Five Days and Counting

September 25,  2014

There is quite a bit of excitement in the Lickiss family this week. Fort Worth Texas is within reach. Elder Lickiss SHOULD be leaving the MTC next Tuesday September 30th for Fort Worth Texas!!

We received a very special treat in the mail the other day, a 12 page letter from Elder Lickiss!!!!!!!!!

Elder Lickiss doing what he does best, making people laugh.

He begins his letter by apologizing for his handwriting. Please, I have 20+ years reading doctors handwriting, his is beautiful. 

Growing opportunities at the MTC:

 Obedience

Elder Lickiss Writes:

"So let me tell you something about obedience. I've never had a problem with obedience. I've never had a problem with obedience before I came here, but I've also never had so many rules placed on me. The last thing Brother Mike Hancock said to me before I left was "be obedient." These 3 weeks (as of September 11th) have been a struggle. Why can't I take milk out of the lunch room, why can't we take pictures throughout the week? Why can't we study in our houses? All of these dumb little rules, and all anyone would say was, "Be obedient." It was seriously irritating me. Then we had a devotional, it was a video of Elder Holland talking at the Provo MTC and it persuaded me. He said if you are obedient, you will have the spirit, if you have the spirit you will teach with power and authority, if you teach with power and authority you will be able to say what you need to say and HOW YOU NEED TO SAY IT! After taking speech class I have learned how to fluctuate my voice, tone, pitch, speed etc... to grab the attention of who I am talking too. Every time before every lesson, speech, etc... I prayed to say what I need to say and how I need to say it. After that devotional I realized I would lose that ability through disobedience, but I also learned, through obedience, that ability would be magnified. Elder Holland is such an example to me as a public speaker, I love him. I now have been persuaded to obedience, even if that means not taking milk from the lunch room. "


Appreciation

Elder Lickiss Writes:

"If there is one thing I am super blessed with, it is my house. We call it our "Casa" and it is so nice. Hot water, clean water, tile everywhere, kinda soft beds, a living room, a kitchen, laundry room, so nice. The couches have cushions that are more like soft wood. It's all painted brick so it echos like crazy. The door frames don't have little pads (on them) so every door slams every time without fail. Minor complaints really, our house is a lot better than any house outside these walls."


Learning the culture (And having fun doing it)

Elder Lickiss Writes:

"This past Monday we had Mexican Independence Day. All night long we could hear native music, that I couldn't understand, and see fireworks like no other. We had a cool concert though with dancers."

Trying a new look.

Selfee bombing

Mexican Independence Day Dancers

Mexican Independence Day Dancers

 

Mexican Independence Day Dancers

Another Day at the MTC in Mexico

September 11, 2014

P-Day at last!

From the Lickiss home to the MTC in Mexico, Thursday P-Days are the highlight of the week. Elder William has been sharing with us an inside view of life at the Mexico MTC.

"This is our living room. Don't be deceived,
the cushions aren't soft, they're more like soft wood."

"Our kitchen,  we just brush our teeth in here"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"This is our laundry room, its really nice too, the only complaint I have of the house is that it echoes because everything is brick. I could here a mouse fart from the kitchen"

The three Amigos trying to see the world outside the walls of the MTC. 

"This is the barbed wire fence that surrounds the place. I love to walk the borer with Elder Quist."

"One of the workers came in with his daughter and she had a bird."

"This is a selfy with my companion, we are getting better"

 

"Playing the fruit game"

 

 

"This is Elder Quist, who is just like me, and Hermana Simpson who is so darn nice. P.s. We are playing the "Fruit Game," If you don't know what it is, ask Caleb Brown or Dallon Jones."

"Still playing the game, its so much fun."

"This is some of my district, we are awesome, go district 15A"

This is so William right in the middle of all of the Hermanas. (Sisters)

 

 

 

Williams message to the family at the end of yet another eventful P-Day in the MTC

 

"So this week has gone by fast, it has been amazing!  I would have so much to say but I don´t have the time. I love you all so much. I end every journal entry with I love my family, I love my mom, and I love my God. This is with out fail. I love seeing your reflection in the moon every night, the moon has never been so beautiful. I will make sure you live this mission with me, everyone will see through my eyes by reading my words. I have discovered what the Priesthood really is and it is simply the word of God, it was through His word that the world was made and it will be through my words (in Christ) that people will be brought to the Gospel. I will use his Priesthood. I love you all so much, hear my words, this is how you will know. I love you all and will always love you. See you in a moment."

Day 12 of 730

September 1, 2014

Day 7 at the MTC 

The only difference between the MTC and prison is you get phone calls in prison. Thought that was funny.

SO, Mexico is actually really nice. I didn't realize how for Mexico City was from the border until I saw a map on the plane. But it's better that way because the more north you go the more dangerous it is. I haven't heard a single gun shot. Although I do here explosions but I don't think its killing any one. Its actually colder here than it is in Utah right now. Its 7000 feet and it rains almost every afternoon, although they say its been a lot drier this week.

My house is way nice, and it is a house not an apartment. There are 4 guys to a room and 5 rooms to a house with a kitchen and a living room. The water from the sinks come from a water tower behind my house so it's all clean, although we still get jugs of drinking water from a private company. There is a Wal-Mart and a Costco down here too which makes it kind of feel like America, although the pizza they buy from Costco does not taste like Costco pizza. The food has its good and bad days, if it's gross I just eat the cereal which has grown on me. A lot of the food is Mexican and way good, but they really don't know how to make desserts with moisture.

I love my district they are hilarious. One dude sang professionally on a cruise ship and is super hilarious but way too emotional. Another kid is just like me, similar personalities and problems.

I miss girls! I used to think that I never flirted with girls and it was just being reflective but now that I can almost not talk to the Hermanas it hurts. Guys are gross and girls are great. The Hermanas in my district are wonderful, so smart and mature. 

All in all this has been an interesting experience so far.

Until Next week, Elder Lickiss

Soaring through the clouds on my way to the MTC in Mexico.