Found, Taught, and Baptized

Dearest Family,

Sitting down to write your last missionary e-mail to your family is like eating the last bite of an ice cream cone. It scratches a little when you eat it, and you wonder how your ice cream went away so fast. But you're also happy because you've just finished something delicious and have better things on the way. 

We had a wonderful week. On Monday, we had a District P-day and we played games and celebrated Sister Johnson's 1/2 birthday. I had secretly (keeping secrets is SO hard from a companion, but somehow it worked out) asked everybody to bring her half of something, so she got a half of a Bounty bar, a half can of juice, a half napkin, a half piece of gum, and a HALF OF A SUIT! Elder Torres cut up one of his suits and gave it to her. It was so funny. I gave her half a set of used earplugs, half bottle of lotion, and half of a chocolate Santa. Ah, it was just hilarious and a lot of fun! 

On Tuesday, on the way to our last District meeting in Dunfermline, Sister Johnson and I texted the Dunfermline elders to ask which bus to grab up to the chapel. They responded, "Isn't the meeting in Kirkcaldy?" which it was...but we were already halfway into Dunfermline. Nobody told us! So we got off the bus and they came to pick us up. We squished in the car and I was between Sister Johnson and Elder Goldie. Sister Johnson was in Sister Gilbert's lap, and we were all just bundled in. But we got there safely and had a good, successful district meeting. It was just hilarious and maybe a you-had-to-be-there kind of thing. 

On Wednesday, J-- got baptized. It was quite stressful because his train from Dundee to Kirkcaldy didn't come on time because of some train track situations. He was in Dundee visiting his friend who is about to die of cancer.  His train didn't come and another one didn't come for two hours.  Also he didn't have service to call us on his phone. So he ended up showing up about an hour late for his baptism. Luckily everybody stayed and it was all fine, but I was crazy hassled. It's one thing to be dropped at an appointment--another thing entirely to be dropped at a baptism.  Because we were all waiting outside, however, a nice man who was being paid by the flyer, came by and we all got pizza coupons. So I guess there's silver lining in every situation. :) 

At J--'s baptism, he felt the Spirit so much, particularly as he was put under the water. The man, KB, who was baptizing him had never baptized anyone before, and so he was nervous.  J-- was nervous as well, but all went well. Afterward, Bishop Brown stood up and said that he had just had a wonderful spiritual witness that J-- was ready to be baptized and that Heavenly Father had accepted the ordinance. It was really wonderful. 

Thursday we had Cullen Skink [a thick haddock, potato, and onion soup] with Sister Brown. That was the most exciting part of the day! Cullen Skink is delicious and Sister Brown is celestial. Winning combination!

On Friday, the Simpson-Sylvestros planned a going-away party for me. We got a chippie and then made cupcakes. Ah, it was so much fun! They got me a wee present and an “I Love Scotland” shirt. I am just so grateful for their kindness. This was an absolutely wonderful place to serve! We also saw W--, who is in the hospital again. I've never visited anyone in the hospital so much.

On Saturday, we went to a few appointments, one of them being D-- and A--. They are such sweet friends. Their daughter, C--, is so cute, and she loves reading the Book of Mormon with me. I show her all the pictures and after being here for 4 1/2 months, she knows who each person is. She's even told her mum that if she has another boy for her baby, they should name him Lehi. 

Anyway, the story I tell her that is in the Book of Mormon goes like this: "There was a boy and he was good. His name was Nephi. His brothers were not so good. One day, Nephi was so hungry. His brothers stole all the food. Nephi was so sad. Then his brothers said sorry. Then they shared. Nephi was so happy. His brothers were so happy too!" And that is the story of the Book of Mormon. Who knew, right?

We slept in Dundee on Saturday night because a church production that we went to got over quite late. (Speaking of late, I had this horrible dream last night that we were in Glenrothes until 9:30, and then we missed the 38A bus and were going to have to get the 39A, and it doesn't go by our flat, and we were going to be so late getting in......what a nightmare!) So we slept there and on Sunday went to get our 7:34 train. It turns out, it was at 7:24 and we had missed it. The next train wasn't until 9:24....and so we ended up getting into K'caldy late and missing Relief Society. That was sad. 

Yesterday Bishop Brown scheduled it so that I got to speak in church. It was wonderful and always a privilege (a nervous privilege, but a privilege nonetheless) to speak. I talked about the Holy Ghost and how He has helped me on my mission. I spoke a lot about how when we are an instrument in God's hands, He can direct us. I also talked about how it had nothing to do with me, and when I got out of the way and let Heavenly Father direct the work, wonderful things happened. 

After I spoke, the bishop stood up and said, "Sister Ricks, I'm going to have to correct you. It has everything to do with you. It has to do with your diligence and your goodness and your dedication." Even just writing the words that he spoke to the congregation makes tears well up in my eyes. It was really touching, because the Spirit was there and the things he said were amazing and also really sweet. 

After church was emotional, of course, as I said goodbye to my wonderful friends that I will never see again in this life. It isn't fun to say good-bye when it's a genuine “good-bye” and not just a “see you later.” But we dealt with it, and we did it, and I'm okay.  Just still a bit sad. 

It really has been such a rewarding and wonderful time to serve in Kirkcaldy. Because the ward is set and ready with a wonderful Bishop, Relief Society President, and members, Heavenly Father has blessed them with much success. I know that when we are prepared, God grants us the desires of our hearts. I also know that when we're not prepared, we can't receive such guidance. 

I'd love to end with my renewed testimony of the Savior. I have never doubted that Jesus Christ lived and loved me, but on my mission, that belief has deepened into an understanding. I know that Jesus suffered for my sins and also collectively for everyone else's sins. Without Him, I am nothing. With Him, I can do anything. I am so grateful to have worn his name over my heart for the last 18 months.

'Till the Work is Done! 

Sister Amanda Ricks

The District--one of my favorites ever.

J-- got baptized!

President Brown's mom and sister

A--, an investigator and AK, one of the best members ever!

I love N--

SS family

Frances! We love her!!!! :) That is Sister Brown's mum.

C-- praying.  Ah! I love her! She and I always talk about the Book of Mormon and she knows all the pictures now. 

God's Hands picture--taken by S. Scharff

Spanish New Era

Dearest Family, 

This was one of the best weeks ever! We have just had some way funny times and that makes it lovely to be alive. 

On Monday, we just had some shopping and normal P-day type stuff to do. I don't think we even got anything cool, but in any case we went to the Cloetes’ for dinner in West Wemyss (cutest little town ever) and it was a good time. Then we taught J-- in a park. He told us all about his preacher, Pastor Joseph, who told him to put the Book of Mormon in the bin.  But James isn’t going back to that church because he knows the Book of Mormon is true. That was great.

On Tuesday, we did some good chapping and we had a Europe Area Conference for all the sisters in the Europe Area. That was so cool! Elder Bednar spoke and so did M. Russell Ballard (whom Elder Bednar called "The Grandfather of the Church"). My favorite part was when Elder Bednar was talking about the other members of the Twelve. He said, "I know them, you don't; they are better in private than they are in public." He was so relaxed and wonderful! I love when apostles start out a sermon with, "This is just my opinion, it's not church doctrine," because you can guarantee you're going to learn something cool. 

Wednesday was Zone/Interview Training, grossly abbreviated as ZIT, and it was a pleasure, as always, to speak with President Brown. Sister Johnson and I also got to do a bit of training (10 minutes) on accountability. We talked about the WHY of accountability. Accountability is really important because people are important. So we illustrated with an activity.  To Elder Cusick we gave a spoon with a bunch of skittles and told him to run as fast as he could around the room. To Elder Goldie we gave a spoon with some skittles and said to go as slow as he needed but that the skittles were important and all eight needed to stay on the spoon. Afterwards, we talked about how the skittles represented people, and how really we do everything we can because the PEOPLE are important. If we make it to the finish line with only one skittle, we're still successful. If we race around and squander our stewardship or skittles, we have wasted our opportunities and won't desire to account to our leaders or the Lord.

After Conference, we taught J-- the Law of Tithing with the bishop. That was a good time. 

Thursday was Belle's birthday and we celebrated by teaching some wonderful friends! We taught A--, AK's friend, who is doing really well. We had sort of an intense lesson about reading the Book of Mormon, and since then she's been reading.  We're watching “The Prophet of the Restoration” this week. I can't wait! It is going to be wonderful. 

We also finished organizing all of our potential investigators this week. For whatever reason, nobody has organized these up until now, so we had potentials from 2010 that hadn't been marked “taught” or “contacted” or anything. We put them on cards based by area and we'll try by them and try to do them all. So that is a good time but sometimes organizing is less fun than teaching. Still, it will be a more productive way to do the work than merely chapping. 

On Friday, I fulfilled one of my Mission Bucket List items--I GQ'd (Golden Question/Contacted) somebody sitting in a car! He was waiting for somebody and so we stopped and talked with him. He's Muslim and pretty nice and we're seeing him this week. He was cool, so hooray for R--!

On Saturday we went over to Frances (Sister Brown's mum) and had our usual meeting except that her nonmember oldest daughter and husband were there! They were asking the hard questions that I thought I'd get on my mission--like "Why don't you believe in the trinity like I do?"--and not the typical ones that we actually get like, "What is God?" Haha. Anyway it was a good chat and although they aren't super interested, that was a little seed planted in their hearts to be either harvested later or left--completely left up to them!

J-- also got his interview on Saturday night, and although Elder Lattin could understand like .8 percent of what he said, he thinks he's ready. So J-- will be getting baptized this next Wednesday and that will be lovely.

We also took our lunch break to watch "The Mailbox" which is so sad! And we got these filled rolls to eat, because we've laughed for ages while passing a restaurant called "Probably the Best Filled Rolls in Fife." Since I haven't had any other filled rolls in Fife, they were probably the best! (Filled role definition: Roll with something like tuna, coronation chicken, other like condiments on it.)

Kirk was lovely yesterday, and after we were able to teach our funny friend, C--. She met us last week and we were able to teach her a bit about the Book of Mormon and prayer yesterday. After we read the first paragraph of the Book of Mormon Introduction, she was like, "What the h*** did that mean?" She has kind of funny language and swears a whole lot, but she's sincere and so that was really funny. 

F-- got his haircut and is just looking like he has the gift of the Holy Ghost. It's amazing that it really is so noticeable and he looks amazing. He is just so convinced that I stayed in Kirkcaldy to meet him and Sister Johnson came in to meet him. He is absolutely the best and understands more than anyone! I love him!!!!!

Suffice it to say, Missionary Life is the best!!

I love you all and hope each of you has a wonderful, awe-inspiring, week! Keep on keepin' on! 

Love,

Sister Ricks

Oh, and also J-- downloaded the Spanish version of the 1971 Ensign. He's a character. I guess you kind of have to know him, but he's just really funny and perhaps not there all of the way.         

Happiness is…

Dearest Family,

I sadly left my e-mail to the last part of e-mailing, and didn't realize what a short time I have, so I have eight minutes to tell you what a cracker-jack week I had. 

F-- got baptized. That was the #1 for sure! He is absolutely incredible, and leading up to his baptism he was so nervous, but it went wonderfully. He also received the gift of the Holy Ghost, which made him dizzy because he was so happy. He is absolutely brilliant. I got to play the interlude music at his baptism, which was a real pleasure. He also told us this week he wanted to come see us off at the airport, and that he's working on the 10th Commandment to not envy because he envies our families for getting us back. AH. I love him. 

J-- is still doing well and is maybe dating D--, but she maybe doesn't like him but maybe she does. Who knows? He is hilarious and is still excited to get baptized in about a week and a half. I can now understand him about 66% of the time. 

We taught S--, a new investigator from last week, who just wanted to argue about the "system" and wouldn't answer a simple question like, "Do you believe in the Bible?" without referring to it. It was one of the most frustrating lessons of my life. 

I also got to go on an exchange with Sister Steed (my MTC companion) this week, and it was amazing to see how much we'd changed. She talked about how I know the gospel much more and have increased in confidence. It is crazy how fast 18 months has gone, and how much we've both changed. Great times!!

Church yesterday was absolutely brilliant. We had fast and testimony meeting and not only was it normal, it was so nice. The bishop got up and talked about meeting some missionaries in Spain. He talked about how wonderful it was to see missionaries out and about everywhere he went. But then he said, "We have had some of the finest missionaries in the last year. But really, right now, we have four of the finest missionaries I've ever seen [he proceeds to look at me] .....even Sister Ricks." Hahaha and it was a good laugh and then a few other people went up and talked about how wonderful I was and how much they loved me. I have no idea why they said those things, and also I want them to love the work and not me, but obviously it was wonderful to hear nice things. Then we had some people ask when I was leaving and schedule dinner appointments sooner so I could come. That was so so nice and sad at the same time. 

I really love being a missionary! It is the greatest thing in the world!

Till the work is done! 

Sister Ricks