I love you

Dear Family,

I don´t have a lot of time! But I want you to know that I love you all so much! WE are going to have an activity as a zone right now. I want you to know that Sabrina got baptized and that her husband is going to baptize the daughters it should be this weekend. It depends when his register arrives. !) I love this misison it really is so great. I love seeing that the people change and that they want to follow Christ. 

   Dad! I wanted to tell you happy Birthday! I am so grateful for you as my Father! I love you so much and I have learned so much from you.  I hope you enjoy it on the 4th and that you are able to eat a lot of german choclate cake. !) RIght now I don´t have a gift... but I want you to knwo that I am so glad that you are my Father. I couldn´t have been blessed more. Even thought as a kid when we went hunting I always cried for the cold I always wanted to be just like you but only with bangs and that saying still stands true today!) hopefully i will have my bangs one day. ha

   My new companions name is Elder Seda and he is also from mexico and he studied with Elder Bobadilla before the mission and lived in Monterray before the mission! I love having mexican companions!!

Love,

Elder Hicks

Christmas Time

I love you so much  will talk to you on Christmas day. I will have to confirm the time on thursday inthe morning. But i am thinking 7 will be perfect!!
Elder Hicks

Merry Christmas #sharethegift

Dear Mom, 

 I hope you know how much I love you . I am trying so hard to finish strong and help so many more families come unto Christ. we have seen so many miracles this past week. And next monday I am going to give 20 dollars to a family... well more like 200 pesos! I love you mom!

Makenna,

Hey I love you so much and i am so happy for what kind of decisions you are making in your life. You are an example for me. I know sometimes it is hard in thy youth... but lean on your older brother Christ and he will help you!

Love you

Dad, I hope you have enjoyed a great week and that your talk went well , i also hope Moms talk went well on the baptism. I love you so much, there is not one day I don`t think about our family!! 

love you 

  Our goal as a zone!

 Pictures, with Elder Bennett and his companion.

 Ward Members

Primary Kids

Dear Family and Friends,

This week has been absolutly Great. As we are getting closer to CHristmas we are feeling the spirit a lot more. I do not know if I have told you but we are trying to baptize 4 people this month and we are doing everyhting we can to be able to find four souls and help them recieve a saving ordinance. We are doing everyhitng possible! 

   The other day we found a man who was baptized in the church 15 years ago and now has a wife and 2 kids. We invited all of them to go to the christmas dinner with us! They all went and loved the dinner!! Our ward is great! But he did nto come to the stake conference we had on Sunday! but they have such a huge desire to com eot churhc That this next week we are going to make better plans with him so they can go to church!

    Also somethign funny this week... Well this morning as i was getting ready to go running I fell off my chair and I was so tired that all i said to my compnaion is... That didn`t hurt and kept putting on my socks and I left... when I came back we realized how weird it was and my companion could not stop laughing!  

    This week we need lots of prayers for htis zone here in litoral... please we need to be able to help these people accept the gospel in tehir lifes... The families we are teaching are, Sotelo family, Escobar Family, and the colman family. 

    I love you all so much, and I hope you all have a great day, I attached a poem that I really loved.

Ladder of hope

I had been in that hole for a very long time In the dark and the damp, in the cold and the slime.The shaft was above me; I could see it quite clear But there's no way I ever could reach it from here. Nor could I remember the world way up there So I lost all my hope and gave in to despair. I knew nothing but darkness, the floor, and the walls Then off in the distance I heard someone call: "Get up! Get ready! There's nothing the matter. Take rocks and old sticks and build up a fine ladder." This had never occurred to me--had not crossed my mind.But I started to stack all the stones I could find. When I ran out of stones, then old sticks were my goal, For one way or another I'd get out of that hole. So I soon had a ladder that was sturdy and tall And I thought, "I'll soon leave this place once and for all." I climbed up my ladder. It was no easy chore, For from lifting those boulders, my shoulders were sore. I climbed on up the ladder, but soon had to stop For my ladder stopped short--some ten feet from the top.I climbed back down my ladder and started to cry I'd done all I could do. I gave my best try. And in spite of my work, in this hole I must die. And all I could do was to sit and think, "Why?" Was my ladder too short? Or my hole much too deep Then from way upon high came a voice, "Do not weep." And then faith, hope, and love entered into my chest As the voice said to me that I'd done my best. He said, "You've worked very hard, and your labor's been rough, But the ladder you've built is at last tall enough. Do not despair. You have reason to hope just climb up your ladder; I'll throw down my rope." I climbed up the ladder, then climbed up the cord. When I got to the top, there stood the Lord. I couldn't be happier; my struggle was done. I blinked in the brightness that came from the Son. I fell to the ground, His feet did I kiss I cried, "What can I do to repay thee for this?" Then He looked all about Him. There were holes in the ground They had people inside, and were seen all around There were thousands of holes that were damp, dark, and deep The the Lord turned to me and He said, "Feed my sheep." Then He went on His way to help other lost souls, And I got right to work, calling down to the holes: "Get up! Get ready! There's nothing the matter.Take rocks and old sticks and build up a fine ladder." It now was my turn to spread the good word. The most glorious message that man ever heard. That there's one who is willing to save one and all And we've got to be ready when He gives the call. He'll pull us all out of the hole that we're in And save all our souls from death and from sin. So do not lose faith; there is reason to hope just build up your ladder; He'll throw down His rope 

I hope we can share this message of the gospel of Jesus Christ to help them know that we can all build a ladder and leave the hole we are in! SHARE THE GIFT-Who will you share it with?? 

I love you all so much! 

Love,

Elder Troy Hicks

Merry Christmas!

Dear Family and Friends,

   I want you to all know that: I LOVE YOU ALL( that is the most important from the e-mail) 

   Wow, This past week has been super great! We have been using the program from the prophet named ¨He is the Gift¨ by visiting the members and inviting them to share it! It has helped us find a lot of people and we are seeing a ton of miracles! This is truly the work of the Lord. Saddly the faily diaz did not got o church... but another woman went to church named Monica and we are helping heer to be baptized for the 21st. ALso we are working with a ember to baptize one of her friends( it is the family that tried to kiss my companion on the cheek that i talked about last week.) and they could not go to chruch last week but they have already started to read the book of mormon and have plans to go to church this weekend! they are so great. the investigator sent a message to the member that said ¨I lvoe learning about the churhc from the missionaries!¨ we are going to visit them tomorrow at 6:30 to see if they have read and PRAYED about the truthfulness of the book of mormon: 

   THis week I have thought a lot about the birth of Christ and how importnat it really is (Merry Christmas!!!). THe part in Lucas 2 realy helps me to understand how important the birth of the saviour really is: 

7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. 8 And there were in the same country  shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory ofthe Lord shone round about them: and they were sore  afraid.10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour,which  is Christ the Lord.

HE has saved us and I know it is true. He is the Gift of this Christmas. 

I love the mission and this week we have worked super hard to be able to get everyone to know about Christ. This week we did a bunch of divisions. Still my companion and I are dooing great and I hope everyone shares the gift of this christmas which is our savior Jesus Christ! Please think and keep thinking Who can I serve today to help them come closer to Christ? 

Don´t forget about the most important: Les amo!

Have a great week!

Love,

Elder Troy Hicks

 The Zone

MY great parents!

Mom,

you have to talk about the holy ghost and baptism, i think the most importnat in these short talks before the baptism is talk to the people who are going to be baptized and help them to feel how specal it is( help them to feel the spirit of the occasion, how a baptism and the holy ghost now I can have the eternal life!!)  or whatever helps them get excited. and to use an example. I hope you enjoy your talk!! the most important is that you enjoy the moment that you have to teach to these kids! In Chapter 31 and 32 from nephi it talks a lot about the importance of baptism and  confirmation. Mom, you have a gift while you share your testimony that helps the spirit feel the room. As you enjoy the moment the kids will understand. 

Dad,

You are going to talk about testimony and conversion and i don´t think their is a better example than you to talk about these things. I think as you share your personal testimony from your heart and as you prepare with prayer the spirit will help the people to undersatnd what they need to learn and how important it is for you to be part of the church of Jesus Christ. 

These are just suggestions but i hope they help you, I really love you all so much and I hope you have a great day and a great week, as we prepare for this Christmas we must Share that He is the Gift! 

Love,

Elder Hicks

Merry Christmas, Christ lives!

Dear Family and friends,

    This week has been so great as a missionary!! woohooo I love the mission!

so this week has ben a nother great week of work and families. I`m not sure if i have told you about the family Diaz. But he only has one leg and has a helper leg (those metal legs that help you to walk) his wife and 2 kids. Their names are Ramon Victoria, Brandon(13) Aime(11). THey are such a great family ! they made my companion a cake for his brithday of mexico!

     This week only Ramon went to churcdh and we were thinking about letting them go as investigators to help them realize if they don`t go tot churhc they won`t be able to baptized and they won`t be able to get married on the 9th of january... but when we arrived both of them had their bokk of mormons in their hands and they were supposedly reading them! 

     yesterday as a zone, almost no one went to church for the rain that we got!! it was pretty disappointing! as a zone we had 11 baptisms and 12 confirmations. But this christmas month we are going to have a whole lot more!! I am not sure what is going to happen but the lord has a plan to bless us with many baptisms. As a mission we have felt that we are going to break records and if we believe it, it is going to happen!! (well we also have act according to that belief but we know it is going to happen.) 

     Something funny that happened this week is my comapnion and i were teaching a family in the street and we gave them a book of mormon, as we were leaving after giving the book of mormon we usually give a handshake to the people( just so you know that is weird in argentina because the usually give kisses on the cheek) so as we wer leaviing the girl wanted to give a kiss on teh cheek to my companion and practicall pulled his face into her face! it was so funny beacuse Elder Bobadilla was saying no! we don`t give kisses on the cheek and she, for some reason wanted to say bye with a cheek!! ha it was super funny. 

      As we have been teaching more and more people I have felt a love grow towards the people in ricardo rojas... I feel like it is my own people even everyone knows i am a white kid from the united states ( aguante Gringos) I feel for all the people and I try to say HI to everyone... I am not sure if i am annoying most of them or helping them see the love that i feel!! I love this mission and I love sharing the gospelto help others be happpy for this live and for the eternities!

     I wanted to ask everyone a question a question of self refextion that you can do each day as it grows closer to christmas... I don`t think their is a better time than right now to grow closer to our lord and saviour Jesus Chirts... 

The question is: What have I done today to serve Another? 

as we do so I promise that you will find peace and find that their are many little ways to help others to be happy. Let`s enjoy this life!! 

Love you all so much!!! 

Elder Hicks

us with the family diaz!! their is the birthday cake for Elder Bobadilla!

Please check this video out! it talks about what is the real gift of Chirstmas!
http://www.mormon.org/christmas?cid=HPFR112814529

My great Family!

Dear Family,

  Dad, I just wanted to say I am sorry if I have not answered all your questions in your e mails! But I was thinking a lot about you this week, I read a talk that  I really liked called: Father and sons A remarkable reltionship from elder Ballard, After reading this I wnted to ask you  question. I wanted to know if their is something that I can do to be a better as a son,  man, or to be a better misisonary from what you can see? thanks Dad I love you a lot I am so greatful to have you as my father. 

I am lso hoping that you all have a great thanksgiving! In Argentina their is not a thnksgiving... but on thursday I will be thinking much about all of my family and thanking all of you and Thnking the Lord for the many blessings that we have!! Also wht is the name of the kid that makenna is going to go to winter formal  with? ha (older brother problems) !)

This last week has been so great and I feel like we are working so hard. 

I am so thankful for all of you and I love you so much as my family!! 

MOm, You might be able to find it close to a place called tigre, technically i am in a place called Ricardo Rojas... you might be able to find RIcardo Rojas faster. I sure love you and thanks for the story you sent me about the sheep!

Dear Family and Friends,

   I wanted to wish you all  happy thanksgiving! I sure do you love oyu so much; I hope each one of you know that I love you and I hope you have a great Thanksgiving! 

Love,
Elder Hicks

El final se acerca, Vamos Más Rapido

Dear Family and Friends,

I LOVE THE MISSION! This time is so great. 

Like I showed in the picture one of the 12 apostles came to our mission. I learned so much from him. But before i tell you what I learned something the blew my mind, I wanted to tell you how my week went.

     WE had transfers today and I am going to stay with ELder Bobadilla, poor guy has to put up with me for 6 more weeks... ha   Also this week, well yesterday we found someone named Osmar... My companion being from mexico started talking to him about the best food in the world... which aparently is the mexican food... jaja and the guy started talking to us and was super excited about the topic of mexican food! hha after for sure we started talking bout hte gospel and he got even more excited! hah but I tell you this because Osmar after we taugh him everyhting we asked him to pray with us. In his pray he said ¨lord if i have to be baptized please make it know unto me... He hd so much faith in what his heavenly father wanted for him. How cn we be more like this? how can I follow Christ even when I don´t know what I should do... I just feel it... 

SO this man was really great and relly excitable( i´m not sure if that is a word) ja 

So I really wanted to tell you what I learned from ELder CHristofferson, He shared with us a scripture in Alma 7:7- 

For behold, I say unto you there be many things to come; and behold, there is one thing which is of more importance than them all for behold, the time is not far distant that the Redeemer liveth and cometh among his people.  then he said ¨again...¨ this really surprised me.

 He said the only thing that stops Christ from coming again is a righteous people to be able to recieve him. I know we are preparing for the second coming of our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ and I know that he guides his church with so much Love and care... HIs invitation is always ¨Arise and come forth unto me¨  

I want this to me my invitation tht we can really know that CHrist will come again and ask ourselves... AM I WHERE I SHOULD BE?

I know that Christ is our savious and that he loves us so much, and he wants all to come to him. I know he cares for me and carries me in the diffucult times. I know the Book of Mormon is true, My loving Hevenly Father really told me it was true. I also know that families can be together forever aand i can not wait for the day when I am with my family and loved ones( all of you) part of his kingdom.. I promise that as we prepare for this day that God will help us arrive there. I also promise that Christ brings peace... and that as we all come unto him we will feel this peace. 

I love you all SO MUCH I am going to keep preaching this great message to everyone!! 

Love,

Elder Troy Hicks

  Elder Christofferson!

 La familia Angel

Elder Damitz, before leaving the zone.

 Litoral Zone!

Semana de FE!!!

Der Mom, 

     This week has been absolutly great! I don´t think I have ever worked so hard in my mission. My Compnion is such a stud and I am learning so much from him. Just so you know when you come down Elder Erickson´s prents want to send him a package in the mail! 

 I know I have not written many things in a couple of letters it is that we have been so focused on doing things as a zone. right now I only have about 15 minutes!

   This week we worked so hard we had interviews with president, and I sure love President Ayre he really is an example to me on a consecrated life to God. Also I went on  division with the assistants. One of the assistants is from Saint George Utah his name is Elder Wade and He knows John Nelson! The mormon world is so small! 

    I just would like to know how we can keep preaching and inviting others to come unto Christ all my life. I have seen so much Joy in this work and I know every blesssing that we recieve comes from our heavenly Father and for only being obedient we can receive these such treasured blessing that we desire so much to have...

    So Mom, I wanted to tell you something that I learned this week, that I really loved. Our president was teaching us about the sprit and how we can discern the difference from our thoughts and those of god. He said... ¨Sometimes Elders I have thoughts to do something and I don´t know if its from the spirit or not, and I don´t think I should do that, maybe if I am living worthy and I am doing what God expects of me I don´t need to ask if it comes from him but be sure that I should act and if it is not from him he will stop me before I can do what I am thinking.¨

I don´t know but this really helped me to understand the meaning of Act! Also Moroni 7:16-17 explains things from the spirit and in PMG it talks about feeling of the spirit and President Hinckly talks about how we can tell the difference. Mom, I am so glad for your obedience to the laws of God. 

    This week we are going to keep trying to look for more people, and I hope we can get someone to church this week no one came... I'm sure God is going to help us and it now only depends on the agency of the people that we meet!

Please share this message of the gospel with everone I know and God will give you the sprit as you do so. 

   Love you all so much,

Elder Troy Hicks

It`s Raining, it`s Pouring, the Old Man is Snoring!!

Dear Family and friends,

This week has been great. Seriously I have seen many miracles. Karla came to church. Throughout the whole week we could not talk to her because her phone was blocked... I hope she wasn`t lying. But on sunday she decided to come to church! And she really liked it. But she is saying she doesn`t want to be baptized because after the baptism she doesn`t want to let God down or other people down for messing up! we are praying and thinking a lot about how we can help her.

    This week it was also rainging a bunch i was literally soaked from head to toe... what was weird is that we were happy. I literally felt the protection of God as we went from house to house. 

I hope you know that I love you all and I am going that the mission is so great. And I feel like it has just begun!

This week we are going even stronger! 

Love you all,

Elder Hicks

   Divisions!

I dressed up as Elder Jensen For Halloween!

It`s the Dolphins!! I think you would like this Dad!

 Me and My great Companion!

Dear Family,

Also so you know, we found a family who is really great named the Perez family. We are trying to help them be baptized! We will see what happens...

Also Mom,

I love that you are going to put a goal to go on a mission. I can`t believe that you are talking about it either! You are so great!!

Makenna,

I loved your letter that you sent me... I am so glad you are hanging out with good friends. they will really change your entire life. The friends that you have will help you become who you want to be. They will raise you up. If you want advice here it comes: 

    So I was thinking and i think you should just do what the Lord wants. When somebody is attracted to them for one thing and that is the influence of good in them. For being like Christ. For having more light. This might sound weird but think about it... Every time you have wanted to be like someone or actually been attracted to them it is for somehting good they have done, rIght? And in your mind you think: Wow he is such a good guy. 

I think that is the Key to be able to be someone attractive. Here is a link to what the true popularity is? It is kind of a funny title but the principles ar every good. I hope you can read it. But every time I have been attracted to a girl it is becasue she truly wants to follow Jesus Christ and his commandments. Makenna I love you and I hope you know that I want what is best for you. https://www.lds.org/new-era/2014/09/10-secrets-of-true-popularity?lang=eng

   Also, Keep smiling my little sister!!! I loved the picture that I saw of you at the temple, you really are such a beautiful young lady.

Love,

Elder Hicks

It's hot and I'm Happy!)

Dear family and friends,

 First of all I want to tell you that i love you. And that I am sure that your heavenly father loves you also! Today we went bowling as a zone it went super well. I don`t have a lot of time but I want to tell you that Karla went to Church and went super well with her.

Also as a zone we are going to keep baptizing and doing better in teh month of November.
We are trying very hard to always do better. 

This next weekend Karla shold be baptized. 

I hope you all have great weeks and keep gettting even closer to your saviour Christ. I know the book of mormon is true and that god exists and answers are prayers,

love,

Elder Hicks

1. Bowling???

2. Divisions

3. A great car