Hey everyone!!!!! So this week was pretty good. Just two days ago we had an amazing baptism. A lady named Maria del Carmen, her daughter Laura, and a young kid named Didier. It was great. A whole lot of members came and the Spirit was so strong. We have another baptism of four this mext weekend and another of five the next. Things are going really good.

Just the other day this elder got hurt playing soccer so we had to drive him to the hospital. We went and picked him up from where they were playing at about 11 in the morning and we got home at about 10 at night. We were there all day. It was such a long day. I guess these are just things that we have to do as assistants. The next day there we special changes and a few elders never got the news about their change, so once again we had to go drive around the whole city to pick up and drop off missionaries. We started at about seven o'clock in the afternoon and got home at about 11. Another long day. But the baptism on wednesday made up for all of that.

So I want to tell you the story about Didier. My companion and I started teaching his parents about three months ago when I was in the area for the first time. When I left the assistants, Elder Jessup and Elder Carreon kept teaching them. Then I got changed back to the area with Elder Jessup and they were still in teaching and were really close to getting baptized. One day we went over to visit them and the mom, Angelica, tells us that their 17 year old son, Didier, was watching the movie we left them about Christ and said that he would like to get baptized like Jesus got baptized. Elder Jessup and I were pretty excited because we had never met this kid, because he was always working, and he already wants to get baptized. We set up another appointment to talk to him and left. When we went to the appointment, he was happy to see us and we started talking. We asked him about the movie and he said he really liked it. We then asked him if he would like to get baptized like Jesus got baptized and he said yes. We then asked if he would get baptized on the 27th and he said no. We were both kind of confused because he had just said yes like two minutes ago. So we asked him why not. He said,"Because nobody baptizes like that. They just sprinkle water on your head." We kind of laughed and told him that in the Church of Jesus Christ we baptize just like Jesus got baptized. He smiled and said, "Oh, okay then. I will get baptized." This next friday his parents and going to be getting married and baptized the week after. They are such an awesome family.

Well, I hope you are all doing great. I love you so much and I know that this church is true and the only true church in the world. I know because the Holy Ghost, a member of the Godhead has told me so. Smile!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Elder Ricks

How are you all doing? So this morning we had to do the changes. It was a ton of work. There are 23 new missionaries that will be arriving in just a few days and we had to find room for all of them. It was great to see how President can relay on the Holy Ghost and know exactly where everyone needs to go. It was great to be able to help him and be his assistant. With so many new missionaries getting here we are going to be opening a lot of areas and right now we are trying to figure out how we are going to get all the beds, colchones (I forgot how you say that in english), irons, fridges, tables, chairs, and everything else that a house needs. We are actually opening a total of nine houses in the mission. It is going to be a crazy weeks. On Monday we have to go to pick up the new elders and we have an instruction with them. On Tuesday we have the changes meeting. On Wednesday we have a leadership counsel. On Thursday we have another instruction for the new missionaries and their trainers. like I said, it is going to be a crazy week. It should be fun though.

We actually do get to work a lot in our area and we are seeing a lot of success. Right now there is a family of four that are going to get baptized on the 23rd, another of four that are going to get baptized on the 30th, and another family of five that are going to get baptized on the 6th of Agosto. And there are a few more that are really close.

So how is life going. It sounds like it is getting more and more interesting everyday. I hope you all doing great.

I wanted to share something with you that I have learned these last few days. A testimony without knowledge is selfish. We are never going to be able to help others without knowledge. Although someone can feel the Spirit be listening to a testimony of another, it is very rare that we will be able to share a testimony powerful enough to be felt if it is not backed up with knowledge. In 2 Nephi 18:20 (Isaiah 8:20) it says, "To the law and to the testimony; and if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them." As members of the Church of Jesus Christ we need the "law" (knowledge, doctrine) and we need the "testimony" (spirit, confirmation). We have to have them both or "there is no light in us". Study the scriptures every day so that God can use you to advance His work. A true testimony is the knowledge of the law obtained by study and revelations by the Spirit.

I love you all. I know Christ lives!!!

Elder Ricks

Hey! How are you all doing? I know you probably think this is kind of weird that I am writing on a Friday, but as assistants we have our dia de preparación (p-day) today. So now you all know that for the next little while I will be writing you on Fridays. So what is going on? How is summer going? I hope you all having a blast.

Things are going pretty good here. As you all know I am now in Coyoacán again so the whole area change wasn't that bad. I actually know the area better than Elder Jessup which makes everything a lot easier. Right now I am writing you from the new mission offices that that we are renting until the other new ones are built. The Mexico City South Mission has officially been split. That is why we had too move to other offices. The three secretaries and us are all living in a tiny house because we haven't been able to find a house for us yet. I hope we find one soon.

Here in Mexico City it finally stopped raining. Well, at least for a few hours. It has been raining non-stop for the last two days now. We got soaked yesterday and my scriptures got ruined. I actually just bought some new ones today. This is the third pair I have had so far thanks to the rain. It is great to be back in this area because I already know all the members and a lot of the investigators. I know we are going to have a lot of success. It still hasn't hit me that I am assistant to the President, but I am sure it is going to hit me real soon. I am way pumped. On monday we have to start taking care of the changes so that should be fun and on Sunday all the zone leaders some in to report. I know I am going to learn so much.

I am so glad to be a missionary. I know this church is true and the only true church on earth. I know Christ lives and that his Atonement is infinite.

I hope you are all doing great. I miss you all and I can't wait to hear from you. Keep on smiling for me!!!!! Talk to you next friday. I love you

Elder Ricks.