Week 27:  Six-months Done  [January 29, 2018]

This week has been one of the most eventful ones yet! 

Tuesday we had a walk day, which is where we are not allowed to use vehicles until 5:00. It was pretty good. We talked to one guy who seemed interested, but he doesn't live in our area. He said that he sees missionaries all the time though and that he would talk to them. 

Wednesday we went to a library out in Goleta to help one of the members set up his new phone. He told us the wrong library though so we rescheduled to meet the next day. We ended up going by some members in Goleta instead. We went by a lot of potentials and one of them said we could come back this next week. We also went by a less active family and had a fun/awkward visit. Mainly just because it would go from being a lively conversation, to a awkward silence. 

Thursday we went to the correct library to meet our member friend, but for some reason he didn't show up (we found out why on Sunday - the phone ran through the washer). We also got to go to a baptism for someone named Heather in the evening. 

Friday was my 6 month mark! It's crazy to think that I've been here for half a year! We ended up doing a lot of service We started at one school moving desks and then went to an elementary school and raked woodchips and moved sandbags. After this the day was mostly over. We had our district meeting, then went out to Subway with some other elders that came out with me. We went to another baptisim for someone in the YSA named Lili. We then went and celebrated our 6 month mark with the other elders that came out with me. We had some Martinelli's and I may have gotten a little hyper from it. 

Saturday was super busy. We started by having a lesson with Dennis, a former investigator who has interest in meeting with us again. We then ran over to meet with our investigator Kristian. We taught him the plan of salvation, mainly focusing on agency and what we need to do to get to the highest degree of glory. We met with a less active named Peter and read the Book of Mormon with him. We tried by a potential, but with no luck. We met with Art and we shared some scriptures with him. We got transfer calls. Crazy news! We're both being whitewashed out! I'll be heading up to Templeton and Elder Richards will be going to Thousand Oaks. I feel like I haven't spent enough time here in Santa Barbara (definitely when compared to my time in Simi). But I hear Templeton is great. 

Sunday we had a stake conference broadcast. It was pretty good. Elder Christofferson spoke and gave a good talk. We went to say goodbye to a few people. Our ward is not very happy that we're being whitewashed. This is the third time that this ward has been whitewashed in the last 6 months! When we said goodbye to Kristian I had a few embarrassing moments. As we were leaving I opened the door to leave and it turned out to be a bedroom door. I also almost ran into his car . We went by another family to say goodbye and we were just talking in the car for a bit before we got out, and in that time the family got in the car and left. 

That's pretty much it! Hope you all had a great week as well!

Elder Jason Riches

Week 26:  Ankle-Biter [January 22, 2018]

This week has been pretty good. 

Tuesday we got to watch the announcement from President Nelson and the new first presidency. We got to watch the press conference as well. The whole district laughed pretty hard when the one reporter dropped the mic (literally). 

Wednesday we had an exchange with the zone leaders. At one point we had a pretty scary encounter. We were going to see a less active and as we walked up to the house, we saw a sign that said, "Warning, Killer Dogs). There was a short fence in front to the house that we would have to go through.  We looked over and didn't see any dogs, so we rattled the fence and nothing happened. We went through the fence and as we drew near the house we noticed the door was open. Suddenly there it was. A big (and we'll groomed) poodle. At first we thought nothing of it, but then it yelled out one of the most interesting barks of my life. Then dog #2 came out...a two inch high Yorkie, which started nipping at our heels. Thankfully the owner came out and saved us, but she wasn't very interested . 

Thursday I was finally able to meet with our investigator Kristian. Most of the meeting was getting to know him, and we also talked about happiness and how it's the spiritual things that will give us lasting happiness. 

Friday I got to give a discussion in district meeting and then for lunch we went to Chick-fil-A. When they first came out with our orders they only gave me my frosted lemonade and said that the rest of it was on the way. I made a joke that they would forget to bring it out and that $9.00 was a lot of money for a small frosted lemonade. They came out with the rest of the orders, except mine!! When I asked them about it they gave it to me, but it taught me not to make jokes about such things .

Saturday we had interviews with President Nakken. One of the things he brought up was what Elder Renlund mentioned, that having a positive attitude and positive effort will bring miracles. We also had exchanges. I got to be in a threesome again because some of the elders had to evacuate from the mudslide and now can't get back to their area. The zone leaders usually have them, but they were on exchanges as well. 

Sunday we learned why the going to bed at 10:30 rule is a rule. We ended up going to bed at 12:00 the night prior and then we had to wake up even earlier for ward council. We did meet two potential investigators and set up appointments with them so that was good. 

Hope everyone has a great week! 

Elder Jason Riches

Week 25:  Too Much Walking  [January 15, 2018]

Hi everyone.

This week has been pretty good.

Monday we had an interesting dinner experience. The person who signed up to feed us was a new move-in so we didn't know her. After we were there for a while, we realized that there were no other males there, exept for the two young boys, so we weren't really supposed to be there. After a while it was brought up in conversation that she isn't even a member, but that she has been going to church for three years because it's good for her boys. We talked for a while and she ended up agreeing to take the lessons, so we got a new investigator out of it.

Nothing really on Tuesday.

Wednesday was fun. It started with exchanges and then we ended up having another elder come with us because he and his companion had to evacuate from the mudslide. It was fun. We did a lot of walking. We were going to go by some potentials all on one street, so I figured we could just park at the church and walk there since it didn't look that far on the map. We ended up walking about 5 miles there and back. Needless to say we were all pretty tired by the end.

Thursday we met with a former invesigator walking to an apointment. He was really nice, and we talked with him for a bit. We also met with a less active named Peter. We read the Book of Mormon with him and he bore his testimony to us. He wants to come back to church, but it seems like his mom doesn't want him to go.

Friday we watched the funeral for Thomas S. Monson. It was very touching (but also kinda sad). It was one of the elder's birthdays and he started with the funeral, then gave a talk in district meeting, and finally paid for his companion's lunch at In-N-Out. Happy birthday Elder Goodman!

Saturday we helped move furniture twice. Once for some members in our ward, then a less active in some other missionaries ward. Our whole district also went to the another missionary's ward to help them out. Finally we met with our recent convert, Art, who just got out of the hospital Friday and is doing a lot better.

Sunday Elder Richards gave a talk in sacrament meeting. He did a good job, but I'm worried that I'll be next.

That's pretty much my week. I would just like to ask that you keep the victims of the Montecito mudslide in your prayers.

Until next time,

Elder Jason Riches 

WEEK 24: MY NAME IS GO + ELDER RENLUND [JANUARY 8, 2018]

Hello Everyone!

This week was pretty off and on. Two days were amazing and on the rest of the days nothing much really happened. 

Thursday was the first really eventful day. My companion went to a leadership meeting and I was with two other elders from our district. We went to Taco Bell to grab some lunch. When it was my turn to order, I accidentally said I wanted my food to stay. I corrected myself and said "I mean to go." The cashier got a really confused look and said, "Go? as in G-O?" I told her yes (wondering why she was so confused). She then said she would call my name when my food was ready. My first thought was she didn't ask my name, but I shrugged it off and went to get my drink. When I walked over to the other elders they said "Hi Joe!" At first I was confused, but then everything made sense. When I had said, "To go." She had asked me what my name was, and the other elders thought I said my name was Joe. When they came out with my food they said "Order for Go!" It was kind of embarassing, but at the same time it was pretty funny.

The other big thing this week was that Elder Renlund came to our mission! We also had Elder Pimentel come. It was a really powerful zone conference. Before it started we all got to shake their hands and tell them our name and where we are from. When I shook hands with Elder Renlund and told him I am from Murray he asked me if I was a spartan (my school mascot) so that was pretty cool. Elder Renlund talked about how when we do missionary work, or anything else in life, we need to be ourselves. He also talked about how we need to have a good attutude and then put in a good effort, that's when the miracles will happen. Another big thing that was talked about was how it is pretty easy to share the gospel with those around us in a non threatening way. When someone asks us about our week, use the term "my church." For example: "I taught a lesson at my church." They said for those who aren't interested, they will not really acknowledge it and those that are prepared will start asking questions.

Elder Renlund also had three messages to share

1. God loves us and is grateful for our service.

2. We are called by prophecy to this area and are here for a reason and we are entitled to ask God why, and that the answer will change our missions. I have yet to find out but I'm still praying.

3. President and Sister Nakken are called by revelation too, and that they're the best mission president and wife in the world!

To close in honor of President Thomas S. Monson, I would like to share his last talk with you. He was definitely my favorite prophet and I'll miss hearing him in general conference.

"This morning I speak about the power of the Book of Mormon and the critical need we have as members of this Church to study, ponder, and apply its teachings in our lives. The importance of having a firm and sure testimony of the Book of Mormon cannot be overstated.

"We live in a time of great trouble and wickedness. What will protect us from the sin and evil so prevalent in the world today? I maintain that a strong testimony of our Savior, Jesus Christ, and of His gospel will help see us through to safety. If you are not reading the Book of Mormon each day, please do so. If you will read it prayerfully and with a sincere desire to know the truth, the Holy Ghost will manifest its truth to you. If it is true—and I solemnly testify that it is—then Joseph Smith was a prophet who saw God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ.

"Because the Book of Mormon is true, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the Lord’s Church on the earth, and the holy priesthood of God has been restored for the benefit and blessing of His children.

"If you do not have a firm testimony of these things, do that which is necessary to obtain one. It is essential for you to have your own testimony in these difficult times, for the testimonies of others will carry you only so far. However, once obtained, a testimony needs to be kept vital and alive through continued obedience to the commandments of God and through daily prayer and scripture study.

"My dear associates in the work of the Lord, I implore each of us to prayerfully study and ponder the Book of Mormon each day. As we do so, we will be in a position to hear the voice of the Spirit, to resist temptation, to overcome doubt and fear, and to receive heaven’s help in our lives. I so testify with all my heart in the name of Jesus Christ, amen."

We went to see a member in the hospital.  They gave us visitor stickers with our names on them.  The picture should say enough:

Week 23: Happy New Year! [January 1, 2018]

This week has been pretty good. Once again I don't have my journal with me so I won't really be able to write chronologically.

We met a lot with our recent convert Art this week. The first day we met with him he was pretty sick. we talked a bit about how Jesus Christ was able to perform all the miracles he did. The next day he was doing a lot better. We did service for him by washing his car, his dog, and his back porch. After that he gave us some treats (his neighbors gave him too much). Yesterday we ended up giving him a blessing at the hospital because he has pneumonia. 

We had a lesson with our new investigator James. Our ward mission leader came with us and really conected with him. There were a few times in the lesson where James was thinking the same thing that Brother Nolan (our WML) said. 

That's pretty much it. A lot of people said that they wouldn't be able to meet until the new year so hopefully this upcoming week will be more eventful. I have been able to grow closer to the members of the ward and my new district. 

I hope everyone is having a great start to their New Year! It's still a little strange to think that by the time this year ends I'll still be out here. 

Until next time

Elder Jason Riches