Dates!

All during the week I have crazy experiences and I think, I have got
to tell everyone back home about this! And then Monday hits and I'm
tired and I can't remember most of the cool things. But here are some
that come to mind:
-We have a Muslim investigator who brought us dates (the food)
straight from Saudi Arabia
-We visit this man in a nursing home who has a trach and can't talk.
It is one of my favorite parts of every week because I get to
experience listening to the spirit tell me what his thoughts are, and
as we talk to him you can see his face light up with gratitude that we
understand him!
-I met Elder Wilford W Anderson of the Seventy this week. He came to
speak to our mission and gave an incredible talk
-we had to wait at Pep-boys for 3 and a half hours to get our oil
changed. We handed out 3 pass along cards, a Restoration pamphlet and
a Book of Mormon :)

It was a great week and I am doing well. I love this work!

Love, Sister Amber Ricks

This is a few months old, but we had to fill the baptismal font
withbuckets of water :)

My Testimony :)

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the one and only
true and living church on the earth. It is headed by Jesus Christ who
leads and directs the church through our living prophet, Thomas S.
Monson. This gospel was restored by Joseph Smith who was called to be
the first prophet of this dispensation. God loves His children and is
the same yesterday, today and forever. He has always given His
priesthood power to those who live worthy of it. We have evidence of
this throughout the history of the world. The Book of Mormon is
another testimony of Jesus Christ and is further proof that God loves
His children. I have a burning testimony that the Book of Mormon is
the word of God written by prophets living on the American continent
and is further evidence that Joseph Smith was called of God. I know my
Savior Jesus Christ lives and is the reason all of us can even find a
glimmer of joy in this life, and hope for the life to come. I love my
calling as a representative of the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints, with the opportunity to share with others the
reason for my happiness and peace!
I love you all. I mean it.

Love, Sister Amber Ricks

Let's get Down to Business! To Defeat....

I am living in some alternate universe where everything that could
possible go right is happening! Sister Bettilyon and I are completely
blown away with how constant the blessings are flowing in. Heavenly
Father is so good! Of course we still have disappointments and
difficulties when people cancel their appointments or tell us that
they don't want to meet anymore. But Heavenly Father is just pouring
out blessings, "that there shall not be room enough to receive it."
(Malachi 3:10) It's a real thing!

Let me just tell you a little about Isaiah. 17 years old and he's been
through awful, awful things. It breaks my heart to learn about the
life he has lived. You might assume that Isaiah would have no interest
in learning about church or the gospel, but he is completely prepared.
He told us that he just wants to be a good person and he wants to take
care of other people. I wish I could convey to you how much I love
him! He told us that he was nervous to come to church because he's
never been around "people like [us]". But he came anyway! What a
beautiful thing to watch one of God's children who has the potential
to follow down the same awful path that he's seen others take; but
instead, Heavenly Father miraculously lead him to us and he is now
turning his life around. I picture him as a missionary in a year or so
and eventually marrying in the temple. What a blessing to be a part of
his life!

Isaiah is one of the many miracles that we have experienced over the
last few weeks. Sharing the gospel is the BEST thing we can do in this
life, after accepting it for ourselves. Here's an intense quote for
you that I read in Preach My Gospel today:
“We will attain our exaltation in the Celestial Kingdom only on the
condition that we share with our Father’s other children the blessings
of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and observe the commandments that will
enrich our lives here and hereafter” (Sharing the Gospel with Others,
190). -George Albert Smith

I love this gospel! I love my Savior! I love being a member missionary
with a name tag! I love you allllllllllll!

Love, Sister Ricks

P.S. Some good quotes from this week:
"God winks" (referring to tender mercies)
"I'll ask Grandma, she knows everything."
"I want to do good things now. Like drinking orange juice and eating
cookies with my friends."