#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