да ли ти се шета?

Zdravo svima, 

A member called me this week and told me when I showed her my family tree chart she was inspired and is filling out hers. #hastenthework #familyhistory

I feel like I got 10000x more cultured this last week. We were on lost of trains, buses, taxis, ended up in a museum for an hour one day? Then this morning we took a topless? without a roof? TOUR BUS. I pretty much dragged Sister Kawai on it but we ended up learning a lot.

I hit my year mark this week, WHAT. No!

We talked to this girl for like 30 minutes on the street who volunteers with kids after school helping them with their homework, we are going to go volunteer with her this week. She was super cool. She told us SHE had been in a sect before, WHAT! The tables turned. People usually just "sektasi" us all day long (call us a sect) and we are just like hey we are just Jesus Christ's church and we are just trying to help people in their lives. 

On another sektasi note, so since I'm on the mission public affairs council, we have been trying some new things out. We advertised a post on Facebook for us to teach family home evenings and it went so so so so wrong. So we completely deleted all of that. Hm, little by little we are figuring out things.

BUT it was a memorial this week b/c Kresimir Cosic died 20 years ago. They had a bball tournament in Zagreb and memorial program at the church lots of dignitaries came to. 

Some commentary from Pres Grant about Kreso:
In just 47 years, Krešo (born 26 Nov 1948 in Zadar, Yugoslavia) accomplished so much. He is best known among his fellow countrymen for his basketball prowess. Someday they will also come to recognize his even more stellar contributions as a great and faithful servant of God.

Krešo earned a roster spot on the Yugoslavia National Team at the young age of 16. At BYU he averaged 19.1 points & 11.6 rebounds in his three varsity seasons (1971-73) and holds the BYU record for double-double games (47). Krešo was the first foreign player to be named a collegiate All-American, receiving six different All-American awards as a junior and senior at BYU. He was drafted by the Portland Trailblazers (1972) and Los Angeles Lakers (1973) but decided to return to Yugoslavia. Later he was offered a roster spot by Boston Celtics (1976) but again decided to stay in Europe. He played on four Olympic Teams, winning a gold medal (1980) and two silver medals (1968 & 1976), played on two World Championship Teams (1970 & 1978), and three European Championship Teams. Krešo was named to the All-European Team seven straight years and ended his playing career as the all-time Croatian scoring leader, having once scored 61 points in a single game. He was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts on 6 May 1996.

Krešo forsook fame and fortune as an NBA player to serve God. Beginning in 1974, he started translating the Book of Mormon into Serbo-Croatian, first with the help of friends and then with the acquired assistance of Marijan Grgic, a former Catholic priest, whom he paid out of his tithing money. The process of translation and publication took five years (1974 – 1979). He translated other church materials as well. Kreso’s first missionary outreach was to the young people of his country, who constantly surrounded him. They all begged for BYU T-shirts, like the ones he wore. He gave them cards with The Articles of Faith, printed in their language. He said, “When you have memorized this, you’ll get a T-shirt.” He met with a Yugoslav attorney to discuss procedures for obtaining legal recognition for his Church in his country. The appropriate petition was filed with Department of Religious Affairs and a lengthy waiting process began. On 17 Sept 1985 President Thomas S. Monson, then Elder Monson, dedicated Yugoslavia for the preaching of the Gospel. Following the dedicatory prayer, a special session was held for dignitaries of Yugoslavia where the Zagreb chapel was dedicated and Krešo stood by the side of Elder Monson as he translated his words, that all gathered might understand.

In 1992 Krešo was appointed Croatia's Deputy Ambassador to the United States. He served as Croatia's Acting Ambassador to the United States in 1994. Then in 1995, he passed way while in Maryland from Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma cancer. He was buried in Zagreb, Croatia.

Kresimir quotes:
• "I joined the Church because it was true; I would have joined it for no other reason. … Prior to my conversion, I just said, if there is a God I’m going to do everything He wants. If there is no God, why bother. So I don’t believe there is an in between. To me, it was a commitment."
• I discovered that I could not dispute the power of God… now I beheld the marvelous light. I came to know that Christ lives, and that He knew me as He knows every creature. My desire to study and to know more became unquenchable.
• Our first thing is to look for God. Then you find God, and you ask what He wants, realizing that He has an agenda. Then you get the desire, you … start to work as a missionary… so I started to serve and to work.

What an awesome man.  We still use that Book of Mormon in Croatia that he helped translate. (although the new translation is coming out this year.)  We posted another post about him on a Facebook page and it got TONS of likes and comments and shares. He was well respected because people knew that he was a man of courage, respect. A man of God. They actually stopped the war here so people could cross the border and come to his funeral.

I fell down the stairs while contacting someone, awkward hahaha but it made for a great conversation starter!  It was Belgrade Days/week here this week and there were tons of Orthodox parades with all the bishops and priests. Also Sister Kawai, Mahabier, and I's one year mark, so we went to dinner. That was cool that we are all in the same city. Wow, the mission has flown. I want to cry when I think about going home, is that okay? I am just sitting next to this guy at this internet cafe who is just scrolling through Facebook, then Youtube, then Twitter. etc. I just don't want to return to that. Everyone just trying to make their lives look better than everyone else's. Does that make sense? Little rant from sister Richardson ha.  https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2015/04/on-being-genuine?lang=eng 

Remember Uctdorf's words from last conference, "the term “Potemkin village” has entered the world’s vocabulary. It now refers to any attempt to make others believe we are better than we really are. It is part of human nature to want to look our best..... However, when taken to extremes, this desire to impress can shift from useful to deceitful. The Lord’s prophets have ever raised a warning voice against those who “draw near [to the Lord] with their mouth, and with their lips do honour [Him], but have removed their heart far from [Him].”

Sister Kawai's visa application got denied again. Adventures! So we will see what happens with transfers this Thursday. I know God will send us where He needs us (but I would love to stay in Beograd!) It is on flood "code orange" here. Lots of hard rain.  We might just be working with the red cross and moving sandbags next transfer.

I have been studying my patriarchal blessing. Writing it down line by line and cross referencing it with scriptures and talks and anything I can find in the apartment.  What a blessing those are to us. Get it? Blessing. #punny

Yesterday we went to visit a member who had brain surgery at a hospital here. Have you seen the "lift" mormon message? That was cool. But truly, when we serve others we forget ourselves and are HAPPIER.  As I sat there wiping the blood and whatever from her arms and head & today we are going again, I just was so happy. I can't explain. God's love was with us. Even though I'd never met her before, she's a member in another area, I LOVED HER. The Elders blessed a piece of piece and some water and she partook of the sacrament. As they kneeled in that hospital room with 6 other people, I just felt at peace. The priesthood is power. It is love! 

She has only been a member for a year and is BEGGING to be able to go to the temple with other members this year. Everyone has been saving up for the temple trip. Outside of the hospital I shed a few tears as we walked away, I thanked the Elders that they are worthy to bless the sacrament. On or off the mission. It is such a powerful thing. To renew our covenants, to be part of this church, to see God's hand in many lives.

Wow, long email. Lots of scattered thoughts. We had another lesson- and we'd taught them before in like December and I'd given the family "birati ispravno" bracelets. They called us and wanted to be taught again. He said he never takes his bracelet off. People ask him about it and he doesn't say "it's from Mormon girls" haha but that "it was a gift and a motto I strive to live by." That was cool. Solid family. He basically taught US the whole first lesson and I was like so, when are you going to pray to know if this is really the right church? He was like we should now!, and we took off our shoes, kneeled and prayed. Good things are happening here. Malo po malo, po maloooo.

S ljubavlju, 

Sestra Richardson

Koliko dugo si ovde? Tu sam vec godina dana.

I left my brain (my planner) at home... but I will try to recall what happened this week!

We went and walked in a forest with our cool investigator M on Pday. We just talked about life. In a lesson with her later in the week she was like I started reading 3 Nefi 11 like you asked me to, and I think it's cool how Jesus sounds the same in your book as he did in the Bible! Then she said how she started reading, from the beginning, the Book of Mormon and read for THREE HOURS. She asked about the two sons and about what ends up happening to them, and a lot about Mormon and Moroni. She is really hesitant to give up "her beliefs" -- culture, but we just invite her to be baptized and she said she will pray about it. We told her obviously she can still keep her culture! Just add to what you already believe, new truths. 

She said she watched meet the mormons on youtube! So a lot of things we explained to her (how church goes, service, etc) she already knew about and referenced. I'm not sure how she found it but that was awesome. She talked about all the people like us (members) she meets they just have this sincerity and light. Ekstra pasulj. 

Another investigator we also had a lesson in the forest with, D. (one week bars, another week forests? Haha) He has been SUPER persistent about not praying. In our lesson though, he said he would at least try. He came late to church but after priesthood meeting ran up to me and was like- "I think I'm actually getting an answer!" We are excited.

Sister Raic last night wanted to show us how real Serbians have a family dinner, so she invited Sister Kawaii and I to a HUGE dinner with her and her family, and invited alll 3 of the American embassy families. It was a great way to have a sabbath day dinner, um. But they were SO nice and hospitable. We had it at her cousin's place because it was the only place big enough. It was courses of bread, then salad, then huge meat plates, cheese, then more meat, then chocolate. And a live band!  She shared her conversion story with everyone there and I translated the whole meal haha and so did one of the embassy dads. Her husband (I hope I havent already told you this) was on the operation table and just got out of surgery and one of the elders called him-- they had talked like 3 years before and his number was still in the Elder's phone. He thought (the father) that he had died because he heard "Staresina" (which translates more like priest here) Anyways, the dad took is as a sign from God and the Elders taught them. A few months later they were baptized- that was a year ago. THEY ARE SO GOOD.

God prepares people in every stage of life.

To top off the night they gave a bottle of homemade Rakija and a wood keg to one of the families there because they gave them a fancy candle! Hahaha. Serbian tradition- give a gift you will get one back! 

This week I have been studying "Let my people go!" and the story of Moses parting the red sea and getting all his out of Egypt, etc. etc. God doesn't just let us have it super super easy in life even when we are Moses-- He ALLOWS hard things to happen to us and trials to come our way to test us and let us grow!

I testify that God is there for us when we kneel to him in prayer!

OH! Another miracle. I almost forgot. On Monday after pday I was like Sister Kawai pray over a street and we will go tract it. We don't pray specifically like that, but we that night. So we go to this street way far away and go to the first building I have a feeling we should go into. After getting yelled at a few times on the intercom trying to get people to let us in, we go up a ghetto, g h e t t o elevator. Get out, pray, ring the first bell. This Siamese cat SPRINTS out the door and runs down 5 flights of stairs, the dad runs out and chases it.  I'm like sorry sorry we are missionaries, etc etc and the mom is like, "Oh, polygamists! Well we are atheists anyway." I was like well I know God wants us to share a message with your family!  So a few minutes later she lets us in and we are teaching this mom and dad and their two young girls and their cat Maza hahaha. She was so interested in the Book of Mormon.  Getting let in tracting- the FIRST door- and to normal people- and a FAMILY!  It was a miracle.

God loves us. He wants us to understand why we are here.

I love you! I pray for you. 

сестра Ричардсон

Idemo da setamo

Postovani!

Danas cemo da setamo u gradu. Bice super. Super je bila ova nedelja. Pogotovo zbog Skype!!

From this week:

• I swerved to not hit a turtle in the road while driving sis Kawai and I, and three elders.
• Got "pulled over" by a cop who just held up a sign that said "stop" and I had to pull over. Showed him my UT license plate and he laughed and asked if I speak Serbian. I told him all he wanted to know and smiled a big smile, he let me go. I wasn't speeding though- it was just a routine pull-over.
• Mission leadership council in Zagreb. I realize more and more everyday how much God has blessed me on my mission. I have learned more than anything I could have ever kod kuce. God knows us, so so personally. We are really excited as a mission- only 9 baptisms whole year as a mission but 14 people have accepted a baptismal date for the next month. Awesome!
• We found that a store kind of by us sells packages of chicken nuggets!! Dinner for days.
• We ended up in Zagreb again for Mission Public Affairs Council. Somehow I got the calling as webmaster. Busy busy. Go search "Mormoni" on Facebook and like it, ako zelis! 
• Cleaned the chapel tip to toe? is that even a phrase? washed the curtains, scrubbed the walls, all in prep for district conference. 
• Really cool story- a family of recent converts went to pay an (the equivalent of) 1000 dollar bill. When they got there the lady at the counter told them that it had already been paid two days ago- and that it was only a bill for 200 dinar (about 2 dollars). The father was baffled and knew that was incorrect, so he went and asked, got all the way up to the head of the department he was supposed to pay the bill to and he said I don't know what you want me to do- everything is paid, you are fine, leave us in peace! The father was shocked. They told us this story and said how much tithing has blessed their lives. When they feel they cannot pay it for that month, they do. This miracle happened to them. Amazing. They told us about it and could not stop saying "thank you God, thank you God."
• We went to Cacak to visit the Z family- they desire SO BAD to go to the temple again. The mother told how she used to have very bad shoulder, back, and stomach problems, but that after the temple she does not have any pain at all. She said she "used to be afraid of what people would say if they found out I was Mormon. Now I just want to shout it in the streets- how happy I am! I want everyone to know! I want everyone to feel what I feel!" She loved love loved it. We helped them with their goats.

GREAT to Skype yesterday. Crazy that the next time I'll see you face to face will be in the airport. That is crazy. It feels like I just got here. 

Volim vas i zelim vam sve najbolje. 

Sestra Ricardsen

"направичу га мормон!"

The title of this email comes from my landlord and his two best friends. We went to pay rent and they were all drinking and wanted to buy us juices and were like settle down here in Serbia! We'll find you a lep momak and napravicu ga mormon! Everyone here is so nice and concerned for us and want us to get married. Hm

MONDAY WAS SO GOOD. That meeting we had- which I'm not sure how much of I can talk about. It's not like secret combinations or anything, but just some changes we are trying out as a mission. I AM SO EXCITED. I know that is really general, but it has to do with church locations, Facebook, our webpages, english classes, more. SO GOOD. SO SO GOOD. That night we got dinner with some mission guests and President and Sister Grant. It was amazing. President told us when we go home and are dating to ask guys if they have done their home teaching or not, if they say no- don't date them! He is great. We were also at the airport, running errands, buying tennis rackets. Staying busy. God truly knows us because I know he sent me to this mission for a reason- that is so clique but random skill-sets and personalities have just been matching with mine lately. 

Surprise mid-transfer transfer. We switched around some stuff in the mission and now there are 4 sisters in BG! In different apartments though. My trainer sis Kropushek, sis Mahabier my MTC companion, and then Sister Kawaii (also my mtc companion) and I! It is interesting! Never in the mission, as far as I know, have there been 4 sisters in one area! 

Exchange this week with the Novi Sad sisters. I was up at 5, to bed at midnight, all kinds of crazy things this week. My body did not appreciate that. Also doing all the legal/visa paperwork for the new sisters. 

BUT we did teach an awesome lesson to two investigators. One wrote me the SWEETEST card. It made me cry. She is out of town but she is really excited about the Book of Mormon and we have another lesson this week. I am so so so so happy to be teaching her. I can just feel how much God loves her every time we talk. 

The first of May here is like labor day- we had a branch activity on the river and cooked a lot a lot of meat and ate it with raw onions- tradition! I will explain/show you when I am home. It's actually so good. 

There are so so many tourists here. We contact someone and they are like um.. English only sorry! And we are like hey we speak English! and then they like run away hahaha no not really but we meet a lot of Greeks and Turks lately. Helped them find buses, casinos, you name it. I am just waiting for a mormon family to come walking down the road and be like WHAT mormons are here in Serbia?!?

A quote I wanted to share with you: "Life’s journey is challenging. It’s easy to be distracted, wander off the path, and get lost. Tribulation is an inevitable and indispensable part of our eternal progression. When adversity comes, don’t let something you don’t fully understand unravel everything you do know. Be patient, cling to truth; understanding will come. Trials are like great mists of darkness that can blind our eyes and harden our hearts. Unless we are “continually holding fast” to the word of God and living it, we will become spiritually blinded rather than spiritually minded. Search the Book of Mormon and the words of the living prophets every day, every day, every day! It’s the key to spiritual survival and avoiding deception. Without it, we are spiritually lost.

To heed is to give careful attention. Heeding those who do not believe in Christ will not help you find Him. Searching #spaciousbuilding for knowledge will not lead you to truth. It’s not posted there. Only the Savior has “the words of eternal life....
True disciples continue to awaken unto God each day in meaningful personal prayer, earnest scripture study, personal obedience, and selfless service. Stay by the tree and stay awake."

from: https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2015/04/stay-by-the-tree?lang=eng

I love you. Don't get distracted! Read the scriptures, kneel and pray, every day.

Цецтра Ричардсен

pics: Four sisters in Belgrade! A turkish toilet I experienced for the first and hopefully last time in my life. I literally laughed when I walked into the stall.......no toilet paper, no nothin'. It's as questionable as it looks. A church in Zagreb after our meeting Monday we showed some guests around.