Finishers Wanted

Thanks for your letter mom.  Sometimes it seems summers can be even more chaotic than school. Jaja but it's good.

It's been another great week! I love the mission! Trying to finish strong. Had a neat miracle. So, I was on divisions a week ago with a member who introduced me to a guy whod gotten baptized 5 years ago. Only a few months after getting baptized, he had gone to the States but had just recently returned. We invited him back to church and he said he would go. To our surprise not only did he show up, but he brought his nonmember girlfriend with him as well. She was really nice and said she wanted to learn more! Cool. Definitely a miracle.

My companion and I got stranded in a small town about an hour and a half from where we live. It was already late and although a member was with us we were a little worried about how late we were going to get home. We said a prayer and started walking when a man drove by and gave us a ride. He happened to be a general in the army. Really nice guy. An answer to our prayers. Sure saved us from a long walk and we got home on time. I know it wasn't by chance that he just happened to come by when we he did.

Realizing it's so important not to waste any opportunities. I printed out a talk by Pte. Thomas S. Monson entitled, ¨Finishers Wanted¨.

There was a poem he read that says, 

 ¨For of all sad words of tongue or pen,  

the saddest are these: 

‘It might have been!´¨ 

I hope to never have to say those words. I just keep trying my best.

Hope everyone has a great week! I know this gospel is true.

Elder Hicken

ps. As a zone, we went to an awesome waterfall today! Super fun

Still working

Unfortunately my comps foots been hurting him this week. He fell in the mud a few times and it swelled up pretty bad poor guy. We still got to work a good chunk of the week though. We found two positive families to begin teaching. It's so awesome to keep working.

Finished the Book of Mormon again. I can't even imagine all the sacrifice that went into writing, translating, and publishing such a book. Truly it is the word of God. I love it.

Hope all are well back home!

Elder Hicken

Change of place - and change of language...

     Thanks for the update on grandma.  I love her so much! I'll be thinking about her.

Glad to hear school is out for Jonathan! And what is he doing this summer?  Sometimes summer life can be even more busy. Sounds like a lot of changes in the ward. Congrats to all those heading out on missions soon.

        So, I had changes last week! I'm now in an area called Chirijox. The people here don't really speak Spanish. They speak what is called K´iche. Sacrament meeting and all of church is in K´iche. I've been pretty lost trying to understand it, but little by little I'm learning the language. Don't think I'll have a lot learned anytime soon but I'm trying. It's pretty much all with the throat.  I'm so grateful a member comes with us for a few hours almost every day. They are so nice to spend their time in that way. It's a huge help! Having members with us helps so much in teaching and contacting. If you can go out with the missionaries, do it.

        The culture is very prevalent here. Lots of Corte, tipico and huipil. My companion is again from the Dominican Republic. His name is Elder Mendoza. He's a convert of about 5 years ago and he's awesome! super funny. I'm excited to work hard this last change.

        I came across a couple scriptures in my personal study this week. In Helaman 13:19-21, it explains how the people had their hearts focused on riches and not for the purposes of God. This lead many times to their downfall. Later, when Christ came to the Americas, he explains in chapter 13:19-21  ¨Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and thieves break through and steal; But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.¨  Got me thinking, what is my treasure? Where is my heart? I know we should be focused on God's purposes and not our own. As we do so, we will prepare ourselves for an eternal home.

Anyways, hope all is well back home! Have a great week. Jesus is our Savior.

Elder Hicken