Una Gran Obra

Feliz lunes!!!

I'll make this one short for y'all :)

I had my first exhanges this week, so I got to hang out with Sister Walker! It was so much fun! As Spanish missionaries we don't do much of the typical door knocking or street contacting, a lot of our friends come from English Class and referrals. But since I got to be an English missionary for the day, I got to see the whole other side of missionary work! That morning we did comp study in this cute little coffee shop with our blueberry lemon scones and then had a lesson/bible study with one of their friends where we read the story of the woman with the issue of blood (my favorite). We got slushies later that day which just reminded me of the 711 trips as a kid :). We got to spend some time in a neighboorhood just knocking doors which was actually kind of nervewracking at first. I wanted to go to this one house, and as we walked up to it, the garage opened and this man came out in a wheelchair. We talked to him and asked to share a gospel message (his name was Gary), he said to go ahead, so we talked about a story in the Bible and bore our testimonies. He wasn't interested in our Church, but he had a strong faith in God, and he ended up bearing his testimony to us! That night we ended exchanges and I was back with Hermana Hibbard teaching English class!

The next day was Zone Conference! I didn't realize how long those things were, like 9 hours! But I had a lot of fun getting to know the other missionaries, and I definitely needed that day to reset my focus. The topic for that conference was the Restoration and the Book of Mormon. I love how much you get to participate in asking questions, sharing thoughts, and doing roleplays. So many missionaries talked about the role the Book of Mormon has played in their lives. I have never read the Book of Mormon all the way through on my own, and while I feel that it's true, I've never gained a real love for it like these missionaries have, and I want that for myself. I've decided to take my Book of Mormon reading more seriously and really pay attention to the Spirit, to the thoughts and impressions I may receive. I realized I needed to desire to have a stronger testimony of the Book of Mormon and work for it.

At the end of Zone Conference, the missionaries who were leaving after this transfer gave their departing testimonies. It was hard to see Hermana Hibbard up there bearing her testimony, knowing she would be leaving soon, but I'm also just so proud of her. She's taught me so much and I really look up to her as an example to me :).

We had a baptism this week for our cutie Samuel! He's this little genuis and so sweet. It was amazing to see him take that step and be baptized. Haven't gotten the photos yet, but I'll send em when I get em :).

On Sunday we had a great lesson with Mario. Mario was the first one that I was there to start teaching, most of our friends were already being taught when I got there. I remember that first call with him, he was in the dark and we could barely see his face and he barely said anything. And now, about a month later, we invited him to be baptized and he said yes! The change we've seen in him is amazing, he just has opened up, found a family in the church, and his testimony and trust in God has grown so much. Best part of being a missionary is seeing the change the gospel has in their lives :).

Times up, but I love y'all, have an amazing week!

- Hermana Neil