GOING WELL...

Dad -

It is going well. Abby has set a date for Feb. 25th. But she still might want to do it in a lake or river?!? Any way it sounds like hunting has slowed down and if I were you I might try ruby or even somewhere like molino basin to try and stay focused on Coues deer. We have seen tons of deer and turkeys here but pretty much no bucks - which sucks. I bought an elk diaphram call to mess around with for like 5 bucks and I'm actually not as bad as I thought I would be. Anyway I'll tell you more about my week in my bigger letter to mom.

Hey,

I'm glad you decided to email this morning. The shaws invited us over to email since the library is closed like you said. The Shaws are so awesome and just make Columbia Falls feel more like home to me. Elder Shaw and I get along really well. His son just got done guiding an elk hunt for someone that sponsors clothing and equipment for cabelas. He shot a bull that scored 381. I guess after they shot it the guy took hundreds of pictures and changed his clothes, gun, scope, etc around to promote stuff. Man I wish I could have his job!

This week has actually gone really well and we have found 2 more, possibly 3 more people to teach. One is D. B. His wife is a member and he has been visiting with the missionaries for many years now. He has gone through the lessons a few times so I think we are just going to see what he expects from us/his desires and go from there. We ate dinner at the Pences this Tuesday. He is the Bishop for 2nd ward. They invited their neighbors over to join us. They are a young couple with a 6 year old son. During dinner I found out that the dad is a huge hunter and a bowhunter at that. I found out he shoots a Bowtech Insanity just like me so we got into a deep hunting conversation. Anyway long story short he told me while he was on a moose hunt up in Canada he came across a whitetail dead-head that scores 169 and 7/8! He told us after dinner we could go over and see it since he got it back this week from his guide in Canada. So we shared a thought with them and we headed over to his house to see the dead-head while the wife stayed and talked to Sister Pence. He has so many mounts -an elk in the high 380s and a mule deer he says that scores just over 200. Anyways he showed us that whitetail he found and it is unreal! Just huge!!! He said we could come back and visit anytime and get a picture to send you Dad. While we were over at their house Sister Pence gave J. (the wife) a Book of Mormon and she said she would love to read it. I guess the Pences had been working on these guys for a couple years and finally gave them a Book of Mormon so I'm super excited to see where it goes.

Abby has chosen a date to be baptized!!! The date is Feburary 25th. She still might want to be baptized in a river or lake so that would be pretty cool but super cold. She is just awesome! She comes to church every week, she is already half way through Alma, and she keeps all her commitments. I cant wait for her to be baptized.

So we had to talk this week in 1st wards sacrament meeting. I thought coming on a mission would help me not be nervous but I was wrong. I'm just glad it is over -haha.

Oh ya, we went sledding last p-day which was super fun until one of our Zone Leaders Elder Burrows broke his finger. I was on this huge sled with him when he broke it and it was nasty!!! He had to go to the hospital so our p-day was cut a little short. I think we are just playing B-Ball to day so that should be fun and warm. It actually hasn't been too cold. It has been in the 20's for the most part although it did get down to 3 one morning (see picture)! Thanks for the updates...we actually got to watch the end of the 49ers game and the start to the Ravens game! Some members with a less active son we went to visit yesterday basically forced us to stay for a little and watch the game! I wasn't going to complain but I'm not going to lie - it felt weird and I did feel guilty afterwards! :/

I'm including pictures for ya. I think that is it for this week!

Love,

Elder Richardson