Bucket List

Dearest Family,

Items that I checked off my Bucket List this week that I didn't know where on there:

1. Played the organ in a giant Scottish cathedral in Dundee.

2. Sang both in a big choir and in a little ensemble in St. Giles and St. Paul's Cathedrals.

3. Quoted almost in entirety the Restoration DVD on a moving bus.

4.  Played the Hallelujah Chorus as a part of mass service.

5.  Sang Amazing Grace—complete with bagpipe—in downtown Edinburgh for hundreds of tourists to see and hear.

How amazing was this week? It seriously was absolutely incredible. I am so blessed to be part of a mission that does amazing things like this and has amazing people to go along with it that make it an altogether unforgettable experience.

Monday was P-day, and we went to Eglinton Park. You got heaps of pictures from Lorna so I'll just let those suffice. It was super fun and my boots were mighty muddy.

Tuesday we had a full proselyting day, which was nice. We saw our good friends, especially Ann, who still doesn't want to investigate but gives us tons of stuff like clothes and food. She is funny.

Wednesday we travelled and went and rehearsed in Glasgow.

Thursday we had our Glasgow concert. I love Julian Avenue (the Stake Center there) because I feel like my whole mission has been spent there, from all the District Meetings in East Kilbride to now. I have spent essentially the last ten months of my mission going to that place.

Friday we went to Dundee and had St. Paul's and the evening concert. They were lovely. Dundee is an amazing city, and I would love to serve there. It was funny—we went to Subway and Elder Windhausen, who is one of my best mission buddies ever, asked me what kind of sauce to get. I told him honey mustard and so he ordered it but didn't remember until they were squirting it on that he hates honey mustard. It doesn't sound that funny, but I was dying laughing over it. It was so funny.

Saturday was Edinburgh—St. Giles Cathedral and the evening concert. It was absolutely beautiful! The St. Giles’ concert was by far the best and I felt the Spirit so much there. The minister stood up and read scriptures for 15 minutes and then turned the time over to us. There were SO many people there and they all listened to us and stopped. We had about 40 minutes for our shortened concert, but it was just amazing, particularly the Hallelujah Chorus. It was so much fun!

Sunday morning we took a bus from Edinburgh to Glasgow, drove to Irvine to pick somebody up, drove to Ayr, drove to Kilmarnock, and back to Irvine all before church at 11. I was exhausted all of yesterday and would be lying if I said I didn't nod off during a bit of testimony meeting.

Really, it was just an amazing week. I loved being with some of my greatest friends. I hate leaving people and I hate when people leave, but I guess these are things that have to happen and that one day we will understand. Change isn't so fun for me, but learning to become more like Heavenly Father is, and that kind of is all in the same boat. So there you are.

Easter season is a wonderful time to celebrate the birth of Christ. I am so grateful for Him in my life and feel privileged to wear His name printed over my heart. May we all live more fully as disciples of Him is my prayer.

Love,

Sister Ricks