NOVEMBER 19, 2019 - MISSION LETTER #65

INDIO ADVENTURES

November 19, 2019

So this week was pretty interesting. Elder Beutler is a pretty fantastic missionary, and I am so lucky to have him as my companion. We were biking up a street that I've been biking up and down for several months, and so I go on auto pilot when I am pedaling up the street. Well, while we were biking up this street, we passed this guy. As I was passing him, I heard him turn to say something. I didn't really hear what it was, but I assumed it was something super short and ultimately inconsequential. And so I kept biking on up the street, and when I traveled about a third of a mile, I looked back to say something to Elder Beutler, and then he wasn't there. 

So after a moment of panic, accompanied by another moment of panic, I turned around and started biking back down the street. I finally found him near the same spot where that guy was. Turns out, the guy actually wanted to talk with us, and I didn't realize that and just sped past. Elder Beutler, being the fantastic missionary that he is, was talking with that guy the whole time I was biking away. They had a pretty good converstation, too! Elder Beutler felt a little abandoned, but that's ok. Hopefully he'll forgive me. :)

We both got kind of sick this week, unfortunately. So as we were trying to recuperate from just having been out, we remembered that we had been given a cotton seed by a member. And so, with some modeling we had, we made some pottery. Naturally that's what you do when you are sick! The one that looks like an actual pot was my companion's, and mine grew legs through the process somehow. 

We had been directed by our Zone Leaders to one person who had expressed interest in the Book of Mormon. And so we went and met Shawn! Shawn was super excited to learn about the Book of Mormon, because he had never heard of it! Elder Beutler and I were able to explain a bit about what it is, and he was super excited to read from it. He even told us to study up so that we could answer his questions!

We also had a run in with some Gangsters, or maybe they were just some neighborhood hooligans. We were in a rougher spot of town, and they were talking about how they were wanting to know what we did, expressed gratitude for us trying to make the world a better place, and that type of thing. They were also wondering about where they and we would be and what each of us would learn over that time. They also said that if we needed anyone to be "taken care of" here, then we could just reach out to them.  So that happened. 

Lots of crazy things going on here! I know that this is a shortish email, but we've had a lot of good things moving here! 

Love you all!

Elder Richardson

NOVEMBER 12, 2019 - MISSION LETTER #64

SO HERE WE ARE AGAIN

November 12, 2019

I want each of you to know that Prayers are answered. They just are. I know that I feel greatly blessed by your prayers, and that others do when you pray for them as well. Thank you!

As for this week, it was pretty interesting! We had Halloween, and we went in early for that. Don't want anyone to try and give us candy when we are trying to give them the Gospel! While we were in our apartment, though, we had someone ring our doorbell. When we went to check, we didn't see anyone. But they did leave a bag of candy at our door! We have no idea who it was, but they probably didn't know us super well, because over half of the candy in there was peanut M&M's and Almond Joys. XD

We also just wrapped up Daylight Savings time, and, as Missionaries, that was a pretty interesting ordeal. You know how no one really actually knows how daylight savings time works? Well, take that lack of understanding, and then put it onto a bunch of young adults who don't have regular access to Google. There was a concern about how it was getting dark around 6:30pm, which in some cases can make it hard to contact people. One Elder was leading out on some missionaries discussing this "early darkness," and he said that once daylight Savings time started, the  "Daylight would be saved" and we would once again have more light  in the evening. We felt pretty good about that, until a Sister corrected him,  saying that Daylight savings time was actually ending, and so now it would be getting darker even earlier! That Elder's jaw dropped, and he had this pure expression of shock on his face! It was  a pretty funny moment, until no one was really sure when and how we were supposed to change our clocks. 

We have had some amazing opportunities to talk with some amazing people! We got to meet this man named Rigo who lives by a member of our Ward. We talked a little about the plan of Salvation, and then he said that we could come back sometime. I wasn't too sure if he would honestly talk to us again, but we thought we would try by. When we went back, Rigo came and talked with us again, and he mentioned to us about how he and his wife had been looking at the pamphlet together, and were excited for us to come by again when he had some more time! That was super exciting for us, because the Plan of Salvation, or God's plan for His children to be happy, is all about Families! He sent us here in families to help each other and grow close together in this life, and then we can stay connected as fathers and mothers, parent and child, brother and sister, and husbands and wives, even after death! So we will, hopefully, be able to share that message with both Rigo and his wife tomorrow!

I know our Heavenly Father does love us. He is well aware of me, and He is well aware of you. He will bless us in our good times, as well as our times of need. As we watch and do all that we can, we can see His hand working in our lives.

Elder Richardson

NOVEMBER 5, 2019 - WEEK #63

MAY CHRIST LIFT THEE UP!

November 5, 2019

Ok, so I am really not great at this regular thing, but hopefully I can start off this new transfer with sending something! After all, it's not about always succeeding, but going from Failure to Failure without any loss of Enthusiasm! :)

We just had the beginning of a new transfer, and I got a new companion! And, yes, he is brand new! Elder Beutler was basically Pre-trained, though. He knows what he's doing already. It's a huge blessing to be able to serve with him in this Ward.  He's brought miracles with him, for sure!

For examples, we were taking a nap for part of our P-day today, and we got a text from someone asking if she would be able to meet with us! Just out of the blue! That was pretty amazing. 

We've got a great number of things going on here. I have to get going, but first!

There's a reason we go through trials. Often, they can be an opportunity to learn something. Sometimes, we go through trials to be there for someone else. Other times, we might be there so someone else doesn't have to be, especially if that someone else wouldn't be able to endure that trial. Whatever the reason, these trials can be heavy on our shoulders. 

I love this scripture, though, and what it teaches about these weights. This is a father giving his final, parting words to his son in a letter, after informing him of all the bad things happening at home. "25 My son, be faithful in Christ; and may not the things which I have written grieve thee, to weigh thee down unto death; but may Christ lift thee up, and may his sufferings and death, and the showing his body unto our fathers, and his mercy and long-suffering, and the hope of his glory and of eternal life, rest in your mind forever.

26 And may the grace of God the Father, whose throne is high in the heavens, and our Lord Jesus Christ, who sitteth on the right hand of his power, until all things shall become subject unto him, be, and abide with you forever. Amen."

Moroni 9:25-26

I love what he said there about not being weighed down, but allowing the Atonement of Christ (His Suffering in Gethsemane, death on the cross, and resurrection on the third day) to Lift him up. Because of that Act by the Son of God, where he descended below all things and overcoming them in His Resurrection, we too can be pressed and beaten down and, with divine help from Christ, overcome challenges, and become something holier because we did. 

I know that to be true, now more than I have before! Jesus Christ Lives! If He didn't, where does that grace that gets me through hard days come from? Where does the comfort in despair and anxious moments originate? He lives, and loves each one of us!

I love you all! Thank you for your patience!

Elder Richardson

P.S. And a Few Pictures. Just because you read through!