This week has been pretty tough, especially regarding the numbers of lessons we´ve taught. We haven´t had as much success as the past and our animo (energy, excitement?) has gone down a lot. But what I love about companionships is that your struggles and your trials and your problems seem to be cut in half, because you can share the disappointment. But then, your successes and miracles seem to be doubled as you both enjoy them!! What a blessing that is! And I can see that applied to any other type of companionship....husband and wife, families, friends, you name it. Companions are so important, I´m so lucky to have Hermana Lyons--she´s healed me and helped me in more ways than I´ve thought possible and I hope I´ve done the same for her!
But anyway, the big, exciting, SUPER GUAY ("cool") thing that happened this week was a visit from Elder Kearon, a member of the Seventy! He and his family live in Germany but he´s from Britain so he has the coolest accent ever (just being able to listen to that accent for three hours was the best thing ever!) He came to our half of the mission on Thursday so we traveled up to Sevilla on Wednesday night and then took a 3 hour train ride to Malaga the next day. I had the worst cold i have ever had all that week (which is also partly why this week has been difficult blah) and then the entire day of the conference I was SO sick! I had a fever and everything and it just so happened to fall on the one day i couldnt stay home and sleep in our piso haha. But Heavenly Father took care of me and not only was I able to make it through that day and the journey home, I was even better enough by the next day that we didnt lose any proselyting time.
But anyway, I´d like to take some time and share a little bit of what I learned from the Conference. Elder Kearon and his wife and then our mission president and his wife also spoke and it was incredible. When they all walked in, I just felt a wave of the Spirit come over me. I believe in the priesthood authority of our leaders! I will follow them through to the end, because I know they are called of God! Here are some highlights:
But anyway, I´d like to take some time and share a little bit of what I learned from the Conference. Elder Kearon and his wife and then our mission president and his wife also spoke and it was incredible. When they all walked in, I just felt a wave of the Spirit come over me. I believe in the priesthood authority of our leaders! I will follow them through to the end, because I know they are called of God! Here are some highlights:
Elder Kearon talked a lot about how we as members, "thrive on resistance". No matter how hard things get, we always get through them and come out stronger, but only if we have the Lord in our minds and in our hearts. Even if we have to do it alone, we do hard things!
He also advised us to pour out our hearts in the morning to the Lord and then ATTACK the morning--physically with our excercises and spiritually with our studies. /And let me tell ya--we sure did! I´m SO sore still haha)
Sister Kearon talked about the story in Matthew 19 and about asking yourself, what lack I yet? There is no commandment that is only for your physical or temporal well being. its all connected....its all for your spiritual growth too. She also said something I really loved...."He loves uyou just as you are, but He loves you enough to not let you stay that way--He invites us to let things go, free ourselves, and ask: What lack I yet?" PURE GOLD!
Presidente Deere and Hermana Deere talked about not beating ourselves up and telling ourselves things that we wouldnt´ tell any one else. Let go of your spiritual guilt-handcarts! Just repent and decide to do better now!
I feel like I didnt even give half enough credit that these spiritual giants deserved but i just wanted to give you all a little taste of the magnificent Spirit and knowledge that I gained at this conference!
In other news, on Thursday (the day of the conference) we were riding the bus home with the Elders from our District and we all thought it was Thanksgiving (they dont celebrate it here in Spain so we got the week mixed up) so we all went around and shared what we´re grateful for! heres a few:
Tissues (that one was obviously mine), the fact that its getter colder so people are more likely to answer the door fully clothed, Enya, our families (duh!), having an oven -
my old piso didnt have one), Hermana Lyons and her love of making sweets and letting me mooch off of them, and of course the Book of Mormon, our Savior, and our Heavenly Father. I just want to share my testimony that I know that Jesus Christ and The Lord live! I am so grateful for the gospel in mylife. I feel so lucky to have grown up in a family that was centered on the gospel and the teachings of Christ. But I know that even if I hadn´t, i would have accepted the message of the Restoration if missionaries had knocked on my door and i had felt the Holy Spirit testify to me of its truthfulness. i know it. I´m grateful for my parents, they are really, truly "goodly parents" like Nephi´s. I love my brothers and sisters so much and I will always treasure the time we had together. And I love my Savior and because of Him, I wanted to serve a mission. And I love being here serving and teaching the people of Spain. I love it with all of my heart!
my old piso didnt have one), Hermana Lyons and her love of making sweets and letting me mooch off of them, and of course the Book of Mormon, our Savior, and our Heavenly Father. I just want to share my testimony that I know that Jesus Christ and The Lord live! I am so grateful for the gospel in mylife. I feel so lucky to have grown up in a family that was centered on the gospel and the teachings of Christ. But I know that even if I hadn´t, i would have accepted the message of the Restoration if missionaries had knocked on my door and i had felt the Holy Spirit testify to me of its truthfulness. i know it. I´m grateful for my parents, they are really, truly "goodly parents" like Nephi´s. I love my brothers and sisters so much and I will always treasure the time we had together. And I love my Savior and because of Him, I wanted to serve a mission. And I love being here serving and teaching the people of Spain. I love it with all of my heart!
I hope you all have a great thanksgiving!! I´d love to hear what you´re all grateful for!
HURRAH FOR ISRAEL!!
(PS todays my five month mark...where has the time gone!!)
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