Nyob zoo,
Time is flying by so fast. This upcoming week will be my 14th-month mark on my mission and also my 1-year mark for being in Wisconsin. Where does time go?
On Monday night we went out to eat with Kelly and Shaun at a Thai restaurant called Sa Bai Thong. Really good food and it was really fun to spend time with them. Also, later in the week, Kelly took us to a different Thai restaurant. Like I said last week, we really are spoiled here!
Saturday morning we played some football and frisbee with the young men. It was fun to hang out with the youth and also to play Frisbee again. That was really fun. One of the Hmong youth plays Frisbee for his high school team. This ward is awesome and there are some awesome youth in this ward, especially the Hmong ones. They have such strong testimonies and are such great examples to me.
The coolest thing this week, we went over to Mai’s house. Her husband asked us to come help him with some things around the house. So we went and after, we were surprised that he had prepared a whole meal for us. We went inside and ate steak, potatoes, asparagus, corn, and he even made a cake for us. It was pretty cool, especially since it was just him because his family was out of town. It has been cool to see him change since I was here the first time. The first time I was here, he wasn't going to any church and all he wanted to do was bash with us. Over this past year, he has changed and grown so much from the gospel. His wife has been a super good example of what the gospel can do and he has seen his wife change and that has affected him. Now he is going to church every week and has changed so much. We had a whole meal with him and he didn't even bash with us. We just had a friendly conversation and at the end, he even gave a heartfelt thanks to us and for what we do. He said that we helped him to realize that he was off the path and he needed to put God as the priority in life again. Even if he isn’t going to our church at the moment, it is really big progress. It is cool to see how the church can affect everyone - including nonmembers. His heart has opened so much and he really respects us now. He even called us family. One day he will be a great member. I know that will happen one day, but it is gonna be a slower process. Nonetheless very exciting.
This week in my personal study I had a couple of verses in Joshua that really stuck out to me.
14 Now therefore fear the Lord, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the Lord.
15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.
We all have those "other Gods" in our life that we "worship". Whether that be our phones, sports teams, TV, or whatever, it is important that we serve God and put him first in our lives.
Also quick shout out to my little brother Ian. He had his farewell talk yesterday and I heard that he did great. He is heading in less than 10 days and I am excited for him and the things that he will do. He is gonna do awesome. Love you bro! 
Have a great week,
Elder Rich
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| Picture by the lake |
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| Dinner with Kelly and Shaun |
