MY FINGERS ARE TIRED!

Hey!

Well I just wrote a long email and it all randomly deleted before I finshed so I'm going to write a shorter one since my fingers are tired!! SORRY!

Anyways, this week has been great! Mainly because we got to see each other and talk over skype! I can't believe we only skype one more time before I go home! Man time has flown by! Well Getting to talk to you was seriously the best Christmas present ever!! I Can't wait to be back home for the Holidays this next year though! 

So here was our week in a nutshell! I was pretty sick Thursday and Friday (when we skyped on Christmas day...Jake felt like he was getting sick) so not much happened. Although Friday we had a good district meeting and we went out with Bro. Sorenson that night and taught a couple lessons which was great! Saturday we spent trying to find/contact people which ended up being really difficult and costing us a lot of miles! Sunday was great! We had a investigator come to church named D.C. who the other Elders starting teaching! I think she still wants to be baptized too which would be fantastic! It was the 5th Sunday and we had a great combined lesson on New years resolutions and setting goals! The guy who taught did an excellent job! 

As for toady it should be a pretty good P-Day because our whole Zone is getting together at the Stake Center in Riverton! So it should be a blast and I might actually get to play some B-Ball! 

Anyway,  I love you all so much and am so glad I got to talk to you this week!

I hope this week is a good one for all of you!

-Elder Richardson

CHRISTMAS SKYPE...

JUST LOVED SKYPING WITH OUR MISSIONARY ON CHRISTMAS - BEST PRESENT EVER!!!

LOVING THE NEW AREA!

Hey!

This week has been crazy to say the least, but I will get to that later! First off my new area in Wyoming is awesome! Dubois is so pretty! Pavillion not so much, but the people are awesome. We were only able to spend 2 days up in Dubois because we had a meeting back in Riverton on Saturday. Our Branch Mission leader there is so sick! He took us out after dinner one night to look for bighorn sheep but we didn't see any although we did see a herd of 60 elk and tons of deer!!! Our house in DuBois is awesome the Wind River is 20 yards from our back door! To bad I can't fish because the members that own the house we stay at said the fishing is excellent!

 Pavillion is a very big/spread out area. We went to church in Pavillion and ended up teaching Gospel Doctrine, which is no surprise since whenever someone doesn't show up the Elders are asked to do it -haha. It was actually a really good lesson and we even had a few people in tears!! The family we live with there is pretty cool. The Dad is a big hunter so we get along pretty well! Litterally everyone up here hunts it is great!!! It makes it so much easier to talk to people and help them feel comfortable around the missionaries! I feel that I was definitely sent to this area for a reason. 

Apparently we are going to have to regain the trust of some of the members though. One of the last Elders that was here is pretty bold/pushy/thought he knew everything. Everyone here that we have met has told us about him. I hope we can rebuild some trust and really get the members involved! Our Branch mission leader in Pavillion is very on top of missionary work. I am looking forward to working with him. 

We have a few investigators and one is even on date but we have not been able to meet many of them since we have been all over the place. This next week should be more normal since we will be in Pavillion the whole time! We have a car again. Our area would be impossible to cover without a car! It is nice to have a car and not have to walk around in the cold! We go to Riverton on Monday's so we can email since Pavillion doesn't have a library. That is where all that money went. I hardly have anyfood because when I randomly got transferred from Harlo after Elder Sagers went home, I had to leave like $80 of food!! So I am sorry about spending so much money and I should be good now since we get paid in a week!

I am so excited to talk to you!! We are going to be able to Skype from the Stahelis who we live with. I don't know there skype info though so I will just call you and figure it all out Wednesday. What time would work best for you guys to skype me? I should be able to do it almost anytime but there is only one computer so I will have to check with Elder Kilmon on when he wants to skype. It will all work out though! I know/have heard of three of the Elders you mentioned! That is pretty crazy! I will make sure to tell them!

Well I am so grateful for this time of year! I love the Christmas season! Everyone just seems so much more happy. my outlook on Christmas has changed since I have been on a mission. Which I am so grateful for! I am so grateful for my Savior and what he did for me! There is no better time of the year to be a missionary than right now! I hope you all will remember what Christmas is truly about! I love you tons and can not wait to talk to you in a couple of days!

-Elder Richardson

_________________________________

Hey Dad!

First off you need to send me a picture of you in all your camo! Haha! I am glad you were able to get out and hunt a little and see some deer and a few bucks! I litterally could have killed 5 bucks within 20 yards of me in the 2 days we were in Dubois! 

My new area is awesome! Everyone here hunts so we should get along pretty well and hopefully I can use that to my advantage and get in some houses other missionaries could not! You would seriously love it here!

 I will make sure to send some pictures next week! I am going to keep this weeks email short since we have to go soon but I can't wait to talk to you on Wednesday! We should be able to skype so that will be awesome!

 I love you tons!

-Jake

ELDER RICHARDSON'S NEW ADDRESS:

Elder Richardson

11653 HWY 26

Kinnear, Wyoming82516

A CRAZY AND SAD WEEK...

Hey!

This last week has been crazy to say the least! First off, Elder Sagers was sent home. I am not going to go into detail about it, but it surprised both of us. We thought when they told us we were going to be staying together in Harlo he was safe and given another chance. A couple days later they called with the bad news! It was hard to see a good friend go home early from his mission. Especially such a great missionary like Elder Sagers. It just goes to show that no matter how good of a missionary you are or how obedient you are being, Satan can get to you. He knows your weaknesses and he wants you to fail! 

I was really surprised that they are shutting the Harlowton area down for right now. I am honestly happy to go somewhere where I will see other missionaries and have a change of scenery but I am not to excited to be transferred a week before Christmas! I just hope we can meet some friendly members this Sunday and find a place to Skype! I am so excited to talk to you guys!!! I can not wait. 

Yes - I do need some socks. I could use like 5 pairs. Also a couple shirts would be nice to. Maybe like 1 long sleeve and a short sleeve! Thanks! Anyway my new companion is Elder Kilmon. He was actually in my MTC district but went home after 2 weeks because of medical reasons but came back out like 4 weeks later. Right before our year mark he went home again for like 6 weeks because of medical issues and now he is with me. We don't have a lot in commen, but I'm sure we will do fine though! He actually arrived in Harlo when they came to pick up Elder Sagers. We will close this area and we leave tomorrow for Wyoming.

We are both being transferred to Pavillion, WY. Apparently there are only like 240 people there - haha! And I thought Harlo was small! We also cover a town called DuBois which I have heard is very pretty and there are about 1000 people there! Pavillion is also only like 20 or so minutes from Riverton I think so it will be nice to be close to somewhere with a walmart and what not! I believe we ill be on the North East side of the Teton Mountains and not to far from Grandee & Papa in Idaho. 

I thought I would let you know that I got packages from the Thomas's, Grandma and Grandpa Richardson, Jessica, and Grandee and Papa. I also got the card from the Westerns! I will make sure to fill out that forwarding slip thing today before we leave. I'll have to call the mission office and get it so I can fill out the form there. Also I will give you my new address as soon as I can so you can send your package! 

Not much happened this week with all that went down but we did get to do a few fun things. There was a basketball tourney here in Harlo and we had someone take us to the games 2 of the 3 nights! It was pretty fun and makes me miss playing sports a ton! Also we had a branch Christmas party. It was completely different from the ward parties I am used to. I am honestly pretty sure half the people that showed up  were not members, and they showed up just so they could have a hot meal. It was pretty sad to see that. But hopefully they enjoyed the feeling there. It just makes me that much more grateful for all that I have been blessed with. While I was growing up you always told me how much I took stuff for granted, and that is a understatement! I am so blessed to have such a wonderful loving family, a roof over my head, food to eat, and many of the things that I wanted over the years! It is crazy to see how the people live here. Back home kids thought doing drugs and drinking was cool but out here these kids would do anything to get away from the drugs and drinking and go to a nice college! It truly makes me realize how blessed I am!

I love you guys so much and am soooooo grateful for everything you do for me and believing in me even when I was so ungrateful and disrespectful!

I love you and can't wait to talk to you next week!!!!

-Elder Richardson

________________________________________

Dad!

This last week has been pretty crazy to say the least and it definitely hasn't been easy! With all the switching of companions and getting randomly transferred before Christmas. It is a hard situation but I just have to have faith that the Lord knows where I need to be! I have heard the area we cover called Dubois is super pretty so I am excited to see what it looks like. I was going to send home my binoculars but decided I might want to keep them a bit longer haha! 

Hearing about your latest hunting adventures has made my week! I wish I could be there so badly with you especially to see you stick your first buck with a bow! You better keep practicing out to 50-60yards! It isn't easy to get within 40! I am glad you saw some bucks to get your blood pumping! I was thinking you should try to take some video of your time bow hunting this year so I can watch it when I get home. use one of those video cameras from your work or something! That would seriously be so cool!!!

I am so excited to talk to you and everyone else this next week! I really hope we can find someone with Skype! I also hope we can find someone to feed us on Christmas!!! Yes - I am going to be in the same zone as the Lander Elders. I am just excited to be in an area where I can see some other missionaries for a change! 

Well I hope you have a great week and get to get out a little more to chase some deer with the ole' stick and string! 

I love you Dad!

-Jake

A SLEEPLESS NIGHT!!!

Last night Scott and I were looking at Facebook right before bed...and saw that Elder Sagers had gone home (he posted pictures at the airport with his family) - so this mother did not sleep very well last night wondering what was going on and how her son was doing. He was excited in his last letter to have have Elder Sagers again as his companion. Around noon today we received this email from Jake...

Just thought I ought to email you and let you know I just found out I am being transferred this coming Tuesday to a place called Pavillion, Wyoming - so don't send any more mail to Harlowton!


Then we wrote back for him to make sure to talk to the post office and have everything forwarded to his new address because a lot of you family members and friends were mailing cards and treats to him. We had a reply a few hour later from him...


I can't talk today as it is not P-Day but I am doing fine! I will tell you more about what is going on up here on Monday. Seriously though - I am doing fine and you don't need to worry! I will talk to the lady at the post office this Monday about forwarding stuff! I got a package slip today but I can't get the package until Monday since the post office is closed!
I love you!


So friends and family...PLEASE hold off on sending anything to Elder Richardson until we get his new address. Thanks for thinking about him this holiday season.

A NEW "OLD" COMPANION FOR TRANSFERS...

Hey!

First thing first, I will be staying here in Harlowton and my companion will be...... Elder Sagers! Yup that's right the one I trained. This last week has been pretty crazy with Elder Richins leaving and all. Elder Richins and I were under the impression we were going to Billings Wednesday night and I would wait for a new companion and come back, well that all changed. The Zone Leaders and Elder Sagers came Wednesday night and stayed the night. The next morning they took Elder Richins to Billings so he could head home and Elder Sagers was staying with me until transfers. He was told he was only going to be here for like 6 days. Well that all changed last night when we got called with transfer info. We found out Elder Sagers and I are both going to be staying here this transfer! I am pretty excited! I am a little unsure about how good Christmas is going to be in Harlo but at least I have a companion I know and like! Other than that not much happened haha. 

(Picture of Elder Richardson & Elder Sagers 03/13 when they served in Columbia Falls, MT)

We went to the sportsman's bar and grill for lunch one day and ended up teaching the whole first lesson to a truck driver at the bar there. We ended up giving him a hard copy of the Book of Mormon and a copy of it on CD so he could listen to it while driving his semi along with the first three lesson pamphlets! It was a very neat experience. We also got to go to a elementary school Christmas play which was fun. We were able to watch the Christmas Devotional last night which was so nice! I love hearing from the leaders of our church! 

 The weather here has sucked lately! The coldest I have been in has been -21 but there was a day it was -17 but with the wind chill it felt like -32!!!!! I was dying and yes we have to walk around in this crap! Haha. I wish we had a car soooo badddd! I guess this next week it is supposed to warm back up to like 30 or something so I am looking forward to that! 

That is so cool that you are going to go out with the Sister Missionaries! My advice to you would just be bear simple but powerful testimony! You will do great! I hope you have a great week! I can not wait to Skype you guys! Also I haven't wrote Barbara back because I need her address so if you could get that to me that would be great!

Thanks!

Love,

Elder Richardson

_______________________________________________________

Hey Dad!

Well transfer info came last night and I am going to be staying here in Harlo and my companion is going to be Elder Sagers! Kind of crazy to be companions with someone who you trained. He has grown so much as a missionary since we were together. I am excited to see what this transfer brings! I am especially excited to try some new finding ideas since it is around Christmas time. Elder Sagers actually came to Harlo last Thursday and took Elder RIchins place so I could stay in my area. He was only supposed to be here until transfers but President felt good about the two of us being together and decided to leave him here. I don't know how excited I am to be in Harlo for Christmas but at least I will have a companion I like! I just hope we can have a fun Christmas. I got spoiled last year being in Kalispell though.

Well I guess I can say I told you so! Haha. I knew at least one trail camera would get stolen! At least you still have one because I thought they would both be gone for sure! You got some pretty cool pics on that one though...but did you even get a picture of a single deer? I guess you learned your lesson though! Haha. That is cool you got to see some deer. Doesn't the December bow hunt start like this week? You better get ready! I wish I could be there so bad!!!!! I can not wait to be chasing deer with you in a year!! I am so pumped. 

The Christmas devotional last night was great! President Monson did not look to good though. Also I thought it was interesting how many visuals they used during Elder Nelson's talk. Looks like the church is really starting to use technology a lot more these days. 

Well I hope you have a great week and get out a couple of times to shoot your bow and see some deer.

I love ya tons!!!

-Jake

A GOOD THANKSGIVING WEEK...

Hey!

This week was pretty good but sad at the same time not being at home and all. It was at least different than a normal week which made it seem to go by a little bit faster! We didn't do anything other than e-mail on P-day. I think that is what bothers me the most about this area is that there is nothing to do on P-days! I think it would be different if we had a car but we don't haha.

 This Wednesday we had Zone training down in Billings. It was nice to go to Billings and see some other missionaries for a change! This was by far the longest Zone Training I have been to on my mission. We had to get there at 8:30 and we didn't get done until 4:30! I love Zone trainings but man this one was just to long!

Thursday was pretty good seeing as it was Thanksgiving! We went over to the Jacobson's and had a great lunch and then played legos and soccer with their two little kids. It wasn't to bad, we really enjoyed ourselves -but it wasn't anything like Thanksgiving at home! 

I seriously missed home a ton this week between Thanksgiving and the fact that Richins is pretty trunky seeing as he goes home this Thursday! I just can't wait to be home for the Holidays next year!! Other than that our week was really uneventful. :/ Everything was shut down Thursday and Friday due to Thanksgiving. I honestly hope I am somewhere else for Christmas but we will see what the Lord thinks next Monday - haha.

It sounds like your week was pretty good! That is awesome you got to be there to see the Davidson's get sealed together! It is so cool that their kids were so calm during the ordinance! I miss the Temple so much! I hope we get to do another Temple trip soon. I wished I could of been there :/

Thanksgiving sounds like it was pretty busy for you guys! 8 Missionaries!!! That is crazy! I am so glad their are members like you guys though that help missionaries feel at home at times like the Holidays! It makes it so much easier!

To answer a couple of your questions my comp and I get along for the most part but he has gotten pretty trunky lately I think it might have to do with the fact that he got his flight info and everything. 

I don't know if we are going to be able to get our own tree this year but we found a small fake one in a closet upstairs so we put it up in the living room! 

As for axe products I would rather have old spice than axe! I don't really care what scent just get like swagger. Wait until next week to hear if I'm transfered before you mail any Christmas packages!

I hope you have a good week! I miss you so much!

Love,

Elder Richardson

---------------------------------------------------

Hey Dad,

This week has been pretty good. We were able to break our normal routine with having zone conference down in billings and having Thanksgiving on Thursday! It was nice to have a change and see some other missionaries down in Billings!

My comp has got pretty trunky lately which is harder. Seeing him make all these plans for when he gets home makes me think about what I want to do once I get home which isn't good! Haha. He flies home this Thursday so it will be interesting for me since I will be without a companion for about a week. I think I might just stay with the Zone Leaders in Billings but who knows. This week has by far been the slowest missionary work wise. I think it was because of the Holiday so I hope it will kind of pick up. 

We are supposed to be having a huge cold front come through which I am not excited about. We heard the high on Thursday is like 4 and the low is -9 and it is supposed to snow like 5-8 inches! (In reality Jake has experienced some pretty cold weather this week with -18 low and 2 degrees high and lots of snow...i'm sure he is missing Tucson!) It should get interesting! 

It is awesome that you have so many people wanting to share their testimonies that they line up! This Sunday we had like 16 people come to church so everyone gets to bear their testimony. I can't believe you put the trail cams at the azgfd drinkers! I will not be surprised if they are gone. (Jake was right...one of Scott's trail cams got stolen!) I would at least hike somewhere back in and put one where it has a better chance of surviving! Haha. I hope they are still there and get a few pics. You should put a label on them that says something like property of the US fish and wildlife service. I think the Pentax binos I used from your work had a label like that on it. You better start shooting your bow man! The hunt starts really soon! I can't wait to hear some hunting stories from you! Well I hope you get to do something fun this week! I can't wait to go hunting with you again!

 I love you!

-Jake

THE WEATHER THIS PAST WEEK IN BILLINGS WHERE JAKE HAS BEEN SINCE HIS COMPANION FLEW HOME BEFORE THE TRANSFERS

SOME SNOW THAT STUCK AROUND!

Hey family!

Nothing to exciting happened this week. It was pretty much the same as the last except for the weather. It was pretty cold this week but has started to warm up the last couple of days. One day, I think it was Tuesday, it snowed 3", it was 8 degrees and the wind was blowing like crazy! It was by far the coldest I have been on my mission so far! I guess the following morning it was like -14 degrees when our branch president left for work. I really hope that is as cold as it gets this winter because if it gets much colder I will freeze! 

Another thing we got to do this week was speak in church! What a surprise - haha! Apparently there was supposed to be a couple guest speakers from Billings but when they didn't show up we were asked to speak! I seriously hate speaking! I cannot wait to be in a big ward where you speak like once every 2 years! Other than speaking, church was pretty good! We had 2 less actives come to church! It was L. and her mom. I think it was actually a good thing we were the ones to speak at church since they came. Unfortunately they left after Sacrament meeting, but at least they came! 

We actually had a few dinners this week which was awesome! Brother Mager gave us a big chunk of deer meat from the deer he killed with us! Elder Richins cooked it and it was actually pretty good. We had the roast, mashed potatoes and gravy, rolls and corn! It was a pretty good meal for missionaries to cook themselves if I do say so myself! Haha. Other than that not much has happened this week. We found out this Wednesday we are going to Billings for Zone Training which should be good. At least we will get to see some other missionaries!

I am glad you got to celebrate your birthday this week Mom! I just wish I could have been there! Did you get my card? How was the movie? Was it as good as you thought it would be? I am so pumped for Thanksgiving! We have been invited to two different houses for dinner so I should be pretty full! 

I am seriously going to miss Thanksgiving at home! I can't believe I will be home next Thanksgiving though! It is pretty crazy to think about. That is awesome you are having the missionaries over for Thanksgiving! Those are the luckiest missionaries ever! 

That about sums up my week! I really hope you have a great thanksgiving! I thought instead of a challenge this week, I would share what I am thankful for this Thanksgiving -

I am thankful for a Mom that is so loving, supportive, and concerned about me. I am thankful for a Dad who is my best friend and shares the same interests I do. I am thankful for a supportive sister who is there whenever I need her. I am thankful for friends and family that are so loving and supportive. I am thankful for the opportunity I have to serve the Lord for 2 years even if it is hard at times! I am so thankful for the testimony I have of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the blessings it brings into my life! Most of all I am thankful for my Savior who atoned for my sins and made it possible for me to return to live with my Father in Heaven! I love you all and am thankful for all of you! 

Have a great Thanksgiving!

-Elder Richardson

p.s. - Tell everyone I'm mail hungry!!!   

Jake would LOVE some mail...so if you have a free minute this week slip him a note -

Elder Richardson

PO BOX #655
Harlowton, MT 
59036

__________________________________

Hey Dad!

This week hasn't been to exciting. It got super cold and I thought I was going to freeze. I think I got a little feel for what it was like for you over in Finland! I think I would have died! That is awesome that it is starting to cool down. Maybe it will stay cold until the December bow hunt starts and the rut will get started early! That would be awesome! Have you been able to shoot your bow this week at all. 

It sounds like you have been really busy with the changes in the ward and tithing settlement and everything! I am glad you were able to at least go out with mom and celebrate her birthday! That is so awesome that you are going to be able to go through the Temple with the Davidsons! That will be such a neat experience. I hope I will get the chance to do that with someone I have taught. That would be great.

We got invited to a couple of houses for Thanksgiving so I think we will be taken care of. We got an email today that told all the missionaries we aren't aloud to participate in any Turkey Bowls or similar events. I don't think they do one here anyways though. I don't think we will be going hunting with anyone else this year since the season ends at the end of the month and this was our last P-day to go, and we aren't. That is okay though. 

That was a great Idea to make the picture of my year mark shirt the background of your work computer! 

I hope someone says something about it to you and you can have a conversation about missionary work! I hope you get out this week and get to see some deer at least! I love and miss you. 

Do me a favor and do something fun for yourself this week!

-Jake

LOT'S OF SERVICE...

Hey!

 

This week has been good! We have been able to do a lot of service this week whether it be raking leaves or shoveling snow. Like you said mom we got a little bit of snow this week. If I remember right it snowed twice. Both times it put down a couple of inches not to much but enough to make it feel to much like winter - haha. What happened to it being 60 and sunny around Christmas! I am going to come home in November next year and it is going to be hot to me! I actually have gotten pretty used to the weather up here. 

Other than service this week we were able to teach a few lessons. We saw L this week and we found out she had to go to Billings with her Mom this Sunday so she didn't make it to church but she said she will be there for sure this Sunday. I guess we will see! Other than that not much happened this week.

 

I burned a white shirt this Thursday since I hit a year! Thanks so much for the package! The rolled up ones were cool but a pain - haha. Who ever folded that dollar into a buck did a good job! 

Since it was my year mark we went out to eat at the only place in town which is actually like a 15 minute walk - haha. It is called Wade's. It is the same place Bro. Sweat from Heber took that picture of us. It is pretty good food for the most part. 

This Sunday we had a pretty funny experience. Every Sunday night at 6:30 we go to the local Methodist Church because the Pastor there likes it if we come and visit I guess. All I know is everyone tells us to go  so we do - haha. Anyway this Sunday the Pastor was sick so he didn't show up. His congregation was waiting for him but then got tired of waiting and were all getting ready to leave right when we showed up at about 6:25. One lady kind of jokingly asked us if we would give a sermon! I said "I don't know about that" then another lady asked in a more serious way if we would really do it. I felt like I couldn't say no. I didn't know what we were going to talk about so I started looking through my Bible frantically! I decided we would talk about 1st Corinthians chapter 13. It's all about Charity. So we gave like a 15 minute Sermon on Charity in a United Methodist church! It was hilarious!!!  They were really happy and enjoyed it!
Since there is only one store in town they take advantage of it and it is really expensive!

It is crazy how much the ward grew with all the Tortilita ward members coming over! It's going to make my homecoming talk that much scarier! I seriously hate speaking. So Mom, do you still sit in the same bench every week even with the wards being rearranged? Lol. I wonder if I know anybody from the Tortilita ward that is now in our ward. That seriously sucks that we lost so many people!

Okay in my next box can I ask that you send me some food items that you know I like. Chips, snacks, cookies, mac n cheese, pb & j, etc. Since there is only one store in town they take advantage of it and it is really expensive. Also, we don't get invited to dinner very often here so I'm purchasing more food than in my other two areas, but with the same amount of money. Also, next time you make jerky to send to me will you do your terakki kind. I didn't like the plain kind - thanks!

Hey, mom, I'm sorry I missed your birthday yesterday but I'm sending you a card today. Not much you could do with it falling on a Sunday! Have fun going to dinner and a movie later this week with dad and jessica. 

Well I hope you have a great week and stay busy!

I love you guys so much!

-Elder Richardson

CHALLENGE FOR THE WEEK:

Really think about what your grateful for in your life and pray for those blessings. As Thanksgiving approaches I have been thinking about what I'm thankful for. I am blessed in so many ways and I want the Lord to know how grateful I am.

___________________________________________________

Hey Dad!

This week has been pretty good! We have been able to stay busy with service and a few lessons. Most of the questions you asked I answered in the email to mom. To answer your other questions I am very tired of walking! It sucks - haha. We don't have to do to much in the Branch other than bless the sacrament and we have to participate in lessons a lot. I am sure we will be asked to speak! 

How was having the missionaries over on Tuesday? Are they cool Elders? How long have they been out? That is insane that you have to fill that many callings! That would be spiritually and physically exhausting! 

Things in Harlo are going good. It is pretty hard to be in such a small town where literally nothing ever happens. Everyone here is in their houses by like 6 pm and stay in for the night - it stinks. 

It is starting to get a little colder. We got a few inches of snow this week but not enough to stick around! When I get home we are going bow hunting in the snow somewhere! Start thinking of a place to go! 

Well I hope you have good week and that it is a little less stressful!

I love you dad!!!!

-Jake

A GOOD WEEK!

Hey!

This last week has been pretty good! We pretty much do the same thing every day which gets a little boring but that is alright. We did get about 2 inches of snow Sunday night and we spent a lot of yesterday shoveling off peoples walks! It's amazing how used to the cold weather I have gotten! I am a little afraid to come home to the Tucson heat! 

The biggest thing that happened this week was on Sunday night. Brother Mager, our Branch Mission Leader/President, took us home teaching with him to visit three less active members. It was great to actually teach a couple lessons. The second lady we visited has been less active for the past couple of years for some interesting reasons. After hearing her talk about her situation and what she thinks of the church I said something I really didn't expect to. I just said "I know your situation/trial is specific to you for whatever reason... but I know you can be at church. The Lord knows you can be at church, and I know you know that you need to be going to church." The room kind of got really quite and I could tell Brother Mager felt nervous about how bold I was, Heck I was nervous about how bold I was. She just looked at us and said "what time do I need to be there!" She also told us there was no way she was going in a skirt or a dress and we told her it was fine! It was a great experience to know that the Lord is working through me! I am also glad I was able to put my companion in a situation where he could feel the spirit so strong! 

This P-Day which happens to be today since the library was closed yesterday has been amazing!!!! The Mager's took us up to their cabin which is about 30 minutes from town to go hunting!! Okay...we didn't hunt, we just helped Brother Major locate and gut the deer - It was freaking amazing! There were deer everywhere! He was mainly after an elk but had a deer tag if he saw a big one. Well we found a bedded buck about 250 yards away. He was a nice buck in the high 160's. Long story short he ended up missing and we never saw him again. We split up to walk back to the cabin for lunch to see if we could jump up any bedded elk. Elder Richins and I jumped a great buck that was with 3 does! He was easily 175! We tried to get Brother Mager but he was to far. We met back at the cabin and had some lunch and talked about what we saw. Then we went back out! As we were walking up the road I noticed a buck off the road a little ways ahead of us. I told Brother Mager and he looked the buck over. He asked if I thought he should shoot him. I told him he wasn't as big as the other bucks we saw but he wasn't small either. He decided to shoot him. After missing the first shot he made a great second shot and dropped him! He is a nice deer and it was cool to be there for it. We gutted him out and dragged him back to the cabin. The snow mixed with a downhill angle made it pretty easy which was nice! All in all it was great! I will send some pictures of the area around there cabin and the deer!

So I thought I would give you a little more information on Harlowton. The Branch here had 25 people at church this Sunday and that was normal! Every one here seems to have had an experience with the missionaries or at least knows about the missionaries which makes it kind of hard. Everything shuts down around 6 PM. Apparently the Milwaukee railroad used to run through this area and that is what really started the town I think and then once it shut down, for what ever reason, Harlowton has really suffered! It is a neat little town though!

I am going to make sure to send multiple thank you cards out this week - one will definitely go to Barbara! That is great you got the picture from Brother Sweat! He was super nice and so was the guy that was with him. I forgot his name though. He was a pretty serious hunter that leases land in different states to hunt. He killed a buck in the 190's in Idaho this year that he showed me a picture of. They also knew Sister Baird who I served around for six months in Wyoming. She was in Powell when I was in Cody. It was great to meet someone who knew our Utah family members!

I hope you have a great week! Good luck with your new job Mom! You will do great!

-Elder Richardson

THIS WEEKS CHALLENGE: 

Make sure your prayers this week are sincere! By that I mean have a conversation with the Lord. Make sure to listen and not just talk.

___________________________________________________

Hey Dad!!!!

I wrote a pretty long letter to Mom so I am going to make this one short because I am tired of typing -haha! You can read all about the cool stuff I got to do! Anyway I think we might be able to come back up after my ''mish'' and hunt on the Magers land for deer! If you hunted there for three days you would be guaranteed a buck over 150"! The place is crawling with deer and you can hunt in the snow!!! Which now that I have done it, is way better! 

That is a cool trail cam pic of whatever it is! (Scott caught a picture on one of his trail cams of a Coati) As for Javelina advice I would hunt wherever you have seen pigs! I know that isn't great advice but I don't know what else to tell you! I would definitely hunt with a bow! It will be much more fulfilling, and it shouldn't be to hard with how bad their eyesight is!

Glad your feeding the missionaries well and every month!!! I wish I could get a dinner like that! I have had freezer food for lunch and dinner for the last 2 weeks pretty much! I want some real food!!! I have thought about it and the first place I want to go out to eat at when I get home is... Well lets see is you can guess it...I think it would have to be Fat Dogs in the Tucson mall! Is that what you guessed??? I miss those things!!! I have used mom's recipe cards that she sent me and have also tried making chocolate chip pancakes, beanie's and brats, and pigs in a blanket!!!

So for my one year anniversary this Thursday I am going to burn a shirt. I made sure to save one that had a pen leak on it so I wouldn't have to burn a good one! Other than that things should be pretty normal. I'm excited to get your package! Tell mom that my clothes are still in pretty good condition. For Christmas, maybe some new socks and a couple of new shirts, and of course chocolate oranges!

It has cooled off a little around here. It snowed a couple inches Sunday night but warmed up to 60 today! Well I hope you have a great week and I hope it cools off before December so they might rut a little early!! 

I Love you tons!

-Jake

Outside of Harlowton, Montana

 In the mountains

Up in the mountains near the cabin

Road near the Mager's cabin

Also near their cabin

After we helped Brother Mager gut his deer

Our house - we have the whole thing to ourselves and live on a cute street. The church rents the house from the Magers our Branch President/Mission Leader

The view from our backyard

The view of our neighbors yard