DECEMBER 31, 2018 - WEEKS #41, 42, 43, & 44

BASICALLY DECEMBER 2018  IN IT'S ENTIRETY

December 31, 2018

So all of December has been insane! Elder Brown and I have been running ever since the beginning, and aren't stopping! We've been trying to help everyone that we are working with to come closer to Christ leading up to the Christmas holiday. We've had a lot of difficulties, especially with trying to adjust to our biking in this area, but it's been a lot of fun!

A big thing through December has been trying to catch up in reading the Book of Mormon! President Nelson in October challenged all of the women to read the whole Book of Mormon by the end of the year, and President Dixon challenged all of us to do that as well! I got behind, and so I've been catching up this month! I'm almost done, but I've really enjoyed reading the scriptures even more recently. I've learned a lot more about why we need the Book of Mormon, too! There are so many examples of what how we should act in our daily lives as Disciples, or followers, of Jesus Christ. I love it when I can see ways that I can improve, and have a scriptural example to learn from!

So we work pretty closely with the Spanish-speaking Sisters (Hermanas) and the Spanish Elders sometimes, because they have church in our building. The Hermanas were having a baptism, and had asked the Spanish Elders to fill up the baptismal font with water beforehand while they went and spoke in a meeting. When the Spanish Elders had to leave suddenly, they told us to turn off the font when it filled up. We thought that it would take a while to fill up, so we went ahead and went to our Ward's choir practice. When we came out, we just heard "The Font flooded!!!" and we ran over to see the tile floors in the kitchen and bathrooms around the font just covered in water!!

We felt so bad, and just as we discovered this, the whole Spanish Branch was getting out and discovering this as well! And so we threw off our suit coats, got some members of the Ward, and got to work trying to get the water down a drain. The problem was that the only drain was back in the font, and so we got someone to unplug the stopper and pushed all of the gross water back into the font. We had planned to drain the whole font and then refill it (Even though it would take 2 hours to do that), but the man who was going to get baptized told us that he just wanted to be baptized, and that he didn't care how the water looked. And so we filled the font back up to full, and made it all work!

That man had the faith to know that being baptized was more important than some of the small details, like the cleanliness of the water. Through the whole service, he looked so happy to have finally made it there, and we were so happy for him!

This month a focus has been becoming more of a disciple of Jesus Christ. Many of us know who He is, and are grateful to Him for His sacrifice and Resurrection that make it possible for us to heal and live again, but do we let that change who we are? Do we let Him change who we are? Or, rather, do we make the active effort with Him to grow and change into someone like Him? As we look at how He wants us to grow, and then we kneel down and just talk with Our Heavenly Father, pouring out our hearts in prayer for help, and making plans with Him on what we will give up and what we want to do to achieve that, God will make up the difference. Grace is supplied when we give righteous desires our best efforts. And how Grateful I am for that! Honestly, if it weren't for that grace, I'd be stuck! :D

But seriously! A new year starts tomorrow! We can start fresh with new goals, and new focuses! An exercise that we did is we looked at where we were, and then we wrote down what our gift to God would be this next year. Whether it be a gift of some time or a TV show, what will we offer Him this next year to make it different? To make us different? I'd encourage you to ponder on that before or after your festivities tonight for 2019!

Happy New Years! Feliz Añu Nuevo!

Elder Richardson

1) Our Missionary Zone at our big Christmas Conference!

2) Our District went Christmas Carolling all Christmas week with some members!

3) My Birthday with the Spanish Elders and a Member and her friends!

4) We got to the Temple earlier this month, and one of our good Member friends was able to bring us!

DECEMBER 25, 2018 - CHRISTMAS

 MERRY CHRISTMAS

December 25, 2018

MERRY CHRISTMAS, EVERYONE!!! I'm so excited for this season, and I think I've said that before, but that's because it's true!

I've gotten all of your birthday and Christmas wishes, and I feel all warm and fuzzy now! Thank you all so much for the love that you've sent my way!

Unfortunately, I am very characteristically behind. This should come as no surpise to anyone, but we've been SOOOOOO busy on our preparation days this transfer. I literally did not have time to write much of anything  the past several weeks in terms of an update for each week. So... I guess I'll dump it all on you next week? I am very adamantly scheduling a lazy day for that purpose, so I'm hoping that happens!

I love you all, and  desperately wanted to write an individual Christmas note to everyone, but alas...

LOVE AND HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!!!

Elder Richardson

1) As Proof that I am still alive, a photo. Also, I got this mug in a White Elephant gift exchange with the other Missionaries. I think I got the best present!!

DECEMBER 11, 2018 - WEEKS #39/40

THESE HANDS WILL LIGHT THE WORLD

Dec 11, 2018

Because Michelle speaks mainly Chinese, it's kind of hard for us to make sure that she's doing well and to keep supporting her because she is being taught by the Chinese-speaking Missionaries, so we don't get to see her during lessons. But We found a way! Michelle has offered us multiple times to get free massages, at her spa, so one P-day morning we just dropped by with one of our members and talked for a while, and she had us get free foot massages! (That was a very strange experience. I wasn't super fond of that part...) 

Michelle had us go into this back room, but we were a little scared because we didn't know what was going on. But when we came  back out to the Lobby, ushered us back in! We tried to look over to our member for help, but she didn't know what to do either! She later told us that she felt like a mother abandoning her children! It was weird, but that was funny! Plus, it was good for Michelle to be able to make a new friend, and for us to talk to her a little more, so we're probably going to be going back some other time for a manicure or something, haha!

We were very blessed to have a family invite us over for Thanksgiving Dinner, and they made us feel very welcome with their family that night. In fact, they did such a good job, that Elder Mills and I didn't even get to share our Thanksgiving message, so we went back another night to share it! We had made a little video of a bunch of little scenes from thanksgiving, and I got to use our little Google Photos app to edit it all together, and I really enjoyed doing that! The family really enjoyed the finished product when we showed it to them that night, too! That's something I'm going to be looking to do more often, because it's not too hard, it's fun for me, and it's a great way to show the people we're working with that we love them!

We also got to go with Lourna to the Temple! It was really exciting to see her feel the spirit in there, and she absolutely loved it! I was just reminded of what a blessing it is to have temples, so that we can feel closer!

Unfortunately, it also got to be transfer time. I'm still in Palm Springs, thankfully! I really love the Ward, and have a lot of good friends I've made here! But it was Elder Mills' time to leave, sadly. 

But Elder Brown did come! Funnily enough, Elder Brown is my first companion that I had met before! We served in the Yucaipa Zone at the same time, even if he was on the  other side of it... But we had had a couple adventures with each other during that time! One of them involved running on a hike, and the other involved dog food, so I don't necessarily know what that means for our transfer together, but here we are!

Elder Brown is a very hard worker, but he's also a smart thinker! He's always trying to weigh our options, on whether or not we are doing the Best thing or the things that the Lord most wants us to do right then! It's been a really exercise, because what ends up happening is that by the end of the day, we can feel comfort from us having given the Lord our all that day! Our plan has just been to hit the ground running and don't stop!

Also, with this Transfer, we are Biking now! Hooray! Basically, the Mission had to get rid of 10 cars (Which is a lot!) so other Missions could use them, and so a lot of areas that haven't (or maybe shouldn't) be on bike are now biking! I've missed my bike. And the Exercise! It's been exhausting, though! Palm Springs is a big area, as most desert areas are! One night, we biked 17 miles just to get to two appointments and back home! Thankfully, our ward, which loves us dearly, has taken pity on us, and they are giving us rides and food to help us out! :D

We also got to have our "LightTheWorld" kickoff activity! It was a lot of work, but we had a lot of fun! "Light the World" is a Christmas Initiative the Church is doing to help us to all  focus on being lights to others by serving them! We created and showed a video, and then went and painted everyone's hands with Glow in the Dark paint. After that, we shut off all of the lights and took a picture with a banner that says, "These are the Hands that will Light the World!"

I know that Christmas is coming up, and Everyone knows it's a special time of the year! But Our hands can Light the World of someone  who really needs it! I'm trying my hardest to find ways to do that for others, and I know that you don't have to be a Missionary to brighten somebody's life! Jesus said that "Ye are the light of the world!" (Matthew 5:14) That means you!

So go out there and Light The World this Season!

Elder Richardson

1) We had a little photo booth at our Light the World activity, and here's all of my district in a very dignified photo!

2) Here is the Thanksgiving Spread and crew!

3) These Hands will Light the World!

4) OK, I don't know what these are, but there are these freaky giant Baby statues IN A PIT, and they are in Palm Springs. It's Art???

5) Elder Mills getting a Manicure from Michelle (Teehee...!) 

Benjamin Richardson

California Redlands Mission

Feb 28, 2018 - March 3, 2020

DECEMBER 9, 2018 - COMMUNICATION ABOUT 

GRANDMA CLEA BEACH'S DEATH

FROM MOM:

Just need to let you know that Grandma Beach graduated to the other side of the veil yesterday afternoon.

I love her and miss her but am glad she is free from the limitations of old age.

She is with Grandpa and her son Allen, her twin brother Cleo and many others.  It had to be a glorious reunion!

FROM BENJAMIN:

Thank you so much for letting me know. I had hoped that I would get to see her after my mission one more time, but There's a lot of work that needs to be done, and so she must be needed on the other side of the veil!

Could you send me a picture of her and/or a picture of Grandma and Grandpa Beach over Email? I was thinking that maybe I could make a post on Facebook, at least in the Roy and Clea Beach group, just bearing testimony of the Plan of Salvation? I don't know, what do you think? Would that be good, or would that almost be disrespectful? I'm not too sure.

I love you Mom! I'm praying for you, too! I know that this is hard, but I know that Grandma is doing great now!

Elder Richardson

NOVEMBER 27, 2018 - IN BETWEEN FOR DAD AND MOM

 AN OBEDIENT NOTE

November 27, 2018

Hey Mom and Dad! I just thought I'd send out a good note to you just in case I wasn't able to get a full weekly email out today. Plus, I totally got called out for not specifically sending  a note to my parents each week, so I needed to make sure I sent one this week.

Thanksgiving we had a blast! We went to the Pinkney family home for dinner, and then we stayed for games and other general fun. I'll send you some pictures. We also got a bunch of video clips, and we compiled them into a video that we went and showed them as a thank you! It was really fun!  I'll send  you a link or attachment so you can see it. Also, some pictures. 

Speaking of the Pinkney family, they are so fun! They are probably my favorite family here. Sister Pinkney has given us a ton of food, and has really taken one of our recent converts under her wing. She use to really love the Sister missionaries in the Spanish Branch (which is why they were also at Thanksgiving), but now she loves us more. Maybe. But it's not a competition. 

But if it were, we'd be winning XD.

So, Christmas is coming up, and I was trying to think about this video call thing. Are you going to be video calling Alex? If so, calling both Alex and I in the same call will probably be chaotic, so I would recommend not doing that. Instead, I think that you should call him first while you've got everyone together, and then I can go after. He would like to have everyone's full attention, I'd bet. Just my few thoughts. 

I still need to get those measurements, and I should be getting my glasses tomorrow. Also, I'm Staying in Palm Springs and getting a new Companion in Elder Brown, who I knew when I was in Yucaipa! He's awesome, and I can't wait to serve with him!

Also, I love you both! Seriously! I'm so grateful for brave parents who stand up for truth as they know it, parents who teach lessons that I may never forget, and parents who love me so much that I can feel it in everything that they do!

I wish there was more that I could do for everyone from over here! Let me know if there's anything I can include in my weekly email or if there's someone I can write (I need to write Alex again this next week, for sure), keep letting me know!

I love you!

Elder Richardson

P.S. I think Sister Pinkney texted you some pictures or something, Mom? Could you let me know if you got those? She was worried that you didn't get them. 

1 and 2) Thanksgiving!

3) We went to go see Michelle at her spa, and Elder Mills got a mani-pedi, and Sister Pinkney came with us.

Movie) The video I was talking about! I loved making it!

Benjamin Richardson

California Redlands Mission

Feb 28, 2018 - March 3, 2020

NOVEMBER 20, 2018 - WEEK #38

淼的洗礼!

Nov 20, 2018

I'm pretty sure I butchered the language, but the scribbles in the Subject line should mean Michelle's Baptism! Kind of... It's... Nevermind...

But Michelle got Baptized on Sunday! Hooray! I'm so glad everything went well with that! We hadn't know Michelle very long, so we had a lot to do without much time to do it all! She had a lot of people there to be with her, and it was a very powerful meeting. The Spirit was so strong as the Chinese Missionaries who taught her spoke in Mandarin, and then translated the talks. And then there were tears in eyes as Michelle got up and bore her testimony of what she had learned and of the feelings that she felt. Her husband, Micheal, was also able to attend, and we're pretty sure that the Chinese Missionaries will start teaching him as well, and we'll keep seeing him! 

So many members of our Ward have really come to love Michelle in such a short time (which is a HUGE blessing)! One of our Returning Members, who came to Michelle's service for us, was really touched. We saw her that night, and she was declaring to us that she was going to go on the temple trip for Michelle in December, and that she was going to give up right then the things that were holding her back! The Spirit is so amazing! Because of what she felt, she decided all on her own that she was going to change!

Last week, I mentioned a little bit about faith, and how we should start now to decide where we want our faith to be. This week, I learned another lesson about faith. We can feel the Holy Spirit confirm to us when what we are doing is right. You know the fuzzies you feel when you act kindly to someone in need, or when you read your scriptures? That's God, through His Spirit, telling you "Yes! That's good! You're doing what's right!"

Well, I had an experiece like that. I won't go into much detail, because I'm running out of time today (I'm sorry!), but I did get that warm fuzzy feeling telling me that what I did was right, and it was what my Heavenly Father wanted me to do. But then later, I worried about it. Did I step out of line? Was that just my thoughts, or was it really the Spirit directing me? I told Elder Mills, my companion, about some of my concerns, and he instantly told me not to doubt the Spirit. 

I realized that God doesn't just want us to trust Him in those high Spiritual points, but also afterwards. He wants us to not only do His will, but also to remember those experiences. Because as we remember them, we will remember that He is there, and we can have an even greater trust in Him.

I know that these things are true! Remember the times that you felt something! If it was good, it was from God! Hold fast to those experiences, and your faith will be sustained! 

Love,

Elder Richardson

P.S. Yep. Short. Sorry. We got a little held up today, but it's all good! :D

1) From a while back, but Lourna's Baptism was about a month ago, and she's doing great! I just never sent anything.

2) Michelle's Baptism! There are a lot of Chinese Missionaries... 

 

NOV 6 & 13, 2018 - WEEKS 36 & 37

NEWS FLASH, NEW THINGS!

Nov 6 & 13, 2018

 Things have been nuts, alright? So sorry that I wasn't able to get an email out last week, but I'll do my best to get you all up to speed, Ok? Ready, Set-ty...

GO!

Michelle is getting baptized this Sunday! Who's Michelle? Great Question, and here's the answer! Two weeks ago, we got a call from the Chinese-speaking Missionaries in the Riverside Mission, saying that they recently started teaching someone in Palm Springs who didn't have transportation to make it out to their ward, and so she would need to attend our Ward. We scrambled, but were able to find her a ride to church, and we got to take her to church! She's come to church these last two weeks, and she had her baptismal interview yesterday, so we are now putting on a baptism out of the blue this next week! 

But it's pretty cool that this is number two time that I've been able to use my very limited Chinese on the mission! Actually, it's more like my skills at talking with people with limited English, but it's basically the same thing. Anyways, Michelle is super cool! She walks up to basically anyone and everyone and says "Hi, I'm Michelle!" She's the best!

We had an awesome lesson with one of our member families, and then right after, they helped up prepare a meal in our crockpot! It was super good! 

These next couple weeks are going to be crazy, because we are planning and preparing for a #LightTheWorld Activity for 2 wards and a branch! It's going to be so good! The purpose is to help everyone to brighten up their community, families, and faith this Christmas season! So we are having this big kickoff event to get everyone set for it!

We had interviews with President Dixon, and he told me that we would probably be biking in Palm Springs next transfer, so I'm excited for more exercise, and to see my bike again! (I've missed my old friend...)

Speaking of my Mission President, President Dixon is literally one of my favorite people! Every time I see him, I always feel the Spirit with him. I'm glad to know that this mission is being directed by someone who has the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost. 

Because someone may be curious, Halloween was cool! We didn't do much of anything, besides go and eat with a member of the Spanish Branch, and then work on reading in the Book of Mormon, because we all needed to catch up on that. We had been challenged by our Mission President to take up President Nelson's challenge and read the Book of Mormon by the end of the year, highlighting references to Jesus Christ that we found throughout. My testimony of The Book of Mormon being Another Testament of Jesus Christ has grown so much as I've taken up this challenge!

Of course, I'm a bit behind right now, but I'm catching up! I'm in the book of Mosiah, and I'm learning so much from the examples throughout this book. Like Abinadi, who stood and testified in chains before a wicked king of Jesus Christ. Or Alma, who repented quickly and did everything he could to point others to the Savior! And there are many others, and they all were able to do those things because of their faith in Jesus Christ. Without that faith, they wouldn't have had the confidence or the strength to carry them through overcoming these trials. The Question then is, do we, similarly, possess faith capable of creating miracles? If not, what are we going to do today to get there? Or this week? Something to think about.

That's the last two weeks in a giant nutshell! Things are getting crazy here in the desert, but that's what makes it so fun! And when the work we are doing is the work of God, it's going to be a joyful experience, no matter what!

Love you all!

Elder Richardson

1) These pictures are in a weird order, but this first one is of Elder Mills and I at a super good pizza restaurant.

2) I GOT A PICTURE IN A SEMI BUT IT'S DARK so you can't really tell...

3) There are stars on a street in downtown Palm Springs. Here's Frank Sinatra's. I think he actually lived here... I'm not sure.

4) This is Elvis. Yep.

5) We got fed Lumpias (Spelling is likely butchered...)! They are like Filipino spring rolls. Lourna Made them for us!

Benjamin Richardson

California Redlands Mission

Feb 28, 2018 - March 3, 2020

NOVEMBER 6, 2018:  NOTE TO MOM

Hey Mom! I just wanted you to know that we are also having a beautiful fall day here in Palm Springs! It's bright and sunny, still above 90°F most days, and the Palm Trees are still very green! 

It's beautiful weather, but it's different. 

Also, Josie sent me a note after your lunch! She said that she loved talking with you, and she looks a lot happier! She sent me a picture of the flowers, too! Thank you so much for helping her! But how did it go on your end? How do you think she's doing? Any thoughts on how I can help her?

I love you, Mom! It's so fun to hear how the boys are doing! Let me know what I can do to help you keep updated better! I know I need to send more pictures of me, but anything else?

OCTOBER 30, 2018 - WEEK #35

HAPPY HALLOWEEN-ISH AND FUN PEOPLE

October 30, 2018

Ok, so as a Missionary, we have certain standards of dress, right? For Elders, or guy Missionaries, we mostly wear white shirts and ties, and that's basically it. Sister Missionaries usually wear blouses and skirts or dresses. Of course, we wear different clothes for Service or for sporting activities, but mostly we dress like that. 

Now, when it comes to Halloween (Or Halloween Parties, because we aren't really able to go around during Halloween), there's not too much you can do, unfortunately, because you have to maintain that standard of dress. The Sisters have much more room to work with, but Elders can't do too much with the require White shirts and ties. So we're with the Spanish Elders, just wracking our brains trying to come up with something, and then somebody said, "What about a Mariachi Band?"

And so that's why I have a picture attached of the 5 of us Elders wearing fake mustaches and Sombreros.

Also, another picture of the Spanish Sisters (Hermanas), who dressed up as Elders, but then forgot that they didn't have ties.

We have an upstairs neighbor to our apartment, and she is super nice! Her name is Janet, and not only does she let us use her wifi, but she also just always want's to serve us! She stopped us this morning as we were heading out to go grocery shopping and she told us that she was going to go to Costco and buy us food there, because we had mentioned that we could help her out with moving some stuff. She told us before that she would bring us Thanksgiving dinner, too!

We met another new friend, and she wants to learn about the Gospel! Tandy requested a Bible online, and asked for a Book of Mormon as well. She's been through some hard things recently, and she knows that the way to get through it is to get closer to God. We promised her that reading the Scriptures would help her do that, because we knew from our own experiences. She was super excited to meet again and to come to church, and she almost came to church yesterday, but woke up late, unfortunately. She should be coming next week, though!

By the way, we have some awesome members taking care of us. Brother Stevens is this older Gentleman, and he loves doing anything and everything with the missionaries! He comes to a ton of lessons, and even took us out for ice cream after a lesson this last week! We also asked a member if she could get us some Milk, because Elder Mills forgot to buy enough on P-Day, and she gives us a ton of milk, and then buys us cereal and some Apples, too!

I had to give a talk in church yesterday. It was so scary! I was supposed to talk for 15 minutes, and I didn't know how to know if I prepared enough or not! I did alright, though. This one man came up to me after the meeting and gave me some constructive criticism, and another man asked if I was Italian because I kept trying to talk with my hands! It was so fun!

Something that I really realized this week is that I just LOVE sharing my testimony! I love sharing scriptures with people, and teaching them about principles of the Gospel, but I love even more testifying to them that those things are true, and can have a real impact in their lives! And I think it's mostly because that is a sure way that we can invite the Holy Ghost into a conversation, is by genuinely sharing what we have learned to be true, and then letting that Spirit confirm to both you and the person you are speaking to the truth of your words. It doesn't have to be complicated, or eloquent, or even very long, but it has to be genuine. It has to be from your heart! And then you can feel the Spirit enter into the conversation! It's truly wonderful!

I know that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and that, through faith in Him, we can grow and change in this life so that we may be able to live with our Father in Heaven after this life! And I share these things with you in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Elder Richardson

1) Here it is. The Mariachi Band!

2) Here's the Hermanas as well.

3) Also, here is Elder Avila. We're 3rd Cousins, and we're serving in the same mission, and so we got a picture! Hooray! And it is through Charles' line, for those who were curious. Which is, like, maybe 2/60 people.

4) I managed to get a picture with Elder Tripp! 

Benjamin Richardson

California Redlands Mission

Feb 28, 2018 - March 3, 2020

OCTOBER 23, 2018 - WEEK #34

PALM SPRINGS!

October 23, 2018

Palm Springs! Here we are! It is definitely desert-like! Seriously, it is HOT! I stood outside for a minute, and I felt like I was melting!

Anyways, I got to meet my new companion, Elder Mills! Elder Mills is from Cottage Grove, Minnesota, which is close-ish to St. Paul. He love sports, and is a pretty chill guy overall. He's also my District Leader, which is pretty cool. In fact, most of my District (and Zone, for that matter,) is super cool! Elder Martinez, a Spanish-speaking Missionary who came out with me, is in my district, and it's been a lot of fun to see him again!

On top of that, we had a Zone meeting with our Stake President, because of some new changes regarding dinners with members in our wards, and I saw my MTC Companion Elder Tripp there! I was so excited to see him again! He's doing well, and I loved seeing how much he's grown as a Missionary since we last met. It was a testimony builder to me of how the Lord blesses and is working with those that we aren't able talk to and in ways that we might not know.

Ok, so with a new area, that means new people. And I have made the grievious mistake in each of my last areas not talking about my brand new friends I've been able to make. So here are my Palm Springs friends!

- LOURNA!!! Ok, literally the SWEETEST lady I have ever met, and she actually got baptized this Saturday! She is always smiling, and you just know that she is so excited about the Gospel! She is from the Philippines, and her English is not the best, so there is a little bit of a barrier there (when teaching her, Elder Mills and his companion would Skype in a missionary in St. George, Utah who spoke fluent Tagalog to help explain somethings). On Sunday, Lourna was trying to explain the Spirit that she felt after her Baptism and Confirmation, and it was the sweetest thing! 

- We had one of our final dinner appointments with a member family, and there I met Heather. Heather is 6 years old, loves Ariel and other mermaids, and does ballet. She proceeded to tell me all of these things, along with many others, over the course of the hour or so we were in this home. She speaks very quickly, and before she finishes one thought she's already wanting to go onto the next! I could tell that Elder Mills found her a bit whelming, so I talked to Heather while he talked with and got to know the rest of her family. It was so much fun keeping up with this rapid firing crazy fun child!

- PATTY! Or Pari, we are not sure. Most of our records say Pari, but she says Patty, so I'm going with Patty. Patty has talked with Missionaries for years, but hadn't been able to talk with them for a bit because of her previous boyfriend. She said that, with God's help, she broke up with him, so now we get to go and be friends with her! Patty is super cool because she's Persian (or Iranian? She Speaks Farsi(?)), and so whenever she says words with "W's," she pronounces it with a "V." So when we were trying to set up a time to come back, she would say "No, Vednesday is not good." She also offered us Persian food sometime, and I can't wait!

- The Cooley's are a less active family, but they still have their testimonies! A lot of trials in their lives make it hard for them to bring their family to church, but they loved visiting with us when we went over! They are super open to us coming and have lots of really good questions. In fact, Brother Cooley shared right then that he was really wanting to reach out to his sister and get her to come to church as well, and it's awesome to see his desire for everyone else to enjoy the blessings he's receIved from the Gospel!

Well, those are a few of my friends. Yeah, they're pretty cool! I'm really excited to be able to work with them all for the next little bit!

I just want to close this email by sharing an experience I had. We were in a member family's home, and, because I was the new missionary in the area, they were asking me some questions after dinner, and I was sitting there answering their questions, sharing some of my experiences that led me to come out on a mission. And as I was sharing these times when I felt the Spirit prompting me to do things, and as I remembered those critical moments in my life, my testimony, or my confidence in the truth that is God and all religion, grew stronger and  more sure of those reasons that I am out here! 

I want to invite you to recall some of your personal experiences that have brought you to be the wonderful person that you are today. Whether they were in a church or out in a sports field, in your home or driving in your car; Remember those things. Share one of those experiences with someone, or just tell it to yourself in your journal or a note on your phone. As we recall those experiences, we can draw strength and conviction in those things that will help us through hard things. I know this is true, because it's something that I've been  able to do to help me through hard days, and so it will do the same for you!

Love,

Elder Richardson

Benjamin Richardson

California Redlands Mission

Feb 28, 2018 - March 3, 2020

FROM BENJAMIN:

Soooo... I kind of lost my glasses. I don't know where for sure, but I looked everywhere I could before transfers and couldn't find them. I told the missionaries staying behind to keep an eye out, but I don't know that I'll be able to find them. I don't know what that process could look like, if a prescription could be mailed or if we would need something redone here, but I would need to call the mission nurse before too much of anything happens.

So what can we do? I've been doing alright so far, but I would need glasses again if I would ever need to drive (which is likely in, like, 5 weeks?).

Sorry I lost them! If you could let me know what I can do, that would be awesome!

Love you!

Elder Richardson