Fall is in the Air!, Sept 30th

Dear Mom and loved ones,

This week was incredible to say the least! We had a tremendous zone-conference on Wednesday in which I sang with our zone as well as got up at the pulpit myself and gave my first Spanish talk to the leaders who were there, including the Stake President who served in this same mission Spanish speaking! Pretty cool! Anyway, yesterday we finally had a the baptism of Tania y Lucy Villezcas and it was a wonderful evening. They got baptized and confirmed on the same day, which as a missionary only happens in rare cases! I performed the baptism of Tania and Elder Mamales performed the baptism of Lucy: I will send some pictures!

At zone-conference we focused on acting out of love, and finding our personal ministry! It was incredible, and very spiritually uplifting. As I was pondering some questions this week that our President gave to us to think about, I really saw the connection between the work of Salvation, and being a member of the church. It is simple, however, it is deep! We have to turn outward and carry our testimonies to the hearts of others so that they can receive the joy and happiness we feel from the Holy Ghost. Share the Gospel! The missionaries are not the only ones who can share the Gospel, we all can! "Every member a missionary!" 

We had a rare opportunity of doing a service project with the Helping Hands organization of the Church! On Saturday we went and helped dig people's homes out, because of the flood which hit the border of Anthony NM, and Texas. It was a very incredible and humbling experience to see the joy and appreciation others have for what they are able to live on. We had many opportunities to do service again this week, which was a miracle in itself!

I never realized how demanding preparing to paint a home was, and then actually painting the home. I was in-charge of rolling the primer or base on, and I learned patience. Many times in our lives it is better to take things "slow and steady." I have been impacted by the smallest things this week and have grown knowing that without the Lord and without our Father in Heaven we are weak. They are the ones who provide us with the strength to accomplish that which needs to be done!

Mom, it sure sounds like everything is picking up in Utah! It's harvest time in many ways right now! I am happy to have received communication with Mad and Liv. I will keep you updated as far as moving goes. This week we have had the contractors on our roof a ton, and they are persistent. I will send some pictures your way, and I love you all, and pray for you daily! Have a wonderful week!

Love, Elder Sterling G. Richards

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September 23rd

Dear Mom and loved ones,

Well I would be lying if I said that this week did not try my testimony and my patience. However, I also learned a lot and came to know Jesus Christ on a different level than I have ever known Him before. There were a lot of struggles that got in the way, but I did not let them prevent me from fulfilling my calling as a representative of Jesus Christ. I truly had to follow the words of the hymn "Press Forward Saints With Steadfast Faith in Christ!" I could not have made it through this strenuous week without the Atonement of my Savior and the enabling power that comes from it.

I had many opportunities to serve this week in countless ways! I recognized and saw the miraculous healing power of the Priesthood in a way that I had never seen it before. All of these children of our Heavenly Father, some at rock-bottom, were struggling to keep going. I prayed and prepared myself so that in the event that I needed to exercise my authority as a Melchizedek Priesthood holder, I would be able to act as an instrument to bless the lives of others. I had the opportunity to give many blessings this week in both Spanish and English. I even in one instance gave a blessing in a chapel in an E.R. facility. Often times we don't realize how many service opportunities exist. Even the simplest acts of kindness can be monumental in a persons' life!!

I have grown so much in this week alone and I know that everything does happen for a reason and that "He will always prepare a way!" We can ask for anything and if we have faith we will receive it. It may not always be in the way we might like or expect, but answers and blessings do flow directly from heaven. I know that families are eternal and that this Church is the only true Church on the earth that contains and exemplifies the fullness of the example of Jesus Christ. We are disciples of Jesus Christ and must act our part in this great work of Salvation!

Yesterday in Sacrament meeting I had a wonderful experience to exercise my high range and belt out "Love is Spoken Here" with a Sister missionary in the ward from Midvale. It was incredible--the Spirit that filled that meeting. I was prepared in the very moment that I needed everything this week, but I had to work for it. We have to act, we cannot sit around waiting for something to happen! I am excited to see what other things will be manifest through works in this area. I love every moment of being here in New Mexico!

We are having two baptisms this Saturday and it is truly miraculous to see someone going through hardships and pains to turn to Heavenly Father for guidance. Lucy and Tania Villescas are incredible and were prepared from the very moment that we met them!!

I am ecstatic to see what other people the Lord has prepared for me to be a beneficial instrument to help them receive the Restored Gospel! I pray that you all might exercise your faith and that you can serve others in need and spit out a simple, but powerful testimony of how you have been blessed in your lives!

Mom: In case you were wondering I got the package! Thank you so much for everything you gave me!! It helped me out to snack on some of my favorite treats when I was being trialed this week. I also cannot believe that the Utes won....oh well there are many more important things to focus on right now. I love you and the family and I hope that you all have a great week!

With much love,

Elder Sterling G. Richards

September 16th...Moving again:)

Dear Mom and loved ones,

Mom thus far I have not received your package. Perhaps it came today while we have not been home. It sounds like things back home are really exciting! I am glad that Hayley is enjoying being a kid while she can!! I am happy to hear of all of the prepared missionaries going out to work from our ward, and the joy that we can all feel in this Everlasting Gospel! A valuable lesson that I have learned this week while being out here as a representative of Jesus Christ is that: " our Heavenly Father and our Savior don't call the qualified, they qualify the called." Specifically with callings in the church we are often placed somewhere outside of our comfort zone to prepare us for even greater things.

I am happy to hear that you have all of these opportunities to work! "The greatest secret to [missionary] work is work! " Throughout this week I have had many unexpected opportunities to help others move, and to use all of my moving skills, which I have learned throughout my entire life for the benefit of others. "When you are in the service of your fellow beings, you are only in the service of your God." [Mosiah 2:17] These opportunities came in other wards.... Who knew that moving all of those people all the way up until I left for my mission would prepare me to move people and objects for members?!? I think the moving experience that most prepared me for this was when I had the blessing of moving Aunt Gaye up to Mountain Home!!

Anyway, this week was fantastic in that I really had to use all of the gifts I have been given to benefit others and apply all that I have learned. On Monday night we went on exchanges with the zone leaders. However, I took the newest zone leader Elder Harris into my area and drove and led all of the lessons and even gave him the chance to have a true Mexican dinner! Many times, we do not know what the way of the Lord that He has prepared for us and we must act before we can see the bigger picture. My faith and my testimony have definitely been strengthened through patience, love, and steadfast prayer this week.

I had a couple really wonderful experiences this week that I would like to share. The first was when I was on exchanges with Elder Harris. We went to visit the Villescas family and in this visit our investigator Lucy broke down in tears, and her daughter Tania testified that she knew that the Gospel is true! The Spirit was so powerful in the room, and this feeling of enormous peace and tranquility through the joy shown in their countenances was incredible! I testified simply and truly felt the Spirit touch their hearts. They accepted the invitation to be baptized on the 28th of this month, and they are on their way to salvation!

The second experience was on Friday night. We took a return missionary with us from the stake, and we went to visit the Segobiano family; who I have been teaching since day one in Las Cruces! Elsa and her husband Obtavio really opened up and expressed that they wanted a pillar to hold up their home and their lives. The three pillars that we used in an analogy were Obedience (reading the Book of Mormon, etc) , Praying with Real Intent, and Attending church to grow closer to the Savior and partake of the sacrament. Although, they did not come to church this week, their righteous desires are growing to a certainty, because they want to be together as a family forever, and serve the Lord with full purpose of heart!

Missionary work is truly incredible, and it is miraculous to see how people really do change through the power of the Atonement! "Nothing is impossible with the help of God." Also this week we were helping our sick and injured district out. This is still missionary work! Often times we ignore the feelings to reach out to someone and we later see them again and decide to aid them. They then see our example and feel of the Savior's love through the charity or the pure love of Christ. TPLOC

I also had a couple funny moments that the fam can relate to! Last night at dinner at the Del Hierros' house. I had a "falling down Fred/ Grandpa Grant moment, and almost lost it laughing so hard, because I almost tanked into the floor as well as broke the chair attempting to sit down at the table. I thought you would enjoy that! I also was singing in the hallway yesterday and Hermana Rivas and I got invited to sing in sacrament meeting next week. We are going to do a duet of Love at Home in Spanish! Also, I am singing at zone conference with our zone though haha. I am very excited for these opportunities, and will update you about them!!

The last thing of the week that I would like to make you aware of is that I am moving again! What is happening is the Miranda South sisters are taking over our apartment now and we are moving into a brand new place. Like I said, a lot of moving opportunities! :) I will let you know as soon as we move what the new address is. Thanks for all of the love and support and the prayers I truly do recognize them and feel of them each and everyday! I will keep my eyes pealed for the package, and will try to keep my Spanish letters to a minimum. The Lord has blessed me in so many marvelous ways! As a note the FaceBook page for our mission is NMAM Lds. Look for it: our assistants and the office missionaries update it often! Elder Morris gave me a GPS he said send me 25 or 30 bucks for it when you get the chance. He just gave me his bike and so much. Have you talked to him?

Tell Livi Skiv to e-mail me or write me; tell her not to be lame and write her brother! I have a lot of insight and advice for her!

I hope that you all have a great week!!

With much love,

Elder Sterling Richards

The Letter Mostly in Spanish/Spanglish, September 9th

Querido Madre y amistades!!

Esta ultima semana fue muy excitado! Yo tenia la oportunidad para bautizar una mujer se llama Dolores Domingez! Fotos a vengan! Mi Espanol ha mejorando mucho cada dia. Y en esto momento yo creo.... estoy hablando muy fluidmente! Mi companero y yo, pues lesextendabamos invitaciones de bautismo y ellos les acceptan un compromiso-liso! Estoy muy animado para ellos y sus deseos a crecen mas cerce de Jesucristo! Tambien, tenemos una familia quien estan listo para preparse mas a recibe el Evangelio Restaurado! Esta familia: Los Gallegos desean la habilidad para fortalecer y mostrar su fe en orden a vencer sus dudas, cual viene de el adverserio. Yo tenia la oportunidad para dar un bendicion de salud a un nino de una familia quien assistien la iglesia esto Domingo, pero el era bien enferme! Immediatemente despues yo dije las palabras: sellamos este bendicion sobre su cabesa, hagamos en el Sagrado nombre de Jesucristo. Charlie o Carlos me dije: Estoy ya sientido mucho mejor! Eso estaba un milagro de la realidad que viene por el Sacerdocio!! Es cierto, porque muchas veces en mi vida he visto el poder del Sacerdocio del Melquisedec!

Esta cartapor medio correo-electronico sera en Espanglish, disculpen me!

This week we had so much success it was miraculous! I had the wonderful opportunity to baptize one of the investigators of the Sisters' in our ward! It was a sweet experience. It did not go perfectly, because we had to perform the ordinance three times, but it all worked out. I will send some pictures. We had several people at sacrament meeting and we also found a lot of ed people this week, it was truly incredible. We are going to have at least five baptisms this coming month, which is very exciting! I also had the wonderful opportunity to exercise the priesthood authority vested in me to bless the lives of others: investigators, members, and missionaries alike!

The priesthood truly is powerful and if used correctly: miracles are brought forth in a wonderful and immense manner! For this week always remember that we will experience tough challenges, but it is to strengthen our faith and for us to become better instruments as children of our Heavenly Father.  A simple testimony is so much more powerful, than one where you use such advanced words, that it takes away from your declaration of belief!

Mom, I am still awaiting those packages, and I hope everything is going well! Les Amo muchas! Esta obra currentamente esta apresurando cada dia! Es incredible, Yo se que este Evangelio es verdadero y la expiacion de Jesucristo no es solamente un sufrimiento por nuestros pecados, en vez lo es un regalo/ don que Jesucristo nos dio en orden para regressar a Nuestro Padre quien esta en los Cielos! La poder de la expiacion es real, loejercizo en sus vidas y yo lesprometo nuestro Salvador ayudaran todos en sus desafios para que ustedes sepan el voluntad de Dios en esta vida y su proposito!

Que tengan un buen semana,

Les Quiero Mucho!

-Elder Sterling G. Richards su hijo

Labor Day Letter...Sept 3rd

Dear Mom and loved ones,

This week was really hectic getting the members more involved with our investigators and helping my companion get ready to head home. However, we have been blessed so much in this area in all that we are doing. We finally got to the point that we had a solid foundation that now we can actually build from something. We have a family of 5 investigators named la familia Villescas who are going to be progressing toward their baptism on the 28th of this month ,which is awesome! We also knocked one door the whole entire transfer and found an investigator out of it named Enrique who is in college, but has a vast interest in the Book of Mormon.

As far as Labor Day in Las Cruces went: As a zone we went to White Sands and enjoyed the sun and the sand.I also had to go give a blessing with an English Elder and it was half in Spanish or half in English deemed by term in our mission as a zebra kind. I also taught a lesson all by myself in Spanish and am picking up on the language at a rapid rate now! Doug and Mad will be happy to hear this: I have become the go to for haircuts lately and last night I cut someones hair and it is a skill that I have tactfully received by observation. Observation is huge, especially in missionary work!

 Our zone is getting split up in many areas, because the work is getting massive down here! Our area by the end of this transfer is going to explode with people to teach as well as member involvement!! I am now finished with my training and am working with my new companion who came up from Fabens, TX. His name is Elder Mamales and he is from Tooele. He actually knows some people that I do. Small world! Mom you will be happy to hear this:Sister Pipkin from my MTC district is now training in El Paso! No surprise at all!

The members found out that I had a low singing voice so pretty soon they could be having me perform or put together a musical number in sacrament meeting. I think that the Ward Mission Leader is already getting the missionaries in the Miranda ward to do a musical number "How Great Thou Art" o in Espanol "Gran Eres Tu" It has become one of my favorites to sing in the Spanish language.

I am happy to hear that you got the letter, and that you are all safe and enjoying Utah. That is very scary to hear about the shootings! I hope Olivia doesn't get in any trouble! I want her to e-mail or write me, I have some advice for her....A couple weeks ago you told me that my niece likes some of the jazz standards huh? That is awesome! I am happy to hear that someone is filling my shoes in factoid mode, haha and of course it is Hayley! I am happy to hear that Liv is enjoying the new school! She can't sluff seminary, it is not smart to miss!

How was the barbeque, and everything? Thanks for updating me on everyone. You know, I could possibly train Elder Smailee next transfer wouldn't that be cool! I hope that you have an awesome week and I love you all! Our mission has a FaceBook page that you should friend it is NMAB Lds. Technology is rapidly advancing this work! I will look for the package!

Tell Everyone I say hello! Tell Hayley when Eleanor is 2 years and 9 days old I will be home!

Love,

Elder Sterling G. Richards

(Photo: Elders Richards and Morris)

August 25th Letter...More Flooding

Dear Mom and loved ones!

This week has been full of its ups and downs. The Lord is truly preparing this area: Miranda North for something special and incredible, I just know it! What I mean by this is that my companion and I experienced several hardships, but managed to be "quick to observe", and really focus on the blessings and miracles. We went through trials; for example: On Wednesday I got food poisoning and was unable to work for a good 24 hours or so. My companion experienced a severe week-long migraine headache, and then on Saturday night our appointments had to get cancelled, because our apartment, well the laundry room had flooded and spread a half inch of water all over the floor, especially in the carpet, and the water heater.

I prayed for relief through all of these experiences and eventually it came. The Lord is always there, but we really do have to call upon Him and our Heavenly Father for help. All we have to do is ask most times and he will provide an answer. "Ask and ye shall receive...." The answer may not always come in the way we may like it to you, but it does come; at least according to our needs. We all go through twists, and turns in this life. Just like storms, there is eventually a calmness.

 In the Bible; New Testament in Matthew Ch:8 Verse 24 when it is speaking about a tempest, the Lord's disciples wake Him and he says "Why are ye fearful? O ye of little faith. We have to have the faith to endure the trial or as it says in Ether 12 "the trial of our faith." Eventually these tempests reach a great calm, but it is only with our faith that the Savior will carry our burdens through His divinity and everlasting Atonement and its enabling power.

We are still working with three particular families each month to eventually help them become member Preach My Gospel missionaries. There is always work whether it is less-active, part-member families, or investigators. Or doing service for someone on the side of the road. This past week we had the opportunity to help someone move as well as cut plants for an older woman Sister Garcia, and then she made us pancakes. As a missionary you never know what you will run into, but you always know that the Lord has "prepared a way."

Mom, as far as service examples go: Moving, talking to people about their lives at a rest home, pulling weeds, using a back-hoe to clear weeds, cutting wild plants, etc. I am done all of these things so far as a missionary.

Transfers are next Tuesday. My companion will be finishing his mission and heading up to Albuquerque next Monday, and I will probably go with the zone leaders. I mailed a letter home with our new address. However, you might not have gotten it yet. Here it is: 2300 Kent Rd. #4, Las Cruces NM, 88001. The zip code slightly changed by one digit, because we now live further south down Solano and closer to the University.

It sure sounds like you have your hands full. Wow, a lunch lady! Never expected that one!! Haha Hayley would do that. Liv and Mad are working together on a project as always. Mad and Jordan and Ellie sound like they are doing well. Oh no! Fratto's have a conundrum going on again?!? Granny and Grandpa are life-savers I am sure! I sent some questions, etc in the letter I mailed home.

I will be careful with the money I promise! I might mail a letter about transfer news if it happens before Saturday. Thanks for the love and support and prayers it really makes a difference. Thank you so much for that reference and that perspective, it is so true! Tell T.J., and Rachel and all of the ward family hello. Send them my love. Tell Bishop Eldredge I say hello. I pray for you and the family every day.

I hope you have a great week,

Love,

Elder Sterling G. Richards

Your son :)

August 19th Letter

Dear Mom, Fam, and loved ones!!

This week has been intense as far as change goes. We are finally settled into our new place and it is very spacious. We pretty much looked like the Beverly Hillbillies when we were driving and as missionaries managed to rope things together in our pick-up, which was very miraculous to say the least! We are happy to give our zone leaders a break and to do things as a companionship and not as a quad-panionship. We also helped some of the Sister missionaries move their investigators this week, which was slightly hectic upon everything that we had going on.

On Thursday we ended up going on evening splits with the Elders Quorum Presidency and I drove for my first time ever in New Mexico on a dirt road to the less-active member's home and in a truck, which was an interesting experience that is for sure! My companion uttered two words as he threw the keys to me: "DON'T CRASH!" Although, it was a change to me or a new experience, I learned that sometimes we have to do the most unexpected things, but we can turn to the Lord and our Father in Heaven for great strength, protection, and guidance in these sometimes rather fearful situations.

There is a scripture I particularly like in the Bible in the Book of Luke, which is short and simple, but incredibly powerful! I challenge you to read it this week and in prayers ponder the words that it says. It is found in Luke Chapter One Verse Thirty-Seven. "Nothing is Impossible." Never Give Up!

Mom: Last night the vehicle coordinator and his wife visited; Elder and Sister Hoopes; they remind me a whole lot of Granny and Grandpa. I had a very enjoyable conversation with Elder Hoopes. He is basically a bald Grandpa Grant with a raspy President Kimball type voice. As far as my address goes it is 2300 Kent #4, Las Cruces, NM 88007. Maddie's birthday is on Thursday! Tell the family I say hello, and send my love and hugs. I pray for you and I know that the Lord will bless our family with miracles and strength!!!! Have a great week. I will write a letter when I know my exact address if you would like. I would also be happy to answer any questions for Elder Smailee.

Have a Fantastic Week!

Love,

Elder Sterling G. Richards