Monday, January 23, 2012

Being Transferred to Norfolk......or Norfik...or however you say it! Ha! Ha!

Hey everyone!

I'm getting transferred to Norfolk and I'm stoked! I'll have 2 companions! Yes, I'm in a trio and we are really close to our District Leader. HE'S IN THE SAME APARTMENT!!! That means there are 5 missionaries in the same apartment. It's going to be interesting!

My new area is a bike area.! It's downtown in the city and it's in the largest American naval port in the world. I'm glad I know military time - cause we use it here too - a lot! Ha! ha!

So, the call came last night as we were visiting at a member's home.

When the call came I was NOT expecting it...so it was interesting. I really expected to stay; but I am excited to being going to another bike area. I told my mission president recently, that if the Lord were to transfer me to PLEASE keep me in a bike area. I really enjoy being on a bike due to the amount of stress - it's nice to have a way to work it off.

So in Portsmouth you can actually see the Norfolk area from the shore in the downtown Portsmouth area. It's kind of strange to be able to see my future area while I'm still in this area! Does that make sense?!

So I can't mention the names of Elder's or people I work with but I can tell you that the missionary who is coming into Portsmouth (to take my place) is Asian; but he is from Australia and HE'S THE MAN! I know he will help out this area really well; he is very charitable.

This week I'll be sending my bike into the shop to get it fixed before I move this coming Thursday. I want get it all tuned up so I can bike hard this next transfer.....so as I'll be downtown in Portsmouth I'll be able to again see my future area!

I'll be sending a few things home in a box to reduce weight and save me some space in my luggage; so I hope you don't mind getting some boxes.

To be totally honest, it's a bit stressful getting transferred when I have to be the one moving; but at the same time it's very exciting moving all over the place. So far I've been moving south in Virginia - so who knows where I'll be sent after I'm done in Norfolk.

Lately I've been studying in Mosiah and the thing I've been interested in is how quickly wickedness begins after Zeniff's son Noah becomes King. It's interesting to see where the focus is in life when things begin to change.

Everything is going well. Next week I'll send the details of my location and shipping information.

I hope everyone enjoys their week. I love you all and I hope the snow doesn't get too bad. Oh and btw I can't send pics or audio because I don't have any cables with me to transfer anything to e-mail.

So.....love y'all!

Elder Richards

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

January 3rd, 5th & 6th, 2012

January 3, 2012

As the tape started you could hear the wind blowing real bad in the background. Evidently, E. Richards was riding his bike while recording. You could also hear thunder and lightning in the background too! He said that he and his companion were on their way to the library to email us and to send this audio clip. Nick had forgotten to send me a card on my birthday in December - so he wished me a Happy Birthday, Merry Christmas (we had already spoken on Skype!) and a Happy New Year!

He just mentioned his love of studying about the Plan of salvation and how much he loves and enjoys reading his missionary manual "Preach My Gospel."

Later in the day he wrote:
As they were leaving their apartment later they started having some light snowflakes. It was COLD out and windy. As part of their P-Day activities they went over to a member's home and helped do some heavy yard work, such as moving some big tree trunks and branches.

They also rode to downtown Portsmouth to the bike shop to get E. M a new tire for his bike, one of his spokes straightened and his front hub adjusted......Then on their way back to their apartment, E. M's chain fell off his rear derailer (?) which is the worst thing a chain can do. As they were stopped on the side of the road fixing the chain the snow flakes turned into a full-blown snow storm!

They were able to make a contact with a referral which didn't turn out too well and also spoke to a man who it turns out -  he was drunk! :-)  


January 5, 2012

Well, E. Richards is suffering from a bad head cold and sore throat. You can tell by the way he sounds that he is kind of in a fog. He says though that they got a lot done today. He was able to update their area book. They biked @ 20-27 miles today. They were able to contact some perspective investigators; worked with some less-actives. They were able to accomplish a number of good goals they had set for themselves.

Nick tells of an experience they had during the day. They went to meet with a potential investigator. It sounds like they had made a time to visit with them. As they knocked on the door someone hurried to the door (not to answer it) to LOCK it. They also turned off the TV and turned off the lights! I'm sure that every missionary has had that type of experience before. As they rode away on their bikes, the lights came back on inside! He did express how disappointed they were to be treated that way!

Nick also was on exchanges with another Elder from his area. He mentions that they have a Zone meeting the next day.

He is trying to update the information of the day as events happen so that when they have to fill out their reports in the evening it makes it go faster.

It sounds like he is learning how to set goals and follow through with them. I'm very glad to hear about the good skills he is learning while out in the world serving the Lord.


January 6, 2012

Well, I'm done with exchanges with the other missionary I was with. We had a great Zone meeting; however, I did fall asleep during some of it because of this bad head cold I have. I am anxious to take the time to update my binder with a lot of the things we discussed as a zone.

Had a chance to go over to the Spanish Elders' apartment. While there, my companion E. M gave me a priesthood blessing so that I can hurry and kick this illness. I have to say that I'm TIRED of blowing my nose...if I blow it much more I'll probably find the lost city of Atlantis!!!

I'm excited...I get to go to another baptism of one of my investigators. I love feeling the Spirit at baptisms. It's AWESOME!

Well, all for now and I love you all a ton!

Elder Richards

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

Dec. 27th, 2011

Sorry to be so long in updating Elder Richards' blog. He sent home mostly audio recordings during a 2-3 week time period and it's taken me a while to sit down and transcribe the highlights.


December 27, 2011

@ 7:56 a.m. right before Personal Study time: Expressed his continued love for Virginia and his opportunity to serve there. In the Christmas box we sent him was a large summer sausage. Evidently, his companion has a family tradition of fixing biscuits and gravy for the holidays...so he fixed breakfast for the 2 of them this morning with sausage! It was thoroughly enjoyed by both Elders!

Elder Richards was able to go back to Lawrenceville (from Portsmouth) to see the baptism of one of his investigators. He said it was the only time he had seen this young man without his "du rag" (?)....I'm assuming the young people know what this is!!! :-) He was also able to see a former companion, Elder Z. This missionary has evidently spent his mission up to this point in the same area!

He expressed that as missionaries they received a ton of socks and ties for Christmas! Both he and his companion said NOT to send any more kleenex; especially the ones in the little plastic pocket! They have enough to last forever! tee! hee! They could use some postage stamp books though! I think if you send them some postage stamps you should tell them it's on condition that they write you a LONG hand-written letter.

He still LOVES being on a bike. He has had to work on his and his companion's bikes a lot....maybe he might want to open his own bike business when he gets home..he will probably be a pro by then.

He sends his love to one and all!

Elder Richards

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