¡Feliz Navidad De Mexico!- Week 27

Hey everyone!! I just want to say thank you to every single one of you for your special spirits and just all that you do for me. I am so grateful for the great love we all can feel from our Savior, especially at this time of year. 

Family and friends, this last Sunday we were able to have a special program in our church services about the birth of Jesus Christ and how important that was for all of us. As one of the leaders were speaking something stood out to me that made me want to change how I do things throughout the year. Let me talk about it for a minute with you all. 

This leader said, this is a special time of year, because we all try and share a little bit more love, try and have a little more patience and in reality try and be more Christlike. As he was talking I was just thinking about how easy it could be for us to be that was for the whole year and not just for a month. 

Brothers and Sisters, I love Christmas time because we get to remember the Birth of Jesus Christ. What more do we need than that. Someone to give his life for each and every single one of you individually, not only to die for you, but to allow all of us to be resurrected beings just like Jesus Christ in some future day. This really is a special time of the year. And I hope you all take advantage of any opportunity to serve someone. 

The scriptures say, "When you are in the service of your fellow beings, ye are only in the service of your God" So continue to serve people. And I know you all are doing just that. 

Thank you so much for your thoughts and prayers. Have a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year!! 

Jesus Christ lives. He is our Savior and we will see him again some day. Keep shining like the lights you all are. 

Doubt Not; Fear Not

Elder Ricks

Thank you to all who made my Christmas Tree shine! You all are amazing and I look up to each and every single one of you. 

puertas cerradas en nuestros cadas , no me importa.....- Week 26

Hey everyone again! Thank you for all of your prayers and thoughts during the week. All of the birthday wishes were amazing. 

The mission life throws a lot of curve balls at us... One of which is when people say they are going to church the morning of church and they never show up but the work continues. Another thing is when you get sick, well. That isn't fun but the work continues.  Another is when we have 5 or 6 meetings with people in one day and all of them fall through. Like how is that even possible. But the work continues. 

Brothers and Sisters, Satan tries his hardest to throw the worst curve balls our way because he knows the damage we can make in the world. ( For the better obviously ) So when these hard things are happening in our life, just remember that the work of the Lord will continue to move forward. And we need to be ready in a moments notice to help someone or to just be an example during the day because we never know when someone is watching. We will have bad experiences in this life. That is how we gain knowledge. So keep pushing forward because at the end of the day, God needs YOU to help somoene in this very moment. So don't be afraid of failure, or any bad feeling you might have. Because God sees your potential and wants you to succeed. 

I love you all so much and look forward to the day we can be together for eternity as family and friends. Keep being an example and try just a little bit more to serve someone in this special time of the year. The year of Christmas. With much love. 

Doubt Not; Fear Not

Elder Ricks

The Light of Christ- Week 24&25

Good afternoon friends and family. I am so grateful for every single one of you and want you all to know how much I love you. 

I got transferred this last week and had zero time to email last week so I am sorry about that. But I am in Texcoco. This area will be the closest to Idaho I will find here in Mexico. I actually can see the mountains a little bit better and I can smell the dirt too! It brings me so much joy every day. Haha! 

I am grateful to me a member of The Church Of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I want to share the love I have for the Hansen family and the HUGE impact every single one of them have made in my life. They are true followers of Christ and I will forever be grateful for them. 

This last week was one full of struggles and miracles. Thinking about the Hansen family has been very difficult for me because I consider all of them to be some of my closest friends, but as I remembered how much Kirk and the whole Hansen family loved missionary work, I was able to focus each day and I absolutely saw more miracles this week than I can even count. I know that God lives. He has a plan for every single one of His children.

I read a story once that went like this, “there was 2 men walking on the beach. One was an ordinary man named “John” and the other was Jesus Christ. As they were walking they could see 2 separate sets of foot prints. One for John and the other Jesus Christ. John noticed that in his hardest moments in life he could only see one set of footprints. So he asked Jesus why he would abandon him like that in such moments of dispare. Jesus responded, I never left you alone. I was always there. In those hardest moments of your life I was carrying you on my back because I knew you couldn’t do it without me. Jesus said, John I love you.” 

Family and friends, this life is hard. But Jesus Christ will never leave you out to dry. He will never let you suffer something you can not bare. He WILL carry you when you need it the most. I have an unwavering testimony that Jesus is the Christ. He loves me and you unconditionally and will always, ALWAYS be right by your side. Trust in him. He will lead the way of a life of miracles. 

Look unto Christ in every thought, Doubt not; Fear not

Elder Ricks

With much love for every single one of you. Have a great week serving the Lord. 

¡Dia De Gracias 2019!- Week 23

Happy early Thanksgiving!!! I can't believe that it is already this time of the year. But a special shout out to my brother Braeden! I think you are going to be 22?? I honestly can't remember. But anyways, Happy Birthday Braeden! I sure love you! 

I love Thanksgiving, it really is my favorite holiday because it is really a time I get to think about all that I am truly grateful for. My family, Friends, and especially Jesus Christ. 

Jesus Christ is the only person that understands every single thing you are going through. And I am just so grateful for Him and all that he has done for me personally and continues to do for me every single day. The sacrifice from Him was seriously for every single one of my days here on the earth. And what a blessing I have to use His Atonement to help me feel better every day. 

You all are amazing and I feel so much better today! Thank you for your prayers and thoughts. I know that God lives and His Son Jesus Christ is my brother. I am grateful for my family here on the earth and that they help me prepare for my eternal salvation. 

I would invite all of you to send one text or give one phone call this week to someone you are grateful for. In the Liahona this month from the Church of Jesus Christ, there was a story of a daughter and her father who weren't on very good terms. But she ended up sending him a letter and just asked if they could work things out and just be on good terms. This father had had a very hard life and all he needed was a little bit of love from someone. I encourage all of you to be that little bit of love for someone this week by sending a text or shooting someone a phone call. I love you guys so much! 

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Elder Ricks

Doubt Not; Fear Not