My Family,
Wow... It's Monday again! I can't believe it’s already here. This week has seriously been the best yet. And it’s for two reasons. 1) I figured out how to convert the negative feelings of homesickness into absolute power and motivation. And 2) I have added to my mission motto: " Smile, and keep your chin up!" Thank you so much for that awesome advice Mom. I am prospering and it feels so good. For this whole last week I don't think I've thought about my visa not even once. That has helped so much. We had transfers this week and we are in a foursome now! It's me, Elder López, Elder Pence, and Elder Anderson. Get this.... Elder Anderson was the tall blonde roommate I had at the MTC and now we're roommates and companions again! He is so amazing! Elder Pence is brand new (5 days old) and is from Iowa. Since we're four now, we split up and double work the area. I'm with Elder Anderson and López is with Pence. It’s really stretching our Spanish and helping us learn more and more.
I will get the SD card in the mail today with a letter! I think you'll like seeing a lot of the pictures! It was so awesome to hear about Dad's award! How cool! I loved the pictures! Unfortunately, I can't print the pictures that you send via email but I can look at them and I love it! Keep 'um coming! While I'm thinking about it, have you called the Travel Office lately? We hear that it should be here soon!! I am so excited to see pictures of the new house! How awesome! Its crazy how everything falls into place when its suppose to happen. That’s kinda how I feel about my visa: When I'm supposed to go, I'll go! Man... that is absolutely CRAZY to hear from Hannah! THAT IS SO AWESOME!!!! It seems like your having so much fun! That is definitely something that is hard... everything I see reminds me about home. Then my brain automatically thinks... "but you won’t see them for two years..." but it’s been a lot better this week! Scary to hear about Mike's foot! Hope all is okay! I like that quote that Elder Howell said! It’s so true! Man... This past week has been SO hot! The average is about 98! It’s not to fun to bike in but it makes the pounds fall off!
I was so happy to hear that Hannah made it safe to Mexico! MAN!!! I'm so jealous! haha I cannot wait to get there and just totally be IMMERSED in the culture! I am so glad to hear that my letter to Monique has helped! I guess that is my patriarchal blessing coming to life! :)
How cool about Bubba and Jill! Man... I was totally surprised to hear they are going back... But if that is where they should be that is awesome! And hopefully it will be good for Doug too!
I'm going to end this for now so that you can hurry and write back! I missed not being able to email back and forth last week! Love you so much! Thank you for all you do! Be looking for a letter in the mail anytime soon! :)
Elder James Ricks
P.S.>>>>> 3 Nephi 5:13 is AMAZING!!!!!!!!!
Monday, July 19, 2010
Monday, July 12, 2010
My Family,
It is only after we are stretched to our very farthest, that the Lord comes and pushes us the rest of the way. This last week, when I thought I had my visa, then found out I didn't was the single hardest day of my mission so far. But from that experience I learned two things... 1) The Lord still needs me here. and 2) There was a reason I didn't go. And that reason is this: Yesterday we decided we wouldn't invite anyone to come to church and just see who came on their own without us telling them to come. Usually we have one single lady come. But yesterday we had five families and two single investigators come AAANNDDD it was the final of the World Cup!! Which means they WANTED to come. After church we went to the house of Angeles Sanchez who've we've taught for about a month now. This is when I realized why I'm still here. Yesterday she came up to me and said, "I'm ready to be baptized now. Elder Ricks... will you baptize me?" I started to cry. Somehow and in some way that Elder López and De Menezes couldn't, I touched her heart. Her date to enter the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is August 7th. I have mixed emotions because I want to be in Veracruz by then, but at the same time be able to baptize her.
I am good now. As the subject said, the grass is always greener on the other side. I choose every day to be positive. Your email helped so much. I lack the words to describe how much it helped. I never realized it, but being gone from you right now is exactly like how it was when Dad was in Texas. I miss hugs to. Some days are harder than others. I'm so glad to hear that everyone is doing good though. Hannah: I'm excited for you to leave to Mexico! I'll be right behind you! But Mexico is a scary place. Maybe ask Dad for a blessing before you go! :)
To answer a few of your questions:
Yes my companions both speak English but I won't let them. I ask them whenever they talk to me, to speak in Spanish. My Spanish is doing great! Yes I've told president how close we are to my family. My interview with the new president went awesome! He's a dentist and is so excited to be here! I don't need anything! We go to Walmart every Monday for groceries so if there was anything I needed I can just get it there. Yes we only get mail once a week and we get it on Tuesdays, after P-day so TECHNICALLY I can't write back till the next Monday. I did get the birthday list. Thank you for that!
I'll try to send back the memory card today or tomorrow. It sounds like everyone is excited to see some pictures! There are some cool ones from the 4th! Is there anything I can do for anyone? I pray for you all every day! You're in every single thought I have... but I don't let it distract me anymore... Now it motivates me. I can't wait for how sweet that moment will be in two years when I get to see you all again! But until that date, I am going to work my butt off. I've lost 10 lbs since the MTC. Just from biking and sweating! But I love the work here and I love the people. Even though Farmington is a 1/2 hour away. I'm here with Elder Ray right now emailing at the Family History Library in the Stake Center. He came with me from the MTC. He is probably one of the best friends I've made since I came on a mission. He is from Atlanta Georgia! He says HI!!! I'm so excited to hear how everyone is doing! Those rubber band bracelets sound awesome! Michael I wish I could see how tall you are getting! I will get going for now so you can maybe email back real quick! I love you all so much! Keep up the good work! NFTILY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Elder James Ricks
It is only after we are stretched to our very farthest, that the Lord comes and pushes us the rest of the way. This last week, when I thought I had my visa, then found out I didn't was the single hardest day of my mission so far. But from that experience I learned two things... 1) The Lord still needs me here. and 2) There was a reason I didn't go. And that reason is this: Yesterday we decided we wouldn't invite anyone to come to church and just see who came on their own without us telling them to come. Usually we have one single lady come. But yesterday we had five families and two single investigators come AAANNDDD it was the final of the World Cup!! Which means they WANTED to come. After church we went to the house of Angeles Sanchez who've we've taught for about a month now. This is when I realized why I'm still here. Yesterday she came up to me and said, "I'm ready to be baptized now. Elder Ricks... will you baptize me?" I started to cry. Somehow and in some way that Elder López and De Menezes couldn't, I touched her heart. Her date to enter the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is August 7th. I have mixed emotions because I want to be in Veracruz by then, but at the same time be able to baptize her.
I am good now. As the subject said, the grass is always greener on the other side. I choose every day to be positive. Your email helped so much. I lack the words to describe how much it helped. I never realized it, but being gone from you right now is exactly like how it was when Dad was in Texas. I miss hugs to. Some days are harder than others. I'm so glad to hear that everyone is doing good though. Hannah: I'm excited for you to leave to Mexico! I'll be right behind you! But Mexico is a scary place. Maybe ask Dad for a blessing before you go! :)
To answer a few of your questions:
Yes my companions both speak English but I won't let them. I ask them whenever they talk to me, to speak in Spanish. My Spanish is doing great! Yes I've told president how close we are to my family. My interview with the new president went awesome! He's a dentist and is so excited to be here! I don't need anything! We go to Walmart every Monday for groceries so if there was anything I needed I can just get it there. Yes we only get mail once a week and we get it on Tuesdays, after P-day so TECHNICALLY I can't write back till the next Monday. I did get the birthday list. Thank you for that!
I'll try to send back the memory card today or tomorrow. It sounds like everyone is excited to see some pictures! There are some cool ones from the 4th! Is there anything I can do for anyone? I pray for you all every day! You're in every single thought I have... but I don't let it distract me anymore... Now it motivates me. I can't wait for how sweet that moment will be in two years when I get to see you all again! But until that date, I am going to work my butt off. I've lost 10 lbs since the MTC. Just from biking and sweating! But I love the work here and I love the people. Even though Farmington is a 1/2 hour away. I'm here with Elder Ray right now emailing at the Family History Library in the Stake Center. He came with me from the MTC. He is probably one of the best friends I've made since I came on a mission. He is from Atlanta Georgia! He says HI!!! I'm so excited to hear how everyone is doing! Those rubber band bracelets sound awesome! Michael I wish I could see how tall you are getting! I will get going for now so you can maybe email back real quick! I love you all so much! Keep up the good work! NFTILY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Elder James Ricks
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Hola
HOLA!
Sorry its so late! Yesterday (our p-day) we came here to the Taylorsville library and it was closed due to the holiday. Weird. So we didn't get to email and it was killing me because I knew you were probably stressed. So we took an hour out of our schedule today to do it! First of all... I heard that you heard my visa is in? Is that for sure? When do you think they will call and let me know? I will absolutely be able to call you from the airport. Tomorrow I'm going to buy a calling card ( I forgot to at the MTC because we were in such a hurry to pack) that has 150 minutes on it for $10. I'm so excited to talk to you again. We celebrated the 4th here! Missionaries aren't suppose to use fireworks.. technically... but we bought a few. :) Actually my trainers are the ones who bought them. I think I have everything I need. I might possibly send some things home. Should I send them to Grandma and Grandpa's house first or how should I do it? I'm so excited to leave to Mexico but I am loving the work here. I've had a hard week. I think it was just a combination of different things. But I'm doing better. This week has been one of learning and stretching and growing. Before I forget, if you can, watch the World Cup! Its so much fun to watch! We watched it at an investigators house! I'm rooting for Spain to win! (Mexico was eliminated and all our investigators didn't come to church because they thought God was punishing them... ahahahahaahahaah!) I'm mailing off a 5 page letter today. Thanks so much for your letter mom! It made me cry when you said that Hannah said that about me and was waiting for me to come home! Only 20 more months Hannah! Those scriptures you shared are all amazing! The one in 2nd Nephi 31 is one of my favorites now! Thank you so much for your thoughts and prayers! This last week I had my first encounter with food that was too spicy to eat. I literally had to pray to myself that I would be able to eat it. It was meatball soup with jabeneros (habenyeros). It was so painful. I honestly haven't tasted anything since. hahaha But... I'm alive! And that is an answer to my prayers! It seems from your letters/emails that our family is prospering. I'm so thankful for that. Our family is unstoppable!!!!!!! Together, nothing can stop us. Some days, the only thing that get me through is knowing that all I have to do is give two short years to the lord, and, because of your temple marriage, sealing our family for eternity, we can all be together for EVER! I can't help but smile so big when I think about that!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am filled to me eyebrows with love your each of you! My heart aches when I think about not being with you but I know this is where I should be!!!!!!!! I feel like for the first time in my life, I'm prospering. I hope it’s not prideful to say that. It just feels like I know what I'm doing is right and is so good to feel like that. I better go for now. If you could find out about the visa situation that would be awesome! Tell them to call me as soon as they know!!! hahaha I love you all so much! Thanks for everything you all do for me every day! Be watching for my letter! Love you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Elder James Ricks
D&C 31!!!!!!!
Sorry its so late! Yesterday (our p-day) we came here to the Taylorsville library and it was closed due to the holiday. Weird. So we didn't get to email and it was killing me because I knew you were probably stressed. So we took an hour out of our schedule today to do it! First of all... I heard that you heard my visa is in? Is that for sure? When do you think they will call and let me know? I will absolutely be able to call you from the airport. Tomorrow I'm going to buy a calling card ( I forgot to at the MTC because we were in such a hurry to pack) that has 150 minutes on it for $10. I'm so excited to talk to you again. We celebrated the 4th here! Missionaries aren't suppose to use fireworks.. technically... but we bought a few. :) Actually my trainers are the ones who bought them. I think I have everything I need. I might possibly send some things home. Should I send them to Grandma and Grandpa's house first or how should I do it? I'm so excited to leave to Mexico but I am loving the work here. I've had a hard week. I think it was just a combination of different things. But I'm doing better. This week has been one of learning and stretching and growing. Before I forget, if you can, watch the World Cup! Its so much fun to watch! We watched it at an investigators house! I'm rooting for Spain to win! (Mexico was eliminated and all our investigators didn't come to church because they thought God was punishing them... ahahahahaahahaah!) I'm mailing off a 5 page letter today. Thanks so much for your letter mom! It made me cry when you said that Hannah said that about me and was waiting for me to come home! Only 20 more months Hannah! Those scriptures you shared are all amazing! The one in 2nd Nephi 31 is one of my favorites now! Thank you so much for your thoughts and prayers! This last week I had my first encounter with food that was too spicy to eat. I literally had to pray to myself that I would be able to eat it. It was meatball soup with jabeneros (habenyeros). It was so painful. I honestly haven't tasted anything since. hahaha But... I'm alive! And that is an answer to my prayers! It seems from your letters/emails that our family is prospering. I'm so thankful for that. Our family is unstoppable!!!!!!! Together, nothing can stop us. Some days, the only thing that get me through is knowing that all I have to do is give two short years to the lord, and, because of your temple marriage, sealing our family for eternity, we can all be together for EVER! I can't help but smile so big when I think about that!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am filled to me eyebrows with love your each of you! My heart aches when I think about not being with you but I know this is where I should be!!!!!!!! I feel like for the first time in my life, I'm prospering. I hope it’s not prideful to say that. It just feels like I know what I'm doing is right and is so good to feel like that. I better go for now. If you could find out about the visa situation that would be awesome! Tell them to call me as soon as they know!!! hahaha I love you all so much! Thanks for everything you all do for me every day! Be watching for my letter! Love you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Elder James Ricks
D&C 31!!!!!!!
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