January 23, 2018

As of June 30, 2018, the Washington Federal Way Mission will be no more. My mission will dissolve into the Tacoma and the Seattle missions. So I will be re-assigned on July 1st to my new mission. Although kind of sad, its also exciting. It will be fun to see what happens.

We have been tracting a lot lately. Just knocking door after door talking to so many people, there's not much better. We started to knock an apartment complex that we haven't ever touched before. And after about the 20th door and nobody had spoken English to us yet, we just asked a lady at the next door if any Americans live here. And she said, "No, we all from Ukraine." Elder Cox and I just looked at each other and laughed. This whole apartment complex is just a little village of Ukranians that speak very little english if any.  And now we know why the past missionaries in this area have never been to that apartment complex. 

Today is transfers and Elder Cox is getting transferred, i will meet my new companion today at 4. WA is warming up, it hit 60 degrees Monday, and it felt like summer. The sun has been shining more frequently, the area is progressing and things are going good. I am absolutely loving it up here. 

1/2. Redondo Beach

3/4. Our car was in the shop so we had to ride bikes for the weekend, and I crashed the first day...

 The District - Zone Leaders on each side of Holden

January 16, 20180

So Jayden is getting pushed back until Feb. 3. Bishop wants him at church 4 times before he gets baptized. and Jaydon was really sick this week so he wasn't able to make it. But he asked for a blessing, so we went over last night and I gave him a blessing. It was very spiritual experience. And something that I will never forget. But Jaydon is still progressing and doing good!

Okay, That Christmas gift of me you and Easton is amazing!!! I want one! Who made it??  (I am taller than Easton in it!) But seriously though that is amazing. 

We just started to teach a lady named Lyndsey and her daughter Rylie. We taught her in our Relief Society Presidents home. (Sister Mortenson) And it is always the best case scenario to teach an investigator in a members home, because the spirit will be more strong, and they can develop a friendship with the member. But anywasy we were on exchanges last night with the Zone Leaders so I was with Elder Cottrell when we taught Lyndsey and Rylie The Restoration, and it was the most spiritual experience that I have had out here. The spirit was so strong. The spirit was testifying to all that were in the room that Jesus Christ is our Savior, That Joseph Smith is a true prophet of God, and that what we were teaching was True. It was simply amazing. And after the lesson she said she could not wait to read the Book of Mormon! It was awesome. Yesterday was big testimony building day for me.

 Using the happy light :)

 Isaiah

 Elder Nelson (The Ostermiller's neighbor before they moved) Small World

 Tracting in the country

 Winery / Vineyard

View off a member's back deck

January 8, 2018

I hope everybody had a fun and safe holidays. I am still loving it here in Federal Way. Its still raining just in case you were wondering. We are teaching a kid named Jayden regularly, he is learning well. I love seeing him progress in the Gospel. He is so full of light and loves to learn. He is a stud.

The work is coming along, and we are staying busy. I absolutely love tracting. Being able to meet so many great and very unique people every day is quite the experience. I love just talking to people. Its such a diverse place up here. We knocked probably 20 houses on this one street the other day and only 2 of them were American. Its crazy. Elder Cox and I are picking up a little bit of everything. We are learning some spanish, Marshallese, Korean, samoan, and now some Chukese. 

The work is fun and I enjoy every day out here. I hope all is well. Love you all!

Love, Elder Richards 

January 2, 2018

Im reading in 2 Nephi, where Nephi puts Isaiah's words into his writings, and it is awesome! Not gonna lie it is tough and takes me about 45 minutes to read a chapter but I love it! I am learning so much. It is so crazy to think of how much Isaiah saw and has predicted that has come true. When you get a chance read 2 Nephi 15: 26 and replace the word Ensign with "The church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints." Joseph Fielding Smith taught that that is what "Ensign" meant. Anyways i just LOVE learning stuff like that. And learning that the coming forth of the Restoration has been foretold since Isaiah, and its such a testimony builder to know that.

Jayden is doing great, He is scheduled to be baptized Jan. 20. He is seriously doing so good. We love when we get to teach him, he just has a special spirit to him.

December 26, 2017

Merry Christmas Everyone! I hope everyone had a good Christmas. Mine was glorious. We actually had a white Christmas. It snowed all Christmas Eve night which was awesome. It was so good to see me family and talk to them for a while.

The work here is going good. The members are incredible and are taking care of us almost too good. We have so much food given to us everyday. They are all awesome. We are teaching a kid name Jayden, he is 10 years old and is full of light. He is so awesome to be around, and we love teaching him. He has true desire be baptized, and I pray that he continues down this path, and will enter into the waters of Baptism.

Christmas on the mission is different. Not bad by any means, but definitely different. During this holiday season I have realized how blessed I am. My Family that my Heavenly Father gave me, the opportunity I have to serve a mission, the great friends I have and so on. And I am truly grateful for  my Savior. And I am so grateful for his Atoning Sacrifice that he performed just for us. The selflessness of Jesus Christ is simply remarkable. I invite all of you to take time out of your day and think about our Savior and Redeemer, and the many sacrifices he did just for us. I know through him is where we can find true happiness and joy. I am so grateful to be serving my mission and having this great opportunity in helping others grow closer to Jesus Christ, and growing my own faith in Jesus Christ. (ISAIAH 9:6) 

I Hope you all have a good week!

Love, Elder Richards

Joseph Smith's Birthday Party

Christmas Eve

My Christmas was amazing! I feel like our Skype time flew!! Didn't it? But then We ate breakfast and opened presents that the Angelos had for us. Then we went back to our apartment and finished our studies. Then we went tracting for 2 hours or so before dinner, and we didn't have much luck but it was still good. We ate dinner with the Browns at 5. Then we visited one of our favorite less actives and delivered a present to him. And as we were heading to go back out tracting we saw a car off the side of the road with its hazards on so we stopped to see if they needed any help. It was a family from Ethiopia and they had a flat tire, and didn't know how to change it. So Elder Cox and I changed their flat tire, and they were so kind and appreciative, and tried to pay us and absurd amount of money. But we didn't take anything. So he gave us both a big hug, haha it was awesome. So after that we headed straight to our Stake Presidents house, he wanted us over to give his family a message. So went there at around 7:15 with our filthy hands, and washed up, and give his family a message. Which was so spiritual, it was amazing. President Kenney is a spiritual giant! He is just amazing. Then they forced us to eat. Haha they fed us Prime rib, the best ham i have ever had, mashed potatoes, stuffing, you name it they had it. So we ate all of that at 8 at night. It was awesome!! Seriously it was such a good Christmas!!