Sister Melanie Hickman, from Chico California

Sister Melanie Hickman, from Chico California is serving an 18 month mission in Tuxtla Gutierrez, Mexico for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

Monday, May 26, 2014

Week 20: Born to be a Queen, crutches, and guacamole!

Hey there!

 
Another week has passed! This week was good! We know the area now so it is a little bit easier. I better start answering questions:

What made you smile this week? When my companion and I contacted a woman in the street and she was totally not interested and was in the process of shutting her door when we told her we would pass by on Wednesday. We asked her if she needed help with anything and I jokingly said," With your son's English homework?" She said, "You know English?" To say the least she changed completely and said," So will you pass by tomorrow?" It is amazing that Heavenly Father has given me the knowledge of English to be able to share the gospel with people!
 
 

 
 
                                                         

Favorite person you met this week? Probably a young man named C.... We contacted him in the street and passed by his house a week later. We talked to his mom who knew who we were because C... had told her about us. We are hoping that they will be receptive to our message this week. 
 
 

Share a time that you felt the spirit?
 I got to give a talk in sacrament meeting on Sunday and I talked about how we are all the children of God. I shared the story of King Louis the 15th by Vaughn J Featherstone:
"Many years ago I heard the story of the son of King Louis XVI of France. King Louis had been taken from his throne and imprisoned. His young son, the prince, was taken by those who dethroned the king. They thought that inasmuch as the king’s son was heir to the throne, if they could destroy him morally, he would never realize the great and grand destiny that life had bestowed upon him.
They took him to a community far away, and there they exposed the lad to every filthy and vile thing that life could offer. They exposed him to foods the richness of which would quickly make him a slave to appetite. They used vile language around him constantly. They exposed him to lewd and lusting women. They exposed him to dishonor and distrust. He was surrounded 24 hours a day by everything that could drag the soul of a man as low as one could slip. For over six months he had this treatment—but not once did the young lad buckle under pressure. Finally, after intensive temptation, they questioned him. Why had he not submitted himself to these things—why had he not partaken? These things would provide pleasure, satisfy his lusts, and were desirable; they were all his. The boy said, “I cannot do what you ask for I was born to be a king.”


Last night we visited a less active member who has been offended my some members and has not come to church in 5 months. I got to share an experience with her about a time in my life when I was affended by members in my Young Women's  class.  It was simple but I got to testify that we go to church for Heavenly Father and not anyone else. It made me realize that God has prepared me by every little experience to be a missionary. 
 
 
Do you ride the bus or walk more? Walk up the steep hills:)

Do you walk by the temple every day? Almost every day we walk by our chapel and the temple is right next to it. 
 
 

Share something that you love about your companion? She is very obedient with the mission rules.
 
 
 
 
Share something you love about your area? Everyone knows about the church because of the temple. 
 
Share something you love about your ward? We have memebers that go on visits with us for the whole day.   We have three brethren that are very active in the work of the Lord and willing to help us. 

Favorite food you ate this week? guacamole a sister made for us. 

Are you feeling healthy? Funny you would ask this week of all week.....remember when I had problems with a muscle in my foot my senior year.... well it has been a little hard to walk lately. It has not stopped me from working. The bishop gave me crutches but I can`t use them in this area because the stairs and hills, but I`m a lot better now. 
 

I love you all! Remember who can get you to the top of the mountain and the next and the next... Your Savior!

Hermana Hickman 
 

Monday, May 19, 2014

Week 19: New companion, new area, stairs and hills like San Francisco and only 5 minute walk from the Tuxtla temple

Dear Friends and Family,
Hey there so I better start off with answering the questions that you have....

So how are you? I have seen better days... transfers have taken a toll on my heart and I have been pretty sad this week but I know God has sent me here to learn something:)
 
Where are you? I`m in the area of the Tuxtla Temple. The temple is a 5 minute walk from our house. I am in the same stake as my mission president.

 
 
Who is your new companion?  Hermana M... is my new companion. She is from Mexico and is a convert to the church.  Please pray for our companionship. I miss Hermana C... and the love that we had for each other. I tell my companion I love her every night. 




 
 
What is your new area like? My area has a million stairs and the hills of San Francisco. Because my companion and I are both new to the area, we are starting from scratch with our teaching pool and we are trying to find our way around. It is great fun:)

If you are reading this letter you have accepted a challenge for the week.... look for pray for and FIND a friend, or someone that need the message of the Restoration. Or if you are reading this and have never had the missionary visit your house please let them visit. THIS MESSAGE CHANGES LIVES BUT ONLY IF YOU LET IT.... SHARE WHAT YOU HAVE!!! THIS WEEK:)

How many missionaries are in your ward? two other sister missionaries
 
The baptism of P.. was great. He invited all of his family and they all came. He is a great man and I hope he always remembers the covenants he has made with his Heavenly Father.

 
Hermana C.... told me that I... and A... accepted a date for baptism this week. My heart hurts that I will no longer be teaching them.   They changed my life and I`m so happy that they will have the gospel in their lives.

Happy Birthday uncle Kevin!!! I love you so much and hope you are doing well. Always remember how much I love you!
 
I love being a missionary! 

I love you all!
Hermana hIckman 

Monday, May 5, 2014

Week 17: Happy Dance, 7 Investigators at church, 1,500 pesos a week

Hola Family and Friends,

Happy Birthday Grandpa and many more on channel 4..... love your favorite grandchild;) 

Wow thank you all for the sweet notes. Know that I'm doing fine! I have Christ with me every day and I wear His name. Ok first of Cinco de Mayo is a normal day here. I don't know why but I think it is because we are so far south in Mexico.
 
You will not beileve how many investigators came to church this week.... 7:))))

We have a baptism this Saturday at 6pm.... if you want to come it is in La Capilla.... :) 

Ok first of I want to tell you about these 2 young men.  They are so great and we have been working really hard with them.  It has been amazing to watch them change.  Working with them has taught me that the atonement works but that we need to have the desire to change.  I feel like these two young men are 2 of the 2,000 striplling warriors in our day. 

I don´t know how to explain how I feel I have changed.  I hope to change more because I´m still not a very good missionary but I hope to get there soon.  

Questions of the Week:
 
 Thursday was the best day this week because: We had splits and my companion and I invited 3 people to be baptized.

 
Do you use any media when you are teaching?  We use dvd's sometimes but the technology here is a little behind.

Do people of pets? Almost everyone here has a dog. I love it! It makes me think of Toby but my companion hates dogs and is afraid of them so I have to help her. I´m glad we have Toby because I don´t have a fear of dogs because of him.  Are there lots of dogs running lose? YES


I have been watching the temperatures in Tuxtla...Has the heat been bothering you? No it is ok... you are right mom running has prepared me for this... thankfully I´m not in the hottest area.


What did you love about being a missionary this week? I loved when we visited A... and he told us he did not use drugs that day. I did a happy dance and I make him pinky promise every day!!!
 


What challenge did you over come this week? I have been a little better with bitting my tounge when frustrated, but it is a process:)

How much money are you given on your mission card to buy what you need? 1,500 pesos I don´t know how much that is in dollars, but some of it goes for transportation.

Have you been feeling healthy? Good sometimes I can´t sleep but I´m good. 

Love you all have a great week!!!

Hermana Hickman