Thursday, December 30, 2010

Quote by Elder Marvin J. Ashton

"For nearly six thousand years, God has held you in reserve to make your appearance in the final days before the Second Coming. Every previous gospel dispensation has drifted into apostasy, but ours will not...God has saved for the final inning some of his strongest children, who will help bear off the kingdom triumphantly. And that is where you come in, for you are the generation that must be prepared to meet your God....Make no mistake about it...you are a marked generation. There has never been more expected of the faithful in such a short period of time as there is of us...Each day we personally make many decisions that show where our support will go. The final outcome is certain...the forces of righteousness will finally win. What remains to be seen is where each of us personally, now and in the future, will stand in this fight...and how tall we will stand. Will we be true to our last-days, foreordained mission?"


I like to send positive and uplifting quotes and scriptures to my Elder. This is one that I shared with him today; but felt I should post it on here because it applies to ALL OF US!

Letter dated 29 December 2010

thanks so much for the email mom, i'm enjoying it here in the mtc alot. sometimes i'm trying to study hard and its not getting through, but it's going ok.  also i'm getting a bit nervous about who my new companion will be in virginia. if you could put my name in the temple and pray that he will help me, and that we can get along well that would be great. it's nice to have the help early on in the mission as to who i'm serving with. and of course all throughout my mission. i hope to enjoy it the whole 2 years. and love all my companions!
 it really helps my day so much when i receive letters from everyone!  i'll be sending you all letters that are special, no matter what. i just hope i can find the time to write them, since i'm still struggling to get the lessons down. if i can do that then it would be much easier. also keep sending me family pics and such it's so nice to have pictures of you all. it's really nice to get your dear elder letters, if anyone would like to write me feel free! it's always nice to have something to read from home! and tell the klumpkers i said thanks for there family pic and a christmas wish. i havent gotten my drivers licence yet but i'm hoping, i'm so anxious waiting if i got any mail everyday. it's better than anything to get a letter from home!

i love you so much! thank you for the email, i'll be sure to look forward to your dearelder letters too. since i can only check my email once a week. i hope all is well and i pray for you all everyday.

your son Elder Richards

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Sample of his daily Schedule

Here's just an idea of what my schdule is usually like. :-)  Just FYI Ha Ha!

Monday 27th December 2010

Service Assignment
6:30 am - 7:45 am
Prepare for next Activity
7:45 am - 8:15 am
Breakfast :-)
8:15 am
Classroom Instruction
8:45 am - 1:00 pm
Lunch :-)
1:00 pm
Classroom Instruction 1:45 pm - 6:00 pm
Dinner :-)
6:00 pm
Personal Time
6:45 pm - 7:45 pm
Health and Safety Meeting
7:45 pm - 9:00 pm
Daily Planning session
9:00 pm - 9:30 pm
Review days activities - Companionship Prayer
9:30 pm - 10:00 pm
Quiet Time
10:15 pm
Bed
10:30 pm


Wow! They are kept REALLY busy!

Letter written home on 24 December 2010

Hey Family!

Ever notice how handwriting gets better without a computer? :-) HA!

Sorry again for not writing lately. I'm really busy with all the MTC is giving me.

Thanks for the Dear Elder letters! I was so excited to get them! and for all the gifts - they're GREAT! I'm so glad I got some family photos. They really made my Spirits better.

The MTC is great. Except for all the food. I mean I'm not complaining or anything. I mean I'm gaining weight sort of and gym time and all. It's nice to run around the track - just about every other day. Plus I get to play volleyball!! So that's good!

Thanks for giving me that scripture mom about Alma 37:35-37. It really helped a lot. I cried when I read that. I also came across a scripture that goes along with that. Helaman 5:12. It's been so great feeling the Spirit here. It feels just below the Temple. It's awesome.

It was really different my first day here. When we all got together as missionaries in the gym, for the welcome announcement. The President of the MTC said that we were the largest group in a really long time, I believe. I could really feel that magnitude (sp?) when he asked someone to stand up and recite "My Purpose" and he picked me to do it! I think I may have been one of  very few who actually knew it. So I stood up in front of about 640 missionaries and said it. President Smith was very impressed with it.

So how are things back at home? I hope work is going well and that everything is ok. Don't let things get too AWESOME while I'm gone! I hope Church is going really well! and that you all are having a wonderful time. I LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH!!! All your letters and gifts really help me out a lot. It's such a big help when I get a really long letter on how things are. Reference - Hymn #85 and #165

P.S. Thanks for the chocolate and altoids. Now I'm like Dad! :-)


MY PURPOSE

Invite others to come unto Christ by helping them
receive the restored gospel through
faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement,
repentance, baptism, receiving the
gift of the Holy Ghost, and
enduring to the end.



Letter written home on 17 December 2010

Hey Mom and Dad

Just letting you know how the MTC is going. It's a bit different from home. Me and my companion are a bit shy, but I hope it gets better. We have tons of things to do during the day; lots of class and role play.

I miss you both and the sisters also. I almost don't have any time to write letters but I'll try to get used to it. I'm really looking forward to all your letters! To give me hope, inspiration and how you are all doing.

Also all my immunization records aren't here and I really need you to send them either by mail or fax.....I need all records and dates ASAP.

I love you all and also pictures of the family would be nice. Thanks for all the gifts.

I Love you all! :-)

Elder Richards