Things That Are On My Mind!

Hey everybody!

So this week was good. It was a busy one! We had to drop the car back off to Riverside on Tuesday morning, and that means I've been biking around this past week. It's been good. I can't complain too much. Do I miss the car when I go into lessons all sweaty and feelin' nasty?? Yes! Oh yeah!! I can feel my legs growing though. That's a bonus. So my Orange Steed had her first real maiden voyage this week.

We have two investigators that are quite smart and like to question everything.  So because of them our lessons have produced some very interesting questions about the Plan of Salvation, that in turn has made me study a little harder to figure these things out. I studied the plan of salvation a lot this week, and I've learned a lot, but I've come out of each study with more questions. Some of them go pretty deep. I would honestly like to hear your opinion on all of them, but I would have a hard time explaining them to you. The thing I've learned though, and what we've been trying to help them to understand, is that we will always have questions, and as they have proved to me, they are healthy. They drive progress, and learning. What we are working on eliminating in this life is our doubts. They stunt our faith, and our testimony, and keep us from progressing.. In my investigators case she has cancer, and she is starting Chemotherapy this week for the 3rd time. She has a lot of good, good questions, but more so, she has a lot of doubts. She has doubts about if God is our loving Heavenly Father, which by the way He is. And doubts about Jesus Christ.. Is He our Savior? I would answer in the affirmative. These are doubts, and when they are replaced with faith, they drive you to an action, and that will provide a spiritual manifestation that these things are true. Spiritual Knowledge.

So, yeah. That's been on my mind :)

The T family are still doing good. They had some doubts arise as well. It's apparent that the adversary is working with them, and they have an Uncle that has been trying to talk them out of baptism. I still think they will be baptized, but It might take a little more time now..

We have also been helping a less active return. He has a goal to get back to the temple, and wanted help overcoming problems that prevent him from getting there. Mainly the law of chastity, which he has a very hard time with.. We've helped him learn that there is a process that takes place before sin, and It all starts with your thoughts. The only way to prevent sin is to stop your thoughts before they manifest themselves in action. I believe this is called virtue. Something everyone has to pray for, and strive for each and every day. It's the key to self control.

Another thing that has been on my mind :)

Anyway, Love you guys

Love Elder Higgins :)

The Temple...the most peaceful place on earth

May 20, 2013

Hello Everybody!

I'm doing great! We actually lucked out and we were able to keep the car for another week. So we didn't have to ride our bikes. So we'll see if we have to turn in the car this week..

 

We had the opportunity to go to the temple this week. It was great! I always learn so so much, and I'm convinced it's the most peaceful place on earth, even more so then that one camping spot in Beaver when I hung my hammock over that small stream. I would take small naps, and just read my book there. I still dream of that place, just to let you know.. It was bliss. But the temple has it beat. Hey, and guess what is in Redlands by the temple!? A Cafe Rio!! I ate at cafe rio for the first time in, like, 8 months!! I forgot how awesome it is!

 

We are teaching a couple of really good families. We see the Family T a few times a week, and they should be getting baptized soon. They are a wonderful family of four. The Dad is kind of hard to teach because he is a trucker, and is gone a lot, but he is just as great as the rest of them. It's a really good area, and I'm excited to be here. My companion is pretty cool. He is very dedicated, and is a really good teacher. He knows how to motivate people. He is helping me with Spanish a lot as well. So I'm excited for this transfer!

 

I've been studying out of true to the faith, and making lesson plans, and just working on improving my teaching skills. Anyway, that's about it for me, I don't have too many crazy or miracle stories, but after all everyday is full of little one's, and I'm very grateful for those, because they keep me going.

 

Love, Elder Higgins

Mother's Day Skype May 12, 2013

I waited all day till after 7:00 pm for Elder Higgins to make his Mother's Day call to us!! He's been teaching me patience his whole life......It was so good to see him on Skype and have a fun family visit with him.  He had been in his new area in Moreno Valley, CA just one week!  I should have made a list of questions to ask, you know things a mother wants to know....This is a brief summary of what we learned:

He is living in an apartment now with a companion a native from Juarez Mexico, he is bilingual so this will be a good opportunity to continue to learn Spanish.  Another set of Spanish Speaking Elders and the Zone Leaders also live in his apartment building. He is serving in a Spanish Ward.

He is now in a biking area, so ironic that he spent the whole fall and winter months in a car and now that the temperature is 100 degrees plus, he finally gets to ride his bike!

He continues to meet many interesting people as he searches for those who want to hear the gospel....

He loves the work and the people, misses his family and friends, still plays his guitar and enjoys learning new hymns and has managed to keep up with all of his belongings! He is learning so much about life, his testimony is strong and he is still crazy Jordan that loves life :) He expressed his love and appreciation to us for raising him in the gospel and supporting him as he serves the Lord.  What a great Mother's Day!

Preach Repentance, Expect Miracles and Transfer!

May 6, 2013

 

Hola! To answer some questions before I forget. 1.) I don't think Cinco de Mayo is a real Spanish holiday.. Because I've heard nothing about it. 2.) I've also heard nothing about wild fires. So they haven't affected me in the least bit!

So here comes the transfer news! I'm still in Murrieta. At least for a few more hours, and then I'm heading over to Moreno Valley! Which, from what I hear, is very different from Murrieta. Like night & day. I'm going to the "hood"! So I'm sure I will have some good/interesting experiences over there. So I'm excited about that. My companion is Elder G-- or something like that. He is from Mexico as well. He has been in the field for 6 weeks. His trainer is finished with his mission, so I guess I'm going to help him finish the 12 week program. It will be fun! I'm excited to head over there, but also sad to leave this area. Murrieta has been awesome!

In other news. K-- was baptized! She got baptized Saturday by a family friend. It was a blessing to be a part of it all! Besides the fact that I was pretty sick. I have had a cold for a while now, and it hasn't been getting much better, but nevertheless the spirit was so sweet there, just like at all the other baptisms I've seen. I also had the opportunity to confirm her a member in sacrament meeting yesterday. That was neat. She has been awesome to teach, and was prepared from when we first starting teaching her 6 weeks ago. Same with M--, who is going to be baptized next week! I don't know if I will be able to make it back from Moreno Valley to see it, but it has also been a pleasure teaching him.

So that's about it. I wish I could tell you more, or about when I will be able to call on Mothers Day, but I can't. I can tell you it will happen, and I'm excited for it though! :) I can tell you guys I love you, and I thank God everyday because I have the greatest family ever. So while I'm sorry I can't tell you much else, I'm glad I could tell you what I could.

Love you guys.  Love, Elder Higgins.

 

 

April 29, 2013

 

Hola!

Everyone sounds like they are doing good back home.  This is the last week in the transfer. We get our calls on Saturday. I'm pretty excited about them. I think there's a chance I'm leaving. (And yes mother if I leave I will take my nuisance of a bike with me) But hey you never know.

This week was a good one! The weeks come and go quickly. K-- did not get baptised this Sunday like originally planned, but she is all set for baptism on the 4th. She's already been interviewed and everything. She's been progressing very well! I just hope she continues to make living the Gospel a priority. M-- is still doing good as well! He has quit smoking, and drinking coffee for a week or so now. Excelente! He says it makes him sad, and he feels tired all the time, but I know in a few weeks he'll feel better than ever before. Well, hopefully! The ward is already getting him involved in stuff. He is the chef for the Mother's day party they're going to have, so he's excited about that! He's from Cuba, and was telling us some interesting things about Cuba the other day. Like, apparently you have to be licensed if you're a native and want to speak English there, or you get arrested. Pretty crazy! It's pretty cool being in the states and being Spanish speaking. I get to meet people from all over the world. It's like a salad with a mixture of different cultures.

Yeah and this week we had a Multi-Zone. We received some awesome training on how we can improve as missionaries. The focus was on Repentance, which is what we are called to preach to the people as missionaries. That's how I would describe what we teach in one word. When someone has Faith, they will be moved to do something (Repentance), and when they're baptized they make a covenant, a promise to take on His name, and each week we renew those covenants, and go into the next week demanding improvement of ourselves (Repentance). That's just how it goes here in mortality. Repent, Repent, Repent. Those are the words of the Holy Ghost right there. So yeah, I decided I'm going to try and tie every message I share with people back to Repentance somehow, because according to D&C 15, the revelation given to John Whitmore, Preaching Repentance is what is going to be of most worth to me as an Elder. Also our Bishop gave us a formula in our Consejo de Rama this week on how to witness miracles. It is Having Faith + Working + Expecting the Miracles. It's easy to tell convince yourself that miracles don't exist, and the price you would pay investing your time in trying to witness one, would go to waste. So I'm going to implement this formula, and follow these steps, and I will tell you of a miracle soon. :) I would encourage you to think of a Miracle you want to see happen, and try the formula out as well.

Love you: Dad, Mom, Justin, Jenn, Kelsey, Jeremy, Papa & GG, Blake & Jamie, The 6th ward, Mis Amigos, and just everyone. You guys are the best!

Love Elder Higgins :)