Elder Colton Richins

The other baptism is with Domingos. I have told you about his story. Super sad. I really feel for the guy. He was divorced over a text message...and since then has been treated for serious depression. He was in the hospital for it and everything. When we were talking to him a few weeks ago, he told us that he didn't believe in God anymore. That he has lost hope in a loving God. Since then he has changed so much it is a miracle...especially in such a short amount of time! We call him almost daily to follow up on his Book of Mormon readings and how he is doing...and the other night we got a text message from him saying that the peace he felt doesn't come from the fact that everything is going well...but because of the love he feels for God and His Son who gave His life for us. Thank you for bringing Him into my life!....it was an incredible message. One of those sweet experiences that I will never forget.

It's unreal to me how close to the end my mission is...I still have so much that I need to learn. A mission isn't incredible because it is easy...I will be the first one to say that it is butt hard! However...it's so incredible because I am learning things in the span of two years that it would have taken until I reached the age of 55 to learn! My courage and faith is tested on a daily basis...and the challenges make me better than who I could have been at home. No doubt there will be much more challenges coming...but my attitude on challenges has changed a lot. I give thanks to God for the challenges I have...they are no fun to pass through...but they make us SO much stronger if remain faithful to the end. It is God's gift to us to help us remain spiritually focused in this life. It is through our challenges that we come to KNOW Jesus Christ. The countless times I have been on my knees in tears...I would not give up for the world!

Elder Colton Richins