The Spirit of Summer!

If only I had a Mountain Dew right now...

Hello family and friends,

So, we are nearly hitting August... I don't know where the time has gone but yeah, it's been a super good week. Lots of spiritual moments during zone conferences and also with moves, it's been a very busy one! We have 28 new missionaries coming in on Wednesday and so it'll be a fun training for trainers and trainees on Tuesday/Wednesday! A huge group this transfer and it'll be matched again next transfer with what looks like another 28. The mission is changing rapidly as missionaries are coming and going. Crazy to think that my trainer heads home in two days and it's kind of scary but he will do well at home. Crazy week but nevertheless, I just take it as it comes sometimes and smile and laugh as I do so. 

Monday: July 18th, 2016

Look out Kamas, Big Daddy Richins is heading home!

We spent time with the Epsom elders today as it was Elder Richins last preparation day. We played football in the most scorching English weather in the world! It has nearly hit 100 degrees this week! It was so hot!!! Literally no cloud in the sky and just a whole lot of sunshine. We all went and had a super good lunch at Toby Carvery's and then we headed out to president's to finish up moves and also do accounting for the week. It was a good night! We did our preparations for central zone conference and western zone conference this week. A lot of busy work happening and the end of the transfer is coming fast and next transfer is going to be insane because we have a training nearly every single week... It'll be the fastest transfer ever. 

Tuesday: July 19th, 2016
Central Zone Conference went super well! It was nearly 100 degrees again on the inside of the chapel and we were all boiling! President threw down some doctrine and testimony today and it was intense stuff. We got to exchange with Portsmouth Zone Leaders as well and I got to head back to Southampton for a day and it was sweet! Felt good to be back!

Wednesday: July 20th, 2016
We had to head to an area and just counsel with some missionaries at the start of the day. It went super well and we were very pleased with the results. Later, we had the chance to boil in the car while we waited for the other elders to arrive. It was another super hot day and we rewarded ourselves with some McDonald's on a hot day. We then got to see the Connel family again and they are doing just wonderful. They are expecting their little girl in a months time so that'll be exciting to have number five enter the world! We finished up and drove to Christchurch to prepare for zone conference in the morning.

Thursday: July 21st, 2016
Another super good tri zone conference in the west! There were a lot of things that continued to hit home for me and I really feel like the mission is going to explode in the next couple of months. We all have a great potential to reach and we are doing everything we can to make sure everyone matches up to what President wants (including ourselves). We had a long day and after the meeting dropped some missionaries off at the station and then headed to the zone leader's flat for dinner. Good day for sure!

Friday: July 22nd, 2016
Today we were finishing up a lot of work, we had exchanges with Poole and due to some unexpected things with moves, we had a very different style exchange and we had a good time together working and serving and then we finished up the final pieces to moves and headed home.

Saturday: July 23rd, 2016
We had our final exchange of the transfer today with Reading Zone Leaders and it was a good one. Elder Johnson and I got to go visit some people that we had an assignment for given to us by Bishop and his counsellors and then we went and stopped by a referral and we also had another unexpected call from the Wandsworth Zone Leaders inviting us to come witness their baptism and who doesn't like watching and being a part of a baptism? So we made the trek of a drive through London and got stuck in traffic and arrived slightly late but we managed to finish the program and congratulate their friend Kelly. It was fun getting home to say the least... Lots of traffic and crazy things happen in London. We also before heading home stopped by this chicken and chips place and got 4 chicken wings and chips (fries for all you Americans) for £1 which was amazing... However, I wouldn't do it again. Most sketchy food I've ever eaten but at least I can say I did it right?

Sunday: July 24th, 2016
Miracle day at church! We had some unexpected people show up today and we also had the Coopers come to church and that was a gift in itself! Great day at church and because we forgot some stuff in the Reading Elder's car, we had to meet halfway and claim our precious possessions (iPad haha, but really, you love your iPad as a missionary, it's like the whole world stops until you get it back) but anyways, we did that, stopped by Graham and the Coopers and then finished up a great week of conferences and the end of transfers with another good solid accounting. We had 10 baptisms in the mission this week which is the highest we've had all year and it was just amazing. It was our President's birthday and he was well pleased with the "birthday present" but he was happier that we gave the Lord 10 more souls that he can work with to help them reach Exaltation and the Celestial Kingdom. Good week overall!

Verse of the Week:
Helaman 3:26
"And it came to pass that the work of the Lord did prosper unto the baptizing and uniting to the church of God, many souls"

Love you all! Have a great week! (I'm still melting in 80-90 degrees in England.. Who would have thought that could happen to an Arizona boy..?)

Love,
-Elder Rivera