Hello one and all,
Ok, so first of all sorry for not emailing yesterday. On Monday during district conference we were told that President and Sister Greer were coming to town yesterday to do interviews, so our Pday got bumped to today. Sorry if that caused any concerns. So, my week has been pretty good. We have a few baptisms coming up, Eloisa next Friday and Bob (the guy in fossil) Nov. 6th. Life in the field is good. Thank you very much mom for talking with Ricardo and Haley, I do appreciate it. Unfortunately off the top of my head I do not know the members address I live with. I'll get that to yall next week, and it's looking like I'll be here for at least another transfer, So I'll probably be here for a while.
I'm glad you enjoyed the old senior video mom. That was a lot of fun to make. I remember when he put it up on YouTube copyright people made him take down the original credit sequence which was really cool, so hopefully he got to put up the original.
So yeah, I have my bike, but we don't use bikes here, so it's in the garage. Some other area though I'm sure it'll come in handy, speaking of purchases. On Monday I bought a pretty nice GPS at walmart for just under 100. I was wondering if maybe I could get reimbursed as a early Christmas present? It will definitely help me out. So one fear I have, it's a very good chance that I'll be training next transfer. I'd get a Spanish elder who has 6 weeks less of Spanish experience than me, and I would be in charge. So that's kind of a terrifying concept, but we'll see what the Lord wants in a few weeks.
So Elder Montoya goes home at the end of this transfer, and it turns out that he's from Houston, only about 40 min away from us, in Humble. So I'll give him the phone number and address, and if yall want you can have him over for dinner some time and hear about the area I'm in. Should be fun, and he says he'd like to meet yall.
President Greer says the other elders I came in with are doing good, Elders Tom and Hansen. Dad to answer your questions, we do our laundry at the members home we live in, we email in a library, and we only drive. I'm in the Hermiston area and living in Boardmen. So far on Pdays we've just taken it easy in Boardmen. Today we picked apples in the backyard for the Olsens (our "host" family). The fruit here is very good and fresh. I had several apples while working, then we washed the car and that's been about it so far. Next week we're going to go to Hermiston for zone pday and that should be pretty fun. The work is about 60/40 when it comes to English to spanish. Mostly in English, but there's still plenty of Spanish to have. Well, I think that just about covers everything, I love you all and thank you for the emails mom and dad and Grandpa. In the mean time I probably better write president. Les amo.
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Finally in the Field
First off business for you mom, the girl's name is Haley Parker, thanks very much, also if you could give Ricardo a little motivation. Also when it comes to sending mail, if you could make my mission address known to the masses, that's how I get mail. They just forward it from the office.
Ok, it is good to be in the field. So Tuesday morning we flew out in a real small plane. Then almost 2 hours later we landed in Pasco Washington airport that had to be smaller than Sartartia Middle School. 14 or 15 of us flew out on the same plane, 4 of us were Spanish speakers. That night we had meetings with President/Sister Greer, the AP's and Senior Couple. I love the Greer's they are really great to us and care deeply for us. We got to walk down to the Temple there, small but really beautiful. That night all the elders went and stayed at the AP's apartment in bunk beds and floor mats. Then the next day our trainers drove from all over the mission to pick us up.
I'm down in Oregon, a real nice area. My trainer is Elder Montoya is great. He's a native Mexican so he helps a lot with the language. We get along great and have had mild success in teaching. This is his last transfer so he heads home real soon. After he leaves I'm not too sure what I'll do. We live with a nice older couple from the English ward we attend. As far as the split of lessons we teach in languages it's probably 60/40 English to Spanish. And as far as Spanish here goes, well I don't understand too much. If I can get them to slow down and speak to me like a slow child, I can usually understand, but that doesn't happen too much. The tricky part is hearing where one word ends and the other begins, but it's slowly but surely getting better. Although, I do love the Spanglish lessons, I can understand almost everything in those. My first day I couldn't understand a word, I very slowly improving.
There's this one family in the Spanish branch, they're recent converts the Castinetas, I absolutely love them. The first time I met them they were a little unsure because I was replacing their Elder who baptized them. But we've visited with them several times before and they have since adopted me into the family and shown a ton of love to me. They're great. We're teaching some people who will probably be baptized with some time, but the one I'm really excited about is Bob. Saturday night a Branch President from this branch out in a small town called Fossil (about an hour and half away from us) called and said there was this guy who had been attending church and wanted to meet the missionaries and be baptized.
So Sunday came and Elder Montoya went to our branch and I went with Hopper (A local priest) to Fossil to meet and teach Bob. We had to split because we had investigators coming to church that needed tending. So we get there and I don't think this place could be called a church, just a set apart meeting house. This used to be a little home that got converted. Also there were 9 people attending, including me, Hopper and Bob. They had one priesthood holder, the president, and the rest were sisters, save the president's son.
So after a nice testimony meeting where all of us shared something me, Hopper the president and one of the sisters went into a separate room with Bob. I proceeded to teach the first lesson with random input thrown in by the other people there. It went very well and the spirit was strong, at the end I invited Bob to be baptized, which he accepted, tomorrow Elder Montoya and I are going back down to fossil for the next lesson. I'm very excited about him. Because he's my first solo teachy.
There are a few other people that have been found since I've gotten here, but that's probably the neatest story. The members are real good about feeding us every night, and you can never leave the Castinetas trailer hungry. There's both ends of the spectrum here, we live in a nice house. But most of those we teach are in pretty humble conditions of trailers, or double wides, or whatnot. They are all very generous and kind, just living humbly.
Elder Montoya and I have both been sick this week, but are slowly improving and feeling better, so that's good. I think that's about it from this end. I was quite pleased to hear about Austin winning BOA, go Bulldogs! You'll have to go see a football game and tell me how they look. Hopefully everyone is doing well. Hey Whit, here's a favor You should do me. If you would be so kind as to send me copies of the prayer cycle, adagio for strings, appellation springs, things like that that are appropriate, that would be super awesome. Well I better go, but I love you all and look forward to the work and language progressing.
Ok, it is good to be in the field. So Tuesday morning we flew out in a real small plane. Then almost 2 hours later we landed in Pasco Washington airport that had to be smaller than Sartartia Middle School. 14 or 15 of us flew out on the same plane, 4 of us were Spanish speakers. That night we had meetings with President/Sister Greer, the AP's and Senior Couple. I love the Greer's they are really great to us and care deeply for us. We got to walk down to the Temple there, small but really beautiful. That night all the elders went and stayed at the AP's apartment in bunk beds and floor mats. Then the next day our trainers drove from all over the mission to pick us up.
I'm down in Oregon, a real nice area. My trainer is Elder Montoya is great. He's a native Mexican so he helps a lot with the language. We get along great and have had mild success in teaching. This is his last transfer so he heads home real soon. After he leaves I'm not too sure what I'll do. We live with a nice older couple from the English ward we attend. As far as the split of lessons we teach in languages it's probably 60/40 English to Spanish. And as far as Spanish here goes, well I don't understand too much. If I can get them to slow down and speak to me like a slow child, I can usually understand, but that doesn't happen too much. The tricky part is hearing where one word ends and the other begins, but it's slowly but surely getting better. Although, I do love the Spanglish lessons, I can understand almost everything in those. My first day I couldn't understand a word, I very slowly improving.
There's this one family in the Spanish branch, they're recent converts the Castinetas, I absolutely love them. The first time I met them they were a little unsure because I was replacing their Elder who baptized them. But we've visited with them several times before and they have since adopted me into the family and shown a ton of love to me. They're great. We're teaching some people who will probably be baptized with some time, but the one I'm really excited about is Bob. Saturday night a Branch President from this branch out in a small town called Fossil (about an hour and half away from us) called and said there was this guy who had been attending church and wanted to meet the missionaries and be baptized.
So Sunday came and Elder Montoya went to our branch and I went with Hopper (A local priest) to Fossil to meet and teach Bob. We had to split because we had investigators coming to church that needed tending. So we get there and I don't think this place could be called a church, just a set apart meeting house. This used to be a little home that got converted. Also there were 9 people attending, including me, Hopper and Bob. They had one priesthood holder, the president, and the rest were sisters, save the president's son.
So after a nice testimony meeting where all of us shared something me, Hopper the president and one of the sisters went into a separate room with Bob. I proceeded to teach the first lesson with random input thrown in by the other people there. It went very well and the spirit was strong, at the end I invited Bob to be baptized, which he accepted, tomorrow Elder Montoya and I are going back down to fossil for the next lesson. I'm very excited about him. Because he's my first solo teachy.
There are a few other people that have been found since I've gotten here, but that's probably the neatest story. The members are real good about feeding us every night, and you can never leave the Castinetas trailer hungry. There's both ends of the spectrum here, we live in a nice house. But most of those we teach are in pretty humble conditions of trailers, or double wides, or whatnot. They are all very generous and kind, just living humbly.
Elder Montoya and I have both been sick this week, but are slowly improving and feeling better, so that's good. I think that's about it from this end. I was quite pleased to hear about Austin winning BOA, go Bulldogs! You'll have to go see a football game and tell me how they look. Hopefully everyone is doing well. Hey Whit, here's a favor You should do me. If you would be so kind as to send me copies of the prayer cycle, adagio for strings, appellation springs, things like that that are appropriate, that would be super awesome. Well I better go, but I love you all and look forward to the work and language progressing.
Friday, October 8, 2010
Heads up ...we've got (snail) mail!
Hello all, I made it to Washington alright. As of right now I am in the AP's (Area President's) apartment with maybe 20ish other missionaries. Tomorrow is transfer day so we'll get our trainers then. I'm the only newbie going to the Boardman area/Hermiston Zone, that's in Oregon. I'm way excited because my trainer (Elder Montoya) is a native speaker. I can't wait to meet him tomorrow.
I absolutely love my Mission President and his wife. They are so loving. When we got to the airport they were there to meet us and send off 15 missionaries. It was really neat to see all the teary eyed missionaries leave. It was cool, we flew in on this tiny plane. Also we got to see the Colombia River Temple. It is so beautiful. I got some awesome pictures.
Tuesday is our P. Day (Preparation Day) for future reference. It's the day when we clean our apartment, shop, do laundry and write letters, etc. Well, I need to go get a shower in before lights out. Oh , before I forget ...for packages they have to be sent U.S. Postal Priority Mail because UPS, FedEx, or DHL can't be forwarded from the mission office to the missionaries. Which apparently is where we're supposed to get our mail from. Once I find out my address letters can be sent directly to my apartment. I'll clarify that with my trainer tomorrow.
Anywho I have to go, but it was so good talking to yall today. Sorry I couldn't say good bye to you Mom. I love yall so much, and thank you for your sacrifices.
Love,
Elder Steve
I absolutely love my Mission President and his wife. They are so loving. When we got to the airport they were there to meet us and send off 15 missionaries. It was really neat to see all the teary eyed missionaries leave. It was cool, we flew in on this tiny plane. Also we got to see the Colombia River Temple. It is so beautiful. I got some awesome pictures.
Tuesday is our P. Day (Preparation Day) for future reference. It's the day when we clean our apartment, shop, do laundry and write letters, etc. Well, I need to go get a shower in before lights out. Oh , before I forget ...for packages they have to be sent U.S. Postal Priority Mail because UPS, FedEx, or DHL can't be forwarded from the mission office to the missionaries. Which apparently is where we're supposed to get our mail from. Once I find out my address letters can be sent directly to my apartment. I'll clarify that with my trainer tomorrow.
Anywho I have to go, but it was so good talking to yall today. Sorry I couldn't say good bye to you Mom. I love yall so much, and thank you for your sacrifices.
Love,
Elder Steve
Friday, October 1, 2010
The Last MTC Email
Happy October Everyone!
Thanks to all who wrote letters, they really do brighten one's day here. Now then, the last week was longer than all the others, but it's been good. We've had a slightly different schedule around here, what with departure meetings and whatnot. We're all very excited for conference. Be sure to keep an eye out for me. I'm really excited to attend in person for the first time. Singing in conference, this is truly a once in a life time experience.
Speaking of church leadership, I got a chance to watch Pres. Monson's talk from the Relief Society broadcast (on Joy Shaerrer's recommendation) and it was phenomenal. So I highly encourage any one who reads this and hasn't seen it to go check it out at lds.org, or mormon.com, whichever site it's at. (Speaking of the Schaerrers, mom, could you thank Joy for me for the letter she sent. Let her know I'll be responding when life becomes less crazy.)
Now a belated happy birthday to Mom and Dad, I hope it was great. If they haven't arrived yet yall should each be getting a letter from me soon. I don't know how dependable yalls mail lady is. Tell Elder Hall hello for me, also, one of the Hermanas in my district Hermana Van Taendren is going to Houston South. So if you ever see the Spanish sisters go say hello and see if it's her. I'm sure she'll have a story or two about me to share with yall. Before I forget, mom and dad: on Tuesday I will have the chance to call yall from the airport before leaving. I report to the travel office at 8 in the morning so I'll probably get to the airport at 9:30 or 10 maybe. So I guess just be available Tuesday morning. I look forward to having a quick chat.
I hosted again this week. It was fun, the mothers weren't too upset so that was good. This past week I have had several personal English fasts where I go 24 hours of only speaking Spanish. They're certainly a challenge, but they really do make a difference. We had a great experience at the temple today. I look forward to my first temple session off the mission.
Today we got word on the audition some of us did a month or so ago. So it turns out we'll be singing at the departure devotional this Sunday. So they finally called us in. Alright, that's all I have to report on. But I have a homework assignment for all the immediate family: I leave Tuesday morning, so I ask that all of you write me through dearelder one last time before I leave the MTC. For some of you this won't be an issue I know, but I would really appreciate it if I could here from yall one last time.
Thank you so much everyone for your love and support I love you all dearly and pray for you daily. I cannot wait to get out there in Washington and start doing some good. It's been a long 2 months, and I can't wait for the rest of my mission to begin.
Love,
Elder Richards
Thanks to all who wrote letters, they really do brighten one's day here. Now then, the last week was longer than all the others, but it's been good. We've had a slightly different schedule around here, what with departure meetings and whatnot. We're all very excited for conference. Be sure to keep an eye out for me. I'm really excited to attend in person for the first time. Singing in conference, this is truly a once in a life time experience.
Speaking of church leadership, I got a chance to watch Pres. Monson's talk from the Relief Society broadcast (on Joy Shaerrer's recommendation) and it was phenomenal. So I highly encourage any one who reads this and hasn't seen it to go check it out at lds.org, or mormon.com, whichever site it's at. (Speaking of the Schaerrers, mom, could you thank Joy for me for the letter she sent. Let her know I'll be responding when life becomes less crazy.)
Now a belated happy birthday to Mom and Dad, I hope it was great. If they haven't arrived yet yall should each be getting a letter from me soon. I don't know how dependable yalls mail lady is. Tell Elder Hall hello for me, also, one of the Hermanas in my district Hermana Van Taendren is going to Houston South. So if you ever see the Spanish sisters go say hello and see if it's her. I'm sure she'll have a story or two about me to share with yall. Before I forget, mom and dad: on Tuesday I will have the chance to call yall from the airport before leaving. I report to the travel office at 8 in the morning so I'll probably get to the airport at 9:30 or 10 maybe. So I guess just be available Tuesday morning. I look forward to having a quick chat.
I hosted again this week. It was fun, the mothers weren't too upset so that was good. This past week I have had several personal English fasts where I go 24 hours of only speaking Spanish. They're certainly a challenge, but they really do make a difference. We had a great experience at the temple today. I look forward to my first temple session off the mission.
Today we got word on the audition some of us did a month or so ago. So it turns out we'll be singing at the departure devotional this Sunday. So they finally called us in. Alright, that's all I have to report on. But I have a homework assignment for all the immediate family: I leave Tuesday morning, so I ask that all of you write me through dearelder one last time before I leave the MTC. For some of you this won't be an issue I know, but I would really appreciate it if I could here from yall one last time.
Thank you so much everyone for your love and support I love you all dearly and pray for you daily. I cannot wait to get out there in Washington and start doing some good. It's been a long 2 months, and I can't wait for the rest of my mission to begin.
Love,
Elder Richards
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