The Blessing- Week 94

It was so sad, after finals were over there was a mass exodus of people packing up and heading out of school and Edmond back to wherever they call home for the summer so a lot of the people we have been meeting with and teaching we won't be able to visit again until they get back this fall. You could imagine it has been a fun week figuring out everyone that is staying that we can keep talking with over the summer and it's been truly amazing to feel the sustaining hand of the Lord as so many people have left, how He has provided us with so many opportunities and still so many people who have a desire to learn and to act on the path of faith and repentance leading to eternal life. 

One of those such people was Hannah who came to church with Landon again yesterday! Sacrament meeting was great and I always cherish that special time in the remembrance of Christ, sacred things, and spiritual renewal. In gospel principles class we talked about faith in Jesus Christ, and you could see and feel how much she was treasuring the words, testimonies, and power of the spirit that was there. Right after that we stayed in there with her and Landon and she began asking questions which developed into an experience where the Spirit was so present and tangible in talking about conversion and how families can be sealed for eternity that tears filled our eyes and warmth and light seemed to fill the room. She has such a firm testimony and confessed that the last 8 days of coming to church with us and talking with Landon and then us she has felt a great increase in her faith in Jesus Christ and joyfully asked for a Book of Mormon and with anticipation accepted the invitation to read 3 Nephi 11-28. 

I cannot deny the power of the Holy Ghost. I know that Jesus Christ lives and stands on the right hand of Power, our Eternal Heavenly Father seeking for ways to demonstrate His grace, mercy, love and to impart His wisdom and goodness upon each of us for our benefit, happiness, and success. I love them and I know that Christ's Church is on the earth, that the Book of Mormon and the Bible are in all matter of fact, the very word of God. I know it and I love it and I give thanks for it. What a special opportunity it was to visit with my family last night who I have been sealed to. I'm grateful for my angel mother and for each member of my family, they help me to feel a portion of God's true and pure love and the joy He must experience when we are seeking just do to good things. That's really what it is all about, family and love.

Keep the faith,
Elder Ricks

 

 While we were texting all our potential investigators this was one of the texts we received from one of them!  It was pretty funny!

The Blessing- Week 93

What an incredible week!

We talked with nearly the whole world this week, I'm nearly certain. We had our booth on campus three times this week and that is always one of the neatest and most personal and uplifting activities to talk with people and to build connections and relationships quickly. I absolutely love being able to talk with and relate to and teach and be uplifted with and share a spiritual experience with so many individuals who are my own age. It was the last week of school and everyone was trying to prepare for and cope with finals and many were also trying to make preparations to pack up and head home for the summer so we met a lot of people who asked us to call them and meet after finals were over, people who said we could call at the start of the fall semester, others who said we could send missionaries to talk with them again, we set a few appointments with some, but all in all it was and is the greatest thing to be able to talk with so many people and have such intimate and spiritual conversations centered on Christ and his ability to strengthen and enable and save us and for so many, we were able to talk with them abut how He can help them through their studies and testing and life as they take time to focus on Him. What a glorious thing to be able to witness as others faith is increased.

We saw so many miracles with so many of those individuals and the conversations we had but yesterday was something extra special. There are dozens and dozens of people showing up at our ward for summer sales and one of them, Landon, met a girl here in Oklahoma at a dance on Saturday night and after talking she, Hannah, told him she wanted to come to his church because he was so different. He doesn't drink or do drugs or sleep around and she just felt different around him and could just tell there was something different and special about him. So they walked in together and he introduced her to us and she enjoyed Sacrament meeting, Elder Burrows got to teach about the restoration of the gospel and Church of Jesus Christ in the latter-days and she was just glowing and so mesmerized through the entire class.

I was so fortunate and blessed to be able to go back to OU for Alice's baptism on Saturday and there was such a beautiful spirit felt there and she is so committed to following and learning and knowing our Savior, Jesus Christ the Lord. What a special and sacred and spiritual experience it was for me to be able to witness that and be apart of God's plan in bringing about His mighty purposes and blessings in her life.

The gospel is just so special. I love this work and I am so grateful I get to see Heavenly Father's mighty hand working for the success and happiness and salvation of us, His children.

Keep the faith,

Elder Ricks

The Blessing- Week 92

I feel like I'm in the most remarkable dream. Time really just doesn't seem to exist right now and I believe it is because of the teaching of Alma; "...all is as one day with God, and time is measured only unto men." (Alma 40:8). For example, Analee will be 10 years old tomorrow, I remember her being 8 years old when I left and it feels like that was just a couple days ago. Carson is 16 and going to his first prom and when I left, dating wasn't even a thought yet for him. Tyson is nearly 18 and about to graduate, has a business and is preparing to go college and play some soccer there while he is at it.  Carson and Tyson are both taller and bigger than I am now and I'm sure I could still take them in a wrestling match though I don't really need to prove it...

I've had so many life altering, spiritual experiences, I've made so many friends, learned so much, and drawn nearer to my Heavenly Father and my Examplar, Jesus Christ, than what I had ever considered or imagined to be possible to this point in my life in what seems to simply be a pure dream, over the span of a singular night, for a young boy. I am beyond grateful for this miraculous and timeless dream I am in.

Miracle: Monte
We found Monte a couple weeks ago but weren't able to make our first scheduled appointment work out so after Elder Burrows and I spent a few hours going through every single non-member contact in the phone and we got back in contact with Monte and were able to work something out to see him that same day! We had a truly spiritual encounter together and when we asked when he would like for us to come together and talk again he asked if we could meet the next day. He has such a profound and touching story and such a desire to learn of and follow Christ. He seems so excited about the gospel and we are thrilled to continue inviting and helping him along this wonderful path.

Miracle: Maynor
We lost contact with Maynor for the last week and a half and haven't known what to do! He wouldn't ever respond to our texts or calls but of course, in miraculous fashion, came to church yesterday and informed us that his phone stopped working and he will be in Kansas this week for work but he has been thinking about everything we've been talking about and he is seeing God's hand in his life in so many ways the last couple weeks since we began meeting together and it was such a wonderful reunion to see him again and to talk with him and he took our number and promised to come to church next week and we have just grown to love him so much. He has the most pure and humble spirit and desires and wants nothing more than to be a good man and a godly man and he really believes, and we know, that the gospel and power of Jesus Christ will help him to do that because that is everything that Heavenly Father wants for him. 

Miracle: Church
Over the last six months, as I have been really self-evaluating and relfecting, I have asked a few questions and have been seeking revelation and inspiration to really grow and thrive personally and yesterday in Sacrament meeting, the topic of the speakers was "Firm in the Faith of Christ" and I truly received further light, knowledge and enlightenment-receiving answers to my questions and received such a powerful, spiritual witness and confirmation that this really is the answers I've been seeking for. I know that God hears and answers prayers. I know He is my Father and that He loves me and I know that it is line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little that he teaches and answers me.

I just love this work and I love the gospel. I wish I now knew the words to express my gratitude and my thanks. I stand all amazed.

Keep the faith,
Elder Ricks

The Blessing- Week 91

Well I can’t believe I am here on the computer writing up this email on another p-day, again. The time between Mondays is getting shorter and shorter, I’m certain of it!

It always is, but this week was such a fun week! I absolutely love Elder Burrows, I absolutely love Edmond, and I am absolutely loving the miracles being given to us by the merciful and loving hands of the Lord.  

President Mansell wants everyone to be able to have an opportunity and experience to try sharing the gospel on the college campuses around the mission so there are always missionaries coming to campus with us and this week we got to work the booth with Elders McVey and Smith and it was so much fun! We talked with soo many people and just loved the opportunity to learn about others and to help them and teach them about the gospel in such a quick and powerful way. Serving on campus really is such a different experience than I have had at any other time as a missionary so it is helping me to grow and become better in so many different ways and I love it. Being able to talk with people my own age about the things that mean the most to me makes some of the most powerful, spiritual, and fun experiences I have ever had. I love this work and I love the Savior!

Keep the faith,

Elder Ricks

The Blessing- Week 90

Milagros por los dias (miracles for days...and eternity).

Miracle #1: Queen

We received a media-referral Thursday for a lady who was asking for a Bible and we delivered it that night. As we were walking up to her house we there was a boy in a doorway of another home we were passing. We kept walking and delivered the Bible and they weren't interested in the Book of Mormon so we turned back and felt really strongly that we needed to stop at the home where we had seen the boy who was no longer out. We knocked and long story short, Queen, a lady I met in January was at the home visiting her friend and she recognized me and I her and we were able to talk about the hand of the Lord, of His timing, and of His plans which are not coincidental, meaning we had met then and been enabled to cross paths again for a reason. We, all together, promised God that we going to take His sign and, needless to say, we are excited to see her again.

Miracle #2: Maynor 

We were met by a man, 26 years old, named Maynor, at church yesterday. He came with us throughout our meetings and we were able to visit with him for about 45 minutes after church was over. He is in the depths of humility and wants nothing more than Christ's help to change him and make him a better man. It was a truly magnificent experience being able to testify and promise, with Elder Burrows, to our new found friend of the glorious power of God and of God's loving and merciful and enabling nature. We feel so blessed to have encountered such a humble and penitent seeker of truth and know that the Lord has been working in Maynor's life and wants him to be near to Him.

Miracle #3: Jesus Christ

Jesus Christ, the greatest miracle that ever has been and ever will be. I am so grateful for the opportunity to remember and worship the promised Messiah, the Holy and Anointed One, the Only Begotten of the Father, the Prince of Peace, my Savior, my Redeemer, my King, my Friend. I love Him. I know that He came to this earth in a fashion that could be done only by the power of God but in the most humble and lowly of circumstances. I know with that He lived a perfect and sinless life, being tempted above what any other would ever be tempted with, going about doing good, performing miracles, displaying the most pure and perfect love that exists and taught as one sent from God for truly He was. He was left completely and utterly alone in Gethsemane as He met the sins and the sorrows that the world and its inhabitants would ever know. He was persecuted and rejected, despised and beaten and He walked the rugged road, baring the very cross that He was destined to hang from, to Calvary on Golgotha's hill. There He hung and suffered and took upon Himself again the pains, and afflictions of the world until His dying breath, willingly giving up the ghost. His rugged and worn body was laid in a tomb. In the greatest manifestation and display of power, glory, and love, the words "He is risen", echo in an empty tomb because Jesus Christ won the victory, overcame the world, and triumphed over death. He left the tomb and never returned and because He did, we will leave or graves and never return also. His matchless life has allowed us to receive mercy, and love and redemption and salvation. I know of these things for myself and as one of His witnesses, I will forever stand in awe and desire to sing the song of redeeming love and testify to the world of the things that I have seen and believe and know to be true. Hallelujah, praise to our Father in Heaven for the matchless gift of His Son, Jesus Christ.

Keep the faith,

Elder Ricks

The Blessing- Week 89

As always, it was truly a blessed week filled with miracle after miracle and tender mercy after tender mercy.  
We were on campus walking around and talking with people and we met a man named Alex who is really intelligent. We walked and talked with him for about 5 minutes and learned that he had not only heard about the Church but actually has a Book of Mormon and is currently reading it simply out of his own curiosity, he had never been offered one or given one by a missionary or a member. We were shocked to say the least. He said he is busy and not interested yet in meeting with missionaries but agreed to continue reading (he expressed that he hasn't been able to read it as much as he would like) and accepted an invitation to take a Prince of Peace pass-along card to watch the video. We parted ways but someone heard us talking about the Book of Mormon and about the initiative and he approached us, introducing himself as Kenny, and began asking questions to learn more. We were able to sit down with him and have a great lesson about the Restoration of Christ's Church. 

I loved and cherished the time that I had to partake the Sacrament yesterday and was so grateful for the opportunity to sit and reflect and admire and adore the Savior. I love Him and would be struggling without Him but I'm not struggling at all, it's magnificent and marvelous). The ward is incredible and I am so excited to be here and to be able to work with all of them. I recognize and know so many of them and was able to make so many connections, it was fun:).

Gray invited me to his Melchizedek Priesthood ordination yesterday and that was such a special and sacred experience for me to witness and be apart of. I love him dearly and am so grateful to have been able to witness and be apart of his miraculous conversion. He is one of my dear friends! It was wonderful to see him and everyone else in the Village ward yesterday:)

Keep the faith,
Elder Ricks

The Blessing- Week 88

Wasn't General Conference just remarkable? I absolutely love the time we get to spend admiring the Savior, the Mighty Prince of Peace our Brother and Redeemer every six months as fellow Brothers and Sisters who have been called of the Master, honor Him and share the things with all of us that He has revealed to them and that are so sacred and full of love and everlasting.

I absolutely loved serving with Elder Hays on OU last transfer and already miss him and Ou and the countless, incredible people I was so blessed to serve and learn from there but I am having a blast with Elder Burrows here on UCO. He is from Sandy Utah and has been serving for about a year and a half and is just fantastic! I'm so excited to be with him and to learn from him this transfer! We are seeing so many miracles and it is fun for me to back in my familiar home away from home, Edmond.:)

After Priesthood session on Saturday, Elder Burrows and I were able to go, as were a few other missionaries, to Braums (the best place to get ice cream that you will ever find, with the one exception of Reeds Dairy...) and while there I was able to talk with one of the employees, Keiyona, as she took my order. We talked about her life, what she is doing, about her plans, how she wants to be successful, I was able to share my simple testimony of the gospel and how it would help her with everything that she had shared with me and she smiled and seemed to find a great glimmer of hope at that promise. Before we left, I gave her a card and as we walked out, another employee saw this interaction and came following after us quickly and said "I love talking about Christ. I am a bull rider and I get down and pray before every rodeo." We continued talking with him and invited him to join us for conference to listen to the voice of a Prophet and Apostles on the earth today and he lit up and it seemed as the very windows of heaven had been opened to him. He excitedly accepted and gave us his phone number and informed us that he would actually be having a rodeo that next day. He ended up not being able to come but gave us a call and is so excited to meet together Tuesday night. 

This is the Lord's work and He reaches out to His children with great love in so many different ways. I never would have thought that by talking with Keiyona that someone completely separate would be touched by the pass-a-long card depicting the Savior and a humble testimony of power of Jesus Christ, the Son of the Almighty, our Father in Heaven. I love Them and was able to feel of Their love by the power of the Holy Ghost this week and particularly this weekend with conference. 

Keep the faith,

Elder Ricks