October 9, 2012

Ma Chere Famille,

GENERAL CONFERENCE WAS THE BEST!!! I can hardly believe what happened on Saturday morning. When President Monson announced that they were changing the mish age for boys to 18 I started freaking out. And that freaking out turned into hyperventilation when they said that they were changing the girl's age to 19. The MTC EXPLODED!! It was sooooooo cool to be here for that announcement. And then I started crying like a crazy person. I don't even know why... I guess I just thought it was incredible and I'm so thrilled and humbled to be able to Preach His Gospel as a 21 year old crazy. And I can't even imagine all those crazy 18 year old girls that were like me, sitting at home and jumping up and down for joy. I guess it was just mostly that. And I thought of Ganae Osorio! Cause she's the best and she would be THE BEST missionary ever. So yah. A combination of things. But I'm so happy. It's incredible. The Lord trusts His youth sooo much! And I know that this change is inspired. The gospel is rolling forth, to all the earth! How incredible! I LOVE THIS WORK!! And I look forward to seeing several dilligent and excited young 18 and 19 year olds in the field. I'll probs miss them in the MTC, but J-Dawg and Pup will be there with them! Also. This general conference was just great. Overall. Elder Nelson's talk was great, "Ask the missionaries!" And he totally gave a shoutout to Rachel, one of my friends, his grand daughter, who's in Rome serving a mish! And I really liked Elder Holland's talk, about dropping our nets and following, more fully, the Savior. I couldn't help but think about cello that entire talk. I'm doing better, but I can definitely be a more exact and more faithful disciple! So I will do better! The talk about teaching was good too. The one by the 70, who's name started with an O. Anything on the subject of teaching now is so intriguing to me. Cause I'm doing all I can to learn about and become a better teacher! And finally, one quote that really stuck out from R.S. meeting was, "the enemy knows when to attack us, but our Savior is mighty to save!" It's SOOO TRUE. I loved that meeting. We watched it while the elders were at priesthood. I was hoping to have an all girl party, but that was good too :]

A couple cool things have happened this week pertaining to revelation. Last Tuesday, I was taking notes at devotional, and a question popped into my head during it, so I wrote it down not really thinking much of it. But! After the devotional, during our district discussion time, we were talking, and something happened, and I all of the sudden got an answer to my question. It just came to me. It was soooo cool!! And unexpected. But seriously, lightning like struck my brain! It was incredible. So this is my invitation to you, my dear family. If you have a question, gospel related, or life, write it down, and ponder on it, pray about it, search the scriptures, and talk about gospel principles. Heavenly Father will answer us. I promise. He will. Because He loves us, and He wants us to learn and grow! That is one of the major purposes of our mortal life, so do it! And let me know what happens after. I'd love to hear!

Teaching this week. We had a pretty downer lesson with Michel this week. I was probs the most discouraged I've been my whole time here actually. He just wasn't getting it, and he wasn't reading from the Book of Mormon, and he didn't understand, and I don't know if my companions fully understood what question he was asking, so it was just confusing and hard to teach him. I just wanted to tell him to read the book! Cause it'll change your life. But I dunno. it wasn't getting across. Frere Blosil could tell we were a little down after though and talked to us and challenged us to ponder on why the Book of Mormon was so important, so after pondering on that for a couple days, we taught him again, and were able to explain more fully why this book is so important, yesterday! It was good. The Book of Mormon, if read and prayed about, with a sincere heart and real intent, will convert the person because the Holy Ghost will testify of its truthfulness! It is the word of God. and it contains the fullness of the gospel! Oh how I love this book. I thought I loved it before the mission, but I am infatuated! It is incredible, and it testifies of Christ on every page. If you want to strengthen your testimony, read, and truly study the Book of Mormon. 

We have new sisters! Their names are Soeur Hills and Soeur Olson. They are great! S. Hills is from Canada and she's crazy and fun! She's going to Lyon.  And S. Olson plays piano! So we are def gonna be bffs. She's going to Montreal. But yah. They're super cool.

We went back to the Hospital a couple times this week. Once on Thursday and once on yesterday. Soeur Cuthbert's going in for surgery tomorrow, so please keep her in your prayers! Soeur Lamb and I are fasting for her today! Also. This week, my district was like falling apart. Thursday was the worst of it: Soeur Cuthbert was in pain again and going to the hospital, Elder Bledsoe was out with a migraine, and Elder Fletcher and I were like dying of whooping cough. Oh. And Frere Sybrowsky has laringitis. So Elder Grigsby and Soeur Lamb were the only people that weren't like dying. hah. We've gotten better though. hah. A bit. We're on the upward climb.

We also taught Claude a few times this week, and the last couple lessons have been very good! We finally got him to pray this week, cause I'm annoying. Or bold, hahh. whatever you wanna call it. But yah! It was great! I also invited him to watch general conference this weekend, so hopefully he did that! 

Also, this week, Soeur Lamb and I have done quite a bit of studying in the residence hall cause Soeur Cuthbert's been sick, but it's been really good actually. In fact, both of my Soeurs have said they like learning from me, better than in class. hah. But I think they're bluffing. Frere Blosil and Sybrowsky are the best teachers ever. I think they just like learning one on one. or one on two. But I taught Soeur Lamb passe compose this week. And I'm basically a slave driver. hah. Its great though! We get a lot done and we're pretty productive! 

Bonded with the frenchies this week too. A ton of them are going to Montreal, and it almost makes me sad I'm not going there, cause these Elders are soooo cool! But yah. We're bffs now, and it's fun! 

Ok. Well I'm almost outta time, so really fast. People I met this week that know people from home. or BYU. Or that will know people. Pup! So I met 2 Elders that are going to the West Indies!! Elder Porterfield, that's just down the hall from me, and Elder Kabongo, who is FROM Brussels, Belgium, and he knows the OSORIOS!! Super cool. Also. Maia Cook. I found out one of the frenchies is from Nova Scotia this week, so I asked if they knew her, and they do! Elder Blake Pillings! Soooo cool! We're volleyball buds.

Ok, well I'm outta time and I have 6 more letters to write, so I'm gonna go. But I love you all! I am sooo happy! It's crazy busy here, but I love it and wouldn't have it any other way. This work is incredible! I'm, so honored and happy to be apart of it! Pray for Soeur Cuthbert and the people of New Caledonia!

L'evangile est vrai!

Je T'aime! Soeur Santos