the full story ..... A STRANGE BEGINNING
March 7, 2018
I AM A LIAR!!! Not even 5 minutes after I leave my family in a tearful goodbye, I lie to the Government!
Ok, so maybe I wasn't intentionally lying when I told the Airport Security Lady (who was super nice, by the way) that I didn't have any food in my carry-on, but I also didn't disclose the fact that I had two boxes of candy in said bag! I opened my bag later at my gate to find the smuggled goods, and realized what had happened. So either I managed to evade airport security accidentally with my Gobstoppers and Sprees, or the very nice Airport Security lady just let me go through. I'm not sure how I feel about either of those options.
And then I boarded my first flight, and I'm off to a brand new adventure!!! No, wait... Not yet... Hm... Yes, I see. A Call from Maintenance has delayed our flight by ten minutes, because a sticker was found on the outside of the plane. Modern transportation shut down by Hello Kitty stickers and griping Maintenance workers who now have the strangest piece of paperwork to fill out.
In Dallas, I actually found a missionary who was flying home to Salt Lake City from the same mission as Marcus! Elder Williams and I talked for a while, and then this guy came up to me and asked if I had lost my name tag. How cool is that? Someone thinks I'm a missionary for some reason! I said no, and later he told me that I'd never fit in at the MTC because my suit looked too nice (What a nice fellow)!
Arriving in Salt Lake City, Elder Williams and I talked a bit more and walked out of the airport, and Elder William's family was there to greet him. Never have I been so proud of a person I'd only met a few hours before...
After retrieving my baggage (the non-emotional variety), I decided to find the place where my sister Melissa had told me she'd pick me up at. But then, suddenly, a challenger approaches! A vending machine held a chip bag by its top two corners within the evil clutches of its swirly-twirlers of gluttonous doom! And so, I devised a cunning plan to overcome the beast before me and rescue the victim. If I just bought the Cheddar and Sour Cream Baked Ruffles located directly above the dangling distressor, then I might be able to knock it down and get two bags of chips for the price of one!
Um.. In the name of Justice, of course.
But rather than give a strangely descriptive account of a bag of chips falling out of a vending machine, I'll just say that the plan failed. Further attempts may have proved successful, but even I have standards, and buying a bag of Cheetos would have meant stooping below those.
And these are the adventures of my first day set apart as a missionary. From there, Melissa brought me home, and I ate good food with her and Hyrum. I slept and journal-ed much more than I ever thought I would, and then spent that next morning with my cousin Jared, asking all sorts of questions and getting some good help in seeing what being a missionary is really like. Thank you!
Melissa and Hyrum dropped me off at the MTC. I can't really remember much beyond them abandoning me in a parking garage (I jest! I jest). I gave them my final hugs and walked off into the wild blue yonders (actually, it was more grey with orange-ish lighting). I'm so glad that I was able to have them in the area to drop me off. It was a little scary and a fairly whelming experience heading in on my own, but it was great to know that they, along with my family at home, were cheering me on in their hearts (metaphorically, I don't know that anyone was actually thinking about that at the time.)
I got a badge, and I put it on. Now, I literally bear the name of My Savior, Jesus Christ, on my heart. One of my teachers once talked about Michelangelo (not the turtle) who went in and chiseled his name on his sculpture of Mary cradling Jesus in her arms. This Teacher went on to talk about how we should bear the name of Jesus Christ on our very souls. I'm grateful for the opportunity that I have to literally have his name inscribed over my heart. What a privilege and an honor!
I met my district of fellow missionaries, which is sort of like my classroom group of four other pairs of missionaries. Then the last one to arrive was my companion, Elder Tripp. I LOVE THIS HUMAN! He is one of my favorite missionaries EVER! He adds so much to our class because he actually spent time in the field before coming to the MTC! (Clarification: He is actually High-functioning autistic, so he served 3 months in Idaho Falls as a missionary (To make sure he could handle a full 2 years), and now is going to the California Redlands mission for 21 more!) I have so much to learn from Elder Tripp, and he is such an example to me of the attitudes of missionary work and how to effectively teach!
And if he sounds awesome (which he should, because he is), then Oh Snap! Because every single one of these missionaries in my district is a powerful teacher and a wonderful friend! Every single one of them has something to offer to everyone else. Knowledge of the scriptures, an example of true Charity, and personal stories filled with faith and repentance in action. I love all of them.
I know I've ranted about my district a lot, and I'll do it a lot more, I'm sure. But honestly, they are the part of my time here that I remember the most. I have lessons I'm learning here, and I'm able to apply it all. But amidst the blur, I remember the special moments where we were all working together to be better missionaries, and where we were able to work on our missionary purpose, which is "To invite others to come unto Christ..." And that is what being a missionary is about.
Well, this is it for the first week. I don't have a lot of content for the first week, but I'm thinking the experience is more important than the day to day. I know that this where God wants me to be, and I've been called to serve him. I just need to start getting better at writing these emails is all...
Called to Serve!
Elder Richardson
P.S. My conclusions could use some work as well...
Benjamin Richardson
California Redlands Mission
Feb 28, 2018 - March 3, 2020
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