Mexico!! MEXIco!! MEXICO!!!- Week 13

Ohhh boy! What a week we have here! Start of my second cycle! So that is pretty sweet! Cycles are normally 6 weeks long but our president of the mission has some things going on so he moved it to 7 weeks! Pretty hyped about that because I love this area here in Valle Verde so much!  So 1 extra week will be fantastic! I was able to talk with a family that just lost their son in a motorcycle crash and it was so sad for me. Every person on this earth deserves a chance to hear the teachings of Jesus Christ and my heart just dropped for this family. But I know that this man who passed away is able to receive these same lessons that I get to teach in the other world. Also known as the Spirit World. I am so grateful for Prophets and Apostles on the earth at this time to guide and direct each and every one of us. They are special witnesses of Jesus Christ for us so that all we have to have is faith. The scriptures talk a lot about how the only thing we have to do to become apart of the Church of Christ is repent and forsake of our sins. I can testify that through a Savior, even Jesus Christ we can become so much more than our highest hopes and dreams. You guys are all my family and I am so grateful for the knowlege I have to be able to call you guys my brother and sister. 

Fun story this week: sooo the 15th was the independance day for Mexico! And these guys really go so hard! I can't believe it. They are allowed to drink alcohol and stuff like that at age 18 and it really just makes me sad because they have so much more to their life than drinking and being out with friends. Families are so important and I just love my mom and dad so much and look up to them a lot! But because it was the independance day we had to be home early last night. It was pretty lit cause I was just able to read the scriptures and write in my journal and stuff! If you haven't written in a journal I would highly recommend it because it just is awesome to look back at your life. But for the fun part of the story, they had so many fireworks going off last night and like it was crazy!! I woke up at like 3 in the morning and still heard fireworks going off.. they DON'T sleep here I swear! But yeah. I went back to bed and didn't think anything of it. But at about 8 this morning I just walked outside our front door. ( They have like a garage here in the front of their house but it isn't covered by a roof. But they have an outside gate to get to the car and then the house door to get inside the house.) And there was a firework right where the cars normally park so that was pretty hilarious! Someone lit it on fire and got shot up in the air and landed in our yard! Like What??? hahahah! Anyways! I love it here in Mexico and I am really starting to get the hang of it. 

I love you all so much and know that this life is only a preporatory stage for our life in the eternities. God loves each and everyone of you and wants you to repent and come unto him. I know that the scriptures (Old Testiment, New Testiment, Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price) are all testimonies of Jesus Christ and that he lives. So just read them! 

Thanks for all that you guys do for me! I love you and look forward to hearing from you all again in a week! 

Elder Ricks

Doubt not; Fear Not