Another week has passed and this change is just flying by. I am not sure where all of the time is going, but all I know is that it keeps going, and going, and going. But though the time passed very quickly this week, every day was blessed with some sort of miracle.
In preparation for the conference this weekend and trying to apply what we have learned in the temple and in the multi-zone conference this last week, a lot of our studies have been reviewing notes that we took and seeing how we can put them all in practice. This week I also finished my studies of the Christlike attributes… wow, what an amazing experience. In trying to come to know my Savior, I have come to find those attributes that my Father has blessed me with and I have received the spiritual confirmation that the Lord is pleased with my work, and that though I am not perfect, He is proud of me. What a tender mercy!
So this week, speaking of conference, what a beautiful experience. On Friday I woke up at three-thirty, to the beautiful snoring face of Hermana Sheehan…. Apparently I was shouting in my sleep all night long, must have been the excitement for what was going to happen. We all got beautified and hopped on a bus to San Salvador. There we met up with the two other missions of El Salvador: East and West/Belize. There was about 500 missionaries there. I happened to see one of the sisters that was in the CCM with me. The guest speakers of this conference: Elder Alonso and Elder Ochoa from the Area Presidency, another Area Seventy and President Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve apostles!!! Yep, I got to hear from the next prophet of the church. He even took the time to shake the hand of every missionary there. Yep, I shook the hand, and had a brief moment to speak to Russell M. Nelson! WOW! 25 years ago, he was sent here to El Salvador and he said the prayer, dedicating the country and opening it to missionary work. It was so amazing. The spirit was so strong, I learned so much. Of course, the trip ended with a long bus ride and some soggy taco bell but hey, got to love American food!!
So, after our spiritual high, we came home, anxious and animated to get back to work. Hermana Funez is awesome. I continue to learn so much from her… She has quickly gained the confidence of many members in the ward that beforehand were hesitant to reach out to the missionaries. She works very well with the youth, and I know that the Lord sent her here to be able to strengthen the youth programs of the ward. We are still really struggling to find new people to teach, but we are going to take a leap of faith and trust in the counsel of Elder Nelson, to focus on reactivation and on these prospective elders of the church. I hope that as we do so, that we can grow closer to the members and be able to augment the number of church attendance.
Other than that this week was really peaceful… We have been trying to serve as much as we can, and we have had some cool experiences. One of the coolest is that we are helping a sister in the ward make a wedding dress for a family that is going to be sealed! Yep, you read that right, Hermana Hipol is sewing! Well, buttons that is, I got to put 48 tiny buttons down the back of a dress, madness! It actually turned, out really nice, I might open up a button business post-mish. (That was a joke)
Anyways, good week, great experiences, greater love for my Savior and his work. I love you all!
Hoorah for Israel!
Love, Hermana Hipol
