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

Hola de terminar primer cambio aqui

Todo está bien en Jorge Chavez!

Well things didn´t go too hot this week, and we mainly spent all day every day in the street, looking for people to teach, and teaching them, but not ever getting inside. We´re hoping to have better success finishing this upcoming week, after new years and everything. As for now, we´ve got to pass the trial of faith with valor and honor.

I´m short on time, here´s some blurps;

 Elder Pinedo and I in the Cangalaya Home

Elder Pinedo asleep as I redo the whiteboard

Elder Pinedo "driving" the Reyes's car to its parking spot while we push

I was reading old letters: Paul teaches in the MTC?

Lily, have you seen the TV show pepa the pig?

Cammie and Rachel? and Joseph? Are they still on their missions? They´re still alive, right?

Wherever you go, everybody asks the missionaries: "Cuantos con fecha?" Or, How many investigators on date?!

Make everything you do a way of preparing to go to the temple!

I love you!

Yo sé [I know].

Love, Elder Hicken

Hurrah for Israel!

Feliz Cumpleanos!! Happy Birthday To me!

My Birthday!

 "Happy Birthday" from Elder Bunt

 "Happy Birthday" from Grandma and Grandpa Hicken

"Happy Birthday" from Hermana Brasga (friend serving in Mexico City)

Opening Peter and Annette's Package!

 Opening a letter from Elder Erlof

 Oh, THIS was awesome: 

Elder Gomez and I found 100 soles [ about $35 in US] in my drawer! ... 

 ...and we used it to buy PIZZA ...

...for the whole district for my birthday!

Elder Torres, Elder Hernandez, Me, Elder Gomez, Elder Pinedo, Elder Fernandez

An Alfajor Cake for My Birthday

The Reyes Family threw me a party

Miriam, Aaron, Grima (?), Mattew (Orisegoto), Jair (Moran)

POSE!

Jenny, Mattew, Grima, Allison

 "Feliz Cumpleanos!"

Singing Happy Birthday -- Hermana Reyes

 Budin!!

(Jennifer Digna in Background)

 Elder Pinedo, me, Miriam, Janice O.

Olinda, Jaime, Grima, Mattew O, Jenny, Jennifer M, Ariana

 Elder Pinedo

Mattew Orbegoto leaves for Trujillo in a few months

Feliz Navidad!

Ok, well I´m going to talk to you soon, so just some quick news.

Todo está bien aquí en Jorge Chavez!

This week has been super hot, and not very successful. I´ve been thinking about where the Lord is saving the chosen investigators for us, as we haven´t been finding anyone. We´ve been devoting much of our time and efforts to contacting the lists of future investigators, and teaching less actives, and the recent converts that we have, even though they are less active´s children.

The hardest thing is that I have yet to see a real consejo de barrio [ward council] in this ward. Our bishop told us that we would start to have them every week when we went to the training broadcast together, but the next week he told us that it was going to be tough, so every two weeks, and now he says we won´t have one until January. That means that we aren´t really progressing. Nevertheless, I say that ´todo está bien´ [all is well] here because we are working hard to be more obedient.

I feel a strong desire to study PMG [Preach My Gospel] more in depth as a part of my personal study. I find that every time I find an excuse not to follow my study plan, I don´t have an effective study, and I am rededicated to make good use of that hour. It has been stressful having Pdays change last minute, to be completely honest. We´ve lost a lot of momentum.

I found great interest in the movie of choice during our Christmas get together: How the Grinch Stole Christmas. For the first time in my life, I understood the movie as a satire, and it´s message rings true here in Perú more than ever. 

A very welcome taste of home, watching How the Grinch Stole Christmas

My testimony of our promised land doesn´t cease to grow stronger each day.  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. I know Joseph Smith is a Prophet of God, a chosen seer and mouthpiece. I do not believe, I know. The Lord has sent his special messenger to testify directly to me, so that I, in turn, can testify. There is no seam, nor fray, nor fault in the testimony of the spirit. Joseph Smith was a man, and just as the rest of us, had mortal weakness. Like him, I know I can grow in faith and virtue in order to gain an extra portion of his spirit. I am fasting and praying for this portion, that I may be able to begin bringing his sheep into the fold by the waters of baptism. I love the work!

Testifico que solo todo es sufficiente. Sé que el Señor espera nada menos que 100% de lo que podemos dar. Tenemos (especialmente nosotros como Elderes) que sacrificar todo lo que somos, no importa el precio. Se que la Iglesia de Jesucristo de los Santos de los Últimos Días es la unica iglesia que ha sido organizado por Dios antes de que el mundo fuese. se que ha sido restaurada en su forma completa, pero muchos misterios son todavía para venir. Sé que la senda es muy estrecha y angosta, y que muchos son los llamados, pero pocos los escogidos. Los escogidos son los que sacrifican todo, sin reservo. Sé que la oración es una herramienta que Dios nos da para ayudarnos a cambiar nuestra voluntad, para que sea más como la suya, pero dicho cambio require mucho tiempo. Estoy en el horno, y con frequencia, el herrero me saca para formarme con sus herramientas. Pero gozo en el cambio, y quisiera compartirlo con todos. Acompañanme en la obra, y gozamonos en la mies.

[I testify that only our all is sufficient.  I know that the Lord expects nothing less than 100% of what we can give.  We (especially as Elders) have to sacrifice all that we are, no matter what it costs.  I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is the only church that has been organized by God before the world was.  I know that it has been restored in its complete form, but there are still many mysteries that will still be made known.  I know that the path is very strait and narrow, and that many are called, yet few are chosen.  The chosen ones are those that have sacrificed it all, without reservation.  I know that prayer is a tool that God has given us to help us change our will to be more like His, but such change takes a long time.  I am in the refiner's fire, and the blacksmith takes me out often to form me with his tools.  But I rejoice in the change, and I want to share it with everyone.  Join me in the work, and let's find joy in the harvest.]

I love you!

Love, Elder Hicken

Hurrah for Israel!

Celebrating Navidad with the ward!

(for more pictures, view the December 2013 Album on the Right Sidebar)

The Ward Christmas Pageant 

Put on by the Primary while I read Luke 2.  

Victor Sejas was the director.

 Chezes

Olinda

Jaime Reyes, Jose Moro, Jenny Reyes, Antonio Reyes

Jessica Reyes de Dabegozo

Our Missionary Christmas Skits

All of the missionaries, Dec 20, 2013.   Here we are at the Institute Building in Palo at our Christmas Party.  The party consisted of games provided by each zone.  Then skits by each zone, dinner, and the Nativity DVD, singing and a message from the President.

Getting ready:  "A Haircut for President Borg" -- Courtesy of Elder Gomez

(He was a barber before coming on his mission)

Elder Hernandez and Elder Torres look on.

And it's show time:

Skit # 2:  Elder Condori y Las Flores

"Me Robaron"

["They Robbed Me"]

Skit #3: Los Pitufos de PLC
[The Peru Lima Central Smurfs]

Skit #4: from the Office:

"Head Music"

 (ahem...See President Borg's hair --top left-- Looks like we got the look just right for our skit!)

Skit #5 "Bus Ride"