ZONE CONFERENCE UPDATE...

Hey guys,

So this week has gone by pretty fast but the work has kind of slowed down due to the holiday and people being sick lately. Also, having Zone Conference in Helena takes away a couple of days. So about Zone Conference. I guess this one was a little different than the regular ones since it is a "Christmas Zone Conference". Usually they do a bunch of teaching experiences and role plays, but we didn’t do any of that. Thank goodness! It was more of a Christmas program with special musical numbers. It started with President Mecham talking for about 30-45 minutes on 2013 goals and all that good stuff. Then we sang some songs all together. Then we had lunch and played some games. One of the games we played was a white elephant tie trade thing. I ended up with an OK tie but I didn’t know we were trading ties so I lost a good one! :( After lunch and games we had special musical numbers by other missionaries which was cool. Then President Mecham asked the APs and some other missionaries that had been out awhile to bear their testimonies and that was it.

 As for this week we only taught 2 real lessons. One was to an Investigator named Abby who is progressing great. I was in charge of the lesson and Elder McKee said he would save me if it went downhill. HA-HA Luckily it didn’t it was on The Gospel of Jesus Christ and it went great!! We also taught an awesome less active guy named Jimmy M. He is a huge hunter and has all sorts of sheds and has a couple huge deer mounts! And he gave us some pepper sticks! YUM! Anyway I think one of our main focuses is going to be to reactivate him.

Anyway so Dad wanted an awesome story and I have one! It was actually from my first week out I just forgot to put it in the last letter. We went to visit Sister T, an active member who is older and has a hip problem so she can't make it to church anymore. I don’t even remember what we were talking to her about but the subject got on Angels and how they walk with us and help us in times of trials. We were sitting on a couch across from 2 big chairs, she sat in the left one. As she was talking to us about story’s when she has seen angels play a role in her life, I couldn’t help but feel that there was somebody in the room with us. We later found out that her Husband had passed away a couple years ago and that other Chair was where he always sat. It was such a cool experience and after we left I talked to Elder McKee about it and he said he felt the same thing!

So to answer your questions:

Can you Skype on Christmas? Yes I can!!! We found out at zone conference the rule changed so I will be over at the Shaws when I Skype. I don’t know what their Skype name is or when we will be over there, but I'll let you know next Monday!

Do you have a family that has invited you over for dinner on Christmas Eve and Christmas? Yes 2 families have invited us over on Christmas and we are having a Christmas Eve party with the Kalispell Zone at the Shaw's house!!!

Do you live in a members home in the basement? We live in the Basement of the Schaffers 3 story cabin. But they live down the street in a smaller house and nobody is living in the cabin but us.

Are you driving yet or do you have to wait awhile? I have to wait and I don’t know how long. But that’s allright with me because I can look for deer while he drives! ha ha

How much money a month do you get for food? you get $135 per month for shopping.

Has your ward had a Christmas party yet? We cover 2 wards and both of them had their Christmas parties this week. One was Friday and the other was Saturday. They were great. Lots of free food and lots of non-members/less actives!

Do you like the ward you serve in...are the people nice? The Wards are great! The members out here would do anything for the missionaries and each other! I think it is because it is a small town but I don’t know.

How's the work going? It's going ha ha! We just have a couple of serious investigators, and we just found out like an hour ago that we have a recent convert and her son being evicted so we are going to try and help them out however we can!

Did the belts arrive from Pomeroys? Yes they did thanks so much!! That one belt that has like a ratchet system is awesome!!!!!!

What can we send your companion for Christmas? gift cards would be awesome we have a subway, burger king, and pizza hut – but send me one to :) ha ha!

Where should dad be hunting? Tell dad to go back by the Biosphere and glass the hill below the top of water tanks and to the left of the Haystacks. That is where I saw 3 coues bucks last time I was out there. He should know what I’m talking about!!

That's it for now! I sent off a Christmas package your way today so I hope it makes it there. Also- congrats on finishing finals Jessica!! I hope you can enjoy your break from school. Sounds like Mom is having fun with her calling in YW which is great! And its awesome that you got to get out and do some hunting Dad!! That's cool that muzzy's are flying well for you, now just stick one in a buck!

P.S. - You know you aren’t going to shoot a deer because you don’t have my eagle eyes 

there to find them for you!! ha ha Just kidding you'll get one - keep trying and practicing!

P.S.S - I've attached pictures for you. Some are clear back from the MTC. Sorry this is the first chance I've had to send them! We even have a Christmas Tree and stockings hanging from the rafters!!!! 

Love you all,

Elder Richardson