East Coast

Dearest Family,

Life on the East Coast is so much different from the West Coast. Seriously, I haven't heard anybody say "Ach, aye!" or talk about their "weens" or just use the typical harsh Glasgow slang. Now, people say "eh" after nearly everything and call their children "bairns." What is that about? Haha, but really, its differences are both immense and minimal. It is a different shade of green here, there are more rolling hills, and the people speak differently. But the reactions we get are similar, people need the gospel here as much as they need it in the west, and the Church in the east is equally as true as in the west! So hurrah for Israel, and we will go on in so great a cause!

Moving was really difficult, as you probably gathered from my last e-mail. Change never has been, nor ever will be, fun. It was really hard saying good-bye to my Irvine friends. Bishop Broadfoot, as I was leaving, told me that he hasn't seen a missionary in a long time who has made as big of an impact as I did. That was a really sweet thing to say, and although it is a big hyperbole, I appreciated the statement.

On Wednesday, we got a lift to the train station (and had to run back because I forgot my insulin...whoops!), then got a train to Glasgow, then got a train from Glasgow to Haymarket, walked to the mission home after dropping our luggage in a car, then drove to Dunfermline and then got a bus to Kirkcaldy. I was so knackered it wasn't even funny. But ooft, what do you do, eh? Just keep on keeping on. :) 

We've met a lot of the members here while I've been here and they are wonderful. Seriously, church yesterday was amazing! People were giving us potential referrals, asking when they can come joint-teaching with us, setting up appointments, etc. It's incredible! I didn't know what to do with myself. This is how missionary work is SUPPOSED to be—and I've never seen it like this, so I get really excited about it. 

Also, at church, I was welcomed into the ward. I got to give the RS lesson with Sister Pugh, play the piano for RS and for Sacrament Meeting, and give a talk! haha! It was my second week in a row giving an impromptu talk and I love it. Now I'm working on making five-minute talks for a variety of subjects in case the opportunity presents itself, which it seems to quite often. :) I love it. I really do love helping. 

We have some nice friends here who we're working with. I have faith that we can progress and grow our area into one that is thriving with many who are coming closer to Christ! 

Yesterday, we went to a great Sisters’ Conference for the Dundee Sisters. It was all about "Christ-Centered Healing" for depression. It was one of the most wonderful presentations I've ever heard.

Also, I think the sweetest thing of the week was Monday and Tuesday nights with Davy. He brought out a "Last Supper" for our last meal together, and he made me a lunch (a piece box) for the train journey, a coloring book and markers for the train in case I got bored, and a giant notesbook to fill with memories of Kirkcaldy. He said, "I'm not going to be around to take care of you anymore." I just bawled and bawled and bawled leaving him. He is the sweetest man to ever live. 

I ran across this really cool quote that I just loved. I'm not one who has always loved Church. That doesn't mean that I don't love the church or that I don't have a testimony of the gospel. But let's face it, there are more fun things that we could be doing than sitting for three hours listening to people who may or may not have prepared a lesson and learning about things that we generally already understand. Church can be hard, but I have grown to love Church on my mission, and I think that this quote illustrates what has changed. It's something I would invite you to apply as well, as it can make church a more enjoyable environment and experience.

"Each of us should apply that principle to our attitudes in attending church. Some say ‘I didn’t learn anything today’ or ‘No one was friendly to me’ or ‘I was offended’ or ‘The Church is not filling my needs’ All those answers are self-centered, and all retard spiritual growth.

In contrast, a wise friend wrote:

“Years ago, I changed my attitude about going to church. No longer do I go to church for my sake, but to think of others. I make a point of saying hello to people who sit alone, to welcome visitors, … to volunteer for an assignment. …

“In short, I go to church each week with the intent of being active, not passive, and making a positive difference in people’s lives. Consequently, my attendance at Church meetings is so much more enjoyable and fulfilling.” 

All of this illustrates the eternal principle that we are happier and more fulfilled when we act and serve for what we give, not for what we get."

--Elder Oaks

There is much more to being an "active" member of the ward than just attending every week.

Well, that's me for today. I love you all and am grateful for your dedicated service, for your prayers, and for the fact that each of us belongs to the same eternal family! I am so blessed to have each of you around me for eternity and am grateful that those eternal blessings have already begun. For today is part of eternity! :) 

I love you! 

Love,

Sister Ricks

Ka-booted

Dearest Family, 

If an e-mail could be tearstained in the same way that a letter can have globs of ink smeared and smudges from water, this e-mail would be fraught with globs and smudges. I have been crying for about an hour after my moves call telling me I was called to leave Irvine. I am so sad and really haven't felt so heartbroken maybe in my whole life. 

I don't know if I have adequately described how much I love Irvine. I LOVE Irvine. This is holy ground and by far where I've done the most growing on my mission. I have learned so much here, and I have met so many amazing friends here. Irvine is a fruitful place. But really, I am just gutted to leave this wonderful ward and my wonderful companion and the people I've met here. Particularly Davy. I am not excited to leave him. This morning, he phoned and I told him that I was leaving. He said, "You're what? I thought you were going to stay here until the end. What are we going to do?" I said that we were just going to be sad but we would write each other, which he said we would.  He just said, "I love you to bits" and I know that I will just miss him so much. He is by far the coolest person from my mission, and if I had to do another 18 months just to meet him I would do it again without any question. 

Anyway. I will try and think of some happy things now, because really I am just feeling so sad! 

Happy things:

I got to give an impromptu talk in church yesterday! About five minutes before church started, they asked me to give a talk about the Priesthood. I still had to play prelude music, so Sister Jones and I found a scripture quickly, and then I played prelude while I planned the talk in my head. I talked about the difference the Priesthood makes in our church, the Priesthood being restored, and finished with my testimony of the Priesthood in my life and the blessings I've received from it. It was so much fun to give a talk and made a wee change which was so much fun. We also got to sing "Be Still My Soul" a cappella and the Spirit was really powerful. There were a few investigators there and hopefully they felt it as well. It was a wonderful meeting and I was so grateful to be involved. 

Another cool story: 

Sister Jones and I were trying to make it to a place far away from us and we missed two busses by about 30 seconds. These busses only come every hour and so it was just ridiculous.  We had already called to say we'd be 45 minutes late and didn't want to call again to say we were going to be another 45 minutes late.  We decided to take a taxi as a last resort. We got in and our driver, Alan, when he found out who we were, said, "Are you going to try and convert me in the next 15 minutes?" to which I replied, "Yeah, probably." He turned off his music and said, "Okay, now tell me why I should believe in God." We were able to have a great discussion about God and the gospel; we ultimately gave him a Restoration pamphlet. It was amazing and the Spirit was definitely there. It was also kind of fun because he was a pretty good example of what members think investigators are like, asking hard and pointed questions. It was amazing and we were grateful for the opportunity we had to teach him a little bit. 

We got to have FHE with our Stake President, President Yates, and that was really fun. They did some testing us on our Articles of Faith, which was good and also crazy and made me wish I'd listened better in seminary or knew scriptures by heart. Ach well, I'll do better next time! I still beat Sister Jones, but that's mostly because I am still competitive and cheat sometimes. I guess my mission hasn't taught me that much, eh? Still, it's better to win and cheat than lose and not. That's what I always say. ;)

We got to do a bit of Family History this week as well, and did you know that Thomas E. Ricks met one of his wives in Centerville, UT? I sure didn't. Or maybe it was Daniel Spencer. Anyway, one of our ancestors did. So cool! 

We blitzed Kilmarnock this week as well and got to do some good finding for them (I was finding from 10-3:30 and I was exhausted) and that was nice. Hooray for blitzing. It really was fun. 

Really, I just love the work here. Don't get me wrong: I have the faith that I'm being sent to where I'm needed. Heavenly Father has a plan for my mission and for my life. I am needed in Kirkcaldy now and I'm no longer needed in Irvine. President Brown is inspired. Revelation is real. I know all of these things are true. 

But they still don't make it easy. 

Harold B. Lee: "Sometimes the things that are best for us and the things that bring eternal rewards seem at the moment to be the most bitter."

I love you all! 

Have a fabulous week.

Love,

Sister Ricks

Happy Mother’s Day

 Hiya Family!

It is crazy how much everybody has grown up during this last year. I'm serious! It felt like so much in our family had changed since I've been gone! But you are all looking wonderful and it sounds like things are just happy dandy for the family. And that makes me happy!

This week was fabulous and so many miracles happened; it is astounding! It was amazing to finally get some good finding time with Sister Jones. We started chapping a bit and realized that we have never been chapping together. Heavens no, that is ridiculous! It was nice to be able to just have time to speak with people about their problems and how the restored gospel, particularly the Book of Mormon, can answer each of their questions. It is incredible that the gospel works, and sharing it with others is incredible. 

It's really interesting that in our mission, there is a direct correlation between sisters’ happiness when they are finding and when they aren't. The more people they talk to throughout the day, the happier they are. It doesn't matter if the people accept or reject them usually; it's the act of faith to find that creates the happiness. It's absolutely true of me, and I know that it is a true life principle: when we are obedient we are happy.  When we tell God that we know best, we lose happiness. That's just the way it is!

I went to Ayr on exchanges this week and it was the best thing ever. Seriously, it was absolutely gorgeous. I received a lot of answers to prayers and a lot of revelation. One thing I loved that I heard from a member there, Brother Lang, was this. He said that if you are a good missionary, you will be ready to go home at the end of your mission. You will have put everything on the line, you will have worked your absolute hardest, and you will now have life skills that will prepare you for the future. At the next chapter of your life, you will move forward with faith. I loved that.

We had Scotland West Conference with President Brown speaking, which was obviously fantastic and all about obedience. 

We got to do a blitz in Irvine with Stornaway, which was fun. I was with Sister Lowry, who was the STL in Ireland until this moves. She and I were trained at the New Mission Leadership Training together, and it was fun to be back together again! She is amazing and it was good to see her. 

This weekend was fun because we were able to do a good bit of service. There is a wonderful member, Ann Wilson, who takes us out to lunch once every fortnight. She got really sick and had a killer back. So we went out to her and took some food and got to walk her dog on the lovely Adrossan beach.  It was just a lot of fun. We also took her favorite thing in the world—Marks and Spencer Butter Mints. She loves them, so we picked some up along with some cards. She loved them and it was just a lot of fun. 

Church was great. I love church. And it's true, which is the best part. 

This was a cool thing on LDS.org about Motherhood. I liked it and thought I'd pass it along:

Who helped you tie your shoes or learn a new piece on the piano? When you forgot your science project was due the next day, who made a late-night run for poster board and glue? It was Mom.

Every Christmas, even though money was always tight, who consistently pulled off a miracle and made Christmas morning magical and memorable? It was Mom.

Now that you’re a parent, you may scratch your head wondering how she did it all. Each day is filled with toys to put away and noses to wipe, dinners to make and work to squeeze in. You can’t remember when—if ever—she took time for herself. But now you feel what your mom must have felt as you watch your toddler fall asleep and listen to his giggles in the other room.

You now understand better than ever that mothers are gifts from God. In fact, motherhood is the “highest, holiest service . . . given to mankind.”

I loved that! It's definitely true.  We are so grateful to have the mothers we do, and I just love you so much, Mom! You are the greatest. Everybody in the family should give you a giant hug from me. It's coming at ya from Scotland!

This gospel is definitely true and has the power to change our lives if we will let it. Allowing yourself to be changed = humility. Develop that attribute and we'll be set for the rest of eternity. Sort of. :)

I love you all! 

Sister Ricks

xxx

1 Peter 5:7--so good!

Late and Going

Hello family!

Sometimes life is so crazy, and today is one of those hectic days. We have a random bank holiday today, so we were planning on e-mailing tomorrow.   But we are going to be on exchanges and because the Ayr sisters had a computer at the church that worked, they already e-mailed.  Hence we get about two seconds to e-mail and we're off. Rubbish!  The upside is that we get to speak this weekend. I seriously canny wait! Ach, it's going to be dead brilliant. And weird because this is the last time we'll see each other until we're in person. That is so crazy.

This week was really good. We had some crazy stuff happening with our sisters but all is well in Zion, and the Lord takes care of us. Our friends are all doing well. We are loving the work and loving being here and loving being together still. Happy, happy, happy!

This morning, we went to the Isle of Arron. It is the most beautiful place I've ever seen. Seriously, it was absolutely gorgeous. We just got back (and caught a miracle 585 bus that is lightning quick) and headed strait to the Community Centre to e-mail. I am so sad that I'm not responding to anybody, and I am seriously way sorry.  I guess that just happens sometimes. Sacrifice brings forth the blessings of heaven!

I am so happy to be a missionary. I really dread the day that I come home—not because I don't miss you, because I do, but because I don't want life to move on from my mission. I love my purpose, and it's the most important one. :)

I have a testimony of the gospel! It is true and I love to share it everyday.

Have a great week. Talk to you on SUNDAY!

Love,

Sister Amanda Ann Ricks