investigators  about the importance of reading daily. She loved
it! Then we went to see our recent convert and talk about the temple!
They're planning a temple trip in a few weeks that we hope she can go
to! She is so excited to go! In her own words she is excited to go to
help those who are lost on huge other side! It's so amazing!

Sunday was good. We had 5 investigators at church!!! We taught a
couple lessons. We had a really spiritual lesson with the Jewish man
and his family. We testified about Jesus Christ and who he is to us.
It went really well. He is still having a hard time accepting Jesus
Christ. Which makes things difficult.

Overall it was a really great week! I love Sister Thatcher and all that
she is teaching me! Thank you all for your love and support! I love
this gospel and I am so thankful for my Savior Jesus Christ and all
that He has done for me! I know He loves each and very one of us and
is always there to help us though our challenges!

Love, Sister Riches

Tea Bags, Tesla, Transfers, and Training!?

Hello All!

This has been a slow week due to the holiday. But it's been a good
week. I'll write some of the highlights and explain my email title.

Monday was a good day. Fun day with the other missionaries. We played
games at the stake center and some of the elders decided to lasso each
other. Pretty crazy and immature but kinda entertaining to watch! We
had a dinner with our investigator  and her friend who's a
member . It went really well. We taught her about the
Book of Mormon and bore strong testimony of it.

Tuesday we tried to find new investigators. We didn't have any luck
but we talked to a few people. They didn't show much potential but
maybe someday. Later that night we taught our investigator  and
then our recent convert . The first presidency recently changed
how new member lessons were to be taught which makes sense because
that's what we've been doing anyway. It's hard to have the members
meet with the new members weekly to give them a lesson. So we just
take members with us and we teach them. We did a more relaxed fun
lesson with both our investigator and recent convert. It's a lesson
about faith. You take a tea bag, it has to be a special tea bag
though, and empty the herbs or whatever and then stand the bag up on
the persons hand. It looks like a column. Then you read ether 12:6.
Talk about what faith is etc. then ask if they have faith. Let them
know you won't hurt them but they need to have faith to keep the bag
on their hand. Then you light the top on fire. It burns down the bag
and at the very last minute it lifts into the air and finishes burning
in the air instead of your hand. Our investigator loved it but our
recent convert blew it off! It was pretty funny. It just turns to
ashes so it's safe to do inside...as far as I've done.

On Wednesday we tried again to find new investigators. But we talked
to people and that has been hard for us to do recently, to talk to
everyone we see and bring up the gospel...I know silly right? We're
missionaries that's what we do and that's what they know we do- most
the time. We did have a good lesson with one of our investigators
(Shawn). We recently found her and so we are still in the beginnings
of her teaching. We taught the plan of salvation and she agreed and
liked it. The challenge with her is helping her see this is the truth
and the blessing that come from being baptized by the proper authority
and helping her know this is the true church.

Thursday we had zone meeting. It went well, all about finding new
investigators! That's what we are all struggling with! In Preach my
Gospel it says, nothing can happen in missionary work until you find
people to teach. It is huge!! An apostle said recently that it is the
members responsibility to find and missionaries responsibility to
teach. If we had just five members find us one person to teach, that'd
make our job as missionaries so much easier! But finding the elect
isn't easy. So after zone meeting we went to do service at the
hospital. We were waiting at the bus stop and met a lady. She was so
sweet! We started talking about her work and she sat down next to us.
Then we got into talking about how we were missionaries and what we
do. Another lady sat down and knew a lot about missionaries, looking
back I feel so bad we didn't get her information too! She got off the
bus before we could. But with the first lady, she told us she had a
friend who was a member and had the sisters come over. She sat with
them a few times. Her husband is atheist so she didn't pursue any
further. She had a Book of Mormon and she asked how it is different
from the bible. We gave her one and told her to read the introduction.
She read the first few paragraphs of the introduction and she
understood. She asked if she could keep the book and admitted she had
thrown the other one away a while ago, before she said it was just
collecting dust somewhere. After we said she could have it a lady in a
jeep pulled up to the bus stop and asked if we wanted some cold water.
She was passing it out for free. The lady we were talking to was so
happy! She was just thinking how thirsty she was and how hot it was!
She connected it back because she had the Book of Mormon. It was her
"lucky charm!" We then got on the bus together and we were able to get
her number and her permission to call her and answer more of her
questions! It was awesome! I love moments like that as a missionary.
It makes everything worth it to find one who is sincerely seeking and
interested. Sad part, she doesn't live in our area, let alone mission.
But that's okay.

Thursday night was pretty special too. One of the young men from the
ward just became an elder and is leaving on his mission soon. He
hasn't got his call yet but the family is like my family away from
home and he's like a little brother to me. He and his mom came with us
to teach our recent convert . We asked him to help us teach. He
taught about the priesthood and his experience with that. He did so
great! He is so kind to her and understanding! It was awesome to see.

Friday we didn't do much. It was our weekly planning day and no one
answered our calls to set up appointments for the day. We went to
dinner at a members home with the elders in the 1st ward. It was a fun
time. One of the members that was there had a Tesla! He offered to
take us for a ride so we and a set of elders went up the mountain a
little ways. I guess we went about 100 mph! It was fun though, I
didn't even notice how fast we went because how smooth a ride it was!
All electric! But super expensive! Put it on my wish list for when
I'll never be a millionaire! On our way bike ride home we saw the
fireworks above the trees. So I did get to see fireworks!

Saturday was good. We taught a few lessons and technically got a new
investigator but the couple isn't interested in converting but they
want to feed us. They did this with missionaries in the past. Then at
night we got...a transfer call! The Assistant was talking to sister
M and he then told her, well Sis. Riches..wait this is sis.
M right? She said yeah, so he started again.. Sis. M
after careful prayer and consideration you are being transferred to
the Glendora YSA ward. They talked a little more then he asked for
me... He small talked a little then said Sis. Riches after careful
prayer and consideration you have been called to be a trainer! We are
so excited for you!! He really did sound super excited...I was first
in shock my best friend was being moved but that was expected one of
us would leave but to train...I'm nervous! It'll be okay though! We
hung up and of course we cried! It still doesn't feel like things are
changing and I'm not with her anymore!

Sunday was a day full of running around saying bye and getting
pictures. My trainer Sister S is going home tomorrow! Sadly
we weren't able to go to her farewell. But I'll see her again. Plus it
was better to say bye to people.

Well today has been full of running around and packing and being
exhausted! Transfer days are terrible if you or someone is getting
transferred!

I love you all and I love hearing from you via email or letters! I may
not always be able to write back but I love hearing from you! I pray
for you all and hope all is well! I know this is The Lords work and
this is what He wants me to be doing right now!

Love, Sister Riches

Let Your Light So Shine!

Hello family and friends!

This has been a pretty good week. We taught a total of 16 lessons! But
we really need to find new investigators who are ready to progress.
This gospel is so important and people don't understand how important
it is to read the scriptures, pray, and come to church. A few get
that. But those simple things are our protection from Satan and as we
do them we will be fortified when the winds of trial and temptation
come.

On Monday we had a good time with the other missionaries at the
Glendora Stake Center. Greece was about 30 some missionaries there. We
played a huge game of volleyball. The LaVerne Zone against the
Glendora Zone. We later taught a lesson to an investigator and a less
active. They both went well.

Tuesday was a good day. Lots of lessons, we taught 5 lessons. They all
went well, nothing to exciting to report. With one of our
investigators  we went though the baptism interview questions
and she is so excited to be baptized! But she has to work on a few
things first. She has such a strong testimony and sucks up the
knowledge of the gospel!

Wednesday we did service at the Pomona hospital and later we had
dinner with some of the ward missionaries . They are so
sweet! We ended up stopping by their friends house after and she let
us right in. She and her husband would have the missionaries over a
lot until their son passed away and then it made things hard. Their
son was a member. She was so sweet. They have a room full of musical
instrument. They have a baby grand and so Sister M played the
piano while we sang hymns - we being the lady and me. She knew a few
of them which was cool. She had a hymn book and one for the piano that
spirals out. She showed us around the house and she collects all sorts
of things. She collects tea sets and has a few sets of the really
nice, pretty blue tea sets from England. I love those sets! They are
so pretty! And guess what!? She ended up giving us a starter set, a
spoon, knife, and two plates and a tea cup! She's so sweet!! She said
she wants to be baptized in the Newport temple font and she
understands she can't but can do baptisms for the dead there. She
knows a lot and all her friends call her a catholic Mormon. Pretty
funny.

Thursday we had a combined district meeting...there are only two
districts in our zone so it was a zone meeting taught by the district
leaders...pretty much. It was the weirdest district meeting I've ever
been to. We then had the APs come and they had us download a new thing
onto our iPads so that president will get a notification every time we
try to go to a restricted place. We had to delete all our apps and
when you delete gospel library all the things you've downloaded are
deleted too...so I had finally downloaded all the videos I wanted and
now I have to download them again. Good thing it didn't take too long.
But we taught another one of our investigators  and she is so
excited to read from the Book of Mormon because she didn't know there
was another testament of Christ and finds it so intriguing! It's
awesome! We then did some service to help pack a moving truck for a
family that moved to Utah and then saw our recent convert  and
had a fun lesson with her. Dad and mom you remember the lesson where
you make one rip out of a piece of paper and get a cross? Well we did
that and taught about missionary work and gave her a Book of Mormon to
give out. She's so excited!

On Friday it was a long long day of weekly planning. And of everyone
canceling on us and not being home. It was a long day.

On Saturday we had a good day! We taught 4 lessons. They all went
well. It was a hot day! We had the lessons all spread apart so finding
people in between made for a long day. We got ice cream from the ice
cream truck so that was fun! But all our lessons went well. We taught
one of our investigators  about missionary work and did the
same thing about giving her a Book of Mormon. The next day at church
she asked if she could write in the Book of Mormon- her copy- we said
of course and she said oh good! Opened it up and showed us all the
notes she made in it studying form it the night before! It's awesome!

Sunday went well. We were so blessed. We needed 3 more member present
lessons to reach our goals for lessons if the week and we had a lesson
with one of our investigators  where he asked us to teach about
baptism. So we taught the gospel of Jesus Christ. Then we had a fun
dinner. The kids were so cute and so excited to have us over. Then we
went by another investigator we haven't seen in a while and she was
just about to leave so we went with two young women to the Jewish
investigators home and his family. We were supposed to meet a man from
another ward at their house who converted from Judaism. The family
told us to reschedule with him for next week. So we called and left
him a message and when we arrived he was there. But he had been
talking with the family for about an hour before we got there and then
he stayed after our lesson as well. But after that we had one hour
till curfew and needed one more member present lesson. So we called
another investigator and she answered and agreed to have us
come over. It was the best lesson we have ever had with her. She felt
the spirit so strong and began tearing up. She said she never tears up
but she is just so thankful that we love her and care about her. It
was sweet! She is so nice! It was such a tender mercy that we were
able to meet with her because her schedule is always so busy!

So that's my week! Some good lessons and awesome tender mercies. I
know that God loves each and every one of us and as we act in faith we
will be able to grow closer to Him. I love this gospel and being a
missionary. Do something this week where people can recognize that you
are a disciple of Christ. Matthew 5:13-16.

Love, Sister Riches

God Be With You

Hello Family and Friends!

This week was kinda slow. We need to find new investigators and have
more motivation and diligence. Missionary work is not easy. But it is
rewarding watching but one person make the changes to their lives that
are needed for salvation. The atonement is the center of this whole
gospel and because of that we need to help everyone realize their
potential and their purpose and how they can have the most happiness
in this life,which would be following the teaching of Jesus Christ and
His example. I want to share this with everyone but it's hard when
others don't listen. But we never know if they'll listen or not until
we invite and we ask. The same goes for member missionary work. Invite
friends to activities and things because you never know if they'll
accept or reject. Despite how hard this work is, I love it! I am
learning so much and my testimony is growing on the simple basics of
the gospel. The most important things! If you don't have the basics
you can't do much. (Just like in ballet if you don't know the basic
positions and techniques you can't do the big fancy stuff, the same
goes for other sports and stuff of course.)

But I'll tell you some highlights of this last week.

So last Monday we got shaved ice and it was so yummy! Then we played
volleyball and games at the church with the other missionaries. We had
a cool lesson with our recent convert  about the weapons of
rebellion and the anti-Nephi-Lehies in Alma. It was fun!

Tuesday had a cool lesson with a less active where we read from the
Book of Mormon. We were panning on reading one chapter with her then
she was so into the story (about Nephi and the brothers getting the
plates) that we kept going! She loves the Book of Mormon and my
testimony is growing so much for my love of the Book of Mormon! It's
amazing! It truly is the keystone of our religion! Also how simply it
teaches the doctrines! I love it! If we know the Book of Mormon is
true then we know that Joseph Smith is a prophet, Jesus Christ is the
savior of the world and that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day
Saints is Christ's church restored to the earth! How much power there
is in just one book! I love it! We were also able to help our
investigator  get her divorce started. Once that's done, she
can be baptized!!!! She is looking forward to that day so much!

Wednesday we did service at the Pomona hospital. It was a fun time! We
got to help women who were going home with their newborns! We pushed
them in the wheelchair out to their cars. The babies are so cute! It's
so hard that we can't hold babies! But we also helped escort people to
the different paces in the hospital. So instead of being stuck in a
room doing paperwork stuff having no interaction with people, we got
to interact with people! Then we did some paperwork stuff and finished
super fast! The ladies in the office we impressed! Also we got asked
so many times if we wanted a cup of coffee or tea....we were doing the
paper work in the break room. It was pretty funny. That night we
stopped by our investigator's house so that we could see how
things were going with her divorce papers. She was really stressed
about it and we shared a good message and talked about the importance
of prayer and scripture study when we go through hard things.

Thursday we had district meeting. It was a good meeting. Nothing too
exciting but after we did some service for a couple from the ward 
 who help us out so much! We helped restore an antique table.
The wood is so pretty! We were able to teach one of our newer
investigators . She was so excited to tell us she was planning
on getting baptized on July 20th at her church...we didn't know how to
respond then so we taught about the Book of Mormon then invited her to
be baptized and she said she was, at her church. We then talked about
priesthood and authority and the importance of that. She said she'll
pray about that and read. We felt so bad that we didn't commit her to
be baptized with a date before that visit! Pretty much all we talked
about at district meeting. Later we taught our recent convert 
with our ward mission leader.

Friday was awesome! We had a mission conference so President and
Sister Becerra could say their goodbyes and give us their last words
of wisdom and advice. It was kinda of a trunky conference- trunky is
missionary lingo for ready to go home, homesick, packing your bags
sort of thing when people are almost about to go home and that's all
they can think about. They talked a lot about marriage and how
important it is to go home and get married! Don't wait to have a
stable job, home, car, whatever because The Lord will bless us. Also
chapter 9 in preach my gospel should be what we study a lot. It's the
how do we find people to teach chapter and instead change it to how do
I find someone to marry...pretty funny!

Sister Becerra gave us some points of her "last words of wisdoms for
our overall happiness":
-- Remember the little things like health and healthy habits,
exercise, be happy, use positive affirmations.
-- Keep in contact with President and Sister Becerra but because
Presdident is now a 70 his time is grey limited and precious and don't
expect they can come to our weddings and other important events let a
lot make drop by visits when we are home. But to email and Facebook
them like they are surrogate parents, letting them know the important
events and decisions.
-- Understand we don't get answers right away.
-- Learn to struggle and that I can do hard things.
-- Just because you are struggling with something doesn't mean
something's wrong.
-- Be strong- I am stronger than I think
-- Learn the difference between good and evil and choosing between
good and evil.
-- Go home and get married- take a step into the dark. Think with your
head and listen to your heart, don't drag your feet it'll come in it's
time.
-- Importance of raising a family. Raise- bring higher.
-- Hard work creates the best moments of excitement and joy.
-- Fear causes failure. Learn to trust.

President Becerra's last words of wisdom to us where amazing. He
talked about the importance of families and staying active in church.
Also about his role as a 70. He talked to us about so much. Mainly
about families and marriage. He told us he would talk to us as he
would the missionaries he would have the departing interviews with.
Which made it more trunky but it was so sweet. He has so much love for
all of us! He is such a powerful teacher and always speaks with power
and authority. The spirit was so strong as he continued. It was unlike
anything I had experienced before. Afterwards we sang our mission song
Arcadia United and then we lined up to shake his hand. Then we went to
the gym for an elder to play a song about missionary work set to Piano
Man and then some of the elders did the Hakka! and then we sang God Be
With You Till We Meet Again. I'm really going to miss President and
Sister Becerra. But I am excited to learn more from President and
Sister Villanueva.

We found a tiny lizard on Sunday about an inch and a half long. And
taught some lessons. Nothing else too exciting.

I am so thankful to be a missionary at this time! I love this work and
I pray for each of you that you are well and safe! Thank you for all
your love and support!

Love, Sister Riches