You Need an Advisor

Well I made it to London! What a journey it has been. It took me over a year to get here but this is the time I need to be here, however, I don't quite know why yet. In North Dakota you could guess a few reasons why I was there, but here I am learning day by day. I am in what's called the Hayes area and the work is FAST! We have a few baptisms next week and 4 the week after if everyone keeps their commitments.

Back to Hercules, Phil is singing throughout, Hercules is training, and once again I'm in trio training so this is going to be a party. Elder Moss and Elder Petersen are my trainers and they're pretty great.

 A few days ago I was reading in Alma 39 and Alma is chewing out (kind of) Corianton for leaving the ministry to chase after the Harlot Isabel. In verse 7 Alma says, 

"And now, my son, I would to God that ye had not been guilty of so great a crime. I would not dwell upon your crimes, to harrow up your soul, if it were not for your good" 

This taught me something. In life we sin, that's the nature of man. God, like Alma, wishes we didn't, but when we use Christ's Atonement to bind our hearts to God we are able to use the very thing that is keeping us away from God to build an unshakable Jacob like testimony. That is the miracle of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Not only does it let us be with Heavenly Father again, it takes the very thing that kept us away from Him and uses it to bind us to him. To give him all our heart. There was a BYU speech given not too long ago by Shima Baughman called "Giving all our Heart to Christ". She brought up a lot of amazing points, but one point I loved is a saying in the middle east, Gahl Bal Nadira (idk how to spell it) but it means there is no equivalent to you. If you say to your friend "I like your shoes" they would say "Gahl Bal Nadira" and try to give them to you. Christ is constantly saying "Gahl Bal Nadara!" He mourns over a sparrow falling to the ground but you are worth more than many sparrows. He wants you. There is no price equal to you. There IS no equivalent to YOU. Be you and be Christ's!

This week was amazing I love the work here! Left off at Tuesday last week so we are gonna start with Wednesday!

Wednesday- I got off the plane with 2 hours of sleep at 7am, and my phone time didn't switch over so I was so lost all day hahaha! But I met the mission president who is so powerful with the spirit! He is like a coach, he knows his players and he knows his goal! I went to a district council with a random district because my companions weren't there yet. I then met my companions Elder Moss and Elder Petersen. They are super hard working and after eating food we took an hour train ride home and got right to work. After going home we went to a high street (a place with lots of footwork) and we invite everyone to church and try to text them the address so we can get their numbers. It's pretty successful because there are so many foreigners who just want a church to go to. After that we went to the church where we taught all of our lessons over the phone. In between lessons we call any contacts we got or any referrals. We then went home and I was mooching off them all week because I had no food yet.

Thursday- We had district council. I'm going to have to learn to love that meeting. Just my luck to have two in two days in Slough and that is another hour of transport there and an hour back. We invited people to church while we traveled but we went straight to the church to teach lessons and reach out to our friends. Elder Moss and Elder Petersen contact every number. They have of a progressing friend every day!

Friday- We had exchanges! But first we had lots of service. We built a shed for sister Warburtons. Then we helped this sister named Sister Roswell move her son out of his apartment. We then dropped Elder Petersen off with the zone Leader and we picked up Elder Terua. He's the 5th best boxer in Fajiti so we got along super well. He's so funny! Then we went contacting on the streets again. After that we taught lessons at the church went home and Elder Terua made this stake broccoli and rice dish for us. It was super good! Oh also, on Friday I called elder Hansen from my MTC group and Elder Arrington, also from the MTC, sent me a referral. 

Saturday- I had to say goodbye to Elder Terua and we got Elder Petersen back. Before that, we cleared a garden for a sister named Stephanie, then we went street finding and taught at the church again!

Sunday- We woke up and left to church early. Elder Petersen made contact with two Hindu monks who wanted to come early to church and learn about Christianity. They are awesome! But they leave for India next month and then move to America. Turns out Hindus gave 2 branches of religion. One that gets married and the other that abstains from any wants and only focuses on the needs of the body. 

Then we went to sacrament and so many of our friends pulled up. After a friend's first Sunday, Elder Moss and Elder Petersen teach them a lesson by the font and put them on date for baptism right then and there! They set it as a goal for the person to be ready and meet with us enough by that time. It's so cool!

Now we are at Monday. Days are moving fast! I feel like I have the hang of things here and I want to stay for a while. But this is exactly what I've been asking for. I didn't want a car in England and we don't have one. I didn't want to be by a bunch of missionaries, I wanted to be on the outskirts and we are as far as you can get in the M25. The M25 is a rail way (or freeway I don't know) and all of the areas in there are central England London Mission. Outside is different, so I've heard but obviously have no clue. I miss my friends in the NDBM but God is looking out for me here. I love all of you so much! Thanks for reading until the end!

Elder Hixon

I'm Not Giving Up on You

Last night I was sleeping in my bed in Minot for the last time. I had a wild dream and my mom doesn't think people like to listen to long dreams so I will put it in the weekly email hoping someone enjoys it.

I was home!! In my old house 1392 E Bridgeport Pkwy. All of my family was there and in my brain I was just home for the weekend before I left for London. My family was asking me how I liked the North Dakota Bismarck mission and how I liked my companions. My response in my dreamed portrayed my feeling perfectly. "It was the perfect start to the journey ahead. It was hard at times and it was good at others, but it was perfect for me!" 

The things I've learned I hope to continue with me. Here are a few of them.

First- The Lord wants the best ME, not for me to be someone else, but he wants my unique gifts and abilities at their best to serve him.

Second- See a need fill a need. My parents taught me this my whole life, but the mission gives it a whole new meaning. EVERYONE HAS A NEED so I need to go and find it.

Third- Speak. The Lord can't help me know what to say unless I'm willing to speak for him.

Fourth- When in doubt, love them anyways. This was taught to me by my dad, companion and then a member in Minot to seal the deal. Whenever I have contention or frustrations in life it is due to a lack of understanding. Once I remember that, loving people becomes so much easier. I can find peace in knowing that the person who does understand them perfectly, loves them perfectly.

Fifth- When I give all I have, the Lord will give me more to give. I have an amazing member here who owns the Papa John's and Popeyes throughout the mission. He lets missionaries eat there once a week for free! After hearing his story I learned that he gave before he owned anything. While he worked at Papa John's he would give the missionaries his shift pizza or pay for their meal. Give give give!

Sixth- Take peace in following. Being in training is hard. I had a lot of good ideas (at least I thought so) but it wasn't my calling to make the decision. I had to learn to let my trainer make the decision and follow as if it was my idea all along. *NOTE* I am not good at this but I did learn it! 

Seventh- There needs be a Christ! This is the title of a BYU speech that I love. Let's just say that I need Christ. Without him there is no healing. No changing. No ability to love. I know there is a Christ because I need a Christ! *note* this is huge we will go into detail later

Eighth- I shouldn't try to get meat when I can only handle milk. God is perfect. He knows what to give me. So when he gives me milk now, I just enjoy it. When I just do what he says and he will give me more when I am ready.

Ninth- Love God! When I truly truly love God only then can I become perfect. So I just keep trying to love him more each day. As I love God it will supersede my understanding. I will become more obedient and I will be happy!

Tenth- Finally, God trusts His children. He trusts me. And he trusts you. And he trusts those around us. And as He trusts them, so should I.

Time skip

I fell asleep on the flight to Minneapolis and woke up to a note from the attendant and a bunch of treats!! It was so kind.

Back to business 

The scene for the day, Hercules is getting destroyed by a giant cyclops when no one other than Phil comes to save the day!!

I felt this many many times over. Getting out on the mission is hard! Going out twice is hard! The mission is hard! But every time I got the overwhelming feeling to give up, stop dreaming and just quit, the Savior was always there. He doesn't quit on me so I won't quit on him. I love my Savior and I need him. If not for him, all of the unfair side effects of living in a fallen world would never end and there would be no healing. There would be no change. I love my Savior because He loved me enough to let me change!

Some of you might wonder why I talk about an animated movie and tie it to Jesus every letter. It's simply because Hercules is cool and Alma promised us that all things testify of Christ. I challenge you to get in the habit of seeing Christ in everything, because he is there.

This week was crazy! I am no longer in the NDBM. I am in an airport waiting to fly to London. So let's review the last week in the no doubt best mission (it's coined).

Monday- Pday!! We did our typical activities and then did some pumpkin carving. Mateo came and judged. We then found a new guy named Dom and taught him about the Book of Mormon. To finish the night we got in with a friend who used to be on date for baptism but then fell off the grid. He's awesome and we taught him for an hour.

Tuesday-  District council . Then a miracle contact!! We were in our apartment and got a phone call from a guy named Andrew and he said he wanted to meet today. So we went and taught him about the Book of Mormon! Then we had Bible study which was super awesome and met another new guy named Leron.

Wednesday-  I went to Elder Brown's area for an exchange. We found 2 new friends and a bunch of potentials. I gave out 4 Book or Mormons! He's one of the best guys I've gotten to serve with.

Thursday- We got a bug so there was less time spent outside the apartment. We took Mateo out and taught these two inactive members who haven't been to church because they are on the soccer team and travel a bunch. One of the girl's dad was in town and I couldn't tell if he was all in the church, but it was a super good experience for Mateo.

Friday- We talked to our friend Tor for a while. Then we went to do companion study in the student center at MSU. While there, these two students walked up to us and just started asking us questions. It turned into a two hour conversation with one of them being added to our teaching pool, his name is Hunter. 

Saturday- We went to the temple with Mateo!! This amazing family named the Roses invited us and Mateo to go with them. It was so awesome! I have missed the temple! We then had a lesson with Emily, and Hunter was there too. They met that day because she saw him walking with us around campus. 

Sunday- Church! And dinner with the Chapman's where we got to invite Mateo and teach the ward vision (We get fed almost every night. This was just the highlight for today) 

Monday- No pday  We have transfers on Wednesday so they want Monday spent proselytizing and Tuesday packing/Pday. But we found out I fly to London on Tuesday so we scrambled to pack and say goodbye.

Tuesday- We went to Bismarck to fly out and now I'm in the airport in Minneapolis. My companions added me (trio life) and I'm going to the Hayes area. I am pumped! 

That's it for this week. I love all of you!

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See you in London!

Elder Hixon

Pardon Me My Good ummm Sir

That was Hercules' first time in the field trying to be a hero and this is my last week of my first transfer and possibly the end to my time in Minot/NDBM. 

Nothing crazy to think about this morning. I did love in Doctrine and Covenants 14:11 where it reads, "And behold, thou art David, and thou art called to assist; which thing if ye do, and are faithful, ye shall be blessed both spiritually and temporally, and great shall be your reward."

Amen. 

I've had a lot to learn this transfer. Learning to be the trainee when my trainer and I are complete opposites has been a little challenging. As I read this though, I think I realized that I need to be a better assistant and follower and let him lead because he's called to be the senior companion and trainer. Easier said than done but we are working on it hahaha. The takeaway for home is that the Lord only seeks our effort and he will magnify us. But we need to put forth effort. Trust God. He trusts you.

Well just now I got up and walked to the car and my hip flexor feels like it's blown up. I hope it's not an over training thing or anything at all because that would be a hard one for Elder Hixon. I don't know if I could handle that right now haha but let's get into this week.

Monday- Another p-day. We went bowling and I won a game! It was fun just to be a human playing again hahaha. 

Tuesday- District council. Still a little snooze but I have to live it so you get to hear about it. But after that we had a few lessons happen! One with a friend named Ms Mcdonald and she's a huge Osmond fan. That's all she knows about the church haha. We met her and she just started talking about them. She went on a trip to Gilbert for a few weeks. Best place on earth! Then we checked up on a guy from a referral and gave him a Book of Mormon. We then taught our friend Abu. He only speaks French so we had a member come translate for us and we brought him a French Book of Mormon. We think his native tongue is Arabic so we want to get him one in that language too. Then we had Bible study and Mateo brought one of his underlings with him. Is that allowed in the military? I don't know nor do I care because it's good for him. We taught him a lesson after and it was good!

Wednesday - This old lady named Sister Jorgensen fed us. We brought Mateo and she chewed him out haha! He has tattoos and no girlfriend and that's isn't ok with Sister Jorgensen so she let him have it. But she's so sweet and nice and said hi to him at church. We then had a lesson with Mateo and the Kingsleys. To get Mateo closer to the ward once a week we do a lesson with a member at their house, preferably. 

Thursday- We served at Matthew 25 again which is a party! We had institute that night and I loved it. But I was a little stressed so it was hard to completely enjoy it, but it was soo good even with that.

Friday- We met this guy who wrestles at MSU. He's super cool and very elect. We will meet with him again this Wednesday. Then we played volleyball for sports night and so many people pulled up. The field is white!

Saturday- We had lunch with this guy who writes the sports section of the paper. He loves wrestling!! Then we gave this lady a blessing. She is hard of hearing and getting older so seasonal sickness isn't passing :( After that we taught our friend Sabastian who's awesome. He's gonna have a kid in a month. Then we taught Martin who's interesting. Hard to tell if he's interested or not. Mateo came with us to every lesson!

Sunday- No one pulled up to church out of our teaching pool :( but the Roses had us over for lunch and then the Shaws had us over for dinner, so it was awesome! Then one of our friends that the sisters are teaching named Audrey painted me a painting because I'm leaving soon. So that was way cool!

Well that's all for this week!

Elder Hixon 

Ohhhh Pegasus

Well another week is behind us. My visa is here so I'm going to be getting on my flying horse and hopping over the pond shortly, which I don't know if I want to do! haha. Don't get my wrong, these last few weeks have been hard in their own way, but Minot itself has been a dream. 

This conference I really enjoyed Brad Wilcox's talk and I've been thinking a lot about 'being a part of the boat crew'. As I pondered that phrase paired with the truths taught in both 1 Nephi 3:7 and DandC 10 (and also 2 Nephi 2:30) and some of the non scripture books I've read about Navy Seals (read way before my mission) I've learned something about God that's way too awesome not to share. Being born of the birthright we are expected to do hard things. Period. We are held to a higher standard and have work to do. But God never asks us to do anything without providing a way to accomplish it. Then it is imperative that we do what the Lord asks of us and not demand more, because only he knows what we can accomplish. Finally, as we fulfill what has been asked of us, more will be asked of us. Line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little. Now what does this have to do with Navy Seal training? When in H*** week the instructors whole job is to bring each person to their breaking point and help them grow past it. It isn't quite that nice, but the instructors are right there the entire time for them when they go past that point to make sure they are safe (relatively.) There's a lot of trust going both ways from instructor to seal and back. Now imagine that but with a perfect instructor. No mistakes are made. That is exactly what life is. Here on earth one of the most important things we do here is grow. God will push us right to our limit for maximum growth. For a muscle to grow there must be a need in place. Trials in our life make it so we can grow. Without them there is no growth. There's no getting around that. I'm learning to be grateful for hard times because that means God isn't finished with me. He sees more in me than where I am now. He needs me and he trusts me. So I would invite everyone to step forward and submit cheerfully as they did in Mosiah 24:15 because God has a plan for each of us. So trust him as he trusts you. He loves you and knows you!

I'm not planning to write that much to start every letter, but I just liked that talk a lot. Let's dive in because this week was once again another party 

Monday- P-day was pretty fun. I invited Mateo to come play basketball with us at the church. but I mainly talked to elder Stock who is newer than me to the mission field and his family lives like 10 minutes from mine. He's an awesome guy and I'm glad I got to talk with him because this mission thing is harrrrd. We then had dinner with the Elmores and it was amazing. It was stroganoff which I haven't had since I was home. We met then with our friend Lynette but she's not interested and will be going to her catholic church back in Colorado when she goes back.

Tuesday-  District council  I'm not sure why it's a weekly thing but it is and my district is pretty cool but eh II would rather be working. We met with out friend Sean who's pretty cool and we brought Brother Gibbs with us. To you he's just a name. To me he's a really really funny guy. Then we had a scripture study with Raymond and had to prepare a last minute bible study that went a little whack. Finished up the night teaching a guy named Martin with Brother Rose. Brother Rose is a legend among men. He has poured thousands of dollars into missionaries (literally) because he owns a lot of the Popeyes and Papa John's around here, so each missionary gets a free meal from each place each week. And his wife cooks the best Filipino food ever.

Wednesday- Exchange with Elder Chase. He's a fun guy. We only got one lesson in with Mateo and we had the Wakes host it. Peter is there oldest (17) son and he's a legend. He's one of the people I'm gonna miss in London.

Thursday- We knocked for a while and then had a lesson with a girl names Emily. She's a catholic who wanted to meet with us and she has a million questions. We did our best to answer them using scripture and we brought Mateo to testify. It was super powerful. We went on to have institute. I love the Coombs, they are the teachers, and they host institute and cook dinner before it. They are the best!

Friday - We helped out at a place called Matthew 25. It's like a free DI where they gather donated clothes, sort them and give them away to people. All volunteer work. But they have another place in Fargo. All of the excess clothes here have to get in a huge semi and head over there. I had the pleasure of loading the entire semi full of trash bags. I wish I got a picture but I didn't. It was a party. This pastor guy named William got yelling at Elder Lambert saying stuff like "Elder wake up, they are taking pictures" or "Elder wake up we finished" and "Elder move out the way watch a ...." I can't say the rest so fill the blank but I haven't laughed in such a long time

Saturday- Conference! We as missionaries ran a showing party at the church but no one showed up except at the last session Emily came. It was so fun to watch it just with the missionaries. We all were so filled by the spirit. We had so much fun! One of the colonels on base fed us dinner and his family is pretty cool.

Sunday - Conference again! But the spirit of contention was over me for most the first session so I need to listen to it again. I did get to enjoy Brad Wilcox's talk! But I was pretty upset with one of the leaders from another ward that came and took over our whole event. It kind of ruined my mood. But the last session we spent at Mateos house with him and our friend Lincoln and it was awesome! Perfect way to end the week!

Well pray for Minot this week because we are going to need it!! Love you all! Hope to hear from you guys!

Elder Hixon