drinking out of a coconut


Me and E. Bernards--he went home today! He was so done.

Our Zone: Front E. Nascimento, E. Melo (Cortopraza missão - Temporary Mission), E. Macedo, E. Lopes Back E. B. Anderson, Me, E. Camilo (Mat Snarr knows him as E. F. Silva, shared the same room in the CTM, E. Camilo is my District Leader and looked at my pictures and almost snapped when he saw Mat (Mat is a lifelong friend from Tooele who is serving in the Recife Brazil mission)), E. Bernards, E. Lund, E. Sória, and if you look closely behind Bernards and Lund you see E. Johnson and E. Wesley.


Hello, Hello, Hello!!

You know wearing a backpack all day with your missionary clothes feels like a really weak midget trying to bring you down all day, and just having a collar feels like a really weak guy trying to choke you all day.

I have information for you guys but it’s nothing important just something about a ring and the end of the world, just don’t turn me into anything.....unnatural....
Ok this last week was nuts, we didn’t do much but we saw Michael Jackson, ok a dude dressed like him and he was dancing! Then we saw some cartoons/children’s books of the Bible at a bookstore, they were pretty funny. There was even a pop-up book about the Nativity.

Ok, it is true about bars having one girl and 20 guys! The only way to get guaraná on the go is visit a bar, you only need to be 18 to go in and half of the bars are bakeries as well.

Oh here they have pay phones still and sometimes they ring, so I thought of Kramer when he had almost the same phone number as a movie theater. I thought of the Missão Brasil Ribeirão Preto hotline! Press one for a visit of our representatives, press two for a free pamphlet, press three for a free book, why don’t you just tell me what you want? And I actually answered the phone and ALMOST got the lady's address on the other side but she said to call back, but I don’t have the number so it’s ok.

So this next week will be different, same area, same comp, everything, but we are going to work now! I wrote out some rules and made my comp sign them, like no sleeping during the day, you have to make 15 contacts at least per day etc. I even told him I would be senior comp if that’s what it takes. (Go Taylor!)

Me and Sória in Normal clothes when we got a haircut

We went to the Napoli pizzeria and had, of course, pizza!
(No, this doesn't look like pizza Taylor's mom had in Napoli, but that's okay. It still looks good!)

3 Nephi 5:13 “Behold, I am a disciple of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I have been called of him to declare his word among his people, that they might have everlasting life.” Yeah that’s me.

Hey I have another announcement NEW ADDRESS FOR THE MISSION!!!!!!! Write this on my letters now:

Elder Taylor Cotton Richardson
Missão Brasil Ribeirão Preto
Rua São Sebastião 1003 Centro
Ribeirão Preto SP
Brasil 14015-040

Ok that’s about it just remember you gotta make room for the TUNA!!!!! (For Invader Zim fans.)

Abraço—I am Elder Richardson, Missionary of 6 months currently in Votuporanga, Master Contactor, Speaker of English and I end mine epistle, Amen

Note from the Missionary Mom:

Taylor has had some hard weeks with a companion who didn’t want to work very much. I know he was hoping that one of them would be transferred, but that isn’t what happened. I was really happy when Taylor’s comment to me was “the Lord knows best.” I was glad that he seems to have such a great attitude about it all, and my suggestion to him was to be the example, make sure he follows the rules and then get out and work; take charge if necessary. I know his companion will catch the spirit of the work--perhaps he’s never had anyone show him how to be a good missionary before. Taylor responded by quoting the following scripture to me. I think he has this same kind of faith. He is full of life, enthusiasm for missionary work and love for the Brasilian people. What more could he need? I guess just a companion with the same vision. I’m anxious to see what the next few weeks bring.

Alma 57: 20-27
20 And as the remainder of our army were about to give way before the Lamanites, behold, those two thousand and sixty were firm and undaunted.

21 Yea, and they did obey and observe to perform every word of command with exactness; yea, and even according to their faith it was done unto them; and I did remember the words which they said unto me that their mothers had taught them.

***

26 And now, their preservation was astonishing to our whole army, yea, that they should be spared while there was a thousand of our brethren who were slain. And we do justly ascribe it to the miraculous power of God, because of their exceeding faith in that which they had been taught to believe—that there was a just God, and whosoever did not doubt, that they should be preserved by his marvelous power.

27 Now this was the faith of these of whom I have spoken; they are young, and their minds are firm, and they do put their trust in God continually.