Sept. 2014

Wow, this week has been very different. And special. Wednesday Hna Ancalle was sick so we stayed in all day. Normally when we stay in sick its just for part of the day, but she hadn´t been sleeping well for a month and that mixed with a sore stomach had her sleeping all day. I was pretty bored, but I finished a drawing I promised an elder and read the scriptures and caught up on some sleep myself.

Thursday and Friday we spent going to Málaga for a tri-zone conference. It was absolutely fantastic. I was able to see lots of friends before they go home in the end of October for the last time as missionaries and hear their last testimony. Always in the big conferences those missionaries who are about to go home give a last testimony. There´s a missionary couple who is going home as well and their testimonies were very spiritual and powerful. The room really was just full of love and the Spirit. Hna Roan, one of my very first companions, was there too. She sang my favorite song ´´Savior, Redeemer´´ from 17 Miracles. That song has come to mean so much to me on the mission and to have one of my best friends sing it to say goodbye- that was really special.

Preident Deere gave a very good lesson too. It was interesting, because he gave it in english. I have never seen him do that before, but he said he felt like he should. So those who didn´t speak english very well used translation headphones instead of the newbies who didn´t know spanish. (Theres always a more experienced elder in the back of hte room translating into a mike and those who are new can wear headphones to listen so they can understand.)

President Deere talked about the most important part of the gospel- the Atonement. He had several points and shared several scriptures. But what really stuck with me more than what he said was how I felt. He brought such a strong spirit to the room that really helped us understand his words more. I´ve really come to believe that there are so many things that we can only learn personally when we´re listening to the Spirit. Because really, words don´t express very much. I´ve learned so many things out here that to say them out loud, it dosen´t sound much different than what I said before my mission. But they way I say them and feel them is so different and more profound than before.

But to share a bit of what he talked about, he talked about how we have to study the Fall to understand the Atonement better, and that we need to undesttand how badly we need the Atonment. We talked about how it isn´t that I do my part and Christ makes up the rest, but that Christ has already paid the whole price, and what I´m doing is trying to become more like him so that when we´re in his presence again we want to stay there. And that we can´t become like Christ without Christ. I would have loved to record the talk and listen to it again.
Anyways, yes. Thats what we learned. And it was amazing. And it has me very excited for General Conference! I already have my questions and I´m really trying to prepare myself for this conference.

Also, I forgot to say this last week. But as a mission we are reading the book of mormon in 100 days, starting last monday and finishing Dec 31. i invite you to join us! It´s going to be great, every time I read the book I learn so much.

Love you all so much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hermana Woolley