Funny Quote

Funny quote : Reno is so close to hell that you can see Sparks! (Sparks is a city in NV on the border of Reno by the way)

question: is Ben in the MTC yet?

Yo

Living the dream here in Reno. Funny story. We only get a certain amount of miles every month. So it was the end of the month and we were almost out of miles. I called Elder Elsworth (the driving coordinator) and asked him if we could get a couple more miles for the month. Well, he said no. So we had to break out the bikes for a couple of days. And coincidentally, it was the windiest day of the transfer, no joke. It was ridiculous. I was loving it. It was wicked hard but so worth it. We had to bike to the bottom of our area to visit Frank. It was a really good visit. He loves to tell us stories. This time he told us how he was the fastest kid in school because he was always running from bullies. He is black so the white kids always tried to pick on him. But they could never catch him. One time his mom told him to take a stand. He punched the kid in the face and he ran home crying. Frank felt good and that's when he decided to become a boxer. And he was very good too. He always has a good story to tell. We don't say much, which was a good thing because we were so tired. The wind just would not stop blowing us back. Elder Marsh struggled with it becasue it was his first time on a bike in the mission. He borrowed a really crappy bike, too, so he couldnt pedal well. He was miserable. haha It reminded me of my first day on bike. Good times. And we didnt go over miles this month!

I went to the chiropracter this week and he realigned my back and neck for me. It was my first time and it was pretty amazing. Bro Nightengale said I should have been in there awhile ago. Everything was cracking like crazy. It's because of turning my head too much (deaf ear) and my bed. He is trying to find someone with a good bed because mine is trash from all the missionary usage.

We had a great lesson with the McCombs ( a part member family). We should be setting Sis McComb with a baptismal date pretty soon. yay!

That was my week.
transfers are coming up this weekend. I will probably stay here to finish training Elder Marsh. yay! love ya.

Elder Richards

We all know what's up and you can't mess with the best! It's the Elder of Las Vegas West!

Hey

This transfer is flying by. It's crazy fast. We had a great week this week. They have announced the new Mission President, President Black from Utah. He will get here sometime in July. I will definitely miss President McCracken--he is the man.
We had Zone Conference this week and we had a visit from Elder Spencer Jones from the Quorum of the Seventy. It was kinda funny because he kept talking about marriage and stuff. He talked about being Sealed and how the Elders need to treat their wives with respect or they may not want them in the afterlife. Then after this huge explanation on that, he tells us not to teach what we have just learned to investigators. We teach the milk not the meat. It was kinda weird but I really enjoyed it.
A couple nights ago we had a great fireside. It was by FAIR (Foundation of Apologetic Information and Research). They talked about main anti-mormon issues that people try to get us on and how to defend it. It was really good. I only got to see half of it though because of the SNOW. Lots and lots of snow. It was way cool. Well cold. During the fireside the snow came down hard so we had to shovel the sidewalks for people. It was pretty sick. haha I had to follow a couple missionaries home because they are from Florida and don't know how to drive in the snow.
Thanks for everything. The Church is true. It's as simple as that. No matter how hard people try to deny it, they cannot shake my faith. The work will go on boldly until it has filled the earth.

Elder Richards

Bold Sauce

Yo
I gave my first talk yesterday in South Meadows Ward. The Bishop called us as we were getting into bed on Saturday night to tell us we were giving talks in the morning. I wasn't nervous at all. I was afraid that Elder Marsh would flip out about it but he kept his cool. He did great. First he talked about Faith in Jesus Christ. We had some investigators attending so I did my talk on Baptism. I looked at those nonmembers and I told them that they needed to be baptized. Well, I didn't say it exactly like that but I was straight to the point. Baptism is an essential ordinance. "Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit he cannot enter the kingdom of God." There is no other way to make it back to our Heavenly Father except by following our Savior's example and be baptized. We all need to be baptized. Period.

Anyway things are going really well with my new companion. Elder Marsh is the man. He is a great companion. He is pumped and ready to go. This has really helped me to get over my experience with Elder Smith. I'm blessed.

The Church is true. Period.

Elder Richards

I ate an octupus at a Chinese place (really, I did)

Hey

I've got the Temple cards. Don't worry about it. We go to the Temple next week.

This transfer I will be training. I don't know who he is yet. He has to drive up here tomorrow. I'm really happy. In case you were wondering, Elder Smith wasn't the best companion for me. He's kinda like Crumly except he didn't want to do anything. I was really depressed all transfer, but no longer. I feel on top of the world. I am finally free. Elder Smith is gone. Now I can get to work with my new companion.


Robin was baptized on Saturday. She is awesome. She has taught me more than I could ever teach her. She is such a great example. It blew me away when she gave up coffee that easily. She has so much faith that it seemed nothing to her. What really amazed me is her health. He had really messed up her leg snowboarding when we first met her. The doctor said that she may have torn something and her knee would never be the same until the resurrection (I added that last part). She was in a lot of pain. We gave her a blessing and and by the time of her baptism she was almost completely better. She isn't wearing the brace anymore. She walking normal now. She had no problems during the baptism itself. It's amazing what Heavenly Father is capable of. What a blessing it is to have the truth restored.

Thanks for prayers and support. They really helped me out. Especially this transfer. He is Risen! It makes sense.

Elder Richards

Pshaw

Yo

I've been wondering--where is McKay Wells? What is he doing? Did Beth serve around an Elder Whitehorse in Bolivia?

Well, my companion Elder Smith leaves in a week. We had splits with the AP's the other day, Elder Dickey. It was good to see him. He was my ZL (Zone Leader) in Redrock and it's been awhile.

We have been having lessons all week. Robin is doing really really well. It's kinda weird because usually its hard for investigators to overcome their problems. But with Robin, she doesn't have any issues with anything we have taught. She doesn't mind giving up coffee at all. She is really surprised that her migraines haven't been coming. She knows that her Heavenly Father has been helping her. What a great example. I tell her that every time I see her. She is awesome. Her baptismal interview is Tuesday and the baptism is on Saturday. Once again I have the honor of baptizing her. I am so blessed.

Thanks for everything. I'll need those Temple cards soon. And could you get some for the Sisters please? just two.

He is Risen!

Elder Richards

There is springtime in my soul today

Yo

Reno isn't too cold. It's not that bad. Everyone here is a bunch of wimps. "Oh it's so cold. haha You have to go out all day and we get to be warm inside" Whatever. I didn't need to buy a new coat because some members in Vegas got me some stuff so I'm good.

I finally got Aunt Jan's package and I love it. Christmas wouldn't be the same without Aunt Jan's shirts. I got a bald eagle this time. Sweeeet. Elder Smith was super jealous. haha.

I want my cookies. No excuses. You've never had pumpkin cookies? Its like pumpkin bread with chocolate chips in it. Mike R made them for you once. I'm fine with just chocolate chip cookies if you don't want to send the others.

Do you have the 3rd memory card? I only have 2 and I don't know if I sent you the 3rd one or not.

When does Ben leave? You'll have to get me his address so I can write him when he goes to San Diego.

We a had a successful week. We got a couple of new investigators and Robin is still doing good. I love teaching Robin. She soaks it all in and wants to learn more. She is excited for baptism on the 23rd. We taught her the Word of Wisdom. She drinks coffee but she is willing to give it up. Her love for her Heavenly Father is greater than her love for coffee. She is doing great.

I learned some cool stuff on Saturday. Every Saturday morning we have martial arts lessons with Bro Reilie. It's way fun. This week we learned about yubi tori (finger holds). Ow, that is some painful stuff. I'm on the ground every time. You wouldn't think that a finger hold could do that but i testify to you all that yubi tori does work.

I love you all. Thanks for your prayers and support. They really do help.

Love
Elder Richards

PS you can send the cards. There are 2 weeks left in the transfer then it's the Temple. Reno Temple this time. Yay. I have sisters in my district so could you send 2 female baptisms too?

A mission is like a box of chocolates

Heyyyyyyyyyy

I got your letters. Thanks. But you misspelled Brian's name. You spelled it "brain".

The week was a little slow because of the new year. On New Year's it was a non-proselyting day so we got together with the other zones and played war ball. It was awesome. I got pretty messed up though because Elder Checketts and I ran into each other. Checketts is huge. Just imagine a brick wall with legs. It was like a looney tunes scene. He hit me and I spun around in a circle about 2 1/2 times. Yeah, it really hurt.

We had a awesome lesson with a new investigator named Robin last night. She really felt the Spirit and we committed her to baptism on the 23rd of Jan. It was wonderful. Her boyfriend has been less active but he is coming back. They are coming together now. Sweeeeeet.

Well, that was pretty much it. Can you send me some cookies? No bake and pumpkin cookies? Please? I didn't get Aunt Jan's package yet. Do you know when she sent it?

I love you. The Church is true. It makes sense.

Love
Elder Richards

PS did you know that dragons are in the Book of Mormon? 1 nephi 17:41 "fiery flying serpents"