Week 26

Hola Familia,

This week has been wildddddd. Hahaha but also super good.  We have had so many things to do and we have been super busy.  Yesterday we felt like General Authorities because we went from one meeting to another spoke to hundreds of members.  Hahah it was super exhausting but so fun!  

Fun Story:

We got a call from our district leader asking us if we could sing with them at a Stake Primary activity.  We practiced for about an hour on Thursday and the performance was supposed to be on Saturday.  Saturday morning, the person that was going to sing with us told us he was sick and couldn't do it anymore.  We had appointments and no time to practice, so we went to the activity ready to wing it.  The Elders and Hermana Campos and I put together a new performance really quick.  We decided that because it wasn't going to be good anymore, that we should just make it a joke.  2 minutes later we were on stage singing "little drummer boy" and dancing with Santa hats in front of lots of people.  It was super horrible and really funny.  Everybody had a good laugh.  Man the things we get to do as missionaries hahah.

Zone Conference was this week!  I got to speak again on obedience! (I keep getting asked to speak in Zone Conference and its been helping me grow in the "Public Speaking in a different language" area.  Hahah im growing a lot.)  But it was a really good conference.  I felt the Spirit a ton.  President Isom spoke about the Sacrament and how sacred it was.  The second he started speaking, there was a very profound and tangible peace that filled the room.  It was another reassurance to me of how sacred it really is.  He said a lot of really good things and I wanted to share just a really quick version(:

1. Whats in our minds as we take the Sacrament is a whole lot more important than what we are putting into our mouths.  The purpose is for our mind to be focused on the Savior and His sacrifice in our behalf.  Its the same Idea as when anciently they had to sacrifice a pure lamb.  It helped remind them of and re-focus their lives on the atonement of Christ.  When Christ came, he put an end to the shedding of blood, but instead had us take the sacrament.  Because of how simple it is and how often we do it, it can become mundane and we can become easily distracted.  But it should have the same significance as it did to the people anciently who had to sacrifice a lamb.  "Could ye not watch with me one hour?" Ive been thinking about that scentance from the Savior in Gethsemane to his disciples.  I know I can do better at focusing my mind more on the Savior during the Sacrament.

2.  A part of the Sacrament is the breaking of the bread.  Its not done before the meeting because it is a significant part of the Sacrament.  It not only symbolizes Christs body sacrificed in our behalf, but also, how His atonement applies individually to each of us.  Each piece of bread is ripped differently and therefor, unique.  It represents how each one of us has different sins and weaknesses, but that the Savior atoned for each one of us individually.

3.  President told us how in a training they had, Elder Oaks told them, "If misisonaries do not take the sacrament every week, and if they take it without thought and understanding, then they CANNOT teach the Doctrine of Christ."  Ive thought about that a lot.  If I dont take the sacrament in the way that Christ intended, then I dont understand His doctrine and therefore, I wont be able to teach it how He would.  Im learning a lot about the doctrine of Christ on my mission and im so happy and excited that I still have my whole life to go!

This week I started preparing for the Sacrament on Friday, and when I took it on Sunday, I felt like I was in the temple.  I invite you each to try this week to prepare early on to take the Sacrament on Sunday(:

Anyway, other than that we have just had a lot of Choir practices because all of the missionaries are going to sing in a Choir in Central for Christmas.  Its going to be advertised on T.V and everything too so its been pretty busy! We also just found out we are going to be in a play as well hahahah we feel like celebrities.  Some days we would just like to go out and teach, but we are having a lot of fun serving!!  I love you all so much!!  Have a great week!!

--Hermana West

Week 25

Hey fam!

I love you all!  This week has been crazyyyyyyy and so good!  We were in a trio for awhile because the companion of our Hermana Lider went home so she had to stay with us until our other companions came!  That was really fun!  Hermana Egbert left....super sad but also its been super fun with Hermana Campos!  She is from Chile and shes supperrrrrr patient with me learn Spanish.  I wish you could see us walking in the street.  Shes like 4 foot 9 inches or something and I'm 5 foot 10 so its pretty funny!  We have a good time.

We have been seeing a lot of miracles in our sector.  We have been finding families recently which is incredible.  The ward has been fasting a lot for the missionary work and we are seeing a lot of fruits from it.  I love being a missionary. 

I have been learning a lot of Spanish as you can imagine hahah.  I still accidentally wake up speaking English, but at least in the day my thoughts are in Spanish.  We are getting there slowly but surely.  Thank you so much for all of your prayers!

I feel like so many things have happened this week, but I cant remember them right now!!  

Yesterday in Sacrament meeting we were sitting listening to testimonies and I had the strongest prompting to get up and share how Jesus Christ loves them and that they can repent and come home at any moment.  I got up and could barely talk because of how strongly I felt the Spirit.  As I was talking, one of our investigators eyes were fixed on me as well as a menos activo member who hasnt been to church for a looong time.  I felt like I was speaking directly to them as Jesus Christ would if he were there.  Words were being put into my mouth and I just felt an overwhelming amount of love for them.  I know that Jesus Christ came to earth for each one of us.  He wants each of us to come home.  At any moment you can change and repent.  You can choose to follow Jesus Christ at any moment.  When we make a mistake, He is waiting for us to run to Him with open arms.  Run to Him!!  Start now and ENJOY the BLESSINGS and PEACE that come from living by His teachings.

The other experience I had this week that I wanted to share happened the first day with Hermana Campos.  We were walking to an appointment but I felt that we should stop by the Clinic first.  There is an investigator that is always there because her son is in a Coma and really sick.  We went to visit her for a minute and right when we got there the hours for visiting started.  She invited us to go in with her and meet her son.  We watched her talk to her son for about 10 minutes and then we had to leave.  Before we left, we said a prayer with them.  I said it, and during the prayer I felt words being put into my mouth to say again.  I prayed for her son and in that moment the Spirit flooded the room.  After the prayer we could barely speak.  I know that Heavenly Father hears and answers our prayers.  When we allow the Spirit to guide our prayers, we can really bless the live of others immensely.  As we left I was just so grateful I came on a mission.  I love being a representative of Jesus Christ.  Even though a misison can be pretty hard at times, there is nothing better.

Hahah this letter is all over the place.  My thoughts are super scattered so if none of that made sense, im sorry.  Hahaha but Im doing so much better and im so grateful for your prayers.  I love you all!!  Have an amazing week!

--Hermana West