6-27-2011

Hola Mis Amigos!

   So the week was great, and a little discouraging at the same time.  We worked hard, but the work is just different at this time of the year simply because no one want to open there doors since it is so cold out side, and if you are lucky enough to get the door opened they definitely don´t want to hear your message.  Yes on occasion we will get the lovely people that feel bad that we are out in the cold, and they invite us in for a few minutes while we drink a hot beverage and talk a little about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We spoke with this really nice Elderly couple that is very Catholic, but I think with a little time and love will understand the importance of the Gospel.  Is was so weird talking with them though because the Woman looks a little like my Grandma John (my mothers mom) and I found myself at time getting lost in what we were talking about simply because I was staring at her. Hopefully the next time I will not be so distracted...

  We also worked a lot with Jorge... He was supposed to get baptized a few weeks ago, but when we checked in with him a few nights before we were disappointed to see that we wasn´t following the word of wisdom... This last week we spent a lot of time with him.  We saw him everyday twice a day to try and help his with his problems. He was good all week, and the night before the baptism he had again messed up. This broke my heart.  I so badly want him the be baptized, but he just is not ready in the moment.  We  are still going to keep working with him, and showing him our love.  Hopefully in the next month he will be able to enter the waters of baptism.

  We my friends and family. That is about all for this week. I know nothing terribly exciting happened, but the work it amazing.  I love you all with all my heart, and will talk to you again soon.

              Chou,

                 Hermana Ricks.

6-20-2011

Hola Mis Amigos,

   This week was a little difficult simply because my companion and I where both pretty sick.  She was the one to catch the bug first, however, within a few days I had it as well... Luckily not nearly as bad as she did.  She was doing a lot of resting this week which was really hard for me because I wanted to be out working, but I knew that here body needed rest so I just went with it.  On Friday morning she wasn´t feeling well, so I let her sleep a little longer, but by the time 11 am rolled around I told her we needed to get out and work some.  She slowly got out of bed and was getting ready when I could tell she just wasn´t up to it... I guess if anything, I have got a lot of studying done this week.) By the evening we had to go out because we had a baptismal interview planned and baptism was that Sunday.  Everything went great, but when we returned to the pench my companion felt a little hot.  I took her temperature and felt horrible that I had pushed her a little that day when I read her temperature at 103... Yikes... She slept in the next morning, and all seemed well by Saturday afternoon, but when Sunday morning rolled around she was even worse that before... by this point I had caught a little bit of the bug as well... Needless to say we could not attend church.  Our Baptism fell through the day before because our investigator is not quite ready.... hopefully we will be able to set a new date for the next couple of weeks.  So over all the week has definitely been one of the harder ones.

   On a happier note, I finished The Book of Mormon Challenge (to read the Book of Mormon in 66 days, which was how long it took Joseph Smith to translate) that our mission had yesterday.  It was absolutely amazing.  I loved the Book of Mormon before this challenge, but every time I read it my love and gratitude for the Book has grown.  I also have a better understanding of how much work Joseph Smith and the others that helped translate put into it on the side of having jobs and raising families.  I love the Book of Mormon I know that it has the answers to any question or difficulty that we have in our lives, and that if we read this wonderful book and pray to our Heavenly Father with faith and a sincere heart he will always answers our prayer.  I can testify that the Book of Mormon is the word of God and that by heeding the words of the prophets in this book, and those leading us today we will one day stand before our Father in Heaven ready to enter into his Kingdom and live with him and our families forever.  I love this gospel with all of my heart.  I know that my Savior Lives. I know that Joseph Smith was a true Prophet of God, and that the Book of Mormon only contains the truth of the everlasting gospel.  I say these things in the name of my beloved Savior, Redeemer, and Brother Jesus Christ Amen.

Su hija

Hermana Ricks

6-6-2011

Hola Mis Amigos

  This week was a little difficult because Hermana Garcia was sick so we spent some time in the pension.  I really hate not being able to work, but I was able to get some great study in.  We have two baptisms that are scheduled for June 18th (we can´t do it this next week because of Stake Conference). There names are Sebastian and Adrial.  They are both actually dateing girls that are members of our ward.  Anyway, funny story... two weeks ago Hermana Garica and I were out knocking doors and we ended up knocking the door of the Jehova´s Witness.  They are the hardest people to work with because they will not listen to anything you have to say.  They entire time we were with her so was just telling us ¨no... no... no... open you bible and ready....¨ Anyway, we finally did what she asked on the condition that she would except a pamphlet about our church (Which they never never nerver do). Hermana Garcia and I left her house wanting to study up so that we could return to her house and be ready with the scriptures we needed put her is a bit of a stupper the second time around (I love the work!). Anyway, back to Sebastian and Adrial. We had a lesson with both of them last night just to make sure the understood everything before their baptisms, and Sebastian tells us that we taught his grandmother last week.  As he was explaining her we realized that is was Mirta the Jehova´s Witness. Ha Ha he can´t believe that we are planning on going back this week, but it a little excited to see if we make any progress with her. Time will tell.

   Sunday was amazing.  I was sitting in church listening to the testimonies the spirit took over and I started to cry a little bit.  I just started to look around and was so filled with love for these people.  I will never understand everything that in intailed in the Atonement however, in this moment I felt as though I could feel a little bit of the love that our Savior has for us, and felt as he bleed from every pore and suffered for our sins.  I feel so blessed to be serving a mission.  To be able to have a part in these peoples lives, and to be a tool in the Hands of the Lord as I provide opportunites for the Spirit to teach and testify to these people that this is the true church of Jesus Christ.  I love this Gospel I know that it is true with all my heart.  I love you all, and will talk to you next week.

 

    Chou,

        Hermana Ricks