Lauren Richardson

Called to Serve in BRASIL!!!

Thought we better put these two pictures on her blog before it's too late.  This was in the very beginning of her mission.  A 'Greenie" is a new missionary.  She's not green now - but way back in the beginning it looks like she was.  Even the her shirt is green.  The flag of Brasil is on the table in front of her along with all kinds of green things.

Don't Mess with this Texan Sister!

Got TEXAS? Lauren does.

She loves Texas (and Brazil and Colombia too)

Get ready y'all!  Over the next 6 weeks we will be posting the best pictures from her mission.  Videos too.  As Lauren would say we're "fixin" to blast you with pictures!  Hang on for the ride!

LAUREN ARRIVES HOME 4:00PM 8/5/2011 (FRIDAY) You are welcome to come to the airport to welcome her home. She'll love it!

I'm super excited to continue working until my very last minute as a Sister. Its been the best thing in the world and i cant even express all the love i have for being a missionary. I try and tell the youth about what its like but there is not possible way for them to understand until they go and give it their heart.

Girllede & Lucas
Found out amazing news this week. Lucas who was inactive, we were able to help him get to church! he is 20 so he can go on a mission and would be a wonderful missionary, but he didn't have the desire and wanted to get married to his girlfriend Girllede. Well they are ala Bayeux centro so sister de oliviera and siste Barreto are taking care of them, but a miracle happened! well, Girllede is catholic and even wanted to be a nun before. she has been coming to church for like a year, but for some reason the missionaries never taught her. she lives in another area in joao pessoa, but always comes here with her fiance. She knows the church is true and is going to be baptized!!! Then she was talking with Lucas and asked why he doesn't go and be an elder? why he didn't have the priesthood and she started crying and he looked at her and said he´d go on a mission!!!!!!! she may even go as well!!!!!! We have been working and praying soo hard and his family and the ward even more! it was sooooo amazing to know that he is going to be a missionary. Their future moved completely. just for the decision to serve a mission. His eternal future is completely different now. way cool.

Pedro
We met Pedro yesterday! just contacted him on the street and he is 24. likes religion and has never been baptized. his concern is mattew 24:5 authority and falso Christ and prophets. he doesn't drink smoke or party. and will come to church next Sunday! we marked his baptism for 2 weeks so we're are really excited to help him gain a testimony and get prepared!

Young Women
tomorrow we are going out with the young women to teach their friends. they are super excited to go on a mission so it will be way fun to help them learn about it and teach their friends the gospel too.

Dancing Cows in the USA
we had lunch with Bishop Silva. suuuuuuper cool family and they are super humble. love them tons. well Bishop yesterday started talking about this cow on TV that was in the united states. he saw it dancing on TV and insisted that cows really can dance. hahah. you know people here think the US is suuuper dangerous? haha

Dancing
Yesterday we saw abunch of people at the park doing capoeira! swwwuuuaheeeett! its a dance kind of light fighting. it originated a long time ago and is a brasilian tradition. Way cool. look it up on you tube.

The Lighthouse 
also today we had zone pday! at the lighthouse in joao pessoa. the most easter point of the americas! a picnique and taking pictures. with the brasiian and texas flag :) way fun. AND REEGULAR clothes that was fun!.

Priest with Rock Band
Proselytizing this week down liberdade there was a catholic porciession for maria and all the cars lined up and were driving behind the statue of maria and there wqas a carro de som. the huge cars that are speakers. ill send a picture next week. and there was a rock band on top with the priest. we waved when they drove by and he blessed us. it was cool.

I love you!!! Sister Richardson

In the video below, Lauren is reading some of her favorite verses from the scriptures. (Link here) We were only able to figure out what she was reading because we know Spanish.

"Now behold, a marvelous work is about to come forth among the children of men.  Therefore, O ye that embark in the service of God, see that ye serve him with all your heart, might, mind and strength, that ye may stand blameless. Therefore, if ye have desires to serve God ye are called to the work;  For behold the field is white already to harvest; and lo, he that thrusteth in his sickle with his might, the same layeth up in store that he perisheth not, but bringeth salvation to his soul;  And faith, hope, charity and love, with an eye single to the glory of God, qualify him for the work. Remember faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, brotherly kindness, godliness, charity, humility, diligence.  Ask, and ye shall receive; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. Amen. before God at the last day." 

PLEASE WRITE LAUREN!  She loves getting letters since she can't facebook or email while on her mission.  Letters only take 10 days or so to get to her.  She has 60 days left so please send her a note and let her know how you're doing.
Her address is:


Sister Lauren Richardson
Missao Brasil / Joao Pessoa
Rua Dep. Jose Mariz #515
Tambauzinho
Joao Pessoa
PB, Brazil
58042-020