THE GREAT & DREADFUL WEEK...

Hey guys!

So you know how they talk about the Great and Dreadful day. Well I just experienced the Great and Dreadful week!

First, lets start off with the good. B's baptism was this week and everything went great! I was so grateful that he asked me to perform the baptism. B was confirmed this Sunday and the Bishop confirmed him and we were able to stand in. Later on Sunday B. and A. both rceived the Aaronic Priesthood and ordained to the office of Deacon! They are such good kids!!! 

We were also able to speak in First Wards Sacrament meeting this Sunday along with a recently returned missionary. I spoke on how we cannot be afraid to do missionary work and how fear is a selfish emotion. I thought it went really well.

So now for the bad. Hearing that Zoey had to be put down is by far the hardest thing I have had to deal with out here. I think I knew it would happen which helps, but I didn't think it would happen this early. It has been a lot harder to focus these last couple of days because all I can think about is her and how I haven't seen her in 6 months and now I won't be able to go home to her. But she was an old dog and it had to happen sometime. I understand that it is nobodys fault and it is just part of Heavenly Fathers plan as hard as it can be to accept sometimes. Thank you so much for telling me and doing everything you could! Dad - don't wait for me to come home and scatter her ashes. Choose a place you know Zoey and I loved, that way it will help mom. She was a great dog and an amazing friend - I will really miss her!!!

 

Okay to answer your questions:

Did you get Jessica's Graduation announcement and picture? Yes, I  did - it looks great. 

Can you write a letter/send a card congratulating Jessica and send it here so we can give it to her that day? Yes I was waiting for her to write me back but if she doesn't soon I will write her a new letter.

How is the bike think working out? Good! It is great exercise - but man does my bottom hurts!

How was Zone Conference? It went really well! I was really surprised when it was announced at the beginning of the program that Elder Richardson was going to give his thoughts on "My Purpose" for 5 minutes. (No one even asked me before hand - but it went well I guess -haha)

When are your next transfers? They are on the 13th

How are you feeling about whether you will stay or go? It it 50/50. Elder Shaw is going to ask if I can stay! :) The bishop of second ward even asked my district Leader at the baptism on Friday if he could tell the Mission President to leave me here - haha.

So did you get a bike helmet and lock? Ya -we were also told to get a pump and a light. So I did and then we found out that the bikes come with lights so I am going to try and take them back today because they were expensive I think I spent a total of like $85 on everything and the lights were almost $30 so it would help if I could take them back!

How has the working out/getting in shape been going? I try to work out every day but it doesnt seem to help. I weigh like 190 lbs!!!  :o

Still drinking muscle milk? yup everyday for B-fast

So can you please tell me the story behind the quilt you sent home? So there is a place up here called the "Klothes Kloset" that we do service for. The ladies there teach every missionary how to sew and you are able to make what they call a lap robe. I figured I would make mine for Zoey to lay on :(

Have you heard anything about whether you'd be able to skype on Mother's Day? We should be able to! I think we are going to do it at the Shaws again.

What did you do last p-day and what do have planned for today's p-day? We went golfing with Elder Shaw. I suck! haha. We are helping someone move today - not to exciting.

You might think about taking your suit (the one you wear the most) to the cleaners in enough time before next transfers to get it cleaned. Are you maintaining all your clothes, garments, and shoes? Yes Mom!!!

So fill us in on who your teaching now? No one! This whole week we are focusing on finding new people!

Any interesting stories or anything interesting happen this week to you? Not really this week was kind of boring! 

What kind of service did you do this week? We helped Elder Shaw lay sod and then we helped someone move on Saturday morning!

    

Hey - so one of the guys in 2nd Ward up here is a dentist and owns his own dental place. I asked him to look at my jaw since it has been getting a lot worse. About half of the time when I wake up in the mornings my jaw is "locked" and I can hardly open it until it loosens up and starts popping again. He said he knew what was wrong and explained it to me but I don't remember - haha. He said I need some mouth gaurd thing. He told me he could do it for cheap like $20 bucks so I am going in tomorrow sometime to get my impressions done. Just thought I would let you know. But this has to be done. It bothers me so much and he said if I don't take care of it I could end up having surgery on it like his wife did and I don't want to have surgery!

Well I love and miss you guys so much! I can't wait to see you on Mothers day!

-Elder Richardson

 This picture was taken just outside of Glacier National Park on Camas 

rode where it is famous for bears - but of course we didn't see any!

 This was taken up by Pole Bridge.

This one was taken on a ranch in Whitefish.

IN LOVING MEMORY...

December 2012

 Jake saying goodbye to his dog on the morning he left for the MTC

 NOV. 7, 2012 - Jake's best friend

 Jessica took this picture for Jake early 2013

 Mom took this picture March 2013

 We will miss you Zoey girl! 

It has been a wonderful eleven years and you have brought so much joy to our family...your friendship will be missed.

 August 8th 2002 - April 24th 2013

A WEEK OF FOCUSING...

This week has been pretty good. Not much of teaching investigators but more of focusing on recent converts and going on splits with their home teachers and teaching them the new member lessons. This is the first time I have really done this so it is kind of interesting! So we had Stake Conference this week and man was it awesome. This last General Conference our Stake president up here was called to be an area seventy! His name is Vern P. Stanfill I believe. Anyway, so for Stake Conference we had 2 current members of the seventy come to make the necessary changes in the Stake Presidency. Elder Smith and Elder Kopeshke who talked at this last General Conference came! Elder Kopeshke is amazing!! He spoke and it was so great. It was very interesting seeing how the process of calling a new stake presidency works!

So it has gotten colder again :(  It has been in the 30's and has snowed twice this last week I think. It snowed 2-3 inches yesterday! I'm pretty sick of the snow- haha! 

So to answer your questions:

 Who are you teaching now? B. and a girl named S. and possibly a guy named D.!
 Is B's baptism still going forth? Yes - he is on track to be baptized this Friday! He asked that I baptize him! I am so excited for him! He and his brother will also be getting the Priesthood this coming Sunday!
 Have they given Abbey a calling in the ward yet? Not yet although she has been asked to visit teach with another sister in the ward!
 Are your wards as big as Countryside Ward? Are you kidding me! lol - not even close they should probably be branches haha!
 What do you have planned for P-Day today? We are going golfing haha. Elder Shaw is going to take us. should be interesting seeing as I suck at golf!
Have you cleaned your apartment up recently? Kind of haha - it is probably not up to your standards but is cleaner than my room at home usually is! HAHA
So when is your Zone Conference? Our Zone Conference is tomorrow in Missoula. That is where we are picking up our bikes! I really hope they still let us have a truck and just cut down our miles because we will get killed if we have to ride bikes on these highways haha.  

Do you have any responsibilities for that? Nope I just get to sit and listen which is the best!
WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU BUFFED AND SHINED YOUR SHOES? like 10 days ago since we had interviews with President Meecham this last Wednesday which was great by the way!
Are you going to be able to skype on Mothers Day??? As far as I know yes! I can't wait!

Well I love you guys a ton! Hope you have a outstanding week!

-Elder Richardson

CHALLENGE:

Find joy in your journey as you go about your week!

NOT SO BUSY...BUT SUCCESSFUL!

Hey Guys!

This week hasn't been as busy as I would like but boy was it successful!!! To start off D. got baptized this Saturday! Everything went amazing! Brother Torren baptized him and Bishop Charrette confirmed him. This makes me happier than Elder Sagers or I being able to baptize him because now he has a relationship with someone in the ward rather than a missionary who will leave in a few months! After the baptism I heard some people make comments like "I never thought I would still be around to see him get baptized!" It made me realize that if we just put ourselves in a spot that the lord can use us and we let his spirit work through us, we can accomplish anything.

We also went over to Abby's house with her home teachers and started the new member lessons officially. Man is Abby awesome. She is so excited to go to the temple in a year and is ready to go do baptisms for the dead! We also talked about eternal marriage and sealings with her. She loved it and I can just tell she is going to become such a strong member and bring even more people to the gospel.

B. and A. got back from England yesterday and even made it to the last 30 or so minutes of church. They had a great time and got spoiled by their grandparents they said. They seemed really tired though. We are going to meet with them on Tuesday and go over General Conference. They are an awesome couple of kids!

So the bike thing- I don't understand why we would have to pay shipping everytime I got transfered. You just take it with you on the transer van in the trailer I figured? But It doesnt really matter. And Yes, I think $50 dollars will be enough for a helmet and lock.

I think that is it for this week. Oh, I forgot a challenge. 

So something I realized during General Conference is that FEAR is a selfish emotion. When we are afriad to do something it can sometimes affect other people. Like if I am afraid to knock on a door, that might never let that person have the oppurtunity to hear the gospel. I have really realized how selfish I can be as I have been out on a mission. My challenge to you guys is not to be afraid of anything. Don't be afriad to share the gospel, of what someone thinks of you, or of anything.

Well I love you guys more than words can describe!

-Elder Jake Richardson 

P.S. - I sent Jessica a letter today - Sorry it took longer than I thought! So this week I got a package from moms brothers and sisters! It was so nice of them. Tell them thanks for me!!!!! Ya -I am pretty sick of the snow! It was cool at first and now it just sucks -haha. Although driving on it can be fun. Boy is it greening up and the deer are coming out. Elder Shaw let me borrow some binoculars so after dinner last night we drove down this backroad to get home and saw close to 200 deer!!! And a few bucks starting to grow a little velvet! Makes me wish you were here! So how is the whole bike thing going to work exactly? I heard you have to put $300 into a pot and then I just get a bike or you could buy one and have it sent here? What do you think? Elder Scott told me about that guy. That is pretty neat. It is a small world, especially when you are a member of the church!

-Love Jake

 

 

(Pictures below are from an SD card Jake sent home to us. There were over 300 pictures and about 5 videos on it. I am still trying to get the videos to upload...not having luck...so decided to go ahead and post his letter for this week and these pictures - enjoy)

AMAZING CONFERENCE!

Hey!

This week honesty was one of my worst weeks other than conference. We had 4 appointments 

set up this week with some of our investigators and they all got cancelled. One of them took an emergency trip to Missoula. Some of them are in England, and D's car broke and he had to take it to his shop and he has been there all week trying to fix it. We were able to teach a couple lessons but nothing that really stood out unfortunately.

D. is still on track to be baptized this Saturday! We are going to meet with him on Wednesday. A's baptism date is going to be pushed back a week because they are getting back from England a little later than they thought.

Conference was great! I would say this is the first time I watched conference because I wanted to, not because someone else made me. And what a change. I found that listening and taking notes made it go by so fast. It was way better than sleeping! Priesthood session was amazing this year and is always my favorite session although it wasn't near the same without Dad. :( 

After the Sunday morning session Elder Shaw took Elder Sagers ad I for a drive up to Glacier! It is so beautiful now that the snow has started to melt. We even were able to listen to the first part of the second session of Conference in the car while we were in Glacier. It was amazing! 

My favorite talk was definitely Elder Hollands. I love the urgency and sincerity he speaks with. It hit me hard. I loved a lot of speakers though. I wish I brought my notes so I could share a few thoughts but I forgot them. Sorry!

 I don't know if you noticed but at least 5 times the Saviors last words to the apostles were brought up. "Go ye therefore teaching all nations, Baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost!". I think they made it apparent what we need to be doing why we are on earth for this short period of time. We were sent here to learn and grow but to also teach and help others learn and grow. That is my challenge to you guys - To try and have at least one gospel centered conversation with someone you know this week. 

The weather here has been great up until the last 3 days. it was in the high 50s, low 60s and the sun was out! There were even a few days that we wore short sleeve shirts! It snowed again last night. I have grown to dislike the snow strongly. But everything is turning really really green. I have never seen more green than what was on a Palo Verde tree so it is quite amazing! 

Well I love you guys tons. Thanks for all you do for me!

Love - Elder Richardson

 

TEACHING, TALK, SERVICE AND EASTER...

This week has been a pretty good one. 

This last p-day we went on a hike in Whitefish with the Shaws and some other missionaries. It was a blast!!! I just wish Dad could have been there with me, he would love it up here. I'll send you some pictures of the hike. 

Tuesday we had a combined district meeting in Kalispell. It was good, but long. I got to teach another 30 minute discussion on the Book of Mormon. After the district meeting the Shaws took us to Sizzler! They are so awesome! I have never been to sizzler before - it was pretty good. 

Tuesday night we taught J, A and B. We taught B. the Restoration since that was the only lesson he didn't have yet. He committed to be baptized on the 20th of April! His brother A. was baptized this last Saturday - It was great! Elder Sagers performed the Baptism and did a great job. I'll send you a picture of that as well. 

Wednesday we taught D. B. again. We taught him the Plan of Salvation. He is doing great and is on track to be baptized this month on the 13th! 

Thursday not much happened. On Friday we helped Elder Shaw do some service.  We helped build part of a deck, break down a little wall, move a riding lawn mower and a table saw to his storage, and we also started digging a sewer line. A month or so ago we helped him build a green house. He finally got it finished and we sat in it on saturday. It was 95 degrees in that thing!!!! Made me feel like home! By the way, I have decided that you guys better not move to Utah while I'm on my mision. I want to go home to Tucson. I kind of miss the heat. I guess we will see if I'm still saying that after this summer! 

On Saturday we wrote our talks for sunday and got ready for A's baptism that night! It went great as I said earlier. The member who was supposed to feed us that night wasn't able to so he bought us a $40 gift certificate to The Backroom. It is amazing. I had a steak salad! We were even able to see the end of the Ohio state game! So glad they lost. 

Sunday was great. As you know we had to talk in Second Ward. Elder Sagers spoke first. He gave/used his farewell talk. He talked for 35 minutes so the Bishop passed me a note and just asked me to bear my testimony haha. I really wish I could have spoke though. (See Jakes talk below - he sent us a copy of it)

But my challenge to you guys this week is to go to mormon.org and find the video "My Burden Was Made Light". I used it in my talk. 

So the good news!! 

I didn't get transfered!!! I am so glad I am staying. Elder shaw wants me to go help him buy a fly rod so I am way excited for that! Anyway 4 people from my Zone got transfered. We are all just going to the Stake center to play some ball and say our goodbyes! Easter was good, not the same but good. Thanks so much for your box! I also got a package from the young women - please tell them THANKS! 

We had dinner at the Minors last night and had turkey and mashed potatoes. Their kids even hid some easter eggs in the park for us to find. It was fun! I hope all is going well with you guys. 

Well I have to go - love you tons!

Elder Jake Richardson

JAKES TALK -

Good morning Brothers and Sisters,

For those of you who don’t know me I’m Elder Richardson. I have been serving in Columbia Falls for about 4 months now and have absolutely loved it! I just want to say thank you for making us missionaries feel at home!

We were asked to talk on anything to do with Easter. I thought a lot about talking on just the Atonement but I figured that that was the most obvious route to take, so I thought some more and I decided I would talk about forgiveness.

Forgiveness is a fairly broad topic and I thought I would break it down into 3 parts. Receiving forgiveness from our Heavenly Father through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, Forgiving ourselves, and Forgiving others.

So lets start with The Atonement. The Atonement is made up of two things. First that Jesus Christ suffered and died for the sins of all man that would live on this earth and second is the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ broke the bonds of death by being resurrected. Therefore everyone that chose to follow Heavenly Fathers plan, come to earth and receive a body, will be resurrected. What a great gift we have been given. I want to focus a little more on the other part of the Atonement though. Jesus Christ suffered and died for the sins of the world that we might repent and be forgiven. As it says in Doctrine and Covenants section 18 verse 11 “For behold the Lord your Redeemer suffered death in the flesh wherefore he suffered the pain of all men, that all men might repent and come unto him.” The Atonement was fulfilled by Jesus Christ so that all men would have the opportunity to repent of their sins in this life, be resurrected, and return to live with our Father in Heaven and His son, Jesus Christ, once again.

The Atonement is central to everything we teach as missionaries and that is not a coincidence. It is so important that people who are interested in our church understand that they can be forgiven. For those of us who grew up in the church, I think we sometimes don’t realize what a blessing the knowledge of the Atonement is. I know I didn’t understand how great the Atonement is until I was preparing to come on a mission and since I have been on my mission. Without the Atonement I would not be on a mission today. As a kid a I made so stupid decisions. I knew that in order to go on my mission I needed to repent. That is when I started to learn how important the Atonement is. Since I have been on my mission, I have been able to see how great of a thing the Atonement truly is. When we missionaries, as representatives of Jesus Christ, tell someone that they can be forgiven of their past transgressions; We are able to see what that means to someone who has never heard that before. It completely changes peoples outlook on life. Seeing some of my investigators use the atonement, and seeing them completely change their life around has brought me so much joy and has made me so thankful for the role the Atonement not only plays in my life but the lives of others.

I just got done talking about the Atonement And now I would like to talk about forgiving yourself. We can be forgiven because of the Atonement through a process called repentance. As missionaries we teach people that there are 6 steps to complete the repentance process.

First, is to recognize that what you did is wrong. 

Second, is to stop committing the sin that you committed. 

Third, is to confess what you did to the Lord through prayer. 

Fourth, is to make restitution, or to do all you can to correct the problems that your actions may have caused. 

Fifth, is to keep the commandments, and to do those things that bring you closer to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. 

Sixth, is to acknowledge what the Savior went through in order for you to repent. 

But if you ask me, there should be a seventh step: Which is, forgiving yourself. 

As I’ve said earlier I’ve made some stupid choices in High School that I had to repent of. For some reason, after I had repented of some of these things, I didn’t feel the peace I thought I would after repenting. I didn’t know why until I realized that I kept thinking about those things and it would make me feel horrible. I knew that I had to forgive myself for those things that I did in order to feel the peace I wanted to feel. Once I had forgiven myself, I was able to feel that peace and the love the Savior had for me.

When I think about how great of a gift the Atonement is, and all the Savior went through that we might be forgiven, I wonder how we can repay him. I thought if the Savior can so freely forgive us for those mistakes we make we need to be forgiving those around us. Forgiving someone is not always easy and in fact is sometimes very hard. I thought back in my life and realized how selfish I was. I had a really hard time forgiving people. I felt that when someone had done something to hurt me the last thing I was going to do was forgive them and make them feel better. I guess I thought that them being mad and in pain would help subside some of my feelings of pain. But I couldn’t have been more wrong. When we come out on a mission our Mission President gives each of us a DVD titled “Mormon Messages”. I was watching some of the clips on that DVD the other night came across one Titled “Forgiveness: My Burden was made light”. It is about a man name Chris Williams who forgives a drunk driver for killing 3 members of his family.

A website mormonnewsroom.org describes it as follows:

A new video from Mormon messages tells the story of Chris Williams, whose wife and two children were Killed by a teenage drunk driver in 2007 following a family dinner with friends. The video depicts a story of grieving over the unexpected loss of loved ones but forgiving those at fault.

Chris’s friend and church leader, James Wood, visited with Chris at the hospital shortly after the accident. “Even at that moment, we’re all blubbering, crying, and Chris is lying on the gurney, in a neck brace, and one of the first things he asks is ‘How is the young man that was driving the car?’”

Forgiveness: My Burden Was Made Light contains a powerful message of looking to Jesus Christ as an example to forgive others.

“I’m grateful that God allows tragedy and trials to occur in our lives,” Chris says in the video, seated around a kitchen table with his two surviving sons. “Not because they are easy or because they are desired, but because they help us love.”

Cameron White, the driver of the car who crashed into the Williams’ vehicle, says of meeting Chris, “It’s an overwhelming feeling of thankfulness, of gratefulness and strength, to see him and see how he has acted in this situation.”

Chris Williams video teaches us so much. It teaches us not only about forgiveness but of loving one another as well.

Forgiveness brings blessings brothers and sisters. It helps us not only change our lives but it helps us change the lives of others. Through forgiveness we can feel happy and peaceful. I am not just going to forgive people when the opportunity presents itself, but I am going to look for opportunities to forgive others. In Doctrine and Covenants section 64 verse 10 it says “I, the Lord, will forgive whom I will forgive, but of you it is required to forgive all men.” The Lord commands us to forgive those people around us, it is not for us to judge them, that is the Lords job.

I want to close by bearing my testimony that I know this Church is true. I know that Joseph Smith was and is a True Prophet of God and that through him we now have the Book of Mormon. I know that the Book of Mormon is true and that it contains the fulness of the Gospel. The Atonement of Jesus Christ is real to me. I know that we can truly be forgiven through the process of repentance. I know that forgiveness brings blessings. I am so grateful for the opportunity I have to be on a mission and serve with this ward. 

And I say these things in the name of our Savior, Jesus Christ, Amen.