Elder Kingston and a Full Circle

The Lord decided to send me back to Georgetown, Mass! I pulled out my planners from the twelve weeks I was trained here. One awesome thing that happened this week is that we went back to visit Heather, who I met here over a year and a half ago, and this time she said we could come back and teach her and her son!

My new companion, Elder Kingston, is awesome. He's training me as a zone leader. He's also tall. He's also going home the same day as me and going to BYU in the Fall. Such an obedient and hardworking Elder.

I'm trying to figure out what the Lord wants me to learn and do this last 11 weeks on my mission. That's still a lot of time, so look forward to working hard and seeing great success here in Georgetown. God loves the people here. We'll see if we can't help them see that.

With Love, 

Elder Richins

A Pretty Sweet Week

May 26, 2014

On Monday we visited Maria and talked about the church tour and she still wanted to go, so we had a church tour right then. We called the Petit family and had them meet us at the church and Maria connected really well with them. The tour was really short, maybe 10 minutes, but you could tell she felt welcome at the chapel. She and her boyfriend, Ryan, planned on going to church this week, but she forgot that she worked this Sunday. She plans on leaving work early this week, at nine so she can be at church at ten. We've taught her maybe five times since the first time we talked with her. We've seen her change a lot in the last two weeks. She's happier, calmer, definitely more hopeful. You can see more light in her eyes. It's wonderful to see that change in her.

It's been a pretty sweet week.

Jay and Too Many Cookies

May 19, 2014

We had an amazing lesson with a lady named Maria, who lives across the street from us. She questions how to find happiness with her family and hopes that heaven is better than this earth. I hope so too. She has a boyfriend and four kids. We taught her about the Plan of Salvation, which is God's plan for us to be happy, starting before we were born on this earth in the pre-mortal life and continuing through our life, death, and resurrection (where a body and a spirit are permanently brought together, so we won't die again), and a kingdom of glory, our inheritance from our Heavenly Father. We are SO excited to teach her again!

This weekend we had a church tour event, with a 10-minute tour and a 10-minute video. Not a lot of people came (though it was totally worth the few that did) and we now have TOO MANY COOKIES. We baked all of those.

So, we do this thing called "splits" where one missionary goes with a member of the Church and the other missionary goes with another member. So while Elder Sheriff went with Chris, I went with Brother Dick. Turns out, he and Jay (who we are teaching) come from the same hometown, and he ran with a really rough crowd there. Jay knew some of those guys, so he saw how much Brother Dick had changed. I guess it was a really big change because Jay was pretty impressed. Change. That's what it's all about. This week, I will change. Hope your week is as bright as mine!

Love, 

Elder Richins

Elder Richins in the Ditch

May 5, 2014

Dear World,

We are tearing this place up! Things are going so well. First of all, yesterday we visited Jay and Amy, his girlfriend, to talk about the Plan of Salvation. We brought Brother Jackson to teach with us, and I didn't know this, but Brother Jackson is so enthusiastic about teaching. He teaches so clearly. And Jay and Amy felt like this Church might be the place for them. (We agreed wholeheartedly). Amy opened up a lot, and they both listened intently. It was interesting to see them talk about it across the table, like they were making the decision right then and there if this is what they want. They are so open to hearing it, but seeing them apply it and want to change is even cooler than getting to just teach them. Jay said it's like missing a piece of a pie, except he said he's missing most of the pie. The gospel really is the whole pie. It's the only thing that can make us complete. I am so pumped to teach Jay and Amy and their kids (who should all be coming to church on Mother's Day [where I'll be speaking about my mother])!

We also visited Jessica and just had a real heart-to-heart talk about her relationship with God. She wants to come to church, but she feels like she's not welcomed by God. Like God might not love her because of the things she has done. There should be no room in a person for a thought like that. I have felt like that before, and I know that thought does not come from God. He wants each of us to know He loves us no matter what. I hope our testimonies took root in her heart. She needs to know it's not "one strike, you're out" or even "three strikes, you're out," but it's as many strikes as we need before we make a hit.

Earlier this week we got stuck in a ditch. All the snow has melted, making the grass RIDICULOUSLY green and softening every roadside. We had someone pull us out by the axle with their truck. After we tried pushing it. Those are my black shoes.

We found a foosball table for free. We had to take it apart to get it in the back of the Chevy Cruze. Picture to be sent at a later date.

Awesome week. Even better ahead.

​

Love,

Elder Richins

Serving Evelyn

Apr 28, 2014

This week we helped a lady named Evelyn with her yard. Her husband passed away in November and she is having a rough time with it. She is too old to care for her yard, and she has some fallen tree limbs and things to take care of. Her tool shed is rotting, so we could climb in the hole in the back (the door is locked) to get an ax and bow saw. I feel really good about serving her, because she really needs it.

Even though serving a mission is really stressful right now, I love it so much! Every night before planning for the next day we point out where we saw the Hand of the Lord that day. Some of the coolest things come together for good. I hope y'all are doing well; the Lord definitely has His hand in our lives.

With Love, 

Elder Jon Richins

A Burden Lifted and a Dog Bite

Apr. 21, 2014

Elder Sheriff got food poisoning and we spent two days inside. We were not able to meet with the Madisons.

In happier news, we picked up six new investigators! One big, happy family! The Berards have been taught by the missionaries in the past. Yesterday we called to ask if we could swing by to share a message and bring some Easter treats. He said "It's a bit late for a message because I have work in the morning, but you can bring the treats." When we stopped by, everyone was still up and he invited us in. Our conversation around the table progressed towards the message we planned on sharing anyways, so we shared the mormon.org/becauseofhim video. I was surprised by how present the Spirit was. One of the girls was almost crying and a few of the kids talked about what Jesus Christ means to them. I would like to say that Jesus Christ means so much to me. Very recently I carried a weight that I wanted to get rid of. I prayed to have it removed from me. And He lifted it. He is so willing to lift us, our burdens, anything else we need lifted; he'll do it. He's so strong, just lifting things all over the place!

We had a really good Easter. We had dinner at an unnamed family's house, where I got bit on my face by a German Shepherd. Hope your Easter was as fun as mine!

With Love, 

Elder Jon Harrison Richins

Elder Sheriff and the "Mormons" at Colby College

Apr. 14, 2014

Twenty-one. That is the number of selfies on my camera taken on the way to transfer meeting, where we picked up Elder Sheriff from Pleasant Grove, Utah. He has been out about 13 months and has served in Maine and New Hampshire. I am truly amazed at how well things have been going since Elder Sheriff came to Waterville. He just has such drive, and love for the gospel and the people here.

We visited the Madisons and helped Damian start his scripture study. He hasn't been reading from the Book of Mormon, but he has the Book of Mormon Stories picture book, of which he and his parents committed to read a chapter daily. Elder Sheriff had the awesome idea to have them read half in the morning and half at night and start each reading with a family prayer. Elder Sheriff has no shortage of boldness, and he showed it when he committed Dennis to read with his son as well as on his own. I believe that Dennis is an honest seeker of truth and when he reads the Book of Mormon he is going to find so much truth he's just going to explode. That's the best way I can describe it. He is going to have such strong faith and he's going to show it.

We went to a class on Mormons at Colby College (the class is called "Mormons") and answered questions about EVERYTHING. The students really wanted to know so much and it was an academic environment so they weren't afraid to ask the most excellent questions. I just love those students. They're just sweet!

I am so excited for this week; there is nothing we can't do!

Love, 

Elder Richins