Work of the Lord- Week 95

 Hey, everyone! I hope that you all had WONDERFUL Christmas days and have had fun spending time with family this last week! You are all the very best! Thank you SO much for everyone who sent emails, letters and Christmas gifts!!! I love you all!

This week is transfer week! Some pretty exciting stuff! I will be staying in this area, and getting a new companion, Elder Hoopes! Elder Hansen is also staying here, and he is getting a new companion!!! So there is going to be 4 of us here! And it's so cool because in the YSA area, we have opened 3 areas during the course of my mission! There is now YSA A, B, C & D haha! The work of the Lord is progressing and it's amazing to be apart of it!

Christmas was so fun! I got to call and open presents with the Hansen family! They are too fun. And the day before Christmas I made a goal to read the whole ministry of Jesus Christ to His peoplenin the Americas on Christmas, so that's what I did! It was amazing to read the things that He did on His day! I was also able to finish the Book of Mormon a couple days ago & I know that it is the word of God!! 

I really am so grateful for our Savior Jesus Christ and for the things He did for us! Focusing on His birth and the fact that God gave us a Savior was so amazing and to me, proves that God does exist and loves us! I've set a goal to make a list this week of a couple things I want to do better to follow Jesus Christ more and to use His Atonement, and I invite you to do the same! I love you

DO GOOD, BE GOOD 

Elder T. Ricks 

It's Christmas Time- Week 94

 Well, another week has come & gone! It's so crazy how fast it goes. Everytime I write these emails it feels like I just barely got done writing the last one. At the beginning of my mission I set a count down up on my phone counting down the days that I had until I would get home thinking that the less time I had the happier I would be about coming home, but now that it is getting so low I wish it was saying that is how long I have been on my mission! 

This week I also sent a couple missionaries home, one of those being Hermana Kono! Soo crazy, she was the only one going home that was originally called to serve in Wisconsin. I got to go on exchanges with Elder Cook, one of my past companions, and Elder Hatch, one of my last District Leaders & then a couple other super good missionaries! We were driving a lot, but thanks to technology we can find in my area in Milwaukee no matter where we are at! What a blessing that is! 

I have been on the guitar grind as much as I can recently & it is sooo fun. It's amazing how music brings the spirit so strong! Also, when you practice something you really can get better at it haha! Some day I'll get around to practicing the piano again!

We got to go all the way up to the UP. If you don't know what that is, it means the Upper Peninsula. If you still don't know what that means, it means the part of Michigan that is only connected to the rest of Michigan by a bridge and is basically it's own country haha! It was a blast. When we were taking an exchange picture of the 4 of us, Elders Hansen, Chapman, Hatch & me somebody said that was such a dad picture sooo we decided that when we are all dad's we will recreate the picture:) 

Thanks for all of your prayers and thoughts. Merry Christmas:) "For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord." - "Que os ha nacido hoy, en la ciudad de David, un Salvador, que es Cristo el Señor." I'm so grateful for our Savior❤ 

DO GOOD, BE GOOD

Elder T. Ricks 

Feliz cumpleaños y ilumina el mundo- Week 93

 Wow!!! Time really does fly. I hope that all is going well for you! I didn't have PDay last week due to some meetings and peoples souls on the line! I hope that all of you have had an amazing couple weeks!!

Happy birthday, Carson!!!!!!! I'm so glad that we are serving missions at the same time, and I hope that you had the greatest birthday ever! Love you man, thanks for your example!

Saw a cool Wendy's sign and wanted to take a picture with it! 

This last week we had Christmas Zone Conference and it was so fun! We got to focus all on the signs of the birth of Jesus Christ and read 3 Nephi 1, Luke 2 & Matthew 2! As we were reading them we had people get up and do musical numbers and the song always correlated to where we were at in the story! It was so fun! Then my amazing family even sent a surprise package that I got to open at it, and it was so amazing! I have the best family!

I've been studying a little in the Doctrine & Covenants and in section 36 a man named Edward Partridge recieved the Holy Ghost and was commanded to share his testimony to the world. Later in the section that invitation is given to all who have recieved the Gift of the Holy Ghost. This time of year is so special as we focus on Jesus Christ it is easier than ever to follow this commandment! Learn about and use #LightTheWorld so that you can be a light to those around you this Christmas season!

No email- Week 92

#GiveThanks- Week 91

 I love you all! Hope you had an amazing week and that you have been able to find true joy and happiness with the invitation from our prophet! He is truly inspired and we ought to listen to him! 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE BEST OLDER BROTHER EVER! Love you, Braeden:)

This week we had a couple meetings and it is soooo fun. Like you all know, Elder Hansen and I match like everywhere! So we walk in to meetings and like everyone that I have served around in the past started to try to match with their companions, just like us haha!!!! It is adorable! 

I was able to go on some more exchanges this week!! It's so cool that I get to go and learn from so many different people! It's such a blessing.

Thanksgiving was a blast! And a great time to think and ponder about all of the blessings, miracles and joy that we have had! On one of my exchanges this week, one of the Elders told us what he has been doing, and before he prays to go to bed, he sits and ponders for a couple minutes, just thinking about things that were accomplished and things that could be improved! So Elder Hansen and I have started doing that and it makes all the difference! 

Also, at this time of year, I am beyond grateful for the knowledge that we have of the Plan of Happiness. It can and should fill us with hope, joy and purpose while we are here on the earth, even with all of our trials. You are all amazing examples of this to me and I'm grateful for that.

As I have been thinking about gratitude for this last week, I was thinking of the experiences of Lehi and his family when they received the brass plates! Just as they "rejoice[d] exceedingly … and they gave thanks unto the God of Israel," (1 Nephi 5:9) so can we, for all of the blessings and miracles we have received! I invite you to continue considering the goodness and greatness of God, by watching the Hope Shines Bright & the Christ Child videos so that we truly can LIGHT THE WORLD.

DO GOOD, BE GOOD

Love,

Elder T. Ricks 

Transfer week- Week 90

 Hey everyone!!!! I love you!

This week we had transfers!! They went super smooth which was so great:) good news! I am staying with Elder Hansen another one!!! He has tuaght me so so much! Such a good example. Because we are staying companions over Christmas... weeeee bought matching clothes to do Christmas cards;) and did a quick photo shoot in between teaching appointments!

Also, for a meeting we had on Transfer day, we talked to Sister Murphy, President Murphy's wife, and told her the outfit we were going to wear. So that morning she told President Murphy that he should wear that outfit because she thought it would be cute, but really it was just so that she could help us match with him hahaha!!! 

We set expectations and goals for this transfer and the Lord is expecting so much, it is amazing! He has worked so many miracles since I have been here! And any time I get overwhelmed or not sure if I can do it, the scripture in D&C 82:3 'of him unto whom much is given much is required.' 

I hope that you all were able to watch President Nelson give his message of hope! It was truly amazing! I have LOVED seeing everyones gratitude posts:) especially my mom and dad!!! They are the best examples of 'being quick to observe' to follow the council of our prophet!

I know this is Christ's church on the earth! I'm grateful for a prophet who leads and guides us:) if you haven't watched his video of hope, I would suggest it! I know as we listen to the words of the prophet AND act on his words, we will be more happy! 

DO GOOD, BE GOOD

Love,

Elder T. Ricks 

2 more- Week 89

 Hey everyone!!!! Hope all is going well! This week has been so awesome! We got to spend some time planning for this upcoming transfer and there is SO MUCH good things happening!!! We actually got news this last week from Salt Lake headquarters that the Wisconsin Milwaukee mission is the #1 online finding mission! The Lord really is so merciful and willing to bless as we trust in Him and work diligently:) 

We also got to go to a meeting with all of the newer missionaries and trainers, so I got to see a couple if my friends and recreate a photo!! Elder Lacey doesn't like to dab, but Hermana Kono and I always be dabbing!:)

Also, my companion, Elder Hansen, and I always be matching too! 

I started a new study recently reading through the Book of Mormon marking all references to the Godhead and circling all of the small and simple things that we can and should do!!! 2 Nephi 28:24-25,30 says 'Therefore, wo be unto him that is at ease in Zion! Wo be unto him that crieth: All is well ... For behold, thus saith the Lord God: I will give unto the children of men line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little; and blessed are those who hearken unto my precepts, and lend an ear unto my counsel, for they shall learn wisdom; for unto him that receiveth I will give more; and from them that shall say, We have enough, from them shall be taken away even that which they have.' As I read this, it really struck me that this life is a continuous process and we always need to seek the Lord in all that we do!! As we do that we will be a delightsome, happy people:) I love you all!

DO GOOD, BE GOOD

Love,

Elder T. Ricks 

:)- Week 88

 Time is still going by too fast! I can't believe Ashlynn just turned 18! She's too little to be that old! HAPPY BIRTHDAY Ashlynn:) I love you and hope you had an amazing birthday:) Hope that everyone has had an amazing week!!!

Technology is amazing and I'm so glad we have it to continue the work of the Lord! It's amazing how He is providing us with more success now than ever! This past week we were able to invite 3 more people to be baptized who all accepted! 

We were able to go on exchanges with a lot more Elders in the Madison areas and it was so great to learn more ideas from them! We took a huge bag of otter pops with us and finished them before Wednesday:) 

I have been studying in Matthew this week about the Atonement of Jesus Christ and His submission to the Father. All things He did was to satisfy the requirements of the Father's plan and is an example and invitation for all of us to yield to the will of our Father in Heaven! I invite all of you to pray this week and ask God how you can better submit your will to His will and I promise He will give you an answer:) I love you all!

DO GOOD, BE GOOD

Love,

Elder T. Ricks 

Novemberrrrrr- Week 87

 Hello!!

Time is going faster than ever! It's so crazy we only have 2 months of the year left! I hope that you all had a great Halloween! I definitely did! 

This week we were able to go on some SPANISH EXCHANGES!!! It was so fun! Spanish is the best! I am so glad that I have been able to learn a little Spanish for my mission! We were in Madison and there was an Elder who was returning to his original mission in Zambia, Africa!!! So we picked him up since we were on exchanges there and he got to spend the night with us! There are so many good missionaries everywhere! I'm so glad that I get to be a missionary at this time.

We went to Institute this week and the Sisters had invited a guy to come who is a little interesting. We sat by him because they had some other appointments and were a little late to Institute! And he made some super interesting comments! Good guy, just a little interesting. Then after the closing prayer he turned around and got on his knees to start praying on the ground. When he had finished he got offended that we didn't give him a handshake/help him up and called us later that night to tell us how he felt! It was a weird experience, but I am grateful for the restored gospel and to be a part of this amazing church!

We were able to match with Nick, one of our recent converts, at church this week and it was so funny! We are convincing another guy that is being taught in the ward to apply to BYU-I! We told him that we could all meet up in Idaho/Utah and he seemed down to do that!

We were also able to put up our Christmas tree this week:) 

I love being a missionary to be able to share the gospel!!! I also love the studies that we get to do. I was able to read Mosiah 18 this last week which talks all about baptism and the covenants that we make and what stood out to me this time was the preparation that was needed for the baptisms to take place and the importance of church and the sacrament and that we always remember the covenants we made at baptism!! I'm so grateful for our Savior who has given us so many ways to remember and recognize Him in our lives. I invite you all to read Mosiah 18 and think about your preparations for the sacrament every Sunday!! I love you all!

DO GOOD, BE GOOD

Love,

Elder T. Ricks

:)- Week 86

 Hello, everyone!!! I sure love you all. I hope that all is going well. You have all been in my prayers because of the snow and cold weather! I hope that because it is starting so early that when I get home it won't have very long left!

 

This week went by so fast! We had virtual Zone Conferences! It was kinda nice because we didn't have to go in person, we got to do them in 4 meetings in 3 days compared to 6 meetings over the course of 2 weeks! Also it was amazing! It was centered on revelation and the tools that the Lord has given us to succeed and how to balance those tools! And we got to do lots of exchanges this week too! I went to Green Bay, a tiny city called Shawano and Stevens Point (we didn't get the big ice cream again...) but it all went so good!

 

We were able to baptize Alina on Saturday and she got confirmed yesterday!! What an awesome time! The ward is so great! We hardly even talked to her for more than a minute at church because the ward wanted to talk to her and take her to Relief Society and they were so kind! I was able to gove a talk! It was based on the scripture in D&C 58:27-28 and on our divine potential as we use our agency for good to follow Christ!

 

Elder Hansen and I still try to match all the time and so the Sisters in our ward started wanting to coordinate with us so they can match us as well!! It's so fun:)

 

And this week I have been studying a lot from Matthew 26 and 3 Nephi 18 and thinking a lot about the sacrament and why it is important! I felt the Spirit super strong yesterday as I had my eyes closed just thinking about Christ and what the sacrament means! I invite you all to read Matthew 26 or 3 Nephi 18 this week and think about what the sacrament means to you:) I love you all!

 

DO GOOD, BE GOOD

 

Love, 

Elder T. Ricks