April 17, 2018

An email I received yesterday:

Brother and Sister Richards:

I am the Ward Mission Leader in the Fairwood Ward in the Renton Washington Stake.  I have the pleasure of working with your son and sharing some of his mission adventures.

I received notice this afternoon that your son's companion will be transferred tomorrow.  This event reminded me that I had not yet written to you.

I am an eye witness to the hard and often discouraging work performed by your son. He is a fine young man and a great missionary.  I am sure you are proud of his accomplishments.  I had hoped for some baptisms resulting from that work -- long hours, door knocking, ward mission meetings, and zone/district training -- but that reward has yet to arrive

However, I doubt if our lack of baptisms is the result of insufficient work. All the members here need to step forward with greater faith to supply souls to teach and move the work forward.

Our ward and I are blessed by your son's efforts. We are trying to support his as best we can.  I have confidence all this will bear fruit.

Regards,

Harold Hawken

Fairwood Ward Mission Leader

It is nice and wet up here in Renton. Spring has come and so has the rain. And being on bike we get to soak it all up. (:

 We spend most of our time finding, trying to broaden our teaching pool. Knocking a lot of doors, meeting a lot of people, just trying to talk to everybody. 

One thing I have learned these last 6 months is the difference between fun and happiness. Fun is fleeting, but happiness is forever.(Alma 41:10)  And I am truly happy, because I am aware of God's great and merciful plan. I have come to know my Savior through prayer and scripture study. And I am the Happiest I have ever been. I am grateful for this opportunity to serve.

Thank you for all of your love and support.

Love, Elder Richards.

1. Nightly Routine

2. Elder Brackner's bike broke 

3. Happiness

Other pics

It has rained nonstop for the past two weeks.  I change clothes quite often.  During dinner I'll hurry  and throw my pants in the dryer.  Haha it's great.  And being on a bike just makes it that much better. My new companion's name is Elder Sugihara.  He has been serving in the Marshallese Branch for the last 8 months or so.  I've heard he is a good missionary so I am excited to get to work with him.