January 6

Dear Family, Friends, and Fellow Servants of the Lord, wherever you might be,

This has been a wonderful week in the mission field, an especially interesting one as we celebrated the New Year of 2014 and for me personally as I reached six months in the service of the Lord. A fourth of my mission has flown by, becoming steadily faster and faster as time goes on. Elder Florez and I continue to devote our hearts, mights, minds, and strengths to this work and the results are starting to show. Like the rising sun gradually floods a room with light through open windows, the city of Chiguayante is starting to flourish in the work of salvation.

As we went about the week, we were faced with the challenge of almost every single visit and lesson falling through on us. We did not allow this to bother us, and had a great deal of success contacting house after house, seeking for references, and working with several people we haven't seen in quite a while. I would like to share a few experiences from this week that have helped me personally.

An investigator that Elder Montaña and I found during my first few weeks here is named Raul. He is an amazing man, incredibly humble, and noticeable prepared for the Gospel of Jesus Christ in his life. However, during the the last few months, we steadily lost contact because of his busy schedule and our lack of flexibility. This last little while with Elder Florez was an opportunity to spend some time with him while he is on vacation. Every lesson we have is a golden experience, where every testimony that we share is readily accepted by this great man. He has a strong desire to study our doctrine in depth, but his challenge of being blind has kept him from reading the Book of Mormon. With help of a neighbor, he has been able to get a hold of a Book of Mormon Audio, and he is loving it. His humility and incredibly cheerful spirit has led him to readily realize the truth of our message and to feel the Spirit. It was only an emergency that kept him out of the Church on Sunday, but we are very excited to be working with this bright light in an otherwise dark week.

A visit with an active member became surprisingly powerful when she expressed her gratitude with our work for her son. This strong member of the church, the only active member in her family, has struggled for years to encourage her son, a wonderful man named Cesar, to return to activity. The negative influence of her husband and her son's own doubts have not helped the situation much. But we had several visits over the last few weeks with Cesar, bearing testimony and trying to invite the Spirit as best as we could with him, eventually helping him to overcome some of his fears. One lesson in particular has forever been etched in my mind. He revealed to us that he has doubts that God truly takes a part in his life, that God loves him. A large amount of challenges and trials has really shaken his faith, and he told us that he hasn't felt different since he stopped coming to church. Tears flowed as we talked, shared experiences of our loved ones and our own stories, and he vowed to try. Nothing more.
The next visit, he told us very simply that he had changed his mind, and that he would be in church. Sure enough, that Sunday he was sitting in the middle of the row with his hair neatly combed and in a creme colored suit. There was a lot of love and support for him from the members of the ward, which I am eternally grateful for. His mother shared her love for us, and her eternal gratitude. Her fears and disappointments and heartbrake for the members of her family just crushed us, and tears flowed without respite. The love that she said she felt from us for her son made a difference, and possibly will change the life of Cesar one day. 

We certainly didn't feel like we were doing anything particularly special, but this moment has made a big impression on my mind. Heavenly Father really does love each and every single one of us, and often works though us to bless the lives and answer the prayers of His children. My commitment to love the people of Chile, especially when its really really hard, has never been stronger. and I can feel a part of the love of our Father in Heaven filling my heart and soul as I try to do more for these wonderful people.

Saturday night, a crushing weight was on our shoulders. After a discouraging day, we received news that every one of our solid commitments for church attendance the next day had fallen through. We we were crushed, and further weight was added as we tried everything we could to get a hold of different people, with no results. We settled in for the night, not incredibly happy and not incredibly satisfied. I turned to my music player, which has long been a source of aid and inspiration. The first song that caught my attention was 'Be Still My Soul'. The lyrics of this famous hymn are as follows:

1. 1. Be still, my soul: The Lord is on thy side;
   With patience bear thy cross of grief or pain.
   Leave to thy God to order and provide;
   In ev'ry change he faithful will remain.
   Be still, my soul: Thy best, thy heav'nly Friend
   Thru thorny ways leads to a joyful end.
2. 2. Be still, my soul: Thy God doth undertake
   To guide the future as he has the past.
   Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake;
   All now mysterious shall be bright at last.
   Be still, my soul: The waves and winds still know
   His voice who ruled them while he dwelt below.
3. 3. Be still, my soul: The hour is hast'ning on
   When we shall be forever with the Lord,
   When disappointment, grief, and fear are gone,
   Sorrow forgot, love's purest joys restored.
   Be still, my soul: When change and tears are past,
   All safe and blessed we shall meet at last.

This was exactly what I needed to hear. Comfort filled my heart, and I felt with burning clarity the love that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ have for me, and for every single one of us. In my time of winds, waves, and tempests, He calmed the storm. As it will be for every single situation we might ever face.

I testify with all the conviction that I posess that Jesus is the Christ. The light of His Gospel is shining bright and clear, ready for us to open up the windows and let it all in. No matter what trial, what condition, or what situation we face, He is there to strengthen and help us. I invite all of you to do what it takes to feel this love and power greater in your life, and to then help others to do the same. I love you all so much, and hope that this New Year is one of happiness, peace, and love. The hour is truly hastening on, and I look forward to one day seeing you all in person.

With love,

Elder Richardson