July 8th Letter

Hola Todas las personas!

Madre, my fourth of July was a blast and even in the mission field there is still a little pyro in me…when the locals get tired of lighting off fountains and such. I will send some pictures. The language, like I said, is improving each and every day and immensely each week, but I still am faced with trials in it a lot of the time. I am absolutely enjoying the work, but there are times when it is hot and no one is home and then you get a prompting and you run into an ice cream man who was an old investigator who dropped, but then tells you he is coming to church. Those moments are absolutely the best, and his name is Javier!

The hardest times are when nothing seems to be happening, and you do not realize that there are little blessings, but you just aren't noticing them. A typical day is to wake up at 6:24 and to pray and then get up and get on it and exercise for thirty minutes around the dirt and asphalt roads around our house running, sprinting, jogging, and walking. I sometimes lift some little weights to get my heart rate going and then we go in and eat breakfast and prepare for the day and get to studies by eight. While training we have studies until noon usually, except for specific days. Then we eat and go out and see people from 1 to 5 usually and then we eat dinner sometimes it is a quick stop at a fast food restaurant. We go visit some less active and part-member families in the evenings mostly, or sometimes we will have a dinner with somebody, we usually do. We get home, plan and then go to bed. That is the typical schedule of a missionary. I hope I answered your questions!

Let's see tell the ward that I love them and miss them, but tell them that if you are doing your part the Lord will send forth miracles and blessings and answers to prayers like you wouldn't have ever imagined. Tell Bishop Eldredge that being enthusiastic has been something that has kept me going and actively engaged in a great cause while being out.

We had many miracles this week, but it was a major trial of our faith, especially mine. We decided to follow promptings and found people we wouldn't have found before. We talked to a Jehova's witness at a members home as well as her other sister, who came to church yesterday along with the Segavolla familia y la familia Gallegos! Fue un milagro para nosotros! Este semana fue incredible!

We had a record of two families attending church and seven new people! It was amazing! This new President and his wife are really making some cool and effective changes to this mission.

P.S. when you send a package make sure you put my first name and middle initial, because there is another Sterling R. in this mission.

Have a great week,

Love, Elder Richards