So I got to Wisconsin last week exactly! It's definitely different than I thought. It's super exciting though! I got my training companion Elder Thacker! He is super cool. He lives in Highland Utah, super smart, fluent in Spanish, likes dancing and teaches people here how to do hip-hop, he loves theater things and acting, he has even been on a Broadway Production on the biggest stage in New York City!
This week I didn't get to do much teaching. I am in a city called Marshfield and it is kind of out in the middle of no where! I have a super big area but only have one ward! We are in the process of either splitting the ward or getting a new building so we can fit everyone! It is the smallest building. And it used to be smaller! They have added into it in recent years. There is mostly English people so when I speak Spanish is mostly in my apartment or when we are doing language study!! But we still run into a couple hispanics! There are a lot more in Milwaukee, Green Bay, and Madison! Also there are 15 Spanish missionaries and about 11 of them are going home by the end of August!
The first day I was here in Marshfield it showed probably 18 inches!! There is still lots of snow on the ground and we still get calls to help people shovel their driveway haha! It's awesome. We had planned out our day and had prayed about who we should teach and had a super cool experience the first door we went to! We talked to this old lady named Rose and she used to be good friends with some members that had moved out of the ward. Her brother had just passed away and so we had the opportunity to share a message with her. She loves the Earth and animals and cats and birds. We were able to teach her about the restoration and Joseph Smith. We invited her to read the Introduction of the Book of Mormon and she said she would! Watching Elder Thacker teach her mostly (with a little of me baring my testimony) was one of the coolest things. That is why I am out here! To serve people and to teach them of the truthfulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and try to bring them the peace and joy that I have from this gospel!
Another individual that we are teaching is Kriss. She has such a hard life and in a bad situation and she called us and asked us to come over and help brighten her day. She says that whenever she is praying, reading the scriptures, and listening to the missionaries she is the most happy and that is when she feels the most blessed. And it's true! When we turn to the Lord and show Him that we are willing to follow the commandments and change our hearts he will pour blessings upon us. We were able to teach her the story about Alma and Amulek from Alma 14. I would invite you all to read it it's a good read!!
We also had this thing called Conferencia de Español where all the Spanish missionaries went to Milwaukee and had a conference together! An area 70, Elder Scott, was there and it was so cool to here from him all the things they are working on to help the Spanish missionaries in our area! There is no Spanish branch in my area currently but we are working on getting more Hispanics to come to church so that we can get one or two opened up by the time I leave!
General Conference was awesome!!!!! I was kind of hoping that there would've been some announcements with some changes but wow! It was so amazing to hear from our amazing prophet, the mouthpiece of our Heavenly Father, and all of the apostles and general authorities! And I had the great opportunity to watch it at the CCM:) Super cool! I know the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is true and that we have a living prophet to lead and guide us! I know Joseph Smith restored the gospel for our benefit and we should share the happiness it brings us to everyone around us especially through our examples and just love everyone and do what Christ would do! I am grateful for the opportunity I have to share this beautiful message with others here in Wisconsin!
Also, I am so grateful for you all and want to thank you guys for your thoughts and prayers! I love hearing about what's going on in all of your lives at home so don't be afraid to email me anytime! I'll always try to answer:) I love you all!!
DO GOOD BE GOOD
Love,
Elder Ricks
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