Polar Plunge February 2010

Last November I went to Friday lunch at the institute. I met John Braun. In that hour I recognized him as a good man and a pretty cool guy and someone I'd want for a friend. In February I was at Friday lunch again and mentioned to John that I was thinking about doing the polar plunge to raise money for Special Olympics, but that I was only going to do it if someone did it with me. John said it sounded awesome and that he would do it with me. It was awesome as you can see in this video!

Ya Hace Diez Anos! Zaragoza, La Zona de Milagros!

Zaragoza was my next area after Huesca, just an hour down the road. Each missionary companionship in our mission was part of a district of 4 to 6 missionaries, and each district was part of a zone of 8 to 12 missionaries. Huesca was part of the Zaragoza II district and Zaragoza zone, so I stayed in the same district when I got transferred. Zaragoza is the 4th largest city in Spain, so there were 10 missionaries serving there. It was the largest city I served in on my mission.
The best thing about Zaragoza was the bocadillos de tortilla de patata. My mouth is having withdrawls as I type. There was a little sandwhich shop where we could get them for a real good price and they had a special sauce, oh they were delicious! Tortilla de patata is potatoes and eggs cooked together just right and you can eat it alone or on bread. I am not doing it justice in my description, it was heavenly.

Elder Hermen was my companion when I first arrived in Zaragoza. He was baptized shortly before he became a missionary. He loved meeting atheists on the street because he used to be one. He loved telling them how he had come to know there is a God and that He loves us. Shortly before I arrived in Zaragoza, Elder Hermen and Elder Hunter had baptized Orlando and Victoria who had 3 little children. Seeing a whole family join the church is a missionary's dream come true, especially in Spain! I enjoyed going with Elder Hermen to visit them and it was very hard a month later when Elder Hermen was transferred to another city. Orlando and Victoria loved Elder Hermen so much, they named their new baby after him, Mark.

Elder Crowell was my companion after Elder Hermen. He was a runner in high school. Remember, I didn't start running until after my mission, or maybe it was during my time in Zaragoza, he would run to catch a bus and I would huff and puff behind him and hope he didn't board and leave me behind. Together we taught David Chaux Maldonado and he was baptized. We loved singing "Somos los soldados que combatan error" (We are all enlisted 'til the conflict is over) with David, "Que dicha es!"

Zaragoza was the only time I served in the same city as Sister missionaries. There are fewer of them than Elders, so they usually only serve in the larger cities. The Sisters baptized a family whose Grandpa was in charge of the bullring of the city, so we got to go down on the floor of the bullring and practice with the torreros. We also watched a bullfight while I was there.

Shortly before I was transferred, Elder Crowell told me he needed to buy a new tie. We went to a store and looked at some nice ties, he asked me which one I liked and to my surprise actually bought the one I recommended. My surprise was even greater when I arrived in my new area a few days later and opened my bag and found the tie stuffed inside. On the back was written, "I love you, Elder Crowell". He was always very thoughtful and considerate of my feelings.

14 Years of CES

Tonight Brittney was asked to speak about her experiences in institute at seminary graduation and encourage the graduates to register for institute. Seminary provides religious classes for high school students. Institute classes are religious classes available for college students. Both fall under the Church Educational System (CES).

My first year in seminary was at Farmington Junior High in Utah; my teacher was Brother Taylor. I just finished my 10th and final year in institute at the University of Illnois, and Brother Taylor was my teacher again. When we first moved to Illnois, I saw on the internet that the institute director here was Rick Taylor. I remembered that was my seminary teacher's name, but it said Rick Taylor had been teaching for fourteen years, and I figured it couldn't be the same guy, because my 9th grade seminary teacher was new. Later I realized it had been then long since I was in 9th grade.

With the completion of my final year in institute, I wrote Brother Taylor a letter and thought you might enjoy reading it:


Dear Brother Taylor,

Since this is my fourteenth and final year as a student in CES as I will be turning 30 and finishing my PhD this year, I have been reflecting on the experiences I’ve had in seminary and institute and thought it would be appropriate to share some of them with you as you have been my teacher at the beginning and at the end.

I remember volunteering to play the piano our very first day of seminary and selecting “We Thank Thee O’ God for a Prophet”. You said that was one of the favorites to sing in seminary. That first day, you challenged us to read the scriptures every day, and I accepted that challenge. The decision I made that day to read the scriptures every day has made me the man I am today and will bless me and my family forever.

That year was a difficult time for your family and you were required to miss class several times. I remember one substitute, Brother Greaves, taught us about Alma 13. He told us that God knew who we were before we were born and that we had not been randomly placed in a family where the gospel would be taught, but had been placed there because God had chosen us to become leaders in His church. That truth burned inside of me and helped me as our family moved from Farmington to Tooele. I figured that if God had directed that I be born into the right family, then He would also direct where I went in life. That truth still comforts me today as I begin looking for employment in various places across the country.

Another substitute teacher asked us to share our most embarrassing stories. I decided to share a story I had only shared once before at scout camp. The story is as follows: When I was 8 years old, I went with my family down to Cove Fort, Utah for its dedication as the church opened it up for visitors. President Hinckley was coming to dedicate it. Before his speech, my 3 year old brother had to go to the restroom, and I was asked to take him. The restroom consisted of two toilets separated from the rest of the room by yellow curtains. Both were closed when we got inside the restroom, so I walked up to the first one and opened it. To my surprise and embarrassment, President Hinckley was on the other side. I quickly closed the curtain and ran inside the other stall (fortunately it was empty). My brother and I stayed in that stall until President Hinckley left the restroom.
I became famous at Farmington Junior High after that story got out.

My senior year of seminary we studied the Doctrine and Covenants. When we covered the martyrdom of the prophet, Joseph Smith, our teacher, Brother Norby, set the classroom up to resemble the room in Carthage Jail. He asked a few of us to role play the events of the martyrdom. I was asked to be John Taylor. I’ll never forget lying under the table that was acting as the bed and thinking about the sacrifice made by Joseph Smith. I knew he was called of God to be the prophet.

My freshman year at Utah State I took a Book of Mormon and a mission prep class; further preparing me for my mission. I took with me on my mission a well marked set of scriptures, the ones I had marked in all of my seminary classes.

About a week into my sophomore year at USU following my mission, my roommate’s brother invited us to come to an opening social for the Institute Men’s Association (IMA). He told us there was no commitment or pressure involved, to just come and see if we liked it. He was right that there was no pressure, however no commitment doesn’t seem the right word to describe my weekly attendance at the meetings the rest of that year, serving as a counselor in the Kolob Chapter presidency the second semester, as president of the Kolob Chapter the next year, as a counselor and then president (the former president became otherwise “engaged”) in the inter-chapter presidency my senior year, and then president of the Mahonri Moriancumr chapter the first year of my masters degree.

I loved being in the IMA! My favorite activity was the Jell-o slide held every year on the quad. We filled a tub full of Jell-o, rolled around in it, and then slid down a sheet of plastic. It was so fun! The annual turkey bowl was also a highlight as the chapters challenged each other in a football tournament. Non-IMA teams were invited to play as well and usually ended up winning the tournament. Afterwards we would enjoy a full Thanksgiving dinner, but not before each team contributed the items to provide a meal for a family in need in the area. My senior year, there were a couple of girls that asked if they could play on our team. I was impressed with their lack of being intimidated by a bunch of guys and thought one was kind of cute. Little did I know I had just met my future wife (though our first date wasn’t until a year later). One of the great things about IMA are the chapter advisors. Brother Thomas was the Kolob chapter advisor and later the inter-chapter advisor. He was an institute teacher who had just finished serving as area director in Georgia. I learned a great deal from him and he became my dad in Logan. I asked him for help with my car, dating, presiding, anything for which I needed someone who was close.

Spring semester of my senior year I took preparing for Celestial marriage. A girl I had been dating regularly, Caron took it with me. I really wanted to get married; however it just didn’t feel right at the time. Then one day the teacher, Brother Williams said, “Sometimes a boy has to tell the girl he is dating that even though there is nothing wrong with her, it just isn’t right.” At that moment I knew he had described the situation I was in. I knew what I had to do; breaking up with Caron was one of the hardest things I have ever done. I’m glad I did it. That fall as I started the first year of my master’s degree, I moved in next door to the cute girl who had played football with us. She happened to be serving as president of the IWA Esther chapter which met on Wednesday nights, the same night the Mahonri Moricancumr chapter met. Our chapters did exchanges together, and our first date was an IMA date night. We ate the leftovers from the Turkey Bowl, which the cute girl played in again, and then played mini-golf. The cute girl tells me that she learned on that date that I wasn’t always serious and quiet. Seven months later when we got engaged, we didn’t want our roommates overhearing us call our parents to tell them, so we went to the institute. Owing to the relationship I had through IMA with Brother Blake, I knew where he kept a spare key to his office. We used that key to let ourselves in to use his office phone to call our parents.

When we moved from Logan, the cute girl and I had graduated from institute, and received special certificates for advanced studies. Realizing that we would be spending 4 years at the University of Illinois, we figured out that if we took an institute class each semester we would meet the requirements to graduate again and made this our goal. It amazed me (and still does) how much I could learn from the scriptures and class, even after all those years of seminary and institute. The Spirit I feel gives me the boost I need to cope with the stresses of being a graduate student.

As you can tell, seminary and institute have been an integral part of my life the last 16 years. How grateful I am to have enjoyed its influence during these years of critical decision making. I finish my time as a student knowing that I am going to miss it, but with the assurance that at some point in the future I may be asked to teach an early morning seminary class, or have the opportunity to be a volunteer institute teacher. Whatever the Lord has in mind for me, I hope to be an instrument in his hands to help others develop their testimonies by choosing to open their hearts to the truths the Holy Ghost will carry to it through daily study of the scriptures.

Sincerely,


Bruce Richards

Faith in Every Footstep

Last week an article appeared in the Daily Illini (a campus newspaper I don't usually read, but a friend showed me the article) discussing various reasons why people might be running the marathon. It prompted me to ponder my motives for running the marathon. Here they are.

Many of my ancestors walked from Illinois to Utah. Their examples of persisting in doing hard things, moving even when your body cried out to stop have been a blessing in my life and encouraged me as I passed the early twenties mile markers of the marathon. When the 150th anniversary of the pioneers arriving in Utah occured, as the story was told of those who walked to Utah, it was said they had "Faith in every footstep". Many runners in the marathon had "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me" on their t-shirts. Christ strengthened my ancestors as they crossed the plains and I wore my "Faith in every footstep" t-shirt as I ran the marathon.

When I was about a year old, my grandma Richards was diagnosed with diabetes. Instead of feeling like she was a victim, she took control and learned how to control her ailment. I remember her swimming and walking regularly in an effort to control her weight and improve her health. I am especially fond of memories of day long family activities held at a church. She would walk laps around the halls of the church with her cane to make sure that she got her walk in for the day. When I lost 30 pounds while serving my mission, she encouraged me to keep the weight off with regular exercise.

Brittney did the team marathon. She ran her 7 miles in 58 minutes, the fastest she had ever run! I'm so proud of her. She told me I'm her hero. I appreciate all her love, support and encouragement. It seems very symbolic that I ran a marathon the same year I plan to graduate with my PhD and finish school. 23 years of school and 26 miles. There is a little more enduring to the end to go before the PhD is complete. If I can finish a marathon, then I can finish a PhD.

I hope to be able to contact my 9th grade gym teacher, Coach Downs and tell him I ran the marathon. He would be impressed that my fastest 12 minute mile then, is now a 7:50 mile. He would also be impressed that where I used to not be able to run a full mile, I was able to keep running for the first 16 miles and that I finished the marathon in just under 5 hours.

The final reason I ran the marathon is probably the main one. I would never have ran the marathon without a running buddy. I guess the saying "misery loves company" is true. Jason and I endured some grueling training, but enjoyed the triumph of finishing the race. Celebrating at "The Beef House" was great Saturday evening. It was good to consume the protein and carbohydrates we needed to refuel our bodies. (Incidently, we discussed marathon runners in my regulation of metabolism class on Friday, the day before we ran.) Our friends the Robisons came from Iowa for the race and spent the night with us. It was fun to see them, though we didn't get to play games because we had to go to bed to get our rest for the marathon.

Job Interview #1

Location: Fort Collins, Colorado
Vendor: Colorado State University
Position Title: Weld county extension direction and livestock agent
Length: 2 days - 2 interviews(2 hour time slots per day for interviews, meeting with people all day)
Preparation: 2 different 30 minute seminars: 1)experiences over the past 3-5 years and how it prepares him to be the extension agent for Weld County. 2)experience, qualifications, and vision for the future of agriculture in Weld County.
Cost: All expenses paid
Results: ? (We'll let you know when we know)
Interview to take place on April 22 and 23.

It's Official!

I checked the mail on February 13th and inside my mailbox I found my diploma. I have officially graduated with a Master's of Education degree from the University of Illinois. What am I going to do now? Pretty much whatever I want.

Valentines Blues

I know Valentines Day was 3 weeks ago, but I am a little behind with posting about our events. This year for Valentines day, I wanted to do something a little different. I feel like I have been on Bruce's case a lot about getting things finished up with his schooling so that we can move on. I had to do my best to show him that I still love him.


So I did the 12 days of Valentines. I gave him a small present for 12 days in February, and each day I wrote him an original love poem. I hid the poem and present somewhere in the house, and wrote a 4 line poem on an index card that gave him a clue as to where to find the valentine. I placed the index card on his pillow before I left for school so that he would find it when I was already gone. By the end of 12 days, I was pretty much out of rhymes and I'm glad Valentines day is early in the month. Not that I wouldn't write Bruce a love poem everyday, I just thought that my poems started to get more and more silly as we got closer and closer to Valentines Day. These small gifts ranged anywhere from a singing Valentines card, to a fancy pen, to homemade sugar cookies, to small chocolates, and homemade peanut butter cups.

In return, Bruce got me tickets to a St. Louis Blues hockey game. (Hence the title of the post.) The man who sang "Oh Canada" and "The Star Spangled Banner" probably had the most amazing voice I have ever heard. Another man's job was to play short songs on the organ during timeouts or breaks. I wouldn't mind having that job; of course I would have to practice a lot more.
I love watching hockey. It always amazes me that not only can these people stand up on ice skates, but they can skate in every direction at any given time, turn around on a dime, and stay on their skates when someone slams into them. The Blues played the Toronto Maple leafs and won 4-0.

Our seats were almost at the very top, but at least we could see the entire ice rink. There were only a couple of really lame fights, but otherwise the excitement of scoring goals and the atmosphere topped off the experience. The Zamboni machine is so much fun to watch. It reminded me of when my dad and I would ride the Portland city bus to a minor league hockey game. Every time we saw the Zamboni machine, my dad would sing this song by the Gear Daddies at the top of his lungs.

Well I went down to the local arena
Asked to see the manager man
He came from his office, said, "Son can I help you?"
I looked at him and said, "Yes you can..."

I want to Drive the Zamboni...hey
I want to Drive the Zamboni...Yes I do!

Now ever since I was young it's been my dream
That I might drive a Zamboni machine
I'd get the ice just as slick as could be
And all the kids would look up to me

I want to drive the Zamboni...hey
I want to drive the Zamboni...Yes I do!

Now the manager said, "Son, I know it looks keen
But that right there is one expensive machine
And I've got Smokey who's been driving for years."
About that time I broke down in tears.

Cause I want to drive the Zamboni...hey
I want to drive the Zamboni...Yes I do!

That weekend we also spent some time in the temple. It was a great!