August 19, 2013 My First Area in Chile!

¡Hola! Hello family and friends! Greetings from the beautiful city of Chillàn! It is the second largest city in the mission, and is right in the middle of the entire mission area. It is a beautiful area, very sub-urbanized, and full of wonderful people ready to hear about the Gospel!

 

First, a little bit about the last week at the CCM! It was a hard week, filled with final cram sessions and lots and lots of last minute information blasts. We practiced giving whole lessons entirely in Spanish, and we felt very good about our mastery of the language and our ability to teach clearly our message of the Restoration (Boy, were we mistaken on that first account!). Some Orientation courses informed us that there would be stuff that we had not covered in the CCM that we would need to utilize in the field, but we didn't worry too much about it (Again, we were really overconfident, looking in hindsight.). There was a lot of goodbyes, ranging from tear soaked to sighs of relief, as we got closer to the end. There was even a prank or two, which were certainly written down in the journal due to their high quality and wonderful impact.

To be completely honest, those last few days were a bit scary. We didn't really feel like we had entered the mission proper, rightly so we later found. These people were all good friends, and it was a big goodbye, all over again. But things were also quite happy. We were going out into the world, as ready as six weeks of language study and gospel teaching could prepare us for! We were ready and ridiculously excited to be going to the nations where we would serve, and I think the hardest thing for a lot of people would be the waiting in airports during layovers or for the airplane to get ready. We were raring to go!

The missionaries bound for Chile all gathered together in the Mexican Airport for a few hours before heading off on a ten hour flight to Santiago. Immigration was no problem, but the lines were a tad bit longer then we expected, due to some line jumping to make sure all of the correct paperwork was done. It was not a bad thing in the least, and the group of about twenty missionaries got a good amount of practice with starting conversations and giving away pass along cards, or even a Book of Mormon or two. There were a surprising amount of Europeans and quite a few Germans in the line by us, and it was a lot of fun talking about Germany with them. Turns out, people are incredibly willing to talk to someone that smiles a lot (Genuinely, mind you!) and listens just as much.

The plane ride went fine, and the five hour layover in Santiago was pretty nice too. Winter time is ending right about now, so its not as cold as it could have been. Finally, we took another plane to the Concepcion airport, and you won't believe who was there waiting for us! Elder Hyrum Layton! Turns out, he is one of the Office Elders right now, and he got to come with Presidente Arrington and a small entorauge to pick us up. He spoke a Spanish that I couldn't even begin to understand. A similar experience happened when I saw Hermaña Hannah Peterson in the Mission Home a few hours later.

 

Oh, it is wonderful here! Like I mentioned, the Spanish is completely different. The language the Chileans speak is very rapid, blends together words, and sometimes cuts out syllables or consonents because ''Why not?'' And it is different for every person. The word Santos, for example, could be Santo, Sant, or even Sans depending on who is talking. It was very difficult to understand anything at all, but I've been gradually getting an ear for the language. In addition, I can read body language better then ever before in my life! By the way, there are a whole lot of words that are specifically Chilean, or have completely different meanings here then in other nations. Care should be taken when trying out new words, as a rule. A Uruguayan missionary I know found that out the hard way. Let's just say that the Chilean word for the ''Bowl'' one eats out of is a completely different and slightly offensive word in his country. Usually, I can communicate what I am trying to say to the people, but conversations are mostly in the jurisdiction of my companion.

 

My Companion! His name is Elder Jory, and he is from the states too. He has been in for about a year, and is the best companion a guy could ask for. He is always enthusiastic, always ready to go and preach the Gospel. In our house we live with two other elders, Elder Solari (The Uruguayan) and Elder Clawson, both of whom are also great guys. I couldn't ask for a better situation. These guys are rockstars, with testimonies on fire and a willingness to share them with the world. This is such an inspiration for me, and a great opportunity to learn from the best. Day in and day out, they are ready to do wonderful things and work miracles, and it shows in their actions and successes.

 

The work here in Concepcìon is incredible, and growing faster and faster every day. We have more then doubled the number of missionaries in the mission over the last few years, and the increase is only increasing. Where there was only small branches a few years before, good stakes are thriving now. It is absolutely incredible to see the work of God in motion. The area we're working on here in Chillàn is no exception. The membership is fantastic, always willing to fellowship and invite and help us missionaries out. We actually get lunch from a member every day, and you should know that lunches here are experiences to die for. They're big enough that we only have breakfast and lunch each day, and maybe a light snack later in the evening, and they're always super delicious. I have committed to memorizing the recipe for the local bread, it is that good. We eat it, quite literally, with everything, and I have no reason to complain. This ward also has one of the coolest names I've ever seen. ''Los Volcanes!'' You can see the Andes from any street here, and I hear that volcanoes are the occasional popcorn show.

 

Life is not a difficult thing at all. Our house has all the neccessities, and thanks to the members, we barely even use our kitchen. Chileans don't believe in heating or carpeting, so we do have to wear coats and footwear all the time, but the opportunity to try out my new coat has been quite welcome. Thanks Steven! (By the way, the package you left in the mission home? No one here has heard of it, sadly. But with the brand new Presidents, I wonder if its just sitting around, waiting to get sorted after the important stuff get dealt with.) The temperature has been quite a bit chillier then Mexico City or, big surprise here, Arizona. I would say its about 35 to 50 degrees on a really warm day. I love it! Its great feeling that chill when you walk outside and seeing your breath is a joy. Showers in the morning have become my enemy though, due to a really fun gas heated water system. A slow drip is hot, full blast is frigid, and somewhere in the middle (Apparently about an atom wide, as I have yet to find it) is perfect and warm. It is quite the merry adventure to prepare for the day while not freezing. Luckily, by the time night falls, most Chileans cuddle up next to their wood burning stoves, and the inside of the houses are a toasty place to be. Incentive for us to teach as many people as possible, I'd say! By the way, since everyone uses those stoves, the streets outside usually have a thick fog of smoke, and it looks pretty cool!

 

The city itself reminds me quite a bit of some places in Pheonix. The houses aren't too big, and people are always walking outside. There is an incredible amount of dogs, wild and domesticated. Usually they're pretty nice, though every once in a while we have to stare down a mean one. The occasional cats are really nice, and love to be petted and follow us around as long as there aren't any dogs or cars. People are just as crazy drivers as Mexico City, though the streets here are a few inches wider, so things are never bad. We don't ever drive, but walk everywhere we go. It is very necessary to watch your step, but no matter the precaution, the shoes are dirty at the end of the day. We take pride in the dust we carry. Lots of dust means lots of work!

 

The people here are incredibly nice! They are so patient with my broken Spanish, and have wonderful senses of humor. Possessions don't matter a whole lot, and people spend a whole lot of time talking with each other over a little bit of juice and bread. Or coffee! I had my first coffee the other day. It wasn't too bad, and after we found out that an old elder had left a can in the apartment, it became part of the daily routine. Hahaha, don't worry, its not real coffee. Its really just hot chocolate with a lot of wheat in it, but its called cafè, so I was a bit shocked when my companion handed me a mug that smelled a whole lot like the real deal. It's not my favorite, but a warm and sweet drink can really take away the cold! Anyway, talking to people in the middle of the street is totally normal and acceptable. People will stop and have conversations at all times of the day! We get invited into houses all the time, and I'm so glad that the people of Chillàn are so welcoming and nice to us.

 

The work is going strong here. This last week was a bit slower, I hear, but we worked hard and have a set plan for what to improve for next week. I've seen small and large miracles in the lives of those people we teach and in our own daily ventures. I've seen people conquer great challenges, and seen the Spirit change hearts and testify of truth. It is a beautiful work to be involved in. The members are always coming with us, and contacts and references often bring unexpected fruit. I've been able to work with many wonderful people seeking truth and happiness in their lives. I've felt the Spirit strongly as we talked and committed people to following the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is an incredible experience. I'm writing down these great stories, and can't wait to share them all with you more fully.

 

I love you all so much. Thank you for your prayers, for your loving support. I pray that our Father in Heaven blesses each and every one of you with happiness and gladness and all the blessings you need at this time.

 

Sincerely and with tons of love,

Elder Richardson (For the Chileans: Reecerdsòn)

 

PS: I've included some photos just to remind you that I'm alive! Three of the pictures are of me in Chile, two with my new companion, and one with Elder Layton and Hermana Peterson. I really am not sure what I'm doing in that picture.

I Have Arrived!!!

Elder Richardson with his first companion, Elder Jory.

Meeting with President Arrington and his wife!

A few familiar faces! Go Westwood! Elder Layton and Sister Peterson.

Pictures from Mexico

August 12, 2013 Just a Quick Note

¡Hola friends and family!

 

This is going to be a really quick letter to you all, since normal P day isn't available this week. Why? Because we leave for Chile in about an hour and a half! The flight time should be about ten to eleven hours total, and we wait for about nine hours in various airports. Lots of time to raid the airport McDonald's for real food!

 

I have a lot to tell you all from my final week at the CCM, and I hope I get the chance to send a real letter soon. I love you all! Wish me luck and safety, and pray I either sit next to a window or a person willing to talk to a missionary, haha.

 

Mom: Hey, I did get your package. Turns out it had been sorted under a different name. They were looking for Elder Douglas the whole time. I can't wait to send you some of the pictures I've been getting. Also, we had a big celebration over the last few days, and I got quite a few email addresses of great people who have blessed my life. Is there a limit to how many emails you can forward my letters to? Haha.

 

I can't wait to get onto that plane. It feels a little bit like I'm leaving home all over again, and that the mission is about to start. To say that I am ridiculously excited is quite the understatement!

 

I love you all, and keep you in my prayers morning and night. Have a wonderful day, and I'll report back when I get the chance.

 

¡Hurrah for Israel!

 

With love,

Elder Richardson 

August 6, 2013 Last Letter from the Mexico CCM!

Hello, friends and family!

 

Incredible, isn't it? Five weeks have come and gone. We are right in the middle of our final week at the Missionary Training Center, and preparing to leave around next Monday or Tuesday. It is ridiculously exciting, to the point that everyone is pulling their hair out in anticipation for the flying out. Not that there is a whole lot to tear out, mind you. The Hermanas who run the small Hair Cutting Salon here know two different styles: ´´Ridiculously short´´ and ´´I had to look twice to make sure you weren´t bald.´´ It´s a bit hilarious to see new Elders going in with full heads of hair and coming out with just enough fuzz on their heads to barely keep several small insects warm during winter.

 

Life is still going quite well. I can certainly understand the warnings we received initially to keep an eye out for repetition and routine. Those two aspects are absolutely murderous to progress when the Missionaries get too ingrained. The language learning ceases to improve, and even decreases in many cases. The Spirit completely removes itself from the lives of those who don´t put in the effort to keep it. The secondary warning, that our easiest temptations would come not from the people we encounter and teach, but from our fellow missionaries. It is incredibly easy to fall back on English for conversations, and with far more native English Speakers then Spanish Speakers now, the urge to easily communicate in our native tongues in far too tempting. Additionally, an idea of relaxation sneaks in after the first two weeks. The thought process being ´´We´ve worked so hard, maybe we can take a break.´´ Very quickly, the short relaxation to rest our minds can quickly become days without learning anything at all. Many of us, soon to head out, are realizing that the only stuff that we're ready to take out into the field next week or soon after is the basic material learned in the first few days or weeks. This has been an incredible lesson for me. I hope never to get stuck in to routine, to let my schedule define my work ethic. Those first few weeks were mind numbingly difficult, but they were certainly far more enjoyable and rewarding then anything since. I like the analogy of the fire hose. If you´re thirsty (For Knowledge!), you have two options here. There is a full blast fire hose and a slow dripping faucet. The hose certainly hurts your head to drink from, but you fill up quickly and you end up far more full then you thought you could be. The faucet takes things at a nice easy pace, relaxing even. But you don´t end up full, even after a far longer time of drinking from it. Life lesson learned!

 

Amusing stories for you all:

We were walking to the store the other day, looking forward to spending our weekly allowance on Mexican candy and various treats for a big Preparation Day fiesta, when we encountered a a large group walking the same direction. We asked them if they were going to the store, received an affirmative, and bemoaned the long lines that inevitably formed when a decent amount of people showed up. Their leader called us out, telling us ´newbies´to shape up and get used to it, to the laughing of the whole group. A little questioning and we found out he has been here about three weeks less then us. As soon as we told him, he got very quiet, very fast, and didn´t say another word the entire time in the store. It was the kind of situation I dream about.

We have also become very talented in the art of bug catching. Literally, we can each snag bugs straight out of the air without even thinking about it, though now a days, we´ve tried to add some pizazz to the ´sport´. You'll occassionally see missionaries, during lessons or teaching appointments make tremendous effort in catching mosquitos, large gnats, or other bothersome pests. I've also seen diving catches, through the legs grabs, and one backflip catch. Tallies are kept, and the current MTC record lies at around 45, though it has been heavily disputed. My personal record occured this last week, and I was able to get 23 bugs over the course of the day. If any of us are losing weight, its because of the mosquitos, quite literally, sucking liters of blood from our systems, and our incredible efforts at vengeance. The term Guerra de Zancudo has become quite commonplace among the gringos.

Our District, and several others, had the opportunity to play Capture the Flag this last P-day in a large grove of trees out on the edge of campus. It had become quite overgrown in the last week or so, and the grass was about knee height. The rumours of wild animals of all sorts (Snakes, lizards, elephants and tigers being quite prominent) and the lack of purpose that the forest has has led the missionaries to label it either The Sacred Grove or the Forbidden Forest, depending on preference. Fangorn Forest has grown in popularity, and also ´The one forest in that M Night Shyamalan movie The Village´.Regardless, several broomsticks with brightly colored bristles and large cardboard boxes from the new washer dryer sets were... Liberated... from the storage closets and the game was on. People quickly charged in and out and the games were fast and intense. The highlight of the game, for me, was the Tank Charge. Several of our team had the brilliant idea to load up in a large cardboard box and chagre their lines. As the Tank would be encountered, a player would jump out and tackle the defender to the ground, holding him in place so the Tank could move on. Our battle cries were ferocious, but lack of cooperation from our team and near death at a large stone box randomly dug into the ground caused the destruction of our beloved box and the failure of our wonderful and brilliant idea.

Additionally, there have been dozens of smaller stories of wonderful quality and humor here, thanks to the large assortment of hilarious individuals and a great mix of personalities. I would love to tell you the dozens of inside jokes we've experienced, but that would take far more time then I have left in the MTC to write and explain. Just know they're funny!

 

Sam: Oh, it was wonderful receiving your email! Thank you so much for your nice letters and the great thoughts within them. I hope you're enjoying Ohio! Its colder and rainer there then what you're used to, I wager, but I sincerely doubt that will get your spirits down! Keep enjoying your good experiences with Kayla, she sounds awesome. Sad news on Caleb though. I hope everything works out well, and you'll be getting the ring through mail in about a week! Haha. Thank you again for your letters. They are wonderful! You are in my prayers as well. Stay strong and happy! You're the best!

 

Mom: I can't say that I have received the package yet. Mail here is spotty at best, and packages are not guaranteed at all. They're still trying to figure out the post system, so for all I know, its been waiting in the corner for a week now. We're trying again later today, so wish us luck!

My health has greatly improved. Two and a half weeks of miserable bowels later, mind you. But perseverance, prayers, fasting, and few good medicinals from my secret stash and a roommate have done wonders. I still have the occasional problems, but nothing is as bad as they were. In fact, I think some of the recent issues have been caused by the large amount of candies I've eaten in celebration. Weeks without sweet things have left me ill prepared for eight Hershey's Cookies and Cream bars in a single evening. Other strange things of ill health have occasionally struck, but mostly everything has sorted itself out by now. Three ingrown nails were handled painfully by my unskilled surgeon's hands, and they all feel incredibly better now.

I really haven't take very many pictures around here. The occasional picture of a beautiful scene (Usually some absolutely incredible clouds) or a person doing something amusing fill my camera. We've had several events on our Pdays where many pictures are taken, and I hope that the most amusing of the group will be sent to me by my fellow District members, so I can share the hilarity with all of you.

Thank you again for Elder Pugmire's letter. It is an incredible prepartory tool for my eventual entry into Chile. I can't wait to have similar experiences among the Chilean people!

Gracious, I am so excited/terrified/ready/unprepared for the triumphal exit of the CCM. I do believe my bags should comfortably hold everything that I need, as we did have extra room when I left. We've received letters giving us more information about what we need to do in preparation for the arrival to our prospective mission fields, so we're working hard to make sure everything is prepared. Of course, there have been several books and other objects that have not seen any use here, but I maintain that the possibility of use exists, so I'm not quite ready to part with them yet. There is a 50kg max scale in our laundry room, so I do believe we should know well beforehand if things need to be removed or not. We don't know exactly when we will leave, but the Latino Elders leave on Mondays, so the general idea is either Monday or Tuesday.

By the way, about Wil! I haven't been able to see much of him, but I certainly hear plenty. My roommates are in his class, and essentially think he is the best person/teacher/saint ever. Walking on water is only the beggining of what he is capable of. I hear his stories on regular basis, and hear descriptions of his pictures and experiences. The fact that I know some amusing stories involving him (Ping pong) has elevated me to the coolest person in the apartment at times. I didn't think I would become famous by riding on someone else's coattails, but it has certainly happened that way!

It is nice to hear that everything is going fine! I'm glad that the Temple is open again. According to Steven's suggestions, I repeatedly insist that Mesa is the greatest Temple on the face of the Earth! Have fun going to the Gilbert!

Those cat stories always bring a smile to my face. I have a few pictures of them left on my camera that I didn't erase prior to leaving, so I still get to see them every once in a while. I miss the little felines quite a bit more then I thought I would. I'm glad to see the our resident fat cat is being less lazy and going hunting more. Good for him!

Thanks for keeping the Ward updated! I love and miss them, and keep them in my prayers.

You're story was excellent! I really want to read this book after I get home (Add it to the growing list. That's a story for a different time though.) and try to apply it to my life. That passage was absolutely phenomonal. It is absolutely, 100% true. I just want to read it again and again. If our printer was functional, (Turns out, having a hundred different people trying to print at once on an old computer doesn´t work. Funny stuff.) I would print it out and carry it with me! The importance of our becoming more like the Savior daily has really grown in importance in my mind. One of my companion and I's first study goals was the Attributes of Christ in Preach My Gospel. It has been a wonderful, and difficult at times, journey to try and take these timeless aspects of good and try to shape myself to be more like Him. Thank you so much for the quote, and for the other words of wisdom and encouragement that you had.

 

Life continues, life goes on. Above all, life is a glorious adventure for us to experience. There are blessings and trials in plenty, and each is for a reason. This is a time for us to grow and be happy and work hard and enjoy the fruits of our labors. Oh, how I know this is true. These last five/six weeks at the CCM have been an incredible bounty of lessons and life applications that I will be continuing to use for the rest of my time here on Earth.

 

It has also been a bit of a refiner's fire. Difficult experiences and trials of character pop up with increasing regularity. But I wouldn't replace them for the world, or any similar item of equal value to my interests. You don't get a diamond without high heat and high pressure, and though I am far from the beauty and clarity of refined and cut diamond, I feel less like the original lump of carbon every day. Hard times teach us humility, love, and gratitude, all aspects that I needed work on desperately, though I did not realize it before. Incredibly frustrating experiences with other people have forced me to learn the foolishness of my pride and the blessing a kind word can be to other people. Probably most importantly, this work can not be done without the strength of the Savior lifting us up and the Spirit filling our hearts. Though certainly difficult at first, learning to come to my knees in times of challenge and times of joy has been an marvelous blessing. My testimony of the love of God has been renewed and strengthened. The faith in the power the scriptures can have in our lives has been multiplied tenfold.

 

I know that this is true. I have heard Apostles testify of God and Christ. I have seen the blessings of application of the scriptures. During the hardest times here, when I saw strife and contention divide a large group, the words of prophets came into my mind a blessed my life. It has been said many times before, and still has many times to be said, but this life and this Gospel have never been said to be easy. No, they are certainly not easy. But they are worth it. I have seen genuine and real change come upon hearts here. People changing for the better, myself being among those ranks. And it is a wonderful experience. In less then a week, I will be heading to a far off nation to see this change come into the lives of people I've never even met before. Hearts will be softened, and as it says of blessings in the Old Testament, ''The Windows of Heaven will open up, so that there will not be room enough to receive it.´´

 

I love you all so much! Your letters and emails and experiences are the great treasures that strengthen me and build me up. Your prayers and thoughts are felt and they give me the courage to carry on in times of trial. An experience this last week involved one of our Latino Elders: Elder Nava. His final prayer on the eve of his departure was one of the most heartfelt and powerful I have ever experienced. His words were spoken with love and care, with faith that the Lord will bless all those he asked for. Oh, the beauty and the power! Thank you all so much!

I am so excited to be in this grand work. Great things are about, and the Lord is hastening His work in these last days. Oh, how wonderful the ways of God! Oh, that I were an Angel, that I could speak with the voice of a trump to all the nations. Let us all go about in so great a cause!

 

With love,

Elder Richardson

July 30, 2013 Onward Ever Onward Mexico CCM

Hello family, friends, and loved ones! We had another fantastic week up here in the CCM, though, the routine is hitting us hard and there isn´t quite as many things to report on. This entire last week feels like two, maybe three with generosity, days total. We're still working hard, don't worry! Gospel fundamental classes, language classes, and investigator sessions are our primary focus while we're here, and it is an incredible experience.

 

It blows my mind every time that I think about it. Before I came out to Mexico City, I knew several words, a few phrases, and several greetings and goodbyes. Now, we're teaching entire thirty minute (Or more!) lessons entirely in the language. Now that we're learning less vocabulary, and more information that makes our Spanish a bit fancier, we can have genuine conversations, about almost anything we wish, in Español. It is a crazy, heady feeling and I love it! The gift of tongues is a reality, just as miraculous as the times it is used in the scriptures (Well, almost. I'll get back to you if I speak to thousands in their native tongues and end up baptizing them the same day.).

 

It was wonderful to receive your letters! Thank you so much for your time and effort in writing them. They are a wonderful strength to me, and continue to inspire me daily. I´ll do my best to try and respond to everything!

 

Craig! Oh, it was nice receiving your email! You are certainly not fired, my good friend. Thank you for your comments on the various happenings in my CCM life. It is always a good experience to recieve advice and commentary from those who have had the experiences so recently in their own lives. Being a Zone Leader is a bit of a challenge, but so far, things have mostly progressed without a fault and things are going quite well. The few things that have needed my attention have helped me to grow, both as a missionary and as a person. You were spot on for the blessings received, even if the method of reception is not the way I would have first chosen, haha. I am entering my fifth week here, and at the start of the seventh, we head out to our various missions and future homes for the majority of the next two years.

Congratulations on your success in finding a happy and enjoyable job. I'm almost as glad that you have also been able to see the benefits of the hardships you had as a sushi chef! That is a real talent in this life! And also, I now fully expect custom made shirts to be a staple of our friendship. Good luck in College! There's are certainly a whole lot of similarities between a new college experience and the MTC, with one major exception. You have to deal with girls, with his a whole lot harder then learning Spanish! Good luck out there, sir! You are a fantastic person, and I look forward to further correspondance with you! You're in my prayers, brother!

 

Kyla and family! Your small barrage of letters brought a whole lot of smiles to my face! Please thank the kids for their time and letters. They are wonderful. In addition, your story about Matt had me chuckling with some volume, which brought a few strange looks from other Elders in the computer lab. Thanks Matt! That's certainly part of the plan haha.

It sure sounds like you're enjoying the summer vacation! All of your little trips sound quite excellent, the kind of experiences that really bring a family close together, united by good memories. Exciting news about the baby girl! I have a strange feeling that Alexa and her will either be best friends, or mortal frienemies, given that they will be united against the power of three rambuctious boys. Things work out wonderfully, haha! I hope you enjoy your further trips, especially your visit to Arizona! Keep me posted haha. I love you all so much!

 

Steven! You were certainly right! They are prim and proper. I've also taken to using several of the phrases you incorporated into your letter in my daily life here, and some of them have started to spread throughout the missionaries. Well done! In general, it was really nice to receive your letter. I'm trying to take the advice to heart, and your sense of humor is as wonderful as in person. I eagerly look forward to future letters from you. Seriously, keep them coming. You're fantastic.

 

Dad! Your letter this week was certainly a wonderful gift. The quotes and stories you incorporated today were great! It's a shame I only get your letter three weeks after its first sent, haha. They're far too good, and I look forward with great anticipation to the spiritual thoughts and words of advice that you send. I also took some joy in sharing the story that involved me with my apartment mates. They all loved it!

 

Mom! Your letter was a doozy this week! Thank you so much for it! It is great to hear about the little flash drive on its way. I've taken a few pictures during my stay here, and each has a story behind it. I can't wait to send them all back (Even if only to free up my memory card for more pictures!) and tell you all about them haha. Yeah, that is the first group of foreign missionaries at the CCM. Unfortunately, they didn't tell our teacher, and several other teachers, about the photo. Three districts missed out, which explains why our bright and smiling faces aren't in the picture.

I've certainly tried to pull some language learning straight out of Other Side of Heaven, but the tight schedule really doesn't let me sit on a beach for a week straight reading. Sometimes I just don't understand the rules!

I think they're figuring out the food situation. The thirty minute lines are not the norm any more, and they usually have enough of the good stuff that we can all get a small portion. Unfortunately my health hasn't let me enjoy the good turn of events quite as much as I would like. Always an optimist, I've used the opportunity to create many, many immature puns related to the subject. Even a few Spanish ones!

Thanks! I know the Lord blesses His subjects, and I'm incredibly grateful for this wonderful opportunity to learn and grow and serve my fellow missionaries. I hope you found the right talk, because it was really incredible. We got to listen to another of his talks this Sunday (For which reason many of us believe that he will be a speaker soon enough. That and being the head of the Missionary board, a prolific Spanish speaker, and a close personal friend with our CCM Presidente Pratt.), and he covered several points in a very similar fashion. The repetition from a man with so much passion and energy for the Gospel has really pounded the lesson deep into our minds, and you can rest assured that every single Missionary felt like converting nations after that devotional.

Thanks for the message from Elder Pugmire! I absolutely love the information about Chile, and can not wait to get down there. I am so, so, so excited! It's good to hear that they have so much bread down there. I have really grown a taste for good 'pan' while here in the CCM, and have a much deeper understanding of Cousin David and Dad wanted to drive down to Rocky Point simply to enjoy good bread. Another excellent spirit raiser was his brief point of the work. It is just flourishing down there! I am so ridiculously excited to serve, that I feel that I can pull a Nephi (3rd Nephi, for clarification) and just be carried by the Spirit down there right now.

Don't worry, I'm trying to use my time as effectively as possible. On the P-days that we don't visit the Temple, we have very little to do, and very much time to do it. And this is after we go the extra mile in preparation for the upcoming week haha. I really want to use every minute effectively, rest assured. No Zone Leader report is as yet necessary, and my Companion has started writing lengthier letters. Things are running quite smoothly!

The only parts of Mexico City we can see is the streets during the temple trip and the tons and tons of buildings climbing up the sides of the mountains. We aren't allowed to leave the walls, and instructors aren't supposed to bring anything in from outside (Though we have made tremendous effort, with very little success mind you, in aquiring genuine tacos and quesadillas from the real world outside.) Rain is a constant companion here. In fact, going a day without rain tends to scare us. The last three have passed without even a sprinkle, leading to whispers of apocolypse and judgement day soon arriving. Strangely enough, it really isn't humid at all.

It is really good to hear about the family. I hope everyone keeps having good experiences! By the way, I laughed a bit at Dad's continuing battle with free time. I am incredibly grateful for the example of service he has been in my life, certainly great inspiration for the next two years, and the rest of my life for sure. Best of luck with the classes and school! Send my love to everyone, and please keep keeping me informed. I love to hear this little snippets of your lives!

 

Now for some experiences in my life!

Due to the absence of peanut butter related products in the CCM, my opening of the peanut butter container from President and Sister Richter was cause for celebration. We had several loaves of bread, and feasted until we could feast no more.

Health issues, ranging from mild to severe, are common among missionaries here. My poor companion battled a stomach flu over the last week, several parasites have been confirmed, and even my stellar immune system has suffered. Monteczuma has made his vengeance clear to all!

Street parties and loud Mexican music are commonly heard outside the walls of the CCM. The celebrations sound very inviting, and the music! Oh, how the music makes us suffer. It is upbeat, catchy, and now worst of all, we can understand it! Fireworks still go off regularly, even in the middle of the day. We've become very used to it. When Greenies ask why, we simply reply ''Mexico City.'' and shrug.

Speaking of music, our new teacher (One of our previous teachers has started attending Universidad, and the ''investigator'' he played suffered from a near fatal heart attack, due to the word of wisdom violations he used) started playing Piano music and Mormon Tabernacle Choir during study time, and I've realized what I missed the most. Not internet, not video games, not dating, but music. Oh, how I've longed to listen to tunes. In the meantime, we've memorized several hymns in Spanish and sing loudly and often. Piano players are largely considered the top dogs on campus, and people let them go to the front of the lunch lines and beg for their skills and training.

I see Wil every once in a while. He's actually the teacher of our roommates, who affectionately decribe him as God's gift to the MTC. Seriously, they think he is the best thing since sliced bread, butter, and a good toaster to tie it all up. They've even tried to set him up on dates with some of the female teachers. It is hilarious. Unfortunately, my Spanish seems to dry up around him. I sound a bit silly when trying to have a conversation.

Sports continue to be incredibly enjoyable. Unfortunately, we've stopped playing Soccer and Basketball, due to people taking things a bit too seriously. I had the best goalie game of my life the other day, but negative attitudes really disappointed me. Volleyball is still relaxed, and ping pong has become another staple. I've got a really nasty spin serve now!

Many of us are really good friends now, and have gotten very close. If opportunity permits, we've promised to meet up after the missions, possibly at some kind of MTC reunion. I've been asked to be a permanent masseuse and singer for several individuals, much to my chagrin. It really is incredibly nice to be able to talk and be happy and comfortable around many, many people. A good influence can counteract a lot of bad (And vice versa, I suppose).

The Gospel studies I've undertaken are incredible. So much application can be found in the words of the scriptures. Several problems, both large and small, have arisen and reared their ugly heads over the last few weeks, and it is incredible that no matter the situation, words of ancient prophets and their stories and examples can be directly used to resolve the problems of today. In addition, prayer and faithfully listening to the guidance of the Spirit can change lives. Hearts can be softened, hard heads humbled, and attitudes can be changed for good. If not, what are we here for? We're not here to preach that a few nice words a week can make you feel good, and then you go back to your regularly scheduled lives. This is a fundamental, life altering, perception shattering message. This message has to be sunk deep into our souls, and when it is, we will see everything changed for the better. Families can be together forever. God loves us, and wants to bless us. The true church of Jesus Christ is on the Earth again, never to be taken off. Oh, what a beautiful message!

 

I am so grateful to be here! There are so many wonderful, wonderful people I never want to forget. Experiences and thoughts and personal revelations I wish to remember for the rest of my life. A feeling of peace, and happiness that can't be achieved by any other means. I am, by no means, a perfect person. Yet, with the blessings I have received here and throughout my life, how can I do anything less than serve God with all of my heart, mind, might, and strength?

 

Thank you all so much for your love and support. I can feel your prayers as I go throughout the day, and they give me the strength to stand tall and be the very best Missionary I can be. You are all so, so amazing! You have each had such a fundamental part of inspiring me and shaping me into the person I am today, and for that, I am eternally grateful. May God bless you all in your daily lives and your times of happiness and times of trial. I love you all so much!

 

With love,

Elder Richardson

July 23, 2013 Great Day at the Mexico CCM

Hello family, friends, and loved ones! I hope that all is going well for you and that life is a blessing and an adventure!

 

This has been a very interesting week, and I wish I could spend a half a dozen hours writing you, rather than limit myself to one. I´ll do my very best to get some of the best experiences over to you. But first, responses!

 

Sam: It was great receiving your email. I really don´t know anyone who doesn´t like being told that their letters have a positive impact, after all! It´s good to hear about your great experiences with long lost friends and soon to be forgotten enemies. I hope life continues to work out quite well for you! And thank you for the prayers! The support is most welcome! Keep being so awesome!

 

Mom: To answer your questions, I do have a normal sized SD card. I don´t believe there is anything I need in the world. One doesn´t really have time for possessions here, haha. I did in fact buy some hangars, and until I´m told otherwise, I´m going to assume Chile lacks the little clothing levitators and take mine with me. I do have several books, that one day I hope to really get into for deeper reading and pondering, so I´m going to try to hold on to them as long as I can. As of now though, I might be sending a few home or leaving several for Greenie Missionaries to not have time to read as well. From what I´ve heard of Chile, some people are telling me that the entrance fee is essentially all that one needs to get into the country. I haven´t been told differently, so I´m going to assume that´s all that I have to bring. Your quote was fantastic, by the way. We have a Fundamentals class every day, and the topics you brought up are absolutely essential to the learning process. Gordon B. Hinckly was a truly inspired man, and I am so glad to have been able to hear several of his speeches over the years. Thanks for sharing Elder Pugmire´s letter with me! I don´t think I have any way to personally respond, but all of his information about the lovely country I´m getting closer to serving in is very interesting! I´m really happy for him! Only one rainstorm? I remember what that was like! Every day it rains at least once, and not in a simple little sprinkle. Downpours that flood the streets are normal and expected, with heavy lightning and thunder, with the occassional hailing. I love it! Running out in the rain, desperately trying to avoid massive puddles, and just taking the time to get soaking wet when I don´t have something important I need to be on my way to are lovely passtimes. The other benefits of literal tons of very green plant life, watching one of the native Staff members sweeping water from essential places with a broom (Only for it to rain a few hours later. Talk about job security), and cutting my number of showers in half (Kidding. I've actually doubled the times I use the shower, what with my strange time for gym. It´s actually a struggle to get through the week in the necessary under garments. Don't worry about it though. The store on campus actually sells them for fifteen pesos a pair, so I´m actually a pretty happy camper.) are just icing on the cake! Tell Kyla and her family that I love the picture. We´ve had a whole lot of focus time on Joseph Smith and the Restoration of the Gospel, including several movies, so the man her kids are standing with seems pretty familiar! I love and miss you too, but I am so glad to be here. I wouldn´t want to be anywhere else! The oft repeated phrase is applicable here: I´ve left my family for two years so I can bring other families together for eternity. What a beautiful work!

 

So! Life here continues to be amazing. Dad would be proud to hear my Spanish. We all are able to have full conversations in the language, and are now working on refinement. It´s become really difficult to write many of the words in this letter, as I´m now more accustomed to writing their Spanish variants. The gift of tongues talked about in the Book of Acts is very real, and the secret to achieving it is practice. Always attempting to speak the language brings about incredible mastery of the words. Our Hispanic roommates were even able to have great conversations with me without breaking from Spanish. I wish I would have put more effort into the process before hand, but there is no going back now. I fully intend to make up for my lazy language learning before my mission while I´m here. We´ve memorized songs and many, many scripture verses in every book, even a few from the Old Testament.

 

Speaking of which, I have had a wonderful time reading much of the Old Testament and a heavy portion of the Book of Mormon in the past week. I soak up the stories and histories, and look for application for me and my 'investigators' everywhere. I'd forgotten just how cool much of the Old Testament was, with dozens of different stories coming to mind of incredible feats and larger then life prophets and heroes. The few strange bits here and there are more interesting then when I tried to read them as a kid in Seminary, and having the further knowledge provided by modern revelation really clarifies a lot of them (But not all. Some are still very weird.). The Book of Mormon is a major joy to read. I dive into those chapters and verses and don't want to come out when personal study time is over. The incredible spiritual messages, applicable to each and every one of us, despite being thousands of years old, are an absolute treasure. After how much I've been able to take from these histories, and how they can help my life even while I'm here at the CCM, has moved me to never underappreciate this book of Holy Scripture again. In addition, further reading of the coming about of this book and many of the lives changed by its messages is an inspiring thing.

 

Daily life here is a fast paced, high intensity workout of the mind, soul, and body, though only if you make it so. It is certainly possible to cruise through and get along with a minimum of effort just as several people I´ve seen have done, but they'll have a very difficult time connecting with the people they teach and the Spirit itself when they're getting out in the field in less then three weeks. That's right, we're halfway done here! The classes, study periods, additional study tools, times of service, meal times, gym times, and (My personal favorite) the Devotionals blend into each other, and much of the lsat few weeks has become a blur.

 

This MTC is going to be huge. We started off with thirty Hispanic missionaries and about eighty gringos, but now we're over four hundred strong, with more arriving every week. Every two weeks, another wave of Hispanics head out, and in three weeks, we're on our way. But you can hardly throw a language notebook in frustration without hitting some new Elder in the back of the head. Meal times are absoluteltely frantic, and its a desperate rush with a little bit of luck and a prayer thown in for good measure to get any of the really good food before they go back to leftovers. It is absolutely fantastic, even though are excellent team of teachers has been cut down to two. We're still good friends wwith the rest, and continually trying to convince them to bring us tacos and quesadillas from outside the CCM's walls. No success yet, but our spirits are high.

 

This has also been an incredible learning experience for me. I thought I had a pretty good idea of my faults and successes before I left, but I was incredibly wrong. Living with a companion full time, day in and day out, is a completely different experience to anything I've had before. It's been a struggle at times, a joy at others, and through it all I've experienced growth that I've never expected. All notions of pride and selfishness I had before are quickly blasted away by specific challenges I've had to face. Whenever something goes wrong for me now, I quickly ask myself, how can I learn and grow from this. I feel so much better then I did before, and this has been a lesson that I won´t be quick to forget.

 

By the way, I´ve been called to be a new Zone leader here, along with my companion. It's an interesting situation, with our Branch Presidente being out of reach for six of the seven days, and a continually growing branch. We'll be having six districts of ten-fourteen Elders and Sisters in them in a few weeks time under our supervision. We´ll be working closely with District leaders in making sure things run smoothly, and sure enough, several problems that require our attention showed up the day after we were called to the position. Additionally, these problems require us to step out of our comfort zones and deal with situations neither of us have a great deal of experience with. Funny how the Lord works sometimes, huh? Now don't get me wrong, I am super excited about this calling. I can't help but feel that there are people I'm supposed to help that only I can reach, and that I'll receiving divine support every step of the way.

 

We haven't yet had the privelage of a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles showing up for a devotional, but we have seen many videos of their MTC devotionals and even had a Seventy, Elder Benjamin De Hoyos (father to my Branch President haha) show up to speak to us. Each experience is powerful and inspiring, as befitting the receiving of a message from one of these esteemed men. The most exctiting that we have yet received is an incredible message from Feb 2012 by Jeffrey R Holland to the Provo MTC. Oh, was it incredible, one of the craziest rollercoaster rides of a talk I have ever experienced. We heard loving support from this Apostle, followed immediately by the fire he is known for as he denounced Missionaries who waste this special time in our lives and especially those who come home without their mission having effected them much. We heard him preach the truth of the Book of Mormon and the importance, nay, the absolute necessity of having the Spirit with you as you preach this Gospel. All of this was said with the same complexity of speech and passionate devotion to the Savior Jesus Christ that he is renowned for, and there was not an unmotivated soul in the audience that night. It was an incredible experience, and something that I feel has inspired me to use this time to reach new heights and conquer obstacles previously unchallenged. After all, ´´We are a terrific force, out to save the world.´´ What an amazing experience.

 

So, there you have it. Now for some amusing stories from down here in Mexico City.

My companion, having never seen a palm tree in his native city in the far north, was astounded by these trees and especially their fronds. In a burst of inspiration, he aquired several that had fallen to the ground and decorated our apartment with them. Sadly, cleaning people mistook the decorations as garbage and threw it away, to the delight of everyone except Elder Jensen. One of our apartment mates, Elder Santillan, challenged him to gather more jokingly, and the game was on. We would, during our lunch time, collect over a dozen palm fronds from around the campus, and proceed to carpet the floor around Elder Santillan´s bed with them. After our victory, we would later decorate the entire apartment with these leaves.

I have grown quite the reputation here! I am not only one of the best white goalies around, but I am an incredibly comitted volley ball player and ping pong champion. Dancing has become a talent of mine known by people I don´t even know, and several of my jokes and phrases have spread into popular usage. My knack for singing has gotten me a few fans, and me practicing my Spanish hymns is often used to quiet down the District during study time. Though I am not particularly happy about this one, I have a small reputation as one of the biggest flirts on campus, thanks largely to my companion's nature of repeating his favorite stories and events to anyone and everyone, several times over. I did get him back, by labelling him a professional bird watcher, and now people we've never met before come up to us and ask him what kind of bird they saw earlier was.

I´ve seen several people that I know! Devyn Clanton arrived two weeks agoDale´s younger brother Ty showed up in the last few days. It's been pretty nice to see them!

There have been many, many wonderful experiences here. I wish I could share them all, but the imposed time limit and my naturally poor memory keep my responses pretty limited.

 

Thank you again, all of you, for your letters, support, packages, and love. I can certainly feel it as I go about my days here, and each and every single one of you are in my prayers. Thank you all for everything that you do, and please continue being such wonderful people. May God bless each and every single one of you, in times of happiness and times of sadness. I look forward to hearing from you next week.

 

Love,

Elder Richardson

 

(P.S. Mom, if you want to send any packages, putting pictures of Jesus on the box seems to keep away unwanted hands. I love that!)

July 16, 2013 More from the CCM

Hello family and friends! It´s absolutely crazy how fast time flies here. Two weeks have passed since we arrived, and while the workload makes it feel like it has been a month and a half, it still feels a bit that we arrived only a few days ago.

 

First of all, I am incredibly grateful for the letters, mail, and packages sent to me. Thank you all so much for your love and support! I smile just at the thought of the words you´ve sent, and they certainly help keep my spirit soaring when times are a bit tougher.

 

President and Sister Richter, thank you so much for the wonderful little package. The peanut related foods were a fantastic addition to the food here. We had some leftover bread spread out between the Elders in our District after Sunday, and we feasted on Peanut Butter and Peanut Butter Sandwiches. They were deliciously peanut buttery. Also, the humor of the great many packing peanuts was not lost on us, and we laughed and ate peanuts late into the night, but not after the required sleeping time. Thank you again for the food and the words of kindness.

 

Elder Babbitt, I´ll express my gratitude more fully to you in a seperate letter, but it was a joy to receive your gifts. I really had not expected the bounty of prizes you sent, and rest assured that I will make the most out of them! The German soccer shirt and four ties especially. The books I will certainly pore over in my free time! Also, expect some Chilean candy in return for your awesome Costco-purchased candy treasures! Thank you so much, bro. You're the best!

 

Dad, I still occasionally take a peek at the letter you sent. The quotes inside of it are fantastic, and I love the overall message. I'm certainly trying my hardest to make this more of an adventure, and less of a two year prison sentence like some of the Elders here believe. You're words really help me to stay positive, and I am incredibly grateful for your early sent off letter. I love you Dad!

 

Sam, it was wonderful to get that email from you! I certainly hope to hear all kinds of fun stories of Ohio and all of your many adventures. I too miss our texts, but am grateful for your support and kindness and look forward to the day we can text once more!

 

Steven, your letter was great, buddy! The warning about the different keyboards south of the border was well timed. It took me a short while, but I figured out the different punctuation locations and the ability to put accents on pretty quickly. I hope you enjoy these letters, and laugh at my inexperience with the Spanish language. My companion had it worse then I originally. He went around for the first few days explaining to people that he was embarrassed because he didn't know the language too well. Except he didn't use the correct word for embarrassed, but 'Embarasado.' Everyone had a good laugh when a Maestro pulled him aside to explain what he was really saying.

Augh! My finger accidentally hit the tab key, which sent off the letter before I knew what had happened.

 

Kendra! You're letter was fantastic! Tell the kids I love them and miss them, but I look forward to telling them all kinds of cool stories and playing Rock Band 4 or Guitar Hero 7 or Accordian Hero or whatever is the game at the time with them in a little less then two years. Congratulations on the kids all getting full days of school! You're finally going to get time to relax and watch soap operas and catch up on all the things you put aside for that silly thing called a family, right? Haha, I crack myself up just thinking about it.

You mentioned a special FHE that you had. That is excellent! There is an incredible difference between just hanging out with others and inviting the Spirit to enlighten everyone. It is certainly something I've seen here at the CCM, when talking and sicussing with other Elders. Often times, it is very easy to slip into English and talk about some fun thing we shared interest in before, or dreams we have for after, but nothing gets done! Many of the Elders in my week are actually using less Spanish then in the first few days. But when the Spirit is invited, and the Elders and Hermañas are working together to accomplish and learn and grow in the Gospel, wonderful things can happen. The language is learned by leaps and bounds. Normal lessons transcend from early morning Seminary (With just as many people asleep haha) to visiting General Authority levels of attention and edification. It is a wonderful experience to be a part of, and the Spirit is making its blessings pretty clear to witness. Thank you for all that you do and the wonderful inspiration you and your family are to me. Keep being so cool!

 

Hey Mom! I just got your letter! Thanks for all the information! To answer your question, no, we will not be going to the temple every week. It´s supposed to be every other week, and sadly, our last visit is timed when the Temple will be renovating and unavailable. I still look forward with bated breath to the next visit a week from today. It will be great!

Miguel Ruiz is a teacher playing an investigator he taught on his mission. We finished up with him earlier this week, and are now starting with two new investigators, both teachers, this week. The lessons are fun, if a little challenging to prepare and give, but I´ll get more into that later.

I see Hermaño Ramsey every once in a while! I enjoy discussing things with him or talking with the other teachers who think he is a really cool guy. Also, he might not know this, but I heard a pretty great story about him. Some of our roommates (By the way, we got our final pair, bringing us to a full six. They are Latino Elders from Mexico, and their names are Elder Yerena and Elder Gamboa. They are always delightful to talk about and keep asking us if we have questions they can answer about Spanish. We have been having an incredible amount of fireworks late at night and early in the morning for over a week now, and when we asked about it, Elder Yerena simply said ´´party.´´ Such a well spring of information!) have Wil as a teacher, and over heard one of the Hermañas in their district talking about how cute the instructors were. Apparantly, for one of the Sister Missionaries, the teachers were the first real challenge of her mission. She wrote it down in her notebook, and now has to frantically change pages when the teachers are nearby. I was told this story and couldn´t help but crack up laughing. I fully expect David to tell Wil to stop robbing the cradle of the Sister Missionaries.

 

The language learning is still going well! It´s really slowed down a bit as the Missionaries have become more comfortable with each other and started speaking more in English. The teachers are very busy with waves of new arrivals coming in every week, (We expect another group of Gringo and Latino elders tonight and tomorrow.) and so they don´t have the chance to crack down haha. We´re still trying though! Elders are constantly reminding each other to speak in Spanish, and my companion and I still do vocabulary each day to try and improve. There is no replacing solid speaking though, which invites the Gift of Tongues and brings in the Spirit´s aid.

 

I had a wonderful food experience on Sunday, and I have to tell you about it. The meals have taken a strange turn lately, a bizarre mix of American and Mexican food that doesn´t appeal totally to either culture, leaving many missionaries quietly unsatisfied. But Sunday, the awesome chefs went full out with this cordon bleu masterpiece, and I went back for thirds. This wonderful raspberry drink went with it, and people were once again crying over the deliciousness. It was amazing. The food has since returned to its normal state, but we aren´t gatting sick and still enjoy a great deal of the meals here. I´ve gained a whole new appreciatioin for Zucaritas, or Frosted Flakes in America.

 

Thanks for the shirt folding instructions! I discovered that the store has recently stocked hangars, so my adventures in folding are put to a brief standstill. The instructions will certainly come in handy in a few weeks though!

 

Tell Grandpa and Grandma that I love them! I hope they are still doing well. Your comments about the cats made me laugh out loud here in the computer lab, drawing a few strange stares. I miss the little fur balls, but I´m glad that they´re in good hands. Its good to hear that the family is busy! I love to hear the positive stories, and hope everything works out in the negative ones. Tell David that since we play this indoor soccer game, the goal is much smaller. Though I haven´t been kneed in the head, I have certainly smacked my dome on the low bar a few times while going after the ball. I´ve gotten this strange reputation as the best Gringo goalie, and the players who have played before don´t hold back anymore when going against me. I might need to invest in a pair of goalie gloves! We also have started playing Volleyball now, and we all have a great time doing that. Its so much fun to play with a bunch of people who aren´t too good and don´t take it seriously at all. Jokes are flying more than the ball itself, and everyone looks forward to gym as much as anything else.

 

Tell Kyla (And everyone else, really) that they are in my prayers. I love and miss you all a lot, but I´m trying to focus on the work. It turns out that homesickness and withdrawels from all of my favorite things can´t find a place if I´m being worked to the bone out here! The Spirit is strong here, especially during the devotionals and the many classes. We´ve gotten to hear several General Authority messages over video, and each one is powerful and a great boon to us all. I´m grateful for the habit I posess of writing notes. These talks are not things one would want to miss out on.

 

Things really are going great out here! I´ve only had a few problems with anything, mostly involving my companion and issues focusing, but they have been really humbling experiences for me. Intense prayer and earnest effort bring about incredible results, and the changes are exquisite. I do hope that things improve with my relationship with Elder jensen, but we´ll see what the Lord has in mind!

 

Speaking of whom, he´s pacing behind me, ready to leave. I love you all, and pray for you! I look forward to writing you next week. Any questions you have, I would be happy to answer. Has Kendra told you how to post these on Facebook yet, Mom? I would love to hear how people are liking this little letters haha. Thank you all so much for everything that you do, especially your prayers. Every little one helps!

 

With love,

Elder Richardson

July 9, 2013 - Second Edition

Hello again Familia y amigos! Elder Jensen and I rushed through the majority of our Preparation Day plans and found some extra time that we could use to finish our letters home.

 

Before I had to hurry off, I was talking about our normal day in the CCM. Our District spends the vast majority of the day together and in our little classroom. The only times we're in our apartment is for sleeping and showering, as all studies (Personal, language, companion, and additional) are too be in the class room. As such, our little band has become pretty close. Each companionship is something special and adds a lot to our group. Everyone has great experiances to contribute, and we are all very friendly towards each other. Only divinity could have gotten so many working personalities together for such a great cause. We try to stay unified in our goals, reading the scriptures out loud occasionally and having lots of songs and prayers, naturally all in Spanish. Its a wonderful experiance!

 

Speaking of music, I wanted to let you know about some things in that area. Music players are not permitted on the campus, so my little MP3 player and awesome speaker have been shelved until the day I can ask my Mission President his preferences on them. But it has not been a problem at all. Music is sung freely and joyfully here, especially the Missionary tunes. The Latino Elders, who have been here for a week and been able to further get to know each other, have often banded together to shout praises and himnos at the top of their lungs. Usually late at night. They all scatter at the sign of leadership after quiet time to the drum beat of running feet, which further adds to the musical quality of the evening. A few nights ago some other companionships and I tried to get back by singing the songs in English at around the same time, but they all came out and then we sang together in Spanish, and a great time was had. The Latino Elders are all on their way to the mission field now, since their time here is only two weeks, but they were very inspiring examples of how to live and how to learn here.

 

Our apartments our nice. They are simple, and have room for six elders in a dorm. One shower though, so the mornings are rushed, even though we only have four elders total. The shower is an adventure in itself, I must tell you. It frequently fluctuates between fire and ice cold, and the pressure is sometimes disappointing. Still, we manage quite well, and are very comfortable. Our room overlooks the main road outside the CCM, and the view is splendid, especially early in the morning and in the middle of the day. We have this beautiful mountain with so many buildings going up the side of it, its crazy! It really is quite cool! Elder jensen and I also have a fun game we like to play, unique to Mexico City. At any given time, we like to look out our window and count how many emergency lights we can see. Our record is four Police cars and one ambulance. The sound of police sirens lull me to sleep, and I have a strange kindred with David's stories of Philedelphia.

 

Unfortunately, there are some negatives to the apartment. There were no hangars for us, so I have gotten really good at folding pants and my suit jackets. The shirts still confuse me though. Will report back on further folding journies. The apartment is also pretty sparse, aside from a few pictures of Temples in Mexico that aren't close to here. Oddly, the Mexico City Temple, which we visited today, is absent. Elder Jensen, not having palm trees where he is from, has stolen a few palm fronds from the grounds and decorated our walls with them. I also contributed, drawing a few flags of Chile and placing them sneakily around the dorm. The person who wants to iron, provided we ever get irons to iron with, will be in for quite a shock! Finally, we have mosquitos. Not little gnat like insects that buzz around and sting you. There are monstrous, radar upsetting behemoths that like to soar around and suck people through their harpoon mouths. We have taken to leashing the smaller ones, and intend to feed them on the new wave of Greenies arriving tonight and tomorrow. The Latino Elders laughed at us, and then went and hid behind their mosquito nets.

 

I mentioned the Temple. Wow, what a trip! We haven't been able to leave the walled off grounds as of yet, so we were as excited for the drive around the city as we were to go to the temple haha. It is a whole different world. The streets seem to twist and turn and possess a hatred for modern city planning. The buildings are super colorful, but trash lines the streets and things seem very broken down. The people are walking around in their dozens, or literally hanging off of buses on their way to work. We are especially fond of the driving here. I've learned that driving rules are scoffed at, and street lines and lights are for the amusement of foreigners. It was so great! This whole culture shock was incredible, even if we rode un the shelter of a nice bus. Also, we saw some missionaries, and cheered very loudly. They looked very befuddled.

 

The Temple is incredible. It reminds me a little of Mesa, with it's vertical orientation, but its quite unique. It is beautiful inside, and the Celestial Room is something that everyone should get the chance to see. It was great going through a session completely in Spanish as well, even if I had to get a bit of help. Oh, it was great. The Spirit was so incredibly strong inside and out, and you could practically feel angels around you. There is this massive painting of Christ's visit with the Nephites, and I have definitely promised myself to spend a few pesos on a copy should I ever see one. The photos we took outside were also pretty good. I do believe that the photos I've taken can only be uploaded through a USB port, which I don't have with my camera. Does Kendra or Jared have any suggestions, being photo people?

 

Oh, how wonderful it is to be here! My bag is so full of books that I have taken to carrying around the small drawstring bag provided by the CCM just to carry my books from class to class. And I'm using them  all! Class or devotional, they're with me. When I met with my Branch President, an always smiling Presidente De Hoyas, they were with me. By the way, he is fantastic. It is great to hear his testimony and his abilities to play the piano. Amazing.

 

I think that's mostly everything! Send my thanks to President Richter for his thoughts. I can feel the love of him and his wife, and look forward with anticipation to their package. Letters and packages take quite a while to get here, and even longer to go back, so I hope I'll still be around when it gets here. Dad's letter just got here yesterday, and I really do appreciate his quotes and the wonderful message. Thanks to Elder babbitt for his kind words. I look forward to hearing more from him! I don't have the CCM address with me though, so maybe you can give it to him?

 

Thanks again for all that you do! I love you all so much!

 

Sincerely,

Elder Richardson

July 9, 2013 Mexico MTC

¡Hola familia y amigos! This first week has been absolutely crazy here in the MTC, or as its known down here, the CCM. It feels like a month has gone by, not just a mere seven days since I boarded a plane in Pheonix. Rest assured that the seven days have been very well spent, and that I'm going to bounce around quite a bit as I tell you all about it!

 

First off, I would like to mention that I have my compañero! His name is Elder Jensen, and he is from Logan, Utah. He was a professional Ultimate Frisbee player before coming out here, and he loves music because his dad is in the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. Though he tends to be a bit of introvert out in public, he has certainly proved to be a spiritual giant. He has the faith to succeed, and we get along incredibly well. We've spent a week in each other's company, and have only had a single heated discussion, which was quickly soothed over with stories and hugs and the Spirit. He is an incredibly fantastic person, and I am very glad to be blessed as his companion over the next five weeks.

 

The two airport greeters that didn't know any English were only a shadow of what was to come. In a real sink or swim situation, seventy gringos (The first foreign missionaries to be trained in Mexico! It's a really big deal here, apparently. News reporters and people working for the church are always trying to find some unprepared missionaries and ask them questions. Some of the elders even had paparazzi tailing them as they got off the planes haha) were thrown into a complex where the vast majority of staff did not know a lick of our native language. And the people who did, refused to speak it haha. The Latino Elders and Hermañas were ready to bombard us "Greenies" with complex Spanish, but were incredibly nice during the artillery barrage.

 

But thank goodness for it all! I'm actually having a bit of trouble writing this letter to you all in English, since I've spent the better part of a week writing predominantly in Spanish haha. We're all speaking the language just as much as we do our native tongues, and its a whole lot of fun realizing that I understand so much more of what is being said in conversation. I've learned more than I did in two years of Spanish in High School, though what that says about my study habits back then I'm not ready to admit. It's a wonderful language, and the learning process is a joy! When that strange word finally clicks, or when a phrase becomes readily understandable because you understand its meaning rather then its translation, oh the celebration! The Maestros and Hermañas involved in the teaching are wonderful, enthusiastic, and well prepared to help us all individually. Though the CCM is turning more towards Gospel study rather then language preparation, learning is still here in plenty. The Gift of Tongues is being doled out here, and the end result is something fantastic to see. We've already given three simulation lessons to investigators, a half hour long each, completely in Spanish. I can't wait to come home and be able to speak in this great language with all of you! Funny story, I actively used the phrase "Escuchar me" (Listen to me) when I bumped into people around campus for almost the entire first week. I left many confused faces after I demanded their attention and walked away each time.

 

We are so busy here! Every day, we get up at 6:30 and start rushing through the day! Classes, meals, gym time, and more are all on a strict schedule. The focus and intensity is a bit ridiculous, and I love it. We get stuff done, and are exhausted in such a good way when we get back. By the way, the food is one of my favorite things about this place. There's always something new and exciting on the menu, and there is plenty of it. The portions are impressive, but we burn through with all that we do and are starving by the time the next meal comes around! We rarely have something I have tasted before, and each time, it is absolutely fantastic. The side bars contain all the fruits and side meals one could ask for, and they are usually changed up for each meal, so no meal has been the same as another. Drinks and desserts are usually strange concotions only found south of the border, each a strange taste but a very, very good one. It is wonderful! I understand why Missionaries mention gaining weight during their time at the MTC, because despite any feeble attempts by Elders here to eat healthier, we are enjoying a whole lot of heavenly comida every day, three times a day. After our 24 hour-ish fast though, we had hamburgers for lunch, big great hamburgers with fries and sodas. The Elders were cheering and high fiving, and there might have been more than a few tears shed in the festivities.

 

Gym has been a lot more fun than expected. We're at a bit higher elevation here, so for the first few days, winded and passed out Gringos were a regular occurence. Basketball is very popular, and the games are very intense. The fitness room just opened up, and the bycicles inside are always in use. My time at the YMCA certainly prepared me for that! Elder Jensen and I have been trying to find new things to do each day, and the results have been pretty good so far. An indoor soccer game (I was goalie, and actually did pretty good! Watch out Chile, here comes Elder Richardson!) and an attempt to play volleyball are our noticeable go to's for now. I say attempt because the Maestros kind of claimed the sand court, and we were a little too not profesional enough for their standards. Its great!

 

Most of all, we have classes. Classes to teach the language, classes to learn the Gospel, classes to prepare for classes, classes where we study on our own, you get the picture. Our teachers have simply been fantastic. Hermaños Findley, Silva, Cruz, and Arnold are joined by Hermaña Olmos and several Sisters I haven't interacted with. They are so enthusiastic! Oh man, when the teachers walk in and hug the Elders right out of their seats, you know you're going to have a great time. Class is always energetic, always bouncing. Though we spend hours and hours in those silly plastic chairs, it certainly doesn't feel like it! By the way, I ddi get to see Will, now known as Hermaño Ramsey, after he arrived. His plane was delayed by the volcano erupting in Mexico City, but it was a pretty joyous reunion after he made it. He also has turned out to be a pretty swell teacher, giving my companion and I some pretty excellent tips on remaking our language study plans. Also, his love for soccer has already shown in his ties, and that's a fun topic of conversation.

 

The investigator teaching was probably the biggest part of the week for us. For a half hour, we lock ourselves in with Miguel Ruiz, our District's investigator, and try to teach him. It has been difficult, to say the least, to speak entirely in Spanish and answer his questions, but the Spirit is strong and when we do well, our smiles are as big as they've ever gotten. We've committed him to baptism, though the question was the point of contention between my companion and I. That was not the most fun that I've had here. But everything is settled now, and the Spirit is back, so now we can continue to teach and ploan in harmony.

 

The Elders and Hermañas here are already great friends of mine. My District has eleven people, four companionships and a trio of sisters, and for now, our branch is limited to one district. All ten of these people are absolutely wonderful! In particular, Elder Stewart, our ever cheerful leader, Elders Roberts and Watson, the wonderful working companions, and the others are all perfect and great people to be around. The Missionary work is in good hands, and the vast majority of us are going to the same mission! One sister, though, is going to pheonix AZ. If you ever meet a Hermaña Welch, say hi for me!

 

I wish I could tell you more, and I will certainly put much more ina nother letter when I can, but we only have an hour to write these emails! Mail isn't really an option, so we're told, so we are allowed to write family and friends from these computers, though we only have that limited time. Feel free to share this address with any friends of mine, since getting your letters has been a joy beyond compare. I love you all, and want to bear my testimony to you.

 

I know this church is true. I know that the words I am teaching and the Spirit that I teach by are of God, and that His work is spreading fast through out all the Earth. What a joy it is to be part of this great work! Questions are answered, problems are resolved, and people find the strength to become the greatest individuals they can be. This is a message of love and caring, and the Spirit testifies to all of the truth of the Gospel, of Jesus Christ the Son of God. It is absolutely wonderful to be out here, and I am looking forward to serving in Chile with all my heart. Thank you everyone, for all of your love! I pray that the Lord will be with you all in times of joy and times of sadness.

 

With love,

Elder Richardson