Spanish, a drummer, and a love of the Gospel!

(NOTE: this incorporates letters and a tape from two weeks ... given my schedule, I was not able to keep the weekly update going. Apologies. Blogmaster)

Three weeks left in the MTC ... give or take. As Josh has been quoted as saying: "the days here are long, but the weeks go fast!"

Spanish:
Josh claims to be struggling with Spanish, though we hear the other side of the coin as well. For example, Josh and his "companero" get to teach in the "TRC" (teaching resource center) ... where they teach members posing as investigators, which then helps them with language and teaching skills. Recently the two of them taught a "fifty-some minute" discussion to a man named Napolean, and Josh describes the experience with great zeal ... partly for a reason explained below. In the past few days he and his "companero" went to the TRC but, due to a lack of staff, they had to split up with other elders so they had 2 - threesomes rather than 3 companionships. Josh's threesome taught Napolean ... here's what Josh said about it:

"The whole lesson was a bunch of testifying and everyone could feel it so strong. Napolean started to tear up and I got a rush of the Spirit and all of a sudden I didn't know what I was doing but I was speaking and faster than I had before, the part I didn't know was what I was speaking. It was like I was describing this mental picture of Jesus Christ's atonement and what it has meant in my life and while the picture was the same the words came out in a language that was not my native one ... I was speaking spanish and saying words I had only slightly ever heard and using them in the right conjucations. Thank you for your prayers. They are working. HARRAH FOR ISREAL!"

Because he feels his Spanish is not as strong as he wants it, he and his companion (his district too?) went on a two part fast ... one: the regular fast; two: an English fast. It is hard to keep the timelines exactly straight since we get periodic letters, and intermixed will be emails and then we got a tape that seems to have covered two weeks ... or at least two p-days plus more, but as near as we can tell, the English fast preceeded the experience with Napolean. We all keep, and encourage you to keep Josh in our prayers that he may be granted the gift of tongues that he may preach with power and clarity.

A DRUMMER
You were just introduced to Napolean. Josh describes him as "the BOMB!" and Josh has had at least two opportunities to teach him in the TRC. Josh has taken a real love for this brother. But one of the things Josh is really excited about with him is he "was the drummer for Santana" (Carlos Santana that is ... the guitarist extraordinair!) (Of course, the fact that Dad loves Santana and tried to pass that on to Josh (who also loves great guitar) only made it better ... says Dad.)

A LOVE OF THE GOSPEL
To hear Josh on the tape is to hear great excitement for his mission and an incredible love of the Gospel. It is amazing to hear Josh rave about "Jesus the Christ" by Talmadge. Grandpa Richardson has often been quoted as saying "When you read Talmadge, you need two things: a lot of time and a good dictionary." Josh has repeated that, with a third thing you need: "a good highlighter." Given Josh's decided lack of interest in most gospel scholarship (very different from the gospel, wherein he has ALWAYS had an abiding testimony), it is greatly rewarding to hear him preach his love of this weighty tome! Josh's testimony continues to grow, and we love to hear it with each letter and email ... and tape. He is getting truly excited to get into the field and preach to those the Lord has prepared!