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, July 6, 2015

Week 78: My Last Testimony..Farewell Mexico!

Pues, no puedo creer que ya se acabo mi misión estoy muy feliz y triste al mismo tiempo. En esta día no he podido dormir por tantas cosas que siento. Pero la misión ha cambiado me vida:) Yo se que esta es la iglesia verdadera no tengo duda, estoy tan feliz que por un año y medio podría servir al Señor. Se que el bautismo es el primer paso para  entrar en el camino de Dios. Ver personas entrar en el agua es algo tan bonito porque puedo ver el cambio en sus rostros y sus vidas. Amo este evangelio y se que no podemos disfrutar de las bendiciones si no lo vivimos. Yo se que las familias pueden ser ETERNAS:) Se que el Libro de Mormón tiene respuestas para cada un de nosotros. Se que Dios contesta las oraciones y que Dios nos ama:) Amo la misión y voy a extrañar ser misionera pero cada alma que he conocido voy a llevar en mi corazón. Yo se que voy a verles en el reino Celestial se que el plan de Dios es perfecto:) ESTA ES LA IGLESIA VERDADERA NO SE OLVIDEN:)

LOS AMO nos vemos en 3 días:)

Hermana Hickman (para siempre)  

Monday, June 29, 2015

Week 77: My dream is coming to an end but a new one will soon find its way into my life.

How do you think you have changed the most in the last 18 months?
I am stronger and no longer emotional.... I don´t cry and even though people have said goodbye to me and cry a lot I can´t cry.... I guess what I´m trying to say is the mission has made me have to except change.   have also learned to trust in the Lord, do my part and the Lord takes care of the rest 

What talent did Heavenly Father magnify in you as a missionary?
The gift to love people... I did not ever think that I could love so many people, I told my companion it is going to be weird to not be worried about so many people. 

 So you served a full time mission what impact will that have in the way you lead your life after your mission? 
 
 I love this question.... I came to Mexico to change people´s lives but in the end my life is the one that changed, the mission has changed my veiw of the gospel and helped me live the gospel and value it. Serving a mission will change the kind of husband I  will look for and the kind of mother I will be one day. 

Well I just want to take the special chance to thank you mom and dad for all the support and love you have given me these 18 months. I  know we have seen some ups and downs together but I could not be more grateful, as I have been able to touch the lives of a few people here in Chiapas.... I think if it were not for two amazing parents I would not be here, I would not know what I know and be doing what I´m doing. Thank you for raising us in the gospel. I know that you have put a lot of money, nights stressed, or time writting me. I just want you to know I will forever be grateful for the sacrifice that you both have made. I can´t wait to thank you in person but I hope you know how much I love you. As for my two amazing siblings, thank you for so faithfully writing. I know I have not been the best at answering but it is so fun to read your letters and see your kids growing. T.... it has helped me so many times to think my brother did this and I want to be like him so I will keep working even if it is hard. N... I can´t even tell you how many times your letters were exactly what I needed. I love you sis and thank you for all the pics that you send so that I can feel apart of your life. I love you all J.. and H..I always tell people I have 4 sibling becasue I love you both so much. I so excited to see you all soon:) My dream is coming to an end but a new one will soon find its way into my life. I have loved every hard, tiring, wonderful, wet, hot, amazing day of my mission and would not change it for the world. I think more then anything I have learned to love my Savior and have realized that He loves me. I know our family is forever:) I love you all:)

With Love


Hermana Hickman

Monday, June 22, 2015

Week 76: 17 More Days of Living My Dream!

Well I will not lie I´m so excited to come home. But I´m also excited about staying here for 17 more days because this next Saturday we have an activity called ( White Afternoon)  All the missionaries are coming to the stake center to baptize. We have two people that are going to baptized, all of the missionaries are going to be dressed in white with their  investigadores and Presidente George is going to come and preside. It is going to be so amazing:)
I had a challenging week because I wanted to feel like I have given everything to the Lord to the very end of my mission. One night this week I got on my knees and had a talk with my Heavenly Father.  When I prayed I  said I needed an answer and direction.  Throughout my mission I have taught people that Heavenly Father would give them answers.  I wanted to know that I could get answers also. I wanted to feel at peace or understand what I needed to do to finish my mission strong. After I prayed I waited a long time. I finally decided to open up my scriptures. I opened them and started reading where I opened up... in Alma 34, I read the scripture that says " For behold, this life is the time for men to prepare tomeet God; yea, behold the day 
of this life is the day formen to perform their labors. "
 
I realized that today is my day to prepare to be in the presence of my Heavenly Father and it doesn't matter if I 17 or two days left to serve my mission.  I´m so thankful that my Heavenly Father gave me the answer that I needed  to repent and prepare... My prepartion  will not end when I finish the mission... I know that my preparation has only just begun.   I love my Heavenly Father! This week I learned so much about faith. My faith has grown but I still have a lot to go. Please prayer for R.., L..., and A... and G... they are the ones that are going to be baptized on Saturday. 


I love you all:)

Hermana Hickman

Sunday, June 21, 2015

Week 75: Full Circle....so Blessed!

 

I don´t have much to say only that I can´t believe that in less than 30 days I will be in the USA. This week was crazy as always, but so fun, I love my companion and we continue to work hard. The best part of this week was on Sunday I... (from my first area over 13 months) ago came to my ward to see me. I also got to go to my first area for the last time. The scripture in Doctrine and Covenants 18:16 "If your joy will be great with one soul that you have brought unto me into the kingdom of my Father, how great will be your joy if you should bring many souls unto me."
I felt that joy as I saw P... our first baptism over 17 months ago, his mom is now a member and his son is preparing to be baptized. As I talked with I... and he expressed the desire to go on a mission. As R... this Sunday recieved the priesthood and as L... told us that she used to feel all alone sometimes but that now that she has the gospel she feels peace. She told us that she feels like we are her family. I feel a deep love for the people here in Chiapas and  I am not sure how to let go. I feel so blessed to have known each person that I have met and I feel changed because of my friendships. I love you all, the church is true, see you all soon:)

Hermana Hickman 

Monday, June 8, 2015

Week 74: Busy but Wonderful Week!

Hello Everyone,
Wow hard, hard week but with the best ending:)
This week we had consejo for all the leaders and then zone conference the next day so we had to stay up late planning two nights in a row.... By Wedneday afternoon we were dead tired but then we had exchanges with the sister that live two hours away to take advantage that they were here in Tuxtla for zone conference. We did a two day exchange and then I went to go get me companion in Villaflores, almost falling asleep on the man next to me on the crammed bus. lol But the night before the zone leader called and told me that two of our sisters were fighting and that they wanted us to go have exchange with them... on our way back from Villaflores we stopped by and I once again went back to my area with a different sister. During all of this we're trying to prepare for the baptism of our little family:) My body by this point did not have anything left to give. But it all did not matter as a I watched my little family all enter the waters of baptism, recieve the Holy Ghost, look at their new hymn books and scriptures that I bought them and to really see them happy:) I think the best part of my week was as I helped them get out of the water. The two little boys gave me the biggest hugs... as I hugged the littlest one in his little wet white clothes I realized that Heavenly Father not only sent us a family ( 6 weeks ago President George asked us to fast and find a family to baptize) but that I really love them with all my heart. It was as I sat in RS with L... the mom we started to talk about how I was going to go home soon.  She looked me in the eyes and said are you going to come back.... I felt my heart sink and told her yes but know they will always have a part of my heart.  I love you all:)


Hermana Hickman  

Tuesday, June 2, 2015

Week 73: "Pure Joy"

    Hello Family and Friends,

 Well por fin... R... was baptized this Saturday and it was perfect:) J... a recent convert baptized R.... but had to do it three times because R...´s head did not want to go in. lol But the best part for me was his conformation on Sunday. The bishop gave him the blessing and talked about that his eyes would always be placed on the temple and that that is where he would one day be married.  He also said that he would have the desire to share the gospel as a full time missionary. It was in that moment that I felt I had completed one of the main reasons I came on the mission. Then after the blessing they opened the doors to let people in before the sacrament and there was my little family of four... words can't express how I felt as pure joy filled my heart.  I love helping people come unto Christ. I feel like the Lord has worked mircales in T..... I feel of his love as I look at or think about our converts. Although some of them have fallen away, they have all made part of who I am today. I have been studying a lot about being converted this week and it has been interesting because I asked myself have I really changed enough. I hope to change more in the 5 weeks I have left and to continue to  try to come closer to God... to know him. I read Mosiah 5:2 and it talks about having the desire to give up all bad and only do the good. I want to give up the bad and only do the good. I love the Lord with all my heart and this week  I read  2 Nephi 2 :13 and realized that everything around me testifies of Jesus Christ and his love for us. I know that He lives, as I am writing I feel the spirit sweetly telling me it is true. I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is the true church.  Pray and you can know the same:) Another highlight of this week yesturday helped a young man start his mission papers! I love being Hermana Hickman:) I love you all:)
Hermana Hickman

Monday, May 25, 2015

Week 72: Last Transfer in Tuxtla

 
   Hello Everyone!

Monday, May 18, 2015

Week 71: I love this work!

Ok sorry to all those that asked questions, but todays letter is dedicated to A..., and her sweet children!

We continue to teach L and her family they completed their fourth asistencia at church this Sunday. We still have so much to teach them, but they continue to grow. The children are so intelligent and always want to say the pray and answer the questions that we ask their mom. We talked a little about the plan of happiness this week and the three kids told us that Adam and Eve had to eat the fruit so that we could come to earth and experience new things... the kids love going to church and you can see the light they have in their eyes. They are so cute with us they always want to play games and go with us wherever we go:) But the story has only started. I only told you a little bit of their life on Mother´s day but for those that don´t know L... and her children have nothing... they live inside of a room that is the size of a office cubical with nothing but a suitcase and random dirty clothes. Their house is made out of broken wood and a door that does not close. Their bathroom is outside and is in equal condition. On Sunday we talked about L.. in ward council and it was mentioned that the elders in our ward had 2 extra beds that they could give them. So we all made a plan that we were going to go to her house and put the new beds in her house that day. When we showed up at 4pm yesterday we found out that the L..´s neighbor who introduced L...to the gospel and takes her to church every Sunday as a part of her house is a shed that she was not using. The member gave L...the shed and when we got there we 7 other members showed up to help. We moved all her clothes over from her room size house to her new ( in her eyes mansion)   house. Then the elders showed up with the beds... We all stood watching the children faces when the elders showed up with beds for them to sleep on. Once everything was in place we decided that with so many members we would use the time to teach L... and her children something. We all sang "Near my God to thee" and in that moment I just watched everyone's faces as we all cramped into the new little house and sang. All of us felt something a little different but special:) We said the opening prayer and started talking about the priesthood.During the time we made the move it had been raining but not to hard) then all of the sudden a few members started to run to lift up the beds because water was running into the house... the back door was so low that the rain ( now that it was pooring) was flowing into their new house.... we lifted up the beds and then we all stood in shock. I left the house into the pouring rain to try and get something to stop the rain from coming into the house... I found a big peice of wood and it stopped it for a second, then my companion and one of the elders entered the rain and found something to block the water. We put our minds together and built a wall of wood and rocks and then a trail in the mud for the water to go down a drain. At this point we were all soaked from head to toe... but really though... I have never been so wet in my life. We finally finished an hour later, by then the water had calmed down and Elder P.., Elder F..., Hermana C... our Bishop and I stood outside soaking wet but with a feeling that we joy that one can´t really express. Yesterday, I really felt love for a family and wanted them to be safe and happy. I got to talk to L... for a min after we finished and before we left and she was just so happy. She is such a sweet humble women and I love her with all my heart. She still is very nervous about being baptized but I think we made a huge step forward with her yesterday, because she felt our love and the love of our ward.  Most importantly she felt the love of her Heavenly Father:) I know the work we did yesterday was little but it changed my life and want to continue to serve and love the people here in Chiapas:) Yesterday was probably the most wonderful day of my mission:) I love you all and I love this work that I´m in with all my heart,mind,and strength:)


I love you all so much and hope you can feel part of what I´m doing here. Because you all helped me become who I am and I would not change this experience for the world:) I love you all:)


Hermana Hickman 

Thursday, May 7, 2015

Week 69: Mission President wants to clone me:)

Share 5 things that made you smile:

1.  Getting this letter from President G.... this week, "Thank you for being the person you are, for caring for everyone else, for trying to improve yourself, and loving your Savior! You are superb in every way! I wish we could clone you and keep your clones through the end of our mission. I´m so glad you are baptizing and having promising investigators. Love ya!"


2. R... the investigador that I told you about a while ago that we contacted in the street came to church this week:) He came late to Sacrament meeting but when he walked in and sat him down next to a young man his age and when he sat down they started to talk. R... leaned over and said we know each other from back in junior high:) It was a cool moment but then a people passed to share their testimony I looked over at him and I saw that he was crying; he was feeling the spirit.



3.    We contacted a random lady on the street and she invited to come in... So we went into her house and she started playing some christian rock music. It was super funny... she did not want anything to do with us but she wanted us to listen to her song that just repeated "Jesus I love you" the whole song. 


4. So we had another exchange and I said another prayer that things would go well in my area being that I was going to stay and work there. It was an amazing day:) We only had like 3 hours to work but we ended up having 6 lesons and we found a 16 year old boy sitting on the street. I just randomly started talking to him and he was super sad becaue he got in a fight with his mom. We sat down and talked with him and the coolest part is he said I have been to your church 5 times:))))))) WOW I got so happy and realized in that moment that Heavenly Father really does give us what we ask for:))))


5. We have a family that has come to church two weeks in a row and this week we went to go visit them. We taught them about the Restoration. The  10 year old boy told us when started talking about why are there so many churches on the earth today, that the other churches they are all wrong.  My companion asked how do you know and the little boy said..... because God told Joseph Smith in a vision. When the little boy said that I was in shock that a 10 year old could have so much faith :) 

This week has been a great one and with lots of blessing. I will continue to work my tail off every day. I have learned that I need to serve more... how I´m not sure yet but that is my goal:) I love Hna. C.... un buen and know that I´m with her for a reason:) I love being a missionary and today it hit me that I only have 62 days left and I still remember when mom´s letter said week 1 "wow how time flies:)" I love you all lot and we will talk on Sunday:))))) 

 


I love you all:) The church is true and the book is blue 

Hermana Hickman 

Friday, May 1, 2015

Week 68: Watermelon..like a gift from heaven

5 things that made you smile:
1. Ok it is mega hot here and it makes us fall asleep sometimes because it is so hot. So it was amazing we went to visit this little old lady who  we first thought was an investigator and then we found out she is a super less active member of the church. We taught her outside but before we left she said do you want some watermelon..... it was a gift from the heaven it was exactly what we needed to keep working :)

2. We went on Saturday to look for a contact and knocked on the door we thought it might be and a lady came out and was soooo mad at us she was like where are you guys from and we told her the USA and she was like why don´t you go preach to all the people in the USA that kill all the Mexicans. Sometimes  people hate us here.

3. Well Hermono U... got baptized this week and he is so happy. He gave the closing prayer in Sacrament meeting yesterday. It was neat because on Saturday he invited one of his sisters/ brother-in-law to his baptism.They live far away and they came. He told us right before he got baptized. "Hermanas, congrats you saved my soul that was super lost" 

4. Well our golden investigator A.. did not go to church and we went Sunday night to go find out why and if something had come up like always.  He told us Hermanas..... I have told missionaries before that I was going to go to church and then never went and it did not bother me and I just went about my day but today when I did not go to church I felt sad all day. It was cool to hear that because when he tolds us that I could tell that the spirit is really working with him. It was neat we talked about the plan of happiness with him and he told us I want this for all of my family ( his family is crazy and we normally teach him outside) and I got to promise him as a representative of Jesus Christ that if he choses this path and stays faithful his family will join him. 

5. Ok so intercambios (exchanges) started this week and it stresses me out when I stay in my area because it is a lot harder. When we stay in our area we are the only one that knows and you feel very alone. But this week I said a lot of little prayers in my heart that the Lord would help me find people to teach and that at the end of the day I could feel happy with my work. The exchange was on Wednesday and I stayed with a sister has a hard time talking in lessons or contacting. At the end of Wednesday I was dead... I would pass her the word or give her time to talk in the lesson and she would talk for like 10 secs so I just keep talking and talking all day. But we found 5 new people and invited them all to be baptized with a date:) The night before with my companion and I  had planned 25 contacts but the sister did not want to contact. She goes home in 4 weeks from her mission so I wanted her to enjoy herself and not force her to contact so I talked to everyone. At the end of the day we had 25 contacts:) But the funniest part was when we got on a crammed bus and I was carrying 6 Books of Mormon and  Hermana's huge bag to stay the night and a huge Spanish book and there was no space for me to sit. I had like half my bottom on the chair... I love Chiapas :) lol.




I love you all:)

Hermana Hickman 

Tuesday, April 21, 2015

Week 67: Lots to Smile about:)

Share 5 things that made you smile:
1. Hermana C... told me ´Hermana our job as misionaries is to make Mormons´
2. We have the baptism of U... this coming Saturday 
3. We contacted a man in the street and nothing came of it and then on Sunday he showed up in a suit and tie. He said thank you for inviting me and he told us that he has been less active for 10 years and that when we invited him he decided to come:) 
4.  A  young man contacted us.... he asked us if we were missionaries from the Mormon church. He told us he had been to church before with his girlfriend and he literally said ´can you come visit me on Wednesday´  Super cool 
5. 2 hours before church they told us we were going to talk in Sacrament Meeting:) It was fun I got to talk about the Book of Mormon.
 
 
 
What is your favorite time of day? like 7-8 at night it is when everyone is home and the sun goes down a little bit. You know you only have to work a little bit more and you find strength to keep going and then the day is over:) 



Hey I hope you know family that I love you a whole bunch sorry I don´t write you each one for one but I hope you know that you are in my prayers every night by name and after my prayer, I´m like the Walton family and I say goodnight in my mind to everyone every night and I say I love you it is the only way I can go to sleep:)  I love you so much! Don´t worry about me I´m loving every minute of the mission.

 


I love you forever:) 33333 

Tuesday, April 14, 2015

Week 66: Two Transfers Left

Hola Familia,
 
So if I am calculating correctly this is transfer week....right?  I am assuming that you will be staying but thought I should ask:)  Are you and you companion still together?  Has there been a lot of change to your zone?

Well my companion and I are staying together but all of the girls in our zone pretty much got changed. 

So how was your week?  Have you had any success?  Any one come to church? Only one person came to church but it is ok I have decided that I going to be nothing but be happy for the 2 transfers I have left.... not even hard days are going  to bring me down:) 


 
 


What would you tell a future missionary to do to be prepared for their mission? 
Teach with the missionaries in your ward, study chapter 3 and 6 of Preach my Gospel. Learn ,how to get along with everyone and learn to serve joyfully 

Share a miracle or tender mercy that happened this week? On Sunday  we were walking in the street and I saw this teenage boy that was super happy. I felt impressed to talk with him.  As I started talking to him, he told us that he went to our church in Tapachula 4 times... we have an appiontment with him on Wednesday he can be baptized very soon:) 

Best lesson? We left our area for two days to help two of our sister´s  areas that were really struggling. We saw miracles and taught 10 lessons in one day. The second to last lesson we found a 18 year old boy that is golden and ready to accept the gospel. 

If my mom could see me now she would be amazed if she saw me........(you fill in the blank) I get up by myself in the morning. Probably just teaching and talking to people I have never met before in Spanish 


Name 5 things that made you smile:
1. Our  investigador U... that left after sacrament meeting and we called him and said where are you? He said at the bus stop and we said come back church is not over yet. He came back..... he is going to be baptized in 2 weeks. 

2. When my companion says, am I seeing things or is Sister Hickman writting in her journal.... she gives me the hardest time about it:) 

3. The 2nd counsler of the bishop gives me the hardest time that my ears aren´t pieced, so I wore my fake earrings on Sunday and he was like wow what a difference.... lol 

4. Realizing last night that every day depends on my attitude, I have control if I´m happy 

5. Reading Alma 46: Title of Liberty... and the people came running to join Moroni 

 


I love you all so much....
thank you for all the love and support your all in my prayers. I love you all 


Hermana HIckman 


Missionary for LIFE

Monday, April 6, 2015

Week 65: Dog attack...saw my life flash before my eyes!

Hola Familia,
 
 
Share 3 things that made you smile this week:
1. Conference, loved it all. I got to listen to it all in English:) I loved the part that said... He knew what time it is at home.  I know what time it is at home also, but yesterday I was sitting in a lesson and I realized how much I love being a missionary. I love that I can speak with the tongue of angels. It was a feeling I HAVE NEVER FELT BEFORE.  I was sad  and I hate that time seems to be flying by. I find myself thinking of home more then ever with conference, but I want to enjoy every minute that I have left.  

2. I saw my life flash before my eyes as a dog came with his mouth open after me... but thankfully he did not eat me... I thought he was going to...  lol 

3. Friday hardest day of my life... we finished an exchange in the morning and then we returned to our area and walked allllllllll day and no one was home.... when I say we walked all day I mean it. We had like an hour left in the day and we sat down in a park. We made a plan of places we were going to pass by and hopefully find a family... We said a prayer and left with hope to see a miracle... long story short we were fasting also and we found a family and this Sunday they watched conference!!!!

Favorite lesson?  Yesterday we had a lesson with G... she is a golden investigator that goes to school on Sundays but the spirit was really strong. She watched conference and told us that she knows it is true... I loved being able to testify of our living prophet after I had just listened to him. 


Favorite person? This week I have really learned to love my companion. I realized that the problems I saw were things I needed to change about myself.


How did zone conference go?  What did you focus on and was it well received? It went well ! We focussed on a whole bunch of things but one thing we did was showed them how to serve. We read them the story of when Christ washed His discipes feet and then we went and cleaned all the sister´s shoes. We also gave them personalized letter telling them how proud Heavenly Father was of them, 




How much conference did you get to listen to? All and in English 

 

I love you all:)))

Hermana Hickman