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

OCTOBER 2-16, 2018 - WEEKS #32/33

"ARE YOU A MORMON 

(member of the Church of Jesus Christ  of Latter-day Saints)

OR ARE YOU A CHRISTIAN?"

October 16, 2018

Wow! What a General Conference two weeks ago! It was so good, I wasn't able to write about it last week! Seriously, though, we've been way busy. It's been awesome, but exhausting to try and get everything done in the time we have.

I loved getting to hear the Prophet speak! In case you didn't know, President Nelson spoke about how we need to use the full name of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, because that is the name that Jesus Christ Himself gave for His church to be called. When nicknames are used, such as the "Mormon Church" or the "Latter-Day Saint church," we are cutting out the name of Jesus Christ, who is at the center of our faith! 

I can attest to the number of people who still believe that we worship Mormon or Joseph Smith because of these nicknames when, in actuality, we teach that there is no other name given under heaven save it be Jesus Christ whereby man can be saved. (2 Nephi 25:20) 

We actually had an experience on exchanges this last friday, where we were biking around and this woman called out to us. We started talking with her, and we told her that we were missionaries from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She was super excited to be talking with fellow Christians, and we set a return appointment. After we handed her a pamphlet and she started flipping through it, she saw something about the Book of Mormon and was like, "Hold up! I thought you believed in Jesus Christ! So are you Mormon, or are you Christian?" We explained again that we were missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and that we believed in Jesus Christ. Because of us using the full name right off the bat, she knew who we were: disciples of Jesus Christ. And so she opened her heart to the Spirit that was brought when we shared scriptures and prayed with her. 

She (Colleen), told us that we could come back and share a message, but that she would read the pamphet we gave her and she would have her questions. I'm so excited for those missionaries to go back!

Unfortunately, Transfers are upon us. I have been in Yucaipa for 4.5 months, longer than anywhere else in my mission, and it has been so much fun here! I love the ward, and I love the people I've gotten to know! But the Lord knows that I'm needed somewhere else, and that somewhere else is called Palm Springs. From what little I've heard, my hopes of snow this winter are completely dashed... And so, it's time to go to the Desert! Oh boy! I'm going to melt!

That's it for now, otherwise we'd need to catch up on several weeks worth... Until next time, when we'll meet my new companion!

Lots of Love,

Elder Richardson

1) Lots of pictures! This first one is from the night of those exchanges. This is my Zone Leader! We were just finishing up dinner.

2) Elder Equatore, on a hike, portraying himself.

3) WE FOUND A COW! IN THE CABAZON! IT WAS COOL!

4) Zone Picture! I'm gonna miss them. But that's OK! I'll see them again eventually! 

5) Elder Equatore joins the Quad Squad. It was sweet!

6) I drew a frog. Yep. That's it.

7) Further proof that I am, indeed, living. And still have two thumbs. And both my elbows. Yep.

OCTOBER 2, 2018 - WEEK #31

HIGH ON A MOUNTAIN TOP ...

October 2, 2018

These weeks are just FLYING by! It has been a month since Elder Ford left, and 4 months since I got to Yucaipa, and some amount of time, that I am not trying to count, since coming out on my mission. AAAHHHH!!!!

So, for this email, I think that I will do one of those Bullet point-y ones full of random short thoughts. So here we go.

- Today, we went on a hike! We walked around these gardens, and then there was this trail that led to a 2 mile "Steep and Strenuous" hike. We all kind of like, "Eh, that's not too much! How bad could it be?" We come to find out that it is basically a straight uphill route! We were all dying by the end, but we took some great pictures of Yucaipa and the surrounding landscape, mountains included!
- I can't remember if I mentioned this before, but we were helping out our Zone Leaders with some service, which consisted of loading up most of a house into a moving truck (Missionaries are not certified movers, but they are often called upon to transport counches and like heavy furniture). Any ways, we help out this family, and the husband comes up to us and asks what T-shirt sizes we wore, because he wanted to give us a couple that he knew he wasn't going to wear ever again. After we tell him, he goes to his closet, and then proceeds to stuff half of his closet in a giant black garbage bag! So six of us missionaries got updated wardrobes of exercise and casual clothes! It was pretty cool!
- We had 4 lessons back to back on Saturday! We met with Richee, and then our Bishop was able to make it out to a lesson with Marcus! We've been working on that for months! Our Bishop later told us that he really enjoyed coming with us, which basically meant that he wants to work a lot more with us. WHICH IS AWESOME!
- The other two lessons were with Janet, and then a dinner. Janet came out for our lesson, and just whipped out a Children's Book of Mormon (You know, a simplified book telling the same stories with pictures included. It's sweet!) and tells us that missionaries in the past had given it to her so that she could read the Book of Mormon a little more easily. This is super awesome, because that was literally the exact same thought that I had had a couple of times, but we didn't have one on hand! Miracles!
- Elder Equatore is probably the most fun-loving companion I've had yet! He is just utterly ridiculous! Sometimes, we're not as good of a combination, because we will both get distracted and zone out at the same time, and then we're just sitting in silence for a few minutes. But other times, we can be a dynamic duo! We are both trying to do our best to serve Jesus Christ during our missions, and that is the best things that you can match up with any companion on!
- By the way, Elder Equatore's name is always a point of interest for people we talk to! First, they aren't sure how to pronounce it, so we always tell them "It's like Equador, but with a T!" And then he talks about how his name came from Italy, starting with His Great Grandfather, and BOOM! We're talking with someone about Family History!

I am so Excited for General Conference! If you don't remember, this is when the Prophet and the Apostles speak to the world over a broadcast! Everyone is invited to watch and listen to the voice of them as they help point the way to Jesus Christ! I can't wait to learn this weekend! I also would invite you all to tune in at gc.lds.org! It's going to be a great spiritual experience, I know!

That's it for right now! One final request for today, if that's alright. We have been working hard to find new people to teach, but have been struggling a little bit as of late. I know that there are people here who are ready to learn more about Jesus Christ, and I just wanted to ask for your prayers as we keep searching and praying over here to find our brothers and sisters!

Thank you so much!
Elder Richardson

1) Elder Equatore and I atop this mountain.

2) The Elders that I live with now-a-days.

3) The view!

Benjamin Richardson

California Redlands Mission

Feb 28, 2018 - March 3, 2020

SEPTEMBER 25, 2018 - WEEK #30

ANSWER TO AUTUMN'S PRAYERS!

September 25, 2018

We've been trying to work more with the youth recently here in Yucaipa, and that has been interesting. One of the things that we've been doing is going to Early Morning Seminary. Basically, the High School aged youth can attend this early morning class that covers the Book of Mormon, The New Testament, the Old Testament, and then the Doctrine and Covenants (which contains many revelations received by Joseph Smith from God), one for each year. It's really cool, and my seminary experiences are something that I've drawn upon a number of times throughout my mission

It's been absolutely fantastic for getting to know the youth of the church, but it is absolutely awful waking up at 5:15am to be ready for that! And I was thinking that 6:30am was early!

Also, these kids are so funny! The class was studying about the Godhead (the Doctrine that God the Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost are three separate beings, but are One in purpose), and split up into partnerships to role play teaching this old man named Ben, who didn't understand the principle. So, firstly, almost every group shared the same scripture, but then they just start Roasting this poor old man Ben! He just had a question, and all of these kids just kept telling this imaginary man how wrong he was! It was so funny, Elder Equatore and I couldn't stop smiling in the back. They'll get it someday!

By the way, I'm writing this on Tuesday because on my normal P-day, which is Monday, some help was needed at the Temple, and we volunteered to help out, with the promise that we could make up for lost time on Tuesday. I love being in the Temple, because it is such a special place where we can put normal stress away and feel the Spirit! 

I think that one of the biggest miracles from the week would have to be last night. We were just walking through Walgreens, and one of our members, Sister Nichols, was there! We start talking with her,  and she asked if we had a dinner appointment that night.  We didn't,  so she invited us over for soup. Sweet,  right? 

It gets better.

We're getting ready to go,  and she tells us that she invited her friend,  Autumn, and Autumn's daughter, Macie, over for dinner as well! We were so excited! We had talked to Autumn a little bit before, and she seemed super interested in learning more about the gospel! But we hadn't really been able to get in contact with her for a while, so we couldn't wait to get over there! 

When we did, we had some super good pizza and soup! We finished eating, and then Autumn started talking what she knew about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. It turned out that she had been thinking about the Church a lot more than we thought. She had cornered one of Sister Nichol's sons one evening and told him to tell her more about the Book of Mormon. He, being a Return Missionary, was super excited and shared a lot with her! She kept saying, "With all of what I've learned about the Church so far, it just makes sense," or, "It just sounds right!" 

We shared the scripture Moroni 10:5, which says that "By the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things." We told her that that was the Holy Ghost telling her that what she had learned was true, and then asked what her biggest Question at that moment was. She thought about it, and decided that it was whether or not she should keep meeting with us. We invited her to pray right then about it, and she accepted! 

We went to the living room and kneeled down, and Autumn gave the most Genuine, Heartfelt prayer I think I've ever heard. She asked her question, and the Spirit just filled the room! I know that God answered her question right then! We asked what she would do now that she had gotten an answer, and she, without our input, started listing off all of the things that she wanted to do, like reading the scriptures more, reading the introduction to the Book of Mormon, and so on! 

We are so excited for Autumn to meet with her assigned missionaries, because she has been searching for a long time for God's true church, and I know that she has found it! 

I know that this is the Lord's work! It is the work of bringing all of our Heavenly Father's children, that's all of us, home again! I know it, and I love the opportunity to be a part of it!

Elder Richardson

A NOTE FROM BEN TO HIS MOM:

Hey Mom! This is your son, Elder Benjamin Richardson, emailing you to let you know that I love you! You are the best mom that I know, and I've met quite a few moms out here, so that's saying something! 

I love you so much!

Elder Richardson

Benjamin Richardson

California Redlands Mission

Feb 28, 2018 - March 3, 2020

SEPTEMBER 18, 2020 - WEEK #29

CACTUS, CHILI DOGS AND

CHERRY CHEESECAKE

Sept 18, 2018

Ok, where do I start this week? It was pretty nuts! That being said, it was more like the good kind of nuts. Like, lots of super good, Mind-Blowing Stuff!  Not the bad kind that makes your throat all itchy and swelly and makes your lip all swelly. That would be bad.

Speaking of weird things we're eating, someone we are teaching invited us over for her birthday dinner. There we had chili dogs, with Mayonnaise mixed in the chili. THE. BEST. CHILI DOGS. We also had some cheesecake with Cherry filling on top. And then, her mom gives us each a piece of cactus. Like, CACTUS. Like, they have cactus in their backyard,  and they just cut off a blade-thing and peeled off the spines, and we ate it with lemon juice and salt. So, we had Chili dogs, Cherry Cheesecake, and Cactus. Yep. 

There is this woman learned that she needed to move out of her house this weekend. She called the missionaries and ask for help. So our Friday and Saturday were mostly camp rise of service! We helped load and unload basically an entire house. But, some of her family aren't members of the church, and we got to get to know them a bit as we helped there! 

We also had an amazing Zone Conference with Elder Pearson! He is a member of the Quorum of the Seventy. (Remember in Luke 10:1, where Jesus gave Seventy others similar duties as the Twelve Apostles? Same thing with Elder Pearson.)

He instructed us on how we could be more effective missionaries. There are so many things we learned! I think that the biggest lesson that he drove home was that God loves us! He is our Heavenly Father, which means that, at the core of our Identity, we are His Sons and Daughters. With that pressed into our minds, we then understand that there is nothing that we cannot do when we align our lives with the will of our Heavenly Father. He will never abandon us. EVER! Everytime we ask sincerely in prayer with real intent if He loves us, then He will answer everytime. He will answer, usually, through His Holy Spirit. We can recognize that Spirit through the feelings of love and peace that are brought to our hearts. 

He encouraged us to go out and invite others to do this, and I wish to invite all of you! Even if you know, based on knowledge or past experiences, that your Heavenly Father loves you, please pray again. Pray and ask if He loves you, and the answer will come! 

After you receive that answer, you will be able to find comfort as you remember and reflect on that experience. You will be able to know that God is there, He hears your prayers, and that He loves you, His Child. I know this will happen for you if you will pray and ask!

I know Our Heavenly Father lives and loves us. The Entire Gospel of Jesus Christ is put into perspective as we understand that that principle. 

From,

Elder Richardson

P.S. If you want to hear some of the other things I've been learning about this last week, try these two links. A lot of what we learned was covered in these two talks!

P.P.S.S. So, this book came out recently, and it's called "Saints." It's about the history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, starting with the Restoration of the church by the Prophet Joseph Smith. Well, I kind of binge read it, and it was delicious. I finished it, and it was really good! If you've ever been curious about the History of the Church, this novel is the best way I know to learn about it! It answered some of my questions, and it helped me to learn some new things as well! Here's a link! I highly recommend it!

1) Me!

2) Some other missionaries with Sister Pearson and Sister Dixon!

3) Here's Elder Equatore, my new Companion as of this Transfer!

SEPTEMBER 11, 2018 - WEEK #28

TRANSFERS .... UH OH ...

September 11, 2018

Transfers!!! Elder Ford left, which was super sad, but Elder Equatore just came in! Turns out, the two of them just switched places. From Northpark YSA to the Yucaipa 3rd Ward! It's been a bit of a change for him, going from teaching Young Single Adults to teaching families again, but he's still been super Awesome! 

Elder Equatore is from Montana, and he likes throwing Knives! He doesn't do it on the mission. He's super crazy, but also super creative, and an awesome missionary! His last name comes from Italy, and it's pronounced like the country Equador, but with a "t." 

Fun things that happened this week include: 

- Elder Ford wanted to say goodbye to our Elder's Quorum President, and so we go into his home and Elder Ford starts talking to him. His Daughter comes up to me with a little children's book (Baby Mickey lost his ball or something), and I'm all like, "Why not? I can serve her parents for a few minutes." We read through a couple short books, using silly voices, and it was a lot of fun! A couple days later, we go back to introduce Elder Equatore, and there she is again! "I remember you! You read this book with me!" So we went and reread the books while Elder Equatore met our Elders Quorum President. It was so fun!

- We went to visit Richee on Tuesday, and while we were waiting for him, another man named Mario started talking to us. He told us that he used to be a member of the Church when he lived in Glendale, which he told us had a large LDS Population. We invited him to come to church again sometime, and after we told him where our building was, he told us again that he used to be a member of the Church when he lived in Glendale, which is well known for it's large LDS population. We looked at each other, but kept talking. Later in the conversation, he informs us that he used to be a member of the church, but that was when he lived in Glendale. Glendale, you see, has a strong LDS Presence, or, at least, that's what we hear. He had asked for our phone number, and we gave it to him. Today, we get a phone call, and guess what! It was Mario! He asked who we were, and how our number got on his phone. We explained who we were, and he then said, "You said LDS? I used to be LDS! When I lived in Glendale!" He also said that he had no recollection of us talking with him, so we're pretty sure he's got an issue with his memory, but he's a really sweet nice and fun guy!

- We went to the house of a Member kind of on a whim. They had helped us in teaching a lesson before, and I thought it would be good to introduce Elder Equatore. We go over and knock on the door, and then this car pulls up into the driveway. The mom gets out of the car, and the daughter jumps out and runs to the back. We got talking to the mother, and she tells us that she has friends who are members of the church, and she wanted to learn more! She asked if we did Bible Studies or anything like that, and we were like, "Um, YES!" After we exchange numbers and everything, the member we were going to visit comes out of the house, along with her daughter and THE ENTIRE DUNGEONS AND DRAGONS GROUP, all heading out to go clean up the  church building!! They were super nice, and we're hoping to go and talk to some of those kids again soon!!

That was some of the craziness from this week. I've been trying my best to lead this area, and I can tell you that there has never been a greater measure of the Spirit leading our day and our activities. As we humble ourselves and pray for God to help us in our days, He will! I know it! 

There's the week! It was pretty crazy, so that's it. Yep. There we go.

Elder Richardson

1) Here's me being weird.

2) Here's my district.

Benjamin Richardson

California Redlands Mission

Feb 28, 2018 - March 3, 2020