Hey Everyone! It has been a damp, gray, and cold week. The work is growing slowly, and the people continue to reject us, outright in the majority of cases. We struggle every day in an uphill battle, literally and figuratively in the cerros of Santa Sabina, for very little fruit. New challenges mount and the old challenges continue day to day. A torrential downpour finished the week off, driving people away from the church and from us in the streets.

And there is absolutely no where that I would rather be.

The life of a missionaryis not the easiest thing in the world. Turns out, far from it. But I absolutely love this work and the challenges that come along with it. To contact in the foggy streets with gray above and gray below, for hours at a time, and then to see that one person that shows interest and a sincere desire for us to come by at another time, is absolutely one of the best feelings in the world. And we did a whole lot of contacting in the streets.

Miracles in disguise were the name of the game this week. Constantly, some thing would come up or some plan would fall through and we always had the chance to go and help someone else in another area. I haven't seen this many unplanned service opportunities during one week in my entire mission. We helped weld, we helped with concrete pouring, we did a good amount of plumbing, we helped build a house, we helped build a bed, we helped a family of strangers move in to their own home (Thanks Dad, for the many hours of practice for that one!), and the list goes on and on. The vast majority of this service was not something that we expected to be doing, and our clothes and shoes and hands were well worn and dirty by the time we made it home each night. These people showed gratitude and appreciation for the work we did, and many seeds were planted.

I wonder if this is how a farmer feels when he first starts in a new plot of land. There is still a lot of weeds to clear up, and a few stumps that should be removed, but it is still a very good area of land. There are many seeds being thrown to and fro, and one day, the fruit in this sector shall be immense. As for now, we are patiently waiting on the Lord's time and in His way.

We also had an immensely powerful and very animating conference this week. Combined with the personal studies that I was able to do, the messages on preparedness, patience, and creativity did a great deal to give me new hope for the sector. I am immensely grateful for the chance I have now to serve here in the best sector in the mission, Santa ''Seed Sowing' Sabina.

Also, my companion is greatly obsessed with music, so I've been particularly interested in gaining animo and energy and inspiration from good songs and tunes. As we entered the Cyber today, a song I knew from before the mission came on, and I share a line of it with you today:

``Don't you worry, don't you worry child! See Heaven's got a plan for you!''

I know that Heaven, and especially our Heavenly Father do in fact have a plan for every single one of us. This is not a plan for failure, but a plan for glorious, incredible success. We should never allow depression or hard times or difficult challenges dissaude us from knowing this single, amazing fact. Our Heaven Father, all powerful and omnipotent He may be, has revealed that His work and His glory is to help us to reach our full and greatest potential. 

''It's a great day to be alive, I know the sun's still shining when I close my eyes'' (Or, when there is pure rain clouds up above until Wednesday, but the line still applies.)

I love you all so much, and hope that you have a fantastic week. Even if you don't, I hope that you can make it one with your decision to keep looking on the bright side, no matter where it may be.

With love,
Elder Richardson