Yay! Some pictures:)

Countdown to NM!

Hola real quick,

Be prepared for letters coming to the house, Granny and Grandpa's house, and photos. Elder Bergen and I are writing a little bit now and a little bit later just so you know. We got out of the temple early this morning because we did initiatories! But, so AWESOME as a missionary doing those. I saw Elder Mortensen, see Sister Barton every day and we played volleyball last night on opposing teams. I am on the hunt for Elder Baker, I seriously cannot find him!! I will send a more detailed update later during my laundry time.

Con Amor

Your son

Elder Richards :)

Okay, so the rest of the official update: My birthday on Friday was such a sweet experience in the MTC… it feels great to be 19 now. I started off my morning by doing service, wait it gets better.... I got to clean toilets and vacuum hallways and entry ways of other buildings. I looked like a Ghost Buster. :) I got back to my residence room and opened up the package and that was so exciting! A fiesta in a box. Random birthday wishes from people I had just met! I ran into Sister Barton too!! It was so fun to read Grandma and Grandpa's letter to me, lots of awesome things. I walked into class and my District had hung up the happy birthday sign on the board. Those pictures are on my camera though. The Elders told me I had to wear Elder Thomas' tie or corbata in Spanish, because it was pink to celebrate being 19 so I did haha.

I received letters from the Thorpes, Epeneters, Jackie, and Grace as well as the fam, so exciting!! My hombre teachers or maestros were giving me hugs and my zone and district sang to me, which was good, but at times sounded like a pack of coyotes howling...:) In the evening the Elders wanted to hear me on helium so we did that and my voice sounded about normal, no high pitch! Then we Elders did some other things with helium and that’s how we used the balloons up. The food and candy has been awesome. This week my companion became the Senior Companion and Elder Thomas became our new District Leader. The three other Elders are going to Mexico Puebla South. Hermana Pipkin and I are going to Albuquerque NM and Hermana Hone is going to Madrid Spain. On our temple walk on Sunday, we took a lot of pictures, those will be coming shortly!!

Our investigators are doing well. I have been bold, and have studied up on the doctrine and Spanish and it is really awesome when you receive the inspiration that they need and go with it. There have been lots of cool talks. On Sunday night, we as an MTC watched Sister Monson's funeral services and it was a very tender moment, because it reminded me of Debora's funeral. I teared up; I was over-filled with so much joy. As far as choir went, I hit a low double pedal F at the end of Jesus Once of Humble Birth, and it rang throughout the choir and congregation. I did not choose to go to choir this week, because I felt like I could write more and get my thoughts and feelings across better.

My district has been so much more unified each day as we focus and study an attribute of Christ and apply it all the time. I am loving studying and now everything! It has been rainy today and I had the opportunity to exercise my French skills and talk to some Elders y Soeurs while playing kickball. This week overall has been great!!I cannot believe that I am out of here so soon!!!! It has gone by so fast.

I talked to the Hermanas and the Elders. Any cookies are the special treat request, but Hermana Pipkin cannot eat nuts in her cookies. No nuts, por favor!! That is so exciting that you see people everywhere like Grandpa and I do. I am glad that you got to go to those farewells I asked you to go to! I was wondering how all of the Memorial Day events went....I sure missed it, but I am glad to hear the fam is doing well. I am so proud of Isaac, Ashley, and am excited to see the pictures of baby Ellie. :) You will have to tell Den I say hi when he gets there. Please update me on the baptisms and everything!! My companion has some pictures I will be sending. Hermanas Hone y Pipkin say hello! HI! You are the most amazing person in the world!! They say. :) Mi distrito loves your treats every week and we go study outside!!

I am still writing letters to mail to you, Liv, Maddie and Jordan, and Hayley. :) Life at the MTC is a blast!! However, I broke a shoelace on one pair of my shoes. I bought some thin ones at the bookstore though. ESTA BIEN! It’s all good! I am getting so sick of the food. Quantity is great, but I have had the same thing over and over again. Our zone is changing and the new zone leaders are coming into effect quickly, because the current Zone Leaders, Elder's Reed, Vance, and Mauldwin, all got their visas. One more P-day then I will be in New Mexico. :D

I will send one more picture then I have to go prepare for dinner and devotional. 

Muchas Amor a Usted and la familia!

Elder Richards

MTC Address for Elder Richards

If you want to write to Sterling, here's his address:
Elder Sterling Grant Richards
Provo Missionary Training Center
MTC Box 274
NM-ALB 0610
2005 N. 900 E.
Provo, UT 84604

He will be there until June 10, and I don't think they forward, so watch the dates:) After he gets to New Mexico, I'll update his address. If you want to write to him in the MTC via dearelder.com, that's a great, free option. All the info you need is in the address above.

Third P-day...The MTC Love Continues!!!!!!!!:)

Hey Mom,

Now that I have been in the MTC for a while it is flying by and I am getting even more excited to get out to the field in NEW MEXICO!!!! That is awesome that he (Elder Baker) spoke on Sunday. I am glad that you got to hear him! Elder Russell M. Nelson came a week ago and spoke on ancestors and how they can influence your mission…genealogy, etc. He even mentioned Facebook… it is awesome. I do not know if I can get on my blog, but I will update you a lot.

I am glad that you got my letters. I wrote the Hurst kids and mailed the letters in one envelope, did they get it? I am happy to hear that you are updating the blog and the ward missionary newsletter. The Cranes (Northern Parents) are keeping me informed. It is awesome! Grant Smalley apparently is going to the Mexico MTC but my same mission how cool! I serve with Elder Bergen and I did not get sick thank goodness! The language is going to the point that people turn to me for the words to say in Spanish, never thought I would say that! I am so proud of Jordan and Maddie and I will look at the pictures next!!! I am excited for Friday :) Try to send the package earlier if possible rather than later. I got the muffins on Saturday morning, because the package office closes at 7 on week days and 2 on Saturdays. Those muffins were a hit! Do not be surprised if my district writes you thank you notes :) That is perfect for Jordan being the assistant scout master. I cannot click on the pictures to enlarge them because it boots me out of the mail server. I will probably send some as well. They may be random, but the MTC can get boring.

We do service every Friday morning at seven A.M. It is incredible!!!! Let's see I have done everything from mopping, taking out trash, scraping off cheese, cleaning the vending machines, and toilets, and squeegee work in the Erastus Snow building. Did I tell you that I study in the Parley P. Pratt building? I play lots of volleyball and earned the nickname Elder Herc haha! Will is sure loving that robe isn't he? :) Wow, congrats to Sister Sullivan! That is so cool that Sister Bennion leaves so soon. I have seen everybody but Elder Mortensen!!!! I even saw Sara Wilcox haha! There are so many people at the MTC that I know. I have seen Elder Ludlow and just lots of people I know. I sat by the MTC President and his wife the other night at dinner in the cafeteria! The new elders who came in have so many connections with me and they are awesome! I hope to see Sister Bennion and Elder Baker here in the MTC!

Teaching is going a lot better. Now we have two investigators who are our teachers: Hermana Wilson and Hermano Wiest, but they are Juana y Silvio. They are progressing, but they are not as willing as Hugo was. He actually turned out to be Brother Ostler. He is a cool guy.

I will be sure to write Liv. I have prayed for our family all the time, everyday! I understand missing Seminary; the makeup is terrible. I am excited to be 19! The Hermanas in my District love me! I sang with my district on Sunday: Grande Eres Tu: "How Great Thou Art" in English it was awesome!! Brother Monson the 1st counselor has all kinds of stories about President Monson when they were growing up and reminds me of Grandpa Grant with his story telling. :) I will probably send Hayley a note this week. I am absolutely loving it!!!!!

Muchas Amor,

Elder Richards

I will send some photos :D

Week 2...Still loves the MTC

Madre!

I am absolutely loving the MTC! By the way I hope that you had a WONDERFUL Mother's Day!! I may not have as much time to write today so you might be getting another hand-written letter. That is not a bad thing Sounds like everything at home is going super amazing. I'll write as much in English as I can. Grandpa said he is learning Spanish. That is so cool that Liv is doing yard work and following in my steps. SWEET!  A new trimmer. Thank you for the thoughts and prayers and everything. I will finish my email in a second. I have to finish laundry and hang stuff up instantly. I will e-mail more so to be continued. I have a lot to still say. I got all the packages so thank you so much!!!! :D Hasta luego, for a few minutes. My residence is only about 4 minutes away and a 10 minute walk total!

I am back! I wish I could have called (on Mother’s Day), but rules are rules. Wow, Eleanor is getting so big!! I cannot wait to see pictures. I will send some too! Thanks for the candy and muffins, the banana muffins were a hit! Hermana Hone and Hermana Pipkin said to tell you that they love you!!!! They were a huge hit!! Send any goodies you want. Think of my favorites, ask around, etc. I love packages and letters. I am going to write the Hurst kids back by hand. I just do not have enough time to do everything on P-day. 

My investigators are progressing, well. My teachers became my investigators and Hugo actually turned out to be one of my new teachers, Hermano Ostler, but he is getting married. I love my companion, he is sarcastic and likes to joke around and exercise. The other elders are meat-heads and always want to have push- up and pull-up contests. My companion drinks a lot of sodas and we made a wall of cans in our residence. I will look for Sister Walch for sure!! I have seen so many people here I knew. 

Anytime I have free time I'll write a hand written letter and they should come either the same day or the next morning! : )Sounds like everything is going well!! I have been talking to the Northern Mom and my brothers a lot!!

Tell Jeannette and the fam hello and send them my love and thanks for the goodies. Again, Muchas Gracias for everything!!!! My Spanish is Mucho mejor todos dias! Getting better every day, perro(but) not perfecto!!

I have received everything. My health is excellente! My sleep is wonderful!! My classes are more enjoyable now that I entiendo or understand what is being said. Update the fam, ward, everyone, all of my loved ones! You are awesome Mom!! I hope Ben is doing alright and everyone! ALL IN ALL IT IS AWESOME! I am looking forward to seeing Jeff sometime in the near future. My birthday is next Friday woohoo! 

Muchas AMOR

TCHAU,

Elder Sterling G. Richards

May 7, 2013 FIRST LETTER FROM THE MTC!

Hola, I am absolutely loving my time in the MTC!! I wrote a letter while my companion was on writing on the computer. It used to be that you could only write for a half an hour. Now it is an hour so that you can write more people. It is pretty awesome. I went to the temple today and aye yi yi I have gained weight from the food here....Muy gordo or in English that means I am very fat. I am almost 200 pounds and up a whole temple pant size. I work out and exercise though so I really do not understand no entiendo haha. My mission language of Spanish is growing immensely everday. I am so excited to see other family and friends serve. A week at the MTC goes pretty fast, but it is awesome hard work. Something that I have learned is that exact obedience gets the job done perfectly, well not perfecto, but close. Que chido- cool is something that I really like saying. However, some of the accents our investigadores and maestros or teachers use are interesting like the ones who are true Castillian speak with a th/ lisp sound on there co sounds. I love my watch and ring, but to type it hurts to wear them and I am much faster or mucho rapido at typing without them on. I pray for the family everyday and am seeing a lot of blessings in my own life while being a missionary. Fast Sundays are such a blessing. Within the second day or segundo dias I became the senior companion and my companion is the district leader. It is not an easy task being the senior companion, but I love it so that is all that matters. BTW P-days en al CCM are on Tuesday. My companion and I with our leadership are the only ones allowed to check and pick up mail, letters and packages so that is a bonus. :) I am sleeping really well. I get eight hours of sleep every night and am up right at 6:30 no matter what! My white shirts were really clean and wrinkle-free!!!! Gracias mi madre! I have found everything in my suitcases up to this point, haha, that’s hilarious Mom. Your memory powers? Sounds a lot like Star Wars to me. :) I am following advice from the Cranes and really truly enjoying my time here!! Today I saw a senior couple with the last name Craner, which I got a kick out of. I wish I could have taken a picture for you all. I am having so much FUN, but I am also looking forward to being en Nueva Mexico sooner rather than later haha. The MTC food like Jeff said is menomos mas or so so. Lots of quantity, scout camp, not the best quality if that makes any sense. I started mixing some drinks… raspberry lemonade and guava and I can say I am just like the Cranes. There is an Elder down the hallway who sounds like a voice over for Jabba the Hut. It is intense; his voice is deeper than mine. :) Get this, Hermana VandeMerwe was in my zone and we took a picture when she left. You might have to get that from Jill. I have a request, e-mail is great, but while doing laundry it is easier to hand write letters. Could you send me a few addresses for family and friends who might like getting a letter? I really enjoy, like Grandpa, the "investigator" teaching here. I have already had six different experiences in almost a week, they really put you to work, but it is the Lord's work or en Espanol Senor's trabajo. I am picking up on the language and it is by the diligence and obedience in all that I do. I am really excited to update you on all my experiences. I am learning and growing so much it really is incredible. I learned how to pray really well in Spanish and it is a blessing to know Gospel vocab and a lot of Spanish words already. Pretty soon I might be writing a ton in Spanish, so I apologize in advance for giving you the opportunity or la opportunidad to translate it. I am definitely keeping the rules and it is strengthening me on a dias basico. (daily basis) Tell everyone in the fam and loved ones I love them and that I say hello, let them know that I am doing great! I am loving it and the wave of missionaries pouring in is incredible. I hope that everything with you guys is going muy bueno! Or excellente or fantastico! Bien hecho on the packing and feeling the comfort and peace while I am out here! :D Tchau, Adios, HASTA LUEGA!!!!