Transfers!!!

Well, the time has come. I am leaving the Cherry Hill 2nd Ward in New Jersey. Maybe I'll leave the whole state of New Jersey? How weird is that that I can potentially serve in 5 different states on my one mission! Just goes to show that the Pennsylvania Philadelphia Mission is the best mission in the world, right David? (My older brother served here...haha) :D

This week has been incredible. It has been jam packed with miracles! Remember in Malachi 3:10 in the Bible where it says that if we pay our tithing that the Lord will open the windows of heaven and pour out blessings, "that there shall not be room enough to receive it"? That's how I feel about this week! There wasn't enough room to fill how many miracles and blessings we received!

Sister Bernards and I really kicked things into gear and worked worked worked and God took care of us because of it. We found SO many people who are prepared to hear the gospel and invited us back to teach them more. We found people who have not had contact with the church in years who are wanting to have us come back and invite the spirit into their homes again. An awesome man who hasn't gone to church in 10+ years promised that he would go to church when Sister Bernards and I are about to go home. We had lessons that were taught completely by the Spirit and the most UNLIKELY people have been letting testimonies grow and the Spirit teach them. And Sister Bernards and I have become SUPER good friends.

So of course, I'm being transferred haha. According to my brother Jonathan, the first rule of transfers is: "If thou lovest thine area and gettest along well with thine companion, thou shalt be transferred." Gosh, that's the truth! I'm sad to leave my companion and the area that I've grown to love so much. I'm leaving the people out here who have truly become my family. But the beauty of the message that we share is that these people who have become my family can be my family forever. I look forward to running into them again in the future and having this experience: 

"What added more to [my] joy, they were still [my family] in the Lord; yea, and they had waxed strong in the knowledge of the truth; for they were [people] of a sound understanding and they had searched the scriptures diligently, that they might know the word of God. But this is not all; they had given themselves to much prayer, and fasting; therefore they had the spirit of prophecy, and the spirit of revelation, and when they taught, they taught with power and authority of God." (Alma 17:2-3)

In fact, I look forward to having that same experience with YOU all back home!

Heavenly Father is so good. I know that this church contains the fullness of the gospel. I know that Joseph Smith saw God, the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. I know that Joseph Smith was called to restore Christ's church on the earth. I know that the Book of Mormon truly is the word of God, companion to the Bible. I know that Jesus Christ is my Savior and my best friend.

I love you! 

Love, Sister Amber Flower Ricks

My District!

Cat Wall!

Some of my teenage girls :)