Newark has risen.

Well, this week in Newark was great. We taught the mission standard of 20 lessons. We lead the zone, as far as lessons are concerned. We also had an investigator in church, and he brought his nephew along as well, which was cool. We have lots of great things happening this week too. Later today we have an appointment with a girl that is a referral from a member. The member has his mission call to Vancouver Canada, and so all his friends are curious. He said he has been working on getting us a few more referrals too. That is exciting, since we are in desperate need of new investigators. The two we have are doing well, but we need to find some more people to teach. With a few potentials, we seem to be doing well.

Elder Howard and I are doing great. It's been easy since we already knew each other, we didn't have to have the hesitant period when companions don't know each other. I'm really trying to learn the area, but I still get lost. The roads aren't as confusing as Salinas though! That city was built on a circle...

The struggle here now lies in helping my district to be more obedient.  Fremont has never had a history of being very obedient. It started when the stake switched into our mission from the Oakland mission in about '09. The Oakland mission president put the dregs of the mission in Fremont, and the Zone's missionary efforts have been struggling ever since. In Salinas, and really the whole Monterey zone, obedience was easy because all the missionaries did it. I never knew anything else. But up here, I have to really work at it, and be a good example for others. If this district can just be tighter about the rules, they can do really well.

We're still working hard. Hopefully, this week will be even better than the last week.

Thanks for all the letters are well. 

Do work this week.

-Elder James Richards

A good week.

So this week was pretty good, except for the fact that it incredibly hot. It cooled way down now, so all is well.

This week was one of, if not the best, this area has ever seen. Our work went way up. One reason that it was so down was because I replaced a missionary that went home, and he was very trunkie. Trunkie missionaries are always lazy and smug. It is wisdom that I haven't been placed with one because I would probably just end up making fun of him...

Anyway, we just got out of a lesson with one of our investigators, Brian. He's a cool guy, he just has somethings that he doesn't want to give up. We are working with him to get him reading and praying everyday, and coming to church weekly. Usually if they do those things, they only have to work out commandment keeping things for themselves. We are also going to try to use the temple, since we are only 20 minutes away.

One of the focuses now will be on finding. It will be a challenge in this area to find people to teach, but we'll work for it. Fun fact, I went from the highest baptizing stake in the mission to the lowest.

When we are done with it, it won't be the lowest. Lots of work to be done, but it should be good.

Not much more to report, but I'll have more good news next week.
Have a good week.

-Elder James Richards

New address:

Elder Richards

36802 Cherry Street apt # k202

Newark, CA 94560

 send much mail.

Moving out.

Well this was a good last week in Salinas. We had a lot of success for our last week and taught a lot of people. All four of the recent converts were in church on Sunday as well. They all come pretty consistently, but it always seems like there is one missing for one reason for another. Not this week, so that is nice to see. Two of them now have callings, all have home teachers and visiting teachers, and the ward is welcoming them wholeheartedly. It will be tough to leave all the people that I have been working with here, but I know that I am leaving them in incredibly capable hands.

Big news this week is that the HSBC (not sure what it stands for), who was bought out by capital one, facility here in Salinas is getting shut down. Aside from agriculture, it is the largest employer in Salinas with close to 900 employees. Many from our ward, including our Bishop and first counselor, worked there and are affected by the closures. It reminds me of all the Motorola uncertainty. There is a lot less industry here then there is in the Ft Lauderdale area though. It will be interesting to come back and visit the ward, it will probably look totally different.

Another big thing that happened this week was that I got called up to the new leader meeting. Next transfer, in my new area, I'll be a district leader. Pretty young to be a DL, but at least he didn't do anything crazy like make me a ZL or something. There are some very young Zone Leaders right now. I am excited for it. It will be a good experience to be able to start fresh in a new area, with a new district. The majority of places aren't as built up as this area is, so I'll probably be working really hard to get the area going. It's a new adventure.

Have a good week. Now I go to pack...

-Elder James Richards

Me and Thor! The greatest dog. 

Everyone that came from Salinas, up for Elder Miller's outgoing fireside.

Normal District Photo

Elder Carter, Myself, and Elder Howard. The missionaries from Delta 21 (my mtc district) in San Jose

The District grilling.

We Ride!

So this week, there were some big changes in Salinas. We are now a car share with the Salinas 1 Elders. This past week we were on bikes. The coming week we will be in the car. Our area isn't too bad for bikes. It has been a bike area in the past, and there are a ton of bike paths that interconnect different neighborhoods that are usually difficult in a car. It was fun this week and we were able to plan effectively and keep our numbers up. My little Fuji road bike with new tires also did well. I am liking that purchase more and more as time goes on. I bought it off an Elder that went home in feburuary for ~140. It has been worth it.

In other news, we went up to Elder Miller's outgoing fireside last night. This is his last full week in the mission. We took up a bunch of recent converts and an investigator. The members also came in force. In addition to Elder Miller, and Elder that started in
Salinas two years ago was going home. I thought about how that is me in 17 months. Too soon.

This is the last week of the transfer, and we are pretty certain I am getting moved, since I have been here for ever. Also means I am done training this week. Elder Platt has been doing great, and I've really had him plan and take the lead in most everything. He'll do great with the area after I leave. It will be sad to leave the investigators we have now. There is a family that is really moving forward. They really like us. This week's goal is to get them a baptismal date. Since they offered, we are trying to get them to take us out to dinner on Cinco de Mayo. That way, we can be sure the father doesn't drink. Cinco de Mayo should be an expirience here....

-Elder James Richards

A serviceable week.

This week was great. Our numbers are up, our investigators and less actives and recent converts continue to improve, and we continue to grow as missionaries.

One of the great things that came about this week was getting in to see a family that we haven't seen in a bit. Turns out they are still interested, they were just busy. Most of the time when people tell us they are busy, they usually aren't, they just don't want to see us anymore. Not the case with this family. We also helped them with their yard on Saturday morning. Service really has been a great way to get to know people better. Working with people really helps them know we actually do care for them. This week will be a big service week too.

This week we took full advantage of the ward mission process. We went on splits with the ward missionaries. Not many wards/areas can support splits with ward missionaries, but we were excited since this is the first time we've done it. It was also successful which is always good. Our ward has also concentrated on revamping home teaching. It will be a huge help, especially with our recent converts in giving them responsibilities and fellowship. This is an amazing ward and they really work to help us out. When the ward works with the missionaries, and vice-versa, big things get accomplished.

This coming week is week 11/12 for training. Elder Platt gets to take the lead in planning and teaching this week. It is going to be a good week. We have a lot of things planned already and lots of service. Elder Miller's outgoing fireside is also this sunday, and a helping hands project for us, while the recent converts go up to the temple on Saturday. I love having a temple so close here. It is funny to hear some members complain. It is about half the distance of our house to Orlando.

Have a good week.
-Elder James Richards

Work moves on.

This week was good. We were able to find a new guy to teach. He is 16 and goes to one of the local high school's here (there are 3 in our area). We found him while trying to get a hold of his brother, who is an investigator. We also continue to teach some great families, our boxer friend, and a few part-member families. All of the converts are doing well. Gina is having trouble with her kids at church. She is a single parent, still very new in the church, and has 3 high energy kids under the age of 6. The 5 year old and the 4 year old do not want to go to primary and she is starting to get a little frustrated. The primary presidency is going to visit her this week. Hopefully they will have some ideas.

We've started doing some new lessons for active members that involve teaching them how they can do missionary work. The first one talks about using church websites for missionary work. We show them how to use Mormon.org, make a profile, and then invite them to share it with 3 friends. It has been great to use that in addition to Justserve.org and Familysearch.org. Many people don't think of these different ways to share the gospel.

The area is coming along well. One thing that is really exciting is that we have reactivated 4 people since I've been here, in addition to the 4 baptisms. The ward is very strong and supportive. It is a great ward for missionary work.

Love you all, and appreciate all the mail.

-Elder James Richards

Drinking from a fire hose.

This was a great week. We had a good time at the temple. It was cool

to be able to go through the Oakland temple. It is an old school one

that was recently renovated. I was able to learn a lot this time, and

pick up on things that I had never even thought of before. It is

amazing how we can do that in the scriptures, the temple, patriarchal

blessings, and other things. You can read/go over and over again and

never know it all. I also noticed the clarity I have when I am in the

temple. I can sit and pray for a long time, and my mind doesn't wander

to other things. It is focused and razor sharp. The spirit brings an

incredible clarity. Only bummer is that I have to wait another 6

months before I can go inside again.

Other fun news about the temple, Our investigator's wife will be going

through the temple! This is another part member family, and she was

less-active for a while and has been active ever since I have been

here. It has been a long road back, and she is really excited to go.

We can go up to the temple with investigators, so we'll be able to be

up there with her husband, Jason, on the grounds and the visitors'

center. We are just glad we will be able to make it up there for it.

It's too bad we can't go in for it, but we can still be there. It has

been amazing to see these two grow. We started teaching them way back

in October. I am excited.

Frank continues to do well. He missed church, and he needed to go to

make his baptismal date of the 28th, but that was probably optimistic.

Frank will get baptized, it will just be a little later. He is a great

guy and has been reading the Book of Mormon consistently. I hope I can

be in the area when he gets baptized. If not, I'll just have to come

back for it.

I've been in Salinas now for exactly 6 months. I have about another

month at least. I'll probably be moved in early May when the next

transfer period is. Hopefully I stay though. I love Salinas, and the

Monterey stake is the best in the mission. Collectively, we have 19

baptisms this year and are leading the mission. It is the place to be.

Also, this ward is incredible. All the leaders do great work and help

us out a ton. It will be sad when I have to leave.

Sounds like Savior of the World production went well, that was probably a great

missionary opportunity. I've really been diving in to the New

Testament lately. Lots of great things that I'd never got before. I've

never read through the whole New Testament, so that is one of my

goals.

Glad to hear you are all doing well.

-Elder James Richards.