Week 6 Lindsay

Lindsay is the absolute best place ever! I cannot express how much I love the people here! Our last week here was pretty slow to be honest. Not a lot happened outside of the normal. The best past of the week was that Raymond came to church! We were soooo happy! He sat through the first hour very engaged in the lesson and he even tried to participate as much as he could. Then after the first hour he jumped up and was all ready to go home. When he found of there were two more hours he might have lost a little bit of his enthusiasm ha.. He basically slept through the last two hours of church... But thats okay! Gotta start some where! Luckily he loved it and is looking forward to coming again next week. He is ready to be baptized! 

The members here are absolutely amazing. We've been having some health problems this past week, and the members have done everything possible for us. They make us feel so loved everywhere we go. They are also giving us allll kinds of treats and good stuff to keep us happy. The diet has kinda gone out the window this past week. 

Honestly nothing worth mentioning happened this week. I promise it will be better next week! Ill fill you in with all the details! Just know how much I love you all! Im so grateful for all the support and Emails! They always brighten my week! Being a missionary is such a blessing, and I wouldn't trade this time for anything! Find some way to grow closer to Christ this week! I can promise you that if you're not as happy as you'd like to be, the answer is always Christ!

Love Elder Richardson

Week 5 - Lindsay

Hello everyone! Cant believe its Monday once again! This past week has been full of ups and downs ( Mostly Ups ). Last Tuesday Elder Facer and I went to this little tiny 1000 person town called Plain-view. It was really depressing to see how the people live there. Ive never seen that kind of poverty here in the States before, but we did find some people to teach and ill keep you up to date on that. While there we went to visit this less active family named the Valentins. They live in this super tiny trailer with all their children, as well as a bunch of foster/Homeless children. Seeing how filthy and crowded and absolutely destroyed their home was made me so grateful for how I was raised and the many blessings I have. These small towns that we cover are really humbling to see and live in.

The rest of the week we just do the same old things. Tract, find, teach, invite. We have one Baptism date coming up this month with this little Mexican man named Raymond. We found him 2 weeks ago while we were out with Beto. We stopped to ask him for directions for another house, but then we got talking and the rest is history! He is so prepared and loves being taught by us. He has 3 kids, but he doesn't live with them or his wife. He told us he still wants to introduce the gospel to all of them as well! He came to a baptism with us on Saturday and absolutely loved it! He just kept talking about how excited he is to be baptized.The only problem that we are having with him is that he wont get to church! The night before he always talks about how excited he is to attend church and meet new people... Then the next day he just disappears off the face of the planet. We'll have to find out what happened with him tomorrow. Keep him in your prayers!

Elder Facer and I both decided that we are done being fat and getting fatter. hes gained 50 pounds on his mission and ive gained 28! Its rather shocking. So for the past week we've been eating like rabbits. Its terrible! You dont realize how much joy food brings you until you try and eat healthy. We did really good until last night when we made Chocolate cake pancakes... SOO good. Worth the Weight. ( Hes a little more serious about it then I am ). 

Things are great here! Its been an awesome Preparation day! we finally got to hike the L today which was a good time. We got up there and it was just old tin roofing laying on the ground in the shape of an L ha. I guess its all Lindsay could afford. Not quite like hiking the Y but ill take it. The view was pretty spectacular with all the orchards and vineyards. Its a pretty place to serve. 

Lots of good things happening everyday! Cant believe how fast time has been going! Elder Facer and I are both staying here for the next transfer which we are pretty happy about! So many great, wonderful, humble people that are ready for the Gospel! Make good choices this week! I love and miss you all so much! Till next week

Love Elder Richardson

 Gross Mexican Ice Cream

 Pancakes made with chocolate cake mix??