UNFORSEEN MINOR EYE SURGERY...

Hey!

This last week was pretty good up until I had to get my eye all drugged up and a lump cut off of it. That was no bueno! But at least it is over and done with. Everything with that whole ordeal went fine. My eye feels a ton better now and I can see where I haven't seen for like 5 years haha. Although you can still kind of see it because there is a little left on the edges of where the lump was that the Doc couldn't get for some reason. Oh well. That is definitely interesting what Sister Shiflet told you about the way nerves grow. huh...

We did have a good week though. We had a couple lessons with Trisha that went well. She is still on track to be Baptized next Sunday. We also started teaching a new investigator!! Her name is A. Her husband and most of his side of the family are members. Her sister in-law is in our ward and that is where she wants to be taught so we get to teach her. The first discussion went great!!! She is so enthusiastic about the Gospel that it is crazy. I can not wait to teach her again this Wednesday and see what she thinks about the Plan of Salvation!!!

One fun thing that we got to do this week was attend our wards "Pig Roast". It was their scout fundraiser to help pay for their camp this summer. It was basically a luau except he pig was completely black and didn't have an apple in it's mouth. We actually met the pig when the member who raised first got it. Kind of weird to eat something that you saw as a cute little piglet! Oh well it tasted good!! We also got to play some volleyball which was fun. It has been a while since my volleyball days. Haha. It was pretty fun though.

This week should be pretty good. We should have a fair number of lessons and plus it is the Fourth of July!!!! Apparently it is huge here. like 30,000 people come into Laurel just for the 4th here! I am pretty pumped. You are right Mom, there are a ton more fireworks up here than in Tuc-Town. It takes everything in me not to stop at every fireworks stand and buy something. We were talking to one of our ward members yesterday and he was saying how he and his family by fireworks whole sale from the actually company. They spend $1,000 and get like $5,000 worth of fireworks! Sounds like a blast to me haha. Pun intended!

Today I think we are going to go golfing. Should be pretty fun. Hopefully I play decent because golf can be pretty darn frustrating! Anyway Love you tons and hope your week is a little less stressful!!

-Elder Richardson

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Hey Dad!

This week was pretty good. I really do not want to re-type a lot of it so you can just read all of the good stuff in the e-mail I sent to Mom! It was great to hear you and Mom had a great time at the Temple on Saturday! It was also awesome to hear how many youth you had attend. Pretty impressive. It is crazy to hear how many youth are in your ward compared to ours. I guess there is a pretty big size difference in general though.

We don't have any foreign language missionaries in our mission unless they are missionaries waiting to get a visa to like Brazil. Which there are actually quite a few of those. I have never met anyone who speaks a different language on my mission other than tourists when I was in Cody, Wy. There were a ton of people from out of the Country in Cody throughout the summer!

I did have an awesome birthday. It is one that I won't forget. We had 1 investigator at church yesterday but the real exciting thing is we had 2 new less actives show up yesterday!!! I hope I don't speak in Church anytime soon. I hope the next talk I give is my homecoming talk and that is it! Do you think I will get to speak on whatever I want for my homecoming talk? Or will they give me a topic? I kind of hope I can speak on whatever!

I will try and send some rain your way because we are getting plenty! You might just have to do a rain dance!! Haha. It is pretty amazing to see how much rain means to the farmers up here. It is a pretty important thing!

By the way we got an elk on the trail camera. We ran out to the area that it is in to visit a family named the West's and on the way back checked it. It isn't the best picture but you can tell it is an elk!!

Love you! Don't work to hard this week!

-Jake

THE BIRTHDAY BOY!

Hey!

This week was pretty good. We were able to teach a couple of good lesson but nothing spectacular. We had a good lesson with Trisha and we are just waiting to hear from Bro. Pollock in the other ward to set a date. He is going to baptize her so we are trying to pick a night they can both do it! I am so pumped for her to get Baptized. It is kind of hard to plan lesson for her since she has been taught since last November twice a week. We usually just read or something. We might have a new investigator! Today on the way back from shed hunting we stopped to get gas in a town called park city just outside of Laurel. While Elder Woolwine filled up with gas Elder Natay and I went over to check out a firework stand. We ended up talking to the guy running the stand all about our missions and what makes The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints so different. We have a return appointment and I can't wait! It is amazing who might be open to the Gospel if we will just not be afraid to bring it up!

I can't believe I turn 21 tomorrow! Pretty crazy but it really doesn't feel that different. We don't have anything to exciting planned for my birthday other then going to the Legg's for dinner (Who are awesome) and we went shed hunting today. Which by the way was ok. I ended up finding 2 sheds. But they were both deer sheds not elk. One is probably the smallest 4 point I have ever seen and the other is a nice 4 point. Other than the 2 sheds we saw a coyote lots of pronghorn (a couple nice bucks), some deer(One nice buck) and lots of cows. Over all it was a great time! I did not get your package today but will check tomorrow!

I am sorry that the AC went out. It was actually pretty hot here today for us. I would say high 80s I know so hot right! Haha. Hopefully you guys can get it fixed soon. Although it did make me think of an interesting concept. That when you hear someone complain it is usually about their blessings. For example, If you might be complaining about the AC going out, what a blessing it is that you have a house to live in and can afford to run the AC. Not calling you out on complaining but just saying with a slight attitude change we can realize how much we are blessed and forget about the heat!!  (Child teaching parent moment - gotta love that!)

I love you guys tons and will check my bank account for the money and spend it wisely!!

-Elder Richardson

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Hey Dad!

This week was pretty good! I don't have much time but it was good to read your email. I am so glad that your package arrived safely even if it was a little torn up! I can't wait to get my B-Day package and get those shells reloaded and sent back to you. Hopefully the trail cam will treat you well. Try to put it in a spot that it won't get stolen! ;) We went shed hunting today and I found a couple of deer sheds. A small 4 point and a decent 4 point. Not elk but still a good trip out. I think we have picked his land over pretty well.

So hopefully we will have a baptism for Trisha here in the next couple of weeks. She came to Church this week and even stayed which made us so happy! We have a Zone training this week and I have to give a discussion so hopefully that goes well. Everything else is going pretty well. It is crazy to think that I almost have 3 transfers left. It is even crazier to think that I am going to be 21 tomorrow! CRAZY!!!!

Well I love you tons and hope you get that AC fixed soon!!!

-Jake

 THE BIRTHDAY BOY!

 FAVORITE P-DAY ACTIVITY...SHED HUNTING ON MEMBERS PROPERTY

IN THE MOUNTAINS OF LAUREL, MONTANA

 WHILE SHED HUNTING

FOUND A BUCK

PRETTY SOLID WEEK...

Hey Dad,

This week was pretty solid. Right now we are all about trying to find new investigators and are really trying to get our ward involved. I think once we start utilizing our Ward Mission plan and really put an emphasis on team ups we will hopefully be able to find some new people to teach!! I really wish we could just be teaching people 24/7 but unfortunately that is not how it works. Hopefully though we will be able to find at least one new person to teach this week!! 

Things are still progressing with T. and T! They are really struggling with coming to church. I know that if we can get T.to come to church it will make a huge difference for him we have just got to find a way to get him there!!!!

In mom's letter I was afraid she was going to tell me you were called as the Bishop! I can't lie - I want to be able to spend time with you and bishops are always super busy so I'm glad you are just First Counselor! It sounds like you have some great people to serve with. I really appreciate how you said that you know you will learn a lot from serving with Bishop Gibbons and Jay. It shows that you are humble an teachable. That is something we are actually focusing on this next district meeting. How we can be teachable as missionaries and learn and grow from others!

Shed hunting was a blast but I really wish you could have been there with me! Taking the video (I can't get his video to load - sorry) and including you in on it made it almost feel like you were there. We are definitely going to have to take a weekend or two and go look for sheds up north! It is a blast, and it could help fund our hunting addiction!!

I like you understand how important the work of salvation and building God's Kingdom on earth is! Sometimes it is hard to juggle the things you like to do, like for me hunting and soccer with the things you know you should be doing. Once you would rather do things for the Lord like serve him and his children over your hobbies I feel that is a great testimony to how truly converted you are to his Gospel!

I love you Dad and wish I could have spent Fathers day with you! I hope you do know how grateful I am to have a Dad as amazing as you! I hope you like your package!

I'm glad mom & Jessica made it back safe. Can;t wait to hear about their trip!

-Jake

Hey Mom!

Our week went well! Sounds like your was a little more fun and exciting though. I am pretty jealous that I am not in Europe with you! Those pictures are awesome. The Manchester City Stadium is sweet! It is just to bad you had to watch a 1D concert rather than the Man. City soccer game! 

I am still shocked that Jessica is actually moving there! Will that mean she won't be home when I get home? That is pretty cool that you went to church over there. It sounds like a pretty diverse ward!

We were able to teach a few solid lessons but I still just wish we were busier. I think when I came on a mission I thought I would be busy 24/7 but that is not the case unfortunately. I hope next week is a little better than this week. We did get to do some fun service. Milking goats again, building a shed, and trimming some trees. I love doing service!

I did get the package you sent before you left! Thank you! It is so nice to come home and have mail waiting for you!!!!! So I really appreciate it! 

Love you!

-Elder Richardson

ANOTHER P-DAY OF SHED HUNTING...

So our shed hunting adventure today was pretty interesting! To say that it started off slow is an understatement. I went on 2, 2-3 hour hikes. The first one was to the same area where I found my shed last time only I was going to go further in and I thought for sure I would find a shed but nothing. All I could turn up was a lot of cows and 1 deer. It was kind of depressing but a fun hike none the less. Then we went to the car and decided if we wanted to go to Billings or stay out a few more hours and try to find sheds. 

We decided to stay and man was that a good decision. The spot I chose to go to this time was on the opposite side of Brother Hagg's place and was not an easy hike. Once I made it to where I wanted to be it looked perfect! I thought for sure I was going to find multiple sheds since this area was so far away and so difficult to get to. The area was big, and flat with sage brush. I couldn't have picked a better spot, or so I thought. 

I looked for about 40 minutes in the flats walking around and glassing fence lines but nothing. I was so sure that this area would have sheds and I just couldn't understand why I had not found any. Just then I came up over a little hill in the flats and saw it. The Biggest shed I have found!!!! It is a little old (2-3 years), but I could care less it is huge. 

Just as I found the shed a huge thunderstorm rolled in so I high tailed it back to the car. Which was not easy by the way seeing as it was an hour hike out and I had to carry that dang shed the whole time. It was sooooo worth it though!!! 

When Elder Natay saw what I had found he flipped. I don't think I realized how big the shed was until we got home and compared it to the last one I found. I was truly blessed to be able to find a shed this big. I scored it and the shed alone scored 168. I figure the bull would be around 370-375 type bull! I took a lot of pictures and videos so I will make sure to send those to you. 

Can't wait to read you emails!

-Jake

 Brother Hagg's Property

A little P-Day Golfing...

Hey Dad!

We had a awesome week. The best part was probably our mission tour! On Tuesday we went to Billings for a Mission Tour. A Mission Tour is where a General Authority comes and visits your mission. 

We had Elder Carlos A Godoy from the First Quorum of the Seventy. He is such an amazing man. He was very funny but also very inspiring. He actually made the comment multiple times that this mission is on a higher plane then other missions and that  this mission cannot baptize 1000 people (referring to Alma 26:22) no mission can. It was amazing to hear a general authority speak so highly about our mission. But now since he said that it' s time to get our butts in gear and live up to it!! All in all it was a very inspirational and amazing meeting.

We were also able to teach a few awesome lessons. One was to T. She is the one that has been on and off baptism date. We had a lesson with her and her less active husband S. It was a very powerful lesson and apparently I was very bold with them because he brought up multiple times in the middle of our lesson that I was being bold and upfront with them but that is was a good thing. It was awesome and they actually made it to church in Billings with their less active son! Hopefully things continue to progress with them.

Our other awesome lesson was with T. Elder Buntrock and I started teaching him but then he kind of lost interest. We went over yesterday and really got him fired up about the church again and he wanted us to teach him right then. We taught him lesson #3 which is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It went really well and he told us he wants to be baptized he is just not sure when. Last night we really put a stress on not worrying about being baptized right away but to focus on building a relationship with Jesus Christ! I cannot wait to go back over next Sunday and teach him again!

I am so pumped for you to put us in for the draw and get everything figured out with my license but you put the hunts in the wrong order! We should have done 1.36C 2.36B 3.36A But oh well. The difference is the there is like a 5% chance of drawing 36B and a 15% chance of drawing 36C who knows though. Hopefully there will just be some leftover tags!!! Thank you so much for putting in though!! I can't wait for the results to come out!

It is to bad you are in a meeting all day. I love chatting back and forth with you. We checked our trail camera and I will try and send you some pics. We got one set of pictures of a doe and her little fawn. I will also send some pictures of our pday fun golfing. Pretty cool!

Hope mom & Jessica are having fun in Europe -

 Love you!

-Jake

Service Fun!

Hey Dad!

This week was good but kind of slow. We did not teach nearly as many lessons as I would like but we did teach a couple solid lessons. We taught a first lesson to this older lady and she loved it but didn't accept the invitation to be baptized. She did however take a Book of Mormon and promised us she would read it! We also taught a couple of younger kids. A 15 year old girl and a 13 year old boy. They are awesome kids and actually seemed really interested in our message but when we went back to their house for the return appointment there Mom shut us down. She was a really nice lady though and we convinced her to take our number and call us if they needed help with anything. I know that the 13 year old plays baseball so maybe we will try and go to one of his games and see if we can get things to progress from there. I don't know though. 

Elder Natay was sick Friday and Saturday and was down in bed. So that was a bummer. I really hope I don't get sick from him! T. is on date for June 14th but I am not sure she is going to make it. She has missed church the last couple of weeks and I am not sure she really understands the commitment of Baptism yet, but we will see.

Our Sunday was pretty good. We had an amazing Testimony meeting. We had the opportunity to teach Gospel Principals. We taught about free agency and the difference between a testimony and conversion. So what do you think is the difference between a testimony and conversion?

You are definitely right about the trail cam! I am not sure I want to send it back! They are a blast! I actually think your camera might take better pictures but it also might be because your pics are closer. That is crazy you got 1700 pics. We leave ours out for like 3-4 days and get like 10-15 pictures. I will send you a few. It looks like you need to do some coyote hunting out by that drinker! Coyotes for days!! Go kill one with your bow! We set our camera up in 2 different places know. one was in the middle of a small canyon with a marsh type thing in the bottom. We just found what looked like a trail and set it up. The other one was strictly just what looked like a deer trail. It isn't to close to town and is on private property so hopefully it won't get stolen!

I love you and can't wait to be back in the desert!

-Jake

Pictures from Elder Richardson/Natay's trail camera they set up 

and 

 doing some service on a farm.