Happy, Happy, Happy

To Whom It May Concern:

Don't be concerned! I'm happy!

Love,

Sister Ricks

Just kidding. That's not my family e-mail. J I was just in the mood to write "To Whom It May Concern." There is a serious lack of appropriate places to use that phrase.

Also HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ANDREA! HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO HEATHER AND PLATTE! AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO BOOMEY TOMORROW! AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO AMERICA! All of that capitalization was obnoxious. I apologize. I couldn't think of a better way to show my excitement.  That's all. I'm excited.  Congratulations to all!

So ... East Kilbride is brilliant! I really do love being here. I am so happy for the changes and things that God blesses us with to bring us closer to Him. But I'll start at the beginning of the week. It's been a long, big week. So prepare for a long, big e-mail. J

On Monday, I said good-bye to Sister Smith, Sister Downie, and K--. I was so sad to say good-bye to Sister Smith, because she really was one of my very favorite people in Falkirk. I will really miss her. I love her. And then Sister Downie cried saying good-bye to me. That was so sweet. She told me she'd miss me and wants Sister Nicoll to give her a picture of the two of us. She is so sweet. I hate saying good-bye.

On Tuesday, we went by W--’s, which was AWESOME! We got a nice little picture and recording of him. It was seriously so good to see him. I love him, and he will always hold a very special place in my heart. Sister Nicoll says that he will accept the gospel in heaven, and that we will be his missionaries. I sure hope so!

We also went and said good-bye to the Irvine Family, which was a hoot as usual. We were talking about my square shoes because Abigail told me they were ugly (she is really a cool 6-year old) and Brother Irvine said, "Two words, Sister Ricks. Special Needs." Ha ha ha! I like my shoes and they are going nowhere. It was so funny though.

We also said good-bye to N--, which was so sad because I want to keep teaching her.  She gave me a cute little going-away present (a box that says 2013 and she said to put memories of my mission). We asked her to read Alma 32 and I told her that when I come back in 15 months we will read it together. She put a little note in my box to remind me. So when I see her next, whether I go back to Falkirk or whether she visits America like she wants to, we will read a nice chapter about faith. So good. J

The Branch President called and was so nice. I seriously love President Patterson and felt very supported by him. He said "The gospel is for hellos and goodbyes." I'm not sure what that means, but it sounded nice so I wrote it down and then e-mailed it to you. How nice!

Then Wednesday was moves day. It is weird trying to move when you need to be with another sister at all times. I went into Edinburgh and saw all the departing missionaries leave. That was weird. And then we went to the train station to meet Sister Ashdown and Sister Adams, and we all left for Glasgow together. It was crazy but isn't worth retelling all the details. I was really sad to say good-bye to Sister Nicoll. She was so great. I've gotten to talk to her on the phone a few times this week trying to coordinate some things that we forgot to do in Falkirk.

We got to have a nice P-day in East Kilbride. I really love Sister Jones! She is so cute and so organized and I am learning loads from her. She definitely has missionary work down. She is a fantastic missionary! Work here is a little different. We chap to find and nobody is out on the street to contact, which makes me sad. We work with tons of less-actives and get 20 plus lessons a week! SO many lessons! Seriously. The work is moving forward. People are prepared here.

On our first street contact, I got really excited because somebody was out to talk to! We went over and I told him we were sharing our message; he told us he was in the middle of a panic attack and couldn't talk. So Sister Jones started to give him a card and he stopped and eventually took a Book of Mormon and prayed with us. We had another appointment with him on Saturday and he said if he knew these things were true he would be baptized. I felt like I was on “The District.” J Sister Jones and I are already pretty unified teachers.  So good!!! God knows what he is doing with transfers. That man's name is S--, and we are going to keep teaching him. That is nice.

We are teaching a man, Brother S--, who has been investigating for forever and got baptized but then messed up before he got confirmed so it was invalid.  Anyway. He's nice. He has a hard core stutter (even better than Daniel’s and my fake ones) but he is really nice and is progressing.

We also are teaching this incredible woman, A--! She is seriously so cool. She requested a visit from the missionaries from Mormon.org. She is so prepared, it is incredible! We helped her move this week. She is kind and genuine and enthusiastic and I honestly could not ask for a better investigator! I am excited to be able to get to know her better. She is really good and has a Book of Mormon with loads of stuff in it. Ah. She is just so cool! I am so excited to teach her! She is beautiful and is married with a little boy.

Those are the highlights of East Kilbride. Things are going so well! I am learning so much here and really have had some spiritual impressions that I am meant to be here. I really think I am meant to learn from Sister Jones. The way she does missionary work is honestly so impressive. If I could be half the missionary that she is, I would be happy.

One cool thing that happened this morning: There is a little Christlike Attributes Quiz in PMG that I did before my mission. I did it again today for my 3-month anniversary, and I have gone up in every category! Not that it means that I am a fabulous person now, but just knowing that I have grown (in some categories a lot) makes me feel that I am doing what I am supposed to be doing and how I am supposed to be doing it.

The Church is True! The Work is Good! And I am so happy to be here in East KilBRIDE! :) It is a wonderful, green place to be. How lucky I am to be a servant of Jesus Christ and out sharing the good news of his gospel.

Love you all to pieces,

Sister Ricks