June 24, 2015 Good by Elder Ficklin hello Elder Dutson

This week has been pretty good! 

   It was Elder Ficklin's last week as a missionary and it was the Blooming Arts Festival also! so it was nuts!

   Anyways Thursday and Friday were both spent setting up for the art festival. We were essentially the heavy lifters for it which is alright. There are a lot of artsy folk in this ward so the ward was up and down it. I was more of a quiet observer. 

   Anyways Saturday was the actual festival. It was really nice we spent the majority of the day talking to people at the festival, and making sure nobody stole any of the art! And then once it was over, everybody left and the taking everything down responsibility fell to us, but oh well. It needed to be done. Afterwords we got transfer calls, I found out I was going to train, but the missionary's visa didn't get accepted again! Its the second one in a row! anyways Elder Dutson is my new companion from Oak City Utah, its a small town between Payson and Delta. he seems pretty cool though! so that's cool! 

   Sunday was good, Elder Ficklin said goodbye to the members and one of the really cool families the Ortons told us we just radiate happiness and they really like us as the missionaries here. It was a really kind and nice experience. 

   Monday was district meeting, I taught about consecration and missionary work it was one of my better lessons I think. After words we went to a really cool members house! And we had a really fun talk about missionary work! 

   Yesterday was spent by me cleaning and him packing! We had a really cool thunderstorm yesterday too! And now I'm just moving stuff around for transfers. But yeah! My new companion seems really cool! 

   Things are good here! One of our investigators we think Is meeting with the j-dubs (jehovahs witness) so that stinks we are trying to get ahold of him but his phone seems to be broken! And our recent convert Ross is solid! He's going to a members house with us for dinner so it will be awesome! President Smith is still in Utah! He got set apart today and is at the MTC with a ton of other new mission presidents now! He gets here on Monday I think!

   The new mission president is being set apart today by Elder Ballard! It's exciting! Just a lot of stuff is happening and it's really fun!

   My comp seems really cool he is a worker which is rad! I'm looking forward to this cycle I think it will be a good one!

   I'm know this is a good thing to do right now! And I hope I can grow, President told us today the most important thing about a mission is for you yourself to change, which is a good thing I think! I'm trying to be my best!

Anyways have a good one! Love you!

Elder Richards

June 17, 2015 President Morgan and Elder Ficklin leaving :(

So this week has been a good one,

Thursday was a quiet day we just taught our usual lessons nothing to exciting there.

Friday was the same too, nothing crazy happened other then it was wicked hot here! I’ve been drinking tons of water!

Saturday was pretty good! We had an odd amount of ward meetings we went to but it was good because it was cooking outside! Luckily we avoided most of the heat. Drinking tons of water! We are on an art festival committee to help get ready for an art festival on Saturday. The people on the committee are really cool and funny too so it’s a blast, I think its going to be a good turnout.

Sunday was really crazy! We went to church and it was good, then afterwards we went to one of our member’s art gallery open house thing, and talked to her husband for a while, he is really a cool guy! He does nonprofit work in Africa and is there a ton! But he is a really good and nice guy. After words we went and visited a less active named Sanjay, he is from India and somehow he is a Scottish prince. So that’s weird! But he's really cool! We talked a lot about what was keeping him from coming to church. I think he will be coming this Saturday. Then after that we went to a dinner appointment which was pretty good. I enjoyed it. Our dinner appointments are stacked due to Elder Ficklin leaving and we are looking to have a very busy week so that's really good! I'm going to miss President Morgan.

Monday was pretty average Elder Ficklin had his exit interview and they were running behind schedule as well so that took a good while,

Then Tuesday we spent the morning doing service by painting, it was really good! It is just fun to paint walls for some reason and not have to wear a shirt and tie.  Then after words a member from the Spanish ward takes the whole zone out to lunch once a transfer so we went and Elder Ficklin and I ate horse steaks they were really chewy. But that was the week! 

Today I’m with Elder Holtom while Elder Ficklin is at the temple with President and transfers are next week! So that’s fun! Anyways have fun during Strawberry days! Love you!

Elder Richards

Doing the weekly's

June 10, 2015 President Morgan's last Zone Conference

Hello all!

This has been a pretty good week so far!  Thursday was a pretty average day! We taught some lessons nothing to crazy, Friday was like unto it. Except on Friday we went on splits with the APs because they are doing a miniature mission tour. So that was cool. We went and looked up a less active. And he was totally cool with chatting. It was a good lesson!

Anyways Saturday we got to go help at the Cub Scout carnival! It was pretty nice they hooked us up with bagel bites which are totally rad! I was impressed with it too; it was a pretty nice little shindig.

Sunday was good also we went to a dinner appointment with a family who is really into church history so it was cool to talk about it and stuff! I really enjoyed it!

 Monday was sort of crazy I taught district meeting and the. We came home for lunch and our bishop called us out of the blue and asked if we would come help him move a member who is moving in. So we went to the address and they pull up on a truck and we start unloading this stuff, and elder Ficklin and I got to move a fold up bed couch and those things are wicked heavy! It stunk! We had it up one flight of stairs and it took about 15 minutes and we were both drenched in sweat. But we ended up getting it to the apartment. So we head home and Elder Ficklin jumped in the shower when the bishop called again to have us help another member move, he found out about both moves about 2 hours before they wanted to have people there, anyways we show up at this one and I ended up mostly packing the kitchen and doing their dishes so they could pack them. It was great service but we got them on their way so hooray.

Yesterday we had zone conference it was pretty awesome, I took a ton of notes so that's a good thing! It was President Morgan's sort of goodbye it was sad because he is so cool but it was good too. He is going to be missed! But he gave a great talk to us about consecration, and also he just gave us good advice. It was really a special meeting. I loved it.

Things are good here! Today our goal is to skateboard the entire island starting at our house which is at the very top all the way to south ferry at the bottom of the island. So that should be fun we are making stops along the way too, so I can hopefully check in with you guys! It's Elder Ficklin’s last real p-day today. And this is what he wanted to do. Yeah our skate trip ended rather abruptly, we were riding across a weird bridge thing on the river, I hit a bump and jumped off so I wouldn't fall and the bump hit my board in such a angle as to send it flying off the bridge. So I walked home. It stunk. I spend a good while just staring into the river; Elder Ficklin captured a picture of it. It really stinks. But life keeps going

 But yeah zone conference was awesome. Its crazy it's already summer vacation, the school year was just starting when I left! Its nuts! Time flies!

But that's the extent of my week! I hope you all have a great next week.

Elder Richards

President Morgan, Elder Richards, Elder Ficklin, Sister Morgan

My board is in there!

June 3, 2015 Baptism was Great

This week has flown by!

            Holy cow! It has been really good too! Thursday we had interviews with president Morgan it was really good! He goes home soon and I’m going to miss him! It is always good to chat with him! Later we went over the final details of Ross's baptism with him. Which is always a good thing!  

            Friday I got to go to the Mission Leadership council. Usually its just Zone leaders but District Leaders are invited every now and again. So I hopped on a train up to Scarsdale, It was nice to see a ton of my friends there also! We talked about a lot of stuff at the meeting. We are going to be online Proselyting again so that will be fun! One of the senior sisters in the office got up and threw down on baptismal forms being filled out incorrectly. (The one for Ross was filled out perfectly at this point) So I just sat back and enjoyed my self as she showed some examples of some bad ones. And it must be hard for some people.

            Saturday was Ross's Baptism it was really good! He didn’t want a whole ton of people there so we kept it Low key, Two of our other investigators came which is solid.

Then the people giving talks, a couple from the ward and the bishop and elders quorum President and that’s basically the crew. We called in the heavy hitters for the talks though. And they delivered. Brother Gay gave the first talk and I always love his Elders Quorum Lessons but he did a great job, Ross got Baptized then Brother Scott gave a fantastic talk on the Holy Ghost. So at this point I was letting my guard down because the scheduled talks were done so Bishop got up and I thought it was going to be a cheesy welcome to the ward but he basically gave an amazing talk on how wards work and how we are a support and just how awesome being in a ward is. I did not see it coming. It was a passionate talk I loved it. Then the Elders Quorum President got up and taught from the book of Mormon, which was awesome! And then it was done! It was really good though!

            Sunday I confirmed Ross a member, and for some reason I was so nervous my knees were shaking! I couldn't figure out why. And then all of a sudden they quit buckling and I got on with the blessing!  I don't know it was pretty weird.

            Monday was pretty slow the highlight of the day was Zone Leader Training and it

was mediocre. Not much to talk about there.  

            Yesterday we went to get mail and to give the office elders the baptismal form but we missed them so we went and put posters up for a ward art festival coming up around our area. Then we taught a guy named Mark. He is progressing really slowly. Then we had dinner with some cool members and on our way home we got some hot chocolate at Starbucks and we ended up teaching the plan of salvation to a lesbian Rabbi. It threw me for a loop. She tried to confound us with Woman not having the priesthood, and then we explained that both genders have equal yet separate rolls. And she asked us what Gender God is and it blew her Mind when we said we have heavenly parents. Anyways that is the most recent detail. We are going downtown today to buzz around! But hope you all have a great week!

Our newest member!

Elder Richards

May 27, 2015 Baptism's and BBQ's

This week has been pretty good!

Thursday we met with Ross, he is getting ready for baptism and it's so awesome to be able to watch him progress!

Friday was pretty average,

Saturday we spent most of the day helping a member move so nothing to exciting there.

Sunday was pretty good we were hoping for a ton of our investigators to come to church but only two did but that's alright. It was a good set of meetings. After church we got invited over to a members house for lunch, their son is getting ready to bounce for his mission, so we chatted to him about missions with the AP's it was pretty good!

Monday we had Memorial Day it was pretty good. We brought Ross to the ward picnic at the park it was a good time he seemed to really enjoy it! He really seemed to enjoy the members of the ward which is a good thing!

Tuesday's highlight was getting his baptismal interview done! So that's awesome! His baptism is this Saturday and it’s just awesome!

Today we are having a BBQ with some other elders it’s a good time! Anyways it was a pretty quiet week! It was good though!

We're looking forward to the baptism on Saturday! We are super pumped about Ross’s baptism! It's going to be awesome It's getting super hot here! It's like 88 degree's and wicked humid! I’m sweating like a pig! My shirts are getting gross spots on them from sweat! Missionary problems!  It's just life though! I love you guys! I miss you lots!

Elder Richards

May 20, 2015 And that's a crazy lady!

This week has been a crazy one!

Thursday was pretty mediocre, we just taught a handful of lessons and that was about it! Friday was good also but nothing to crazy happened,

Saturday was nuts! A ton of stuff happened! So we went down to south Manhattan to teach a lesson to a guy who lives in our area, but the sisters down there were poaching. So we go down to the 66th street chapel and our Bishop was there so we talked to him and he said that this guy who we went to teach should be baptized in the ward that he feels most comfortable with and that once he is settled in he can be moved. So we are like whatever and we go into this lesson. And take note this guy has been taught for six months and was scheduled for baptism for a Saturday two weeks ago but the bishop of that ward said he should go to his own ward to be baptized. Anyways we start teaching him and we talk about the book of Mormon and Joseph Smith, and he tells us he knows Joseph Smith was a prophet and he highly doubts president Monson is one. So one of the sisters shows him a restoration pamphlet and he had never seen one before! So that’s crazy! I don't know how he passed the baptismal interview! 

Anyways later on Saturday night we were waiting for one of our investigators to show up back in Inwood. And a person who isn't allowed in any of the chapels came in! So we called the Bishop and he said we needed to go ask her to leave, so we did and she called the cops on us! She told them we were holding here in a dark room with no food! It was Crazy! So we called our bishop again and he said to Just let the cops come and he wanted to talk to a member of the ward who was at the building practicing singing. So we go give the guy the phone and he comes and tries to talk to her but she would only talk on the phone. Anyways the police came after she was outside and so me and my comp just stood out there talking to this persons friend who had no clue her friend wasn't allow in the buildings.  Anyways the police came and they didn't even get out of their car they just talked to this person the whole time, then we heard them say that this is between her and the people in charge of the church and they drove away and so she literally skipped away. And I was left standing there in awe of what just happened!  It was bonkers! Then Sunday we found out she tried to get into a different building! Its nuts! The rest of the week was pretty quiet which is ice after such a crazy day!

I've come to realize how awesome blessings are! I'm still studying them though! Yesterday we were walking down the street and some random Christian guy wanted to come with us to a lesson so we said yes and he was nuts! He wanted to heal a less actives hand by praying and holding it, and the less active had no clue so we explained that he was just along for the ride to see what our life was like. So that was really strange!  But I've really enjoyed all my studying I've been able to do!

But yeah other than that it’s been quiet. I’m getting a cold or something. I’ve been waking up with a stuffy nose every morning. But I’ve been taking Sudafed which helps!

Yesterday one of our investigators Ross decided to be baptized on May 30th so that’s bumping. And today is going to be a nice quiet p day we don't really have to much planned so I'm just hanging out! Anyways hope you all have a great week!

Elder Richards

Dewin the Dew!

May 13, 2015 Elder Cook and Mother's Day

So this week has been really rad,

   Really the highlight of the week was Saturday! Elder Cook came and visited the mission! it was awesome! He talked to the mission for 2 hours and It was just awesome, a real spiritual powerhouse. He taught us a lot of really cool stuff!

   Afterwards We went to a pass off lesson in my old area, the sisters there were passing off this guy but he didn't want to budge and said that since he is a investigator he doesn't have to attend the church or ward he is supposed too. So we will see how that all works out!

   Nothing too much has happened other than that this week! All of our investigators are progressing nicely! We have moved baptism dates, but its always a good thing to do that rather than baptize unprepared people! 

   Sunday was a real real treat! It was so fun to talk to the family! Also another fun treat is we found a  bodega that has a screaming deal on glass bottle coke!  It's transfers today so we are all over the place, just chilling out and help people move bags and stuff!

 Anyways! have a wonderful week!

Elder Richards

Some people get the idea!

Chillin out!

May 6, 2015 Tracting is full of surprises

This week has been good!

            We have tracted a ton! And we haven't gotten

kicked out of any apartment buildings either! So that's always good!

            We have had some adventures during the tracting also! We met a Heebie

jeebie! (Hebrew Jew Israelite is there official name) I don't think

I've talked about who they are but they are a religion of African

Americans that believe that first only the black people are Jews,

second, if you aren't a Jew you should be killed, third they carry

around wooden swords and believe at the second coming a black Jesus

will change their swords to real ones and they will kill everyone to

purify the world.

            Anyways we tracted into one! And he was nuts! He was

asking us if we knew who the Jews were so we told him they are

descendants of Judah, and anyways we always ask people who harass us

about how we aren't worthy because we aren't Jewish about the tribe of

Ephraim and how we are Ephraimites and it blows their mind, but this

guy didn't know the bible enough to know who Ephraim was, he just

started quoting Jeremiah 14:2 over and over so we left but it was a

adventure!

            We also got a new investigator named Ross, he seems really

solid! He wandered into the 65th street chapel and he was taught then

passed up to us in Inwood! He's really awesome though! I don't have a

whole ton of time today! But I will get to talk to mom and dad on

Sunday! So I'm really looking forward to that!

            We are skateboarding Central Park today

So we are going to be busy!

            Anyways have a great week!

Elder Richards

Last week P-Day at the Yankee's game

This week P-Day Checkin out Central Park

April 29, 2015 Did someone say Ice Cream?

This week has been pretty good!

            Thursday was fun, we went to Fort Tyron park for our exercises, It was really pretty, the Cloisters are at the top of this hill that essentially is the park, Anyways It was really

pretty because all the flowers are starting to bloom, It is wonderful.

            Elder Ficklin is getting ready for football so he was running up the hills because the park is really all uphill so I just rode a penny board around it was really awesome! Its totally rad! So later that day we taught Paul Cabell again, he is really a interesting guy but he loves having the missionaries come over, and he is really nice so we stop in to see how he is doing and we brought him a candle we bought him for his birthday, so that’s rad. he seemed to enjoy it. Later that day we went and had Dinner with a rad member family. They lived on a boat for seven months and sailed from somewhere in the Caribbean to

New York just for fun they are really cool!

            Friday was pretty interesting, we got a referral so we went to look it up and it turned out to be a preacher at the Manhattan Bible Church he wasn't there but another preacher there told us to comeback again later to see if he is there. So that will be interesting. Later we went to our lesson with Jay he called us I think on Tuesday and said he had some concerns and he didn't know if he wanted to be baptized, Anyways we had a

member from the ward come with us and he Really helped we cleared up all his concerns and It was awesome, We will probably still move his baptismal date back but it doesn't really natter when he gets baptized he just needs to be ready! Anyways it was a really awesome lesson.

            Saturday was spent mostly tracting so that was all right. Sunday we had a regional broadcast from salt lake With Elder Anderson and Elder Hales speaking It was really good! Sisters Reeves from the Relief Society Presidency Threw down and Was spitting fire about how real repentance is it was totally awesome! It was a Rad stake/area conference. Later that night we went to dinner with our ward mission leader at his house and his neighbors down the hall are members too and we ran into them and it turns out that he was my junior high band class student teacher. And now he is a big shot on Broadway so that’s cool. Mormon connection.

            Monday was pretty good. We went to district meeting. And President Morgan Invited Elder Ficklin and I up to the mission home for dinner and him and elder Ficklin are working on a document together so we were looking forward to that but a sisters

appendix was wigging out so we got a rain check but its all cool.

            Tuesday we tracted a lot, the highlight of the day was the near by grocery stores freezers went out so they had a wicked deal on Ice Cream. But that’s been the week! Today is pretty busy! We are going to The Yankees Game so If you see to Mormons By the batter its us! Elder Ficklin got us hooked up with some screamin tickets! Also before the game we are going to cruise the parks a little It will be fun! Anyways, have a great week!

Elder Richards