Hola!

Todo está bien aquí en Precursores!

It´s been a crazy week, and honestly the lack of sleep has caught up with me. We´ve been up too late passing logros [passing off goals], writing in journals, and talking about the needs of investigators and missionaries. We´ve set a companionship goal to improve on our bedtime. We also want to be more punctual in all aspects.

We´ve got people on date once again!

The Isasi family is the greatest. They were a reference from a member because their house caught on fire. We visited them and they are golden. They are planning to be baptized the 15th. Candy, the mother, has a serious disease, but is recovering very quickly after a priesthood blessing.  Our bishop is helping us out and has organized the Elders Quorum to do a service project in their home and look for a wheelchair for Candy.

Teresa is the grandmother of a less active that is starting to reactivate. She has been very catholic in the past, but we are helping her feel the spirit, and she confessed to us this week that she has the desire to be baptized on the 8th.

Juan is the spouse of a recently reactivated sister in our ward. He can´t read, and understands on a childlike level. We are trying our best to help them get married next week, and understand the principles of the gospel so Juan can be baptized the 15th.

Elder Castro sliced his hand open helping the Isasi family this past thursday. 

He got 10 stitches. I was on exchanges with another Elder, so I didn´t see it happen. 

While he was in the hospital he taught 7 lessons to doctors, nurses, and people waiting to be helped in the emergency room. (he waited for 1 1/2 hours to be helped).

 He is recovering very well, and the hardest part is keeping him from overexerting. 

 He is teaching me more than I could realize, and is helping me to see my strengths, more than anything, which builds my faith. 

We are as united as two teenage boys endowed with power from on high can be. We work like friends, because we are. We laugh when it´s time to laugh, and we work when it´s time to work. Elder Castro has taught me how to work with goals in the mission. I always thought the point of a goal was to reach it. Now I understand that the point of a goal is to increase product. We are improving every day, and learning even more. I am truly grateful for the Lord´s hand in my life these past weeks.

This week I had an exchange with a district leader in his sector. He is getting ready to return to his home, and my goal was to help him focus his thoughts: think of home when it is time to think of his home, and think of the mission when it is time to think of the mission. As we discussed, our thoughts turned to talk about how to change faith into power. It is a profound subject. Scriptures to study regarding such a topic, and how to apply it in our lives, or especially in the mission field, are more than welcome.

Sé que nunca habrá una oferta en bendiciones. Hay precios eternos preestablecidos para este vida y el momento preciso no significa que no tenemos que esforzarnos tal comolos otros momentos. Sé que nuestra tarea es demasiado grande para cumplir solo. Necesitamos la ayuda del Salvador. Y esa es la clave cuan dispuestos estemos de buscar y recibir esa ayuda. Sé que uno de nuestros responsabilidades es lograr metas dignas. Cuando somos dignos, logramos metas dignos. Sé que Dios nos ama muchisimo, y que conoce los sementinos mas tiernos de nuestros corazones. Cuando somos humildes nos manda demuestros de este amor para motivarnos y ayudarnos a progresar Se que dios nos conoce perfectamente y que a medida que estemos orando nos consagre nuestra acción para el beneficio de nuestras almas.El Libro de mormón is la clave de nuestra religión, y si no lo compartimos, lo olvidamos. Compartalo!

[I know that blessings never "go on sale".  There are pre-established eternal prices for this life and the exact moment doesn't mean that we don’t have to put forth the effort as much as in other moments.There are eternal prices preestablished for this life and the precise moment does not mean that we don't have to put forth as much effort as in other moments.  I know that our work here is too big to complete on our own.  We need the help of our Savior.  And the key is how willing we are to seek and receive His help.  I know that one of our responsibilities is to achieve worthy goals.  When we are worthy, we meet those worthy goals.  I know that God loves us so much, and that He knows the deepest feelings of our hearts.  When we are humble He sends us manifestations of this love to motivate us and help us progress.  I know that God knows us perfectly and that as we pray, He consecrates our action for the benefit of our souls.  The Book of Mormon is the keystone to our religion, and if we don't share it, we will forget it.  Share it!]

Thank you for your faith! I love you!

Love, Elder Hicken

Hurrah for Israel!

Hola de Barrio

Todo está bien aquí en Precursores!

Talon was assigned to be a zone leader with this most recent transfer.

 

Wow, I didn´t see this change coming, but now I realize it was necessary because I stopped working by faith, and started working by knowledge. Now I´ve been thrown back into the world of faith, and I´m doing my best to baptize my sector by fire. 

Elder Castro is the best. We get along like long lost friends, and we´ve got a unity that reminds me of Elder Eklof and Elder Sagastume. We work hard, and we´re making progress, both in our sector and personally. Elder Castro is progressing rapidly personally. He shared with me that in this short week he has learned what it means to be guided by the spirit and how to be happy and obedient. I love working with him. 

Being with sister missionaries is very different. It keeps a level of respect and formality in the zone that just isn´t present when there are only Elders like there have been in my previous zones. I have to admit I was a little scared to be in charge of sister missionaries, but now I feel like I´m getting used to it.

In our zone we are asking for key indicators of asked references and baptismal invitations with date. They seem to be just what our zone needed to improve. Hopefully we will see progress in the main key indicators as a result of the progress in these two.

Sé que Nuestro Padre Celestial es consciente no solo de quienes somos, sino quienes seremos y como vamos a llegar allí. Cuando somos humildes, nos guía a través de nuestro imperfección perfectamente. Sé que Dios nos manda pruebas para perfeccionarnos, pero depende en nosotros si tales pruebas serán eficaces o no. Será según nuestro humildad. Se que nuestros pensamientos no son los de Dios, Y que no debemos entender todo, sino todo lo esperamos, o sea en todo, guardamos la fe. La felicidad empieza con fe. Sé que la iniquidad nunca fue felicidad, y por consiguiente, nunca necesitamos una descanso de justicia, sino una resurrección, o revivamiento, o una remisión para alivia el cansancio y motivarnos a progresar. Dios nos revela según su conocimiento, y no lo nuestro. El sabe quien va a estar en una cita y quien no. Planes inspiradas no cambiaran al aprender algo de repente, porque Dios ya sabia cuando nos revelo el plan. El es lo mismo ayer, hoy, y para siempre. No podemos cambiar su voluntad, sino nos saldrá mejor al aceptarla y también acudir a ella.

[I know that our Heavenly Father is aware of not only who we are, but also who we will become and how we will get there.  When we are humble, He guides us through our imperfections perfectly.  I know that God sends us tests to perfect us, but it depends upon us if the tests will be effective or not.  It will be according to our own humility.  I know that our thoughts are not God's thoughts.  And that we should not understand everything, but rather we can hope on all things, and keep the faith.  Happiness begins with faith.  I know that wickedness never was happiness and therefore there is never a need for a break from justice, but rather a resurrection, a revival, or a remission to relieve fatigue and motivate us to progress.  God sends us revelation according to His understanding, not ours.  He knows who will be on date, and who will not.  Inspired plans don't change by learning something all of a sudden, because God already knew when he revealed the plan to us.  He is the same yesterday, today, and always.  We can not change His will, but it will be better for us when we can accept and abide by His will.]

 

Thank you so much for your faith! I love you!

Love, Elder Hicken

Hurrah for Israel!

Hola de Cambios

Todo està bien aquì en Jorge Chavez!

This week was relevatory in our progress as a companionship, as well as my progress personally as a missionary. I spent a good time thinking about why we aren`t having baptisms, in spite of our hard work, our efforts to be humble, obedient, and just about anything we can be or do (PME pg. 238) to acheive our purpose (Mateo 28:19).

 19  Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

We`re trying our best to help Josuè`s dad be able to baptize his son. I think we are going to have to change his date from the 22, but he`s 9 and is meek and willing to wait for greater blessings (i.e. being baptized by his father).

I`ve decided this week that this is my last week in this sector without success. From here on, I`m not going to be satisfied with my efforts if we don`t have either a baptism or a less active activated. I`ve looked at the situation here, and we have a field ripe for the picking, and I have no reason to not have success every week.

We`re excited to learn about transfers tonight! We`re about 90% sure one of us is going to change. Probably E`Pinedo, but it could be me too! And one of the zone leaders in our ward is finishing his mission, so we`ll be getting a new zone leader tomorrow. I`ll let you know next week!

Se me estaba pidiendo que compartiera algunos escrituras que estaba estudiando. Eso significa que voy a hablar del evangelio, entonces va a tener que ser en español, lo siento. Recientemente leì con un elder los versículos 3 Nefi 12:48 y Mateo 5:48. Testifico que Cristo fue perfecto, que su perfección fue a un grado que nosotros no podemos entender sin el espíritu. A medida que aumentemos nuestro habilidad de percibir el espíritu, también nuestro entendimiento del perfección de Jesucristo aumentará, nuestro humildad profundirà y nuestro porción del hombre natural volverá màs y màs dèbil.

[I was asked to share some scriptures that I've been studying.  That means I am going to speak about the gospel so therefore it will have to be in Spanish, sorry.  {And the reason he is writing in Spanish is because he is now more comfortable talking about the gospel in Spanish rather than in English since that is how he is learning to share his spiritual feeling.}  I recently read with an elder 3 Nephi 12:48 and Matthew 5:48.

Therefore I would that ye should be perfect even as I, or your Father who is in heaven is perfect.

I testify that Christ was perfect, that His perfection was of such a degree that we can not understand without the spirit.  As we increase our ability to perceive the Spirit, so will our understanding of Christ's perfection increase, our humility will become more profound, and our portion of the natural man will become weaker and weaker.]

I always write my testimony out beforehand so I can write it with the spirit in our room, and when I go to internet (where the spirit most definitely does not reside without diligent miracle seeking) I can just type it. But today, I left my testimony book in the room...so it`s going to be a little bit shorter.

Yo sè que mi Salvador vive. Èl es el bálsamo de Galaad. Sufriò para limpiarnos, no solamente del pecado mismo, sino todos los efectos del pecado, sea nuestro o no. El arrepentimiento renueva espíritu, vivifica fe, realiza esperanza, cultiva caridad, y edifica testimonio. Si nosotros sentimos algún fruto que no sea un fruto del espíritu de Dios (Galatas 5:22-23), seremos purificado de este espíritu por medio del fuego del espíritu santo. (3 Nefi 18:11, Mosiah 4:3) Asì nos llenamos de gozo completo, y nos preparamos para hacer y guardar convenios con nuestro Padre Celestial. Èl es nuestro Padre. Jesucristo es su hijo, nuestro salvaciòn. Que nosotros seamos cambiados por medio de su gracia es mi obra, y mi gloria. 

[I know that my Savior lives.  He is the balm of Gilead.  He suffered to cleanse us, not only from our sin itself, but for all the effects of sin, whether ours or not.  Repentance renews the spirit, enlivens faith, realizes hope, cultivates charity, and strengthens testimony.  If we feel some fruit that is not a fruit of the spirit of God, (Galatians 5:22-23)

 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

 we will be purified of this spirit through the fire of the Holy Ghost.  (3 Nephi 18:11, Mosiah 4:3)

11  And this shall ye always do to those who repent and are baptized in my name; and ye shall do it in remembrance of my blood, which I have shed for you, that ye may witness unto the Father that ye do always remember me. And if ye do always remember me ye shall have my Spirit to be with you.

 3 And it came to pass that after they had spoken these words the Spirit of the Lord came upon them, and they were filled with joy, having received a remission of their sins, and having peace of conscience, because of the exceeding faith which they had in Jesus Christ who should come, according to the words which king Benjamin had spoken unto them.

 So we are filled with complete joy, and we prepare ourselves make and keep sacred covenants with our Heavenly Father.  He is our Father.  Jesus Christ is His son, our salvation.  That we can become changed through his grace is my work and my glory.]

Love, Elder Hicken

Hola del dedo malchancado

Todo està bien aquí en Jorge Chavez!

Today we went to the foot doctor to get my foot all fixed up. 

[Looks like an ingrown toe-nail, Poor Guy!]

It feels a whole lot better already. One of those experiences where you don`t know what you`ve been missing until you get `updated` and realize that it would have been a whole lot easier to be proactive in the first place. I have been learning that lesson a lot recently. Actually, I`ve come to the conclusion time and time again, that there is absolutely no reason to abstain from being proactive. 

One way that I`ve learned that lesson this week is with Bryan, one of our investigators who was on date to be baptized this past week. During the week we learned that his evangelical family had no idea that we were meeting with the intention to do more than just talk. So when he invited his sister to his baptism, the whole plan went kaput. His mom, who was on vacation, came back home and now won`t let us near him. We`ve talked to him twice in the street, but it would have been more efficient to have talked with the family when we set him on date. We`ve got a project ahead of us.

We had three members of an unmarried family on date as well, but they have a habit of going to the beach every Sunday that we have yet to break. We will be visiting them this week to reestablish a Spiritual Progress Plan with them.

Our one on date is Josuè--the 9 year old son of a less active family we discovered underneath the rocks. He went to church with his mom yesterday, and his dad told us that if they don`t give him Sundays off this week, he`s going to quit. The family has got a lot to change, but is humble enough to obtain it.

Elder Pinedo is doing great. He is ready to train. He`s training me, actually. We`ve learned a lot together as we`ve worked in this ward. We`re prepared for whatever the Lord has in store for us this week, whether it`s staying together, leaving, or being left. 

Sè que no hay excepciones, solo casos especiales. Los Principios no cambian con cada persona, sino la manera de aplicárselas. No hay preparación para superar aprendizaje, ni ganas al testimonio. Sè que estamos en el evolución delcumplimento de los tiempos. Dios es un Dios de Progresión sempiterno, y estamos bien cerca del fin de este etapa. Se que los pensamientos y caminos de Dios no so nuestros, el etapa enterado en todo, y sobreobserve nuestro profeso, meticulosamente probando nuestra fe y perdonando nuestros errores. Sè que es posible lograr la perfección, pero solo hay una manera cual es el plan de salvación. Sè que dios no prueba en las maneras mas difíciles para nosotros, como el tiempo, la diligencia, y la perseverancia. Si escudriñamos la palabra de Dios, estos se volverán en herramientas para nuestro progreso espiritual. Este semana aprendí que la fe es una confianza que por medio de la Expiación será cada error borrado, cada alma alzado, y cada labio temblante tranquilizado.

[I know that there are no exceptions, only special cases.  Gospel Principles do not change with each person, rather the manner in which they are applied.  There is no preparation to being overcome with learning or gaining a testimony.  I know that we are in the unfolding of the fullness of times.  God is a God of eternal progression, and we are very near the end of this stage.  I know God's ways and thoughts are not our ways  (see Isaiah 55:8). He is aware of everything, and he observes our progress, meticulously tests our faith, and forgives our errors.  I know that it is possible to achieve perfection, but there is only one way which is the plan of salvation.  I know that God tests us in the ways that are most difficult for us, such as in time, diligence, and perseverance.  If we search the word of God, this will become tools for our spiritual progress.  This week I learned that faith is a confidence that through the atonement each error will be erased, each soul lifted, and each trembling lip calmed.]

Thanks for everything you`re doing to bring to pass the work and glory of God!

I love you!

Elder Hicken

Hurrah for Israel!

Temple Trip

Moises and Me

Finally, Colored Skies!

For My Computer Background in 2 years

 Rosa Armigo, Shayla Cangalaya Armigo, Fabricio

 Temple Lights

At the temple with Rosa Armiga and her grandson Fabricio

Hola de exito (por fin)! [Success at last!]

Todo està bien aquì en Jorge Chavez!

This week ended pretty tough, although it started out really well. We have 4 on date now, but only one is progressing. We activated 2 less actives, and this week we`ll activate 3 more and baptize Bryan!

Other than that, we`re progressing. Now, apart from the mass of less actives in Sacrament Meeting, we`re getting investigators to come. We have to work even more dillegently with the Ventura Family so they make getting to church a priority. The kids are on date for the 15th, but we need to put our shoulders to the wheel.

Bryan is progressing pedal to the metal for his baptism. We`re going to meet with him today to teach the commandments again, and set up his interview. His baptism will be at 5pm, if anyone would like to attend.

Tomorrow we are going to the Temple! I`m finally going to see the new video that changes lives! We`re so excited! It`s been so long! We have to leave here at 5:30 am....just like the MTC!

I`ll send pictures next week of our two activated less actives! Actually, next week we should have 3 more to send pictures of! 

Sè que Dios no da oportunidades de poder aprovechar del poder del principio-de borrón y cuenta nueva. Es mucho mas fácil mantener un hoja bon blanco, que guardar genuino una hoja pintada. 

Dios nos manda a llevar registros por varios razones, incluso para inspiraros, motivarnos, apoyarnos, hacernos recordar y acercarnos a el. A veces puede ofrecer una ventana al pasado y ayudarnos a analizar nuestro progreso. 

Cuando sacrificamos se nos dan bendiciones, pero por sacrificios eficaces se nos dan lo que necesitamos. Es esencial planificar para poder seguir y/o depender en el espíritu. Para ser obedientes debemos planificar hacerlo. 

La fuerza de un barrio es en los conversos Recientes. Pero no necesariamente los recién bautizados, sino los que han experimentado un cambio de corazón recientemente. La fe que viene de un cambio de corazón es un supernova de espíritu. 

Como seres imperfectos solo tenemos que ser humildes lo suficiente para que Dios nos puede utilizar perfectamente. Al siempre recordar el sacrificio expiatorio de Cristo, siempre tendremos su espíritu. El tomar de la santa cena requiere un corazón quebrantado y un espíritu contrito.

[I know God gives us opportunities to be able to take advantage of the principle of a clean slate.  It is much easier to keep a piece of paper white than to make one that was already painted white again. 

God commands us to keep a record for various reasons, including to inspire us, to motivate, and support us, to help us remember and come closer to Him.  Sometimes it can offer a window to the past, helping us to analyze our progress.  

When we make sacrifices , He gives us blessings, yet through effective sacrifices, He gives us what we need to get through.  It is essential to make a plan so that you can move forward and/or depend on the Spirit.  To be obedient, we should plan to be so.

The strength of a ward is in the recent converts.  Not necessarily those who have recently been baptized, rather those who have experienced a recent change of heart.  Faith that comes through a change of heart is a Spiritual supernova.  

As imperfect beings, we need to be humble enough that God can use us perfectly.  As we always remember the atoning sacrifice of Christ, we will always have His spirit.  Partaking of the sacrament requires a broken heart and contrite spirit.]

Thanks for your motivation!

Love, Elder Hicken

Semanas de exito [successful weeks]

Todo está bien aquí en Jorge Chavez!

We finally have investigators on date!

Bryan was an investigator of E´Jimenez, but his mom (who assists an evangelical church) didn´t want to give him permission to be baptized. Now he is 18, and started going to church because a member in our ward invited him. His mom is en viaje [traveling] and we are a little worried about what she will say or do to Bryan when he tells her he still wants to get baptized. They do not have a good relationship between the two, so we hope to nurture the relationship and thereby receive his mom's permission, even though he is 18.

The Ventura Falcon family is a family of 5, with unmarried parents. They are excited to learn more about the gospel. We have been working with the mother´s sister (who is a member with her husband) to activate her, which ultimately led to the encounter. We hope to put the parents on date to get married, and afterwards be baptized, along with her sister in law and her husband. It won´t be easy, but we will be diligent.

We had an exchange yesterday with the zone leaders. We could do it on a Sunday because we are in the same ward, but it didn't benefit us. Today I am going to spend some time studying what we did, and see if there is anything I can learn from the experience to be a better missionary.  Personally, I have learned the importance of gaining a testimony in the only Christ-approved way: read, ponder, and pray. Any other testimony is short-changed. Sometimes we trick ourselves into thinking that the sandstone foundation will be sure enough.

The president gave me a few sneak peaks in the plan of the Area Presidency. Now I will set aside an extra focus on family history and improving our ward counsel. 

Sé que es necesario que tengamos metas, y después planes para cumplirlas. Pero si estos no están escritos, vamos a tener dificultad siendo diligentes.Sé que el amor es lo que nos da el poder para ser lo diligente que seamos.Sé que el Señor trabaja con la fe y que para pasar la prueba de fe primeramente tenemos que tener la fe para probar. Después tenemos que hacer lo mejor de la que dios nos da en la prueba para pasarlo. Sé que es muy importante no jactarnos de lo que logramos porque nos detrae de la realidad. Si tenemos éxito o no lo tememos siempre debemos preguntarnos ´¿Cómo puedo mejorar?' Sé que si fallamos en nuestro planeamiento, estamos planificando para fallar o fracasar más adelante. Sé que nosotros tenemos que ser diligentes en probar si algo como el evangelio es verdadero. Tenemos que buscar y poner a prueba y dudar nuestros dudas, antes de dudar nuestra fe. Sé que fácilmente nos engañamos a nosotros mismos. Somos hijos de un dios todopoderoso y a veces nos dejamos engañados de nuestra potencial. Se que al estudiar el evangelio con diligencia, ganamos ese vista, y más adelante la potencial.

[I know we need to have goals, and after, planes to meet them.  But if they are not written down, we will have difficulty being diligent.  I know that love is what gives us the power to be as diligent as we want to be.  I know that the Lord works with our faith and that in order to pass through the test of faith we first have to have the faith to try.  Then we have to do our best with what God gives us to pass the test.  I know that it is very important to not brag about our success because it distracts us from reality.  If we have success or not, we always should ask ourselves, "How can I improve?"  I know that if we fail in our planning, we are planning to fail sooner or later.  I know that we need to be diligent in testing if something like the gospel is true:  We must seek, and put to the test, and doubt our doubts before we doubt the truth.  I know that we easily deceive ourselves.  We are children of the Almighty God, yet sometimes deceive ourselves about our divine potential.  I know that by studying the gospel diligently, we gain this perspective, and later, our divine potential.]

I love you!

Love, Elder Hicken

Hurrah for Israel!

Hola del tiempo màs rapido del mundo

Todo està bien aquì en Jorge Chavez!

This week we had an exchange with Elder Spencer in Proceres Ward. We talked about several things he can do to improve, and several things that he can do to help Elder Flores, the Elder he`s training.

We`ve been improving in our sector as well. This week we taught 31 lessons, which is our best yet, with last week`s 29, we`re showing steady progress. Now we are working on teaching more lessons with members. We`re going to focus on helping the members prepare to be able to have us teach lessons in their homes. 

I told you that last week was our last week without investigadores on date. Unfortunately, I didn`t come through. One `for-sure` baptism turned out to be a less active with lost information. Another worked all week and we didn`t get to teach him. The other slept in and didn`t make it to church on Sunday. BUT we`re ready for a great week! We`re passing the trial of faith with flying colors to get the miracle that we know is waiting for us this week! We just have to work like crazy to get there!

We`ve got a temple trip planned for this next month! Super excited for the new video! It`ll be 4 months without going to the temple when we finally go. I can`t explain how anxious I am.

I`m sorry I didn`t share my testimony last week! Actually, you`re lucky I wrote home! We decided to do one hour in the morning, and the last half hour after going bike riding. We went bike riding for way too long and ended up getting stuck in traffic and missing the appointments we had set up that night. No fun. Disobedience is a dark life. Even the little things.

So here`s my two week testimony.

Sè que la humildad es una herramienta divina para cambiarnos y nuestra voluntad. Sè que cada acción tiene una consecuencia o varias consecuencias, y es mejor solo escoger ser obediente que tratar de evitar las consecuencias. Sè que es esencial ser diligente para progresar. He perdido mucho esfuerzo en la ineficacia de trabajo desenfocado, o sea, sin diligencia, Solo por la diligencia pasamos la prueba de fe y experimentamos un milagro. Sè que la comunicación es uno de las desafíos mas universales en este vida y es por un propósito eterno.Se que tal importante como la primera vez es la segunda vez. Una vez es chansa, dos puede ser coincidencia, peo tres veces es un patrón. Hay que luchar para la tercera vez. Sè que sin seguimiento no hay compromiso. Si queremos que alguien entienda un compromiso (o sea que lo haga) tenemos que asegurar que entienden la seguimiento. Sè que por cosas pequeñas, se lleva a cabo grandes cosas. Sè que ahora es el mejor momento para plantar un árbol. Tal vez era hace 20 años, pero el segundo mejor tiempo es ahora. Si hay algo para arreglar del pasado, no hay razón de esperar. Sè que la expiación nos brinda poder que no tenemos adentro de nosotros, para poder lograr los propósitos del Señor. Sè que tenemos que sacrificar hoy, para ganar mañana. En el evangelio nada menos que 100% es suficiente, sino que tenemos que dar todo, y en la manea que el señor nos ha dado para darlo. Lo mas importante para escuchar al espíritu es ser dispuesto a seguir sus susurros, no importa lo que sea. Dios nos manda pruebas cada vez que las estamos listos. La prueba no es solamente algo para pasar para recibir lo que queremos, sino un proceso por lo cual llegamos a ser lo que Dios quiere que seamos por los cambios que hacemos.

[I know that humility is a divine tool to change us and our will.  I know that every action has a consequence or various consequences, and it is best to just choose to be obedient than to try to avoid the consequences.  I know that it is essential to be diligent in order to progress.  I've lost some effort in the inefficiency of unfocused work, or rather, without diligence.  Only through diligence will we pass the test of faith and experience miracles.  I know that communication is one of the most universal challenges in this life and it is for an eternal purpose.  I know that the first time is as important as  the second time.  One time is chance; twice could be a coincidence, but three times is a pattern.  We have to strive for the third time.  I know that without follow-up there is no commitment.  If we want someone to keep their commitment, or if we want one, we have to be sure that they understand the follow-up.  I know that by small and simple things, great things come to pass.  I know that now is the best time to plant a tree.  Perhaps it would have been 20  years ago, but the second best time is now.  If there is anything that needs fixing from the past, there is no reason to wait.  I know that the Atonement gives us power beyond what we have within ourselves to acheive the purposes of the Lord.  I know that we have to make sacrifices today, to win tomorrow.  In the gospel, nothing less than 100% is sufficient, but we have to give our all, and in the manner in which the Lord has set forth for us to give.  The most important thing to be able to listen to through the spirit is to be willing to follow its promptings, no matter what they are.  God sends us tests every time we are ready for them.  The test isn't only something to pass through to receive what we want, but it is a process through which we become what God wants us to be through the changes that we make.

Thanks for your constant support! 

Love, Elder Hicken

Hola de la Jumpstart

Todo està bien aquí en Jorge Chavez!

Sorry I don`t have any pictures, I left my camera card with a member so he could help me burn my videos onto DVDs to send home, but we`re going to enter email later today for our last 30 minutes, so I`ll try to send them then. And I have 3 pages of captions written for the pictures that I`ve been sending home, so I`ll have to scan them and send them soon.

(When he said "3 pages of captions", he meant 4 double sided sheets, 8 total pages!  I'm going through the list and putting the photos and details in the right places for you to see - Kerri)

Thank you very much for the package! (la paquetasa!) I gave all the things to give away to the Relief Society president, who is our pensionista [like a landlady, but more, the person that gives the missionaries room and board], with the instruction of who most needs that I know of, but now it`s in the hands of the Lord.

[Upon leaving Peru, Brent and Sunny sent Talon a package of all the stuff they didn't need to bring home, such as some clothes, books, and such].

This week we broke through a huge barrier and we are saliendo adelante [moving forward]! Companionship inventory is very important, but constant and open communication between companions is more efficient. However, all things said and done, we had an excellent end to a week otherwise very low in success, and we are looking at a steep improvement curve.  The Proceres Ward (in our district) is inspiring us with their logros [achievements]. Now we just have to return the favor, and regocijarnos mutuamente [mutually rejoice together]! 

We`ve gone another week without investigators on date, but it`s going to be our last! -- Because we didn`t go another week without new investigators! We have 5 new investigators, and we are looking forward to having success with them.

Our ward is improving in great ways. This week we had our first ward council meeting since I`ve been here, and it was amazingly missionary oriented. If there is anything our Bishop knows how to do, it is: depend on the missionaries. The Zone Leaders are being great examples in how to work with a ward to help it progress, and we are doing our best to support them in their efforts and learn from their examples.

This week we will have an exchange with Proceres Ward to see how we can help them work better with their ward mission leader.

We`re working on fortifying the members of our ward so that we can extend assignments to several missionary families. There is a lot of work to do, but we love working, and we love working efficiently. 

Love, Elder Hicken

Hurrah for Israel!

Out and About Photos

Christmas Fireworks Battle; I started the video early and filled up the card before it was done!

 Merry Christmas!

 Chicken Foot Soup

 Elder Pinedo & Chicken Pox Face = '50 Cent'

 '50 Cent' en MotoTaxi

 Banana & Crushed Peanuts

 Escaveche de Pollo con Sweet Potato

YUM!

En Callao (Nuestro Sector) [Our Area]

 En la Cachina (Like DI, Goodwill, or Savers)

Elder Pinedo's Triple

[Joy is the best pleasure of life...Live Joyfully!]

New Year's Lunch at Rosa Armijo de Cangalaya