Date
October 5, 2015
Area
Resistencia
Companion
Elder Karmanov
On a Conference High
10-5-2015
Hoooooollllllaaaa Mamá!
It's a beautiful Monday here in Resistencia Argentina. It’s partly cloudy, not too hot, with the sounds of the busy street life, the smell of maté and chipa in the air, and I am still feeling a conference high.
Wasn't conference just incredible? I don’t really know how to describe it, but I felt that there was a very unique feeling about this conference. I really did feel a sadness for not being able to see or hear the voices of Elder Packer, Elder Scott, or Elder Perry. I have been really pondering their "last" messages that they left behind last conference. Well, this conference I decided to try to do things a little differently than I have done before in my mission. I really tried to prepare myself for this conference this week by fasting and praying a ton. I decided that I really wanted some answers to my questions and specific guidance for my life, so I decided that this time I would only write down my promptings and feelings as I watched conference (instead of writing down a bunch of quotes and stuff). I got answers.
My two favorite talks were those of Elder Lawrence and Elder Foster. I felt that these two talks answered my questions more than any others. I loved when Pres. Monson talked. As he talked this conference, I had the thought, "now there is a TRUE prophet of God." Exhorting us to repent, to keep the commandments, and warning of the eternal consequences of sin. He spoke very directly and very clearly. This time I listened to a few sessions in Spanish and a few in English. These were some of the main themes that I saw this conference:
• Holy Ghost, Holy Ghost, Holy Ghost. - We really really need the guidance of the Holy Spirit in our lives. In this conference, so many spoke of the different functions it can fill and the absolute importance of being worthy of his company.
• KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS - all of them.
• Our lives must be CENTERED on CHRIST
So yeah, conference was definitely the highlight of the week. I can't believe that this was already my fourth conference in the mission! How's that happen?
Guess what! We got air conditioning this week! IT's a miracle! Well, the other apartment of the Barranqueras elders had an AC unit and now that no one lives there we decided to take it to our new apartment! Whoo hoo!
Investigators. We have been teaching the sister of Hna. Diaz (the sister who feeds us on Tuesdays), Felisa, for a couple of weeks. She recently had a knee surgery and has been recovering, and that’s why she hasn’t been able to come to church, but she has been listening to us and reading her Book of Mormon. On Friday, we went by and had a lesson with her about constant prayer. As we were ending the lesson, she looked at her sister then back at us and with tears in her eyes, told us that she would no longer be able to listen to us. Her husband won’t allow it. She told us that she had to respect his will and maintain peace, but she also told us that she had told him that he would NOT prohibit her from going to church. She assured us that she will keep reading, praying, and, when she is able, she will come to church. We really were impressed by her great faith, and my heart ached for her in such a tough situation. I really don’t get that. I really don’t understand why any husband would do that to his wife.
Maria. She is always sooo happy when she sees us. She has a hard time remembering what we teach her sometimes, but she tells us that she feels good when we are visiting her. Guess what. SHE CAME TO CONFERENCE! Hna. Trinidad went and picked her up and brought her to the stake center. She was only able to come to one session, and there were many things she didn’t understand, but she said that she felt good and that she didn’t by any means miss the shouting, dancing, and loud music of other churches that she has known. She liked the tranquility.
Did I already tell you about David? I don’t think so. David is a 16 yr old, and the boyfriend of Milagros Insfran (a member of our ward). He came to the activity last week and to church last Sunday. On Tuesday we had a lesson about the Plan of Salvation and he really liked it. His grandmother passed away not too long ago, and he really misses her. On Thursday we went back. He told us that he prayed and that he felt that God answered his prayer telling him that it was true what we taught him. We taught him about the Restoration and prophets. He came to conference on Sunday and has a baptismal date for the 24th of October! Great kid.
Well, there is so much more that I could tell you about this week, about conference, and about all the feelings I have right now....but I am limited in my time. I just want you to know mom, that I know with all my heart that we truly live the in dispensation of the fulness of times. We have been blessed and blessed even more to live in an epoch that is guided by a living, TRUE, and worthy prophet of God. Not all of our Heavenly Father’s children have had that blessing. WE NEED TO APPRECIATE IT. I know that Christ lives and that he is the ONLY way. We need to center our lives on HIM. I love being a representative of Him. I love promising blessings in His name. And I love testifying of his divine reality. I love him.
Have a super week and continue listening to conference!
P.s. Of course I loved Elder Hollands talk and was thinking about you sooo much. You have NO idea how grateful I am for you and how much I thank Heavenly Father for such a loving mother.