Goodbye President and Sister Hansen

The photo of us all in suits is my missionary "family!" Elder Gutierrez is the great grandpa, I am the grandpa. Elder Harmon is my son and Elder Flint, the short gringo, is my grandson! I think we are the biggest missionary family in the whole mission. In this photo is Me and my three sons, Elder Hernandez, Harmon (with his son) and Elder Molina and also my "dad" Elder Gutierrez and his son! What a cool photo right??? It is so rare! We are the only four generation family in the mission! :)







My Dear Family,

WOW!! What an amazing week it has been! It seems like I was just here last week writing you, and now I am here again, and tomorrow I will have 14 months as a missionary! I cannot fathom how fastly the time is flying. I love what I do everyday and am so blessed. This week we confirmed two of our converts who weren't confirmed last week. They are amazing converts and are so happy with the decision they have taken. This week we had the opportunity to get together as an entire mission. On Tuesday at 10:00am the entire Veracruz Mexico Mission got together in the church building next to the temple in Boca del Rio and it was such a sad/spiritual meeting. It was a goodbye conference for Pdte. Hansen and Hermana Hansen and many many many tears were shed. The week before, the secretaries of the mission asked ALL the missionaries to send a funny picture from the mission to them and they made a goodbye video for President Hansen and President was bawling. To close the meeting we sang the Mission Hymn "Brillan Rayos de Clemencia." The coolest part is that I was able to see all my old companions again... especially Elder Harmon. It was so funny when he saw me... he threw his backpack to the ground and I stripped off my suit coat and we ran to each other and hugged for like 5 minutes. It was so good to see him and hear him. He is now training a new missionary which makes me a Grandpa!!!

This week, Elder Rios has taught me so much about patience, humility and love. When he talks, it shows that he is interested in what you are saying and I know it is a talent he has been blessed with. Last night we were both laying down in our beds and I was just about to fall asleep. I told him, "Thanks for being so patient with me. I know it would be hard sometimes being my companion." He waited a little bit and didn't say anything. Then he said, "Elder Ricks, you know I love you." I about cried like a 3 year old girl. I am sad that he will be going soon. It makes the mission so easy to have great companions who have the same desire I do to work my tail off and be obedient. That is one thing I like about being a zone leader... I can rest assured that my companions that President sends me, will be the best of the best and will be hard workers. President made me cry in my letter this week. He told me as his last words to me, "I am so proud of you. I love you so much. You have a great mission ahead of you..." I will miss him so much. He reminds me of Dad.. so wise and so loving.

I love being a missionary. I cant say it enough. I don't like thinking that I only have 10 more months as a full time representative of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I feel like I don't know what to do after the mission, but I know the Lord will bless me. Every day is a blessing and an opportunity to learn an eternal lesson. The other day in my personal study I was reading Mosiah 27--the conversion of Alma the Younger. It made me remember with exactness, the day of my conversion. It was one morning during a personal study I had while I was serving in Taylorsville, Utah. An experience so sacred and special for me that I will never forget. I remember feeling a complete change of heart. A desire to sin no more and feeling spiritually reborn in Christ. I love the scriptures and this gospel and my Savior. I love and cherish my membership in this, the only true church. The members here love me so much! Today, the ward took us to Coppel (a nice store that is like.... J.C. Penny) and bought my companion and I each a pair of new shoes!! They saw that the shoes I had were all beat up and they put money together to buy us new shoes! I will be sure to thank all of them! I am thrilled and so pleased to know that everyone is doing so amazing at home! I cant believe how tall Mike and Chandler are getting and I cant believe my oldest sister is Relief Society second counselor! I have such an awesome family! Know that I love you all so much and can't wait till one day, we can all hug again! But for the mean time, I am going to work till I can't work any more, preach until all have heard, and baptize until all are clean. That is my goal. I love you all so much! ¡¡Hasta la siguente semana hablaremos!!

Elder James Reed Ricks



MOM P.S: I am all better now! Who knows what it was that got me... bad food I bet. But now I am great and even MORE skinny after throwing up one day solid! :) I never went to the doctor. I had to take out money for something not so smart I did... I accidentally lost our cell phone and when we loose our cell phones, we have to pay for them. So, that was why I had to take out dinero. Thank you for the package! I can't think of one single thing that I utterly need so I think we are good! This week we will baptize a man named Sergio! I will explain his awesome story in the next letter but just wanted to give the heads up! Love you all!!!!!!!

Happy Fathers Day! Happy Birthday Mom! Happy Birthday Hannah!‏

My amazing, wonderful, loving, eternal, happy, united, strong, dear kind family,

What a week it has been. I have been flooded with emotions towards my family this week. It has been a great week and one of the most successful of my mission. We baptized four souls this week and they are true converts and are headed for the temple of God. Their names are Marcelino and Olivia who are brother and sister. We also baptized a mother and her daughter. Their names are Miriam and Julissa. Julissa is 11 years old and reminds me exactly of Claire, but with the hyperactivity of Chandler! She gave me a big hug on the day of her baptism and wanted to hold my arm as we walked into the church for her baptism. I love being a missionary! It really has been and keeps being the best time of my life. Every day I get down on my knees and the first thing I thank God for is the sacred opportunity I have to represent the Savior of the World. I know he lives. I feel his presence everyday.
I am a little sad to tell you that right now I am a little (okay alot) sick. I have thrown up all day today and am physically exhausted. I don't know what caused it but I woke up in the morning sick to my stomach. It was the first time I have thrown up in the mission and while I was puking the funniest memory came to my mind that made me laugh. One time I was sick and throwing up and I can't remember very good who it was or what they said, but I think they asked me if I wanted water or something. I remember I held up my finger as if to say, "Hold on one second I am puking my guts out!" Good times! I have to tell you about my companion and the love he has shown me today. While I was either in the bathroom hunched over the toilet, or sprawled out on the floor trying to cool down, he made me jello because he knew I couldn't eat much. He cleaned the apartment by him self and practically washed all of our garments as well. All I could do was sleep today and he has been so patient with me. We all know that when I am sick, I groan all day long and I am not to fun to be with. I love my companion. He teaches me so much. As we passed fathers day together, we both talked about our dads. Eight months before my companion came on the mission, he, his younger brother, and his dad were in a horrible car accident. That is why my companion has big huge scars on his face. In this accident, he lost his hero--his dad--and it was hard to decide to still come on the mission. The accident was four days before his family was going to be sealed in the temple. They have since then, been sealed as a family for ever. I really don't know what I would do if I lost my hero. It would be like loosing a piece of my body. I have the best father in the whole wide world and I want everyone to know it. Everything I am is because of who my dad is. I had a strong experience this week that opened my eyes so much and brought tears to my eyes.
We have a district leader who is like a fragile piece of glass. He is really pride full and has a hard time accepting advice or comments from us as his leaders. When I got here to this area last change, I could tell that he didn't like me just because I was his zone leader. I worked my hardest to gain his confidence the last change and now we are the best of friends. Anyway... this last Sunday we called him to report his district stats. My companion was the one who was talking with him. I don't understand what happened, but in the end of the call my companion was offended by this elder and the elder was offended by my companion. We let this settle down and then got back to the house in the night to plan. This elder called me and told me that he trusted me and needed help from me. He expressed that he was mad with my companion for what had happened and asked me how he can be more patient. I explained that before the mission I was really inpatient and was hard to deal with. I explained to him that the mission has taught me how to be patient. I have learned that to be patient with others I need to step down from my thrown and try to understand from where the other person is coming. He told me, "That is interesting... I guess I do need to step down from my thrown." Then we ended the call and started to plan for the next day. At the end of the final prayer I remembered something my hero--my dad--had taught me...the importance of asking forgiveness. I told my companion that I wanted him to call the elder and ask him to forgive him even if he felt like he hadn't done anything wrong. He called and they resolved the situation. When he finished the call he told me with tears in his eyes that he was grateful that I said that he should call. I thought to myself... hold on one second. How many times did my poor dad have to try to teach me that lesson before I understood. Dad... now I understand. I put something in practice that you have taught me all my life and I felt so strongly your love as I helped my companion and the elder fix their small problems.
I thank my father in heaven for my family everyday. I don't know who or where I would be if it wasn't for each one of you. I know we are an eternal family and that makes me so so so happy. I will get going for this week,but know that I love you all so much! I absolutely LOVE the power point Clarie. Dang Power Point made me cry like a big old baby! :) Know that Elder James Reed Ricks is loving life even thought its 120 outside and he is puking like a dog! Oh the life of a missionary. :) Every day a blessing!

Elder James Reed Ricks

P.S:::: Right now we are in a Internet cafe and the guy in front of me is singing SO loud! He is listening to music on the computer and has his head phones on and every one here is cracking up! Mom you would laugh so hard!
The shirts are perfect as well! They fit me perfectly! I cant think of anything right now that I need! I am doing pretty good! Love you!

:) Called to Serve

We made the strawberry one today and I let our neighbors who are members try it and they all went crazy! They loved it! Thanks for sending me that!!!!!


How I study the Book of Mormon in my excercise time!


A Mexican bird nest hanging from a power line. You can't see it very good from this far away, but there are a ton of little birds inside and the mommy bird as well!

My Dear Family,


Hi everyone! I had so much fun reading all of your letters! Today has been a great p-day and it has been an awesome week. Elder Rios and I are being so blessed. We had baptismal dates that fell through this week and that is always hard. We pray so much that Satan doesn´t interfere with our investigators and it is painful to see a postponed baptism. This week we have 4 baptisms planned. Marcelino, Olivia, Miriam and her 11 year old daughter, Julissa. They are all amazing people and I have grown to love all of them! We are still working with Tito and Adriana and Carlos as well. I feel uncomfortable when I don´t baptize in a week. We are taught here in this mission, to baptize every single week, and as I learned in Catemaco... its possible. I felt like I really got along with Elder Canseco when I got here, but I am now seeing that we didn´t work as effectively as we could have. Elder Rios and I have really got to work here and we are seeing the blessings.

It is interesting being a zone leader. It requires a high standard of excellence. I actually like being a leader. I, like my dad, was born to lead, not follow and the leadership opportunities I am having are helping me learn so much every day. We take time out of our personal time before bed to call all of our districts and talk with each one. We ask things like how did their day go, how many lessons were they able to teach, things they felt they did good, and things they believe they could improve. Then, at the end of every call, I tell them that I love them and ask if there is anything I can do for them. I like being their friends and gaining their confidence. Every Sunday at 7pm we return to our house and we call all the district leaders again, but this time to pass the statistics for their missionaries for the past week. It is interesting to look over the information and verify where we are having problems and think about how we can fix them. We are proud to have awesome missionaries right now. They are obedient and willing to sacrifice. Sometimes, like dad explained, I feel inadequate (oh dear I can´t spell in English anymore...) but I remember that for some reason or another, the Lord needed me.

Michael and Chandler.... I can´t explain to you both enough the love I have for my mission. I encourage you both to get down on your knees and promise our Father in Heaven to one day serve a mission. It will change you and your life. I am so thankful for who I am now and who I am becoming. The young women in this day and age, deserve a returned missionary. I learned that here in the field. The blessings are so great from serving a mission but the funny part is that Dad and I can´t even begin to explain how it really is. It is only learned from doing it. But don´t decide to come on a mission, because mom and dad and the Prophet have said that we should do it. Serve a mission, because it is what you want to do. I can only imagine you two dressed in white with ties and name tags on preaching the gospel. You will be amazing. I want so bad to be able to be one of your companions. How cool would that be? Your future companions will be so lucky to work with you. Michael, you have such a gift with people. That will truly bless you on your future mission and throughout your life. Chandler, you could make a dead guy laugh his head off. You have such a gift of humor and such a friendly personality. This will help you get along with every companion that you have! You both will be missionaries who come to serve and work hard. It is one of the saddest things I have seen, to see a missionary come here to the mission and just waste his time, the Lords´ time and the funds of the church and faithful tithe payers. The Lord needs obedient missionaries like you both will be. I can´t wait to hear all your stories! Maybe one of you or both will come to the Veracruz Mission!!!!!!!! :)

I have to get going for this week. I am always so uplifted to read your letters and feel your support and love from home. I switched the weather channel on the computer to San Antonio, Texas and it says that right now its at about 89! I bet you are all enjoying the cool weather! :) Sometimes I miss home, the weather, having a car, my ipod, cell phone but most of all family. But then I remember the song, Called to Serve, and I remind myself that I have just two short years (now just only 10 months!) to serve a mission, and an entire eternity to think about it. I want to be the missionary that the Lord needs here in Tuxtepec, Oaxaca right now. Know that I love you all and am so thankful for my eternal family!

Elder James Ricks

Trial of Faith

My Dear Family,

Hola! Como están todos? Espero que se encuentran con bien! It has been an amazing week! I have been blessed with an amazing companion. I have grown to love him so much in just this first week. He is so humble and full of love and has such a strong testimony. We are best friends and love serving together. His name is Elder Rios and is from Guadalajara, Jalisco. He is so funny and is ALWAYS smiling. We are going to have so much success and fun together.

This week has been really interesting. The Lord seems to be trying to teach me faith. We have amazing investigators right now, but each one has an individual struggle. A few times in the week, I remember feeling like I wasn´t progressing and that I wasn´t having success. So I got down to the basics and started from the bottom. And it seems like right when I thought I couldn´t do anymore, the Lord blessed me with a new golden investigator or a spiritual lesson with a progressing investigator. It has been interesting to see how the Lord works in the lives of my investigators, but it is also interesting to see how he works in my life. Mom talked about how she is grateful for the opportunity to repent and be better everyday and that is how I feel as well. But part of my cleansing process has been learning to recognize how He works in my life. And it is through his tender mercies. In the Book of Mormon in the first chapter of Nephi, verse 20, Nephi promises us that everyone who is obedient to the Lord and has faith, will be showered with the "tender mercies" He has for us. I love my Savior and I am grateful for the faith I have in him. I can be sure that all I need to do to be successful as a missionary, is be obedient, work hard, and help my missionaries to do the same.

I was also thinking the other day of the prayers we offer and the answers we receive. When we want to be more patient or have more faith, we pray, "Heavenly Father... give me more patience to endure, or give me the faith I need to believe..." But when we ask for these things, the Lord doesn´t give us patience or give us faith. Rather, he organizes our lives in such a manner that we acquire experiences that teach us faith, or that teach us patience. It is the same with my investigators. Here in Mexico, EVERYONE and their chihuahua believes that it doesn´t matter what church you go to because everyone prays and worships the same God. We know that it DOES matter, because only one church is the true church. Often our investigators pray to God asking, "Tell me which is the true church," and they never recieve an answer. But when they ask a specific question and they do it with faith and a desire to know more, just like Joseph did, THEN, the heavens open and revelation flows down like rain. I love this gospel and what it has taught me. I don´t know if you all can hear or see the difference in me or not, but I feel like I have changed 100% in this last year. I feel so happy and pure and sure of who I am.

Carlos is doing great still. He wants to get baptized and has a testimony, but has a tiny problem. This last week we found out he isn´t married with his wife. I had believed that he was. We mentioned that before he can be baptized, they need to be married. They said that they would need time to think about it and we are going to check in with them tomorrow. PRAY FOR THEM! :) Tito has stopped smoking now for more than five days and the other day I talked with him by phone. He told me, "Elder Ricks... you don´t know how much praying has helped me." I love hearing that from investigators. He will be baptized this week if everything turns out good.

Thank you so much for your support and love. I received the package and LOVED it! The garments fit like a glove and the shirts as well!!!! Mom you really must know me well because the sizes couldn´t have been better! Thank you so much for the cheese cake and pudding and jello! My companion about wet his pants when he saw it all! We are going to make it tomorrow night and party! I love you all so much and can´t wait to talk to next week! Thank you so much for the photos! The house looks great and it seems like you all had a blast when Hannah was there in town. What great memories! Have an AWESOME and great summer! Be safe and always remember to read the scriptures every day! :) Love you all!


Elder James Ricks


P.S.: I am sending photos in the next email, separate! :)