Monday, December 1, 2014

Missao Celetial Dec. 1, 2014


Dear Mom, Dad, Family, and Friends,                                                 Dec. 1, 2014

Well, time really does fly. I can´t believe that this is the last email that I will send here in the mission. It´s incredible...

But to start off with the administrative things:
Well, it would be good to bring bug spray but don´t worry about bringing a lot of suncreen because I still have some. 

Yes, bring light weight clothes, skirts, dresses, shorts for you Dad, and sandals because it´s getting pretty toasty here. It would be good to bring a hat as well because the sun is really strong especially here in João Pessoa because it´s so close to the beach. 

Don´t worry about bringing clothes for me Mom, I have warm-weather clothes that I can wear on the trip back. :) (I can´t believe it´s snowing already!) 

And to answer your questions Mom:
Tell us about Edivaldo: Well Edvaldo is 33 years old, he lives with his mom, brother, and sister. So, this week we taught him the Word of Wisdom, Law of Chastity, Laws and Ordenances, and he was progressing a lot. Well, on Saturday we went to his house and he finally decided to be baptized! So we filled out the baptismal form and an hour later he had the interview. So, it was taking a long time and that´s when I started to get worried. So, finally my district leader walked out of the room and said that he didn´t pass. He still had some doubts and said that he didn´t want to be baptized. It´s one of the worst things ever when your investigator changes your mind in the interview. The adversary truly works against the Lord and His work. Really, what I think happened is that people started talking to him about the church and said a bunch of lies. It´s crazy that when you start to truly teach someone, all of his so called "friends" come back to talk to him and really to talk back about the church...

So, Saturday was a pretty rough day but he went to church yesterday and said that he will still prepare to be baptized. Please pray that he will be able to receive an answer that the Church is true and that the Church has the true authority of God. 

But another thing that I have learned here in the mission is that everyone has free agency and we can´t take away their free agency, even if they know in their heart that it´s true. 

   Do you have any Christmas RS activities planned before you leave? No, I think they´re just going to have an activity after I leave. but this coming Saturday morning the RS is going to join all the sisters together in the ward and they´re going to do a bunch of visits, visitng less active sisters, we´re going to help as well which will be great!

 Who is your new companion? No, I don´t have a new companion so the other companionship changed.  Sister Moscoso is still my companion. Sister Quintanilha is the new sister in our house. She switched with S. Sayonara. She´s really great, she´s from Rio de Janeiro. :)

  How many areas will we be going to and will we be able to attend one of your ward's Sacrament meetings before we have to leave for the airport? 

So, we´re going to visit my 4 areas that I served and yes we will be able to attend sacrament in Cabedelo :) woohoo!

Well, Mom and Dad, I´m so excited for you guys to come. It´s going to be so great! 

I talked to Pres. Nogueira and he said that I will be able to meet up with you guys, 2 PM on Wednesday at the mission office. It´s the same address that you always mail the packages too. And it´s good that the hotel where you guys will be at is close to the mission office. I think it´s about 10 mins by car. So, 2 PM on Wednesday the 10th I will see you two in the mission office :) I think the easiest thing would be to grab a cab :)


Ok, so now for the serious stuff...

I am so grateful for the opportunity to serve a mission. It´s the best decision that I have made in my entire life. I don´t know what I would be doing or who I would be if I hadn´t decided to serve a mission. It´s the hardest thing I have ever done and the most amazing thing I have ever done. 

I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the Lord´s church here on the earth. I know that it is only in his church that one can find the true priesthood of God.

I know that the Atonement is real. As Alma explains in Alma 7:11-12, Christ not only suffered for our sins but also for our pain, sadnesses, and whatever feeling we have. I know that Jesus Christ truly knows each and every one of us personally and individually. He knows how to succor His people. The Atonement must play a part in our lives each and every day. 

I know that Heavenly Father is truly our Father. He loves us and knows us. We can find peace, knowng that we are part of something bigger. 

I know that Joseph Smith was, and still, is a prophet of God. I know that Pres. Monson is the latter-day prophet and he holds all the keys of the holy priesthood here on the earth.  I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God. I have seen individuals and families return to the Church by just reading and studying the Book of Mormon. 

I know that my Savior lives and I know that this is His Gospel. It has changed my life and I want to continue to help others be changed by its influence. 

Thank you soo much for all your love and support. I could never have served a mission alone without your love and support. I can´t wait to share my experiences with all of you and especially Mom and Dad, here in the celestial mission, João Pessoa!!!

I love you all the MOSTIEST!!!

See you soon :)

Love,
Sister Hicks

An Investigator at church!! WOOHOO! Nov. 24, 2014


Dear Mom, Dad, Family, and Friends,                                                            Nov. 24, 2014

Mom: Well,  to start off, thank you sooooooo much Mom for getting everything ready with the housing and classes at BYU! You´re the best! 


haha, that´s so great that Sister Friaca made Brazilian hot dogs, haha, yes, I have eaten Brazilian hot dogs many times :) haha, but with mashed potatoes is a thing more in the south of Brasil. I can´t believe you didn´t try them! haha, you´ll have to try one here! And you and Dad have to try açai as well! It´s so good! It´s a fruit but they make ice cream out of it :)  

Well, with the hair appointment, I don´t think I´ll need a highlight, my hair is super sun streaked, haha, I think you´ll have a double take when you see me cause my hair´s super blonde :) but we´ll see

haha, I laughed out loud when I heard the story about "Guy" napping in the morning to not  be so cranky, hahha

well things to bring: could you bring a box of oreos? Sister Sayonara wanted some haha :) and also, just if you´re able to, could you bring some chocolate chip cookies to share with some sisters, (just if you´re able to, don´t feel pressured :)

Dad: Aah, Dad, I wanted to respond but we´re not allowed to! But glad that you were online! 

Hey Dad, I got your card that talks!!!! I absolutely loved it! haha, I laughed out loud when I opened it!  

Dad, I love the mini sermons that you send me. It´s always exactly what I need to hear!!!!

Well, I´m glad to hear that you´re doing well.  Everyone is so excited to meet you and Mom!   haha,  here Dad is  "painho",  so I tell everyone, "Aaah, you´re going to meet my ´painho´ " :) haha, it´s gonna be great :)

Bryan: Well, once again, loved the quote you included, we definitely need to have a serious talk....haha


Lindsey: I absolutely LOVED the photos from Alice´s  birthday party!  She is so grown up and so cute! And what the?! you´re hair is absolutely gorgeous! love it! 

Glad to hear that you´re doing well and that Norah is feeling better now that you guys know what she has :)

Taylor: Wow, I can´t believe how fast the time is flying by! That must have been to be able to talk to a retired 4 star general. I´m sure he has a lot of knowledge to  share :) 

I can´t wait to be able to talk to you when I get back, we have a lot of catching up to do :)

Kimball: Glad to hear that you´re doing well and I hope that everything works out

So, so far in the mission field I have had 6 companions (and 7 if you count the companion that I had for 2 days, she was so super sick and was then transfered after 2 days) I stayed with 3 companions for 3 transfers (each companion for 3 transfers) so I haven´t had a lot of companions. 

Kelsey: Yes, the  Christmas decorations are already appearing and we´re already singing Christmas hymns at church. Because they don´t have Thanksgiving here, the Christmas season starts even earlier. 

Well, my companion is hispanic and she´s so great. Before coming on a mission she was in the  Peru Navy! Yah, super boss! :) 

Loved the picture of baby guy! So cute!


Well, yesterday Edivaldo, our investigator that came to church for the second time. He said that he liked that the church is really peaceful and there aren´t people yelling and stuff. He accepted baptism for this Sunday so please pray for him so that he can feel readier! (readier, more ready? I don´t remember)

Well, this morning, Sister Sayonara received a call that she´s going to be emergency transfered to another area. We are all sooooo sad! This was my 5ath transfer living in the same house with her! sooooo sad! 

Well, I don´t have much time left but I love you all the MOSTIEST!!!!

Love,
Sister Hicks