A Little Seed was Planted

From Karsten Hinckley

Teaching in Thailand 

You never know what happens to those little seeds you plant [as you talk to people about the gospel]. The zone leaders came on a switch-off this last week and I was to switch-off with them. One of the zone leaders served with Elder Christenson, who was my companion in Chaing Mai. Elder Chris and I were going down to transfers a while ago and we met some people from England on the train. Before we said goodbye, one of the people we were talking to said she always found the missionaries to be rude and didn’t want to talk to them. She thought we were nice and said that when she goes back [to England] she will give the missionaries another chance.  Well I didn’t think anything of that. Elder Christ kept in touch with this girl from England by email. She felt that she could trust the missionaries because of us. She found the missionaries one day and allowed them to teach her. Can you guess what happens next? She was then baptized a member of the Christ of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints!

When the zone leader told me this story I was so happy! Joy filled my heart! All I could do was to thank Heavenly Father for putting us in the right place at the right time. Do you see what a train ride can do for someone else? A little seed was planted and it was harvested in the Lord’s time! Then her mother started taking the missionary lessons. I don’t know where her mother is at with learning, but can you see what an impact you can have on others. Even if it’s trying to go get that lost sheep or talking to strangers on a train, you never know what will happen.

I challenge you all to live your life in a way that others will see that you are different. Just like President Thomas S. Monson said," You need to stand out, you will be different." I cannot explain the happiness I felt after hearing this!

Miracles at Home

From David and Viola Ricks

Teaching in Germany

One of the miracles of serving a mission sometimes happens with those we love still at home.

Our son James, and his wife RaTray and their baby Kaleb were sealed in the Twin Falls Temple last Friday.  We are so proud of them and are happy to see them become an eternal family.

Elder and Sister Ricks

President Gordon B. Hinckley taught, “There is a constant need for more couple missionaries. They perform wonderful service throughout the world. You [leaders] need not wait for the couples to volunteer. The sacrifices associated with serving the Lord full time will abundantly bless the couples, their families, and the people they serve.”

 Couple Missionaries: Blessings from Sacrifice and Service

Senior Missionaries and the Gospel

In the Right Place at the Right Time

From Cambree King

Teaching in Honduras

Imagine finding an investigator named Moroni who is reading the Book of Mormon. Crazy Crazy!

 Last week, an hermana came to church on her own. Her husband passed away about two weeks ago and she just decided that it was time to better her relationship with the Lord and found out the answers to all of her questions. We finally found her house and she accepted a date to be baptized. This Sunday, we went back to her house and her son was there as well. It was Moroni; we asked him if he would like to be baptized and he smiled and said, "Of course." We explained that if he wanted to be baptized, he had to listen to our messages when we came so that he could learn what was necessary. He just looked at us and said, “Okay... when do we start?” We laughed and then continued to teach the plan of salvation. He is only ten years old but knows all of the Book of Mormon stories. He even asked us why the forbidden fruit was forbidden for Adam and Eve! What kind of ten year old has a question like that cross his mind! Man it was crazy and a real blessing from the Lord.

The Lord helped us this week be in the right place at the right time and has guided us to many of his prepared people.