Another Baptism & Lots of Changes this week!

My Family,

ANOTHER great amazing week! This week I baptized! Her name is Paula Yepez Mendez. You all know her story but there is a little bit more. The morning of her baptism, she called our ward mission leader and told him that she didn´t want to be baptized. Me and my companion said a prayer. We decided we would act on our faith and leave to go to the church and set up the baptism and fill the font anyway. We waited for her to come. And she came. She told us that she changed her mind and knows how important it is to be baptized. This Sunday she was confirmed. She had a member of our ward do the baptism. He helped her realize the importance of baptism.

Lots of changes this week. Elder Gutierrez left up north to a city called Martinez de la Torre. Its really cold up there! Elder Butler arrived and is great. He is from Tucson, AZ and is the district leader. He will be a great companion and loves to be 100% obedient just like me. I prayed the night before changes that the Lord would bless me with a companion who loved to be obedient, and he did. I love being so close to the Savior in this work. I see his hand in one way or another every single day. Saturday we had a special visit to our house. President Hansen came and told us that he had a special assignment. He told us that there was a missionary who was going to come Monday (today) and that he is brand new. He told us that he would like Elder Butler and I to be his trainers! His name is Elder Hernandez and is Mexican and from the state of Aguascalientes (Hot waters...haha) I´ll be training him this change and after this change I should be moved here from Volcanes. Dad is right... It is so hard to say goodbye to members and companions that I´ve had. They all have and will become parts of my mission and I will never forget them. I write in my journal every day! I try not to write specifically what exactly we did all day long but its more a collection of miracles I´ve seen, experiences I never want to forget (like when we took off all our mattresses and layed them on the floor to make a wrestling ring and had wrestling matches, or when we went hunting for cockroaches in our house) and other special things. I also have a journal for all my companions and special people to write in.

Lots of changes and exciting things happening in the house! Hannah is off to Disney! HOW AMAZING! Her dream has come true! Mom is now a cast member of her favorite show, "ER!" Too cool! I want to hear all about these two big changes.

Every week my love for my family grows. I actually cannot believe how fast time is flying. I cant believe how much weight I´m losing. I love life. I have talked to two sisters in the ward. One is altering my white shirts and the other my pants! Both for free! Too cool! I still need shoes and haven’t found a good way to buy good quality shoes here in Mexico. For now I would say it is best to send a good pair or two with Bro. Rodriguez. I talked with the mission offices and they said that is fine if he drops off the package in the offices. The address that you have to send me letters is where the mission offices are. I haven´t had any stomach problems for about two weeks now! Life is good! I love the food here! I ate a hot dog the other day and I didn´t like it. You Americans eat weird food! hahaha I love Mexico. Everything about it. I can see myself coming back time and time again with you all to show you where I worked for two years. To close this letter I thought I would bear my testimony in Spanish. I´m about 92% fluent right now!!!! I love being able to speak two languages!

Pues como podria empezar... Ya, mas que todo yo quiero compartirles mi testimonio, un testimonio lo cual que yo se, sin duda en mi corazon, es verdadero. Nuestro Señor Jesucristo nos ama. Mas que sabemos. El murio para que nosotros podamos tener la vida, nuestras familias, y las bendiciones que disfrutamos cada dia. Ahorita estoy in Mexico, en el servicio de El. Yo se que este mision esta cambiando la vida mia. Cada dia yo me levanto, listo para ver los milagros del Señor. Estoy aqui para bautizar. Yo comparto este testimonio con las personas que se encuentran en las calles desde se levanta el Sol hasta que se baja. Tengo conmigo constantament, su compañerismo divino, El Espiritu Santo. Se que mi familia esta protegida. Nuestra familia es fuerte y somos una familia eterna. ¡Que un bendicion tenemos! Les amo cada uno de ustedes. No puedo explicarlo. Nunca se olviden eso. Hasta la proxima semana!

I love you all so much. Thank you all for everything you do. I feel strength and I know it comes from your prayers! Enjoy the photos of the baptism and of our house! Love you!!!


Elder James Ricks

November 1, 2010

My Dear Family,

I’m a little sad that this week I won’t have a full hour to write. I look forward all week to this hour and sometimes we have to make changes to the schedule. Today is my last day with Elder G and we have been running around all day saying goodbye to his friends he has made here. This week has been amazing. Yesterday I witnessed a miracle. The spiritual story this week is the story of a little old lady named, Paula. Paula is the maid in a house of a member. We have been teaching their cousin, Dalia for about three weeks now. Paula never wanted to listen. Every time we began to teach, she would leave the room almost a little upset. I could tell she had something that was bothering her. Time passed by. Saturday night it was this family’s turn to feed us. We committed Paula to come to church ( this past Sunday happened to be Stake Conference and 2 Elders from the 70 came! ) and she told us she would. The speakers were amazing and talked a lot about baptism. After the meeting we scheduled an appointment to go to the home of Paula and talk individually with her. Little did we know what the Lord had in store for two missionaries in Volcanes, Veracruz Mexico? We began the lesson with a prayer. My companion offered it. After he finished the prayer, we opened our eyes to Paula, streaming with tears. She began to pray out loud, thanking the Lord for finally sending her a sign. She has a son who is living in the United States (who just was baptized) and she prayed for the Lord to protect him. After she told us that we don’t understand the pain a mother feels for a son living separate of her. Immediately I thought of my own Mom. I began to cry. She said that the feelings are the strongest when she makes dinner and no one comes to join her at the table.

I can only imagine it is the same with my mom. For 19 years I came to the table. And now, I’m in Mexico. The spirit was strong in the lesson and we taught amazingly! We gave her a date to be baptized and she wanted to do it sooner. Paula will be baptized on November 6th 2010. She is what us missionaries like to call pure gold. Little did we know that she was listening to everyone of the lessons we taught just from another room. She told us she had been praying so hard to receive an answer that this is the right church. I hope you can feel the spirit as you read this. I have never been so happy, rewarded, and filled with the spirit in my life. The Lord works in mysterious ways. Never in my time in this area, did I think I would see Paula receiving the lessons and being baptized. Never. The Lord has a plan. I love what I am doing and know it’s the right thing.

I love each of you. Dad, I deeply appreciate hearing about your journal entries. I love you and look up to you so much. Thank you for the reassuring guidance you are to me. I love you all and want you to know that. I will be sure to write more next week and I have a ton of photos of our house on the way next week too!

***Mom: About the parting of the hair. In the Veracruz Mission this part is called the "LINE" and it is something that every Elder in this mission does. President has asked us to do it! I love it!***


Till next week! Remember that I love you all! Talk to you soon on the phone!


Elder James Reed Ricks

¡CARTA DE SEIS MESES!

P day in Malecon Mexico with Elder Guiterrez and
two other missionaries....we need their names.

Elder Ricks & Elder Gutierrez
Look how thin Elder Ricks face is! Is that a part in his

hair? They are wearing their hair the same. Funny!

Elder Ricks October 25, 2010 Malecon Mexico!

It is a part in his hair...wow its been years since he

wore a part...too cute!





This one is for Hannah.....Broadway Theater in
Malecon Mexico!


Wow, is he happy!

MY FAMILY,

Big news! This week about to start is the end of my first Change here in Mexico!! Time has flown by and I have learned so so so so much. President wrote me in his letter this week, "Prepare yourself. I have plans for you Elder Ricks." Saturday night President called my companion and informed him that he will be transferred. I have loved Elder Gutierrez and of course it will be hard to see him go. I have grown attached to all my companions and they are all lifelong friends. Elder G after one change as a DL is moving up to ZL. I will be left alone in my area and receive a new companion. Elder Gutierrez told me that he thinks I will be the senior companion in my new companionship which means I would be training. We will see but I am so excited for the future! We have 3 solid dates for baptisms on the 12th of November. We have been devastated by sacrament attendance. It is the biggest challenge an investigator faces. Our ward starts at 8am and there are not many Mexicans who want to wake up at 8am on Sundays, their only day that they don’t work from sun up to sun down. We have prayed a lot lately to see miracles and I believe they are coming.

Today was an awesome p-day! We went to a place called Malecon and it is near the ocean! I have pictures that I will attach! We went with two members who both are I think 22. They are brother and sisters and I love love love their family so much. Their mother is practically a member but hasn’t been baptized because her husband won’t let her. The brother leaves this coming 2nd of Nov. for Salt Lake City to serve his mission! He will be in the North mission though. I have been a little sick again this past week but right now I’m feeling perfect! The weight is continuing to melt off me. I am having a personal weight loss competition with Drew Carey. Speaking of him... About three days ago, we entered a house to teach a lesson. Their TV was on and low and behold it was Price is Right!! But get this... here in Mexico, they have their own version. It made me think back to watching Price is Right with Mom after I got back from my classes. Good days and even better memories. Every week my memories of home bring less homesickness and more sweet sweet emotions.

Mom! Congratulations on the job! Way to go! I want to hear about how it goes! Man! I can’t believe all the missionary work that each of you are doing! How amazing! I cried when I read in Dads email about Monique. Can you send me her address? I don’t have it with me. She will be baptized. Vickie will be baptized. Mom the family you met at Claire’s if they continue following the good news of the gospel, will be baptized! WAY TO GO! This is the RICKS FAMILY! Six months ago, I left you at the curb on a rainy morning and embarked on a journey. Time has flown by at a sickening speed. But I’m not the least bit trunky. I am filled to the brim with motivation, excitement, enthusiasm, and love for this work. I am in constant companionship with the Holy Spirit of God. I love to wake up every morning and breathe in Mexican air! I will close for this week with these words, I love you. I know I say it in every email like 100,000,000 times but I can’t help it. I try to write my letters with the guidance of the spirit and it seems like every eight words, "I love you" pops into my mind. But its because I really do, and I can’t express it enough. I love you all. Dad, Mom, Hannah, Michael, Chandler, Claire, and Grace. Press forward and continue to enjoy the abundant blessings that this gospel gives us. WE ARE THE RICKS!

Dad!

Thank you so much for the Priesthood Line document! I saved it on my flashdrive! Thank you thank you! I love you so much! Thank you for your letter with inspiring words of advice. Not much time today, but I wanted to ask you something. Can you give Mom a hug for me when you get back to Texas? After you give her a hug, tell her, " That was from James." I love you so much Dad. I love what I'm doing here. As you know, I am learning so much and becoming the man I want to be. I love you!

- - Elder James Reed Ricks - -

October 18, 2010 Another Amazing Week!

My Family,

I have a problem.... I´m addicted to what I´m doing. I have NEVER in my life, felt so good as I do in this moment in time. Missionary work is the only thing I want to do right now. Every week, every day, every second of every hour I´m here, I see miracles. Cool story to start this letter. Last week in his letter to me and Elder G., President said, ``I hope you find 20 new people to teach!`` This was strange. Me and Elder G. were both surprised that he would say that. But... we continued to work. We received a call from our AP´s that our area boundaries had been changed and we had about 5 more blocks (this is a huge amount of space) that we had never been to. Excitedly we went the next day to explore. We arrived and started contacting EVERY person in our way. This is a challenge from President, to contact every person in our path because literally God has placed them there for us. Anyway... we were contacting and knocking up a storm when we knocked a door and the Señora said, "Come on in!" We entered her house and began to talk. We asked how many people lived were her in the house and she told me something that brought tears to my eyes. She told me that because of the hurricane, currently she had..... 20 people living in her house. The instant she said this I realized yet again that I am a tool in the hands of the Lord. Maybe President received a vision and knew that I´d find literally 20 people to teach... Or maybe he is in tune with the spirit. Elder Gutierrez and I witnessed a miracle as we taught an amazing lesson, gave a baptismal date and she accepted. Amazing. THIS is the reason I love what I am doing.

I am so glad to hear news from home. It gives me indescribable strength just to read that you think about me every day. Satan tries to get missionaries to believe otherwise. I have a deepness of love for every one of you that I cannot and never will be able to describe. I´ve cried in a lesson once in my mission and it was this past week. We were with a part member family and I was talking with the mother and her 29 year old daughter. They asked me about my family and if it was hard to be away from them. I couldn´t reply. Tears filled my eyes and I told them that I love them with everything I have. We are an eternal family, without end. I find a mountain of strength in this thought. Dad, I received your handwritten letters that the family sent. Thank you so much. I read D & C 4 after I read your letter and received the strength I needed to get out and work! Mom, I need to apologize. This week I was incredibly busy and didn´t have time and forgot to take pictures of the house. I WILL take photos this week and send them. How exciting about the interview! Make it a matter of prayer! I will pray for you! Hannah, I´ve thought about you a lot lately! Thank you for your handwritten letter and words of encouragement. Also... Elder Gutierrez still is obsessed with you! :) Michael, I actually have that Iron Man pull up thing to! Too funny! I love using it! Chandler, way to go with the chicken and grilling! Have you found your passion? Claire and Grace… Stop growing. It makes me so happy to see your faces in the emails with photos Mom sends. Family.... I love you! I´m doing amazing! Health wise I´m completely better! But... I would feel bad if I didn´t fill you in on one tiny thing. I think I may have a ganglion cist on my wrist. I have talked with Hermana Hansen about it and I will be in the Mission offices tomorrow and plan to let her check it out. She told me that it might be something that we just wait to fix after the mission. It doesn´t hurt me at all... just a little ball of like fat or hard tissue or something. When I talk with Hna. Hansen I will let you know! Other than that, I am perfect! I love the food. I love the humidity, and heat! I still sweat like crazy and am losing weight like I´m on Biggest Loser. I checked my weight at the store two weeks ago and I was down another 15 lbs. The Hermanas in the ward have started asking what I´m doing to lose so much weight! I love love love love love love love this work. I love what I´m doing. I´m addicted to teaching, bearing testimony, baptizing, confirming, and giving these people the key they need to return to live with our Heavenly Father. The scripture I have thought a lot about this week is 3 Nephi 5:13. I love it. I have it written on my planner and I read it every day.

*Mom... I sent an email to Grandma and Grandpa and Grandpa emailed me back an amazing letter. I could tell he was emotional when he was writing it. He talked about how he and I have many turkeys to stuff after I get back and that he is proud to help me on my mission.

Life is good. The gospel is everything to me. I´m growing up and becoming the person I want to be. Pictures to come next week! Thank you so much for the pictures! I love the countdown sheet! Do you put a mark on every day? Who gets to do it? I love love love love love love love you all! Thank you so much for your prayers and support!. Make every day the best day! Learn something new every day! Everyday try to stretch yourself by trying something new! Press forward Saints! Press forward Ricks Family! Know that I´m loving what I´m doing, that I miss you all, and that I love you! Till next week!

Elder James Reed Ricks

My first baptism in Veracruz Mexico!

My Family,

Life is good here in Lamanite country. First and most important, I had my first baptism here in Mexico! We baptized three and had a special service for them. They were pure gold and were truly prepared to accept our Savior and follow his footsteps into the font. Their names are Maria del Rosario and her son Jose, and another boy named Kevin. Jose is 8 and Kevin is 10. They are strong and know the gospel is true. Everything about the baptism was perfect. Except for one thing. I have had the most painful stomach aches in my entire life this last week and for Saturday afternoon right after the baptism and all day Sunday I was sick in bed. It felt like my stomach was cut open and I couldn´t do anything about it. Oh... it was horrible. I talked to Hermana Hansen and she told me what things to do and to buy popsicles and Gatorade. Last night, I asked Elder Gutierrez for a Priesthood blessing, and after he gave me one, we went to bed. I slept the whole night without waking up and now I´m completely better! I´m only telling you this story because it made the baptism interesting. I missed about ten minutes of the baptismal service because I was in the bathroom fighting a battle. I barely returned to the room where the meeting was when it was time to do the baptisms. I was blessed with the opportunity to do the baptism for two of the three people and loved it. The instant I stepped in the water, the problems went away and I could focus. Right when I got out, they came back. It made me think about how much power God has. He is everything. We are so small compared to him. He is big enough to control the forces of the Universe, yet small enough to hear our every prayer. My theme this week is on the glory of God. We are so so so so humbly blessed with the knowledge that we chose our Fathers plan simply by the fact that we are here on the Earth. We made the right choice. Now, we just have to do the things we need to do return to live with him. I love this Gospel and I love what I am doing. I love you all so much! Thank you all so much for all you do for me. I keep you in my prayers every night and day!

Elder James Ricks

Mexican Mondays!

Time for a haircut?






My Dear Family,

Wow! It has been a great week end! Conference was amazing! I was glued to the screen the whole time. We watched all 5 sessions in the stake center and they set up a small TV for the missionaries who speak English. It was such an amazing Conference! So many of the talks were about missionary work, strong eternal families, sacrifice, and hope for repentance. We had an investigator come to two sessions with us and I´m so very excited to announce that she will be my first baptism here in Veracruz. Her and her 8 year old son´s date is this Saturday the 9th of October! And I´m going to do the baptism! We are so excited! She was an investigator a few months ago and told the missionaries that she didn´t want to be baptized and didn´t think she ever would. A few days ago we thought we would just drop by to see her. She invited us in and we started to re-teach the lessons. She accepted and prayed that night to know that our message is true. She told us the next day, after two sessions of conference, that her and her son would like to be baptized into our church. We had Zone Conference last Thursday and in my short short interview with President, he promised me that if I brought an investigator to church, they would be baptized. Pres. Hansen is such an awesome guy! He is so in tune with the spirit and really shows that he loves every one of his missionaries. This week we´ve been trying to add tons of people to our teaching pool. To this, we contact EVERY person we see. As messengers of the Lord, we don´t know exactly who are the Lord´s chosen that he has prepared. To find the ones who are ready to receive the gospel, we talk to everyone. I spend about 3 to 4 hours every day, walking in the streets of my favorite place on Earth asking God´s children if they would like to hear a special message about their Father in Heaven. Doing this works. Because of contacting, we have found 7 new people that we are teaching and 5 have dates to be baptized in the month of October. I couldn´t be doing any better right now. Me and my companion are enjoying the bountiful blessings of perfect obedience. We kneel for every prayer we offer before we leave the house. I teach him English grammar, and he teaches me Spanish as we walk down the streets, in between contacts. There is real, tangible power in obedience. It is so so so so so addicting and empowering to work alongside the Lord in helping him find his lost sheep. Your right Mom, their culture is so special. Every day I have more and more Mexican blood! I love preaching the restored gospel to the descendents of the Book of Mormon. There is a ruin here in Veracruz that has the engravings of Lehi´s dream on it. On each side of the huge rock that it is engraved on, are two big wholes called ´´pilas.´´ In English that means ´´font´´ and it is where they suppose they baptized people in the days of the Book of Mormon. There is so much success here because these people´s ancestors were promised that one day they would hear the gospel. And I´m helping fulfill that promise. Michael and Chandler... I´m starting to get tears in my eyes.... THIS is the reason you need to prepare now to serve a mission. When you have your first experience when someone you´re teaching looks and you and tells you that she would like you to baptize her, and you realize you are a part of her eternal progression back to our Father in Heaven, you will feel on top of the world. You will feel like you have saved a soul that Satan has lost from his army. You weaken Satan. I can´t explain how good it feels. Please begin to prepare to serve your Lord. Dad can tell you..... And now I can... that this is the best two years of my life. I know without a doubt that the Lord is pleased with the young man who puts his life on hold for two short years, to leave everything behind, and to save his sheep. Girls... now it’s your turn. Saying all this, I feel like I should express my feelings of hope that you find and marry that man who served a mission. There are things that a mission (if served correctly) will teach a boy that will make him a man. I want with all my heart that you have those blessings. You are special girls and deserve the best! I love you all so much! I love my family more than I can explain. My favorite talk from conference was given I believe in Priesthood by Elder Patrick Kearon. Read it read it read it when it comes out! It is such a good and powerful talk. We are so lucky to sit at the feet of Gods prophets and hear and see what God himself has to tell us. I believe this is why Maria del Rosario Riveria Reyes and her son Jonathon Armando will enter the waters of baptism together this Saturday. They felt something. And now... they know it’s true. I love you all. I am sending pictures right after this email so watch for those! Know that I´m okay and that Veracruz is picking itself up and dusting off. Things are getting better. Until next week!


Elder James Reed Ricks

Huracán Karl Video from President Hansens Blog

Huracán Karl

Fastest Week of my Mission

My Family,

Another AMAZING week added to the books. Veracruz is the best place on Earth. I am in love with Mexico, the culture, their unhealthily spicy food, their taco bike-carts, and their testimonies. So much has happened this last week. The hurricane is still affecting lives. More and more destruction everyday. Good news though, is that my area, Volcanes, is one of the highest parts in Veracruz south, and for this their is little major damage to the houses here. However, every missionary and youth from every stake in Veracruz went to a city called Cardel this last Saturday. Oh. My. Word. That was hard to watch. 8 people died there. The city is built right next to an enormous river and when the hurricane hit the water raised 20 feet. 2-story houses were devoured and swept into the river. President collected us together and told us to go and contact everyone but instead of teaching them, offer service. We found a family with a father and mother and two little girls. There house had feet after feet of mud. We removed mud by hand with little shovels for hours and hours. It was 9000% humidity and super hot but at the end when we looked back at the work we had done, I was amazed. We helped them so much. We told them about our church and the reason why we are such a ´´happy´´ people even amidst these times of despair. There is always hope. We have the Holy Ghost. We often take for granted what it means to have the holy spirit of God, the very power he used to create this world with us constantly as members of his church. After that day, I will not be able to live the same. By this I mean, it will be forever impossible for me to take for granted all the blessings that we have. We truly are blessed. But that doesn´t mean that we need to feel bad. Our Heavenly Father has a plan for each one of his children.

Now for a bit of lighter news... Hannah.... My companion is obsessed with you. I was showing him photos of my family and he screamed at the top of his lungs when he saw your picture. I think it is so funny. He says he is going to come live with me after the mission so he can meet you. He has asked me a lot of questions about you and it has really made me think back to all the times and memories we have. I told him everything you like, even down to the Spice Girls theme song. I am overwhelmed with love for my family. I can´t explain enough the feelings I have. Dad, I couldn´t have asked for a better example. Mom, I get tears in my eyes every time I read your testimony that you know that your son is protected. Hannah, I love you. And so does Elder Gutierrez. Dr. Michael, my advice for a boy your age is to prepare to serve a mission. It is something that you will not understand the importance of, until you hug your family for the last time at the MTC and really realize why your are serving. The mission is changing my life so much and I feel the best I´ve ever felt in my entire life. Chandler, I think you´ve found your passion. Wood working. I love you bud. Always so passionate about what you like to do. Claire, You will be a famous news anchor some day. I love you! Grace, I´m sorry to hear that you don´t feel to good. I love you!

I found a scripture the other day that brought tears of joy to my eyes because of the memories it brought. It is in Alma 41:15 and it is the main message of the book and movie, ´´The Secret.´´ I love those times when we would watch the secret and set goals every year. Our family is amazing. On Saturday after the service in Cardel I had my first terrifying experience with public breast feeding in mid-lesson. They say that I´ll never get use to that. I believe them.

No big motivational story or quote today but just the reassuring knowledge that I´m safe and up to my neck in this great work. I love what I do every day. We had a baptism scheduled this last Saturday, but the investigator´s cousin was lost in the hurricane and had to leave to go and try to find him. I´ll let you know how his story goes.

I love you all so much. I think about each and every one of you every day. I know that we are an eternal family and that is the happiest thought I know of. Until next week, I leave you with my testimony that I know that Christ is our Savior. I know that the power of the Holy Ghost is real because I use it every day. I know I was divinely called and set apart to serve the lord in these times. I love you and I can´t wait to talk to you soon for Christmas!!!


Elder James R. Ricks

First Pictures from Veracruz!

First Letter from Veracruz!

My Family,

First of all and most important... I’m okay. In fact I´m great!!!!!!!! I´m in Mexico! I´m 100% Mexican now. I love it so much here. I stepped off the plane and immediately the smell of Mexican humid air brought back memories of sitting on the beach as a family in Cabo or sweating our butts off at that bus stop. I´m in Lamanite country and having the time of my life. I kid you not, I have not stopped sweating since I stepped off the plane... But honestly, I don´t care anymore. I love it. What a crazy few days it has been. Veracruz is hurting right now. I´ve never seen so much poverty. And the hurricane only made it worse. Walking down the street in my clean, ironed shirt and nice pants with a tie and watching people eat their only meal of the day because they have no house is really humbling and it was really hard the first few days. These people will and have given the shirts off their backs to make us happy and go without. One of the most humbling experiences I´ve had so far was after the hurricane hit. There are few houses that weren´t utterly destroyed by the 115 mph winds and five feet of water. Immediately everyone began to work on fixing their houses after the storm stopped. But to get money to do it, they had to sell all their clothes. Watching a mother take off the shirt from her little toddler boy and lay it down on the street on a dirty plastic garbage bag to sell, so that in turn she could buy screws to fix her walls was incredibly hard for me to deal with. I´ve been given so much in my life. I honestly didn´t know what I should do. I can see the pain in their eyes. With much prayer and thought it will become easier to deal with. I love the people here for who they are. They are so funny. Remember the go cart bicycle thing from Nacho Libre?? They are all over here! They are so funny! My house is one of the nicest (so I´m told) that I´ll see in my whole mission. And honestly I´ve never lived in a crappier place! But... I love it! It gets so stinkin hot and humid in the mornings but we crank on all the fans we have and its not to bad. My first Mexican meal was amazing! It was just tacos and horchata but man it was good! I guess it might have been because I hadn´t eaten all day and it was around 11pm that we eat after we landed here in the hottest place on earth. So far I´ve ridden three buses and nearly died all three times, but you know all about the buses here! My companion is amazing. I´m a little worried because so far, I´ve only had pure golden companions and know that there is not so golden ones ahead. He is from San Luis Potosi here in Mexico and doesn´t speak a word of English. I haven´t spoken English since my interview with president (which by the way is one of the coolest guys I´ve ever met) the second night I was here. President is amazing. Every missionary here has a mission tie with our mission name on the front and a picture of a lighthouse because we are the lighthouses of the lord. He gave us each a mission tie and a Mexican flag pin for our suit coats. He and his wife are amazing people and I love them already. The work here is amazing. I can´t believe how prepared the people here are. I´ve already had my first of many miracle moments. A couple days ago we met a lady named Sara. We asked where she lived so we could come back the next day and we set an appointment. The next day we went to the address she gave us and asked for Sara. The woman who answered the door gave us a weird look and said that no one by that name lived there. We told her that we had a message to share with Sara and that we would try to find her another time but just as we were leaving she said, ´´´Would you like to share your message with me?´´ A little surprised, we went in to her house and taught lesson one. The spirit was strong and we gave her a baptismal date! In the first lesson! And she accepted her date for the 2nd of October. What a miracle the Lord provided for us that Sara lied to us and gave us a wrong address but it turned out to be the address of someone who was prepared and needed to hear our message of hope, peace, and faith after her house was ripped to shreds by the hurricane. It is so amazing to me to crawl into my sweaty bed at night and think back through the day and see all the miracles I saw that day before my eyes. The lord works in mysterious ways and I´m so so so so so so gratefull to be a small part of it. So much has happened and so much is going to happen. I´m writting in my journal like crazy and taking a million photos. I couldn´t send them this week but I will send photos of everything so far next week! I will close for now but want to quote something amazing I found that is my new motto here in Veracruz:

´´I´m a part of the fellowship of the unashamed. The dye has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made. I am a disciple of Jesus Christ. I won´t look back, let up, or slow down, or be still. My past is redeemed. My presence makes sense, and my future is secure. I am finished and done with low living, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed vision, worldly talking, cheap giving, and dwarfed goals. I no longer need pre-eminence, positions, promotions, plaudits, or popularity. I don´t have to be right, first, recognized, praised, regarded, or rewarded. I now live by faith, lean on his presence, walk with patience, am uplifted by prayer, and labor with power. My face is set, my gate is fast, my goal is heaven. My road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions are few. My guide is reliable, my mission is clear. I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, divided or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of adversity, negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity. I won´t give up, shut up, or let up, until I have stayed up, stored up, and paid up for the cause of Christ. I must go until he comes, give until I drop, preach until all know. And when he returns for his own, he will have no problem recognizing who I am. My banner will be clear.´´

My family... I´m am in the best two years of my life. I will not stop until the stake president takes his hands off my head to release me from this amazing call. I love being in Lamanite country. I am strong in the spirit and love how it feels. I am living a perfect life and have the number one best family in the world. I love you all so much. Dad. Mom. Hannah. Michael. Chandler. Claire.... and Grace. You are everything to me and I´m so so so gratefull to be serving my Heavenly Father right now. I love you all. Until next week!!!!


Elder James Reed Ricks

***I´m in Veracruz (the City of Veracruz) North in a colony called Volcanes. Yes send mail and packages to the mission home. Yes we have water and power but it just barely came back two days ago.

September 17, 2010 Hurricane Karl

My Family,

I´ve now experienced what a hurricane is like. This letter is to tell you that everything is okay and that I´m fine. Yesterday, our zone leaders called and told us to buy food and water for two days because there was a hurricane warning. Of course we did so and didn´t expect anything to happen. Wrong. It has been raining full speed now since 12 am last night. It just barely stopped. Our stake center is under about five feet of water and our house flooded but somehow nothing of mine was ruined. Our power is out and I don´t think it´ll be back anytime soon. It was so, so, so scary. They said there were something like 108 mph winds and pouring pouring pouring rain. Every tree where I am is broken and there are miles and miles of streets and stores under 5+ feet of water. President called us and told us to email our families though, to say that everything is okay. The good about having a hurricane is that it humbles the people up real quick!!! Got to go for now.. more to come on Monday with some AWESOME pictures! By the way.... the work here is awesome!!!!! We have a baptism this week and one next week. I´m baptizing the one next week!!!! Talk to you on Monday!!!! I love you all!



(A very wet and soggy but happy!...) James Reed Ricks!

1000 Days in Veracruz

President and Sister Hansen
1000 Days in Veracruz

Among the Lamanites‏!

My Family,

I am in Veracruz Mexico! This is the best place on Earth. I never want to leave. We aren't allowed much time to email you today, but I am here, and safe. President and Sister Hansen are amazing people. My first night here (last night) President took us out to dinner at an extremely legitament mexican restaurant just like the ones in Cabo. I ate about one million tacos. I have never sweat so much in my life. We landed at 11pm at night and it was 99 degrees. I love being a missionary. I am so excited to get to work. After my interview with President in a few minutes, I wont speak english till I come home! Know that I am happy and love it here!!!!!! Thank you for all your support and love! Monday is p day so I will talk to you then with muchos muchos muchos stories and hopefully pictures!

I AM IN MEXICO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Elder James Ricks
12:19 pm

Finally off to serve in the Mexico Veracruz Mission!

After waiting 2 1/2 months for his Visa, Elder James Ricks left the Utah SLC South Mission to serve in Mexico Veracruz! We had a quick phone call from the SLC airport telling us his travel plans and that he will call us during his layover in Houston, Texas. It was so good to hear his voice! He sounded so excited and eager to get to Veracruz. He is traveling in a group of 18 Missionaries. It would be so fun to see that Army of God as they travel to their mission. And now we wait for that amazing phone call!

September 6, 2010

My Family,

Wow... Another week gone by! And what an amazing, spiritual, growing, and perfect week it has been! I didn't think things could get better than last week, but the Lord works in mysterious ways. I don't even know where to start. Nothing really major has happened this week, but more than anything it has just been awesome. It’s weird but the weeks just seem to go better when our investigators are doing better. This week they've done amazing! On Tuesday this week, I forever conquered my fears of hot foods. We were at an investigators house and they brought these tiny little peppers in from the garden. For some reason I'm still not sure of, I ate it and have never been in more oral pain in my entire 19 nears of life. But that wasn't the worst. I will describe it with these words, "I will have diarrhea until Easters..." After that, the next big thing was when we played soccer with some investigators on Saturday night. We try to do something like that weekly because it is a good excuse for our investigators to come out with us and after the game we usually teach a lesson. Then came Sunday, As you know it was Fast Sunday and I tried to make it the most spiritual Fast Sunday of my mission. I fasted and prayed that our investigators, mainly the ones that we have on date to be baptized, would feel the spirit and receive the spiritual confirmation that they need that this message, church and gospel is true. We haven't talked to them yet since Church yesterday so we'll see how it went tonight when we visit them. Hey before I forget... I have a question... When you read my letters, how do you do it? Like when I send home a written letter how does everyone read it? Together or each separately? Just wondering. I'm sending off a letter today but due to the holiday, it will probably not be picked up until tomorrow. This morning we made French toast! And tomorrow's breakfast is homemade gravy with biscuits! We like to cook and its fun! It doesn't always taste the best but it works! When we ate the French toast this morning, it made me think back to Mom's special French toast that is so good that I love! Unfortunately, that'd be a bit to complex for us to make... I'll send off this email for now so that you can read and respond if you're able! I love you all so much. I really can't say that enough. I love every minute of being on this mission. I know that I'm part of a royal army, and I'm saving souls. I'm glad you enjoyed that story about the soldier. It was given to me but a brother in one of the English wards in our stake. I hope you have a fantastic week and in everything you do, you remember to recognize or look for, the hand of the Lord. He is such a big part of our lives. He loves each and every one of us. And he died on the cross for each one of us personally, so that through his experiences, he may know how to succor or comfort us when we encounter those trials. I know he lives. I know I'm a representative of him. I love him and I love each of you. Thank you for your support, prayers, and letters. Can't wait to talk to you soon when the visa comes! :)

Elder James R. Ricks

Incredible Week

My Family,

Another week added to the records. Last week I never would have thought I could have a better week. But.... this last week has proved that wrong! First of all... thank you SO much for all your emails! Chandler: I laughed so hard when you said you were on the "jon!" I love you Chandler! Claire: I'm so excited to hear about the things you do in school this year! And Grace: I'm so proud of you for getting your very own email! How awesome! I absolutely LOVED the quotes! I wrote them down in my planner to memorize! I love my family so much! Every week it grows and grows and I know its because I'm serving a mission. I would give my own life for every one of you. That is how much I love you! Now about this AMAZING WEEK!!!!! First of all... Elder López left and we got a new companion! He is from Arkansas and has been out a year and is so awesome! His name is Elder Carr. The change in companionships helped to boost motivation and productivity! This last week we put four homes on date for a total of 10 people! Their date is the 25th of September! How exciting! Their names are Cecilia, Angeles, Angel, Andres, Otilia, Alberto, Samuel, Poncho, Esau, and Celia. This month should be a very good month!
The guy that texted you has become a lifelong friend. I've cried with him and laughed with him. He is the high council rep. for the Spanish branch and gives us rides probably for 10 hours a week. He is an amazing man! One day we had a meeting with him and in his car it said it was 109! So he took a picture of it and jokingly I said, "You should send it to my mom!" Then he said..... "What's her number?" Too funny! I really do love him though! He helped me so much with homesickness and stuff like that!
Any other questions that I'm forgetting to answer? Today at Wal-Mart I bought rechargeable batteries and a charger and am pretty excited about those! Save a little money here in the states and not have to buy camera batteries in Mexico! Speaking of Mexico... I think it should be coming soon... I feel it. But.. Who knows? I'm happy where I'm at right now and just trying to finish the work the Lord has for me while I'm here! Our area is coming alive and we're having so much success. It’s a blessing to be a part of it! Speaking of success!!!!! Awesome work with Vicky! How cool! Sounds like that is going amazing! Real quick I wanted to share a cool story I was given a couple of days ago... It’s about a soldier and its a letter he wrote home to his parents:


"Dear Mom and Dad,
Yesterday we were assigned to fly support for some of the outlying firebases. While there I learned that my good friend Jay had gone out on patrol 3 days ago and was now presumes missing. I asked our pilot it there was any way we could help in the search. The pilot understood my concern. He said he would do whatever he could. It was not until later that day that we felt that we had found them.
As we flew over I could see bodies everywhere. My heart cried out as we tried to land. As we did so we came under ground fire and were forced to land a short distance away. I pleaded with the pilot to let me go out myself and try to bring back my friend. He said, "We'll pick you up at 0600 am tomorrow, but I don' think it'll be worth it. Your friend and everyone else are probably already dead, and you're just throwing your life away." As the chopper flew away, Mom, my heart cried out with so much fear I began to cry.
I crawled on my belly half the night and somehow I managed to reach them. One by one I searched for Jay until I found him. It took me all night to drag him back and at times I could carry him on my shoulders till I could no longer walk. Finally somehow we made it back to the chopper. Captain with tears in his eyes, looked at me so tenderly and said, "I told you it wasn't worth it, your friend is dead and now you are wounded."
I said, "It was worth it, Sir."
He said, "Listen to me, I am telling you that your friend is dead.
"Yes sir, I understand. But it was still worth it."
"How do you mean it was worth it?"

"It was worth it sir, because when I got to him, as he was dying, he looked up at me and said, "I knew you would come."


What a powerful story. I often feel like this. Sometimes its scary to be out here by myself. But I can promise each of you, my special family that this work is worth it. In the pre-existence, the people I'm teaching knew that they would be raised in circumstances that they wouldn't have the gospel. But I like to think that I put my hand on their shoulder and said, "Don't worry my friend... I'll find you. And I'll bring you back home." I love this work. I love being a "spiritual heart surgeon" or a "spiritual life guard." There are real people that need help even here in SLC that are suffering. And I love being a missionary. I love you all so much! Thank you for all your sweet letters and support. Till next week!!!

Elder James R. Ricks

My First Baptism!

Mi Querida Familia,

Holy smokes! I can't believe it’s already Monday again! It feels like I was emailing you yesterday! This last week has been by far my most successful yet. We worked our tails off this last week and broke all of the goals for this area for the last three years. We had 19 members with a member from the branch with us and the record for three years has been 11. It was really hard and required that we didn't waste a single second but it was so rewarding Sunday night, at the end of the week to crawl into bed, entirely exhausted, and know that I did my best that week. And to make a good week the best ever....... I HAD MY FIRST BAPTISM! I cannot put into words how amazing it felt. I was overcome with the spirit. The missionaries (there were five of us) sang the musical number and it was so so so spiritual. We sang two songs: "When I'm baptized," and "He sent his Son." It was so amazing. Afterwards she told me that she felt like she was born again, clean, pure and happy as she has ever been. I'm sending pictures in the mail so they should be there by the end of this week because I forgot to bring my camera with me to the library today. She has increased my testimony about faith. She has had to exhort extreme amounts of faith to stand up against the situations she is faced with. I encountered an interesting set of emotions when she told us she wanted to be baptized. Up until that point we were her source of strength and the ones who knew what was best for her. But when she accepted to be baptized and knew she needed to do it, it was like God took her problems and concerns off my mind and seemed to say, "Don't worry about her anymore James. You've done your part... She's in my hands now. Thank you for bringing her back." It was so surreal to step out of the situation and realize who controls this work. I felt like I knew she had been truly truly converted and that she had made it. On Sunday, when we confirmed her, she received keys to the door of eternal life and exaltation. The gospel truly is the best gift a man can give. It seems like my hardest weeks, (the week before this past week) are followed by an amazing week! It has been hard to get used to the up-and-down rollercoaster of emotions but I know that its this emotionally flexibility where lessons are learned. If nothing else, whenever I'm having a bad week, I can almost assume that there will be good times ahead, and that gives me motivation to work hard. This coming week will bring many challenges and change. Transfer meetings are on Wednesday and my trainer, Elder Lopez is going home. This will leave me, (a visa-waiter) and Elder Pence who has been about 3 weeks less than me, alone in our area, both trying to learn Spanish! But I'm so so so so excited to be challenged! My Spanish will soar because it will have to. I look forward to this next week with promise and excitement. We have an investigator on date to be baptized on September 11th, which will be the next one I have if I'm still here. As far as the visa goes, I honestly don’t think about it too much anymore. Every once in a while when a plane will fly over head I'll think, "I kinda wish I was on that right now... “Then I remember that I'm on the Lord's errand and I'll faithfully work wherever he needs me. Thank you for your prayers. Thank you for your support. I feel them every single day as I wake up for another day of the best two years of my life. I miss you all like crazy but wouldn't rather be anywhere else. Know that I pray for each of you every day! I love you all so much and can't wait to talk to you on the phone when I leave for Veracruz!

Love always,

Elder James R. Ricks

August 17, 2010

Dear Family,

Here goes another week! Sorry I couldn't email yesterday! We got so busy with running little errands that we just ran out of time! Good news first!!!! This Friday I'm having my first baptism! I'm going to record it with the new voice recorder I was given and I'll send it to you! I'm so excited to have my first baptism. I hope I don't leave before then! :) Her testimony is so strong and makes mine stronger to hear it. Last week she brought 3 friends of hers to church!! She is doing missionary work for us now! Kinda funny! Just a little bit of bad news... I've been a little homesick lately.. Not really sure why. But this time around it’s different. I know the solution now. Honestly all I do to not feel bad is get to work. Chin up and smiling! It’s so true. Other than that, Elder Ricks is doing amazing! I can't believe they gave Dad an iPad! Ha ha How cool! Sounds like the new job is great! I'm so glad to hear about the "Blessing Counting." That motivates me to work so much harder. I also like how you're going to wait to tell me till I get back! Makes me, again, want to work even harder! I know as well that we're recieving blessings from what I'm doing, and I'm so grateful for the opportunity I have to do it. Everyday at the end of my journal entries I write, "I love this work." And its so true. Hannah said it best after her trip to Mexico. I truly am addicted to how it feels to forget about myself and worry about the salvation of those I teach. It's such a humbling and wonderful experience. I learn something new about the gospel or myself or of Christ everyday. I also know that no one ever ever EVER told me coming on a mission would be easy. I feel Brenda's and Trevor's pain. I feel like I've been there. Its really hard and poor Trevor has some rough nights ahead of him, BUT...... The blessings and knowledge and opportunities outweigh the trials, homesicknesses, pains, tears, and troubles. Every young man in the world should go through this experience. The world would be such a better place. One of the biggest changes this work has brought about in me so far is the complete and total desire to turn away from sin. I want to live a perfect life. I learned this by realizing how much I love my family. And becuase I love you all so much, I want to live with you all forever. And to do this I have to try my hardest, and then at the very point I can't possibly do anymore... I get on my knees, and ask my Father in Heaven to let my family know back home in Texas, that I love them. Then I stand up, chin to the sky, and work more. I know who I am. And I know what God wants me to do. I'm so grateful the opportunity to do it. One of my new favorite scriptures is in John 15:13. "Greater love hath no man than this. To lay down his life for his friends." I know that the Savior of the World died for each one of us personally. I know that through him I can achieve my goal to live with all of you for all time. I love you all so much! Never forget to pray, read and pray and read more. God is in our lives and I know that's true. Have a great week and know that Friday at 8pm I'll be participating in my first baptism on my mission. I love you all!!

Elder James Reed Ricks

"Be Still My Soul"

My Family, August 9, 2010

I don't even know where to start this week. I'm sorry if it seems like I always write home about the same stuff. For the most part, this week has been pretty normal. I can't believe how fast it's gone by though! Something did happen this week that is pretty cool though. Last week, the investigator we've been teaching for a while now (not the one who wanted me to baptize her) called us and asked if we could meet her because she had something she needed to talk to us about. We were a little worried but still went. When we got there it wasn't what we had expected. She started crying as she told us she had been reading the scriptures the night before. She told us that after she read a certain verse, she burst into tears and felt an overwhelming amount of the spirit. It was so good to hear this because for the last week or so we've been working really hard to get her to receive a testimony. She had told us that she wanted to know it was true but hadn't felt it. So when she told us that she had felt the spirit we were so excited. Then after that she looked up at us and said she wants to be baptized. Right when she said that I felt like she'd won the race of her life. To be baptized she has had to stop drinking and smoking and move out of her boyfriend’s house. (We're helping her move this week) She will be baptized on August 20, 2010 at 7pm. It is so so so special to be just a tiny part of this change she is making in her life.

As far as tracting goes.... we don't do a whole lot. We tract for maybe an hour or two a week. When we do tract though, we each take turns choosing the apartment complex, building and house number. I'm doing good though. My trainer goes home on the 25th of this month which is transfers so I might be getting re-assigned to a new area. Who knows? I'll let you know obviously when I know. I will hurry and send this for now so you can maybe reply back if you can. I love you all so much! Never forget that! I think about you all every day. Keep praying for me. These are some things I could use help with: my visa, peace, patience, and diligence. I love you all.

Elder James Ricks

"I'll Go Where You Want Me To Go"

Mi querido Familia: August 2, 2010

Another amazing week gone by! This week has been one of the best. First of all... the new house looks AMAZING! It looks exactly like I pictured it! I even like the address! Ha ha is there a lot of LDS people on that street or are they all living down on Outer Darkness Lane? Thanks for all the pictures! I really do wish I could have been there to help move but know that I was working hard here too! A little bit of bad news... The lady I had on date for baptism has had some problems. She was on track to get married to her boyfriend (they have to get married or move out before we can baptize them) Right now we are trying to help them find a house that she can rent to live in because she is moving out. Her boyfriend isn't interested anymore. Its been hard because we were so excited to baptize them but then things just came up. It happens though.
I thought this week was going to be way way way harder than it actually was. With Elder Anderson going to Veracruz on Friday, I was thinking that I'd be distracted all week. But this week I've worked my tail off to show the Lord that I deserve to go. I pray that it is coming. I think it should be. Have you called the Offices recently? I wonder how the whole visa problem in general is going... I'm in the Meadowbrook 3rd Spanish branch in Taylorsville, UT. And before I forget, yes... I did speak in sacrament 3 weeks ago and it was amazing. I talked about the Book of Mormon and why it is what we as missionaries use to bring "the other sheep" back to their Shepard. I think we're speaking next week in an English ward again. I'll hurry and send off this email for now so you can email questions back or. Hope you get it in time! Thanks so much for the photos and encouraging support! Never forget that I love you all! Keep praying for my visa to come and that I'll have the success we're striving for here in little old Taylorsville Utah! Love you all!


Elder James R. Ricks