Exciting News !!

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Life Goes On.........

Well, the year is winding down, the mission is over, our trip back to Peru has been accomplished, and life goes on.

Landon is will be attending Weber State University in Ogden, Utah, and will begin schooling in January. He will major in business and minor in Spanish.

He is working for Focus Services, where he has the opportunity to further and maintain his Spanish speaking skills.

Landon has been sustained as Assistant Ward Clerk in the Singles Ward. He's enjoying making the rounds with the High Councilmen, speaking in various sacrament meetings.

It has been a great journey over the past two years. It has been such a blessing, and I think that ending the mission has been harder on me (Landon's mom), than for Landon ;) He's adjusting well, and it's not surprising... he's always been such a happy, easy going young man.

We invite you to our Family Blog if you would like to keep up with Landon's further "adventures". Who knows? There may be wedding bells this summer ...........keep in touch ! We love you all !

Peru Trip - Finally !!

Peru Trip

Click on the picture to view ALL of our pics from our wonderful visit to Peru. Click on Slideshow. If they are transitioning too fast, you can adjust and click to forward. I've tried to list info in the captions to explain what is happening. Enjoy !
Our Itinerary
Friday - Flight from SLC to Atlanta to Lima, Peru
Saturday - Meet with President Perez, Eat at Bistecca, Bowl with Office missionaries, attend Lima Peru temple.
Sunday - Two sacrament meetings and visiting with members
Monday - Fly to Pucallpa, meet with members
Tuesday - Drive to Campo Verde, volleyball tournament, ward activity
Wednesday - Back to Lima, tour with Karla, meeting with members in their homes
Thursday - Fly to Cuzco, drive to ruins, train to Agua Caliente
Friday - Bus to Machu Picchu, explore MP, return via train to Cuzco
Saturday - Tour around Cuzco, fly back to Lima,
Sunday/Monday - Return home

Countdown to Peru !

Landon and I will be going to Peru this Friday. We are SO EXCITED ! We will be able to go to the temple in Lima, meet with President and Sister Perez and Carolina, meet with the missionaries, ward families, investigators and converts. It will be wonderful :) We will spend a couple of days in Pucallpa, and finally travel to Cuzco and Machu Picchu. We will return home on December 13th.

Happenings Lately

We traveled to Vegas and were able to meet up with "Tyler" Herdt and family. Roger and I were finally able to meet the big guy we have grown to love through weekly emails these past two years.

Enjoying "The Kings Tournament" at Excalibur

Elder Wright and family welcomed us to their home in Idaho. We had a great lunch, and Landon and Zac reminisced about Peru. We also viewed the pics of their trip to Peru. Landon and I (his mom) will be traveling to Peru on December 4th, we can hardly wait !!

Elder Quinn's family invited us to view a production of Les Miserables that Chase Quinn was starring in as Thénardier. He did a WONDERFUL job ~ WOW !

A Wonderful Day

Thanks to all of you who shared our day
We love you !

Speaking in Church

Landon's homecoming talk will be on Sunday, November 8th, 11am, at the Porterville Church in Morgan. 2700 S. Morgan Valley Drive. (Morgan 6th Ward)

Sister Lori London's missionary "farewell" will be in the same meeting, so plan to arrive early to get a good seat.

Directions: Take the Morgan Exit, turn right onto State Street, proceed south past Jubilee, over the Weber River (bridge under construction), to Young (0) Street, turn right, proceed West to the "Y" intersection (near the mountains), turn left, proceed South for about 4 miles? or so. It will be on your right, brown building, you can't miss it.

After Sacrament meeting, we will gather at the County Courthouse for a luncheon at approximately 12:30. Hope you can all come and enjoy!

*You will pass the Courthouse as you turn at the intersection of State and Young street. It is on the NW corner.

The Homecoming

It was a wonderful day yesterday. We are so happy to see Landon, and he looks SO GOOD. We all had smiles a mile wide all day long. Click here for more pics.

Leaving Peru.........

Hermana Alcantara sent this picture via Facebook early this morning. It was taken at the airport in Lima.

Our North American missionaries have been on a plane since 12:30 am this morning from Lima to Atlanta. After a 2 hour layover, the Utah missionaries are expected in SLC at 12:30 pm MST. If they happen upon a good tail wind, they could be a little early. We invite any and all to join with us at the airport, or later this evening at our home. As you can imagine, we are looking forward to seeing Landon once again. We are so proud of him, and the mission he has served. It has indeed, been the BEST TWO YEARS........so far :)

Check back on this blog for pics of the reunion, updates as far as work and college, and also our trip BACK to Peru, which is tentatively planned for December of this year. Thanks to ALL of you, for joining us in this journey.

You're going to be okay Elder.......

The next few days are going to be a little rough for Elder Rich and other returning missionaries.......in more ways than one.

Please CLICK HERE and read this, just to get an idea.

A Missionary 's Story.........

Now these were their journeyings; Having taken leave of their father (and mother)....they departed out of the land.....and they took their (missionary supplies)..... to go up to the land of (Peru).

And it came to pass that they......fasted much and prayed much that the Lord would grant unto them a portion of his Spirit to go with them, and abide with them, that they might be an instrument in the hands of God to bring if it were possible, their brethren.....to the knowledge of the truth.....

And it came to pass that the Lord did visit them with his Spirit, and said unto them; Be comforted, and they were comforted. And the Lord said unto them also: Go forth.....and establish my word; yet ye shall be patient.....show forth good examples unto them in me, and I will make an instrument of thee in my hands unto the salvation of many souls.

And it came to pass that the hearts of (these) sons....took courage to go forth......to declare.....the word of God. And it came to pass when they had arrived in the borders of the land......they separated themselves and departed one from another, trusting in the Lord that they should meet again at the close of their harvest; for they supposed that great was the work which they had undertaken.

*Parts taken from Alma,Chapter 17, Verses 6-13

2 years later..............

(They) did rejoice exceedingly to see (each other).....and they were....brethren in the Lord; yea, and they had waxed strong in the knowledge of the truth; for they were men of a sound understanding and they had searched the scriptures diligently, that they might know the word of God.

But this is not all; they had given themselves to much prayer, and fasting; therefore they had the spirit of prophecy, and the spirit of revelation, and when they taught, they taught with the power and authority of God. And they had been teaching the word of God for the space of (two years).....having had much success in bringing many to the knowledge of the truth; yea, by the power of their words.

*Parts taken from Alma,Chapter 17, Verses 2-4

New Assistant

Elder Vigil, from Layton, Utah arrived at the offices last Thursday. Landon is training him as his replacement. The work goes on !

Meeting with Great Leaders !

Today the meeting was great!! All of the Peru missions (North, East, South, Central) were there and President Edgley, of the Presiding Bishopric was there with his wife, Elder Clayton, President of the Seventy, Elder Christofferson, from the Twelve Apostles, Elder Nash, Elder Pino, and Elder Gavarret, and four other Seventy's, Four mission presidents, the Lima Temple President, and other leaders of the area. It was a great meeting!!

President Edgley talked about how today is the greatest time in the history of the church to do missionary work. It doesn’t matter where you’re from, how rich or poor you are or how much education you have, we all have the same calling and the same responsibility to help others.

Elder Clayton talked about the miracles he has seen here in Peru. In 1925 there wasn’t a single member of the church in South America and in 1971 there was only 1 Stake and Mission in Peru, Bolivia and Ecuador.

Elder Christofferson talked about Alma 17:3. Teaching by the Spirit of revelation and prophecy. The new Bible in Spanish could very well be the best version of the Bible in all the world. It’s a privilege to serve God. We need to KNOW Jesus Christ. Not only know things about Him, we need to KNOW His atonement, not only know about it.

The Spirit was strong and it was a great atmosphere. Afterward, President Perez had lunch with all of the leaders and he said that very good things were said about the Peru Lima North Mission. As I leave the mission, I'm happy it is in such good shape - the best in this continent and possibly the world.

These past two years have been the best. I have learned more than I ever have in my life previously. I’m grateful for the opportunity that I have had, and I will always remember the lessons learned, and use them throughout my life.

Now it’s time to move on and get on with work, study, and family. It’s the plan of God that will never stop and will never change. I’ve learned to value a lot of things that maybe before I didn’t appreciate enough. I love my God and I love my family who has supported me.

Grandparents!!!! Thanks for everything you have done for me over these past two years. I love you with all my heart and I will see you soon and be working along side you. Thanks for everything.

MOM and DAD. Well it’s come - my last email..... What do we have to say for ourselves? It’s been a long road, much has changed, and all will be great!!! I can’t wait to be with you, and to learn the things I didn’t learn before. I ask that you will be patient with me and help me in my weaknesses. I have many. Teach me everything you know. I love you and can’t wait to see you!!!

MOM DON’T CRY!! I love you, and well, there isn’t any more to say that can’t wait until WEDNESDAY!!!!

7 Missionaries coming home to the states

These North American missionaries will be returning home next week. Texas, Nevada, Idaho, and Utah - here they come !

Today, they will have their farewell testimony meeting with all of the Elders who are in the zones which are close to Lima.

Tomorrow all of the missionaries will get to hear Elder Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.

Sunday, they will attend church in Lima for the last time as a missionary, and also have their farewell interviews with President Perez.

Monday they will be able to visit members and converts and investigators near the Lima area.

Tuesday they will attend the Lima Temple for the last time as a Peru Lima North Missionary.

Wednesday they will return home, having successfully completed their 2-year missions.

Dear Family...........

"Having many things to write unto you, I would not write with paper and ink: but I trust to come unto you, and speak face to face, that our joy may be full."

2 John 1:12

The Lost Black Sheep

"He gathers the lambs in His arms and carries them close to His heart"
Isaiah 40:11

"I don’t know if I have mentioned him before, but we found a man named Carlos about two months ago. He is 29 years old. His brothers and sisters are members of the church, but he is separated from them. He is the lost black sheep."

"When we found him in the street he was a drug addict. He lived in the back of a truck and worked in the morning so he could eat lunch, worked in the afternoon so he could eat dinner, and he went hungry for breakfast."

"We taught him the gospel, little by little. We pounded it in his head, haha. He already had heard it a million times, he knows over 100 missionaries, but it wasn’t his time. Since the time we found him, he has changed. He now lives in a hotel where he doesn’t have to go out into the street to see his ´´friends´´ where he will be tempted to go back to his old ways. He has made things right with his partner, Angela. Last night we had a GREAT lesson with them. We talked about families, we talked about the Law of Chastity, and we loved them."

"How sweet is the gospel of Jesus Christ and His atoning sacrifice that can make any man or women clean from ANY error or sin. At the end of the lesson, holding hands, they said, “Well it’s the best for both of us.” Before, they fought and yelled and hated. Now they love and respect one another."

"Carlos had a “strong” character and a horrible attitude with Angela, but after President Monson spoke about Anger in the Priesthood Session, which Carlos attended, he has completely changed his attitude and his way of being. I love this gospel and I love my Savior Jesus Christ and his Prophet here upon this earth."

"I will not be here to see the progress of Carlos and Angela. I will not be able to see their baptism, but I know the Lord will bless them!! I love them and will miss them!!!"

**We got a "shout out" on this great blog - Prepare Ye The Way Of The Lord. Pretty awesome !

This past week.........

"The trip to Tarapoto was great. We flew out Tuesday, and spent the night. Wednesday we had the interviews and trainings with the Tarapoto Zone, where I said good bye to Elder Foutz and Elder Sanchez for the last time as a missionary."

"The trainings went really well. My companion is teaching on “Teaching by the Spirit”, and I’m teaching about how to use ´´The Flip´´ to help investigators get to church. ´´The Flip´´ is a flip book of pictures of the church and it's meetings, so that the investigators are more familiar with the meetings before they actually GO to the meetings."

"Afterward, we ate lunch and headed to Moyobamba!! The travel was great and I took some good pics. It was about a 2 and a half hour drive through beautiful jungle with big mountains and steep drop offs, haha, it was good. We stayed the night there Wednesday, and got up for the interviews on Thursday. The trainings also went really well and then I ate a giant ANT!!! Haha, it’s called Siquisapa. It wasn’t as gross as the Suri, so that was a plus."



"Then we headed back to Tarapoto and got stuck in construction, so we were held back and there was no time to visit anyone in Tarapoto. We went straight to the airport and flew out to Lima. We got here to the offices around 12 midnight. Lets just say that yesterday (Friday), I was REALLY tired !!!"

*Click on the picture for a close up of the HUGE ANT

Wear yourself out, in service to the Lord

"Hey - I know you !"

"You will never believe how many people know me! Last Monday Elder Peterson and I had the opportunity to go to the CCM and participate in a class with the North American missionaries who will be coming to our mission this next change. I’m not lying... 5 missionaries came up to me and said, "Elder Rich.... I KNOW YOUR MOM!" It was great. I loved it.... and another one said... "Elder Rich (looking at my plaque), this is going to sound like a stupid question, but... do you have a blog?" Haha, it was great!! I was dying laughing.... The blog has been a help for many people, and I’m glad and grateful you have done it, it's great! You have started something amazing!!!! I love you Mom."

General Conference Pics

So I'm checking out Facebook this morning, and what do I find? Brother Hugo has posted pics of Landon ! Talk about making my day :)

I'm going to have to give Landon a bad time. I had written "Good Morning Sunshine" in the subject line of my last email, and he jokingly replied, "The sun never shines in Lima :)"

Looks like the sun in shining here !

Lester, Hugo, Landon, and Elder Santiago.

I can hardly wait to hear Landon's report of conference in next week's email.

Thanks Hugo !!

Busy Busy

All is well here, I'm the most busy I have ever been in my mission.

The drive up to Barranca last Tuesday/Wednesday was good. I love that trip because Sister Perez brings a big cooler full of goodies and sandwiches and drinks and it’s just amazing!!!! They are good company, or I should say, we are good company.

Presidente mentioned something really special to me. He told me that he and his wife were talking, and they said that having me back in the offices is like having a son come back from a trip. “Back in the house” is what he said. I love them both very much.

"I knew you would accept it !!"

The week before last we were able to travel to Pucallpa, it was great!!! I was able to see some converts and also people that I was teaching who were baptized after I left. What a great feeling it is when that happens.

Imagine in the after life, ALL the people that we have ever shared the gospel with, if or when they get baptized and endure to the end, we will see them and we will be so so so happy to see them and say, “I knew you would accept it!!!!”

I bought the new Bible in Spanish and I love it. I think I like it better than I like the Bible in English. I don’t know, it’s just different, and I’m actually reading the Bible for the first time in my life, and loving it. I’m excited to get on with my life and get studying and working and see what life has to bring... and well, it’s coming fast.....

ZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz............................

This past week has been really really tiring. Last night I went upstairs and fell on my bed with all my clothes on, with my wallet and plaque and everything. I stayed there ALL nightlong. I slept in my church clothes you could call them, but in reality they're my everyday clothes, haha.

Words of Advice from Elder Boyd K. Packer

With his 85 years of experience, he was asked what advice would he give a young man if he had just a minute or two to counsel the youth.

President Packer was quick with his answer: "I would tell him to stay in harmony with the great plan of redemption, to live the gospel, to gain a testimony — not just an impression but a certain testimony — that the gospel is true and Jesus is the Christ, that the Atonement is a great healer. Spiritual development is really an individual effort. If you're conscious about that, you can ever be learning.

"I would tell him to keep a sense of humor. It's critically important. If you get wound up tight, you can't see the comical side of things. Like many other things, a sense of humor has to be cultivated.

"I would tell that young man to get the best education he could get — which does not always equate to the best schooling — to be always learning, to have a curiosity about him.

"I would tell him to develop a little courage. It would be sad to be afraid all the time. The doctrines of the gospel are powerful and sustaining principles so that you can live with assurance and without fear even in times of serious challenges.

"I would tell the young man, 'Don't be afraid of the future. Don't be afraid to marry, for instance. You can't have everything certain before you take that step. You take that step and everything works out.' "

He said that he would encourage the young man to move forward. "I've never been a very good veteran in looking back at things of the past. I've learned that you don't go back in life. You don't go back to the old town or the old way of life. The magic is gone, and you just move ahead." - Elder Boyd K. Packer, President of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles

Email Treats

One of the great blessings of being a missionary mom, is meeting other parents either in person or online. It's always exciting to get emails mentioning "our" Elder.

From Elder Hudson, in an email to his family: "The new AP, Elder Rich my old ZL, complimented me on how much I have improved my Spanish at the interviews, so that is good."

From Elder Peterson, in an email to his family: "Yesterday Elder Rich called me and told me that this morning we were going to the CCM to be part of a capacitacion. It was sweet. Me and Elder Rich were the missionaries representing the Mission Norte. It really was an experience." (Capacitacion = Qualification)

From Hermana Compton's father: "Nearly two weeks ago my #2 daughter and I went to Lima to pick up our missionary daughter as she finished her mission. Of course, when we went to the mission office I made a point of meeting Elder Rich. He seemed as good in person as I had imagined him from the website. He seems healthy and happy."

Fernando's baptism

Fernando is an older man, who is one of the Lord’s chosen ones.

We contacted him in the street and he invited us in, and since that first day he said he would be baptized. We explained to him about the power and authority, it was a good experience, and ever since then we have just taught him.

He isn’t the richest in the world, and he lives with and takes care of his mom who has health problems. They live in a room that’s about 15 foot square. In that room they have 2 beds and a stove top. He has 4 daughters, 3 are in Germany and are married, and one daughter lives here in Peru. He is learning and wants to follow. He has a lot of knowledge of God and Jesus Christ. He is great!!!!

Pics from Peru

Elder Smith, Elder Flores, Elder Rich

Tarapoto - August
Elder Santiago, Diego (with his little girl), Elder Rich

Feliz Cumpleanos to Elder Quinn
His "family" came to wish him Happy Birthday !

Picking up an accent :)

In every country where the people speak Spanish, every one speaks differently. With a different accent.

In America for example, a New Yorker, or someone from the South, are speaking English, but with an accent which is completely different.

It’s the same here in Latin-America. Some accents are stronger than others and many times you will see missionaries come home from their missions speaking with that same accent.

Well the Peruvian accent isn’t strong at all, that’s to say for me, I speak English with my normal accent, at least that’s what I think. What did you think in the phone calls?? (We thought the same thing – there appeared to be NO accent at all when he was speaking English)

The Uruguay accent is stronger than the Peruvian. It turns out that without me knowing, just by listening and speaking so much with President and his family, EVERYONE says “Hey, you don’t speak like a Gringo now, you speak like President”

At first I didn’t notice, but now that I’m paying attention I notice it big time, haha, and it’s strong!! It even comes out in my English!

Big meetings.........Great Leaders

On Sunday, September 20th, our Stake here Lima is getting divided, so we have a big Conference tomorrow with President Nash and it will be good.

Also, in October before I am released, Elder Christofferson, from the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, and a President of the Seventy, will be down here to speak to our mission and the Central mission.

We ate SURI !!

It was gross !! It tasted just like fish bait smells, haha.

Welcome Home Elder Bagley

Remember this guy? Front and center? Well, he's been home for 1 week now. Elder Bagley finished one change before Elder Rich. They had served together in the office for a change or two last December/January, and again for a few days at the end of July.

We had the opportunity to travel to Moroni Utah to listen to his report in church. It was a wonderful day. The Bagley's are such a welcoming family, and we had plenty of time of talk and laugh and tell stories at the yummy luncheon held afterwards.

Words can't express how a parent feels when another missionary who has served with your son gives you a BIG hug and tells you how much he loves your son, and that you should be proud of him and his service to the Lord. Thanks Elder Bagley!

Then and Now..........

On Wednesday, September 9th, the Assistants travelled to the CCM to pick up the "newbies". They came back to President and Sister Perez' apartment for lunch. At this time, they took pictures which will be sent home to parents anxiously awaiting news.

This is the picture WE received those many months ago.....

It was December 28, 2007. A missionary looking excited, happy, and maybe a little nervous ?





















I guess Elder Rich thought another picture at this time was appropriate. Much more comfortable, still happy (as usual), and with so much LOVE for these wonderful servants of God. They take SUCH good care of our missionaries. We are so grateful for their love and guidance.

My Mission Commission

I am called of God. My authority is above that of the Kings of the Earth. By revelation, I have been selected as a personal representative of the Lord Jesus Christ. He is my Master and He has chosen me to represent Him. To stand in His place, to say and do what He himself would say and do if He personally were ministering to the very people to whom He has sent me. My voice is His voice and my acts are His acts. My words are his words, and my doctrine is His doctrine. My commission is to do what he wants done, to say what He wants said, to be a living modern witness in word and deed of the divinity of His great and marvelous latter - day work. How great is my calling !

- Elder Bruce R. McConkie

My Companions

This week marks the beginning of the end. Changes are today. Elder Rich will officially be in the OLDEST group in the mission. He will finish with Elder Santiago as his companion, and they are both very happy about this as they are the best of friends. 15 companions, over 24 months. What a great learning experience. (Click on the picture to enlarge)

Finally - they get to meet !

Last October, we were contacted by Preston Wheiler of Maple Valley, Washington. He had been called to Peru Lima North Mission, and had stumbled upon Elder Rich's blog. He left the following message:

"Sis. Rich,

I was just called to the Peru Lima North Mission. I report to the MTC in January, and am very nervous, thus I have been frantically searching the web for as much information about the mission as I can find. Most the stuff I found just made me nervous (I've traveled a lot but never to anywhere like Peru). I read things like about how poor it was and how different their food was and about the risk of disease. But when I found this blog, detailing your son's mission, it gave me a lot of hope. The mission looks great! (although the food will still be difficult for me, haha).

I am excited to keep searching your blog for more information, hope to hear from you, and am excited to meet Landon in the mission field and say "Hey, I've read your blog!"."

This past month, when Landon traveled to Tarapoto, they finally had the chance to meet. His mom sent this picture. Another tender mercy. This mission has been such a blessing.

Hey Elder ...........

"An end is come, the end is come: it watcheth for thee; behold, it is come." Ezekiel 7:6

Not a coincidence......

We're doing great in the field, Elder Santiago and I. We have A LOT of investigators that are really good. The Lord is literally guiding us to them by all sorts of ways. Here is a story:

When I was Personal Secretary (August 2008 - February 2009), I always had to go to the bank to make payments. There was always a lady there who helped me always. I took down her direction (address) and at that time she lived a long way away from the office. I don’t know if the missionaries ever got to her house.

Here a year later, Elder Santiago and I are visiting a different investigator in an apartment building on the same block and very close to the offices. We were walking down the stairs and out she comes with her little daughter. We recognized each other immediately, and she said, "VISIT US!!" It was great!

We didn’t know if her husband would be receptive, but we visited them, and they are GREAT!! I feel something for this family. I don’t know why, but I know it’s a family that ´´I´´ am supposed to teach. Her husband works in Iquitos and is only here in Lima for 1 week every month, so it's going to be a little hard, but they are both really good!! I'm excited.

My Testimony

I want to express to you my love that I have for my Savior Jesus Christ. He lives!! He is our Savior and our Redeemer. As we repent, we are forgiven and can return to God; but only through His sacrifice.

I love Him, I'm grateful for Him and always will be for the rest of my life and for all eternity. We need to fight everyday to better our testimony of Him and to share it with those who don’t know Him.

We have to repent and do our best to be clean and pure. I'm not perfect, I make errors, I commit sins; all of us do, but we need to remember who we are. We are sons and daughters of God, and Jesus Christ is our Redeemer. I love Him and always will.