Transferred to Bella Vista

I've got  some news! I left costanera already.  I was expecting to stay, so I didn't do my  bags at all.. then Sunday night we found out that I was leaving. I'm in an area called Bella Vista! and I'm with a Latina! She;s from Buenos Aires!! woooooo, yay for Spanish! I was sad to leave because Isis was getting baptized! it was gonna be last week but her husband had to travel for work... so sadly I'm missing the baptism. But its okay, we´re gonna have some in Vella Vista. my comp is on her last transfer so I"ll be her last companion!

We had a Christmas party with all the missionaries in Resistencia this week, and it was super fun! we got to play  some games (scripture trivia)... which i think is super fun... which proves I'm a missionary haha.


 Presidente announced that for the new year we are all going to do a fast as the entire mission.. to rededicate our areas.  I love our presidente. He is always thinking of what we can do to be better, and hes all for trying new things.  I can tell he thinks about us day and night. 

We traveled to Resistencia for an activity, illuminate the world (light the world in the USA) 

The members put lights in balloons and let them go when we sang silent night "noche de luz".. it was fun and good to see all the missionaries. 

We waited in the terminal for hours and hours waiting for our buses to our new areas. I had a good talk with my old zone leader, and explained to him my thoughts about how the zone was disorganized, and they needed to try harder to be more consecrated, etc. and it went really well! 

My Comp passed out this week. We were eating with a member, and the daughter had a bloody nose, and my comp can't handle blood I guess, because she fell on my lap, so I lifted her up, and her face was white, and she fell to the  floor. It scared me a ton!  I thought it was from the heat at first, but it was just the blood. anyway, it was crazy and the members were freaking out.

I had an experience during the week with Daian.. I had explained the holy ghost to her.... and a few days later she told me that she had a really bad day and was super sad... and couldn't shake the feeling, so she layed in bed and prayed and prayed and then she feel asleep for like an hour and woke up with the biggest sensation of ´peace, and said it felt like how I described the holy ghost. 

My new comp is super awesome! The thing is though, I"m so used to being in charge.  Since my training ended, I've always been the one in charge of things, making the most decisions, the phone calls, and teaching the majority of the time. So now I'm gonna have to get used to being equal in a companionship, and I get to learn from someone with a lot of time in the mission! I'im excited.

PS.  We were doing a choir in Costanera and I was in charge of playing the triangle for "canta santos angeles".. and all the elders would laugh, because sometimes it sounded awful. and they´re like "I thought it was impossible to be bad at playing the triangle, but I was wrong"...I guess I'm really just not musically talented haha.  

Isis to be Baptized!

Birthday Cake for my Comp 

Transfers are this coming Monday... so put it in your calendar that next week ill be writing on Tuesday! I'm anxious to find out who my next comp is, but I'm feeling comforted knowing that its either a Latina, or someone who at least has more time than me. So we were talking this week in comp study, and my comp told me that she has had so much fun being comps with me. She said her training was stressful and hard, but she is really starting to enjoy the mission experience now, and she also feels more effective because we try to talk to as many people as possible.  I think all of us feel like we waste time in our training and once we are up to speed we feel more productive.  I did too.  It just made my day to know that she has felt loved and has learned a lot.  That was my goal! 

Isis is scheduled to be baptized this Saturday!! yay! In relief society we talked about temples, and she raised her hand and said that Vincen (her husband who's a recent convert) said he wants to be sealed in a year so they can be together forever, and she started crying. it was so tender!

MANGOES

We have an investigator named Daìan, shes 22. and we got talking the other day about journals.. and how I write in mine every night. and she was amazed. She said  she really wants to start one, but doesn't really know how to. she doesn't want to write the sad things, because someday she`ll look back and it'll be negative. But i told her that that's the only way to look back and really see your progress, or see how much you've changed. And that she can read it someday to help her children, etc. So she said shes gonna start! i know you always kept journals growing up, but I hope you still keep one. Even though you already are an adult and have children, and you think sometimes all you do is work, etc. .. I'm sure you have thoughts and experiences that will bless us someday. So I'd encourage you to keep writing mom. XO 

In every mission you'll find missionaries who are lax with the rules and just don't care as much. I've definitely found them here and it's hard to find a way to try to influence my peers to value obedience without coming off as a goody good and like I'm calling them out on everything.  Any ideas?   

COSTANERA

WEST SIDE for DAD 

You Seem Decided...

WOW...summer here.  I'm constantly sweating and it's been suuuuper humid this week, well plus we live right next to the coast, so we get more humidity. It feels like my skin is wet all the time haha. So I guess we´re in a pretty dangerous area, and whenever we contact certain areas, the people tell us we shouldn't be out there because it's dangerous, people rob, and use knives, etc.  So my comps are a bit tentative to go out in the neighborhoods that look poorer.  For some reason I'm not that scared.  Of course we don't go there at night.  

THANKS FOR THE PACKAGE. I was so happy... you gave me OHS  that was something i was not expecting at all! you guys are the best. And yes the dress fits! I'm wearing it next week to the big Christmas party we´re having as a mission in Resistencia!  

LEAD BY THE SPIRIT
This week we walked past a house, and a girl was sitting on a chair. I felt the slightest feeling to turn back, so I did.. and started to talk with her. And she said "my husband said you guys stopped him in the street the other day. Hes been reading your book.".. turns out we had already contacted her husband! What are the odds!? So we taught her, and we´re going to visit her and her husband together this week! their names are Alejandra and Juan. I'm praying for them, because I have a feeling we were lead to them.  

On Sunday Isis got a priesthood blessing from the Branch President and received the confidence to tell her mom she was getting baptized. She was holding back because she was afraid to hurt her.   

FUNNY

We talked to this police officer who was kinda joking around with us, and he looked at me and said  "You have a strong look" ... we were like uhh, what. and he said pointing to my companions,  " this one seems quiet, this one seems shy, and you seem decided.  You have a strong personality I can tell." Then we were talking about it later and my comps agreed that I wasn't shy at all, and its something they wish they could do.. etc. I keep thinking about how I used to be too shy to even ask for honey at McDonalds haha. And now apparently I'm not shy at all. I think its amazing, the mission experience has helped so much with that. 

Thanks for the recipes! I made a cake today because it was Coleman's birthday yesterday... a yellow pudding cake with chocolate in it, and cream cheese frosting. We´re gonna eat it tonight and watch a church movie. 

I wanted to make a cheesecake but unfortunately graham crackers and sour cream don't exist in Argentina. :/

Love you

Hermana Hall 

Isis will be baptized

So this week we had the multizona with presidente... and he dropped major cane!!! (bajar la caña.. drop cane.. is a phrase in Spanish) about obedience. There is some disobedience I didnt know about- elders doing dumb stuff.  He spoke about exact obedience in the small things...waking up at 6:30, following all the mission rules etc.which I am doing.  At first I felt he wasn't speaking to me and there wasn't anything for me to learn.  Then as I humbled myself, I found some small things I can improve.

The next morning we had individual interviews with him, and he asked me how I was in the triplet training two greenies.  He was a good listener, and actually so gentle and understanding. I assured him that I was willing to do whatever he thinks best, but he felt my frustration and was empathetic to the stress I've been feeling.  He told me that he knows its a big responsibility to have the 2 new girls in a trio.. but he felt strongly that he could trust me with the responsibility, and thanked me for all I do.  Asked me to seek for patience, and that the next transfer he´ll make a change so I can be with someone who can help me with the language. This is something for me to look forward to since I was made a trainer after a few short weeks in the country and would love to have a native comp.  I left the office feeling so relieved. 

We helped out at a capilla abierta, and all in all, it was a pretty good week. Isis has a baptism date for this next Saturday, and is still progressing.  

Hope you had a great thanksgiving!

Love Hermana Hall 

SHY to BOLD....

I'm so happy to hear from you guys and to write to you today... I really needed this.  I'm glad to hear you`re all doing well, I pray for you guys everyday! 

My week has been..... pretty hard. But i guess hard is good haha. Tuesday morning we got our 3rd companion... Hermana Howe.  I"m training both Coleman and Howe and we are figuring out how to balance our teaching, contacting between the three of us.  I feel the Lord is trusting me with a lot of responsibility right now and it's hard, but I"m doing it.  

We`re teaching Kike... and he`s talked to missionaries a lot over the years.. read the BOM.. and he thinks its all true, but he`s still waiting until the holy ghost tells him he needs to be baptized.  

We also teach Isis, wife of recent convert. She has  accepted a baptism date for Dec 2nd! She's improving a lot though, growing in faith, and the change in her happiness is really evident. She invited us over for lunch yesterday.. and her family was watching moana haha.. so I heard the weird Shiny song in Spanish. 

We taught an atheist this week, and I don't understand how people can live without hope.  I don't know why people are okay with believing they will never see their families again after death, or receive strength through prayer and the grace of God. One thing I noticed about myself this week, is how more bold I am in teaching people than I thought I was.  I've changed, and the culture has influenced me I think.  Considering how shy I used to be...I feel more confident now, and my companions have commented on how they wish they could have no fear talking to people like I do. You have to do what you gotta do! 

I'm so excited to get your package mom, :) love you so much! We aren't doing anything special for Thanksgiving.  

We are super low on money because Corrientes is more expensive, and we have 3 people. But i might use personal money to buy something to make for thanksgiving dinner. Love you guys, thanks for writing me :) send more pics please! I want to send pics, but haven't taken my camera out because everyone tells me how dangerous Corrientes is, and that I'll be robbed :/

TRANSFERRED to CORRIENTES

So I've been transferred out of my first area (Formosa) to Corrientes.  This area has twice as many people and it is surrounded on all four sides by rivers that separate it from the countries of Brazil, Paraguay, and Uraguay.  It is more advanced, with a University, but has a lot of cattle.  This is where the legendary "Gauchos" or cowboys originate. It's also the province with the highest production of citrus  YEAH!  It is still tropical weather and very humid, but temps will be a bit lower than in Formosa during summer.  It  is nice, and I really like it! 

We´re in a branch, and its teeny tiny! i just came from a ward.. so ut will take getting used to. But the members seem nice.When we got to our apartment, the elders who were here before wrote a note saying we had a " Capilla Abierta" this Sunday. (like a chapel tour.. open house type thing). And so we called our branch president to ask him information about it.. and he didn't even know we were having one. (The elders knew they were leaving their area, so they planned nothing I guess...so we had 2 days to go invite people and try to put together the Capilla Abierta. In the end...only 1 member family, and 1 investigator came.... so that was kinda rough. but what can ya do? the branch is excited to have hermanas because they say they are more responsible.   

This week we talked to a lot of people! We´ve been really trying to just talk to everyone! and its been going good. 

We taught an English class Saturday.. 8 people came, all non members. 

We´re teaching this lady named Isis and she's the wife of a recent convert. She has severe depression and bi-polar disease and struggles with her faith because she is a bit angry at God for this condition she suffers from.  She wants to know why her life feels like a hell, and it is hard for her to feel the spirit right now. I asked her to try praying, and she came to church on Sunday, and seemed so happy, and was smiling a bunch. So last night we visited her and she told us that after church she actually made the decision that she wants to get baptized. We feel close to them.   

I love my companion Hermana Hatch! She was in Formosa with me, but got really sick (some gastric intestinal thing), and she came to Corrientes with me too, but is going home this week. The conditions here have been very hard for her and her health concerns became too much.  I will be put in a trio with Hmna Coleman, and Howe. I"ll be training both still, and am learning a lot and am humbled. I'm looking forward to having a Latina comp sometime to help me with the language.  

Thanks to the packs of seasoning I brought we made tacos with onions and rice a couple times for lunch. Then yesterday we had oatmeal. And we eat a lot of fruit, bananas, yogurt, eggs and rice cakes. Our budget is small for food, and food can be expensive.  

It was hard leaving Formosa...especially Nadia.  Here are some farewell pictures. 

I hit 7 months yesterday! Crazy how the time flies.

NADIA

 

WHITE WASH in COSTANERA /Corrientes Region

Hola....  

So the Presidente called me on Friday and told me that I'd be leaving to a new area to do a WHITE WASH...and I'd be bringing the comp I was training with me.  I was shocked.  Usually you get transferred to a new area and have a new comp.  I was hoping to get a native Spanish speaker - to improve my language skills, but I guess not yet.  I still have 11 more months here though.  

To White wash an area means to transfer out all the missionaries and bring all new ones in.  Usually it's in a city that has stagnated, or needs new energy and enthusiasm and success.  So it's a privilege that Presidente trusts met to do this - and still training a greenie who doesn't really speak the language yet too.  I'm thinking that God definitely doesn't want me to get comfortable. Here we go!! 

We`re in our new area now a city called COSTANERA in  CORRIENTES and it's right by the coast, so its a really pretty area! I'm excited to have a change! Everything is so different here. In Formosa we walked everywhere - here we will take public transport (collectivos) so we are trying to figure out all the routes.  Corrientes is a lot nicer than Formosa.. but everyone tells me that its pretty dangerous.. and that I can't leave the house with my camera in my bag, because people get robbed a lot. There is a Walmart and a Subway.  I went there today and it felt like such a luxury.  Going back to the USA everything will feel so fancy and clean I'm sure.  

Leaving Formosa was hard... especially saying bye to Nadia! She gave me a sweet card and her favorite ring.. ahh shes the best. Our investigators were also sad to see us both go and cried.  It broke me heart. Made me realize that when you show a lot of love to people and really try to help them in their lives, you really do create such a strong bond, and its hard to leave them. We had our last lunch at the bishops house.. I'll miss his family, they're awesome. 

My comp  and I set a bunch of goals, and we`re hoping to see more success. Its a little stressful since right now we don't know any of the streets, and have no map, or bus schedule etc.  We`ll figure it out!

Thanks for your prayers, love you all! 

Ecological Reserve in Costanera

https://www.buenostours.com/costanera-sur-ecological-reserve

Pray for My Health

HOLA  

UGLY PANTS / FAT or SICK? 

UGH...I had to buy pants.  Presidente sent out a letter saying that it is now REQUIRED to wear pants because of the mosquitoes. Can't find any that fit well here so it's uncomfortable.  Also, regarding the food....it is so hard not to gain weight here eating bread and greasy soups and sweets, but it's hard to eat healthy because the vegetables here are dangerous and not safe to eat - only bananas.  3 Hermanas got sent home this last transfer for health problems. I know of one Hermana  who got a gastro intestinal disease.. and she threw up like 15 times in one night, and had to go to the doctor to get all these shots.. and she just got sent to Resistencia to do more tests... and might have to get sent home. Basically... please pray for my health.

HOW MUCH TIME I WASTED 

I love hearing the updates about home.  Funny, my experience here has caused me to realize how silly it is to set your heart on having fashionable clothes, cool car, and social media and cell phones. Man I sound like such a Grandma right now hahaha... but phones are so stupid!! I have had such a realization of how much time I wasted on that thing. That I could have spent learning, experiencing, reading, or spending time with people... and also how Instagram and Pinterst aren't bad, but in retrospect I can see how they damaged my self confidence because it was a constant stream of looking at things and admiring stuff you don't have, and thinking you´ll be happy if you did have them. Coveting.  Hmmmm. 

DRINKING AND ABUSE 

So this week we had a noche de hogar (family night)  with the Rivas family. And the husband left for a bit to buy us cookies... and the wife confided in me.. started crying and said that her husband started drinking again (used to have a drinking problem).. and that when he's drunk hes very rude and abusive to the family. She showed me scars of how he used to hurt her.. before they knew the church. And how he burned her with an iron, and crashed bottles on her head, etc. It broke my heart. So sad. And it took me by surprise because I thought he was faithful.  We taught the lesson like normal, and it was just interesting. I'm hoping he will continue to be receptive to the good influences and stop drinking again.  A few days later we visited them again, and I hugged her and she just held me soooo tight, and kissed my cheek a lot.. and said she never wanted me to leave, and that she felt like she was getting a hug from god. It breaks my heart! 

THE LITTLE THINGS WE DO
Elder packer (oldest son of Boyd K Packer) came and spoke to our mission this week. He talked a lot about the spirit and how essential it is, and the little things we´re doing that prevent us from having the spirit constantly. I really liked the conference.. and his Spanish wasn't perfect that's for sure.. but we were able to understand and feel the spirit still.. which was reassuring to me that people still understand me even when I don't speak the language that well.  

IT WASN'T JUST MUD
OK...gross...I accidentally slipped and fell this week right into the  mud, but it wasn't just mud.  It was sewage overflow...zanja (the sewege ditches)... it was disgusting and terrifying. Luckily we were close to the Rivas family and so she helped me clean off. I should have taken a photo.. but my first thought wasn't to record it, it was to clean the poop off my hands  oh well.. at least it made my companion and the member laugh haha

We have an investigator named Elda.. and shes great! she says she has a lot of fear of death, so we´re working with her on that. But I think she is going to progress! I also tried harder to invite people to get baptized this week, and I got 3 people to accept a fecha! not sure if they will progress, but at least they know our purpose now! 

***We had a crazzzzzzzzzzzzy storm this week! Hail was shooting out of the sky the size of golf balls!   and yeah......BUGGGGS!!!! 

Dying of Heat But Still Happy...

T´was a great week out here in Formosa!

We had a lot of heat and humidity, that's for sure! But luckily, we were able to meet a few really great people.  There's one lady named Zulema, and she actually talked to missionaries 20 years ago, and even had a baptismal date, but the people she was living with, didn't let her join the church. So I"m hoping she can progress.  

We have a lesson tomorrow morning again with the lady who speaks English it's actually super hard for me to teach in English now, because I've only ever done it in Spanish... so it feels so unnatural, and I always accidentally start speaking in Spanish to her.. so I"m gonna let my comp take the reigns with that one haha. But 

we´re hoping that she´s read part of the Book of Mormon! she told us last time that she was trying to teach her boyfriend the story of Joseph Smith. 

Elders Pendelton and Ashby are leaving....

It happens everywhere I guess. The family of the Bishop hasn't been coming to church for like 5 or 6 weeks.. so we visited the wife and 2 girls.. and brought them facturas.. and they opened up and told us that they've been offended by a few people in the ward...because some of the young women have said to her daughters -  stuff about them wearing the same shoes every week, or their clothes. We talked with them a while, especially about how the members aren't perfect, but the Gospel is. They loved our visit, and invited us to eat with them on Sunday and to have a Noche de Hogar next week.

Transfers are in 2 weeks, and I've been in Formosa for my whole mission so far... so ill most likely get transferred! I'm a little excited for change, but also nervous because I just know my area so well, and I'll be starting over again and feel lost for while.  

I read in Helaman this week, and it's crazy to see how every time the people fall into wickedness, it's because of pride. Its such a stumbling block. I thought it was interesting that it said the pride did not enter into the church of God (because the Lord and his teachings are perfect).. but rather, into the hearts of the people who professed to be of His church. Its so important to watch ourselves and always be humble.. that's something i think we are all constantly working on. 

I promise I'll try to send more pics this week. I just didn't have batteries this week...my camera uses up batteries sooooo fast! Seriously.  

Thanks for your prayers and words of support, I need them!

I love you all....

Hermana Hall 

I Held Her and Started to Cry...

What a week it has been! 

A lot of our appointments fell through this week.. or the investigators we have didn't do their commitments.. so that was a bit disappointing.. but nothing we can do but keep working and praying, right? I also had to teach the district meeting this week... I think it went pretty well. Yesterday was mothers day in Argentina! Too bad we couldn't skype

I have really been striving to know all the Book of Mormon stories. I find myself wanting to know all of it right now. But I know I need to study things in detail and just have patience. I've still got a lot of time. But this week I've been reading the war chapters in Alma, and I get so stoked about them haha. My comp thinks I"m weird, but I just get so excited, they´re better than action movies haha. 

I also read a bit in Jesus The Christ, about the life of Jesus.  I read about when he was a child, his baptism, and when Satan tempted him with turning the stones into bread. And how the temptation wasn't just about the bread, to satisfy his hunger, but rather that Satan said ÏF thou be the son of God¨... that  he tried to make him doubt his divine relationship with Heavenly Father. And I  learned so much cool stuff, that I just don't even have time to write out. But basically that Christ gradually came to realize his divine mission, and what he was going to carry out.. That he may not have known as a child that he would pay for all the sins of the world or what kind of ultimate sacrifice that would entail.  But Christ received revelation little by little. And I guess all growing up I just thought that he came into the world knowing from the beginning what would happen. Its cool to learn about. 

The best moment of my week was this one night.. we went to visit a girl named luz. Shes 20 yrs old, and we had 1 charla with her the week before, and gave a BOM. I started asking her some questions about her family life... and she started to open up and tell us about how her parents are divorced, and her dad remarried. And the new wife is awful to her.. so she hates living there.. but that living with her real mom would be worse.. cuz she lived with her for 18 years.. and then she started crying. And said her mom hurt her, abused her.. and never said I love you... and she was crying so I had no idea what to do... so I got up and sat next to her (we were on chairs and she was sitting on the ground).. so i sat down and just hugged her.. then she fell apart, and collapsed in my lap and was just bawling. So i just sat there and held her and started to cry too.. and told her she was strong. Then after a while, she looked up and was like"gracias chicas".. said she was so grateful for us. And how good we were to sit and cry with those that cry. and it made me think of my baptismal covenant... to mourn with those that mourn. It was honestly the most beautiful moment in my mission so far. She was so grateful for us, and when we left she kept kissing our cheeks (very Argentine). I left her with part of 3 Nephi to read. 

On Tuesday, they told us that I would be with a Latina for 3 days, because her companion had to have 3 days of rest for her back... and so my comp went and stayed with her, while I worked with the Latina. But it turned out only being 1 day, because her comp had to get sent home for back problems! Then another girl got sent home for gall bladder issues! Ahh.. I'm so grateful for my health. 

(I AM A CHILD OF GOD)
We went to the elders area to work and get references for them.. and I had a weird experience. We talked to this one lady.. and we were discussing church stuff.. she was a little stubborn. But she kept staring at me. She was like "You are so hermosa. Seriously.. i have never had anyone look at me with the look you have." And i was hoping it was the spirit, so i just kept looking at her.. and I testified of something. Then she came closer and said that I was different. She looked at my comp and said "not you.. you have a hard face. But this girll.... shes different. She is what God is"....Then we went to leave, and my comp shook her hand. Then i shook it, and she pulled me closer and said "you are so so special", then with her thumb, made a cross on my forehead hahaha. We laughed so hard afterward. 

Transfers are on November 5th. I'm kind of excited to go to a new area. I like my area and know it well. But its been almost 6 months, so I"m ready for a change. Also my comp is doing alright. Training has taught me a lot of patience and I"m learning charity for sure, but we have a good time together, and laugh a lot. She struggles with the language and had to give a talk on Sunday, so I helped her translate it. She's great, and has a lot of good ideas. 

Have a great week everyone! 

Found this Lizard..now he's a bookmark

Love you all... the church is oh so true! 

The Gospel is My Reason...

Hello friends and family! 

This was a good week, but we didn´t have a lot of days of work because we traveled to Resistencia to do my tramites (legal stuff). But on the bright side... they bought us subway there. It took me back to utah for a minute... it was glorious.

We had a lesson IN ENGLISH. No lie. It was the weirdest experience to teach the restoration in English... I"m just not used to it. So it was a little rough for me, but Hermana Coleman killed it! haha.. no but really we were so grateful for that lesson. It was with a lady who actually grew up in Boston.. and she really has interest in reading the BOM! That was the highlight of our week... and a testimony that me and my comp are in this area for a reason.. Because we both speak and understand English perfectly 

We have a few other people that we were teaching, but its hard because their families wont let them come to church :/ There are 2 different people who have interest, but say their families are really against our church, and wont let them go to our meetings. So that's rough. We had a good lesson with Claudia, and i thought she was really gonna come to sacrament meeting. (she would have had to not work on Sunday, and make a sacrifice).. but I thought she was going to do it.. and she didn't come. A little disappointing, but we aren't losing faith! 

We had a meeting with our mission president and he just was really straight up, and said that we need to focus more energy on the work. I loved it, and I've been trying to use every minute we have to work effectively. I love having meetings with the president because it always gives me extra fire and motivation! 

Im doing good out here, and am so grateful for the mission, for the people I've met, the knowledge I've gained, and the relationship I have with my heavenly father! 

This gospel isn't just the most important thing in my life - it is the reason FOR my life!  It is the motivation for how I live. 

Love you all

Tengan una buena semana! 

  

AT SUBWAY

Conference Weekend and a Package!!

Hola! 

This was the best weekend ever, aka... .CONFERENCE WEEKEND!!!! 

Seriously conference was amazing! We invited a lot of people to the general conference, and no investigators came.. BUT.. on a happier note.. I LOVED CONFERENCE. Conference on the mission is the best thing in the entire world. its like Christmas. All the gringo missionaries get to watch conference in English in a separate room.. and its so fun. Every single talk was amazing.

I definitely found answers to some questions I had written down beforehand, but I think my favorite talk may have been the one by Russell M. Nelson, about the Book of Mormon. During the whole thing I was just feeling a fire inside! I loved that he said that to be able to say  "I know this book is true" is not enough!!! We need to study it and pray about it, till we get to the point that its the cornerstone of our testimony. That we wouldn't want to live one day without it.  Then I was eager to get home that night to write in my journal, and have time to read the BOM. 

The next day Tad R Callister gave a talk about Joseph Smith, and how the BOM literally couldn't have been written by him, or thought up in his mind. And I just wished I could share it with every single investigator ever. Every missionary in the room was just freaking out, cuz we were all so amped on the spirit haha. Missionaries are weird. But last night when I got home I decided to do what Brother Nelson said... I have lists of things the Book of Mormon 1) reveals 2) clarifies 3) doctrines 4) warns us of.  etc. And I read Alma 34... just picking up where I am right now in my reading, and in that one chapter I found lots of things to add to the lists. So I'm excited to keep that up. 

We got a lot of rain this week! Which is a little inconvenient because noooo oooone talks to us.. .but 

Me & my new dress, Nadia, H. Coleman 

está bien...we keep working anyways. We had a couple good charlas, and have an investigator, Erika, who is great! She actually has a real desire to know if the church is true. We taught this other guy Juan Carlos, who is old and Catholic, and has no teeth. One of the days this week was day of San Miguel (one of their saints), and so they had a parade for that... and it was a litttttle hard to teach because of that holiday. 

I got a package!! by courier from my parents on Saturday, and it was the best thing everrrrr! It had powdered drink packets, tiny pendant necklaces, peanut butter, nutella, a dress, probiotics, mentos, mints, and other goodies.  Also my wonderful trainer went home last week, and called me on pday  shout out to her! 

Love you all! 

Write to me what you liked from conference! 

Hermana Hall in Formosa