Dear Mom and Dad,
So this week has been pretty good. It is sometimes a little hard because we can't get our investigators to truly commit but I think we will get better as we go along. This week I felt that the language was getting better. I am able to say what I kind of want to a little more quickly. I noticed that my language is getting better though it is not me. It is definitely the Holy Ghost. The only problem I have right now is that when someone else talks to me I get flustered and can't speak well. I guess that is where the part comes in of not being afraid to make mistakes. I am now trying to teach more and not just say a few sentences. It is harder but I think that eventually it will all come along. I am getting cold but right now I don't seem to need a new coat but if I do, have no fear, I will buy one. I don't want to freeze. One more thing. I seem to have lost quite a bit of weight. So my suit didn't fit as well as it did. So I can still wear it and look good but I think that if I stay at this weight I am going to have to buy a new suit in the summer. I don't feel like buying one now because you have to try it on outside and it is very cold. The good news is, is that a suit is only like 40 dollars here. So I just wanted you to know that I look a little bit more like a Russian now where before I looked more like an American. I am having a wonderful time here. Me and my companion are finally starting to mesh better. I think I will be able to bake pizza so that is good. Not this week because our money is almost gone but in a few weeks or so. I'm glad you are making me a new hat mom. I would really like that. So right now I finally found a way to take my boots on and off so I can wear them. It takes a little bit of time but it is effective enough and my boots are warm enough that it is worth it. I really hope you are all having a great time right now. I don't know about the whole mailing thing right now. You might have to call someone on that. Mongolia is finally starting to become a little more stable for me. The schedule is starting to finally fit in and I feel like now I am officially doing well. What I really want it just for the weather to get at it's coldest so I don't need to keep worrying. Well I hope you all had a great thanksgiving. I just passed it like anyother day. The good new is that I have seen two Christmas tree's. All LDS members celebrate Christmas and even then there are non christians that will celebrate it. I love you all and I hope that the Chemo goes well mom. I am praying for you everyday and I know that you will get better.

Elder Williams

Thanks for all the letters. I have received your letter grandma and I have received Caelen's letter. Thank you for all your love and support. So this week was really good but also really frustrating. My English sponsor doesn't like the way I teach English. At first I was really kind of upset but then I heard that this sort of thing happens quite a bit. So I just let it go and moved on. The funny thing was that my sponsor hasn't even sat down at one of my lessons. She has no idea and is just guessing. So I just moved on. By the way mom, you look so cute with your mohawk. You should have kept it. I was so happy to read Kristalyn's email and for the record I read her's first because she told me to on the subject line. I'm so proud of her and am jealous she gets to go the temple. I've been realizing how much I miss the temple lately. It has been really noticeable when I haven't been able to go in a whole 3 weeks!!! Oh well. Thank you for the recipes. By the way mom I feel so bad because I accidentally lost the hat you made for me. I was wearing it everywhere. Don't worry I got a new one but yours was much warmer. So I did have a really good week despite the whole sponsor thing. We had three investigators commit to baptism in one lesson. It was really cool and I think I am beginning to see a change in one of the investigators specifically. HE is really trying hard to do all we ask him. It has been really amazing. By the way it is beginning to get really cold. I am having some difficulties getting my boots on because the only way I can wear them is if I can get my pants over them. I can but it does take some effort. So I am really beginning to feel the fire of missionary work especially with hour new investigators. One's name is Gotov and he just really seems to want to be in the church or so I think. My language comprehension is still growing but my speaking ability is suffering and that is because I don't really have a language study time and am having to learn in on the fly. The reason I don't have a language study time is because I teach English in the morning. So this week I arm wrestled my first Mongolian. Guess what... I lost. They are a strong people not to mention that I am not strong. Oh well. so I am finally able to send pictures so here we gooo. Mom good luck with chemo. I hope and pray for the best. I sorry to hear that Bob died. He was a really special family friend. It makes me realize just how quickly time flies. The best of luck with the rest of what you are doing. I heard Halloween was fun. I hope you all pig out for thanksgiving. I probably won't but then in February I could be eating up to 300 buuz dumplings. in one day. I love you all and good luck with everything.

So Mongolia is still pretty hard. I still don't understand half the stuff that is being said. I feel like my comprehension is skyrocketing but it still isn't enough. And besides I still can't speak the language very good. It is tough in lessons because I feel like I always say the same thing. But, I know that through the Lord I can overcome this trial. I have been relying so much on him lately. SO the work is going good. We have received some new investigators which is always good. It remains to be seen if they will come to church or not. We are also doing quite a bit of strengthening of the new ward members. That is pretty cool. It is starting to get really cold here. Whenever we go into a ger when we open the door it is like a fog machine. There is just steam that shoots in and out of the ger. Thanks Mom for all the wonderful things you have crocheted for me. The hat and scarf are really warm. I heard about the Chemo and I know that once it is all over you will feel better. Kind of obvious but true. So our home is warm at least. Sometimes it is just a little too warm. But it still feels really good after a long day hiking in the ger districts. The ger districts are really cool. Of course you have to watch out for dogs but all you do is just throw some rocks. One funny thing is the bus rides. They are insane. We had one bus driver that literally drove like the knight bus on harry potter. We were passing traffic on a one lane residential street. He even had to run one car off of the road just to not hit another. ANd the whole time I was holding on for dear life, standing. It was actually really cool. SO a few nights ago I ate my first sheep or goat head. I really couldn't tell which one it was but it was actually pretty good. The one thing I wouldn't eat was the brains and so my companion somehow managed to get out enough for him to be satisfied. It has been a pretty good day so far and I have got all my clothes washed so that is good. I am beginning to put on more and more layers each day so that makes it a little harder. So we had two investigators show up to church this sunday which was great. I sat next to a little old lady investigator named xaltar. I also had to give a 3-5 minute talk about anything I wanted. I really struggled but I think they sort of got what I was trying to say.

Hey I heard Rebecca went on a date. Be careful, you might just end up going on more. That is cool that you got to see a little more about Mongolia. It really is quite the place. I am kind of beginning to get used to how things work but even that is hard. One funny thing is that my companion doesn't think I can cook food because he doesn't count anything I can make as a food. Oh well. We are eating a lot of meat and bread. That is awesome. I would send you all pictures but I can't right now. I should be able to send them next week. I will eventually get pictures to you that I promise. So good luck and I hope you are all having a wonderful time back at home.

Love Richie

PS please send some recipes over email. send me a pizza recipe for sure because that is what my companion wants for his birthday. Also if you could send some forever stamps and some measuring cups that would be much appreciated. If not oh well. I love you all and I really do wish you all the best of luck.

Love Elder Williams

As far as I know the time hasn't changed here. But, then again I really don't realize half of the stuff going on here. Mongolia is really cool. So my main transportation is either buses, taxis or walking. I when I say walking I mean walking. Heavenly Father has this habit to put all my investigators on the very top of all the hills in Mongolia. But I still love it. A couple days ago we helped three little girls lift water up all the way to the top a hill. After we taught them all a lesson of the restoration. Don't worry we had a some branch missionaries with us. It has been really neat so far. So I finally figured out where I am teaching English. I'm teaching at a university. It is so weird but the hardest part is that it often interferes with study time and our proselyting. IT is also tough because they all know enough written English grammar to claim they know everything. The problem is they can't speak it. I know that through the Lord I can become better at teaching and the language. This week the language has come along better, at least the comprehension part. It is hard because my companion claims he can't teach Mongolian so I'm having to try learn some of it on my own. So this week has been good but we are just having trouble getting new investigators. But through prayer and the spirit we can. Yesterday I think I had some minor food poisoning. I hadn't had any trouble eating their food until Sunday and when I woke up I felt miserable. But I think I have gotten over that. I'm glad to hear everyone is doing well back home. I wish you all the best in whatever you are doing. Good luck, and know that I'm doing just fine.