MY NEW COMPANION IS 6'9"!!!

Hey,

So this week has been very interesting and unfortunately less productive! :( 

Since this week was transfers we spent all Tuesday saying goodbye to people before Elder McKee left Wednesday morning. After they left at 7am I went down to Big Fork on splits with Elder Peterson since his companion got transfered as well. We spent all Wednesday in Big Fork. Thursday we left at 9 am to go to Helena with the Zone Leaders to get our new missionaries. We did a lot of driving that day and I am glad it is over. 

So about my new companion. His name is Elder Sagers. He is from Orem Utah but spent the last 2 years at Dixie state in Saint George. He is 6'9"!! He is huge! He is also 21 years old so he thinks he has authority over me sometimes and that is getting really old real fast. Unfortunately we don't have much in common. He has never shot a gun in his life or even gone fishing! He does play basketball though so there is that. But the worst thing is I have seriously never met somebody so prideful or stuck on themselves more than him. All he ever talks about is how good he looks or how much girls love him. I hope I can humble him early on so he can start wondering how our investigators feel and not just worry about what they think of him. I think he will be a tough companion but I am glad I have the oppurtunity to train him. I am sure I will learn as much as him while I am training him these next few months if not more! That is what I love so much about the gospel and being on a mission, is that you are always learning something new and growing!

 Anyway on Friday we were able to teach a few lessons and it is weird not having Elder McKee there with me. I miss him a lot now. He called me on Friday and he is loving Dillon so far which is awesome. Saturday we were able to go to a baptism in Kalispell. It was for an investigator named Garett. I have been able to meet with garett twice and I was so excited for him.

Unfortunately Abbys baptism was moved to Tuesday night since we can't use the church on Monday nights. But she is still really excited as am I. Although I am getting kind of nervous to baptize her. That is a big resposibility to have and I dont want to screw anything up for her!

I think that is it for this week. Thank you so much for the GPS I have already been using it. Thanks for the other stuff too even though I dont drink soda anymore so I had to give the mountain dews away :/  Love you guys so much and can't wait to talk to you again!

                                                                             

Love,

Elder Richardson


Mom,
I wrote my big email to dad this week and I covered all your questions in there. But I forgot to share a scripture so I'll share 2nd nephi 9:40. 
 40 O, my beloved brethren, give ear to my words. Remember the greatness of the Holy One of Israel. Do not say that I have spoken hard things against you; for if ye do, ye will ^arevile against the^btruth; for I have spoken the words of your Maker. I know that the words of truth are ^chard against all ^duncleanness; but the^erighteous fear them not, for they love the truth and are not shaken.
This scriptures tells us that the gospel can be a scary thing for those who are living unrighteously, but those that are living righteously love the gospel and do not fear it. This is a principle that I have seen in my life as I have made some good choices and bad choices. And I feel so much better/comforted when I am doing those things I should be!
Love you!

STAYING IN COLUMBIA FALLS...

So this week was a pretty good one! 

So I didnt get transfered! Elder McKee is headed to Dillon and I'm going to be staying here and training an in coming Elder! I am so excited & I feel like I will learn a lot more myself from training a new missionary! It shows me the mission President has trust in me already

Anyway so back to this week. We met with J. this past Tuesday. We talked about the commandments with her and committed her to baptism. She accepted!!! She came to church yesterday for the first time and loved it! 

Abby is still on track for the 25th for her baptism. We were told we couldnt baptize her in the lake :( so we will be doing it in the font this coming monday!  I even get to baptize her!!!

I am so excited for her! 

We met with J. & S as well. They are having trouble getting an answer to their prayers. So we brought up praying with real intent and with a sincere heart and they said they would read some more and pray some more! We are praying for them too.

So there was a PBR bull ride in Kalispell on Saturday and we got it approved to go! Our ward mission leader in 1st Ward took us which was awesome it was so much fun and we were able to talk to a lot of people there as well! I got a sweet video and it just happened to be the best ride that night! Hopefully I can send it to you! (He tried to upload the video but it never came thru - maybe next week!) I think that is it for this week. Oh ya - Thanks so much for the valentines package those thin mints are so good!!!! 

The only thing I would like is if you can send the car GPS unit out to me since your phone has it. Elder McKee is taking his when he leaves and I don't want to get lost or anything!:) 

Sorry this email was kind of short but I love you guys and miss you tons! I'll attach the video and some pictures for you.

Love,

Jake

Massive big horn sheep - the thing scores 183 3/8!!!!! Make sure to show Uncle Larry. 

Bedded down does

Lake McDonald in Glacier National Park

Lake McDonald in Glacier National Park

PBR bull ride competition Saturday

CHALLEGE FOR THE WEEK:

Pray with real intent!

McCluskey Family Letters...

These are posted with permission from Kyle's family and Jake;

Dear Jake,
We sat down for family home evening last Monday night and wrote you some letters. We read your moms blog with all your letters to home so we are able to keep up with all your work. I'm glad you are doing so well and loving your mission. Keep working hard and may the spirit be with you!
Kyle

Dear Jake... I mean Elder Richardson...
I'm glad you got your Christmas package... even if it was late. I hope you enjoyed it!! We were able to spend Christmas Eve with your family and have potato/weenie soup. The tradition is nice but the taste of the soup hasn't improved.
I signed up to receive your weekly emails and I'm enjoying reading what is going on with you. I have to tell you that I am blown away by the change in you and am so thrilled every week to hear your testimony grow and grow. It's awesome!
I am so proud of you and your decision to serve the Lord. Keep it up!!
Love,
Lori

Dear Elder Richardson,
Hey Jake, I hope you're having a wonderful mission spreading the gospel and sharing the truth. I'm incredibly proud to call you my cousin! I hope to ba as good of a missionary as you are one day.
So far this year I'm doing alright. Volleyball just started up and tryouts are this week! Hopefully I make either the JV or Varsity team. Either way I'll be happy to have tried out for it. Grades are ok working hard to graduate hopefully. Haha, well good luck and keep up the good work.
Sincerely,
AJ

Dear Jake, (Elder Richardson)
How is the mission field? Is it hard not being able to hunt there? Do you like being a missionary? How is Montana?
Well I am playing volleyball for my 8th grade team and we made it to playoffs and I hope we can make it to the championship game! I just registered for high school and I am really excited. Keep working hard!
Baylee

Dear Jake,
I miss you so much and I was so hoping to see you this Christmas (even though you are doing a great service)
How are you doing? Is it fun being a missionary? I want to be a missionary but I am a little scared but I don't have a clue why. I am now in the fifth grade and love my teacher Mrs. Janda. My favorite sports are volleyball and softball. What do you do for fun? Have yo been able to teach the gospel to a lot of people? Are they nice to you? Did they listen to you? Sorry if I'm asking so many questions, but I haven't seen you in forever. (or at least it seems that way). Love and miss you, 
Chloe

Dear Jake,
I love you. You are a great smiler and cousin. You are funny guy! So what have you been doing in Montana? Did you know that I have been playing soccer and that I have two soccer medals. I love soccer! I heard that you play soccer too. Do you love it? What kind of player are you in soccer?
Do you like music? because I like music. Music makes an awesome sound! Did  you know that music brings joy to the world? HaappeeHaappeeHaappee! Guess what? I got that from duck dynasty Duck dynasty is the funniest show  ever. Have you seen duck dynasty? I f you haven't you should see it!
Sincerley,
Delaney


Jake's Response:
Thanks for all the emails guys! Being a missionary is awesome and even though it can be hard and lonely some times it is so fun and rewarding!

AJ it sounds like you are having fun and it is awesome you are trying out for volleyball! Volleyball is a fun sport but it hard! 

Baylee, I cant believe you are almost in highschool! :0 Remember grades are more important than boys! 

Chloe, It is hard not to hunt but I get to hunt and fish for men! which is much more rewarding! 

Delaney, That is awesone that you are playing soccer! I played center-mid and I loved every minute of it! love and miss you guys lots!

-Elder Richardson

Valentines Day...

Sending some Valentines Day goodies your way and all our love!

{{{HUGS & KISSES}}}

 Dad, mom, and Jessica

AS NORMAL AS IT GETS...

Hey - this week was as normal as it gets! 

We continue to teach J., S., and Abby. J. is progressing really well and is heading towards baptism. She is currently working on something that needs to be resolved but I know she can overcome it if she remembers what we have taught her and if she turns to the Lord in prayer. Abby had her baptism interview yesterday after church. Everything went great! We are going over on Saturday to fill out some paper work and get the baptism all planned out! I am so excited for her! 

On Friday we had our Zone Leader Training. Which is where the whole zone meets for a day and gets trained by the zone leaders. President Mecham also came up for this and interviewed each missionary! My interview went well. In it President Mecham told me he is going to ask me to do some hard things in the future and he wanted to know if I would be up to it. I told him I would, more out of fear of telling him no :) But now I have been so nervous this whole week!! I know that President Mecham is called of God though, and that whatever he asks me to do, God knows that I can do it just like it says in 1st Nephi 3:7.

1st Nephi 3:7 can be found in the Book of Mormon and it says -  And it came to pass that I, Nephi, said unto my father: I ^awill go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no ^bcommandments unto the children of men, save he shall ^cprepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them.

Other than that this week was a lot of dissapointments - no one was home and if they were they were sick! Which by the way, I finally got sick! :(  Elder McKee was sick for about 4 days and then I was sick for 4 days! It sucked, but we stuck it out and kept on keeping on!

I'm not sure whether I am getting transfered or not. I really hope I stay here! 

Now to anwer your questions:

 

Are you keeping busy with appointments? For the most part! We dont have very many planned appointments though :(

Do you have enough to eat? More than enough I'm pretty sure I have gained 10 pounds! :o

It looks like the weather has been a little warmer for you lately. It has which is awesome! It was in th high 30s/low40s and the son even has been out! Although I think it is starting to cool down again.

Are you keeping your shoes shined and protected? for the most part

Are you switching out your pants and shirts so that they wear evenly? Yup

Well I have to write a lot of emails to other people and also email President. 

I love you guys a bunch!

Elder Richardson

CHALLENGE THIS WEEK:

Help dad figure out his new phone -lol :) and do a random act of kindness for someone this week.

AN EXCITING, HARD, AND FUN WEEK!

Alright - so this week was exciting, hard, and fun. 

First the exciting news. Abby is still on track for baptism and I wish Feb. 25th would come faster! This Saturday Sister H., Abby, and us went up to Lake McDonald in Glacier National Park to see if it would work for her baptism. It should work out great other than the fact that it is so cold!! She walked out into the water about knee deep while we were there and she still wants to do it. We are going to set up a big wall tent with a wood stove in a campground near the lake and do everything there I believe. She hasn't decided who is going to baptize her yet because transfers are on the 18th this month and Elder McKee and I might not even be here! :(

I will be so sad if I get transfered! 

Other good news we had an awesome lesson with J. who is Bro. W's girlfriend. We invited her to church and she wants to come! So we will see what happens. (We removed some of this part of the letter due to privacy issues)

Now the hard stuff. First off I have noticed I'm not a very patient person so this week I prayed everyday for the oppurtunity to work on my patience and man did the Lord provide! haha I had lots of times to work on patience  this week.  With me and the comp not getting along sometimes, I was grateful that we could work it out for the most part through me and him trying to be patient with each other. Because when we disagree you can just tell our days are not as good as they should be. I also had many other opportunities to show patience.

We saw J. and S. this week. Everytime I get out of a lesson with them I feel like they are not going anywhere but they always say how much we help and they like having us over. This week we are going to have a lesson and set some commitments with them. (We removed some of this part of the letter due to privacy issues)

  

Now for the fun. This Tuesday we had a great district meeting. Afterwards we had to take the Eureka elders back to Eureka since they dont have driving privlages. So we took a district road trip. We all went up to Eureka and had lunch at a place called Vons. They have some awesome burgers and it was nice to eat something other than ramen or spaghettios. It was a bunch of fun and we got to know each other a lot better.

I hope this week we can find at least one new investigator and have another investigator on date but we will see. 

Okay here's a scripture for this week - Alma 36:3 

And now, O my son Helaman, behold, thou art in thy youth, and therefore, I beseech of thee that thou wilt hear my words and learn of me; for I do know that whosoever shall put their ^atrust in God shall be supported in their ^btrials, and their troubles, and their afflictions, and shall be ^clifted up at the last day.

This is one of my favorite scriptures and it helped me through out this week as I was going through my little trial of learning patience. I love you all so much and hope you have an awesome week.

-Elder Richardson