3 million seconds

Dear Family,

What a week! Sometimes it's crazy how up and down life can be on a mission, because you really have to play it minute by minute at how you're going to be feeling.  Weird stuff. So....I guess we'll just start from the beginning!

Last P-day after I e-mailed, we met up with the Alloa elders and zone leaders and played a bit of American football and real football. It was loads of fun. Seriously, I had missed it so much. Now I have the football bug and want to play it always.  But I'm rubbish at American football. I was not good. But it was pretty funny to be playing with two sisters and six elders, because I got the ball and started to run and two elders came up to me to touch me (we were playing touch) but they weren't really allowed to, so they just sort of stopped and it was funny and awkward for everyone. But so funny. Football was SO fun though. I loved running hard and getting the ball and scoring and AH! It was so much fun. I got a little bit competitive (surprise, surprise) and probably played harder than I should have, because I was so sore the next morning, or being honest, the next four mornings.

A member of our branch gave us a referral for his friend, B--. He told us his address and we went to his friend. He had a "No Salesperson or Cold Callers" sign on his door, but since he was a referral we knocked anyway. He came out, pointed at the sign, yelled at us a bit, said he was atheist, and slammed the door in our faces. Ha! I think he was not interested. :) It was so funny and we've had tons of good laughs about it.

We were on our way to K-- and this little boy leaned out the window, looked straight at me, and said, "You're a weirdo!" Hahahahaha. It was funny because he was a little kid and he had a Scottish accent and because, well, yes, I am a weirdo. Here in my grandma's shoes and my skirts and my hair the size of China. Good laughs.

K-- had some good progress this week. She told us that she'd never felt the Spirit before. That was pretty discouraging because I know I've definitely felt it in our lessons with her. Anyway, the next visit we got a surprise miracle joint teach, and K-- told us she had prayed before she read 1 Nephi 1 and she had understood it a little bit more! Then she seemed so solid on coming to church but she didn't. That's ok. Still some good progress.

We saw N--, our miracle girl! She is so cool and we played Pictionary and she made us fajitas and said she will come to church and member's homes and everything but will not be converted. There ya go. She also pulled out her Personal Progress book, her quad, her "Standing for Something" and all sorts of handouts from YW. Scheduling her baptisimal date as we speak. :) Just kidding.

Sister Nicoll and I have really had such a good companionship. We are a pretty good mix of having fun and doing the work. And we're usually in the mood to do one or the other at the same time. I can talk stuff out to Sister Nicoll. I am a super open communicator with her, because she listens and helps me. Ah! I just really love her a whole lot. The title of my e-mail comes from one day this week when we determined we've spent about 3 million seconds together. That didn't count sleeping either. Just waking hours together. :) Ha! So much time! Love it!

We went to the Johnsons’ home where they had invited their less-active friend over. That was so nice to be able to meet her and definitely an unexpected tender mercy. Sister Johnson is a vegetarian so they fed us "St. Andrew's Burgers"--or so they call them--which are veggie burgers, a slice of cheese, mayo, and Doritos on the top of the burger, all smooshed into the bun. It was pretty good actually. Might be better with some ground beef, but hey, the veggie burger wasn't too shabby. She also introduced me to tea bisquits in Carro (like pero) which is quite possibly the most delicious thing that I've ever had.

We saw Sister Smith and she gave the closing prayer and just cried and thanked Heavenly Father for "these wonderful sisters" and I cried too because she is absolutely my favorite. I love her! She's always putting surprises behind our pillows for us to take home, so we put some little presents behind her pillows for her to get! We gave her a little picture frame with a picture of us in it. :) I love her. She also made fun of me for last week when I tried to turn on the light in her toilet and pulled the emergency help thing instead. Sometimes I astound myself with the dumb things I'm able to do. It really is a gift!

It was Gala day in Grangemouth and we went to visit a lady there, so that was pretty fun. There were heaps of people everywhere. I don't really know what it is, but it's some kind of parade I think. Crazy stuff! Way fun.

Sometimes I'm astounded at how many people tell us really personal things. I know more in 3 months of being in Falkirk about people's personal problems than I've known in 20 years of living in the Parrish Canyon Ward. They are really personal things, things that probably shouldn't be shared. It’s awkward.

So all week I felt uneasy because Sunday was moves call. It is so nerve-wracking, especially having your first moves call where you don't know what's going to happen. Elder Compain-Shaw and Elder Wightman were pretty sure Sister Nicoll and I would serve together again. Elder Compain-Shaw was nice, he said, "You're both capable of going other places and doing other things. But I think you've done such solid work here that I don't think that's going to end." That was nice. I wrote the five options on Saturday night of what could happen.

So.....none of those five things happened. :) Haha!

I got the moves call and I am going to East Kilbride, which is in the Glasgow Zone. I am going to be Senior Companion with Sister Jones, from my MTC group. I am excited at the opportunity, and broken-hearted to leave Falkirk. I love it here and I hate that I'm being removed from a place that is so dear to me. But. I am excited at the chance I am going to have to grow! I know I will grow like crazy; I just have the feeling that I'm going to!

We texted a bunch of people from the branch, and we are seeing some today and tomorrow. We're going to see the Irvines tomorrow. We asked if it would work for Tuesday, and Brother Irvine said they hadn't stopped crying since we told them, but they should be okay by Tuesday. What a goober. It was funny though.

I also got to talk to Sister Ashdown last night. We got permission from our Zone Leader to call her and find out where she was going :) She is staying and being Senior Companion to Sister Adams, who was companions in a trio with Sister Steed. That should be lovely!

Our DL and ZL said some nice things to us last night. Nobody is too complimentary out here (well, let's be honest, nobody else grew up doing Monday night compliments) and so it was nice! Elder Sewell said to me that he, and the Lord, were so grateful for my service in Bonnybridge and that I had done a great job. When Elder Smithson called and Sister Nicoll answered, he said, "Are you devastated that you two are splitting up?" and she said that she was. He said, "I'm devastated too! You two are a great team." That was nice.

I am so sad to leave Sister Nicoll because she is just so fabulous. We've had a great ride together and maybe sometime in the future will get to serve around each other again. I'd love that!

Anyway. I know the work we do is important. I know that life isn't easy. I know that missionary work isn't easy. But I do know that doing hard things that are important is the best thing we can do. Having a family? Hard. Important. Having babies? Hard. Important. Going on a mission? Hard. Important. Sometimes waking up in the mornings and getting out of bed? Hard. Important. Life is full of things that are hard and important! And as we go about doing them, with the Lord's help, somehow we manage. When there is no other way, we can only rely on Him--because He IS the way! As I continue to try and follow Him to the best of my ability, I pray that I will receive His strength. I know that I can if I but have the faith to obey Him with a positive attitude!

The Church is True!

Love,

Sister Ricks

 The Edinburgh Zone

My dad can batter your dad, AND he can heal him!

Dearest Family,

Funny stories:

We had Karaoke Night on Tuesday evening. The Elders were on exchanges and so Elder Sewell, our district leader, was here in Falkirk with Elder Wightman. All sorts of things happened on Karaoke Night, but the main one was that our former investigator, K--, came. Ha. 

So quick funny story that isn't about me but that I was laughing really hard about when Sister Knab told me. Her trainee, Sister Oliphant, was supposed to be teaching a less-active member about the Plan of Salvation. She started out and then said, "Well, what do you know about the devil?" (I'm assuming she was going to go into the War in Heaven or something) and the less active said, "Well, I don't know him personally," and so Sister Oliphant got really nervous and so all of a sudden she just grabbed a Book of Mormon and said, "I know that this Book is true" and bore her testimony about the Book of Mormon. And then she finished and the lady was like, "Well, that's great, but what about the devil?" Hahahaha! I don't really know why it's so funny to me. I guess I will have to tell you the story when I get home for the full effect.

We chapped into two of the most attractive guys I have ever seen this week. The cool part about this is that when we prayed and looked at a map, I said we should chap Broom Crescent. And then we met these two guys. One of them took a Book of Mormon and said that he was going to read it on his walk that he was going on. So he put his package of fags (cigarettes) on top and then went on his way.

Sister Nicoll is such a great trainer. I think she should train the rest of her mission. I think the greatest thing about her is that she is so humble. She is always saying she isn't great at things, but she really is fantastic! The way she does it makes her very personable and easy to get along with, because you don't feel like she's putting herself above you. She acts like she's on your level, even though in reality she is heaps above me. I really do love her. I wish I could stay with her another transfer. I hope that we will, even though chances are pretty low. I love Falkirk AND Sister Nicoll and I want to keep them both.

Also, Sister Nicoll was telling someone who asked about Falkirk that it has been her hardest area, where she has seen the least amount of success with the work we have put in. That was very encouraging. We are out working our tails off every day and seeing very little success, but it's okay! Falkirk is still great. There are so many people who don't want to hear about the gospel here, which makes it even better when some do!!

Do you remember in bowling class when Whitney learned that before you bowl, you should give yourself positive reinforcement? Well, I've been doing that recently. If I'm about to go talk to somebody, as they walk toward me I think, "I am a great missionary!" and then I talk to them. Ha. It's been working pretty well, because I get down on myself really easily. So positive reinforcement has been great!

We were on our way to a less active's home and we stopped a lady and told her that we were sharing a message about strengthening our families through the teachings of Jesus Christ. She told us that she was interested in learning more, gave us her address, and went on her way. It was bizarre only because that is the way it should be! We only get that in role plays, where we say something, they want to know more, and they give us their information. I hope that she is real and gave us real information, because I feel like it's too good to be true. :)

We had dinner with a member on Saturday Night, Sister Downie. She is a widow and she is slightly (well mostly) deaf. Here is what I wrote in my journal: "We had supper with SIster Downie. I love her so much, and she is such a hoot. It's so funny trying to give lessons and pray when you're yelling at her. Haha. So hard not to laugh in there.

Church was absolutely brilliant. It was a special meeting at church, so I got to speak about Dad! Best topic ever! I played the prelude because the pianist was late and then I got to sit on the stand. I wasn't nervous to speak. It really is crazy what being a missionary and wearing a name tag can do for your nerves. I got to speak alongside a woman named K--, who has a testimony but doesn't come to church because she lives with another woman as her partner, and Elder Rasmussen, one of the office staff whose last Sunday was yesterday. They are going home to meet a new grandbaby, so that should be fun, but they were devastated to leave. It was so sad. It was a fabulous Sunday. I really felt the Spirit in the meeting and it was a real blessing to remember how blessed we are to have a wonderful father who teaches us and loves us. Happy Father's Day! The woman who spoke by me, K--, was the one who said the quote in the title of the e-mail. She was talking about the Priesthood and she said, "All kids say, My dad can batter YOUR Dad! but I was the only one who could say, "My dad can batter your dad, AND he can heal him!" Haha.

The coolest thing ever happened last night: We'd just eaten at Sister McFeet's home, and we were walking toward a bus stop when a car pulled over and a woman said, "Are you the Mormon missionaries?" It turns out that she lived in Salt Lake, went to Cottonwood High for a year as an exchange student, has had all of the discussions, but was never baptized because she was coming back to Scotland. She gave us a lift home and invited us over for dinner this week! Can you believe that? I couldn't! I was smiling nonstop for a long time after that. Things like that do not happen! I was so happy!

Anyway, nobody really came to church and I don't really have anybody to report on. But I do know that I am doing my best and that is all I can do. I've been thinking this week about why I am here. Why was I specifically supposed to come here? I was thinking about the scriptures. Really, the principles are all the same. We learn about faith. We learn about repentance. We learn about baptism. We learn about the Holy Ghost. The only thing that changes in the scriptures is who is telling the stories. The only thing that changes as a missionary is who is talking to the people. The gospel is the same. The principles are the same. The people change. And THAT is why I am supposed to be in Falkirk right now. I don't know why. But God knows why, and when we are in His hands, we are safe.

I know that this Church is true! I am so grateful for each of you and for your example to me! Be happy, because we have so much to be grateful for, and God is happy when we are happy! So let's make God happy! :)

Love,

Sister Ricks

Who’s God? God!

Dearest Thingme (get it, cuz that can mean anything you want it to),

First off--Congratulations on having Baby Atticus Daniel Ricks! I am so happy that he is here and healthy and happy and sleeping. What a beautiful e-mail it was to get. I am so grateful for a family that is forever and to know that I will be able to see him in just a few short months. (15 months and 17 days, but who's counting?) Congratulations to the Ricks family on the birth of their beautiful baby son.

Apparently my letter was pretty depressing last week. I apologize! Sometimes the work is getting a bit tough and I struggle with making things sound positive. I am really at peace with myself, but it's hard to put that across when we don't really have any investigators or anybody making progress. So let me just tell you all that even though the outward results don't show it, I am doing very well. I am feeling the Spirit and I can feel the Spirit testify through me, and that's how you know you are a successful missionary, according to Preach My Gospel. I know that I can't convert anybody but that the Spirit can, and so I'm just waiting for God to put somebody in our path that we can be an instrument for! I keep realizing how much less of an influence we have than I thought we would. We are really there just to be a body, so the Spirit can speak and testify.

Here's to trying to make this letter sound positive. So let's all take a seat, take a sip out of our hot chocolate, and enjoy the ride!

On Monday, we had the coolest experience. I was super trunky (as you could probably tell from my e-mails) and was just pretty negative about the work. I was telling Sister Nicoll about it and so we decided to just go do a bunch of chapping because when we do the work, we feel better. Always. We always worry that we don't like something, but when we actually do it, we start to remember that it isn't too bad. We are chapping and this awesome lady opened up! She used to come to church but she is now a Sunday School teacher in the Church of Scotland. She offered her contact information and told us that she would kind of like to re-learn. Who knows if it will change her mind, but she was lovely and it was a tender mercy from God to remind me that worrying about the work is never going to help. Being negative about the work won't help. Thinking too much about myself won't help. What DOES help is getting out there and doing it! When we do, miracles happen. We just need to stop thinking about ourselves. So we are going to see L-- this week and I am so excited and happy about it. God is so good.

Tuesday was ALL SCOTLAND CONFERENCE! So cool to have loads of missionaries in the chapel.  The Spirit was there. We talked about simplifying our language, using family history, getting referrals in a better way, etc. I can't tell you how strong the Spirit was. We all sang our mission song at the end, and it was just absolutely incredible. It was so good to see people from my group, especially Sister Ashdown. It made me feel much better about everything. Everyone that I talked to is struggling. Everybody is sad that people don't listen to us. Everybody wishes things were going better. The work is hard for everyone. Talking to everybody else made me realize that I am doing much better than I thought I was. Comparatively, I am on top of the world. :) Woot, woot.

We had exchanges from Tuesday to Thursday. (Whitney, to answer your questions, exchanges are just for a couple days and to give a more experienced missionary a chance to give you some more ideas and kind of let you know how you are doing. They are big teaching moments and I always learn the most from the exchanges that I lead, because I have to figure out where to go and what to do. So helpful and so stressful.) I was with Sister Knab. She is a rockstar missionary. She is so nice to people and hasn't had struggles with any companion, even though she's had some really hard ones, because she just chooses to be friends with everyone. What an example!

On Tuesday night, we were walking home and I randomly saw a door and thought we should chap it for some reason. So we did and a lady in there actually has a Book of Mormon and we were able to pray with her and might go back because she thinks her daughter may be interested. Talk about a tender mercy!

Wednesday I did something really dumb.  We went out running in Callendar Park, which I've wanted to do.  I was so excited to go that I forgot our keys! We had to call our landlady and she had to come over at 7:15 in the morning. Oops. Also, we were talking to a man in City Center and I said we were sharing a message about God and he said, "Who's God?" and I just said, "God." It doesn't really sound funny but I will have to tell you the story so you can hear the intonation. It was hilarious. It was Sister Knab's hump day, so we had pop tarts and custard!  Delicious and fun time. We also had a bunch of appointments and only one went through I think. So that was cool. And always seems to happen on exchanges. ;)

 The next morning was cold, so I turned on our fireplace to study. I remember thinking, "Wow, it smells a little smokier than usual" and then went back to my study. Unfortunately, I hadn't noticed that Sister Knab's towel had fallen down and was right next to the fireplace. So, good job to me, I singed a hole through her towel. It's a good thing that she's so cool and laughed about it.

We had a missionary fireside this week and only a few people showed up, mostly all people from our branch mission leader's family. Still, it was a good thing. We have some potential referrals maybe. And mostly they just told us how to better missionaries, which was the opposite of what we were trying to do, but still. It was a good thing overall. Elder Wightman and I sang "Where Can I Turn for Peace?"

Another miracle: We hadn't heard from or talked to K-- in a long time, and so we finally just went by her house. We were so nervous, because we'd left her stuff and texted her and she hadn't really responded. We were very nervous but we got to her house and she opened up and has been really busy. We didn't mention church or the Book of Mormon or anything, because we thought we should be less pushy and friendlier.  We have another appointment with her tomorrow. I am thrilled about it! Maybe she just needed some space. Either way, it was wonderful. And a tender mercy before and after K--: We were going to the bus and this lady said, "I can't even say Hello to you because I just bought some toffee and I am eating it! Do you want some toffee?" and she gave us a piece of her toffee. So sweet. Then after we'd seen K--, this man in the branch drove up and yelled out of his car window, "You guys are great missionaries!"  Very needed encouragement. So sweet. This work is so good. It's so good to be a missionary!

Fun fact: Scottish men love to take off their shirts. (And no, I am not only writing this because of Daniel's e-mail to the family). Whenever the sun starts to shine, the shirts come off. And the more hairy and the fatter and the more fake tan you are, the more likely it is that your shirt will come off.

Sister Smith continues to be my favorite person to visit. We were reading the Book of Mormon with her and we were starting a new chapter and she said, "Can I just interrupt you for a minute to tell you I love you?" How sweet is that? She is a wonderful lady who just struggles with some mental health things. She is absolutely the nicest person I've ever met. She kept two glasses out for us to have water in our lesson with her, because she always offers and we love drinking her nice water. Then, at the end, she bought us little pink Nessie stuffed animals to remember her by. She is the sweetest, most emotionally sensitive person that I've ever met. I absolutely love her.

 I will share a part of my journal from 7 June: "I'm feeling pretty good about everything. Missionary work is pretty challenging, but I'm trying to keep my head up and look for people, not numbers. I think that I focus too much on that. When I pray, I feel at peace that I am doing my best and am being a good missionary. Someone is being prepared for the Spirit to teach through me." I know that is true! It is so good to have the Spirit with us always because we have the gift of the Holy Ghost. God must really love us, to give us the Holy Ghost that can show us all things that we should do.

Saturday was the Day of Miracles. One minute before our bus left, the zone leaders brought us more Mormon.org cards that we needed. We got to have a lesson with the chattiest, but nicest, lady I've ever met, Sister Prentice, instead of having to leave quickly like we usually do. The weather was beautiful. We went to Bridgend and met an incredible Muslim girl who wanted to talk about her religion and our religion and let us in her house!! My first house invite from chapping!! We got to see her prayer rug and everything! Sister Nicoll had felt impressed to chap that street and we got two potentials from it. How incredible it is to be a missionary and feel led by the Spirit!

 Sunday was incredible. I got to play the piano in sacrament meeting, teach in RS while Sister Nicoll taught in YW, and I get to speak next Sunday in Church! It is wonderful to have a little branch and to be needed. It would be even more wonderful to have more people come to the branch and be less needed. :) We did have four less actives that we'd been working with come to sacrament meeting, which was a real miracle because it's the first time that people we've been working with have come to church! Nice tender mercy there.

I know that we are so blessed from doing the things we are supposed to! I know that the work I am doing is from God! I know that the work you are all doing is God's work as well, especially raising children in righteousness. I am so grateful for a family that is such an example to me. I love you all and look forward to hearing from you again next week.

Remember: "A mission is a family affair. Though the expanse of continents or oceans may separate, hearts are as one." A mission is a family affair! So get ready for some blessings coming your way! :) And be grateful for all that you have, especially a sweet new addition to our family this week.

The Church is true!

Love,

Sister Ricks

Callendar House

Callendar House

That is right in town center.

Exchanges with Sister Nabb. That is us on that famous street.

Hump day picture. It was her hump day and so we celebrated! Pop tarts and custard. Healthy i know.

The Corstorphine sisters, Sisters Rindlisbacher and Sister Clegg

Burned the towel...oops. 

All-scotland conference with Sister Ashdown!

Check out those vowels in a row!!

Look at whose name i found on a diet coke!

Falkirk Wheel