These past 4 days have been strange and hard but oh so wonderful. I'm so grateful to be out here serving the lord again! So Friday I was the only Elder on my flight, and I had President Clark Hermana Clark there to greet me, as well as the assistants. They were all so nice and happy to see me... They made me feel right at home! My first thoughts of the mission are that they are the most serious, focused, obedient mission out there. President Nelson visited the mission a few months ago and those were the words he used to describe our mission. That also means that there are some rules that are quite a bit stricter. For example we are not allowed to listen to any music other than MOTAB. Us Elders are required to have a part in our hair. A few years back one of the Apostles visited the mission and he promised that if the Elders would part their hair the baptisms would double, and sure enough they did. We also wake up at 6 everyday. Theres a huge emphasis on finding ways to sacrifice as much as possible at all times of the day. For that reason we wake up a half hour earlier, take only 5 minute showers, and cut our lunch time in half. I love how obedient this mission is. That was one thing that was really missing in Mexico. So after they picked me up the assistants took me out to lunch at some really good Italian place they have here in Fresno. The cars here in the mission are so nice and new and clean. I was shocked! After that we went to the offices really fast to get some things taken care of and to have me sign some papers. Then we got on our way to my new home here in Lindsay California. Its this small little town about an hour and a half outside of Fresno. There's roughly 10,000 people here. We also cover a city called Strathmore thats really close to Lindsay. My Companions name is Elder Facer and he is a great Elder. We get along so good and have a blast together. He is also Exactly Obedient which I love. So Friday night I was back out teaching and doing the lords work. Theres a huge drug problem here just like Mexico, but it just makes me feel right at home. We have a set of sisters that serve here in Lindsay with us, and they are awesome. They are actually killing us. The Elders before us had very little success in this area so they left Elder Facer and I with hardly anyone to teach, but thats okay. We have our work cut out for us. We also take the place of the English Elders here too. So on Sundays at 9 We have English Sacrament, then 2nd and 3rd hour we can choose whether we want to go to the English or Spanish classes. Then after that at 12 we have Spanish sacrament. Its so weird to teach in English, but i love how much easier it is to say exactly what i want to. Spanish is coming back to me very slowly. I probably should have studied it more when i was home but thats alright. Nothing I can do now. I've noticed that the Latinos here are a lot less accepting to the Gospel. We get a lot more doors slammed in our face than we ever did in Mexico. The sisters found out that it was my birthday on Friday so they went over to our house and left me a huge birthday message and a treat. Classic sister thing to do ha. Its also required of us to fun 2 or 3 miles everyday here, so my legs are killing from that. Im definitely not used to running like that. Elder Facer always calls me an old man sense ive had all my knee problems and cant run to well. My knees doing good so far though. No problems to report there. Our apartment is soooo nice compared to what im used to as a missionary. Compared to where the sisters live, ours is still garbage ha. Things are going great right now. Im trying my hardest again and soooo happy to be here. no crazy stories yet but im sure they will come! There was a baptism yesterday in our ward and they asked me to speak and I was just all smiles. ( Especially sense it was in English and I could actually talk. ) I love being a missionary again and spreading the gospel. The Gospel is truly the best thing out there. I love the mission, I love my companion, and I love this area that im serving in! Lifes good!
If anyone wants to send me anything the mission home address is - 1814 N Echo
Fresno CA 93704 United States
Love Elder Richardson!
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