DECEMBER 10 - MISSION LETTER #67

CHRISTMAS CATCH UP: YEAR TWO EDITION

December 2019

Well, it has been a while. And there has been a lot of fun stuff since last I wrote!

So, since a lot has happened, let's go to the Bullet points! (Insert transition music here, preferable something that sounds like it could be from a 70's Batman Cartoon!)

• So Elder Beutler and I had pseudo-adopted a cat. We weren't sure where he came from, but one day he showed up on the tennis court while we were playing, and then he chased our balls, and we petted him. Soon after that, we found him waiting for us on our porch so he could be pet again. So we had a stray slightly malnourished cat that we had fittingly named Chubs. 

• We had a Zone activity in which we made Gingerbread Houses out of Graham crackers and sang random songs, including some from "My Turn on Earth!" I made house with a chocolate Santa in a pretzel Sled being pulled by gummy bears. It caved in after not too long. Another sister tried to build hers as high as she could, so we joked about her trying to build it to reach Heaven. Elder Beutler decided that if he was going to build a house, he wanted to build it his way! So he made the most structurally sound house out of Graham Crackers I've ever seen with his wood working skills. 

• We started working again with a wonderful family! The daughter, Mia, is 9 years old, and she has not been baptized yet! So we have been wanting to teach her and help her prepare for baptism, but it just wasn't lining up or working out. And then, one day her dad just decided that now was to time to change and get the whole family involved in the Gospel again! And so working with this girl is going to, hopefully, bring the whole family back to church and help them all to feel the joy of the Gospel!

Changing of gears because soon after this point, I got transferred! I drove across the whole Mission to be put out in Barstow! Barstow is along the I15, and use to be a classic stop along Route 66. Now, it is the midpoint between Las Vegas and Los Angeles. It's basically kind of like Radiator Springs from Cars. Kind of slowing down and falling apart, but still with some fun and quirky people! 

My new Companion, Elder Moulton, is super fun! He's from Idaho, so California is pretty interesting for him. He got pretty excited about a small patch of ice that we found. 

Merry Christmas! I have to go, but I love you all! 

Elder Richardson

Benjamin Richardson

California Redlands Mission/San Bernadino Mission

Feb 28, 2018 - March 3, 2020

DECEMBER 3, 2019 - MISSION LETTER #66

CHANGE AND REFLECTIONS

December 3, 2019

Happy late Thanksgiving, everyone! And also, Happy December!

We had a great week this week, where we talked with a lot of new people. 

One interesting experience was something that our mission is testing out called the Chalkboard Experiment. Basically, we went to a street fair and set up some giant Chalkboards, and then we asked people to come and write on our boards. 

 The boards each had a question written at the top, like, "Family to me means..." or "What is my purpose in life?" 

Many people hadn't really given those questions much thought, and so some rejected our invitation to come and write on our boards, but many also hesitantly took a piece of chalk and wrote something. The idea was that we would be able to talk with them about what they had written, and help them connect that to what we share. We weren't able to do that or set something up with everyone, but I will tell you that everyone who wrote on that board was smiling by the end, either because they wrote something funny ("Pickle ball is the purpose of my life!"), or because they took a moment to really ponder something of eternal importance, and it brought them a special feeling. I thought that was pretty amazing!

But here's one of the most interesting parts! For this activity, we were instructed to not wear our normal Missionary attire, including our name tags that we wear. Not only that, but we were told to go by our first names only! So, for a while on Saturday, Elder Richardson disappeared, and some weird kid named Ben resurfaced in jeans and a striped shirt. No one has really seen that kid in a while, at least 21 months, but he disappeared after too long, so maybe we just imagined his appearance. XD

But really, while it was weird to dress in normal clothes and go by my first name again for a bit, it was pretty eye opening to see what kind of a person I have become since the last time I found myself in that situation. I've pondered on that a bit this week. When we trust in God and try our best to serve Him, I feel like we make lots of mistakes and we are very much aware of them. But then we have access to the Grace and Mercy sufficient to help us change and move on. I have become maybe a bit less cautious, but I am much more excited and motivated to correct mistakes, which really has helped me to grow from my failures. 

I haven't been able to make all of the impact and help quite as many people as maybe I would've liked in this area, and maybe on my mission as a whole. But I have seen a great change in myself over the course of this time. And I have had many days and nights where I can honestly say that I was where God wanted me to be. That has been all of the success that I can ask for. And I can trust that I'm doing what he wants me to, because of the confirming feeling I get from the spirit. 

I love you all so much! 

Elder Richardson

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!

OCTOBER 7, 2019 - PERSONAL NOTE TO DAD AND MOM

 PERSONAL NOTE TO DAD AND MOM

October 7, 2019

So part of the reason that I've been a more lax in my emails lately is because I haven't felt like there's a lot that I can write about that's happening in our weeks right now. Things haven't been slow in my area because of bad luck or a lack of good people to be found, it's just been that we haven't been out and about. 

My companion, and I love him to death, is nearing the end of his mission: a detail that he reminds me of consistently. Missionary work is hard for him, because talking with people is hard for him. It's scary, and he doesn't feel like he would be able to do what he would need to. And for the people that we can work with, the effort just isn't there because he just feels so drained after lessons with them and he feels like they won't progress, especially if we try to work harder on them. And on top of that, he is just lacking in any desire to work or talk or plan or teach. So, do anything that missionaries do. Some days are better than other, but it has been ups and downs these past couple months. 

I'm doing ok. I have faith in Christ, and He helps me out personally. But it is frustrating to have this situation be here, especially when what I want to do is work even harder during the last moments of my mission. I'm trying to help and love my companion to the best of my ability, and that's what my Mission President has advised thus far. Just try to help him finish his mission strong. 

So because we just haven't been doing too much, even though I've wanted to, I haven't felt like there's been anything to share about in an email.  That's a little bit of an excuse, but that's been a big reason. If everyone's prayers can just be directed more to my companion and I being able to figure out how to move forward, that would help a lot. 

I am safe, I am still having fun times and trying to stay happy and do what's right, but I'm having a hard time figuring how much to help out. I'm praying and trying to seek revelation. But what would you do, Dad? Are there any experiences or impressions that might help me figure this out? I just can't figure out what I can do to help someone in the middle of a deliberate exercising of their agency.

I haven't really had a good opportunity to share about that with you and Mom. Sorry about ommitting that. There just hasn't been a great opportunity to share that in calls or messenger chats with my companion in the room. 

I love you, Dad! Keep us in your prayers, and if there's any advice you have, I'd love to hear!

Elder (Benjamin) Richardson

P.S. I'll make sure to give you a call next week!

SEPTEMBER 17, 2019 - MISSION LETTER #62

SERVICE OF GOD

September 17, 2020

Basically, God can do anything. Now, there are things that He sometimes will choose not to control, like the choices that we make, or the consequences of other people's actions. But it is amazing what He will do for those who seek to do His will. 

For example, some of the Sister Missionaries needed a couple extra hands to help this lady load and unload a few things from a small moving truck, so we volunteered to help out. Little did the Sisters or us know that we weren't helping the moving crew, but we WERE the moving crew! Not only that, but  the process was a lot more intensive than any of us had predicted. What we thought  would be maybe two hours at most ended up being a 5 and a half hour moving project, including a 10-mile drive to go and take some of these things over to a storage unit to shuffle things around  befor unloading the remainder of the truck! It was crazy!

And so, where  did the miracle come in? We had been seeking to do more service, because we felt like that would be good both for us and our area. The only problem was that no one we knew needed help with ANYTHING! Not only that, but things lined up perfectly, with everything falling through just  right, so that we could help these Sisters help this lady. The Sister apologized for so much of our day  being taken up by this one project, but there wasn't a better place where the Lord would've had us to be at that time. 

There's such a great feeling that comes from  working hard to  help someone else! It's really a special thing! It reminds me of Mosiah 2:17 in  the Book of Mormon, where a wise King and Prophet shares with his people one of the great realizations of his life, "When ye are in the service of your fellow beings, ye are only in the service of your God!"

I know that  that is true, and that as we look outside of ourselves to try and bless other's lives, we will know that we are in the service of our God!

Elder Richardson

Benjamin Richardson

California Redlands Mission/San Bernadino Mission

Feb 28, 2018 - March 3, 2020