Nuestro Padre Celestial Nos Ama y Nos Conoce

Hola Familia!!!!

My joy is so full today. I can feel the love of God so strong. Thank you for all of the support you give to me. This week was unlike any other week in the mission! Elder Carlson a General Authority came and did a mission tour in the MMM! On Tuesday we had a mission conference and wow was that amazing. The spirit was so strong, it felt like angels were all around us. I learned soooo much about how to be a better missionary and how to be more consecrated. I am always so grateful to receive guidance like that especially when it comes from an authority of the Lord. I think I took like 10 pages of notes hahaha. Let me tell you a little more. So at the lunch break on Tuesday we happened to be so lucky that President Forbes and Sister Forbes sat by us and also Elder Carlson and Sister Carlson! Sitting with all of them was a little intimedating haha and we were eating pulled pork sandwiches! I tried to use my best manners. Anyways they were asking us questions and we were getting to know each other better. Elder Carlson was responding and giving us advice and encouragement. My Companion was crying the spirit was very strong and I was trying not to cry we were in front of everyone but I couldn't help it and started crying. The reason I felt the spirit so strongly was because I had been praying for a while about some questions I have and other things to help me progress in this work. Elder Carlson didn't know my questions or what I was struggling with at the time but he said exactly what I needed to hear and answered my prayers. I was shocked! It was like he was directly speaking to me. He got up and left and we continued to eat. Then President Forbes came to me and said Elder Carlson would like to interview you.........First thought in my head oh no. haha I had no clue what to think! Why would he possibly want to interview me? I am sure you could imagine I had a million emotions and thoughts going on. I knew it was a very special opportunity because he only interviewed 2 other missionaries. So I tried to calm down the best I could. When I got in the interview he asked me to tell him about my family and what I want to do in the future. For some reason that made me emotional as well. The spirit was SO strong in that room I wish all of you could have felt it. He gave me three pieces of advice or counsel and that was that. My mind was blown. I KNOW that Heavenly Father loves each of us SO much more than we know. He KNOWS us. He knows every little detail about us from the beginning to end. I know he answers our prayers and I know  he is there for us and loves us and he is our greatest sources of comfort and happiness. We are so blessed, I am so blessed to have this knowledge. Share it with the world because it changes lives.

So on a different note! Gera Rodriguez was baptized and confirmed this Sunday!! It was such a good experience. I love that kid. I love the Rodriguez family. They already feel like my own. We are starting to gain the trust of the members and make relationships and its just soooooo awesome. Gera is going to make a great missionary. We all are already preparing him and his dad is next to be baptized soon:) 

We are working a lot with less active members and boy is it great. We are seeing so many miracles through that. What is so cool is that these less active members already have some what of a testimony and they all have relatives and friends who are none members. So we get to strengthen their testimonies and bring new members in. We are teaching  a man named Walter and his sister Leo. They are the niece and nephew of a LA here named Alex Valerio. Leo is very prepared and they are both very interested and open, we will see what happens. Remember the miracle family we found last week? Well we have had contact with them this week and are teaching their cousin Cristian. He also came to church yesterday with us. 

Hermana Hougaard is still doing great. The Spanish is a real struggle but she is pushing forward even through her trails. Its so cool to be working with her. I love her! :)

There will be difficult and trying times in our lives. I was going through a faith testing time that required a lot of work patience and diligence. It is so amazing to me to take a step back and look and see all the blessings I really have. Our trails and tribulations are but a small moment if we put our head down get to work and have faith in Christ. Never forget that. Elder Carlson told me and my comp personally that when things are hard all we can do is get to work and God will work out the other details. 

I love you all. You are all very important to me! I am so blessed to have each of you in my life. This gospel is the truth I know it with my whole soul. Lean on the Lord. Trust in him. Turn you heart and life over to him and he will make all you can be. He has the power to change you and to make you great. Have a great week!!!!

Pictures of Gera's Baptism.