NEW TEMPLE! GUESS WHERE IT IS.....‏

Hi y’all. I can’t hide the fact that I am screaming inside... We found out about 5 minutes ago where the new temple will be... guess where?... EN LOS OLIVOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You all have no idea where that is huh... Well I’ll tell you. It is 5 minutes outside my mission. I was in Tahuantinsuyo before, and literally if you crossed the street you’re in Los Olivos... THAT IS SO AMAZING!!!! I'M SO HAPPY!! I am so coming for the open house and dedication. (Sorry mom and dad, but it’s happening) ;)

Well the rest of the week was normal... on Monday we didn’t have normal pday, we worked. Then on Wednesday we had pday and we went to Lima central. We hung out all day there. It was awesome. SO MANY gringos!! We enjoyed a nice pizza from Papa Johns, went to an Inca museum and then bought cool stuff. I found the coolest llama hat in the world and I will be sharing the photo. I will be buying it the next time I go... ;) 

The rest of the week we went and taught some awesome lessons. I really love testifying about the work that we do here in Family History, and with the temple so close to us... It's really an amazing thing that is going to happen here. I am so happy to be here and to be teaching solely about the temple and our ancestors!! I freaking love Lima!!!! ;) 

 I love you all and I hope you are doing well. 

LOVE YOU!!

Hermana Hicken

Our zone- minus the elder taking the picture. 

 The cathedral en la plaza de armas.

 The sisters in our zone. hna Tangren and hna Chiguano are from my group (in the CCM)

My comp and I 

 Inca thingy. I think a medallion. 

Yes my face looks huge with a llama hat on... I was so happy that day!! :)

i just need my trusty llama steed... 

there he is... 

One of the elders bought this souvenir to take home

My apartment

Temple, Cleaning, Interviews, and Weather‏

It's always great to talk about the weather, no?? It saves us from the awkward moments.... Well, the weather here is starting to change... The nights are freezing cold and the days are burning hot... I don’t know whether to wear short sleeves, or a coat... or both at the same time. 

Second! We went to the temple once again!! It’s freaking amazing. The temple!! LOVE IT!!!! :) The converts love it too! I love seeing their happy shining faces when they know that they've helped the people they love!

Next, we had our revision de cuarto. I’m sorry I don’t what it’s called in English, but we had to clean our apartment because HNA Erickson came... Let’s just say that my comp and I were up until even the dogs stopped barking.... It was an interesting night... But the next morning we woke up on time and finished a little cleaning and then Hna Erickson came and we got homemade cookies that were amazing! :) We then had interviews with President. Mine went well, he joked with me that I’m ready to train.... hahaha no... :) 

Later in the week we had a meeting with President. We talked with him about Family History and what we can do. We're going to change Family History here in the mission! 

I would like to share with you all one of my favorite scriptures. Jacob 6:12. Yes, the picture is in Spanish but it says “Oh be wise, what more can I say...” more or less. I translated it from Spanish to English, but you can look it up! :) It’s a great scripture and a life lesson... Stay smart y’all. :) 

All is well here in Peru. I’m still loving the mission life! :) I love you all, have a great week!!! :)

pics: temple, the scripture, and I got a package and the zone leaders thought they were hilarious and wrote on it. :) 

--- Hermana Hicken

(Sarah sent a picture to show how the skirt I sent fit)

I love to see the temple. I went inside again!

The highlight of my week was the fact that we went to the temple! We had 30 converts come with us! It was awesome! I was able to go into the temple and help others get their work done. There is truly a magnificent spirit in the temple and I love being in or outside of it! It was a very successful trip and we're going again this Friday! 

The rest of this week was good! I got to go out into the field for a day and help a new sister learn the ropes. It felt nice to teach other people. I also had a cool experience... We were teaching these two men about how important their ancestors are. They were a little unbelieving when it came to the fact that their antepasados (ancestors) were waiting for them to help. I promised them quite strongly that their great grandparents who may have known are there, and they are waiting and when the day comes when these men will see them again, their great grandparents will ask why they didn’t baptize them. They thought for a second... and filled out their families... they'll be coming with us the next time and doing the baptisms. It was cool! 

The members are still going crazy about having a new temple!!! :) There’s a lot to do and we're excited to be a part of it! :)  les quiero mucho! Tengan un buen dia y una buena semana!!!  (google translate: I love them very much! Have a good day and a good week !!!)

--- Hermana Hicken

Me and my companion

Bus trip to the temple!

Temple, plan of salvation, plan of salvation, temple‏
April 4, 2016

Well, hello all you lovely children of God. I've got some news that I need to share... Hna Morillo's mom passed away Monday night. She is with our Father in Heaven and Hna Morillo is holding up. Thank you for all your prayers. She really needs them. 

Now! This week.... I got transferred. I’m now a family history consultant. I can now help you all fill in your family history... My companion is Hna Urtecho. She's from Trujillo and she’s from the same stake as Hna Morillo. :) It’s cool!  This week was insane. I learned a ton about the plan of salvation!! I sit on the computer for a good 8 hours a day. :) And it’s all good! :) But anyway, the highlights of this week... CONFERENCE!!!!

I’ve got two things to share.  1. ANOTHER TEMPLE IN LIMA!!!!!!!!  Let me just explain briefly what happened here in Lima when the prophet announced that... Many of the Saints here stood up and clapped, some immediately prayed in gratitude, many cried (including me) and we all gasped in joy. Peru now has 4 temples. The work is moving forward and I’m so happy to be here! :D

2. Missionaries... We are as the Stripling Warriors. We have left our friends, families, home, schooling, work and worldly lives to serve in the Army of our Lord. We have signed a 2 year/ 18 month contract saying that we will be ¨strong and of a good courage¨, obedient, and a representative. We have been prepared before and during the battle with Seminary, Institute, Church, the Sacrament, the scriptures, our setting apart, MTC, Preach My Gospel, training, General Conference, and revelation from the Spirit. Our enemy is strong but we are stronger. With our sword (Book of Mormon) and shield (the Priesthood), helmet (Holy Ghost) and breastplate (ordinances and covenants) we will be protected and we will fight. It will be hard and some of us will fall, some won’t make it to the end. But under the guidance of our captain, Jesus Christ, and his 1st Commander, the Prophet, we can stay strong and we can do what we were sent to do: Bring others to Christ. When we finish, as the Army of Helaman, We will return. Not quite the same. We will always remember our time in ¨the field of battle, and we will always be grateful for it.                   

That’s how I’ve been feeling all week about missionary work! ;) 

Oh and guess who’s coming in June... ELDER RASBAND FROM THE 12 APOSTLES

It's been a great week and I’m excited for the next week! I love you all! And remember to STUDY GENERAL CONFERENCE!!!! :)

Making cookies for my last pday before transfers

My mom from Chinchaysuyo, Clementina

My new comp

He is Risen!

3/28/16

Wow was this week weird... 

First, to set all your minds at ease, my companions mom is doing better. Through many prayers and fasting, she is getting better and Hna Morrillo is doing awesome! :) 

Yeah, so the rest of the week was interesting. For pday we watched Megamind and ate pizza. We had a couple of miracles... we got 7 new investigators!!! 3 have baptismal dates!! :) Sadly we didn’t have a baptism yesterday but we're going to have many next month. Sorry I don’t have any pictures today :(

Also, today is the end of the transfer... I have my info. I’m leaving Chinchaysuyo. After 6 months I'm going. I'm leaving for Canto Grande and I’m going to be a family history consultant. I have mixed feelings but I’m excited to help bring the people in the spirit world to the gospel. I have LOVED being here in Chincha and I’m going to miss it here, but Heavenly Father always has a plan. 

The women's conference was awesome and I loved every minute of it! I'm so grateful that they all spoke about love and service, it's so true and please serve with all your heart and love those you serve! 

I also would like to bear my testimony that I know that Christ lives. He suffered and died for each of us and he lives again. I'm grateful for his example for us here. Follow him always and know that he is there for each of us. He Lives. 

Hermana Hicken

PRAYERS PLEASE

March 21, 2016

Hi all, 

This week was a hard week and it wasn't because our investigator ditched us or that our ward is crazy... it's because my companion's mom is dying. I can't go into details but we heard the news on Thursday. She’s been in constant contact with her mother and that’s helped but it's so rough. I'm asking you all to pray for her. Hna Morillo. The power of prayers is real and I know that with prayers my companion can get the comfort that she needs. 

Other than that it's been an okay week. Abel, our investigator might get baptized this next Saturday and our other miracle investigator (Pedro) is hopefully getting baptized on Sunday!!!! :) 

The cool stuff that happened this week: I made tuna with ají, onions and limes. It’s good, you should try it!! :) And I got a pen that has a pencil included... what??? I’ll send pictures at some point and time. Here’s some pics that I didn’t send last week but yeah, and here’s my tuna creation! :) 

Sorry, this week is a little crazy but thank you for your patience and support. I love you all!! :)