√ MEXICO ∆ LA ∆ SLC ∆ HOME √- Week 41

Hey all! How are you all doing this fine day? Life has been anything but normal these last few weeks but I think we are are getting used to it a little bit I think??.. Anyways, so I got sent home with everything that is happening. Pretty crazy stuff let me tell you! They had me on a flight to Los Angeles and then to SLC and then to Pocatello. The air plane people were changing all of our seats so that we were still social distancing ourselves from everyone on the flight. Haha pretty interesting traveling these days. But let me take it back to when I was still in Mexico 😁 

I was in quarantine so I had so much time to do anything that I wanted honestly. Study the scriptures for 3 or 4 hours, work out for 2 hours and eat food for the rest of the time. Haha basically the life. But something a missionary told me is actually kind of true. He said that while you are able to work you just want to take a 30 minute nap at home... But when you are stuck in the house all day long you just can't help but say, I just want to go out and work and never come back to the house. Basically my feelings about the whole thing right now.

In my 3 to 4 hour Book of Mormon study haha! I was able to learn a ton everyday actually. I was reading in 3rd Nephi when Jesus Christ came to visit the Americas. And it just makes me always ponder how I am living my life. If I am living in a way that if the Lord came today would I be ready to stand in his presence? I love this life because it is all about choices. And we get to decide in every moment in our lives what we are going to choose. 

I am so excited to be home with my family for General Conference and I invite you all to keep preparing yourselves for this special time in our lives to listen to a Prophet of God. I love you and am grateful for all you do for me and the missionaries throughout the world. 

Doubt not; fear not 

Elder Ricks

" Let the Good Times Keep Rolling "- Week 40

Well everyone, pretty awesome week here in Mexico! We started the week out normal. P-Day and everything. We went to our meeting with the zone on Tuesday and we were working like champions. Wednesday we had a different meeting so that we could teach with Preach My Gospel better and that was so cool! Really excited to continue learning from that manuel of the Church. Thursday we were basically locked in the house. We didn't really know what was happening but we just worked with members and it was a good day in missionary work. Friday we had a baptism interview for 2 people that were planned to get baptized on Saturday and they passed! We were able to baptize and confirm this mom and her son Saturday night around 7:00 PM. It was one of the coolest experiences I have had in the mission. We had such a special spirit and it helped me reflect  on how much God really does love His children. Sunday we were able to have a devotional in the house of a member and honestly I just know that this Church is true. God really does direct his church and we are literal sons and daughters of Him. I love you all and hope for your success in this time of a whole lot of unknown. One of my brothers always says "Keep the Faith". Don't forget who you are and who you were meant to become. 

Elder Ricks

Doubt Not; Fear Not

COVID-19 Sending Missionaries Home

March 22, 2020

Dear Parents

By way of this letter, we want to bring you up-to-date related to the missionary work in this part of the Lord’s vineyard.

After extensive consultation with Brethren in Salt Lake and the Missionary Department, and keeping uppermost in their minds the safety and well-being of each missionary, the Area Presidency of Mexico (please see the attached letter) has determined to return all foreign missionaries serving in the Mexico Area to their home countries to be reassigned to a mission in that country or to be released from their missionary service.

This means that your missionary will be returning home in the following weeks and their travel itineraries will be shared with you once they have been finalized.  We want to also stress that given the current challenges related to international travel, the return will be completed as soon as feasible based on the availability of flights.

We are deeply grateful to have been blessed with the opportunity to serve with such special young men and women in this, the Lord’s work.  It has been a privilege to be in their presence in the Mexico, Mexico City Southeast Mission.  May the Lord continue to bless them always! 

Sincerely

President and Sister Mann

Misión México, Ciudad de México Sureste 

Walmart is Still Full of Food- Week 39

Hey everyone! I love you all so much! Thank you all for your prayers and thoughts. Well, I don't have much time today so I am sorry... But these last few weeks have been so awesome! My companion and I have just been working really hard and God has seriously provided us with miracles. I love the perfect correlation with obedience and miracles. I have seen in my time in the mission that God really does want to bless us. But sometimes we just want the blessings without putting forth the effort. As I have strived to live the commandments of the Lord I have seen so many miracles and I have been more receptive to the whisperings of the Holy Ghost. We all can do better and be better. I love you all and I know that Jesus Christ lives. He is blessing each and every single one of us in our own individual lives even if we don't see it. I have truly learned what is important to God which means it is important to me and I know it has changed my life for the better. Keep working hard and being the example for every single person that you influence in your life. May God bless you all in this time of uncertainty. 

With so much love,

Elder Ricks

Doubt not; Fear Not

No email- Week 38

The Heat Finally Came to Mexico!- Week 37

Well! Everyone another great week in Texcoco, Mexico. This week we were able to basically start from scratch, because my companion had no expectations for what the mission was or is because he just got here so we basically just did absolutely everything and it paid off! We were able to find 2 families to teach that could get baptized this month!! I am so excited for them! ]My new companion is from Mexico Tuxtla Gutierrez, Chiapas If you know where that it then you are seriously among some of the greats! haha! Elder Morales is awesome and I have loved working with him so far this week!

I have been reading in Alma a lot this last week and I am reading where it talks a lot about what our life will be like after this life. As in what happens to our spirits and stuff like that! Anyways there is a verse in Alma that I like a lot that talks about our salvation. It is in Alma 38; 9. It says "Y te he dicho esto, hijo mío, para que aprendas sabiduría, para que aprendas de mi que no hay otro modo o medio por el cual el hombre pueda ser salvo, sino en Cristo y por medio de él. He aquí, él es la vida y la luz del mundo. He aquí, él es la palabra de verdad y de rectitud"

I really liked this scripture because it talks about how important Christ is in our lives. Without Him we wouldn't have a way to return and live with our Father in Heaven again. I know that Jesus Christ is the life and the light of the world. And I also know that it is only through His name that I will be made whole again. 

I love you all so much! Thanks for all that you do for me and the prayers on my behalf. May God bless you all in your righteous efforts. 

Oh and just so you know! I saw Easton Taylor on Monday! What a fun experience that was to see him here in the mission! Love that man!

Doubt Not; Fear Not

Elder C. Ricks