November 24th letter

Friends and Family, Hope you're all staying warm! It's a blizzard outside right now!! It snowed a little this week, and we had some warm days too, but it is FREEZING currently! Elder Leslie is doing well. I've been trying my best to set an example for him to follow and get him out of his comfort zone. So, we've tracted quite a bit, which isn't so pleasant when the wind makes you feel like you're rubbing your face against a piece of ice. But little by little I think he's improving and gradually adjusting to missionary life. :) This Sunday I'll be accompanying a couple in the ward for a Christmas duet, so I'm hoping to invite as many investigators and less active members as I can to come! I'd invite all of you to check out Christmas.Mormon.org in two days and watch the video there. It's a worldwide initiative the church is putting out that we missionaries will be using to invite others to learn more about the restored gospel. I'm excited to use it and keep working! Love you all, - Elder Jared Richardson © 2014 Microsoft Messenger

Chicago Chronicles Nov. 10th- I have a son

10 months down, 14 to go! After three months of serving with me, my companion Elder Miller will be leaving this area for Hebron, Indiana, of all places! I've been telling him of all the awesome families he's going to meet - I know he's going to do great there. I've learned a lot from him this past transfer, such as contacting skills and being bold in inviting people to learn more about the Gospel. I gave him a Superman watch as a transfer gift. :) As for me, I'll be staying in Lake Villa and training a brand new missionary! I'm really excited to be a "dad" as they say in missionary terms, helping my new companion learn the basics just like Elder Potter did for me. It's very likely that he and I will serve here together for the next 12 weeks. I'm a little nervous about taking over the area, but if I do what I can and rely on the enabling power of Christ's Atonement, I know things will work out. I hope you're all doing well - I am always praying for your health and safety. I'm so blessed to have an awesome family and friends to come home to. The things of this world are fleeting and have little worth, but the relationships we make will last forever. - Elder Jared Richardson image1.JPG image2.JPG image3.JPG © 2014 Microsoft

Chicago Chronicles November 3rd, 2014-Through Test and Trial

It's getting cold up here! I wouldn't be surprised to look out the window and see snow one of these day. At District Meeting I shared a lesson around the question, "What Trail are you leaving?" As missionaries we affect generations to come by our actions. It's been a big help to me to consider whether my conduct and appearance has been in harmony with my calling with members, investigators, less active members, and even my companion. I encourage all of you to think about that too in your own lives. Elder Miller is going through some difficult trials. He left his iPad on our car one day before we drove off, and this morning he found out that his grandfather has passed away. Only a few minutes after learning this we went to the library for him to email his family. Immediately after getting there Elder Miller walked over to a guy smoking a cigarette next to his car and started talking to him about who we are, and testified of the Plan of Salvation. I really admire him for his tenacity, and I hope I can do my best to encourage and strengthen him in what might be our last week together. I love you and leave you with a very excellent quote from President Hinckley: “I speak of the need for a little more effort, a little more self-discipline, a little more consecrated effort in the direction of excellence in our lives. This is the great day of decision for each of us. For many it is the time of beginning something that will go on for as long as you live. I plead with you, don’t be a scrub! Rise to the high ground of spiritual, mental, and physical excellence. You can do it. You may not be a genius. You may be lacking in some skills. But so many of us can do better than we are now doing. We are members of this great Church whose influence is now felt over the world. We are people with a present and with a future. Don’t muff your opportunities. Be excellent.” -Gordon B. Hinckley