April 18, 2011

Tornado country is crazy. We had 5 tornados hit within 10 miles of our apartment, it was insane. The wind was insane and there was so much rain that we couldn't even see when we were in the car. It was probably the craziest weather I have ever seen. 7 people died in my area, in a little town called Farmville about 10 miles west of me, where 2 tornados went through, and then down the road the high school and middle school are completely demolished. pretty crazy stuff. All the missionaries are safe though, although a couple of them had the roof ripped off of their apartment, and some other missionaries had to hide in their bathtub and their house got ripped off the foundation, but it didn't collapse. thankfully all the missionaries are safe :) so that's what has been going on here, some pretty crazy weather. and the next day it was calm and sunny and 80 degrees. pretty crazy.

I had my birthday on April 15, I still can't believe that I am 21 years old. I still feel like a 16 year old kid.

Let's see, the work is going well, we are teaching quite a few people so that is good, one lady in particular is progressing very well, so we are excited about that. idk I think I'm just ready to leave Greenville now, haha I have been here for a while. I love the people here, but I've been biking the same streets every day for 6 1/2 months, I'm ready for a change. It is going good though, I have 4 weeks left here in Greenville, and then I am positive that I will be transferred.

So guess what is cool? The stake that I serve in (the Kinston stake) that Greenville is in, is having stake conference on April 30 and May 1, and Elder Richard G. Scott is coming to preside at the stake conference, and he has requested to have a conference Saturday morning with all of the missionaries! So that is pretty exciting. :) Anyways, that's what is going on here, I hope that everything is still going well back home! Love you all,

Love,

Elder Rider

Well, everything here in North Carolina is going great! It's raining a lot, but it is warmer outside, so I am super happy about that, because I hate the cold. Go figure, I grew up in Saint George. The work is going really well, we're teaching a lot of good people. There is one lady in particular, who has a 7 year old son, who is progressing really really well in the gospel. I believe she will be baptized here in the coming weeks, so that is really exciting. I thought that I was going to be transferred, but it turns out that Heavenly Father knows better than me, so I am still in Greenville for another transfer, until mid-may, which will put me here in Greenville for a total of 7 1/2 months by the time I leave which is crazy. Speaking of time, I have been out on my mission for over 6 months! Where does the time go? My mission is 1/4 of the way over. Sometimes I can't even believe it. Well, that's what is going on here, I hope that everyone is doing good back home, I love you all and miss you all.

Love,

Elder RIder