Elder Talon Hicken: The Missionary: July 2014

Thursday, July 31, 2014

Elder Hicken's new assignment

Text Box: LA IGLESIA DE JESUCRISTO DE LOS SANTOS DE LOS ÚLTIMOS DÍAS

Hicken Family,

As you may know by now, your son has been assigned to serve as an Assistant in the Peru Lima Central Mission. Your son has shown a high level of dedication and maturity to be given this responsibility. He is an outstanding missionary and we are so grateful to have him as our new Assistant.

This assignment comes to only a few of the most outstanding missionaries. Elder Hicken has distinguished himself as an excellent teacher, diligent worker and a well-organized leader. He is a great example to his fellow missionaries and has gained their love and respect. His worthiness and leadership abilities are a tribute to himself and to his entire family.

His dedication to the Lord and willingness to serve will provide him with experiences that will assist him in the future and in leadership callings in the Church. Sister Borg and I work very closely with the Assistants, and we grow to love them as our very own.

We appreciate your continuing support of Elder Hicken as he continues to serve our Father in Heaven with all of his “heart, might, mind and strength.” (D&C 4:2)

Warmest regards,

Alan M Borg Presidente Misión Perú Lima Central

Monday, July 14, 2014

Life: Letters to and from Kai

To: Talon

From: Kai

July 8, 2014

Well, I guess I learned that not doing homework over July 4th weekend is a bad idea. But, I had fun anyway. We were up late on the 3rd and I then worked the Stadium of Fire which was great. I was on the field for half of it and checking tickets for the other half. Then, that night we (roommates and FHE sisters and some friends) went to Kiwanis until 3 and then Alex (roommate) and I watched some Doctor Who and then I wrote a paper when he went to bed, then I ran 8.25 miles (around the Stadium and then up the Y and back) and ate breakfast then went to bed at 9. Then I woke up at 2 and we went up Bridal Veil falls and that was super fun then we went to a BBQ and had more fireworks and then watched the LEGO Movie. So, despite my lack of labor over the weekend I really had fun. But now, I’ve got stuff due all over the place. I’m learning that the dynamic with grades is very different than High School. But, be assured it’s a great time and we have pretty girls at our apartment all the time which is important.
I’m also now late on my visa for Colombia, and that needs to be done soon. I need my blood type.

Love,
Kai

To: Kai

From: Talon

July 14, 2014

haha, you´re just like I was when I was at BYU. IT was a blast, and I did everything I could to have fun. But I know that I´m never going to go back to where I was then. I don´t want to go all spiritual, but I´ve learned to like joy even more than I used to, even more than I like happiness. I´m glad you´re gaining experience, because it will help you on your mission. Speaking from the other side of the canyon, everything I did while in college that I regret, I did because I was too tired to make a good decision. Have fun, but never let yourself get so tired that your frontal lobe goes to sleep. I don´t know if you remember from psych or biology, but the frontal lobe is the last part of your brain to develop, and it develops between the ages of 8-23 years. When we are 18 years old, I think that (just like a baby) our frontal lobe takes naps while the rest of our brain keeps working normally. President Uchtdorf says we shouldn´t sleep through the restoration, but don´t think that means we don´t need to sleep! haha

In the mission I have learned how to make goals and achieve them every week! It´s super fun to look back and see how many steps you´ve taken to get to where you are! Make a goal with a date to get your visa for Colombia, and then plan out each thing you need to do in order to acheive the goal. I have sticky notes all over my desk where I study in the morning reminding me to acheive my goals, and outlining how I¨m going to do so.

I love you! I¨m super excited to see you grow like I have! The mission is incredible. It´s like one of those math problems (I don´t know if you remember studying math in Walker) that says that there´s a machine and when 6 goes in, 12 comes out, 3 to 6, 5 to 10, and you have to figure out the function (x2) for each machine. I´ve figured out the function for the mission, and it´s exponential. If you come in without a testimony, you´re going to gain it. If you come in without knowing the scriptures left to right, you´ll get to know them. But if you come in with a powerful testimony, gained not only through obedience, intense study of Preach my Gospel, and personal experience, but through each step of the very gospel you will be preaching, from the seed of faith, to the balm of gillead, you will leave the mission as a personal representative of the Lord Jesus Christ. Endowed with power from on high to bring to pass the inmortality and eternal life of each and every sheep the Lord places in your fold. This is the mission. This is the battle field. We are fighting tooth and nail with the very enimy of God-and we are winning. The work is within us, and we will never fail. Because we will never falter. We are Maranga.

I love you!

Be strong!

Love, Elder Hicken

Hola de la semana más rápida de mi vida [fastest week of my life]

Todo está bien aquí en Precursores!

It´s short this week, sorry!

Elder Burgos is like trying to work with my other half. It´s like nothing Ive ever done before. I´m actually really happy, and really grateful for him, and what he does for our sector. I´m doing my best to help him be the best zone leader, or at least help him know how to become so.

Just a quick favor, I´d love to buy a new suit. The one that I bought in Mr. Mac started to fray in the MTC...along with the shoes. Here in Lima there´s a John Holden factory and sells suits fresh off the line for 100-200 soles. I´d also love to buy a painting from my ward mission leader, who is going to move to California in September, and is selling all of his work to raise money for the trip. I´m thinking about asking him to paint something especially for me. Any ideas? He said that he was selling them to his clients for about 100 soles.

On a more spiritual help plea, Dad, I need help with regards to missionary correlation. Nobody knows a good way to organize it, and much less when there are 4 or 6 missionaries present, each with 15 families to save. We´re doing our best, but I was struck by the lightning of revelation that you´re a ward mission leader and I can ask you for help! Any suggestions? Maybe an agenda that you´ve used?

I love the work in family history! It´s incredibly motivating, and I´ve finally found the feeling of ´apresurar´ [hastening] that I´ve been looking for since we split the mission more than a year ago!

I´m still yet to receive any stories about how Christ has made light your burdens! Don´t tell me you're all heavy laden and weary! If you can´t think of an occasion when your burden was made light, say a quick prayer and tell Heavenly Father that you need one quick so you can write me this coming Monday! Ask him to help you see opportunities for you to let Christ ease your burden. I promise that he is willing, and that he is waiting. Don´t be late!

Favorite video of the week:

The work is incredible, and even though Peru isn´t as outright about it, the church is exploding! We split the ward in half last month, and we´re alredy talking about asking for more missionaries. 4 missionaries just isn´t enough. We need so much help from the members. It´s hard to find time to talk with my companion sometimes because we are always on splits with members from the ward!

Love, Elder Hicken

Hurrah for Israel!

Tuesday, July 8, 2014

Hola de la mitad

Hola Presidente!

Todo está bien aquí en Precursores!

This week we trained the zone in everything we were taught on Tuesday in the Mission Leader´s Conference! Sister Belt and Sister Anderson (our Sister Training Leaders) helped us by talking about how the work of salvation is a work of love, with regards to our companions, the members, our investigators, and our ancestors. The zone has a goal to finish with their 2nd generation in the ´My Family´ pamphlet by this Sunday so that they will be prepared for the HC´s when they come to teach us the 18th. Elder Viñoles (our senior district leader) taught us about how to set goals, and how to achieve them. The zone gave us great feedback, and they seem to be very excited, even though many of them are going through hard trials.

This week we caught a dove!

And this picture is from the Isasi family, Piarella. She´s 11.

As I gain experience, it gets easier to see the future, but it never seems easier to do anything about it.

One thing I have learned while being in the mission is about the character of Christ. I want to be like him. It´s incredible how wonderful life is when one really focuses their entire life on becoming like him. One thing that I¨ve learned to always ask myself is if I am a blessing or a burden. When I call my leaders to ask for help, I ask my self how I can be a blessing for them in this moment. When I call my missionaries to verify their work, I ask myself how I can bless, not burden them. It has been one of the biggest changes in my life, and I believe it all started with something Dad taught me: whenever you go to a meeting or meet with someone important, always make sure that by the time you leave, they are glad that you were there. I always try to make people really, truly glad that I am there to help them, and never feel like life would be easier if I weren´t there to bug them about an assignment, or get after them for not doing something.

I hope you like my english I´ve started to use google translate to be able to speak better.

Our zone has high goals. Actually we´ve been the zone with the highest goals for more than 4 months, and it´s not going to be easy to help our missionaries reach them, but we have the same faith as Nephi when he boldly proclaimed: I will go, I will do.

Love, Elder Hicken

Hurrah for Israel!

Monday, July 7, 2014

Hola de la Ultima Semana

It`s the week of transfers, and things are crazy here!

I`m finishing up Elder Burgos`s training, and he is spectacular. We had interviews last week and the President and Sister Borg both commented individualmente [individually] to me that our zone has a powerful spirit, and that they are very impressed with their behavior. Elder Castro and Elder Thorsen, the APs, told us that they were very impressed with their comprehension of missionary work and how to bring it to pass.

I`m super excited for changes, although I don`t know if I`m ready! I think I`ll have a little bit more time to write next week!

Just know I love you! Each and every one! It is so important to love, and to serve!

Love, Elder Hicken

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Our greatest fear is not that we are inadequate, but that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, handsome, talented, and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We were born to make manifest the glory of God within us. It is not just in some; it is in everyone. And, as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our fear, our presence automatically liberates others.

--Marianne Williamson

How great is my calling!

I am called of God. My authority is above that of the kings of the earth. By revelation I have been selected as a personal representative of the Lord Jesus Christ. He is my master, and He has chosen me to represent Him, to stand in his place, to say and do what He would say and do if He were ministering to those to whom He has sent me. My voice is His voice, and my actions are His actions. My words are His words and my doctrine is His doctrine. My commission is to do what He wants done, to say what He wants said, to be a living witness in word and in deed of His great and marvelous latter-day work.

Where to Send the Good Stuff

Inspiring Words from Elder Hicken

Feb 21, 2013: Anyone who can't decide about serving a mission, start studying the Atonement with all of your energy of soul. You will not be able to resist the desire to share the amazing effects of a knowlege of the Atonement. As for everyone who has already been on a full time mission, congratulations, you're now a part time missionary--you're not done sharing. If you lack an intense desire to share the gospel, you'd best start studying the Atonement right along with everyone else. If you don't fit in either of those categories, you should study the Atonement. In summary, STUDY THE ATONEMENT! It is so wonderful, so happy, so inspiring, so spectacularly amazing! I know it is because as I study it every day, as I share it every day, as I pray about it every day, my happiness has grown exponentially, my energy has increased in duration, my attention has been refocused, and my desires are being tuned! If you seek happiness, seek a testimony of the Atonement, and the happiness will come with a flood of our Savior's love.

Feb 21, 2013: Fear to take advantage of the scriptures. Be afraid of falling into the category of people Nephi spoke to in 2 Nephi 32:7! But even more so, fear to hearken unto the evil spirit which teacheth a man not to pray. Which whispers "you're too tired", "try it first and then pray", "see if you can do it on your own". If you're ever thinking of praying, you should be praying. Ye must pray always! (verse 9) The ability to do things without prayer is a vice, and a weakness. It is harder to rely on the spirit, than to do it yourself.

May 21, 2013: I only want to share a thought that I had during our Stake Conference this last Sunday. We were singing “Praise To The Man” and a thought came to my mind forcefully, that what I am sharing and preaching each day is true. I know without fail, with every fiber of my body and I cannot doubt, because of this I am made. This is the true gospel, and there is no other way, path or salvation. The happiness that I feel grows each day, and my experiences are helping me in each moment. I am extremely grateful for the gifts of knowledge that the Spirit gives me, and I hope with all my heart that you are feeling a new desire to study, search, and pray with more effort often and regularly. There is no other way.

July 1, 2013: I know that God loves me, that He knows me, such that He puts details in my day that He knows only I would recognize. I know that God listens to my thoughts as well as my prayers, and that He is helping me develop a will similar to His. We please God when we help His children come closer to Jesus Christ, but our most important conversion is ourselves. God takes care of me every day, in a way I cannot understand. I know that Jesus Christ thought of my name, our friendship, when He was praying in theGarden of Gethsemane, and that I have his strength as a support when mine is weak. I love my Savior. I love my God. I have His love for you and I want to help you just like my neighbors here to know Christ. Believe in God; believe that He exists, believe that He has all wisdom and all power, believe that man does not understand everything that the Lord can understand. Know that I believe it, I know it, and I want to live it.

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October 14, 2013: Look for the time each day the Lord gives you to rest, and use it. It´s a gift from God, and he gives it to you because he knows you need it, not because he knows you have something else to get done. Read the scriptures for fun sometimes. Forget about any goal or need you have, and just open somewhere and read. The Lord has control, but only if you let him. Sometimes we want to do so much good, that we don´t let our Savior do anything--sometimes we want to help our investigators so much, that we don't let our companions do anything. But not in either situation does it turn out for our good.

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Dec 23, 2013: The work of the Lord is progressing at an incredible rate. The adversary is fighting to keep up. His work is disgusting in every way, and even worse is that he disguises it to not appear that way. In Elder´s Quorum this week, President Jimmy said that everything Satan does is to divide the family, and he works with the weakest member. Don´t be the weakest! Even better, don´t let there be a weakest! When a family is united in persevering to the end, there is no place for Satan! No handhold! But he has many workers in this world, and he will pull at every seam, and tear at every fray. I testify of the importance of gaining a testimony by way of the spirit. The devil reasons with perfect reasoning. There is no outsmarting the devil, but there is overcoming. We overcome the devil by rising above reason and learning to listen and understand the spirit.

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April 7, 2014: This week I have learned the importance of setting goals so that in the future we can measure our progress. I remember the feelings I felt when Sister Borg explained to us that she can see our progress, even though we can´t see it. It´s like my family: they send me pictures, and everyone seems so much older, though they have no idea. Sometimes we need to look ourselves in the mirror spiritually, compare ourselves with a snapshot from the past and see just how much we have grown.

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July 8, 2014: One thing that I¨ve learned to always ask myself is if I am a blessing or a burden. When I call my leaders to ask for help, I ask my self how I can be a blessing for them in this moment. When I call my missionaries to verify their work, I ask myself how I can bless, not burden them. It has been one of the biggest changes in my life, and I believe it all started with something Dad taught me: whenever you go to a meeting or meet with someone important, always make sure that by the time you leave, they are glad that you were there. I always try to make people really, truely glad that I am there to help them, and never feel like life would be easier if I weren´t there to bug them about an assignment, or get after them for not doing something.

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Nov 15, 2014: Many times it hurts to not have materials for those who need. It makes me think of the spiritual application of the same; the feeling of guilt and pain that one encounters when lacking a testimony to share in another´s time of need is a cringing experience. It is not as easy as asking a companion for an extra pamphlet, or looking for the extra you always keep inside the cover of your scriptures. I urge all who are within the reaching of my words to prepare themselves. There is not much time before the Lord will require your testimony. The days are accomplished that the battle front has disappeared. The enemy is within the walls, and we must sleep on our swords. There is no child too young, no soldier too wounded, no scout too lost, and not one too weak to be strengthened by the Atonement of Jesus Christ. We all need it.