I am not suppose to worry.......riiiight!

So something happened to me on Saturday and I ended up having to go to the E.R. Don't worry it wasn't bad. I was riding my bike down the street and kind of zoned out and wasn't paying attention to where I was going and the next thing I know I was on the ground. There is a bus stop sign in the middle of the sidewalk and I totally ran into it. My handlebars hit them first and then my shoulder ran square into the pole. I really thought that I broke it. I was probably doing about fifteen miles an hour. It hurt pretty bad. I will send you a video re-enacting what happened and a pic of my shoulder after it happened. I went and had it checked out and they said that nothing is wrong with it and that I need to wear it in a sling for a couple of days. It is just bruised and a little sore so don't worry about it. A custom paint job on the bike would be sick. When you get it done you should send me a picture of it.

Don't you just love how he goes from having to go the ER to talking about his Dad's motorcycle? Typical of him that is for sure!!!

A Mother's comments

As I was leaving the post office today from mailing yet another package off to Kenny (one of the ladies that works there knows my age, from checking my license because I have been there so much) I realized that I have not updated his blog lately. He still sends me weekly emails but I thought I would take a minute to share some things that have happened here in the Richmond home regarding Kenny and his mission.

Well first of all while we were gone someone from Texas called the house to talk to us about our awesome missionary and how much he loved Kenny. Phil took the call and told us about it via email, of course it made my day.

Then one day on the ship I was checking my email and there was a message from Kenny's companions Mom. She was so sweet and kind with what she had to say about Kenny. Kenny was sent to be her son's companion at a very important time and without saying to much about it I was reminded of how the Lord works in peoples lives.

Last but not least I was anxiously anticipating Mothers Day and hearing my youngests voice again. It was a great day and we had a wonderful visit with Kenny on the phone. I was able to conf. in the girls at different times and he also had an opportunity to talk to both Justin and Phil along with his Grandma, and his Uncle Steve. During the call my cell phone rang and it was from Texas, I thought is was a bit strange so I hung up the receiver that I was talking on with Kenny and left he and Ken to talk for a while. When I answered my phone the person on the other end told me he was a Bishop of the person Kenny and his companion had baptized the day before. He wanted to tell me Happy Mothers Day and to thank me for sending them Kenny. Of course I am crying by now. He talked to me for a while about Kenny and his companion and said very nice things. I remember people telling me things like this would happen and that it would make it easier for me while he was gone. I had no idea that it would make me feel like this. I know we are not suppose to use the word proud so if anyone can come with an adequate word please let me know so I can use it.

Kenny has always been a very special child, very kind and loving and he has continued to carry those qualities as he has grown into a young man. He loves his mission and he loves his companion. They are having great success and the Lord continues to bless them in their efforts. Thank you to everyone for your prayers in his behalf. Ken and I truly are grateful to you for your friendship and examples to Kenny, we love you all very much.

April 21, 2008

He (Elder Lemiuex) is going home so soon it is weird. I am always giving him hard time about it. It is funny. We do have to sit right next to each other while we are on the computer. You should send us something really cool from Tahiti. I don't know what though, something that will entertain us that is for sure. We may not even be together much longer. Transfers are the 29th but we have asked the assistants and president to keep us together so hopefully we do. We have three baptisms in the coming three weeks. One from every ward. It is way sick. The Jewish girl that we have been teaching is one of them.

April 15, 2008

The weather hasnt been to bad. There was a pretty bad storm the other night and supposedly a tornado touched down in Carrollton which is where our stake center is. We have blankets covering our window so we couldn't see the lightning. The thunder woke me up but I was able to go back to sleep then at four in the morning the other elders called us and told us to get in the closet because the storm had gotten really bad. We slept in the closet for like thirty minutes got tired of it and got back in bed. We found out the next day by four thirty the storm had passed. There was really no damage by our apt. but we went around town and full grown trees were ripped up and shingles were all over the streets in some areas. It was crazy. dont worry about me though becuse I am safe.

We just need some of the investigators to not be afraid of commitment. all you can do is just keep on praying for them. Their names are Charles, Renata, Alex, Kristina, Irene, Zach and mark.

April 7, 2008

Ken wrote little Kenny a letter this morning (we watched the other side of heavven last night so he called him Kolipoki we love that movie). Here is Kenny's response to his Dad's letter. Man I love this kid........:)

Pops,

Doesnt Kolipoki mean white boy with big stomach. Becuase if it does that means you addressed that email to yourself. hahaha! dang im funny. Thanks for everything that you have taught me dad. I am doing my best to remember everything. It is hard to love people when they drive by yelling profanities at us but I am trying my best. dont let mom read this one. I dont want her to worry. The people down here are really nice so it does make it easier to love them. So, I heard that you got pipes on the bike finally. How much faster is the bike now? You better be careful on it. Mom also told me that you got a glock. I'm guessing that it is a .40 not a 9 mm. That is pretty darn sweet. I like how you start to get all this stuff once i leave.

April 1, 2008

Everything is going good. The package was sweet. WE have had alot of fun with the helicopters and landing them on the ceiling fan. We haven't broke them yet.

I actually the gladys knight concert saturday it was amazing by the way. You should go get the cd. the choir is called the saints unified voices. Yesterday we went and helped pass out programs and collected refferal cards and there were probably 800-1000 people there for both performances it was crazy. There was some anti-mormon guy out front of the chapel being stupid trying to convert us. We had missionaries escorting the people by him so he couldnt talk to them. He then came over by the line of people waiting to get in and would start to yell stuff to them and the constable was hitting the panic button on his truck so the alarm would go off. Then Elder Coppins(the assistant that dad talk to) had the idea that we all should start singing whenever he started to yell. It was funny becuase people in the line started to sing with us and the dude eventually left and didnt come back. It was awesome!!!

March 24, 2008

Did forget to tell you that Gladys knight is bringing her choir down here and we get to go? It is called the saints unified voices choir. Its suppose to be really good. Both her and her husband bear testimony and its suppose to be really strong. I bet it will be really good. It is east to get people to go becuase you can just walk up to them and tell them that you can get them free tickets to a gladys knight concert and they are all down for going.

We are still out tracting every day to try to find more people but it seems like no one wants to talk to us. They are more friendly now though. They will at least talk to us on the doorstep for a little bit. Our apartment is pretty nice, and yes we keep it clean. Lemiuex is a clean freak. So you dont have to worry about that at all.

March 24, 2008

The helicopters were fun until we broke one. When some other elders came over Lemiuex shot it at one of them when they opened the door and it broke. But it was funny. You should send us the remote controlled ones like the first one that Dad got. We could really have some fun with those especially if you got the ones that have lasers in them so we can dogfight each other. Just an idea for the next package along with some snacks.

Our apartment is pretty nice. and yes we keep it clean. Lemiuex is a clean freak. So you dont have to worry about that at all.

March 10, 2008

Transfers are already next week. I have been here a month in a half, it's has gone by so fast. The baptism that we had last week was someone that I got to teach. I only taught him a little bit but it was all good. He first got interested in the church on a trip to St. George in June so we had a connection there. He is a way cool guy, I am going to send a picture of him. We should have two baptisms by the end of the month, maybe even three, I sure hope so. Othere than that the work is going really good.

February 18, 2008

On friday we were walking to our apartment and there was a man on the other side of the street at the bus stop so I decided to go talk to him and I am glad that I did because he was really interested in the Book of Mormon and I was able to set up an appointment with him on Saturday. When we went to teach him it went really well. After we talked to him about the restoration he asked us what the spirit felt like so we asked him how he felt as we told him about Joseph Smith's first vision. He said that he felt warm inside and that Satan couldn't come near him.

February 11, 2008

We have dinner with a member nearly every night. Saturday night we didn't have an appointment so a member in one of the wards took us and two other Elders in our district out to a place called SaltGrass. It is a steak house and man is it good. He bought us all a 22 oz. porterhouse steak. It was by far the biggest steak I have ever had.

Tracting is way fun! We don't run into a lot of friendly people but the other day we did and two ladies want us to come back and teach them.

The first ward we went to on Sunday there was like 50 people when Sacrament started....it is funny. The Elders Quorum president actually has a house in St. George and is going down there this weekend to go skiing in Brian Head.

Riding a bike is not fun, especially when it is windy. We actually walk a lot. I am definitely tired when I get home. It is hard for me to stay awake until ten thirty.

February 5, 2008

This is part of the first letter from the Mission field-

We went street contacting and tracting with no luck. It seems weird to me that people aren't members. Everyone we talked to just wasn't interested. It doesn't matter to me though because I know that I am in the Lord's hands and that he will take care of me. Tonight we are going to talk with a man that is getting baptized on the 16th, then we are going to teach another man the first lesson. I am really excited because I get to see two baptisms in my first transfer. I can't wait to see the work unfold in front of my eyes.

January 28 2008

Mom and Dad,

I know you just got a letter from me but in the wake of the event that happened last night I thought I would write everyone and let them know that I love you all.

Mom, I know that you are probably having the hardest time out of everyone. I want to let you know that the prophet Gordon B. Hinckley is in a better place and as you were finding out about his death he was hugging our Savior, Jesus Christ and rejoicing with his wife because they are together again. If you start to feel sad I want you to read Moroni 10:34 and act as if President Hinckley was saying it.

Last Sunday we were challenged to double our baptisms by Gordon B. Hinckley's son, Elder Richard G. Hinckley. I know that it was not a coincidence that this challenge was made at this time because it will help us reach our goal. It will show the people that we teach that our church is truly led by Christ not by Gordon B. Hinckley.

January 24, 2008

This is still while Kenny is in the MTC-The other day all the Elders from Samoa came and visited the Elders that are going to Samoa. They all started singing Lord, don't leave us, Savior don't leave us. It was amazing. I couldn't understand a word they were singing but it was awesome. After that one of the Elder's offered a prayer in Samoan and once again even though I couldn't understand him I knew what he was saying.

On Tuesday we had the opportunity to go to the TRC which is a place where we go to teach volunteers who pose as investigators. I was super nervous as we knocked on the door but as soon as I knocked I knew everything was going to be fine. The spirit took over from there. I didn't have to look at my notes at all. Scriptures are coming to my head that I really didn't plan using. It is crazy how the strong the spirit us here.

January 20, 2008

The day goes by really slow here. We sit in class for what seems like an eternity. We don't really learn discussions there are lessons in Preach my Gospel that we have to follow. It is pretty cool because we get to pick out what we teach. There are principles that we have to follow but we get to make the outline. The food is actually pretty good and hasn't made me sick. I have seen the Bakers a couple times and it is nice to see a familiar face. The Elders in my district are way spiritual and really knowledgeable about the gospel. We are always cracking jokes. If you really want you can send Elder Lock and I some Mountain Dew. We have been craving it like crazy. Let everyone know that I love them and I'm going to be just fine.

Elder Richmond

First Letter, January 16, 2008

"We had an orientation with all of the new missionaries and their were 404 from 16 different countries and after that one we had another with our district. My companion is a convert to the church of 2 1/2 years and he is from Fort Collins, CO. My companion, Elder Johnson was made District Leader so I will be the Senior Companion. I just want to tell you all that I love you and I will be just fine. I am in the Lords hands."

Elder Richmond

The Farewell Pictures