Cambios!

Hey, party!

So Elder Velazquez and I are super pumped po'que aja [oh yeah]. So cambios are this week and we'll be sticking together which is super awesome. I think all the bad luck with my anterior [previous] companions flipped and was good luck with this one. It's been a super great cambio [transfer] and the next will be better. In the zone, they're opening another area and subsequently another district. So, we've got a new LD [district leader], Elder Canavese is from Uruguay (Montevideo) and he's going to be super great, and also Elder Menjivar from Salvador is leaving, but he's going to be LZ [Zone Leader] in Poblado, where I started my mission.

Hey, I don't know if I've mentioned it, but in my first area Envigado, there were a couple cositas [little things] (more with the oficina que mi area [office than with my area]) and now the missionaries there are sisters. Oh, also here in Armenia we're going to have 5 new missionaries from the CCM!! This next cambio is going to be the best of the best.

So last night we are teaching Estefanía, and a 13 year old girl that is now living with her member parents and really wants to get baptized. She's a riot and it's always interesting any interaction with her. But in their  house they only have two light bulbs and where we were teaching was not one of the parts with a bulb. So, we taught with the light of a flashlight. It was awesome because we're teaching Evangelio de Jesucristo [Jesus Christ's Gospel] and Velazquez used the flashlight to demonstrate the Holy Ghost and dignidad [dignity] and all that.

Oh hey, so also yesterday we're teaching some less actives and I started annoying the cat. Those who have pets know that's, like, the point of pets: bother them. This is after the prayer and so I'm bothering it and all and then it attacks my hand. I'm attaching a picture. 

Hey, to respond to your email, mom.

Halloween is más o menos [so-so] en Armenia. They do it and all, and the disfrases [costumes]  are ridiculous, way too many mice, but they do the disfrases well. But, the trick or treating isn't very strong. It was to the point we were still out visiting and the people were there. Día de los Muertos I think would be bigger in Cereté, but we don't even have a cemeterio en our area, so it's basically nothing.

Hey, but cool with that man in the ward that served in Cajamarca! Also, the humanitarian aid trips of Renen seem super cool, I would have liked to do that during high school. I'm pumped to talk to all these Spanish speaking manes when I get back. Not that I'm thinking of when I get back, just that it'll be bomb. Oh hey, and Josh is super delgado [thin] now!

It's interesting to hear your words from your aprendizaje [learning] from that book Mindset, mom. I read your consejos [advice] and then see how it ties in to the Gospel and when we teach the missionaries. 

In my personal study, I've been taking it by theme, studying one by one an atributo de Cristo [Christ's Attributes]. Since the 22nd, I've been studying Charity, and it's been awesome. To finish up, I write basically an essay on everything I've learned and right now I've written part of it. I've spent two days of study on the essay, and there's a lot left. But, I think next week I'll be able to type it up and send it out, maybe if there's anyone who wants to see it. 

To finish up, a small resumen [summary] of my studies this week:

Algo de que  me he dado cuenta es que todos los atributos de Cristo de basan sobre la caridad. Con razón Nefi y Mormón enseñan que "sin la caridad, no sois nada." Analizamos la vida del  Señor y vemos que cada acto se efectuó por la caridad. Aún si hacemos las buenas cosas, no vale nada si las hacemos faltando la caridad. Sería como yendo al cine, entrando, escogiendo bien el asiento, y dando cuenta que no hay ninguna película. Continuando a hacer las cosas sin caridad sería como ni poner la película y quedarse allí viendo la pantalla blanca. En una lección con una familia hablamos de la caridad y la hermana dijo que si hacemos algo bueno pero sin caridad, mejor dejar la cosa. Pensamiento así es equivocado y perezoso. Lo que el Señor nos pide y lo que hizo posible por la Expiación es que si hacemos cosas sin caridad, no dejamos de hacer la cosa sino nos cambiamos a nosotros para poder efectuar el acto con caridad y por medio de ello aumentar la caridad y los otros atributos. Al quejar por hacer favores pequeños o hacerlos con malas ganas e incumplidos, negamos el punto de negamos la oportunidad de crecer y aprender. Debemos buscar maneras en todas nuestras vidas en las cuales podemos mejor mostrar caridad. Si sea por unas palabras o por actos pequeños, la meta es mejorar.

[Something I have realized is that all of Christ's attributes are based upon charity.  As Nephi and Mormon taught, "Without charity, you are nothing."

Moroni 7:46-48
Wherefore, my beloved brethren, if ye have not charity, ye are nothing, for charity never faileth. Wherefore, cleave unto charity, which is the greatest of all, for all things must fail—But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him.  Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure. Amen.                   

As we analyze the life of the Savior, we see that each of His acts was put into effect because of charity.  Even if we do really good things, it is worth nothing if we do them without charity.  It would  be like going to the movie theater, entering, choosing the best seat, and realizing that there isn't even a movie to watch.  Continuing to do these things without charity would be like putting on the movie but still watching the blank screen.  In a lesson we had with a family we talked about charity and the hermana said that if we do something good without charity, it is better that we didn't do it at all.  Thinking this way is wrong and dangerous.  What the Savior is asking of us and what He has made possible through the Atonement is that if we do things without charity, we don't have to stop doing them all together, but rather we work to change ourselves so that we may be able to do the act with charity, and through that charity we can grow in other attributes.  To complain about doing small favors or to do them grudgingly and without feeling, we miss the point and the opportunity to learn and grow.  We should look for ways in all our lives that we can show more charity.  While it may be through simple words or small acts, the goal is to improve.
 

Always Great,

Élder Hicken