Here I come... Parker?
Date
May 31, 2016
Area
Arvada Colorado
Companion
Elder Laney
Here I come... Parker?
Well it is official … I am going back to Parker!
Yesterday the whole mission got together since is was Memorial Day and we did our own 5K run that sister Mendenhall put together. It was a ton of fun to get the whole mission together. Not something that happens very often, so we were pretty lucky.
I don’t know if I mentioned it in my last email, but when we had interviews with President and Sister Mendenhall last week we found out that the Colorado Denver North Mission was going to be taking over 2 new stakes at the start of this transfer. Both President and Sister Mendenhall hinted that I might be needed in one of the new areas, but I was hoping I wouldn't leave. Then yesterday, I found out that I am heading down to the Parker South Stake right by where I was the first six weeks of my mission. I am really excited to go back to Parker, and I am excited to be whitewashed into a new area (where both missionaries are new and have little background on the area), especially since we are taking over the area for the first time. It is a complete fresh start. So I am excited about that, but it does stinks to be leaving Arvada. There are so many wonderful people here in Arvada! We have built up the teaching pool much bigger than it was when we got here, and we have several people who are really close to becoming new investigators, that we are going back in the next week or two. My companion is a little bit worried because some of the people seemed to connect a little better with me, but I have faith and trust that he and his new companion will do just fine and The Lord will be leading them in the work! I am excited to hear how people progress over the next few months!
I told Anthony that if he gets baptized he better make sure I am here for it! I am sad that I won’t be able to see how his 40 day reading challenge goes. I really think it is going to help him, but I know he is in the Lord’s hands and He is a far better caregiver than I ever could be!
It is tough saying goodbye to everyone. It really is amazing how close you can get to people in just 6 weeks. I have so much love for so many members and people here, including the one and only Elder Laney. It’s been great to experience how we have grown so much together in just the last couple of weeks. I have really grown to love this Elder!
Other than that, it has been a really amazing week! We taught the most lessons this week of the whole 6-week transfer, and we did really well with all of our goals. So I am glad that I will be leaving on such a positive note. It is tough feeling like there is still work to be done, but then I remember that I need to be about my Father’s business, not what I think my business is. I can leave truly feeling like I did some good here and for that I am grateful!
I want to close by saying how grateful I am for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I am so grateful that in some small way I have the privilege of serving as The Lord’s hands in making a difference in people’s lives. There are so many people here who are so amazing. Everyone is just trying to find their journey through this world. I am grateful that I have been blessed to begin to see others the way our Heavenly Father sees them. With so many changes being made to the mission, some people were upset about their new companions, or their new assignment. I had the opportunity to remind them that even if they have heard bad things about a companion, they have an opportunity to help them grow. We all have potential because we are truly sons and daughters of God. There is so much power in that lineage!
I love and appreciate all of you and wish that I had more time to connect with each of you! I pray for you and will continue to do so!
Elder Richards
Yesterday the whole mission got together since is was Memorial Day and we did our own 5K run that sister Mendenhall put together. It was a ton of fun to get the whole mission together. Not something that happens very often, so we were pretty lucky.
I don’t know if I mentioned it in my last email, but when we had interviews with President and Sister Mendenhall last week we found out that the Colorado Denver North Mission was going to be taking over 2 new stakes at the start of this transfer. Both President and Sister Mendenhall hinted that I might be needed in one of the new areas, but I was hoping I wouldn't leave. Then yesterday, I found out that I am heading down to the Parker South Stake right by where I was the first six weeks of my mission. I am really excited to go back to Parker, and I am excited to be whitewashed into a new area (where both missionaries are new and have little background on the area), especially since we are taking over the area for the first time. It is a complete fresh start. So I am excited about that, but it does stinks to be leaving Arvada. There are so many wonderful people here in Arvada! We have built up the teaching pool much bigger than it was when we got here, and we have several people who are really close to becoming new investigators, that we are going back in the next week or two. My companion is a little bit worried because some of the people seemed to connect a little better with me, but I have faith and trust that he and his new companion will do just fine and The Lord will be leading them in the work! I am excited to hear how people progress over the next few months!
I told Anthony that if he gets baptized he better make sure I am here for it! I am sad that I won’t be able to see how his 40 day reading challenge goes. I really think it is going to help him, but I know he is in the Lord’s hands and He is a far better caregiver than I ever could be!
It is tough saying goodbye to everyone. It really is amazing how close you can get to people in just 6 weeks. I have so much love for so many members and people here, including the one and only Elder Laney. It’s been great to experience how we have grown so much together in just the last couple of weeks. I have really grown to love this Elder!
Other than that, it has been a really amazing week! We taught the most lessons this week of the whole 6-week transfer, and we did really well with all of our goals. So I am glad that I will be leaving on such a positive note. It is tough feeling like there is still work to be done, but then I remember that I need to be about my Father’s business, not what I think my business is. I can leave truly feeling like I did some good here and for that I am grateful!
I want to close by saying how grateful I am for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I am so grateful that in some small way I have the privilege of serving as The Lord’s hands in making a difference in people’s lives. There are so many people here who are so amazing. Everyone is just trying to find their journey through this world. I am grateful that I have been blessed to begin to see others the way our Heavenly Father sees them. With so many changes being made to the mission, some people were upset about their new companions, or their new assignment. I had the opportunity to remind them that even if they have heard bad things about a companion, they have an opportunity to help them grow. We all have potential because we are truly sons and daughters of God. There is so much power in that lineage!
I love and appreciate all of you and wish that I had more time to connect with each of you! I pray for you and will continue to do so!
Elder Richards
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