December 31: "Are you Rich?"

Nyob zoo,

This past week was literally the fastest week ever. It doesn't even feel like it is P-day today.

On Thursday we had interviews with President Williams. Like I always say, he is such a good guy and I am super grateful that he is my mission president.

We met with Joua this week. She is one of the recent converts. We ate dinner with her and sung a few hymns in Hmong to her because she can't read. She really liked that because the lyrics to the songs are really powerful. She bore part of her conversion story with us and it was really cool. She said that she has seen how much God and the church have helped her to become a better person. She said before she knew about God and before she went to church, she wasn't a good person which I am sure isn't true because she is the nicest lady ever, but I do agree that the gospel changes us and helps us to become better people and it is cool to see that first hand.

We did a lot of finding, as usual, this week. We have been trying to use as much of our day as we can. We calculated that language missionaries have 6 hours of available time if you take out meal times and studies. We are trying to use as much of that time as we can and trying to cut out all the fluff time that we can. The longer I have been out, the more I have learned the importance of urgency in the work.

Funny story: So this week we were out finding. I have had an ear infection in my right ear for a little while. I can't hear very well out of the ear and my companion has joked that I am basically deaf in that ear. Anyway, we were walking around an apartment complex. We try to have him on the left side and me and the right side so that I can hear him, but for some reason, I was on the left side. As we were walking he was yelling something at me which of course I didn't hear. 5 seconds later I look at the bottom of my shoe and there was a giant thing of dog poop on my shoe. My companion comes laughing saying he warned me and I was like, “What? I didn't hear anything.” He said he was yelling “Elder Rich dog poop. Elder Rich dog poop!” and then just watched me walk into it after I didn't hear him. I guess I am pretty deaf.

Sunday we got the awesome opportunity to be in primary while all the teachers were getting training on the Come Follow Me for next year. I haven't been in primary in a long time, but it was fun to sing along with the little kids and hear their testimonies through songs. Also another funny thing… Of course, all the little kids loved to pick on me and “bully” me. My childhood joke of "Are you Rich?" lives on. The kids thought they were so funny and they had a good laugh about all their jokes. After church was over, one of the kids snagged my name badge and laughed super loud with an evil laugh saying, “Hahahaha I am Rich now and guess what? You are poor!” After that I snagged a quick picture and after he just says “Well I better be heading home now” and just takes off running with my name badge. So funny.

Sunday night we had dinner with one of my favorite families I have met on my mission, the Goues. They are the nicest and most genuine people. They also are super hilarious. They are from South Africa and made some amazing African food. It goes hand and hand with the best of the best Hmong food I've had. I know if I didn't get called Hmong speaking I would have gone somewhere in Africa. It was a good dinner, but also super sad because they are moving to Utah.

Love you all, 

Elder Rich

winter has decided to finally come

Goue Family

Elder "Wesley" Rich

James Harden Pt. 2