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
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