Another Good Week!

Hey Everyone!                          22 Oct. 2012

So our week has gone very well......with it's ups and downs.....rough but good. We had interviews, so it was nice to speak to President Perry. He's one person I have on my list of people who has and will always shape my life forever. Since interviews....things have gotten better.

Lately, our mission is piloting a new program called 'Walk and Talk.' Other missions have found much success with it and here we're going to be trying it. It's on Saturdays from 1-5 p.m. All car and bike missionaries walk around parts of their areas and talk to everyone they see.

Also we have been briefed on the progress of the church.

*  The term 'Mormon' is searched more than pornography on google
*  Colleges are scrambling to find students
*  One week after the General Conference address, 10,000 perspective missionaries met with their Bishops to start their missions.
*14 million members in the church. The church now has the infrastructure to get to 50 million overnight.
*  The age for missionaries has decreased.

The Lord is hastening his work and this dispensation is the time to show the Lord "Yea Lord, I do LOVE Thee".

Thanks for all the support that y'all have given me. Your right! My mission is the planning for the rest of my life. This morning I studied Preach My Gospel, chapter 4 and at the end of the chapter there are some quotes by Presidents of the Church about missionary work. The great thing is that it doesn't mention anything about full time service. Instead it's a service for the rest of our lives. Once we are baptized we are devoted to the work. We are the Lord's disciples from the beginning to the end. I'm ready to serve in the mission of life and I can't wait to serve with everything I've got.

So I've made a list of all the things to do when I get back. I've been keeping that list since Norfolk. Any ideas y'all can give me would be GREAT! Just write it down as it comes. I keep my list in my front pocket with me everywhere I go and as ideas come I write them down. Elder Scott has given some wonderful talks about revelation in recent General Conferences.

So I hope all is well. Things here are going well. We're working hard with those new ideas. In regards to how things are going with me and my companion....we're doing alright. We love to talk openly with each other and the added input is great! It's nice.

I hope everything is going great for y'all this week and I really bope everything is going well with your eye Mom.

I love you all!

Elder Richards

Virginia Richmond Mission
The Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter Day Saints

A New Week....A New Day!

Hey Family!                                                             Monday, October 15. 2012

THE MAN!

Nick's Companion

Thanks Mom and Dad for your e-mails! I really needed them today..(More on that in a sec).

So it's GREAT hearing that Alex Mallory is serving a mission! You know, I was just thinking about him yesterday and the conversations we used to have in the car when I gave him rides to places. I was hoping that he would serve a mission. That's Awesome!

That's great to hear that it finally started raining in Washington. From what you said Mom, I can just see Dad  jumping around and clicking his heels in the air. Like a Welshman. Haha. Thanks for the thought.
It's also good to hear that the Family History class is getting more populated lately. I hope to immerse myself in helping y'all when I get back.

I think that Family history work is just one activity of many to give us hope and to eventually help us see who we really are, our true identity. So I can't wait to learn more. Plus, I've been making a list of things to get involved in - in different areas of life, to stay productive. Family History is one of them.

Mom: I hope you have someone driving you to the eye doctor. It reminds me of when I went to the doctor with Josh Brazil to get his lasik eye surgery. I watched intently at the monitor as the process was taking place. On the car ride home he fell asleep like a light bulb. Haha! So I just turned the radio down and drove smoothly so he could get his rest. So in other words....Be safe Mom. I love you! :-)

Well dad: on your birthday...I hope you enjoy the little things in life.I'm sure as you remember on your mission. Here on my b-day things are busy to say the least but it's nice to stop and think about the things I'm grateful for. Like a nice bed and a good pillow to rest my head, a good book to read (approved missionary literature) :-), food and a working bike. Bur most importantly Family! Good news from home and people to share my thoughts with. No matter the distance and the way to communicate.

I hope you enjoy your birthday Dad. I will celebrate with you, plus I'll mark my calendar as that also being the day you escorted me through the Temple.....And I will ALWAYS remember that! I love you dad! Thanks for being good to us kids and to mom! :-)

I'll get the bike here as soon as I can, and a box and get all the measurements to you soon!!!

Tell Steve Fine I said "hello" and am expecting to have a good visit with him. He's awesome! I'm grateful he put up with my lazy personality at the time haha!

You know Mom the scripture you sent is similar to the study I had today and I included it in my notes. On how to better myself as an individual. I like how often we find ourselves studying the same things at the same time..

I hope to vote this year. But now I'm registered to vote in Virginia. My residency was cancelled in Washington....but I got on the ball and I'm hoping to vote really soon! :-)

So this last week wasn't very productive at all. In fact the opposite of success. However, the good that came out of it was we did talk to some wonderful women who were asking about Mitt Romney and what he believed. As you can imagine we only spoke about religion. Haha!

All of our investigators aren't progressing or we don't hear from them. Some just want us to 'hang out'; but I'm not having it! I didn't just come out here to "hang out"! So we're working on improving things here and trying to get things going. PLUS on the bright side, our ward members are asking for supplies to share the gospel and our exchange calendar is full for October. AND we're getting fed! Haha!

So in other words....it's ALL GOOD! I remember what the Savior told Peter, "I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not." And now he does that even for all of us!

Family: I love you all and look to your happiness and love and support. I hope to hear all the good news that comes this week to all of you and all the fun adventures you're all having.

P.S. Dad...I'm saving my e-mails after my mission so I can remember all the references you made to yours...:-)

Another Beautiful sky from Virginia!

Love you all!

Elder Richards


Virginia Richmond Mission
The Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter Day Saints

New Update!

Hey Family,                                                                 9 October 2012

Elders in Glen Allen, VA

Thanks for the recent news. Yeah, the hills in Glen Allen are really large and very gradual as you make your way towards Richmond. If your driving on Monument Ave. one of the hills we go down is on a road called "Glenside Dr." It's near where Glenside meets Forest Ave.

This week has been interesting. It's been really slow with investigators - almost none. As it has started getting cold - I realized that I forgot my gloves and earmuffs in Norfolk; so I got some gloves at the store but I'm still looking for something to cover my ears.

Conference was EPIC! I loved all the talks given in Conference. As I've gotten older I have gone from 'falling asleep' to 'looking at the screen and taking notes as fast as I can'. Haha!

The talk from Elder Holland was 90% the same from when he addressed us in the MTC. One missionary made the comment that he started us with the talk and now was finishing it with his Conference talk. Haha! I loved that talk! It's one of my favorites! How he reminds us that those who have served missions need to know the importance of staying active in the church and remaining true to our covenants when we have already started our journey to follow the Savior. I LOVED the line that says "DID YOU LOVE ME" picturing in my mind standing at the judgement bar and God saying that to me!  When we were in the MTC Elder Holland said.....in my own words...quote "DO YOU LOVE HIM?"......once you follow him you can never go back...not to your old life. Since then I have always remembered that. That has always been with me and I hope and have planned to stay true to it.

As far as this week is going, it's still slow but we're working on it. Hopefully, we can get more people this week. I hope we can find those who are seeking the truth or those who want to improve their life.

Loaded up!

My bike is doing good. Everything seems to be working well and my jacket, as with everything is holding up okay. I might need some new slacks when I get back.....but it's all good! I don't have any holes in them yet.

Here are pictures of the bike I'm sending to dad:

I hope y'all have a great week.

I love y'all.

Elder Richards

Virginia Richmond Mission
The Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter Day Saints

Another Week!

Hey Family!

Thanks for the emails this week! I really enjoyed seeing Amy, Amanda and Laura...you all look way different. And Aidon and Owen are growing up more ha-ha!

I have really enjoyed serving in the Glen Allen ward. Our missionary program is getting much better and we're able to go out with the Elder's weekly. It's a nice change since my last area.

I can't believe Amy is 21 yrs. old. That's crazy! You're still my little sister though. Ha-ha!

I hope that Sis. Brasher is doing better! Remember how wiped out I was when I came out of the temple? The Spirit took it right out of me and left me with a nice headache. Ha-ha! But I hope she's doing well!

My companion and I are working great together. One thing that has worked is we talk about our thoughts and feelings towards a problem and that usually fixes everything and sets the tone for our work...and then everything works out...so we are doing well now. It's always been my goal to learn to work with my companions my whole mission. I've learned some great social skills from it. BTW my companion has been out 20 months.

Hearing how Jim is 32 years old and getting his bachelor's degree changes everything for me. Thanks for mentioning it. Sometime I'll have to get in touch with him and see how things are going. For a long time, I've always felt like the odd ball out about the whole age thing. Ha-ha...even all my companions tease me on how I look like I need to shave by noon ha-ha. But I love it! I've really learned to just shake off the humor Ha-ha.

Lately I've been learning to shake off the hard things and ignore life's hard things. So pray that I'll be able to work on that. I hope y'all enjoy Jim's wedding! Tell his family I said 'hey'! And be safe driving.

I got the package you sent mom and the peppermint leaked. I could smell the package a little but not a whole lot came out. I tested it on a 'live' specimen (bedbug) and it didn't work. It just curled up into a ball and just sat there. LOL! But it does smell nice though. Thanks. We'll keep using it to make our place smell nice.

Elder Jensen's trail bike is the one he would like to get rid of. I told him that dad was looking for one and he offered. The post office said they can't ship anything over 70 lbs. and I think it's right at the limit....but I would try UPS or FED EX and see their rates. I'll weigh it today and tell y'all next week how much they are together....and I'll try to reduce some weight from the frame once it's ready.

I'll be writing Josh too this week..I hope. We'll see how things go. I hope he's doing better and that the home teachers go and see him soon. Thanks for being missionaries......you guys are awesome!

Well that's it for me; everything is doing well here. I'm staying for another transfer, so I may finish here. I love y'all!

Elder Richards

Virginia Richmond Mission
The Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter Day Saints

More news from Glen Allen, Virginia

Great New Motto!

This last week has been REALLY busy! We've been contacting a lot of people and getting a lot of things done! It's been good and somewhat frustrating!

I'm feeling like my companion doesn't have a huge desire to serve....but it's all good...because if I have to drive this band wagon...then I will! It's gonna be a tough ride, one that I hope will be worth it.

I don't understand. Recently I've been worried about the lack of baptisms I've seen for myself versus the abundant amount companions have had and yet they lack the desire to do the work. Those have been my thoughts lately.....but I do have a desire to improve and become better as a teacher. I've noticed that in most areas of my mission - it's tough to improve when my companion doesn't seem to have a desire.

...but I MUST remember that I can build a foundation and convert my companion and those serving around me and in the church. I may not see many baptisms on my mission but a successful missionary, from the Church's standpoint isn't judged by the baptisms; but their personal commitment to the work and since I've started my mission, that's what it's been for me.

This week we're planning to contact 10+ scheduled appointments with people, and hopefully set some for baptism. We also have some possible service opportunities...which I really enjoy doing! I'm also getting my notes organized and have been working hard to have a desire to return back to my journal and read what I have written. It's hard for me to do that - but I know the times I have, have been testimony building moments for me...because what I wrote down was worth it.

FUN AT THE FAIR!

He WON....again!

Who????....Us????

We recently had a Stake Fair and a bunch of missionaries played 'Corn Hole'. I can't describe to y'all how much fun that game is - it's probably one of my favorites! I took a bunch of pics but not of me really...haha! I'm nervous to ask people to take my picture most of the time. I just like to take a bunch myself.

Great Missionaries!

Army of God!

So I'll send those ones out to y'all. Enjoy!

I love you all!

Elder Richards

Virginia Richmond Mission
The Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter Day Saints

P.S. Thanks for your emails - they really help me out. Tell all the COUSINS I said hey!  Helaman 10:7

P.S.S. Evidently, one of E. Richards' past companions has a bike he doesn't want...so he's giving it to E. Richards to send home for his dad. It's a Diamond Back Trail Mountain Bike and he says it's a SMOOTH ride as he has ridden it a few times. It's a bike which is worth $800.00 that he is giving us for free!  I think we are going to be a 'riding' family! He needs to also get together with Bro. Jeff Klumker...I hear he's a 'biking' man!

TRANSPORTATION!

Another Great Week!

Hey Family!                                                           17 September 2012

Elders in Glen Allen, Virginia

This last week has gone really well. We were able to get a less-active member back to Church. We've also been able to excel in our goals and key indicators.

Lately we've been praying that those that are ready would approach us and that we would be able to teach them. Sure enough we had a gentleman give us a referral for someone who wanted to be taught. We saw this person the other day and he told us that he would like to be baptized so we're meeting back with him soon to sum-up the lessons and continue with his progress.

Things are going well in my studies. I keep a journal of comfort/encouraging scriptures that I write in each day. It's hard to go back and read it though! Haha! It's strange to me but I have felt that I need to do so.

I have a bunch of really good entries that I've put in lately. One such account is of a memory in Lawrenceville, VA with Elder Zollinger.

"During the aftermath of the Hurricane in 2011 after we were done giving support in Lawrenceville, we traveled the next day to Emporia, VA. We were worried about the "King" family and were coming to assist them. We found that Bro. King had extra generators and fuel and had been traveling all day lending all he had to assist those around  him. He and his sons had also taken with them a chainsaw working all day the day before and the day we arrived. He related an experience to me of the recent disaster and the blessings he had received."

"He came to me and said 'I fueled up my truck and got to work. Working all day yesterday and most of today, helping everyone with their generators and helping the city workers and since I started I have never had to fuel up since then.' I looked at his fuel gauge and it was hovering at half. That truck eats fuel like it is a buffet. As we worked that afternoon and into the early evening I never saw that fuel gauge move at all. I had ridden in that truck several times. Bro. King said to me later that night 'I believe it's God helping me so I can help everyone else'. I told him 'the Lord provides to those that serve him, the Lord can do anything."

That was just one account in my journal that I've written in it with all my scriptures and quotes. It has helped greatly. As I was reading it for the first time I felt a soft comfort throughout the whole time that I studied.

The "infamous" bedbugs!!!!!  YUCK!

This last week has gotten irritating with all the bedbugs we have. We keep finding them in our apartment, in our beds, bathroom and on the walls. They're not everywhere but just here and there. We're having an exterminator come today to spray the apartment for the 4th time....but things are still good!

The Lord is amazing! I know that God really hears and answers my prayers. He helps me all the time as long as I heed his precepts. Those precepts are actions that I need to act on, and the thing is, that I have nothing to lose if I act on them to see the blessings. What holds us back is the thought and time we spend thinking that it won't amount to anything;  however, the counsel is true - by small and simple means are great things brought to pass.

I LOVE you all and I  hope y'alls week is going well.

Elder Richards

Virginia Richmond Mission
The Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter Day Saints

Pray that People will come......with Real Intent!

So this last week hasn't gone all that well!  :-( We tried to BLITZ the Glen Allen area and unfortunately....no success. Currently we only have 2 investigators and one of them is not progressing. We also had a 'Munch and Mingle' this week and no non-members showed up. There were only about 12 people that came out of the dozens that we invited.....so missionary work here is better than in any other area that I've served in...but struggling in it's own ways. (I'm guessing that the ward is working well with the Elders...just hard to find interested people!)

The one thing that gets me the most - the thing I have seen in all of the areas I've served in - is that the members don't share the gospel or fellowship. Those 2 things are required for our own Personal Salvation as stated in Ezekiel 3:17-21.

"Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me. When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.........."

We should do as Captain Moroni did with the Title of Liberty....living our beliefs in ALL we do and say and it will catch the notice of others and they will ask about the Gospel. It's difficult trying to tell the members to 'wear their religion' better and put themselves out there to be in a position to answer other's questions about our beliefs. I feel strongly also about how we home teach and visit teach our members......SORRY...I'm just trying to voice my frustrations......but it's all good because I know what's right and that answers to my prayers will come! 2 Chronicles 7:14....

"If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."

(Powerful counsel that is needed for each of us and our country!)

We're working on seeing ALL our potentials and former contacts and also finishing the assignments given us by the ward council. Hopefully we'll find more people to teach. PLEASE PRAY that people will come to us as we work...those with real intent!

I stumbled upon these great videos from Elder Bednar - they were a great reminder and subject for study for me. They are in a 3-part series...so look through all of them. They're very good!


http://mormonchannel.org/mormonmessages?v=1737858982001

ENJOY!

I LOVE you ALL. Thank you for your support. These things are REAL; because people can and do change for the better!  :-)

Elder Richards

Virginia Richmond Mission
The Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter Day Saints