Happy Memorial Day

 

We haven't heard from Sister Ricks for a couple of weeks, but this is what she shared, I couldn't say it any better....

 

 

SO, i am sorry for all of you who haven't heard from me the past couple weeks including family.

I have had the hardest 3 weeks of my whole entire life. I have been extremly sick with stomach ulser and other things, i have been yelled at by a handful of people(who where in a protest that we couldnt avoid)  saying that my religion is wrong. I have been compared to a wolf dressed in sheeps clothing. i have been told my beleifs are corrupt by some bible guy. and I have had every scripture thrown at me that is ''proof'' our church is wrong by a couple jahovah's witnesses that we somehow met with haha. i have had a couple investigators drop us, and i have had some difficult times swallowing the fact that a certain someone is home and i am half a world away,and can't do anything to help. and me and while still extremly homesick.

But in saying all of this. i could never ever ever ever be as close to my savior as i am at this second.

It's been said to me my whole life he can take away our sins and our pains. But it wasnt till this week that i realized i can literally put my pains on him. i can have him help me pull my burdens. my burdens seem to be never ending i keep getting more and more and more. But i guess heavenly father knows i have tons to learn and tons of room to grow. so for my trials i am going through i am extremly grateful. i hope he gives me more mountains to climb and rivers to cross, (or in my case, more storms to walk in, and more buses to spray you with huge puddles, or larger hail storms to hit you in the head with, or more people to get in my face and tell me my religion is wrong) because the more that happens the stronger i will get. my patrarticles blessing says that i will share my testimoy with the world and i guess that takes a pretty strong testimony. i have learned that who i was is not who christ wants me to be. he wants me to be much better. this past 6weeks i have learned more than i ever have my whole life. i know God put me in this CRAZY area for a reason. i am reminded everyday why i am here and as crazy as belfast is i am going to overcome it.

amoungst all of this heavenly father knows how extremly hard i am trying and so a miracle has happened. Neely our investigator has a baptism date for the 22nd of june! so everyone please pray for him.

i love you all so much!

love, sister ricks

Happy Skyper's Day!

We got to Skype Sister Ricks yesterday and it was great to hear from her! Here are some things she shared...

 

1. The weather is crazy there, she has yet to see a day without rain! It was ok at first but it's getting a little old!

2. The diet is crazy, they eat French fries (chips) with EVERYTHING! She never thought she'd get so tired of potatoes!

3. She loves the way they talk, every thing is a wee little something or other, even a handout in church!

4. Ireland is a country where A LOT of people go to earn college degrees so she has been able to meet a lot of people from many difference backgrounds and cultures which has been a great learning experience.

5. Her testimony has grown by leaps and bounds, she is amazed at all of the things she has learned thus far and can't wait to keep learning more about the gospel.

 

Sister Ricks is still feeling a little homesick and has some physical aliments as well that is making missionary work a little hard for her right now. She knows that this is where she is supposed to be and that she is sharing the gospel, but needs our love and prayers sent her way. Thank you for all of your love for Kinz, please continue to pray for her safety, health and comfort while she is learning to navigate life in a whole new world.

WE GOT BIKES!!

Sister Ricks is thrilled because she got a bike this week, some members found them and charged them a (fee, don't know if it's small or large because Kinzi hasn't figured out the conversion system totally! lol but she's still in love with them!) She said they look quite fashionable wearing a skirt and helmet on her bike riding along!

She's also been working hard too, they are working with a lot of investigators...

1. two brothers who watched the video about the restoration, when they asked them how it made them feel they stated they felt warm inside, they were raised Muslim so learning about Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ is new to them

2.A 23 year old sister who "is awesome" that they are going to hike Belfast castle with today; she lives in a catholic neighborhood so they have been asked to not to teach her at home, they always have to teach her somewhere else

3. They are also teaching a man who was inactive but is coming back to church, he has a 23 year old son who doesn't know about the church and has not been baptized and they are teaching him as well. He has come to church 3 times and they have been helping them paint their house which has opened a lot of opportunities for good conversations.

4. They are teaching a sweet 19 year old sister who has 18 month old twins. She came to church last week and seemed to really enjoy it, they hope she continues to come.

5. They are also teaching a woman who they have been unable to reach all week, then they ran into her in town and it sounds like she is out of phone minutes but has been wanting to meet with them so they were able to schedule an appointment with her...coincidence? I think not!

6. They are working with a young couple in school, they haven't seen them this week because it's been finals week but they are getting close to baptism and they're planning on challenging them to baptism this week.

7. They also met a young woman from Poland who they will be meeting with this Wednesday and she is looking forward to that very much.

 

She is doing well and enjoying the work. She said she knows this church is true...every part of it!