RICH MISSION MEMORIES: APRIL 3, 2018

HERE COMES THE GENERAL CONFERENCE ....

(AND A SLIGHTLY LACKLUSTER LETTER.....?)

April 3, 2018

Ok, everyone. Stop what you are doing, I have an emergency. I've been out in the Fontana, California area of the California Redlands Mission for 12 days now, AND I STILL HAVEN'T NAMED MY BIKE!!! This is preposterous! Unheard of! How can you suffer through 18.8 miles of bike riding through the day, and not have come up with a name for your form of transportation??? Well, clearly I need some help, so I'll include a picture of my Bike in this email (probably). Help me name it! It's driving me crazy!

Also, the other thing: General Conference (Where the Prophet and Apostles of the Church speak to the world in a broadcast) was this weekend, and I was excited to use this time to finally finish off the ridiculous amount of candy I got from the MTC once and for all! So I work through eating it as I'm watching all of the sessions of General Conference, and by the end, the final Skittle (or Ski-diddles, as someone once told me to call them) was eaten. Now I could finally begin a healthier lifestyle and diet that would better fit all of the biking and travelling I have to do.

Until we went to a Member's house for dinner, and in her generosity, she gave each of us an Easter basket. I was so close!!! I thought I could finally be healthy!!! Ugh!! Oh well...

And then today I get back from Grocery shopping and I've bought a box of Reeses Puffs cereal. I'm doomed...

Moving on, I got to witness a few neat things this week that I would like to share, and learned some very important lessons about missionary work, and also for life in general!

The first thing is that the people here are truly fantastic! On our first Sunday, we needed a ride to church (or to prepare ourselves for a 6-mile bike ride in full on suits. Yeah... That wasn't really an option for me), so we called up the Knuth's (pronounced "Kuh-nooth"). They're this older couple in the ward, and they agreed to come and take us to church! But then, when they started talking to us, they asked about how long I've been out. And so I had said, "Oh, about four days now." And then she says, "Ah! So you're a Noob!" She might've said "newbie," but I could've sworn that this older lady just called me a noob! It's so much fun here! And there are just so many great personalities here in this ward, just like them, who all serve each other and God in their own unique ways! Isn't that great? Also, on Sister Knuth, I wouldn't accept a soda from her, so she said that she'd chuck one at me then instead. If she hadn't forgotten about it, I would probably have a bruise from a flying Cactus Cooler projectile. Also, their dog is adorable. There will be a picture.

And on the note of the Knuth's, there are so many families that love the missionaries. I mean, I don't think I'm all that special, but they recognize the mantle of those called to do His work. And so they keep feeding us, and always shake our hands as we walk by, and always find ways that they can take care of us. It's humbling, truly. I need to do better in my part of living up to the role I've called to, and serving diligently while bearing His name on my heart.

On another note, one of the mottos of the California Redlands Mission comes from 1 Samuel 17:47 where David is facing down Goliath, and he is responding to Goliath's taunts with confidence in God, and he proclaims, "The battle is the Lord's!" I like this phrase because I think it applies to our role as Missionaries in a lot of ways. One such application is that we are like foot soldiers, following the commands from our captains and commanders, but our General ultimately is the Lord. He is positioned to see things that we don't see on the ground. And so, He directs us in ways that maybe we don't understand (why text that man who hasn't been to church in years for a ride to church, why speak to that woman mowing her lawn?), but for things that will cause progress in His battle. We just need to trust in His greater understanding, and also heed His messengers: His Prophets and Apostles.

In General Conference I had the opportunity to hear our new Prophet, who was appointed by God to serve Him by directing us according to the will of the Lord. As I listened to His voice, the Spirit of God testified to me that this is His Prophet on the Earth today, and I add my testimony from my witness that Russell M. Nelson is a Prophet called by God, as Moses and Elijah of The Old Testament.

So, the battle is the Lord's, which means that if we harken to the words and commandments of Him and those He has called, then we can't go wrong. I'm so grateful for the direction that we can receive from God today! I'm excited to follow the instructions of the Prophet, and to grow in my understanding of the Gospel by acting in faith!

Well, that's it from me today. Have a great week, everyone! I know I will!

Sincerely,

Elder Richardson

P.S. That may be the most boring sign off yet! Gross! But that's life! And that's fine! :D

P.P.S.S. Again, I don't actually know how to do more P.S.'s, so this is what we will get today.

P.P.P.S.S.S. Also, if you have actually important things to do, which is very likely, do not stress about helping me with a bike name. Because, within the grand scheme of things, it doesn't matter all that much. Sooo... Yeah...

P.P.P.P.S.S.S.S. And I'm kind of tired today, so sorry about potentially lackluster letter. I need a P-day nap. Goodnight.

(1) Bike in question. Please help.
Image preview

(2) Pretty Puppy

(3) N/A. Doesn't exist. I don't know why I'm putting a number 3. Off day for me, I guess?

FROM DAD:

Loved the letter.

We’re busy plodding at home while mom is helping Grandma Beach prepare to move in to our home in Arkansas.

We’ve been busy doing school work. I’m busy trying to keep up with my class.

Daniel got a personal record of 10min 49 seconds from his previous record of 11’09”. He was excited. We celebrated with Brahms.

I love the quote, “The Battle is the Lords”. Thanks for sharing!

Wondered about your investigators. Do you have good people to work with? Tell us more about your companion.

Love you and pray for you!!

Vern Richardson

Hey Mom and Dad!

What's going on? I'm doing pretty good. Feeling kind of weird today, but I'm trying to shoot off emails so I can get a nap later today. I have a neat experience I'll share with you next week, but this week I want to ask if you could do two things for me.

1) Could you call the Provo Temple for me about my camera? I can't remember if I had asked before, but that's my best guess for where it might be. The only other guess I would have would be any of the lost and founds in the T4 building at the MTC. I might have left it in one of the ponder rooms at some point... I'm not sure though.

2) ‎Mom, could you reach out to Josie? Like, ask if she would like to come watch a low budget Christian movie or something? Maybe I worry too much, but I worry that she'd stressing a lot about college and the like. You know, post high school stress. I'm going to be sending her an email, but is there anything you might be able to do on your side? It wouldn't have to be anything big, but you and her seemed to hit it off pretty well before. Maybe? I don't know. What are your thoughts?

I'll make sure to email you more next week! Thank you!

Elder Richardson

I FOUND MALCOLM AGAIN!