Mom, an Ostrich Bit my Finger and It Really Hurt! 10/26/2015

Yes. It's true. It really did bite my finger! So last monday, the whole district went to this Ostrich farm in Solvang, and I was standing there taking a picture after we fed the ostriches, AND IT BITE MY FINGER!!!!! I screamed and ran away. Luckily, I found that Ostriches don't have teeth, so it didn't bite my finger OFF, but it did leave a mark for like 5 minutes. And my companion even got a picture of it eye-balling my finger right before it bit me! Ignore how ugly I look, it was super windy and dusty, and let's be real I don't get ready on P-day anyways. 

Also, I forgot to tell you last week that on sunday night, we were driving home and there were a bunch of protestors holding up signs that said, "Prayer works," "We love Jesus," "honk for Jesus," etc. And they were chanting, "WE LOVE JESUS, YES WE DO, WE LOVE JESUS HOW 'BOUT YOU?!" And then they would cheer super loud if someone honked. Hahaha it was super crazy. We should have given them a Book of Mormon! 

So last week one day we had planned to go make cookies with this member and then deliver them to people with her, but she had to cancel right before, so we had to figure out something else. We really felt like we should go to Mission Hills, so we just went, and used names that we had picked for the next week during weekly planning. We were about to go to this one house, and Hna Pirir said, "Oh I remember this house. They told us they weren't interested because they are catholic." But we decided to knock anyways, and a man named Valetin answered the door. We talked for a little bit and he asked how old me were, and then he told us, "I think I would need someone more experienced and intelligent to teach me." (He didn't say it rudely - that's just how it translates into English, don't worry.) But none the less, the idea of him not accepting our message based off of how old me were made prideful little Hermana Ricks super mad and determined to not leave until he knew that we were representatives of Jesus Christ with powerful testimonies, and an important message to share. We talked for a really long time and he kept asking us multiple questions to try and bash our testimonies, because he didn't think we were old enough to ACTUALLY believe what we were teaching. One of these questions was, "Do you know who you were before you came here?" By the time we got to this point, I was trying to use every ounce of my testimony that I could. I told him, "Yes. Before I came here, I was a valiant fighter and supporter of Jesus Christ. I knew His plan, and I fought for it. I knew why I was coming here, and I know now through the power of the Holy Ghost why I am here." I then asked Valentin if he knew why he was here. He said he knew where he was before, but when I asked him what the point of life was he said, "No, I forgot. What is it?" I told him it is to learn and prepare to return to live with God and our families for eternity, and inherit all that the Father has." By the end he said, "Thank you for reminding me." We then gave him a Book of Mormon, told him he could find his purpose in that book, and he told us we could come back to teach him. It was one of the most exhausting lessons I've had, but so cool to see how the power of the spirit was able to humble to man. 

I hope you all have a great week!! Thank you for everything! :) 

<3 Hermana Trystan Ricks 

Week Two in Da Hood 10/19/2015

The branch in Lompoc is awesome. The branch president is so excited about missionary work, and so is the ward council! All of the investigators it looks like have just been chased down by missionaries and don't actually want them to come. Most of the people in the potential investigators section are from the same group of apartments that multiple churches go to and go tracting, and so I haven't seen any success in going there so far. I feel bad because I came in and so many things missionaries have been doing weren't okay like service at a children's club, dancing at a retirement home to crazy music (okay not really that crazy, but music we aren't allowed to listen to - let alone dance in front of a crowd of people to it!), spending way too much time at members homes without even sharing a message, and just a bunch of empty teaching efforts. I try not to come into new areas and judge everything, because I think a lot of missionaries do that before they really understand. But I gave it long enough to know that my first impression was right! So as far as investigators go, we feel like we have to basically start over. Hopefully we will find lots of people! Pray for us to be guided to where we are suppose to go. 

Okay I'll stop complaining now. :) Lompoc really is awesome!! I love the branch so much, and the members are so great. The branch president especially... he da best! And I love my companion so much as well. She radiates with the spirit, and she follows the promptings that she receives. She asked me the other day to let her know what she can do better and said, "I am here to improve." I love her! 

ALSO!!! Guess who got to go on exchanges again with the one and only Hermana Jeronimo?! MEEE!!!!! It was so fun. :) We stayed here in Lompoc...she got the same impression of our whole investigator pool situation as I did... and we had so much fun. Except we totally forgot to take any pictures... But we had a great Experience  teaching one of the counselors in the bishopric the Restoration. When we recited the first vision he teared up and said he felt the same way the first time he found out that it was true. I learned a lot from Hermana Jeronimo! She is such a hard working missionary. Something she does that I want to do as well is testify every single time I open my mouth. I am pretty sure every time she responded to something that the investigators said she started with, "I know..." or "We know..." or "I have seen in my life..." I have especially been learning lately the importance of testifying, because all of the logical things that we try to use as missionaries doesn't work! That isn't what brings the spirit, and other churches use those same arguments anyways. So why would those prove our message is true? They don't.

The only thing that works is testifying. Hna J is really good at beginning each doctrine she teaches with a testimony. 

Random fact:President Felix has asked that we elevate our mission through the music we listen to. He explained that "if it makes you bob your head, it probably doesn't bring the spirit." and that "EFY music is for youth, and we are not youth." So I will now say goodbye to my efy cd's and nashville tribute CD's for the next 8 months...I decided a good way for me to decide if it's good to listen to is if I can still talk to my companion. If I have to stop the conversation to sing along then it is distracting.

Also random fact I forgot to tell you last week - A rocket landed near our apartment at like 3 in the morning and it felt like we were in an earthquake! I looked out the window and saw this flaming red triangle flying through the sky, and then I fell back asleep. It was super cool. :)

Also! I learned how to make Tamales yesterday! We stopped by a members and she was making them and her kids weren't helping (Sorry mom... reminds me of when I would make you make mashed potatoes and then go take a nap...) So we helped her! And now I am a professional tamal maker. :)

I have gained a testimony of the atonement this week and of the sacrament! I am so grateful to be able to take the sacrament and have a fresh new start. I definitely struggle with so many things that I thought be 10 months I'd be over by now, but I am still so weak. I am so grateful for a savior who literally saves me from all of the faults that I have, and who allows me to because stronger. 

Have a great week everyone! Read the Book of Mormon - it is true!

Hello Lompton!! 10/12/2015

I am loving Lompoc. Everyone here calls it Lompton because it's so ghetto. Which means....SPANISH WORK GALORE!!! WOOHOOOO! So good to be back! I have been living too nice for too long. And now it's time to practice some spanish finally! However, I do miss the Morro apartment and my view of the ocean from my study desk.. oh well. But yes! I am learning a ton of spanish here. Especially with a native companion! She was born in Guatemala, and came here from Orem, Utah. Her name is Hna Pirir, and she's the best. She just served with Hna Wallace who I was with in AG, so that's fun! I can tell she just came from her because of how much salad she eats...Hna Wallace is a healthy eater and it rubs off! ;) 

So one miracle we saw was last week when we were knocking on a potential investigator's door. We heard a family across the apartment complex yelling and swearing at each other. We felt like we needed to go knock on their door, but didn't want to make them even more mad! And we didn't want to be yelled at or shot or something...But we did it anyways, and as soon as the lady opened the door she apologized for the swearing, ranted to us for a little bit, and we just said, "Well we could tell you were having a hard time so we wanted to see if there is anything we can do to help!" She eventually invited us in. We were able to sing a hymn to her and say a prayer. By the time we left she had a completely different countenance! It was such a testimony builder to me of following the spirit. She was american though, so the english elders get to visit her now. :)

Hermana Pirir is so awesome! Another miracle that we saw last week was because of her ability to hear the voice of the spirit. We had received a referral from the english elders, and it was a lady that lived about a half hour away from where we live. (In Solvang which is the cutest town ever by the way. Mom, you would love it!) But we drove all the way out there to meet her, and when we got there we found that the address was wrong and didn't exist. After a while of trying to figure out what to do, Hermana Pirir said, "I feel like we should try that house." So we did, and it ended up being the house that the referral lived in! The gift of the Spirit is real.

So this week we have also been able to practice our cooking skills together. All of the missionaries are having a "fast from member meals" and so we can't eat any food given to us by members. Even dropped off on our door step. And we can't eat out! So we have been making lots of tostadas because those are our favorite, and also chicken and potatoes. Because I am from Idaho and I know how to do that! :) And mom...the pumpkin bread saved us. Thanks for sending us that!

I have gained a testimony this week of loving others! One last miracle we saw with the ward mission leader from simply taking him some cookies. So about a month ago, the Branch Mission Leader decided that he does not want to be a part of this church anymore. Someone in  the branch offended him, and he told the elders he is done, and he started visiting another church. However, he came to transfer meeting last week to see one of the missionaries bear his "dying testimony," and we dropped off cookies at his door, he texted us back and said, "Thank you for the cookies! No one has done that for me before...ever!" And this is after we had already tried to knock on his door and he wouldn't answer even though we knew he was home. And Hna. Pirir said he wouldn't answer any of their texts last transfer. It makes me want to focus more on loving everyone around me, because it really is the most powerful force.

I can already tell that I love the branch here! The branch President is stoked on missionary work, and he really wants it to become a ward. He is willing to do whatever ideas we throw at him! One thing I suggested was branch family home evenings, and he volunteered his home for tonight. So we will be doing that tonight. He is so awesome!

Well, I hope you all have a wonderful week! I love you all! The church is true, and Christ loves you!

<3 Hermana Ricks

(no subject) 10/05/15

Well, sad news. I am leaving Morro Bay. :''''( I am so sad! I totally thought that I was staying another transfer to be quite honest. I was shocked when they called and said, "Hermana Ricks! You are going to be transferred to Lompoc to work with Hermana Peirir." (I think that's her name...I've never met her before! But she is currently companions with Hermana Wallace -so that will be fun!) I do know that Hermana Peirir is a native, and that there are lots of spanish speakers in Lompoc, so I am excited to get to practice my spanish a lot! 

So on Tuesday we went to go visit the young women at mutual at the church, and we heard this mariachi band playing from Del Mar park (which is right next to the church). So we figured there was a huge party with lots of Latinos, so we decided we would walk over there instead and see if we could talk to anyone! Well, we got over to the park and it was pitch black. We looked from the music, and then we saw this group practicing down in a drainage pit thing in the middle of the field. So we sat there and listened and then clapped for them. We asked them if we could take a picture with them, and they told us that we were there first performance! I think they also said that it was their first practice together. But I'm never 100% positive of what anyone tells me in spanish...

The Diaz family is doing SO. WELL. We had two lessons with them this week, and they are just the most golden investigators I have ever met. The first lesson this week, when we started we asked who wanted to say the prayer. We thought that Hermana Diaz was going to say it, and then all of a sudden she starts having her little 3 year old daughter repeat her words! And then at the end we started talking about church and she said, "Oh yeah, we are sorry we haven't been able to come when you've invited us! The first sunday we can, we are going to come." We then asked if they worked on sundays and she said, "My husband has Sundays off, and I am trying to ask for them off too." UMM OKAY YOU ARE JUST PERFECT. Then the next lesson, at the end we asked them if they had felt anything since we had started teaching them, and the 12 year old son, Sergio Jr. said, "Well I've learned a lot, but not as much as I would like to." AHHHH I DON'T WANT TO LEAVE THIS FAMILY!!!!! I told Hermana Donnelly that she better let me know when they get baptized so I can come to the baptism!!

Well, saying goodbye to everyone was super sad. And I didn't even have church to see everyone at because it was conference!

But wasn't general conference amazing?! I loved every second of it! I felt like the overall message was how to better ourselves - especially through partaking of the sacrament. I loved Larry R Lawrence's talk where he challenged us to ask Heavenly Father, "What is keeping me from progressing?" I also loved the idea of ponderizing!! I haven't chosen a scripture of the week yet, but I will today! Have you all? 

I am so grateful for President Thomas S Monson and his example and dedication to bear witness of the living Christ. I know he is a prophet and mouth piece for the living God. 

I love you all! I hope you have a great week!!

And thank you for the package!! I have already been using the animal balloons, and Shay! Tonight we are going to teach the Diaz family about following the prophet with your animal balloon idea! :)

LOVE YOU!

<3 Hermana Ricks 

PULGARCITO VA ESTAR GORDO!!! 09/28/2015

So this week I got to go back to OXNARNIA for a day!!! But I didn't get to actually drive through my area, just to the mission office. :( But it was still super crazy to see everything again! I can't wait to go visit all of the people there..I miss them so much!

We had another lesson with the Diaz family (our miracle family that we met!) And their little Chihuahua that looks just like Okie was there. He went to go eat some chips that had been left on the couch and I yelled at him in spanish and told him he would be fat like my dog if he wasn't careful. I am taking a picture of Okie to show them all tonight. And I'll take a picture with Pulgarcito as well to show you all how skinny he is! :)

We met another AWESOME investigator named Samuel this week! He has been searching for a church, and he met the english speaking missionaries a few weeks ago. They gave him our number, and he called us up all on his own and set up an appointment! WOOHOO! (He also works at a bakery, so that's a plus cause we all know Hermana Ricks loves bread...) He is such a nice man. And he has so much faith! We are excited to start teaching him. 

The area is progressing so well. I really don't want to leave yet! I will find out on saturday if I get to stay another transfer or not. Pray that I do get to stay! We have a new ward mission leader, Brother Ryan, and he is so great! He was in the first group of Preach My Gospel missionaries, and he is really excited about the work. In ward council this week, for the first time in the last 3 transfers that I have been here, we had a good discussion on the needs of the Spanish group in this area! The young men's president (who speaks spanish and attends the group every once in a while) asked the question, "What is our goal of the Spanish group? If it is to get these people to the temple, then it isn't possible and their progression is hindered by just coming to the group." We then spent the rest of ward council talking about what we can do. We were able to explain our concerns of there being a lack of fellowship for investigators that we bring, because there aren't very many members that attend the group. We were then able to talk to the spanish members that night, and found out that they are able to change their work hours so that we can have spanish group during the morning - allowing spanish speaking members the opportunity to attend more than just a sacrament meeting. This will be so great for our other families that have children who will now be able to go to primary and young men and young womens! We are really excited to see the progress of the group and the shift in focus the ward has taken. It seems that everyone has in their goals that we want there to be a self sustaining spanish congregation here - hopefully a ward one day! :) 

I LOOOVED women's conference! It was so good! All of it! If you haven't watched it or don't know that that is...go on lds.org and watch the women's broadcast. It was incredible. I loved the story that President Uchtdorf shared as well. It answered so many of my questions! I encourage you all to take the time to watch General Conference this weekend. Prepare questions for it, and be ready to have your minds blown by the answers. I testify that we have living prophets today who lead and guide our church. They teach the puer docterine of Jesus Christ, and they are special witnesses of Him. If you need more faith in Jesus Christ, look to these men for assistance. 

I love you all! Have a great week! :) 

<3 Hermana Ricks 

Here's a picture from the mission office in the 'NARD.

sunset :) be jelly!

Oh well buenos dais Deer. (They always run by during studies!)

Baptist Church and a Chicken in the road! 09/21/2015

This area has so much potential. We are finding so many people that speak spanish, which is so awesome! We hope to see our little spanish group grow a ton! This last week we saw such a huge miracle. On tuesday night, we were on our way to a potential investigator's house, and I took the wrong turn (which is not unusual). However, this time I had the thought that maybe it was for a reason! So I looked around and saw no one outside, so I decided to just turn around and get back on the right road. Then all of a sudden people were walking around all over! There were 100,000,000 people. okay not really, but probably like 7 groups of people, and even a chicken in the middle of the road! (We were driving one way, and there was another car driving the other way, and we crossed paths at the same time as these two teenagers on scooters, and in the middle of it all, there was a chicken... weird.) So anyways we decided to pull over and get out and walk. As soon as we found a place to park, everyone disappeared. We had seen one of the families go into their home, and we noticed that it was most likely a Spanish speaking family. So we decided that we didn't want to waste our efforts of getting out of the car, so we went to go knock on the door. We rounded the corner, and the dad was literally waiting at the door for us. So we said (this is all in spanish of course), "Hello we are missionaries!" And he said, "Come in!" "Sit down!" And three of his children were sitting on the couch. His wife then walked out and acted like we were long lost friends, and then they just all sat there staring at us. We asked if they had ever met missionaries before or if they knew who we were, and they had no clue! So we started teaching them about the Book of Mormon, and asked them if they wanted to learn more. They all looked at each other and said, "We would love to! You can come back Thursday at 7:00!" Well that was exactly when we were going to ask for, because we had exchanges scheduled on thursday, and so we wanted to have some good lessons to go to that day! So Hermana Donnelly went back with Hermana Jeronimo on exchanges, and she said it was a very good and receptive lesson as well. They taught them the song, "I Am a Child of God" and all of them sang - even the dad! We are going back tonight to have a family home evening with them! And guess what! They even have a little puupy that looks exactly like Okie! (From Okie's skinny days... His name is Pulgarcito. :)) It was definitely the most surprising door approach I have ever experienced on my mission, but it showed me how much the Lord really is involved in this work, and how perfectly he puts people in our path.

The next day, we had zone conference in Santa Maria! We talked about the importance of the Book of Mormon. I have recently been reading the Book of Mormon and marking every time it talks about Christ, every time one of the writers testify of something, and every time they prophecy of something. Holy cow the Book of Mormon is amazing! It is such a powerful witness that Jesus is the Christ, and I know that it is through the study of this sacred record that people can come unto Christ. Read it!

Thursday we had exchanges, and I went on my third exchange with Hermana Bennion! It was really cool, because she was one of my first exchanges (I went with her in Ventura when I was serving in Oxnard with Hna Brown) and it was just cool to see how much we have both grown since then! We had an incredible lesson with our investigator, Daniel (He is the 17 year old that sang with us in Sacrament meeting, and his mom is an active member!) The very first lesson when Hermana Young and I started teaching him, we couldn't even get him to commit to pray on his own. Then, on thursday, we were talking about Christ and how we can be healed through him. We wanted  to watch the mormon message, "Lift," so we asked him to go get his laptop. While he was gone, we asked his mom if she needed any help because she was cleaning the kitchen, and she just looked at us and said, "You're already doing it." (Point one where the spirit was super strong and I just wanted to start crying.) So we watched "Lift" (you should go watch it if you haven't) and talked about how at first it was out of the men's comfort zone to help the lady in the video, but they became comfortable because their focus changed from themselves to loving Kathy. Hna Bennion then said, "There is no growth in the comfort zone, and there is no comfort in the growth zone." Then I asked Daniel if there had been anything we had ever asked him to do that was ever outside of his comfort zone. He said, "Of course. This whole thing is completely out of my comfort zone! I never would have done any of this on my own." where the spirit was super strong and I just wanted to start crying.) We then asked why the Book of Mormon is important for people to read (we have been having him study chapters about the atonement) and he said, "Well, I have found that there are a lot of good things in here. It is a book worth reading." (Point three where the spirit was super strong and I just wanted to start crying). We then asked him what he now thought of prayer and he said, "I have found it to be a confidence booster for me." (Point four where the spirit was super strong and I just wanted to start crying.) Well everyone, I never did cry! But I did feel the spirit very strongly, and it was the best lesson I have ever had with Daniel! It is so incredible to see how much - first off, music can touch someone's heart because that is how we first got him learning! And second, how much the Book of Mormon impacts, softens, and changes someone's heart little by little. 

Lastly! Holy cow. So a few weeks ago, we met this man outside of his trailer that was super nice, and was studying to become a preacher! He was from Mexico City, and used to be a Seventh Day Adventist, and is now going to a spanish baptist church. Well, he invited us to a party they were going to have, and then told us we could come back and talk to him on Saturday. But we accidentally made another appointment at the same time, so we stopped by his house earlier to tell him we needed to change it. And his mother-in-law answered the door. She was super nice as well, and we sang "How Great Thou Art" to her. She LOVED it and insisted we come to the party her church was having that night! We realized it was the same one that her son-in-law had invited us to, so we figured we had better go. So we did! IT was such a good experience, because it gave us a lot of perspective! First off, we felt super awkward walking inside, and we realized that that is how investigators feel when they come to church or an activity for the first time. But we went in and sat down, and there was a concert going on (with some sweet spanish christian music I might add) and then the preacher got up and announced to everyone in spanish that he wanted to welcome the two american visitors! When we responded in spanish they all got super excited and said, "AND they speak spanish!!" They then made us stand up and come introduce ourselves, where were from, and what we do. So we went up and announced to the whole congregation that we are missionaries por La Iglesia de Jesucristo de los Santos de los Ultimos Dias!  We then sat back down and listened to a guest preacher for the next hour and a half. He said a lot of really good things and I really liked it! But then he started talking about "This big crystal building in San Diego" and he couldn't remember if it was the Mormon's or the Jehovah's Witnesses, but he didn't like it. Hahahah Hermana Donnelly and I just looked at each other and busted up. I don't think they knew that "los mormones" y "La Iglesia de Jesucristo de los Santos de los Ultimos Dias" was the same thing... but that's okay! We liked them anyways! And it made me realize that I say a lot of the same things that the preacher was saying when I teach. And even though they are good and true things, our unique message to the world, is that the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ has been restored! It is on the earth today, and Jesus Christ himself leads the church! His teaching are found in the Book of Mormon, and we can find out for ourselves if the Book of  Mormon really is true. In the same exact way that we find out if the bible is true! First we have to read it, and then we have to think about it and see if it feels right to us, and then we have to ask our loving Father in Heaven what he thinks about it! Obviously He knows all things, and because he loves us, he will tell us if it is true. 

Well as you can see, it was quite an adventurous week!!!  It was also my hump day!! It is so crazy to think I have already been out here for half of my mission. Time is too short! But I am so grateful for all of the people I have met. (Oh P.S. I also found out that Isidro who was baptized while I was in Oxnard is going to be an assistant to the ward mission leader of the ward!!!! WOOOHOOOO!!) 

Thank you SO MUCH for the package you sent me!! It was adorable! Hermana Price also sent me a package full of everything I ever brought to snack on in the CCM. Isn't she the coolest/most amazing person ever?! I think yes. 

I love you all so much!

<3 Hermana Ricks

Hna Price's package!

THANK YOUUUUUUU

SUBWAY!!!! (Thank you for the gift card!!!!)

Road Trip! 09/14/2015

So we had to go to Santa Maria this week which is about an hour away from where we live, and on the way back in was super dark and I totally missed the exit without realizing it, and we ended up going a half hour further north! So we had to call the zone leaders because we didn't get home until 10:00...

That was about the most eventful thing from this last week! 

But I totally forgot to tell you in my email from last week about this super cool thing that happened!! So you know how I went on exchanges with Hna Jeronimo last week in Santa Maria? Well Santa Maria is really close to Arroyo Grande (where I served before I came here). I went to a coorilation meeting where the elders that were also serving in the branch with Hna Jeronimo talked about a lady that had come to the branch and given a talk, and she had been less active for years. I then realized that it was Hermana Lizalde who I worked with in AG! Her husband was the one that told me, "Don't be e-sassy!" When I told him that I would indeed continue to eat french fries, despite the fact that he thought they were really bad for me! haha. But anyways, Hna Lizalde had not been to church in 15 years the last time I taught her! And she couldn't come to the AG spanish group, because she worked. But since I left AG, apparently she got a different job, and she found out that there was a spanish branch in Santa Maria that met a time that worked better for her with her new job. And then she gave a talk in church!! WOOHOOO MISSIONARY WORK!!! I was SO happy! I can't believe I forgot to tell you about it last week! It makes me wonder what else has happened with everyone else I've taught before. I can't wait to visit all of them again!

As many of you have pointed out, this week is my half way mark (AKA HUMP DAY!) I can't even believe it! It doesn't seem like I have been out here that long at all, and then at the same time it feels like I've never even had a different type of a life - because this is normal! Time basically just doesn't exist. But it is really weird to think how far I have come, and how little time is left. I was trying to figure out how to celebrate it, and I decided that I will make a pie for myself. And since I actually come home on the 14th, yet I left on the 17th, I don't know which day is my actual hump day. So I figure, I can make a pie today, and eat it every day through the 17th. Problem solved. Now I need to go by pie stuff. 

I love you all! 

<3 Hermana Ricks