PRESIDENT & SISTER RICHARDS HAVE ARRIVED

Elder & Sister Lindsay with President and Sister Richards

We had our first meeting with President Mark Richards and his wife, Karlan, at the Baltimore Zone Conference today. They are warm, outgoing people and easy to like. President Richards told the assembled missionaries, "We're not expecting to replace the Bellistons. That's not possible, We know that you will really miss them. They have done a wonderful job."

President Richards then announced, "You are receiving a mission president downgrade . . . you are getting a family!" The Richards, who have six children, have brought their youngest son, McKay (age 16), and daughter, Josie (age 13) with them on their mission. He suggested to the young elders and sisters in our meeting that there will be times when they might see him dressed informally and doing things as a husband and father, but he will always be wearing his name tag. This personal declaration of his joint responsibilities as a mission president as well as a father will undoubtedly be well received by the missionaries who look to him for leadership and as an example.

"We had no idea when the storm came on Friday night," he continued, "that it would be so severe. Ironically, the last question Sister Richards asked before the Bellistons drove away from the mission home was 'when do we put up the flag?' (referring to the metal flag pole in front of the house). In the morning, it wasn't a problem because the pole was broken off at the ground. (Winds in the Baltimore Friday night reached 80 mph at the height of the storm). This was the only damage on the property."

In a kind and generous gesture during the zone conference, President Richards walked up to Sister Lindsay and me and told us how grateful he and his wife are to have us and the other senior missionaries serving in the Maryland Baltimore Mission while acknowledging the sacrifice and effort that it takes for seniors to serve a full time mission at their own expense. He then told all of the young elders and sisters that they should enjoy their relationship with us and listen to our counsel because of our experience and long time service in the Church. Our district leader who was seated beside me reached over and patted me on the back with a big smile on his face.

President and Sister Richards had their picture taken with each missionary in the Baltimore Zone, including us; and then he conducted a brief individual interview with everyone who was present in the meeting.