The past couple of weeks, God has been trying to teach me something. Actually he has been trying to teach me a lot of things... But one stands out to me. That is Charity. Charity is SO HARD! I try. I try so hard to love others. And I have improved immensely on my mission! But people do things that REALLY test it. The Church lowered the age for missionaries. Everyone went nuts! Thousands of missonaries started entering the MTC. Everyone went nuts! 58 new mission were created. Everyone went nuts! Our missions were affected by the changes and we got a new mission president. I think 5 people were excited... President Wilson starts reinforcing concepts that are found in the White Handbook (A handbook that is produced by the 12 apostles and the first presidency on how missions should go). People start murmuring. This isn't something new to me. When President Riggs first came in, lots of missionaries were complacent. But what is new to me is the amount of complaining. Complaining of what, you may ask? Missionaries are complaining that President Wilson is asking us to be obedient...to work harder and to set our goals higher. There is a feeling in this mission of being ok with mediocrity. President Wilson is trying to change that... And to my shock, there are even missionaries rebelling. Not just any missionaries though. Oh no. ZONE LEADERS... SISTER TRAINING LEADERS... DISTRICT LEADERS! Seriously? The leaders of the mission are being modern day Laman and Lemuals? Sadly.. yes. They are. It blows me away. One zone leader even chewed out President Wilson in his first interview with him. So... as you can see, my patience and love is being heavily tried. Luckily... and I thank Heavenly Father every time I pray for this, I have a companion who is always on the same page as I am. Oh what a blessing it is to have a companion that is obedient and loyal. It's a test and a trial that I would have never expected to go though on  my mission... But then again, I never expected a lot of things that have happened to me on my mission. haha...

On a brighter note... We have been working with a man named Tony Douglas. He has a wife and 5 kids. He is catholic, but has very similar morals and values as the LDS faith. We helped him move some of his stuff out of his attic (oh and I didn't realize how hot attics get in the humidity in the summer!). We were able to talk with him a lot, and then he fed us a smoked pig shoulder. It was so good! There were a ton of leftovers... and he gave them all to us. His family is out of town for 2 weeks while he packs up to move. Otherwise I'm sure he would have kept some for his family haha. We were able to read out of the Book of Mormon with him and he really enjoyed it. The only problem is... He is just as devout to his small congregation, as I am to mine. So... we have our work cut out for us haha. But with God, all things are possible!

We also met a lady at Walmart last Monday who has a son who is LDS. We got her her information and set up an appointment with her for tomorrow. We're really excited for that!

I heard through the grapevine that the scripture mastery scriptures have changed? Is this true? I want to see those new ones!

Love you all!

Elder Michael Litchfield

This is where I live right now

Transfer week was last week, and it was a busy one. First off, the missionaries here normally find out where they are going and who they will be with before transfers. That was new to all of the missionaries coming from DC South. President Wilson talked about how he wanted to do transfers with us, and he went with the DC South way. Holy smokes. That shook the mission. It was a big change to say the least. Because it was a new way, that meant no one knew what to expect. So that made Elder Nuemeyer and my job very very busy. But after the dust settled, and many many hours of driving around the mission (Richmond to Waynesboro, then Richmond to Woodbridge)... everyone made it to their designated area. I pray that the next transfer meeting will go much smoother. It should... Now that everyone has a good idea of what to expect.

We worked our tails off last week, which opened up a good chunk of time on the weekend to work in our area. IT WAS AWESOME! We were able to see a couple of less active families that we have been working with... We were able to do a lot of finding, as well as visiting former investigators. We were able to accomplish a lot over Saturday and Sunday. A real highlight of the weekend was having a less active couple surprise us and come to church for all 3 hours! I was shocked when I saw them walk in the door. Something just clicked in their heads (Aka... the spirit) and the came to church. They have a strong desire to go to the Temple for the first time... So coming to church is a great step for them!

All of the missionaries are buzzing about BYU coming to Virginia to play football against UVA. Its at the end of August. It probably wont happen... But how cool would it be to be able to go?!

LOVE YOU ALL!

Elder Michael Litchfield

Change. If I could sum up my mission experience in one word thus far, it would be change. Living away from home is a change. Having to shop for food was a BIG change! I honestly don't understand how people do it. It is so boring!... The weather was a change. Humidity is something else! Getting transferred is change. Getting new companions is change. Getting my 2nd mission president was a big change! Change isn't always easy either. I loved the way President Albright ran things. I was comfortable. When President Riggs came, he changed a lot of things, and it made me uncomfortable. But quickly I realized what a blessing it was to be able to learn from 2 different mission presidents! Things in the DC South mission were perfect. I then was informed that I was to travel to a different mission. Another change. I came to Richmond and met President Perry. My 3rd Mission President. In the short time I served with him, I learned quite a bit. He served as a seventy before being a mission president and I was able to learn many things about the structure of the church leadership. Then June 27th, 2013 happened. Elder Neumeyer and myself got dressed up in our suits, and drove to the airport. We met President Perry there and waited. It felt like an eternity (it was actually only 20 min). Then, in the distance, I saw them. President and Sister Wilson. Beaming from ear to ear as they walked down to the waiting area. I then met my 4th Mission President. Right away I felt such a strong spirit about him. We drove his bags to the mission home, and then left him and President Perry to do an hour orientation. Only an hour! Friday morning we went to the mission home and met with him. We met from 10 am to 4 pm. We talked about the way both the DC South mission, and the Richmond mission, ran. We set goals for the mission, and we were able to get to know him a little bit better. They are some of the nicest people I have ever met. SO LOVING! Sister Wilson is hilarious too. She cracks me up. Sunday we met with them again from 6 pm to 9 pm. Still going over different aspects of mission life. Monday, pday, we met with him from 10 am to 3:30 pm. Tuesday we had a whole mission conference where I was able to meet many of the missionaries, and they were able to meet President and Sister Wilson. I loved being able to finally meet them. My goal throughout this whole new experience is to show them how much I love them. To let them know through my actions that I care about them. When people know that you love them, they are far more willing to heed counsel and guidance. They open their hearts and allow the spirit to testify to them of truth when we are speaking in behalf of President Wilson. Now, don't get me wrong, I am no master missionary. Not even close! I am learning just as much, if not more, than any missionary out here! 

Today was a bit of a sad day. We had Mission Leadership Council. Where the Zone Leaders and Sister Trainer Leaders meet and discuss ways to better the mission.  It was awful to watch. It basically was a battle between DC South policies, and Richmond policies. I felt so bad for President Wilson. He expressed to us afterward that the meeting did not go the way he had wanted it to go. There was a ridiculous amount of tension pretty much the whole meeting. I am so lucky to have Elder Neumeyer as a companoin though. He is so humble and kind. We both discussed afterward how both missions acted immaturly, and we talked about ways to smooth things over. We don't look at the mission as richmond (President Perry) and DC south. We are Richmond (President Wilson)! If there is any advice that any of you could give, that would be highly appreciated! :)

I have been studying Alma Ch. 8 lately. That is a PERFECT chapter that describes change. Alma went from Melek, an area where people came to HIM to be baptized from all over the land, to Ammonihah, an area where people rejected him and persecuted him. Change. It's inevitable. I learn from Alma that we need to appreciate the times in our lives where we are in "Melek", because it won't always be like that. And we need to look for the lessons learned when we are in places like Ammonihah. For Alma, the lesson was to meet Amulek. That horrific experience of first going to Ammonihah turned into Alma meeting his future missionary companion that was to be by his side through HUGE miracles!

I love my mission! I love the changes that it brings, not just the outward changes... but the changes that are inward. The changes in me!

Love you all!

Elder Michael Litchfield

ps. Attached is a picture of comparing what the DC South mission looks like now, compared to what the Richmond Mission looks like now. Crazy huh?!

 

 

I have survived a whole week in the Richmond mission... It's actually been really great! The mission president here has treated me really well (President Perry from Seattle) and my companion is amazing. We have had a great time together thus far. This past week we have been touring the mission to get familiar. I was able to meet many of the missionaries, and all of the zone leaders. The zone leaders here are terrific! There are 2 BYU football players that are zone leaders. Elder Collie (His older brother is Austin Colle, NFL player) and Elder Unga (Tongan). They are amazing leaders! I was able to introduce Elder Neumeyer to the Zone Leaders in Woodbridge and Fredericksburg as well. We are both VERY Excited for the merge of the two missions! 

It has been the busiest time in my mission this past week. We have been in meetings, running around the mission, and solving conflicts. So proselyting hasn't been plentiful, but after this week, things should mellow out. 

This mission is HUGE! It goes from West Virginia to North Carolina. We drove to Virginia Beach the other day. That was really cool! There is this bridge that cuts across the water, and it goes underneath the water at one point. Apparently it's famous, but I have never heard of it. It was about a 2 hour drive back to the mission office. One of my roomates was in the van with us. I was driving and he was in the front seat. He is new and hasn't taught many lessons in his first couple transfers. I think he said he has taught 4 total. I felt honored that he confided in me and asked me for advice. I had none to give, but the Spirit of the Lord filled my mouth with words to say. It seemed to comfort him and give him the encouragement to continue being a diligent servant of our Heavenly Father. How grateful I was to be worthy of the spirit at that point.

The city of Richmond is neat as well. Elder Neumeyer showed me around a little bit.

This Wednesday we are driving up to Centreville, VA to attend the DC South full mission conference before the split. It was very nice of President Wilson to allow me to go. Then Thursday at 4 President Wilson arrives. He is from Minnesota. From what I hear, he is a huge BYU fan.... SWEET!

I'm loving my mission and all of the experiences that I have been able to have. I am grateful to be here and to be serving the Lord.

LOVE YOU ALL!

Elder Michael Litchfield 

Well... I am now part of the Richmond VA mission. I am in their mission office right now. This morning President Riggs interviewed me, then gave me a blessing. We drove down at about 10 am, and got here a little before 12. We ate lunch at a Mexican restaurant, and then President Riggs left. My mission President is President Perry... Until President Wilson arrives on the 27th of June. President Perry is from Seattle! My companion is Elder Neumeyer. He is from Centerville, UT. He has a little under a year left of his mission left. He went to Weber before coming on a mission. I think he is older than me... But I am not sure. There are a lot of new faces and names to remember. I'm looking forward for the opportunity to serve and learn. I pray that this new experience will make me stretch and grow. 

We live in a house, not with a member, but in an actual house... Weird. We live with 3 other missionaries. I met them at the office a couple of  minutes ago. They seem nice. All 3 of them are new to the mission field. I have been told they they all do Insanity every morning to work out. Looks like I am going to get quite fit! 

Love you all!

Elder Michael Litchfield