[Laredo] Week 33 - March 9, 2015

Hey guys!

Yeah . . . so . . . we neglected to change the time. I woke up at what was really 6:30, but the clocks all said 5:30. I went to the bathroom in a need-to-go stupor, and as I dried my hands after washing, kind of realized that it was pretty bright outside for only 5:30, but no one was up. So I thought to myself, "Elder Hickman doesn't ask questions. Elder Hickman sleeps." So I jumped back into bed and enjoyed a nice extra hour of sleep. I felt pretty guilty when we all woke up and realized we were an hour behind schedule and had all slept in to 7:30. Wooooops. 

Mom already told you about our new choir number--it is genuinely cool.

Yeah it sounds awesome! Where did he get the arrangement? Haha poor sister Bare. She's really humble - she is better than she gives herself credit for.  I can't wait to go back to choir with you guys underneath him.  

Haha don't worry about not sending a poem.  Tell (Grandma & Grandpa) both how much I love them and pray for them too. Oh. It looks like you already did. Thanks for that! I'm glad she'll (Grandma Hickman) be able to be treated someplace that is more familiar. Perhaps that will help everything. I sure do love them both.

Isaac! I sure do love you? How is school going? Do you like it? I guess I will see you in that time! Give or take a couple months. I sure love you so so so so so so much too Isaac!

How are things with your guitar?  

Perfect! Actually it's been more of a blessing than I could have anticipated. My guitar is a good place for Elder Curtis to be able to relax and just get some of the tension out. He plays it more than I do, and I honestly wouldn't have it any other way. He needs it more than I do. What a great guy he is. What a great example he has been for me! I love that guy!

We hope that you and Ramen are enjoying your sing-alongs together.

We do, Ramen and I, enjoy our sing alongs. But I ate him in a fit of en hungered rage. That kind of put a damper on the sing along. And our friendship in it's entirety.  

Tell us how things are with your investigators and/or less-active members with whom you're working. 

It's super hard to meet with Cessi. She couldn't come to church again. We've been having some drama with members as of late which has made some parts on that front a little stagnant. Hopefully we have worked everything out by sometime this week and everything can return to it's normal pace. We found a less-active-recent-convert with 3 baptism age siblings, 1 of which has been to church. We are going to hit that house super hard. We also have been progressing slowly but steadily with Jesus. Have I told you about him? He's a super cool investigator we found. He's really open to everything we teach. He's a firefighter who served in the military for like 6 years. He's Catholic and it was super hard to squeeze a BD out of him, but we have another appointment with him on Thursday. 

What's a spiritual experience you had this week?

Well, I really felt the spirit strongly twice. Firstly was yesterday. We didn't go out to work after church because Elder Curtis got pretty sick. After I cleaned the kitchen a little and did some other things, I was reading the Book of Mormon in Spanish. I had my iPod playing some MoTab, and "This is the Christ" came on. I always feel such a clarity of focus and charity whenever I hear that song. I realized why I am here doing what I am doing. It was awesome. I also had a matter I needed some guidance on in my prayers last night and felt a really profound feeling of peace, as well as having several sentences of specific guidance about why I was put into the family I was come into my mind. It was great. I also wasn't praying about family stuff so the revelation was sudden and unexpected. 

How is your bike holding up generally? 

My bike is doing beautifully! Once I lubed the chain and actually pumped up the tires, I cut the effort I was using by like half. I wished I known that like 2 or 3 weeks ago. I get wet, but half of it is because I am a very sweaty fellow, and when I wear both my sweater and jacket, it gets pretty steamy all up in this.

Yeah we had Zone conference. No interview. It was a good Zone conference!

If you have to go, Dad, I love you a lot! I look forward to your letters every week. I love you all so much! I couldn't have asked for a better Dad! I love you! Good luck with your class!

I love you guys a lot. I actually have to go pretty soon. I just want you to know that I love you, each individually. I love you all and I pray for you by name. I love you guys and hope that you know that and that God loves you too. I love you guys all so, so much.

Love you guys! Have a great week!

Elder Noah Hickman