A CRAZY BUSY WEEK...

Hey Guys!

This week has honestly been really crazy! I haven't even been in my new area for 3 days all together!  I left Cody Tuesday evening and went up to billings. I stayed the night there with some other missionaries. I had been out longer than both the missionaries I was with combined! Makes me feel like I have been out forever, but I really am only half way there! I spent the next day with them until Elder Richins my new companion arrived in Billings around 6 pm. While I was waiting for Elder Richins I got to see Elder Wiggins and talk with him for like an hour! I was really happy to talk to someone who actually knew people I did and knew stuff about Tucson!!! It was awesome. Elder Wiggins is a great kid and will be an amazing missionary! Then Elder Richhins and I stayed overnight in Billings with another set of missionaries! We finally left Thursday morning around 11 am for Harlowton! It took about an hour and fifteen minutes to get from Billings from Harlowton, and was a very boring drive as it is flat and a whole lot of nothing! Lol. 

So a little about Harlowton or "Harlo" as the people around here call it! It has about 950 people in it. We cover a small branch of about 80 members and about half are active. We didn't even get to go to church this week and meet everyone because it was Stake Conference! So we left around 2 pm on Saturday for Billings and came back Sunday around 2 pm. It was a great Stake Conference but having 2 in a row is kind of tuff! Haha. 

We don't have a car or bikes so we are on foot. It is a small town though and you can walk the whole thing in a couple of hours and tract it out in about a week! There were sisters here before us for only six week and they didn't impress the members to much or something so they put Elders back in. There are 2 people they were teaching and both are what we call eternigators or people who have been investigating the church for a long time! Hopefully we can find some new people to teach though! Other than that it sounds like we will do a bunch of service around the town and out on some farms! 

The only people we have met so far is the Branch mission leader and his wife. They are really nice people but they almost seem like they are a little put off by missionaries. It is really weird to come to an area where you are not automatically loved and have to earn it. It will definitely be interesting the next few weeks!

Elder Richins is a pretty interesting missionary. He has been out almost 23 months and this is his last transfer. I wouldn't say he is as trunky as Elder Davis was and I hope it stays that way! He is from Coalville Utah and is about as redneck as they come! He is always talking about blowing something up or shooting something! Haha. (They should get along great since they both like to shoot & blow things up!) He wears nothing but camo he even sleeps in it haha! He is a nice kid though and seems to be a hard worker!

Well I hope you guys have a great week! I love you!

-Elder Richardson

THIS WEEKS CHALLENGE FOR YOU: Ask an inspired gospel related question to someone this week!

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Hey Dad!

This week has honestly been really crazy and I have only spent like 60 hours in my new area! Well, you can read all about my new area in my email to mom! I think it is going to be really different serving in Harlowton. I feel like even the members of the branch don't know all they should/can about the gospel.  It is definitely a different type of area and therefore I think the missionary work we will do in this area will be very different! I am very nervous for these next few weeks!

 I just wish I could be at home hunting with you haha! Hunting season is by far the hardest time I will ever have on my mission! The last area you hunted looks really good! I am glad you at least got to see some deer and you could have shot a spike! That is awesome! I agree after looking over 36a that 36b just seems like a better unit with more huntable areas! I can't wait to be hunting coues deer next year! Maybe one of us will get lucky and draw a December tag! 

You better start shooting your bow now to get ready for archery! I think hunting in the rut will be well worth passing up that spike! I would put the trail cam somewhere you plan on hunting! I would honestly maybe try to stay away from the biosphere this year but that is just me! I would maybe look into the area I showed you in 38m or try this area in 37b 32.68273,-111.02354 since you can hunt 37b in December! 

Wherever you decide to hunt just have fun!!! Well I hope you have a great week and make sure you shoot your bow!!!

Love you tons!

-Jake

SORRY THIS IS JUST GETTING POSTED...WE'VE BEEN WITHOUT OUR LAND LINE AND INTERNET SERVICE FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS UNTIL THEY COULD COME OUT TO THE HOUSE AND FIX IT!