Post-Mission Reunion!

We had the return party of all these great Young Men in August.  They all have returned and are becoming such wonderful people.  We have been blessed to know them and to call them friends!

Release Day

Picture taken in President Barkers office after he released Troy as a missionary.

(President Barker, Uncle Chuck, Mom, Troy, Dad, Brennan, Makenna)

Last Sunday

We attended church at Ricardo Rojas.  We took a few pictures after church with the members of this amazing ward.

 This little girl loved soda

Brother Colman took us after church and showed us around this beautiful city.  

 Brother Colman and Elder Hicks,  We sure loved getting to know Brother Colman.  He is such a giving man.  

 We ate lunch at this fun restaurant.  They serve everything on a waffle.  We really enjoyed it.

Our flight left later on in the evening.  We loved every minute of our time in Argentina!

 On the plane with a gift from Abril.

Last picture of Argentina.

Valentines and Bday in Argentina

w/Mom at lunch in the Mall

Celebrating Valentines and Birthdays

The Birthday Girls

Colman Family

What a wonderful night this was!  This family were in Troy's last ward he served in.  We took part in a missionary discussion.  Wonderful members in this area!

February 13

We spent the day in Belgrano area and met Liliana for lunch.  We had a nice visit with this lady.

Feb 12

This sweet young girl, Abril recently joined the church.  She was beautiful and we enjoyed our time visiting with her and her Aunt.  

Dinner with this family was amazing. 

Reunited after 2 years

Meeting Troy at the mission office to bring him home. It was so amazing to be together again.

President and Sister Ayre in from of the mission Home on the last day of service as a full time missionary.

That evening we met with  the most amazing family, they fed us dinner.  Maria's parting words to us that night were "Take care of my Son".

The last one.

Dear Family and Friends,

   I wanted to share my solemn and humble testimony with everyone at home and with everyone who is still in the mission field, While I still have this great calling from my heavenly father, I will try to share my feelings and love  about what has happened these past 2 years in a short testimony. 

   First I want to say that the Lord has changed me, I am not the same person I was 2 years ago. Jesus Christ has changed me. 

   Looking back at these 2 years I remeber when I arrived how I looked at the mission... I always was thinking about other things, I needed a LOT of help from my trainer. I couldn`t speak the language... ( there are many things that I needed). It was hard for me to leave the apartment to go look for people.. I was afraid to talk to the people... IT is incredible how we change by practicing and living the gospel... through time in the mission one changes. About mid way through the mission I had made a promise with God that I would do everything to serve him,,, Now in these circumstances of change, I know that I must do these things... I can`t have fear because what I say does not come from me... I also can`t have fear beacuse what I DO does not come from me.. Where I go is not where I thought  we should go... I know that everything we do comes from the help of our heavenly father. I am so greatful to have been able to serve my Lord for these 2 marvelous years. To see people change their lives and make covenants with GOD... Truly I am nothing, by myself it is impossibel to have done what has been done these past two years!

   I love my heavenly Father. I know Christ lives. I know that one day we can be like our heavenly father and that is why I am here to help others become like him... 

    I don`t want this time to end... But I know it must, I am proud to say like moroni “Behold, I am a disciple of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I have been called of him to declare his word among his people that they might have everlasting life” (2 Ne 5:13) It has really been the best two years among the great people of Buenos Aires.  I love my heavenly father, I share these things in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen

Love, 

Elder Troy Hicks 

LA Gran Mission

Dear Family and Friends, 

I have a thought a lot about what I was going to write you today. I want you to know that this week has been amazing. The daughters of the Colman Family were baptized and all the family came! what a great experience. During the baptism I had to direct it.. I tried to say a couple of jokes and no one laughed at any of my jokes... hah but it´s okay!) i hope all of you are doing great, I sure do love this time. I wish and hope we can all enjoy every little moment inthis short life that we have.   After the baptism Brother Colman said that he was super Happy. The sister Colman shared her testimony. And  we gave books of Mormón to all the family!) all in all in went very well! except for the part about my jopkes that weren´t that funny... at least i tried.

Also this week IT started to RAIN very hard. and we decided WOW we need ot take advantage of this sopportunity to find a family! so we started talkign to all the people we could....( their was no one in the street) wwe started to knock all the doors, one lady told us we had to go to a business to find shelter...! ja finally in one house we found shelter and we gave the family a book of mormon and the dad wa really apreciative to recieve the book and told us he was goingto read it. The Lord blesses us as we sacrifice for him. 

Yea, and cry unto God for all thy support; yea, let all thy doings be unto the Lord, and whithersoever thou goest let it be in the Lord;  yea, let all thy thoughts be directed unto the Lord; yea,let the   affections of thy heart be  placed upon  the Lord forever. (ALma 37:36)

Somwtimes we have diffucult weeks... and we want to keep growing but we have not seen the results that we ecpect... I want more, I espected more... I acrificed more but it seems that I am having the same result... why? 

Counsel with the Lord in all thy doings, and he will direct theefor  good; yea, when thou liest down at night lie down unto the Lord,   that he may watch over you in your sleep; and when thourisest in the morning let thy heart be full of thanks unto God; and  if ye do these things, ye shall be lifted up at the last day. (Alma 37:37) 

the Lord will counsel us and as we listen he will guide us!

1. Colman Family

2.Colman Family

Love you so much! 

Love,

Elder Hicks

Colman Family

Thank you so much Mom and Dad for looking for opportunities for me to work and to study. I do not know where I would be without you two in my life. Love you so much. my companion wanted to know if you could find... pelon pelon rico its a candy from mexico. 

Also I would love to work with Brother Albrecht before I go to college. It would really be very fun. 

I did recieve the letters form the primary kids... I am so sorry I forgot to write them. I recieved the letters on christmas day. They really were very great! 

I think I´ll send a little e mail to you next week, i need to take them out and read from who they were from, The little Raif sent me one! ja love you so much my great family!!

Le Amo Mucho

Dear Family and Friends,

This week has been great! Leonardo recieved the aaronic Priesthood. he is going to baptize his daughters this weekend. !) 

I want you to know that this is the church of Jesus Christ. I have felt it so strong during this time of my life more than any other time in my life. 

  This week has been super hot, wow I don`t think i have sweat more in my life! well, that`s enough informatio about the weather... 

Right now, we are triyng to find more people in Ricardo Rojas.. It seems like the only family taht wants to listen to us is the great Colman Familñy... something that is really great is that my companion is super funny, this week we have used are bicyle all week, something that is killing me is that he always cooks us dinner... and he cooks so well! and I have to eat it! Mexican food is thae best food! jaj  

But really this week has been very great, We need to find a new family and quick I know with the help of the Lord we will be able to do it!

Yesterday we had a lesson with a family who are members who are working with some investgators... (much like the situation that we should all be in as member missionaries(!) so with them we planned a family home evening and the investigators are going to come over to theri house this week on thrusday. We shared the scrtipture ethwer 12 6;12 with them and I believe that applys to each one of. We must all show are faith in sharing the gospel so that we will be bale to prepare fo the second coming of Jesus Christ.

I want to know hopw it is going for by sharing the gospel wiht oothers ( please tell me!) 

1. My companion is so great!

2. We went to the temple with the family Colman

3. We ate a lot of empanadas as a zone!

Love,

ELder Troy Hicks

Mom,Could you please sign me up for classes at CGCC, or please help me find a Job... I don`t want to return to Gilbert without doing something. Please I would love to study generals in CGCC or Something like that. Thanks!

Also Can you bring to argentina... my compnion wants Some type of sweets from mexico... If you can find one that is spicy or really hot! Also TO bring for the converts is a picture of the temple here in Buenos Aires if you can bring about 10 of them !! thanks!

I asked Troy to send us a picture of his companion.  This is what he sent us.  :)

la gran mission

Dear Familyand friends,

   This week has been full of miracles, Leonardo and Sabrina were both confirmed members of the church. Leonardo was going ot baptize his daughters yesterday but we couldn´t find his baptismal records so we ahd to rebaptize him. On friday he got baptized and he was confirmed with his wife on sunday! This sunday he is going to be able to baptize his daughters. We wanted all of tem to be baptized together but he really wants to baptize his daughters and I am not going to tell him No to that type of petition. 

   I love the missionaries that we have in the zone! 

   WE have seen so many miracles in the zone. FO rthis new year our president has thought abuot how we can have much more baptisms is put the goals that we ahve as wards and make that the goal of the mission so that the goal we put as a mission will be in agreement with the goal of the members. As a ward last year the ward lopez camelo they baptized 65 people and we need to put a goal with our bishop and ward mission leader. 

   I know that this church is true and that the priesthood really exists, I am so glad that we are able to preach this gospel. I want to invite everyone to at least talk with one person this week about the gospel of Jesus Christ. I know that the holy Ghost will help you make this invitaiton.

Will you share the gospel this week? ( i expect a response to this invitation) as you do so I promise you that the Lord will trust you more and bless you with the word in the precise moment. I love you all! 

Love,

Elder Hicks

Elder Bobadilla

Colman family

Questions:

1. We are going to play soccer today as a zone! also we had an awesome sone meeteing this week!

2. My new companion is named ELder Seda. He realy know how to act with faith I am so surprised at the faith that he has. 

3. OUr zone is doing great, We need to focus on helping them to have more lessons with the members and to find through them more! 

4. I am still in Lopez Camelo or Ricardo Rojas. 

 I want you to all know that sharing the gospel is the best thing ever. I truly love sharing it with my brethren here in Lopez Camelo!

 I wanted to invite all of you to read a article from Presidente Monson- Please read it, it talks aboput the importance of Following the Prophet  

I love you all so much and I want to knwo what you felt about the story as you read it.