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