December 12, 2014

Happy Birthday my wonderful Missionary!!! I hope you have had a wonderful day sharing your 19th birthday with the people of Fort Worth Texas. We love you!!!

THANK YOU SO MUCH. The birthday presents are amazing, I filmed me opening everything so you can enjoy them with me. I cant believe you sent me an autonomic candy dispenser, amazing. I have enough food to last me the month pretty much, just cheese and milk that's all I will need. 

Elder Lickiss' changing point of view

"I'm making myself realize that instead of saying "wow I still have 2 years" its easier to say "wow I only have 2 years." There is this talk that really makes you think about who you were before you were born and it makes it eaier to make decisions when you know that you were captians in the Lords army and that thousands and thousands of people followed you becasue of the decisions you made before the earth was made. Studying deep doctrine is cool, I recommend Abraham, but its also nice to start with the basics like the Book of Mormon. I love you guys and I know that through Christ we aren't even separated, I will see you again and we will be together forever, only through God!"


Family Love

I'm doing ok on food, I survive on peanut butter and honey really, and I love it. I have also survived on those wonderful fiber bars, seriously I love them. We are working harder on getting member meals,  know that Heavenly Father will provide so don't ever worry, lets make this fun. Nothing knew on ipads. And also today is tranfers, well tomorrow, but nothing in changing, almost my whole district is staying the same! And hurray, I can't wait to send these boxes, I'm sending a Christmas gift soon, you wait.

During certain parts of the month the moon light shines in right onto my face and I love it because it reminds me of you guys and lets me know that you aren't far away at all. I love eating the food you gave me and wearing the clothes you sent, me because it reminds me of you guys, and it doesn't even make me sad because I really do know how close you guys are. Tell that boy (Charles) I love him and can't wait to see him and all of you again. I'm sad I am missing Charles when he is going into the hardest time really of school. I pray that he will keep his wonderful smile and hilarious personality and that not a single person will be able to change him for the worst, I will do everything in my power to make sure that boy stays happy and close to Jesus Christ.


So our mornings go much like this...

The only thing different in our mornings is when a cocroach crawls out. These cochroaches are huge btw, they are also as long as my thumb and almost as wide. But I have become very good and destroying them with my shoe.

A son's encouraging words...

If I can learn this language in 6 months, be completely fluent, than you can complete everything that you set out to do. You are the one who taught me and keeps teaching me hardwork, remember that mom, I love you guys so much. I know that through God nothing is impossible, no matter how impossible it may seem. Never listen to satan tell you you can't,  because oh boy you can. Keep telling me everything you acheive because then you will know how much you achieve. I love you and will always. Also I will make this mission fun, I will not waste 2 years, this will be so much fun, for all of us, that is a promise.


The Love of Christ...
I have my good and bad days definitely, but over all between the love of Christ and my family, I am making it. Honestly the hardest part is the language and all the missionarys around me that pretend to have Christ like love but talk bad about investigators and members behind their backs, that's not Christ like love. Its a good thing I had such good examples I can remember from home and from the Ward that help me through these hard times. The rest is awesome though. IT SNOWED LAST NIGHT TOO. I didn't think I would see snow for 2 years, it was cold but awesome.


The Mansion...

Found this in the mansion closet, love it. And so do all the investigators. 

 Selfie inspector gadget

A brothers love...

(William to Charles)
Hey dude, if you're in school be sneaky and use your phone, just don't get it taken away. Hey how's life man, I missed talking with you. Tell me all about middle school, how are the lockers, and how is having 7 classes a day, it must be crazy. I am really sad I couldn't be here for your first days of middle school, but I will be there for high school man.

(Charles to William)
Hey bro so a little while ago we were doing a service project raking leaves, we passed by a house and saw the Priest quorum hanging Christmas lights on a house.  Well they were trying to but no one can beat the master of lights. There are a lot of people who are trying to get their lights hung and don't know what to do without you here.

(William to Charles)
I know, its sad I miss doing that service for the Ward. Maybe you can take my place, you're are so good at everything else, I know it shouldn't be a problem for you. Hey know that I love you and you are the coolest little brother any one could ever have. I miss you, stay awesome, practice that Spanish, and remember that Heavenly Father always knows what is better for us including which school to attend, ask him, he will answer.

(Charles to William)
How do I know that he will answer?

(William to Charles)
Knock and he shall open, ask and it shall be given. This type of scripture it repeated over 40 times through the bible and the book of Mormon, obviously Heavenly Father was trying to say something, he is our father and if we but just ask and if it is right for us, because he knows what is right for us, he will answer. It requires work on our part though, you need to make sure you know all the facts. The best way I found answers to my questions was through reading the scriptures!

(Charles to William)
I hope I know how to do that. I wish your were here though to help me through this. But I know you have to be there and its only for two years, actually 20 months now. Mom and I have been doing months instead of years. It sound a lot shorter.

(William to Charles)
Yes only 20 months, I only have 2 years to be a member of the church in this way, its so different being a missionary and I will never have the opportunity to do it like this again!

Fort Worth's  Bipolar Weather and People... 

This week has been crazy, the weather ranged from 28-80 degrees. I use my wet sad self as pity to get into peoples houses, it is a good tactic. This place doesn't have any mountains, any cold or warm fronts that blow in change everything! I've gone from hanging my companion to hugging him, and we've been yelled at to thanked for our work. I would say that the work here in Fort Worth is as bipolar as the weather.

Voices from Home...

Thank you so much for the package, I am still listening to the cassettes, I am in the middle of James telling me his camping story. Some people think that continuing to listen to stuff from home makes you trunky (wanting to pack your trunk and go home) but really it reminds me why I am hear and gives me confidence to continue, strength like no other, so thank you and I will keep reading. I love hearing your voices, its like the best gift I can have. I can't wait for you to get my letter, I think you will like what is inside! 

Christmas presents, Catherine's birthday presents, and Texas souvenirs are coming in one big holliday package, it will be there before Christmas. I cant wait, I love your packages so much and I want you to have the same happiness that I do when I get your stuff. 

I love you all, you just wait for my package, know that I love you and can't wait to be home and go to the movies, or watch Disney channel, take care of Olivia, go to the gym, cheer Charles on at football, and eat some watermelon and taquitos. Love you all see you in a few!!!

Ok, I'll get you this picture, I don't have much time, but here it is. Thank you so much for the goodies, I love them, and you have also made Elder Tulaga very happy, he loves candy's!

Thanksgiving...

Happy thanksgiving! Lets be thankful for all the Lord has given us, for it is much, and may we give as we have been given, that is the law and govern of heaven. When we live the laws of heaven, what other place would we end in other than heaven. it only makes sense. I will see you in a moment, I love you and will never leave your side.

Mom, I love you so much, don't even worry, I budgeted perfectly, I was able to buy a turkey, butter, and everything we needed for thankgsgiving with just the money in my church account, it came out perfectly.You will see when I send the flash drive with all my new videos and pictures on it.

My week has been amazing, my Thanksgiving was the best. 

I filled and ate 2 of these at my first house! The pie was even better!

William's first Thanksgiving in the Mission Field 

Just a sneak peak of all my thanksgiving photos and videos. I love you so much, thank you for the turkey cooker!!

This was the dinner we made at the house. It was a mix of what we made and what members have us.

That is what I call a full plate!

Yummy Yummy. That turkey made meals for us for the week, it seriously came out perfect!

"It feels like I am eating at home" was a line from Elder Tulanga, when eating our turkey dinner. 

I sent a letter describing it and I will be sending my flashdrive with all my Thanksgiving videos and pictures on them. Oh, hey I recorded some awesome video of Thanksgiving and took a lot of pictures, I will send you guys that too, soon. That is honestly what I am excited for most, we really had a good Thanksgiving.

The sights of Fort Worth

I believe they filmed part of walking dead here, I don't know if David watches that but its pretty cool!

The people of Fort Worth

Isn't he just the cutest kid you ever saw. He is four and freaking full of energy. Too much energy. 

Christmas Happiness

I am excited to finally have real steady conversation again. I love it and I am so excited! Here comes Christmas, you guys are my gift.

Puppy Love

Oh I miss my puppy, how is she handling with me gone? 

Yummy Goodness...

Look what I made, I've still got it, I remember the recipe well. It was delicious, and when I send you my SD card you will have all the video to go along with it!

Transfers Came In...

I am being transferred. My new address will be:

 2251 W Tarleton ST #108 Stephenville TX 76401

Its crazy. I am stressed yet excited. My new companion will be Elder Myer. I hear he is really good at Spanish. I will be in a car area!!!! Also Stephenville is the cowboy capital of the world! It's about an hour west, you can probably see my house before I do if you look on google maps.

K you are all awesome, haha. I am laughing here already knowing exactly what my apartment is going to look like! haha you're awesome

My Sons Love...

Mom you were my foundation in the gospel, it was your simple example that kept me going long enough to gain my own testimony, don't ever doubt that you are one of the reasons I am here. I seriously think about you and everyone else everyday. Jacob 4, the final verse I believe says "I stumble for my anxiety over you" I believe it is Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ talking about us, but I will apply it to you, I literally stumble for my anxiety over you. I will do anything to make sure you have a wonderful holidays, and I will do anything to make sure this will be a positive experience. I love you and that will never change. you will always be my mother, that will never change, I will make sure you are happy, during and forever after the mission, you will be happy.

Time apart will go by fast, and as long as we keep doing the things were are to communicate it will be as if I haven't even been gone, we will enjoy this mission. I have to go now, know that I love you and see you every night. I think of you everyday, I stumble over my anxiety for you all. I will do my best to send love this Christmas, can't wait to here your voice through the phone,  this will be the best time of year, I know it, I know it. Love you more than any thing, see you in a few!


Merry Christmas Everyone,

Love Elder Lickiss

Hello from Fort Worth, Texas

December 1, 2014

Hi everyone, sorry it has been so long since I have updated Williams blog. I needed to track off and now I will keep it up to date.

November/December has been good in Fort Worth.

T

"This is my new bike,  thank you so much for the money to buy the bike. I got it for 175. Te brand is GIANT normally this bike would be 400. Thanks so much for the helmet too. I love this 29 inch hybrid, I love it"

The dashing Elder Lickiss sporting his "Cadillac" 

He loves his new ride

Very excited to report that my speedometer hit the 100 mile mark.  It took me two weeks to do it. 

"I have had an eventful month of training with Elder Tuluga and Elder Hagan. Thank you so much for the box, the blender, the protein power, and everything else. My companions were shocked that you sent a blender and so was I, but let me tell you I enjoy a delicious shake every morning with no shame, it is so good and I was so happy. I just love hugging all the boxes you send me. I hope the boxes I send to you guys means as much to you guys as much as yours do to me!"
                                                                                                                               (Of course they do)
Also thanks for working on the music flash drive, if you want to record your voices too I wouldn't mind that. (We sent 6 cassettes with everyones voices on in including people for our Ward family)

I'm so happy

His stomach needs his healthy protein drink to start his day.

The best breakfast I have had in a while

Look at all these treats

This is from my beautiful Hailey P. 

                                 This sweet dog reminded me of Koda. 

                             Having a big dog for so long makes it nice because 

                       I'm not scared of any big dogs that chase us. 

                                 They hate wheels as much as Koda does

You know Mike has been emailing me and he says you really are proud to talk about me, so I really do know that you are proud of me. Mike promised me he would take care of you and I know he will. He said the hardest thing for him was leaving his mother behind, so we can relate, so he promised he would take care of you for me. That is the best promise any one can give me seriously. Just carry picture of me and know that I am at games with you. If you want, you can just start talking to me and I will hear you. One day this will just fly by and we will both look back and be like, wow that moved fast. I can't wait for that. I am marking the calendar every day and counting the days in my journal. Also I am rating everyday between 1-10 on the calendar so people can look back in my journal and see what a really good day was like for me or when I was really struggling. Anyways, I am so glad work is going well, I am so glad that Charles is doing well. Keep preparing James for this, as much as I would rather be with you I have faith that I have to be here so I will continue to prepare James for this. Teach him some really cheap recipes and teach him how to be creative with meals, thats a way better missionary prep than those classes. Also teach him how to get along with butts, I know this Lord will prepare him as well, I know he is meant to do this with me. I can't wait to see you again its not even funny, So I will do everything I can to focus so the time will just fly by. I love you more than anything and will see you in only but a moment. 

Elder Lickiss is on to the next phase of his Mission. October 19, 2014

Hi Everyone,

Texas is Amazing. First my new address is:

1418 Lincoln Ave. #2
Fort Worth, Texas
76164

"I am writing you guys today, to tell you I am so happy to be in Texas where the mail gets to you in only 1-2 days so we can have even better constant communication."

"Alright, lets talk about life. So they put me on this plane back to the states. The plane was a lot less full this time, so I sat in the back in a window seat. half the time I practiced Spanish by translating scriptures, the other half I took pictures of clouds. Our plane landed early and the AP (Area President) picked us up. He took us to a church first where we got oriented to all the rules, regulations and housing for our mission. We also did role play while we took turns meeting individually with the president. It was weird seeing street signs and, well everything, in English again. Then they took us to the mission President's house for dinner and testimony meeting. The house was a small mansion, this thing was beautiful. Tall roofs, everything lined with wood. Solid wood tables and 2 dinning rooms, this place was nuts. We ate something called Biscuit. Everyone compares it to the food we will eat in heaven and I see my years counting down if I eat it. It's like supposed to be really good tender meat I guess. It tasted funny to me. After like 20 hours of no sleep we were taken to the AP's apartment where we slept. We woke up the next morning at 6:30 and went to another stake center. There we had breakfast and were assigned companions.

I sat randomly next to two guys (Elder Hagen and Elder Tuluga) and talked and ate together. The president called up the trainers first and then the new missionary. The mission president called up Elder Tuluga and Hagen, and then me. We were put in a trio, I got two trainers."

"Then we went to our little green house. The house is 2 stories, when you walk in the house directly to the left is a living room. To the right is a door to the garage with our washer and dryer.

If you zoom in you can see the nice little message you wrote on the back of my moon plaque, this is my window from the outside

This is our kitchen and a little bit of our dining room.

This is the window I look through when I go to bed and see the moon.

Straight ahead are stairs that take us to the 2nd level. To the left at the top of the stairs is our kitchen and dinning room. We have a full sized fridge, oven, sink and cupboards. We have a plastic dinner table. The room that branches off from the kitchen is a little private room with a chair and a window.




 

Delicious

To the right at the top of the stairs is our bedroom with 2 desks, 3 beds, and a big closet, bathroom and shower room. The shower room has a back door that leads back to the little room next to the kitchen. Here we unpacked a little and then went right into it.  We planned out our day of tracking. I kind of wanted to stay and organize my room a little but I guess that's not appropriate."

love these!

Look at all these nummies

"My companion Elder Hagen is from California he's been on his mission for about one year now, but he has never been in this area. He is fluent in Spanish and he teaches lessons well. Elder Tuluga is a Samoan from Samoa. He's really chill and funny but he still works hard. He moved to Utah about 6 years ago, he's 24 and pretty buff. "

 "Our day consists of waking, exercising for an half an hour (we run twice around the block and then come back and lift weights). We get ready for the day/ eat breakfast (7-8), then do personal, companion, language and 12 week studies each for an hour, then we eat lunch (12-1). Then we head out with our plans and don't come back till 5:00 for dinner. At 6:00 we leave again and don't come back till 9:00 or 9:30. We plan, get ready for bed, and sleep. This is a normal day. We have had a lot of weird days, like days with meetings or General Conference."

Here are a few sights from Fort Worth Texas:

 This is the stock yards, where they walk the stock down the street for people to buy stuff, just a little bit of Texas culture

Look at my elevation, no wonder i can breathe so well here

Yummy barrel of recess peanut butter cups

Huge candy store at the stock yards

Totally Texas right here.

This is part of my zone,  the hermanans are hilarious

All you can eat ribs at some place, its a nice deal if you can eat a lot of ribs.

Eating the ribs, I can still keep my face clean.

 

 "We have a really small area. My area is Spanish and usually Spanish areas are bigger than the English ones, so  usually we get cars. Like the Hermanas area goes about 30 miles in one direction. Well we can bike to the farthest corner of our mission in about 25 minutes. Most Spanish Missionaries have to drive an hour to reach their corner. It's funny because we have the only home in the mission, it's the biggest missionary home in the mission, yet we have the smallest area in the mission."

This is my area, its super small when you look at it on Google maps, most areas are like 40 miles long and ours is like 2 miles

"Please tell everyone I Love Them.  Tell Bishop I miss our water fights and his great leadership. Tell Brother Wells I want to play "Mafia" with him. Tell Mike H. that I could use some Arby's and a Mountain Dew. Tell Dustin C. he is one of the greats. I will see you all in a moment."

Love Elder Lickiss

The Plane ride to Fort Worth Texas

A quick message home

I

LO

VE

YOU

MOM

My Wonderful Missionary!!!