Laredo [Week 58] - August 31, 2015

Hi guys!

Sorry guys! I was emailing president. I had a long letter to write because we baptized this week! F* and M* were baptized and confirmed this week at the ages of 95 and 97.

First lesson learned: if you work hard and pray even harder, God will help you to hit your goals, especially if they are in His service. Wow. There were moments that I didn't think we were going to baptize this month, because we consistently didn't have people at church. But last Saturday, on a whim visit to the N* family, Sister N* introduced them to us in the back of the house. A million missionaries have been by them. They had already received the lessons twice. They had been trying for 15 years to get them baptized. They aren't able to attend normal services, and at my fairly reasonable confidence that in their relatively decrepit state they weren't breaking the word of wisdom or law of chastity, we invited them to be baptized. F* accepted. We had to really work with M*, and it took her seeing her brother getting baptized to decide, but she accepted too. They were confirmed right afterwards and partook of the sacrament as baptized members for the first time yesterday in their home. All in the course of a week. One week. What a miracle. They are so awesome. I love just talking with them, and I think they love it too.

What changed M*'s mind?

I think the fact that her brother did it sparked something in her. She was parked in front of the font, and she finally decided. Sister N* wouldn't have her not getting baptized. She wanted it so bad. I don't think it would have happened if it weren't for that Sister. I didn't actually baptized them - I just helped Brother N*baptized them. I basically got baptized with her. I was up to my neck in the water.

 Elder Myler, F*, M*, and Elder Hickman

I did get your letter, Dad! It surprised me. Thank you so much for the counsel. Dad, honestly, I loved it. It gave me a ton of insights on how I can improve my service AND my leadership. Thank you so much. That talk by Jeffery R. Holland is great. And I really appreciated the copy of "When Your Bow Breaks." Thank you so, so much, Dad. It helped me out a ton.

Dad - a lot of what you said sparked feelings I had felt earlier in my mission about needing to not be "a slothful servant" and use more of my talents to help progress the work. Knocking doors is the most quintessential missionary work, but it is also one of the least effective, and I think it's time for me to grow by finding and working with members in new ways. I also loved the fact that the whole letter was written with a lot of love, and it reminded me of what a great family I have and how excited I am that y'all are my friends.

Hey! Congratulations!! I'm super happy for you, Dad! You, of all people, deserve that award.

Good luck with the onset of the new teaching year! Yeah! I would really like to take one of your classes, especially the graduate ones. I just feel like having your Dad as a professor is good of a tool to pass up. Plus I love you and think you are a great teacher.

Hey Mom! I love you! Sounds like it was a great Sunday! With the ice cream sundae and the talks. Great job, Mom! That sounds like a great lesson. We might have to use that . . . we went super hard on the English branch yesterday about the Sabbath with the new training that the church put out. I loved those videos. Super in-depth doctrine.

Tell Brother Melville and Caleb hello from me as well. I'm super excited that you get to home teach the Chilean family. How does Jonah feel about teaching a spanish family?   It really is a pleasure to be a home teacher. I am excited to be the best home teacher when I get home - not in a prideful way. It's just something that I can for sure do for the rest of my life to show love for God and His children. And make life friends, you know?

 

How did your week go?

Great! We had really good numbers. We slacked a little bit after the baptisms, but that wasn't much of the week, and we have repented and I will not do that again.

Who are you teaching?  How is their progress?

D*, A*, and C*. D* has been to church, but he was in Mexico last week. A* is his sister, and she has a ton of problems. She will need a lot of prayers. 

Anything fun happen this week?

Baptizing is always fun! R* G* (from the beloved G* family) had her quinceanera this week, right after the baptism, so that was fun. We didn't really participate, but I love the G* and the cake was good.

 Elder Castillo, Elder Serra, Elder Hickman, Elder Myler, ?, R*


 

I love you guys all so so much!

Have a great week!

Elder Hickman