25 Enero

Mi querida familia jeje

We had transfers today! I am now with Hna. Dorado, from Puno, Peru! She is the CUTEST, nicest, happiest person. I remember when she got to the mission and I thought to myself "I hope I´m her companion someday!" She only has 4 months in the mission, so Im senior comp now.. It is crazy how young our mission is. Almost our whole zone has less than 8 months in the mission. But good things are happening, I love it!

Maritza and Thomas went to church! We had an awesome lesson with them this week. Maritza has a baptismal date for Feb 27. We are hoping to work on her husband this week. The whole fam went to church and loved it. Im SO happy and praying that they will keep progressing. Thomas has a little bit of a drinking problem, but he wants help and already has the support of our branch president. Familia de oro.

Another investigator came to church too, named Estefany. She is 15 years old, has a strong testimony, and wants to get baptized. But she has been an eternal investigator in this area. We finally received news that she has her parents' permission to get baptized, and she finally came to church. Feb 27 as well.

Things are soo good here in Talara Alta/ Bello Horizonte. I am so grateful everyday to see the hand of God in this work. We are so blessed to know the truth, and even more blessed to share it. Nothing brings more happiness.

Love you alll hope you have an awesome week! Xoxox

Hermana Richan

Motos 

 Distrito 

  My favorite niños

 saying bye to hna arce. goin home to paraguay. SUCKs saying bye to people when you probably wont see them again 

 los churres copying a face that I make.

 Playa

18 Enero

Alooo familia, another awesome week! One of my favorite weeks of the mission, but i could probably say that every week haha. I think im gonna live in Peru forevaaa.

For one thing, we found SOO many new people this week! This whole transfer has been full of new people, people that are prepared to receive the gospel. It is a good time to be here in Talara!

Update on Marita and Donald! This week we were teaching them, and they told us that a couple members of the church showed up at their house to teach them. We talked about the family in ward counsel, but didnt tell anyone to visit them or anything. So anyways a couple women showed up to teach them that they had never met, and it kind of freaked them out. We lost a little bit of trust with the family, but we invited them to baptism, and they are open to it if they know it is right. They are reading the book of mormon and praying, we just need to get them to church!

We found another awesome family this week, Maritza and Tomas. Super receptive family, they understand the things we are teaching, and they are super interested. When Tomas prayed, he was praying that he would figure out a way to be able to attend church, because he works. It was cool to hear his prayer and his desire to go to church and know more. He wasnt able to, and Maritza told us she didnt want to go unless it was a a family with her husband. So this week we are gonna work with them and hope that they can make it next sunday!

This week, I made the goal that I would try and focus really hard on the people during the lessons to be able to help them. I have really tried to focus on their needs, and praying to have charity. I can honestly say I had some of the coolest lessons  this week, and i have felt more love for the people than ever. I love love love them. And i have found that when I listen to the people, I am led by the Spirit with what to say. It has been cool to see that as i speak by the Spirit, I am learning too. The coolest week, and ive never been happier!

We had interviews this week with the president, and he talked about how we can be truly converted. It was something I was actually thinking about this week, so I was glad that he was inspired to share that. We need to burry our weapons, or anthing that is holding us back from doing Gods work, and leave these things in the mission. So that is the goal, figure out my weaknesses, fears, temptations, and leave them behind. I love mission life, everyday is another adventure!

Love you all and miss you! Have a great weeeeeek 

Hermana Richan

11 ENERO

Que bacan esta semana! Not much happened, but I'm always learning and always happy to be serving these perfect people.

I think I mentioned Marita and Donald last week, the new family that we found. This week we have been teaching them and they are SO receptive! They have a 10 year old son, and she is gonna have a baby in a few months. But even if they are busy when we get there, they all drop everything as a family to listen and learn. They always have the best questions, and I can tell they sincerely want to learn and know that it is true. I had probably the most spiritual lesson of my mission with them this week. Awesome feeling. It is super weird because Hna. Alvarado and I both feel like we knew this family before. Jaja weird, but i seriously love them and am grateful to have found them.

Like I said, not much news this week, but things are going good! It is crazy how many ups and downs there are in the mission, but the ups are always so worth it. Love everything about mission life! 

He pensado mucho en La Expiación de Jesucristo esta semana. Es algo profundo y ancho, pero algo personal para cada uno de nosotros. Podemos aplicarla en nuestra propia manera, porque Jesucristo sufrió por nosotros individualmente. En mi caso, mi familia sabe, que soy perfeccionista. Me gusta hacer cosas correctamente la primera vez. Pero esta vida no funciona así. Hay que aprender de nuestros errores y nuestras debilidades. Gracias a Jesucristo, es posible ser perfeccionados. Por eso, soy agradecida. Si vivimos el evangelio de Jesucristo, solo vamos a mejorar. Cuando Dios creó Su plan, Él quería que pudiéramos lograr la vida eterna, y lograr aun perfección come la de El.  Diariamente, hay que aprovechar La Expiación para hacer el progreso que Dios quiere que hagamos en mortalidad. ¡Yo amo a mi Salvador! Su sacrificio es infinito y perfecto, y no podemos medir el amor que Él tiene por nosotros. 

Tengan una buena semana! Xoxox 

Hermana Richan

Neuvo Ano

QUE TAL MI FAM. Hope you had the Merriest Christmas (I did), and wishin you all a happy new year. I know that 2016 will be a year that I will never forget!

Honestly the week of Christmas I felt the love of Christ more than I ever have in my life. One of the best Christmas´s, thinking of the Savior and the reason for the season. Tuesday before Christmas we went to Miramar (a super poor area that is in my zone). We brought a bunch of toys and clothes, and it was cool to see how happy they were for these old clothes with holes and stains. Cant help but think how blessed we are, and how blessed i am to be able to be here with these people! I love every second of it.

We spent Christmas Eve singing Christmas carols in the center of Talara, and contacting people. It was cool to have a Christmas for once where we could be outside! Afterwards we went to our branch president´s house to eat a ton of food and PANETON. It was definitely something I will never forget, I loved it. My compi and I topped off the night by sleeping on the roof. I told her all about our Christmas traditions and how my mom always rings a bell to wake us up Christmas morning. So to my surprise, she had a little bell and she woke me up with it. :) Love my comp.

We spent New Year´s in Piura, and got to see a bunch of missionaries and President. Pres talked to us about the importance of exact obedience. I liked that he said that when we choose not to be obedient, we are choosing that we love something else more than God. When we sleep in a little bit, it is because we love our sleep more than God, etc. It was an awesome reminder of our purpose as missionaries. We are here because we love Him and want to serve Him. Me voy a esforzar a ser mas obediente en todo!

This week four people accepted baptismal dates for January 30th! When we thought no one in Talara would ever progress, this happened. Now we just need to get them to come to church jaja. Im excited to hopefully make some progress in this little place, and help strengthen the branches. We are in the weakest part of the mission.

We found the coolest family this week, Donald and Marita. They have one kid and anothero on the way. Super receptive and so nice. And they are MARRIED! Which is super rare so we are excited. 

Overall, a good week and good things are happening. I love this work and im so excited to spend this WHOLE year 2016 in PERU! Nothing better. I learn more everyday and I gain more love for these people everyday. Im grateful to know we have a Savior who is aware of each of us. Im grateful for a new year and a new opportunity to make goals and strengthen my relationship with my Savior.

Love you all, feliz año xoxo

Hermana Richan

The Beach at Talara

Christmas Pictures

our hideous christmas skirts