EXCHANGES, EXCHANGES, and more EXCHANGES...

Hey,

This last week was crazy. It was full of exchanges, exchanges, and more exchanges haha. We have been putting a big push on exchanges and focusing on finding efforts during our exchanges. So Elder McGrath and I have 3 companionship's we are going on exchanges with. Our first exchange was this last Tuesday to Thursday. I went to Lander to be with E. Jackson in the Wind River area. It was a pretty good time. Elder Jackson and I get along pretty well. Then E. McGrath and I were back together in our area for Thursday night which was chalk full of lessons! :) Then I left Friday morning to go on an exchange with E. Hunter in my old stompin' grounds of Pavilion and Dubois! It was a blast. I got to see a lot of familiar faces which was so much fun. We even made it up to Dubois on Saturday. While we were in Dubois I got to see that guys pet bobcat again. I will send you some pictures of it! Then I got back into my area with E. McGrath late Saturday night and actually got to spend a full day in my area with my companion on Sunday! Haha.

We had stake conference this Sunday which was good. We had a special broadcast from Salt Lake and Elder's Bednar and Scott addressed us. It was pretty good but I struggled to stay awake. i was pretty worn out from exchanges but guess what they aren't over yet! I leave this afternoon to do an exchange back in Lander with the other companionship there serving in the Sinks Canyon area. It should be good but I want to just be in my area with my companion. That is selfish but it is true. I do love getting to help and counsel missionaries. I learn a lot from exchanges as well, which is always good.

So we had a pretty crazy experience this last Monday while out tracting! We were knocking some doors in a trailer park when we knocked on a pretty friendly looking trailer. We didn't expect what happened next. A guy in his 40's answered the door butt naked. We both didn't know how to react so we just asked if he had heard about the movie "Meet The Mormons" that is coming to Riverton. He said no and we just said alright and left. It was super weird and way awkward. We laughed about it for awhile after that. Then we tracted into a couple of wickens and have a return appointment with them which should be interesting.(Also as I am writing this guy just walked up to us in the library and said that he used to be Mormon but converted to satanism when he was 15 and has sacrificed hundreds of cats. He then said it was to messy so he is thinking about coming back to the "Mormon" church but only if we will participate in sacrifices haha! Pretty crazy!)

Well I am glad your week was eventful. I am so sorry about your back. I will keep you in my prayers! I hope it doesn't take to long for you to get back and at it again! I love you tons! Thank you for the package!!!!

Have a great week!

-Elder Richardson

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Hey Dad!

This last week was super busy and full of exchanges! You can read about all of that in my email to Mom. I am bummed Mom hurt her back. That sucks! I hope she gets feeling better soon! So some crazy stuff happened this last week. We tracted into a naked guy. I am scared for life. We are teaching some wickens. We had a guy tell us he sacrifices cats. We went to a funeral up in DuBois at a Lutheran church which was different to say the least. It was overall a good hard working week. While I was in Pavilion and DuBois we did some service for a non-member. We help him throw 2 tons of hay. To say I was tired after that is an understatement! It was pretty fun though.

Also I forgot to tell Mom this but we had Zone training this last Tuesday which went really well. Elder McGrath and I gave a sweet discussion on helping investigators make and keep commitments. Also I had to bear my departing testimony which was depressing and weird. I can't believe that was my last Zone Training. I also can't believe October is already almost over.

So about my homecoming talk. Give me this week to think about what I would like to talk on, but out of those 2 dates I would prefer the 23rd. The sooner the better. Also if I just have 15-20 minutes that would be great haha! I don't want a ton of time. Also I already have a current Temple Recommend. I had an interview with my Mission President that took care of it. Mine expired in September. It will be really neat to be home and participate in Pheonix Temple Open House though! I can't wait to see the Gilbert and Pheonix temples in person.

I can't lie I am getting pretty excited about hunting in a month!!!!!! We see a lot of animals in the back of trucks right now which is fun but makes me think about hunting to much. We also visited the Carper's in pavilion while I was on an exchange and Kyle the son killed a small 4x4 with his tradition Sharps muzzle-loader! They are awesome! They talked about coming down some time and hunting javelina with us!!

That is really all I have for this week!

Hope you have a great week!

-Elder Richardson

This is the Carper family from Pavilion Wyoming. They are one of my favorite famililies that I have met while on my mission! I got to visit with them during exchanges this week...it was a blast!!!