"There are a few things they didn't tell me about this place when I settled in ...."

The title for this post comes from Josh and his quote of John Wayne, applying it to the MTC. "This place is awesome! There aren't words to describe it."

Here is Josh and District 44-D! He says that they have the largest district with 12 missionaries (only 10 are pictured here). On the front row are: Elders Roberts and Campbell, Sisters Burke, Wiseman, Larson and Langston. Back Row: Elder Cavaness, Knaras (Josh's companion), Olson, and Josh (yes, that looks like a faux-hawk he's wearing).

Josh reports that he now prays in Spanish all the time, and it appears that he is improving all the time, but we wonder if those around him are learning enough as one said the one word to describe Josh is "Guapo" .... Josh says learning Spanish is "tough" but it is coming along. His companion (Elder Knaras) took three years of Spanish in High School, so he his helping Josh. He does bear his testimony in Spanish to us as well.

Josh does ask for all of us to keep his companion (Elder Knaras ... the District Leader) in our prayers. Apparently Josh is hoping to see a conversion during his time at the MTC ... Elder Knaras is (gasp!) a Utah fan! Josh is trying to persuade him to leave the dark side for the light.

To help you get a feel of how Josh has changed, let me share this one part of Josh's letter (this part directed to Kiah): Study hard in school and if you ever are at a loss for another incredible book to read you should 'try' and take on Jesus the Christ. It's awsome!"

He has had some great spiritual experiences and is growing so much. He is truly a man of God.

Josh reports that he has lost 6 pounds while at the MTC. While he loves the food, he is running everyday ... now running about 3 miles a day during gym time. He has earned the nickname "Quicksilver!"

He also complains that he doesn't get a nap most days and only is sleeping 8 hours a day (most of the rest of us are jealous!).

Elder Campbell (see the picture above) has a girlfriend who works at the MTC cafeteria ... so he sees her everyday! I wouldn't believe it either if Josh hadn't told me about it.

I could add more (this was a letter worth waiting for!), but will end in the interests of space. All in all, he's doing great, and we're walking on clouds with excitement for him!

Still no update --- sorry!

There hasn't been an update for a few days. Sorry about that, the reason behind that is that Josh just hasn't been in touch for a while ... no letters, no e-mail. Well, here's hoping that the letter-drought breaks soon!

The Testimony Grows!

This picture was taken when we took Josh to the MTC. Logan is pointing to Josh's nametag and "dork dot" (the dot indicating a new arrival).

The second letter received from Josh is shorter than the first! BUT, it has good news. He is doing very well in Spanish (THANK YOU ALLEN TUCKER!), and he reports that he is now thinking in Spanish. (He also is chatting up the Mandarin speaking missionaries every chance he gets.) He feels short on TIES and requests more ties be sent to him (they are almost as good as money). He reports that he was recently trading ties with an Elder from Hungary who spoke no English (Josh, ever the trader, probably got the better end of that deal too!).

Josh reports that it is strange "cus I have no cell, no phones, no way of staying so connected with mi familia and friends."

Josh is working hard, learning (and evidently loving) the language, and seems to love those in his district (though we know little about any of them ... no names or anything ... just that they are all "a big group of studs and studetts").

His letter is best summed up by this quote:

Jesu Cristo es el salvador!
Jesus is the Christ!

The First Letter!

The first letter arrived today ... it was post-marked 1-25-08, and is VERY short, but it brought a smile to all at our house. It sounds like Josh is doing great. Although he hasn't told us anything else about his companion, we do know that his companion is the District Leader and Josh says the other elders in his room are "pretty cool."

Apparently he also wandered over to the Chinese language area to flex his chinese on those going to Taiwan, according to Josh, "they thought it was cool that I could talk with them." As far as Spanish goes, he says that he is "already getting to greet everyone fully in Spanish." His tutor at the MTC is "none other than the studly Allen Tucker!" (our Bishop's son who was two years ahead of Josh in high school and who served a mission to the Mexico City mission ... Josh has looked up to him for several years).

Josh's P-Day will be on Mondays, and so we will be expecting letters on Wednesdays or Thursdays.

The phrases from his letter that seem most to sum up how things are going say: "I am OMEGA busy." "This is a cool place!"

It has begun

On Wednesday, January 23, 2008, at approximately 1:30 pm, Josh entered the MTC. He was last seen (by us anyway) smiling from ear to ear as he walked down the hall to begin his missionary life. Prior to entering MTC there was a farewell breakfast for him at Denney's in Provo. Attending the breakfast were (in no particular order): Elder and Sister Turnbull (his grandparents who are serving a mission at Cove Fort, UT), Val and Connie Robison (grandparents), Becky Miles (grandmother) Jared and Michelle Miles (his maternal set of parents), Todd and Marci Richardson (his paternal set of parents), Kiah, Ayla, Brieann, Logan, Kindra (siblings), Michael Robison (uncle), Brock Richardson (defensive lineman for BYU .... oh yea, he's also a cousin), and Jay Helquist (formerly Elder Helquist who served in Clarkston where he became friends with Josh)

Welcome

This blog has not yet begun. It will begin though. I will post information about Joshua Richardson's mission exploits, updates and some thoughts along with pictures as they are available (or at least some of them). So, be patient, Wednesday (the day he reports) approaches.