Amazing‏

¡Hola!

I cannot believe that it is Monday already... time seriously goes WAY too fast on the mish.

Okay... a couple things:

Elder Ballard came this past Thursday and we, along with the North Guat City Mission, had a conference. He gave an amazing talk. We didn´t end up having a question/answer session, but that was quite alright. We walked out very edified, fearless, and excited to work harder. I´ll share my favorite part of his talk - he asked us to just take a moment and go with him to the Garden of Gethsemane.. he had us think for a second then asked us to imagine our lives without the knowledge of that greatest of events. He had us just meditate on that for a moment, and it was the worst feeling. That really hit me and I have thought about it a lot since last Thursday. He told us that that is how all of the people in the world feel who don´t have the knowledge and faith in the Redeemer and Atonement as we do. Why doesn´t everyone who has this amazing news go around shouting their joy from the rooftops? How can we be so selfish as to not share this knowledge? In the last couple of days, I have been reading the talk by Elder Nelson from the Priesthood session of the last conference about missionary work. Missionary work has to do with ourselves, too. Everyday we have to have a change of heart. We have to realize, remember, and be refreshed to the fact that we have a Savior, that there is hope, that we have a duty in this life, that we must be all we can be, and have as much faith as we can to keep His commandments and spread the joy.

We are working with the most amazing family. We´ve met with them a few times, but last night was the first time that the parents have really sat down and talked with us. They have four kids between the ages of 16 and 24 and they´re all incredible. They are all always so inviting and great to us, but the mom never seemed interested in hearing our message. Last night, we asked them what they wanted to improve in their lives right now and the dad started talking about wanting more unity. We ended up teaching them about the Book of Mormon and testified that it would change their lives and help them in all aspects, near the end we asked them if they would pray to know if the Book of Mormon is true and the mom said, "Well, I already believe it to be true" and she went on, opening up to us and the change was incredible. We asked them to start having family prayers and to read the Book of Mormon as a family. She said that they had tried having family prayers in the past, but they were never reverent or peaceful and never had a great success, so we asked if we could pray with them as a family. All the kids, the parents, two boyfriends, and a grandson were there and the mom asked me to offer the prayer. It was INCREDIBLE. It was silent during the whole prayer. The Spirit could be felt soooo strong. I can´t even explain. Hermana Wetzel and I walked out beaming and skipping. We still don´t know what will happen, if they will continue praying, if they will read, or anything, but we are so hopeful (as we are with everyone). All I know is that they felt something different, something amazing. I just know that God loves each and every one of us so much, I can´t even express it. He wants us all to have what He has to offer.

Sorry this is short.

Con mucho amor,
Hermana Marin