It is hard to believe that another week has gone by! The days are weeks and the weeks are days. Crazy that next week I'll be half way done, (or something like that). First off, the thank yous. Thank you very much Mike, Jess and kiddies for the letter, and you too Eric. Y'alls both came on the same night so you tied for last place. I have snail mail written y'all back and have mailed them so keep an eye out for the next few days. Mom, as far as packages go ...whatever you feel so inclined to include will be very much appreciated. Packages here are very fun, the whole district gets excited and gathers round like it's Christmas morning.
But I digress, we got to go to the temple again today (like every Pday) and it was very good. I had a hard time staying awake because the last two nights I have slept terribly. My companion snores somewhere around the volume of a grizzly bear, so it's a race against time to fall asleep before him, otherwise you'll be up for a while. But we all still love him.
Over the course of the few weeks that I've been here I've caught every bug that has gone through the district, so adding together all the times that I've felt 100% healthy would probably come out to about half a week. But that's ok, it's never been anything too bad or disabling. My roommate was very sick yesterday so me and his companion took shifts staying with him while the others went to class. So yesterday was kind of slow, but still good. The language is coming along nicely, my sentence fragments are slowly becoming more and more coherent.
I can't recall if I've mentioned this, but because our teachers have been sick and going on vacation we've had a ton of subs, one of whom is a good friend of mine from BYU. He was in the same ward as the girls me and my apartment hung out with, so we hung out with him a lot. He's a really nice guy and way good teacher. He's from El Salvador, it's a fun accent to listen to. All the Elders in the zone have finally found out that we knew each other outside of the mtc and are constantly asking me questions about him, I guess they can't picture him outside in the real world.
And on the topic of our teachers, this is our last week with them because one is quiting to go to medical school and be on the BYU track team, and the other is switching over to the tutor position. So we will have two new teachers, both of whom are native speakers. The hermano is from Chile, and the hermana is from peru. Speaking of south American missions, dad, which Bolivian mission did you serve in? My companion's dad served in La Paz Bolivia, and that sounded familiar to me, but he's younger than you are so he would probably have been there several years after you, assuming it is the same mission.
It was a lot of fun to hear everyone's different accounts of Whit and Cody's wedding, sounded like it went over real well. Mom and Dad, are y'all going to try to find someone to buy the van, or just sell it for parts? I can't imagine that old piece of junk fetching too high of a price. I say piece of junk, but I did love that piece of junk. Well my time has almost expired, oh mom, if you were wanting to send pictures of wedding stuff, it would be best to do so by snail mail as opposed to email. And I think I've touched on everything major from the past week. Thank you everyone for your love and support and prayers. I can't wait to get out in the field and do some real work. I love you all and pray for you all each night, take care, and I will see y'all in two years.
Love,
Elder Richards
Friday, August 27, 2010
Friday, August 20, 2010
Adventures from the MTC
So apparently a construction crew broke a water line out front so our water is broken. Thank goodness I got my clothes into the dryer first. This past week has been pretty good. I sang in sacrament with a small group and we were very well received. Then, with the addition of an alto hermana we auditioned for a devotional musical number yesterday and got the part, so to speak. But yes, it has been a good week.
My cough got worse and most of my district has been fighting some illness or another (I'm mostly over it now), we all lovingly blamed it on one of our teachers. For gym time the other day one of the Elders in the district led us in yoga. It was...liberating(?) but yeah anywho. We play a ton of volleyball usually, it's a lot of fun. Every Wednesday it seems weird to see all the newbies showing up. Spanish is coming, I can pray and speak much better now that I can speak in future and past tense. I love going to the temple it is a huge blessing and definitely a highlight of the week. Today after our session we got to go help out in the laundry room and that was way cool. We have service time every Wednesday morning, and that's it, so this was like "awesome extra blessings!"
Thank you to everyone who has written. Especially you dad, your letter was very much appreciated. It was very touching and kind. Every once in a while I see someone I know which is kind of odd. Fun fact this last Wednesday my companion's way good friend came to the MTC and it turned out it was my home teaching companion from BYU. The Mormon world is a small one. Hey whit, and Cody, congrats on your impending wedding, (we can photo shop me into the pictures after I get home) don't worry, you'll have a real letter coming in the mail in the next little while. Mike, how are you doing? How goes the job hunt, I haven't heard from you yet, you too Eric.
This last Tuesday we had a Large Group meeting which was way good, and an added bonus, the guy teaching it looked like a younger brother of Bill Murray, also he sounded just like him and had the same mannerisms. That night the devotional was PHENOMENAL. If you can find anything by Elder Gonzalez and his wife from the first quorum of the 70's presidency, you should totally read it, they are way good speakers. His wife really reminded me of Ricardo and Greg's moms, just the middle aged super loving motherly Latina type. It made me a little home sick, but then I got over it. Anywho, I can see this Elder going places, I wouldn't surprised if he ended up in the 12. He is a very good speaker, and I thoroughly enjoyed his talk. Well, I think I've touched on everything major, and I need to go get my clothes. So, thanks everyone for all your love and support, I love y'all and love hearing from you even more!
Con amor,
Elder Richards
My cough got worse and most of my district has been fighting some illness or another (I'm mostly over it now), we all lovingly blamed it on one of our teachers. For gym time the other day one of the Elders in the district led us in yoga. It was...liberating(?) but yeah anywho. We play a ton of volleyball usually, it's a lot of fun. Every Wednesday it seems weird to see all the newbies showing up. Spanish is coming, I can pray and speak much better now that I can speak in future and past tense. I love going to the temple it is a huge blessing and definitely a highlight of the week. Today after our session we got to go help out in the laundry room and that was way cool. We have service time every Wednesday morning, and that's it, so this was like "awesome extra blessings!"
Thank you to everyone who has written. Especially you dad, your letter was very much appreciated. It was very touching and kind. Every once in a while I see someone I know which is kind of odd. Fun fact this last Wednesday my companion's way good friend came to the MTC and it turned out it was my home teaching companion from BYU. The Mormon world is a small one. Hey whit, and Cody, congrats on your impending wedding, (we can photo shop me into the pictures after I get home) don't worry, you'll have a real letter coming in the mail in the next little while. Mike, how are you doing? How goes the job hunt, I haven't heard from you yet, you too Eric.
This last Tuesday we had a Large Group meeting which was way good, and an added bonus, the guy teaching it looked like a younger brother of Bill Murray, also he sounded just like him and had the same mannerisms. That night the devotional was PHENOMENAL. If you can find anything by Elder Gonzalez and his wife from the first quorum of the 70's presidency, you should totally read it, they are way good speakers. His wife really reminded me of Ricardo and Greg's moms, just the middle aged super loving motherly Latina type. It made me a little home sick, but then I got over it. Anywho, I can see this Elder going places, I wouldn't surprised if he ended up in the 12. He is a very good speaker, and I thoroughly enjoyed his talk. Well, I think I've touched on everything major, and I need to go get my clothes. So, thanks everyone for all your love and support, I love y'all and love hearing from you even more!
Con amor,
Elder Richards
Friday, August 13, 2010
My first real Pday
Hello all,
Wednesday was kind of wacky with seeing all the newbies showing up. A few missionaries in our zone who have been waiting for their visas to go to Mexico have been temporarily reassigned and have gone to different state side places to work while they wait for their visas. So they were very excited to finally get out of the MTC. This week has been pretty good. I get along great with my companion. A little bit about him, he's from California. He spent the previous year working for the Boys/Girls club in his area.
Today has been pretty good. We got to go to the temple as a district which was great, it really brought us closer. Speaking of my district I can't remember if I talked about it, there are 8 elderes and 3 hermanas. (Whit, at this point I have to express gratitude for you serving in a mission. You might not have realized it but from the Elders' perspective having Hermanas in your district is a huuuge blessing. It gives that much needed touch of a female presence. Makes a big difference.)
I get along really well with my roommates. We all have a lot in common and are always cracking each other up. Our room (I've taken pictures so you can see eventually) is set up with two bunk beds. Me and one elder are in one (I'm in the top bunk) and another elder and my companion are in the other. My companion is a very loud snorer and the rest of us in the room can't help but laugh at the ridiculousness of how loud it is while we're trying to fall asleep.
My package got here yesterday, thanks mom. I was especially fond of the tie. So if ever you are wondering what to put into a package, when in doubt send ties (and maybe a ctr/hij ring, not the green plastic ones but something with some girth to it). They're the one aspect, ties, of the missionary's wardrobe that I have control of so it is very nice to have a variety. Maybe some bright colors, pinks, greens, purples, things like that. I've been fighting a bit of a cough the past few days, but other than that I have been absolutely fine health wise. So far the food has been mostly decent. We'll see how I feel in 8 weeks. It's funny, 8 weeks seems like it is forever away.
Almost once a day some kind of spiritual experience will happen and I'll be dying to get out and start teaching. In our district's class we have two teachers that alternate teaching us, one of them is out of town for the week and one of the subs that filled in for him was a good friend of mine from BYU, so that was pretty cool to see him again. He's from El Salvador and served in Chile. It was funny because at one point he asked me (in Spanish) why didn't you ever talk with me in Spanish back at school? I just had to say it wasn't personal, I had forgotten all my Spanish until a little over a week ago. It's crazy, each day I know more and more Spanish. And where I lack the ability to speak I make up for in the ability to understand. I can teach a lesson in Spanglish to an "investigator" who will only respond in Spanish and completely understand what's going on. Older Elderes have taught me and my companero in Spanish and we can understand them completely. The Lord definitely blesses missionaries.
This Sunday me, my companero and then three other elderes from my district (are singing in church), we're going to sing abide with me tis eventide acapella. We're also practicing to audition for the special musical number before an MTC devotional next Thursday. For that we will be singing a medley of Nearer My God to Thee. My companion is something of a musical prodigy. He has the voice of an angel, and plays the piano. He can't read music very well so he just plays hymns that he knows really well in whatever key and arrangement he thinks of on the spot. It is something to hear let me tell you.
At this point I am almost out of time. Thank you everyone who has written me, the letters have all been great.
Muchas gracia por sus oraciónes y carteles amable. Yo sé que Padre Celestial bendige los missioneros. Me testimonio es muy fuerza. Jesucristo es nuestra salvador y tiene mucho amor por nosotros. Oro por ustedes ye les amo mucho.
Love,
Elder Stephen Hunt Richards
Wednesday was kind of wacky with seeing all the newbies showing up. A few missionaries in our zone who have been waiting for their visas to go to Mexico have been temporarily reassigned and have gone to different state side places to work while they wait for their visas. So they were very excited to finally get out of the MTC. This week has been pretty good. I get along great with my companion. A little bit about him, he's from California. He spent the previous year working for the Boys/Girls club in his area.
Today has been pretty good. We got to go to the temple as a district which was great, it really brought us closer. Speaking of my district I can't remember if I talked about it, there are 8 elderes and 3 hermanas. (Whit, at this point I have to express gratitude for you serving in a mission. You might not have realized it but from the Elders' perspective having Hermanas in your district is a huuuge blessing. It gives that much needed touch of a female presence. Makes a big difference.)
I get along really well with my roommates. We all have a lot in common and are always cracking each other up. Our room (I've taken pictures so you can see eventually) is set up with two bunk beds. Me and one elder are in one (I'm in the top bunk) and another elder and my companion are in the other. My companion is a very loud snorer and the rest of us in the room can't help but laugh at the ridiculousness of how loud it is while we're trying to fall asleep.
My package got here yesterday, thanks mom. I was especially fond of the tie. So if ever you are wondering what to put into a package, when in doubt send ties (and maybe a ctr/hij ring, not the green plastic ones but something with some girth to it). They're the one aspect, ties, of the missionary's wardrobe that I have control of so it is very nice to have a variety. Maybe some bright colors, pinks, greens, purples, things like that. I've been fighting a bit of a cough the past few days, but other than that I have been absolutely fine health wise. So far the food has been mostly decent. We'll see how I feel in 8 weeks. It's funny, 8 weeks seems like it is forever away.
Almost once a day some kind of spiritual experience will happen and I'll be dying to get out and start teaching. In our district's class we have two teachers that alternate teaching us, one of them is out of town for the week and one of the subs that filled in for him was a good friend of mine from BYU, so that was pretty cool to see him again. He's from El Salvador and served in Chile. It was funny because at one point he asked me (in Spanish) why didn't you ever talk with me in Spanish back at school? I just had to say it wasn't personal, I had forgotten all my Spanish until a little over a week ago. It's crazy, each day I know more and more Spanish. And where I lack the ability to speak I make up for in the ability to understand. I can teach a lesson in Spanglish to an "investigator" who will only respond in Spanish and completely understand what's going on. Older Elderes have taught me and my companero in Spanish and we can understand them completely. The Lord definitely blesses missionaries.
This Sunday me, my companero and then three other elderes from my district (are singing in church), we're going to sing abide with me tis eventide acapella. We're also practicing to audition for the special musical number before an MTC devotional next Thursday. For that we will be singing a medley of Nearer My God to Thee. My companion is something of a musical prodigy. He has the voice of an angel, and plays the piano. He can't read music very well so he just plays hymns that he knows really well in whatever key and arrangement he thinks of on the spot. It is something to hear let me tell you.
At this point I am almost out of time. Thank you everyone who has written me, the letters have all been great.
Muchas gracia por sus oraciónes y carteles amable. Yo sé que Padre Celestial bendige los missioneros. Me testimonio es muy fuerza. Jesucristo es nuestra salvador y tiene mucho amor por nosotros. Oro por ustedes ye les amo mucho.
Love,
Elder Stephen Hunt Richards
Saturday, August 7, 2010
The First Letter
Hello All,
So, thank you everyone who wrote letters. They really do brighten one's day. Today is Saturday and it is my temporary PDay (preparation day ...the day where I get to write letters, do laundry, clean my room, etc.). My normal PDay is on Friday but I don't start my normal schedule until next Monday. It's true what they say around here, the days are weeks and the weeks are days. It is hard to believe that tomorrow is Sunday. The Lord definitely blesses missionaries. I've been learning Spanish for a day and a half tops, and I can already pray, testify, and make contacts. Also, each day more and more of what I learned in high school Spanish is brought to my memory.
It's amazing how much the Elderes y Hermanas care for each other here. My companion is a big ol' Tongan. He is way nice and we get along really well. I have two sets of Elders in my room and the four of us all get along really well and are all fresh to the MTC and all going to the Kennewick mission together. I'm really excited to work with them in the mission field. My district is extremely awesome, there are 8 Elderes y 3 Hermanas. Well, I think that just about covers it. I spend most of my time in the class room thus far. I'll fill y'all in on my schedule and stuff when it becomes a normal routine next week. Please remember to keep us in your prayers. Thanks for all of your support, and I love you all.
Love,
Elder Stephen Richards
So, thank you everyone who wrote letters. They really do brighten one's day. Today is Saturday and it is my temporary PDay (preparation day ...the day where I get to write letters, do laundry, clean my room, etc.). My normal PDay is on Friday but I don't start my normal schedule until next Monday. It's true what they say around here, the days are weeks and the weeks are days. It is hard to believe that tomorrow is Sunday. The Lord definitely blesses missionaries. I've been learning Spanish for a day and a half tops, and I can already pray, testify, and make contacts. Also, each day more and more of what I learned in high school Spanish is brought to my memory.
It's amazing how much the Elderes y Hermanas care for each other here. My companion is a big ol' Tongan. He is way nice and we get along really well. I have two sets of Elders in my room and the four of us all get along really well and are all fresh to the MTC and all going to the Kennewick mission together. I'm really excited to work with them in the mission field. My district is extremely awesome, there are 8 Elderes y 3 Hermanas. Well, I think that just about covers it. I spend most of my time in the class room thus far. I'll fill y'all in on my schedule and stuff when it becomes a normal routine next week. Please remember to keep us in your prayers. Thanks for all of your support, and I love you all.
Love,
Elder Stephen Richards
Thursday, August 5, 2010
It's Official
Stephen asked me (Mormom, Momma Richards ...Stephen's Mom) to post his letters on his blog so you can keep up with him and read all about his mission adventures.
Stephen entered the MTC (Missionary Training Center) on Wed Aug 4th and as you can see from his picture he looked happy and excited to begin this new chapter of his life. If you would like to write to him while he is gone there are a couple of options.
His snail mail ...mailing address until Oct 5th:
Elder Stephen Hunt Richards
MTC Mailbox #213
WA-KENN 1005
2005 No. 900 E.
Provo, UT 84604-1793
I would suggest that at least while he is at the MTC the best option would be to write an email letter to him through DearElder.com They print out all of the emails that arrive for the missionaries before noon and deliver them that day. Another nice thing about it ...it's FREE!
Also if you have a comment you would like me to pass on to Stephen I would be happy to help out. Just post them in the comment section and I will be sure he gets them. I know that Stephen would love to hear from all of you so keep in touch!
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