Week 58: Tender Mercy at the Temple

Hola Familia,

How many weeks left in this transfer?

This week and the next..... then I will be leaving Tapachula... 

What was your biggest challenge this week?

Our numbers went down a lot because I spent 3 days in Tuxtla..... I will explain below.

What is your biggest concern?

We have two married members that are thinking about separating so we are trying to keep them together.

 

 

Share your most significant tender mercy and Who was your favorite person this week?(go together)  Hermano C..... is my favorite person. After a year in Mexico I need to renew my visa so they sent all the USA people that had 13 months in the mission to Tuxtla to give our finger prints and sign papers. I got to sleep at Mission President's home for one night on the couch.... The next day President invited me to go to the TEMPLE:)))) I wanted to go so bad but I felt bad because my companion was here in our area and I told him I really should get back. In the end I went to the temple and the crazy part is that Hermano C... from my 2nd area had called me on monday and told me that he had received his endowments on Saturday. I was pretty sad because I wanted to be there. When we were sitting in the session Hermano C... entered:)  It was his second time to the temple and I was so happy. We have time to talk in the temple after, but when we left and were outside he told me that he was not planning on going today to the temple but that the spirit told him that if he went he would be surprised. I was soooooo happy! My joy was full to see him in the temple!

What are you looking forward to this week? Working our tails off! I´m pretty sure that I´m going to be transfered this next transfer and I want to leave the area with a whole bunch of people ready to be baptized. 

I love you all!

The mission is great!

Thank you for the prayers you all have sent my way:)

Hermana Hickman 

Week 57:I Love Being a Missionary!

Hola Familia,

 

1. What has been your biggest challenge this week? Myself... lol no we have been working super hard to meet the goal of excellence for the mission. On Sunday we needed 4 people to come to church to meet with these goals of excellence and only three people came. I was frustrated because I really wanted to complete the goals....

Then I asked myself why do you want to complete them ? So that President tells you good job, because you feel like you are not a good missionary if you don´t or because you really want these people to come unto Christ. It really made me think.... and on Thursday we had a zone conference and we talked about being consagrados... idk what the word is in English... and doing things because we love God and nothing else. It was a hard lesson to learn but now I know:)

2. What has been your biggest concern? Hermana C's mom. I have a huge favor to ask... can you put her family´s name on the temple prayer roll every time you go???? it is.... Familia C... P....

3. What has been your biggest success? The converts! A lot of our converts are going to the temple for the first time the end of this month. 

4. Who has been your favorite person this week? Why? L... because she makes me feel happy just to be around her. Also a young women named E.. She has been visiting with us and got up this Sunday and talked about missionary work... She motivated me to get up share my testimony too:) 

5. What has been your most significant tender mercy? This week I looked a my name-tag and really realized what it said..... He has called me and trusted me with His work. I have waited my whole life to have this calling and realized this week that I can´t waste another minute. 

6. What are you looking forward to this coming week? Our baptism this Saturday:))))

 

7. Which scripture has had the biggest impact on you this week? In Alma 24 when the Anti-Nephi- Lehi's give their lives because they don´t want to fall into their old sins. 

8. Share three things that made you smile.

1. Hermano C... from my 2nd area went to the temple this week. I did not get to go but he called me this morning and was so happy.

2. Elder oaks comes 28th of February

3. I got the Kartchner Christmas card this week... lol Christmas in Febrero 

I love you all! I´m excited that every day is getting a little closer to the birth of my two new nieces:) I love you all and can´t believe that I´m serving a mission :))))) It is the best:) I have a testimony that God Lives and knows us.   I know that if you need help don´t every think you are alone, there is someone that walks every step and every day. He is there! He will lead the way out of darkness because He loves us and wants us to be happy:)))) I love you all:)))

Hermana Hickman 

Week 56: Lots to Smile about:)

Hola Familia,

5 things that made you smile:

1. A person we talked with on the street was surprised when I told her I was not from Chiapas.

2. We put a few posters up in our house of things we want to do better. 

3. I got to have a random interview with President G and he told me how much he loves me.

4. We get to go the temple with our ward and then hear Elder Oaks 28 Febrero. 

5. I have really learned to love my companion.

6. I have prayed that Natalie could see her Spanish friend again!!! Heavenly Father answers prayers.

What talent has Heavenly Father magnified since you became a missionary? My companion has really helpped me to think more positively. It is still something I am working on but I love that she is always there to help when I´m down.

That is so exciting that the YW go on splits with you.  How many of them want to serve missions?

Out of the 7 that do splits with us, 6 of them really want to go on a mission. It is super fun to motivate them, but it really turns out that they motivate me to enjoy the mission and smile always. 

What is the question that you get asked about the US the most when people find out that you live there? Do you like it there or here more? 

What gospel principle do you love to teach the most? Plan of Salvation 

It is so excited to hear that the recent converts are advancing in the priesthood and participating in family history work and temple work.  How has your testimony of the priesthood and the temple increased as you see how converts are blessed? In Mexico's area plan they have really focussed on family history. I realize I´m not very good at it but I love help converts find names because when you find a name you can see in their eyes the excitement. I know and have felt that their families are happy too! 

This week was a little hard one of our families told us that they did not want to listen to us any more. She cried when she told us. I feel like she knows it is true but is scared to change. I have also felt really really tired this week... I´ll be studying when all of the sudden my eyes are closed. Thanks dad for giving me that talent:) lol I really do love it here!  In my interview with President he kind of made it clear that this next transfer I will leave. He even asked me where I wanted to go but I was to scared to tell him I wanted to go to San Cristobal. I told him where he needed me... I would go. I have really learned to love being a missionary and I love being with my companion because she does everything with such conviction. Please pray that my body can feel more full of energy. 

 

Love,

Hermana Hickman

Week 55: Healthy and Happy!

Well I´m not sure where to start... in these two weeks there have been lots of ups and downs.

 
Share a tender mercy: My companion and I have not gotten sick from the mosquito that is giving people fever and pain in the bones. A whole bunch of people are suffering from the sickness and a few missionaries have it too.

 

 It is so exciting that you are working well with your Bishop...I know that is an answer to prayer.  How is your Bishop helping you? Our bishop goes with us on Thursdays to have family nights with our converts and investigators. Also if we need something during the week he quickly helps us. Last week him and his wife were sad that I might leave the area but were happy when I called on Monday to tell them I was not transferred.

 

You have mentioned that you have sooo many people to visit, how to you find balance in dividing your time between new members and investigators? We have been going on divisions with young women in the ward to visit double in the same amount of time.

 

How much walking are you doing? 2 or 4 miles long  Are you still riding buses?  sometimes  

How many people are you teaching right now? about 20 people more or less without converts and members

Best thing about training this week? I can really see that I have lost my animo. New missionaries are excited about everything and old ones not... she gives my energy to contact and love the members and give everything I have

Name 2 things that you love about your companion  I love that everything is new for her about the gospel (she has two years in the church) and that she does thing with exactness

4 things that made you smile:

1. Our converts were praying that I would not be transferred

2. Moses now blesses the sacrament.

3. F.... will receive the Melchizedek priesthood this month

4. Y... and F... are taking names to the temple this next month that we found to do baptisms

 

 

I love you all!  Please pray that we can find people that are ready to be baptized... no one seems to be ready right now. I love doing the Lord's work and hope each of you know how much I love you and pray for you.  I love you all!

 

Love,

Hermana Hickman

Week 54: No time to write :(

Mom don´t be mad the day passed by really fast and I want to be obedient and not start the day late working so we have to go. We did not have transfers.  I´m super excited to keep working here in Tapachula.  I love love love the members. I feel like my time is passing fast and I´m sad because there are so many things I want to do better.  I´m so thankful for the testimony that I have. I feel like what I´m doing is making a difference.  I love you so much!!!!!!!! Everything is great and I promise to answer every question next week!!!!

I love you all!!! The church is true!!

Hermana Hickman

Week 53: Little Blessings!

Hola Familia!

What 5 things made you smile?

Well to start off this week was rough F... a young man who was going to be baptized this last Saturday and the day of the baptism this step-father said no..... We were pretty  bummed. Then on Sunday almost nobody came to church.  But the Lord sent a little blessing that helped me know I was were I needed to be.

1. We left the house of the family R... our converts that we visit a lot and we were leaving and a  dad from a little family waved at me to come and talk to them....we went to talk to them and the dad told me that his daughter that is 2 years old adores me.  He said that everytime she sees me she says there Hermana Hickman or if I pass by with my hair in a bun she tells her dad Hermana Hickman cut her hair. I have never even talked to this little girl but it was sooo cute she gave me a kiss and it made me feel super happy.

2.  On Sunday night after a long day we had our last visit with J.... They are a young married couple that we have not had success with because they are never home. On Sunday night we arrived and they were outside their house reading about the Plan of Salvation and told us they thought we were not going to come. They accepted to be baptized 28 de febrero!!!!!!

3. I said the prayer to start the lesson with them on Sunday night and when I asked that J... would continue to have work and things.  I almost said Joseph Smith I was super embarrassed but they did not hear. Only my companion and I had a good laugh about it after!!! lol

4. The bishop and his wife are going to start working with us. Our bishop is really working hard and we have his trust!

5. On Saturday the Elders in our Ward had a baptism and we were suppose to have a baptism also but Heavenly Father helped us to stay positive. My companion was a great example fo me and we just kept working. We know the Lord will bless us with people that are ready to be baptized.   
 
 
Share a way that you have served this week: Washing lots of dishes! 
 
How are your new families? We don´t have too many but J... are doing good. Our converts are also doing good. M.... recieved the priesthood on Sunday which was great!

I love you all! I hope you know you are continually in my prayers, but to tell you the truth I have lost myself in the work and hope that the time does not past by so fast. More then anything I don´t want to go to school because I don´t remember anything... lol No really the work of the Lord is amazing to tell you the truth there are days were I so tired, but this week i learned the the Lord knows my heart without even asking He gives me exactly what I need!

A member shared with us a scripture in Ezk 14:14

That I love because it talks about how we can not rely on the testimony of others. I know that this church is TRUE!

I love you all!

Hermana Hickman

Week 52: Happy Happy New Year! RIP Mr. Rat:)

Hello Everyone!

 

So tell us about your week:) What was the best thing that happened?

We had 2 baptisms which was amazing. Last Monday our district leader called and told us that we needed to baptize 2 people this Saturday because we are behind in our mission goal of 400 baptisms for this transfer and 400 other baptisms for the dead... We saw a miracle because on Sunday the bishop told us someone was visiting that wanted to be baptized. His wife is in our ward, but that the baptism needed to be this week because he was leaving on Saturday in the morning to work we were like "OK bishop whatever you need¨ lol.   D....also was baptized on Saturday night!

 

5 things that made you smile:

1. In Gospel Principle class the teacher talked about the story of "What were you born to be, by Vaughn J Featherstone.

2. Today in a holiday in Mexico.  I felt super cool when I was talking to my companion about what they celebrate and then I remembered Senora Calhoon and what she taught us about 5 de Enero... That´s right I remember something from High School.. lol 

3. Our 2 baptisms 

4. We fasted about how to help our bishop and we got to talk to him on Sunday and shared a scripture with him to help him stay motivated.

5. We contacted 141 people.... there is a story to this... on Sunday we still needed to do 43 contacts to complete the mission goal of 140 and to tell you the truth I said to myself what is the point we are not going to find 43 people on Sunday to talk to (there are less people in the street on Sundays) The point of this story is that Hermana C... was not going to finish the day until we had 43 contacts.... I  helped but I did not think it was possible with about 2 hours until we finished. On Sunday night we found a whole bunch of people to talk to. I´m so thankful for my companion that showed me that we work until the end and we put our trust in the Lord. It was amazing when we finished the last contact. She really motivated me to contact also!!!!

Share a tender mercies or answer to prayer:

Heavenly Father has given me strength to get up every morning with all of my companions. I have had the problem of getting up early every morning,but now I´m incharge of the alarm and I get up every morning .... never thought possible :)

 

 

With six months left on your mission...what do you want to accomplish with the time you have left?

 I´m pumped!  I feel like I still have so much to learn but I know I still have a lot of work to do... the problem we have here is there is not enough time to visit everyone we have a lot of converts!!!!!

How are your bat and rat? do they have a name? Hermana C... killed the rat this week :)

How are you feeling? GREAT 

 

Bueno! Well I love you all and once again my time has run out!!!!! I love you all! You are in my prayers!  

Hermana Hickman