Merry Christmas

It feels like there isn't anything to tell you because we talked about it all on Christmas! Which was AWESOME. I can't even begin to tell you guys how awesome you are and how much i love each of you! It was so fun to see all your smiling faces, and made me super excited to come home!(: 2 1/2 weeks! AHH!!!(:

This week was way good though! Christmas was fun! We went to members, less actives, and non-members. It was interesting to see the different way each celebrate Christmas. It was a good Christmas gift because it showed me how grateful I am for my family and what I want my family to be in the future! It was an awesome Christmas.. And very interesting. But I am grateful the Lord has funny ways of showing things to us! haha!

NICHOLAS GOT B APTIZED! It was an awesome baptism. 1st of all he almost gave me a heart attack! we lost our phone last week and haven't gotten a new one yet! So we went to the baptism praying that he would come. We get to the chapel at 10:45 the baptism was at 11... so we wait.. 11.. not there. 1115... not there.. 1130.. not there... after have a freak out.. at 1145, he came! And it turned out to be an awesome service. When he shared his testimony he was talking about all of his doubts he had, and then before he could even ask us, we would answer them. Missionary power. He talked about how he still h ad doubts, and when he prayed about them, that all went away! It was awesome, and of course had me in tears b y the end!(:

Sunday we had 2 farewells... and elder who will be serving in Fiji and a sister who is going to Marshall islands. The sister her name is Janet.. haha! She has been someone who has gone with us ALOT! She has taught me ALOT! She has kinda been like a big sister to me! I am going to miss her a lot! But as they shared their testimonies, it reminded me of when I started my mission. Almost a year and a half ago! haha... But, it made me realize how awesome this has all been. I am not going to get all sad and stuff, I'll save that for my last email, but I will say, as I look back, this has been the most amazing thing I have ever ever done in my life. And I am so beyond grateful for it! It has been a blessing because I have seen so many blessings! Heavenly Father is real and does love each and every one of us. And as I come to my last 2 weeks.... I am going to make sure everyone knows that!(:

I love you all so so so much! Thanks for being an awesome family who raised me in this wonderful gospel. I can't even tell you how much blessings have come to all of us because of it! Heavenly Father loves us! And i know he loves you! So as you start this New Year, don't forget that! Have fun, be you and do all you can to be just a little better! Because thats all He asks of us! Talk to you all in 2015!(; haha!

LOLOMA LEVU!

Sister Rich

Pictures 12/21/14

This is my favorite elder!!!(:

 And this is my 2nd favorite(: haha

Service... Sugar Cane and Bu! 

The lovely Sister Bauro

Our investigator

A Boat

Trunky Bug

Well.. Just when I thought I wasn't going to get it... the trunky bug hit! And it was a lot worse than I thought it was going to be! haha! I can't even begin to tell you how much I NEVER want to get that again! This week was a long week, and not much done, due to my bug.. haha but, I am grateful now that I got it, because I realized how much I love this work and how much I don't want to leave.. (sorry family) It was almost like a change in me. (like in Russell terms.. like when Spiderman got sick from the bug bite, but then he changed into this awesomely strong hero) That’s what this sickness is! It changes you for good. Let me kinda explain what I mean....

So this week I just kinda felt like I was off.. Like the spirit wasn't as strong as it should be. Which caused tempation to sleep, not study, and be lazy, a lot stronger than it has been my whole mission. Lessons were hard to focus on, walking was exhausting, and the days seemed to drag on and on and on! But, I did the only think i know could help me to get this stupid killer bug gone! haha And that is pray. Last night, as we were turning our numbers in, i realized how unsuccessful this week had been. It was kinda more like I was just going through the motions more than actually doing it. (Because of me being unfocused) And as I slept on it, I woke up this morning and got on my knees, and prayed and asked Heavenly Father 1st, for forgiveness for wasting a week of work. And 2nd asking him for the strength and the spirit to be able to finish strong. As I was in my prayer i just felt the spirit so strong and as I got up I was changed. My appreciation for this work, for heavenly father, and for the life that I have right now, is the greatest thing EVER. I had a little freak out this morning, as I looked at the calendar, and to see that I only have 24 days left to give it all I got, is so scary! Because that is NOTHING! I know I don't have that much time left and that really scares me. And so I can't waste any second of it. I am kinda glad I got the sickness, because in order to be the amazingly strong "hero"/missionary/RM I need to be, I had to go through the "Change"! 

As I did my studies this morning, I was reading in D&C 128:22 it says, " Brethren, shall we not go on in so great a cause? GO FORWARD AND NOT BACKWARDS. Courage, brethren; and on to victory! Lets your hearts rejoice, and be exceedingly glad." So as I finish stronger than ever, i am going to go forward and not back. This church is true. This gospel is true. I know with all of my heart. Because just like Alma the Younger, he had to have a change of heart to reach his full potential. So, I KNOW this change of heart will give me the courage to sprint to the end. And what better time to have all this happen, than at Christmas. The season of blessings and miracles!!!(: I just love it all. I love Fiji. I love the people. I love the language. I love the gospel. I love the church. I love the scriptures. I love prayer. I love my family. I love the sun. I love Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. I love my companion. I love smiles. I love sitting on the floor. I love eating with my fingers. I love not doing my hair. I love taking cold showers. I love being a missionary. But, I LOVE SHARING THE GOSPEL. And nothing can now stop me from doing that. 

I love you all so so so much! Sorry this week was kinda bland. But this next week will be one with a lot of miracles, I can just feel it!(: 

LOLOMA LEVU!!

Sister Rich