The Powers of Heaven

Hi! So THAT was the best conference of my life and I'm not even kidding. Usually everyone has gone to Tuxtla to the stake center by the temple, but only up to 15 go at best so this year we experimented with the internet and projector thing in our very own chapel. My companion and I went early Saturday morning just as excited as could be and set up the chairs like a movie theater and sat in the front row. Like I've been talking about general conference since July, and I've been more excited than for Christmas. We had a BEAUTIFUL first session, and about 30 people showed up. For the second session it was us and Emanuel, the tech guy. But that's okay because holy technical difficulties, we could barely get through it. The elders came a little late and one other lady and although we missed some talks to annoying pausing screens and viruses, we pretty much got the whole second half.

But SUNDAY though. We got there in the morning to see a full chapel, including C.(!) which was crazy and in a minute I'll tell you why (not. Next week); A member's husband who we'd invited; a couple other progressing investigators and a new one who was the niece of a new member that said she was interested. We talked to her after the meeting and she was just so beautiful. "I really liked that, when can you come visit me? I just want to know the truth and follow God." And the miracle was that pretty much EVERYONE talked about prophets which was just the most perfect and powerful thing. 

Well, the night before we had texted V. to make sure she was coming on Sunday since it was the last attendance she needed to be baptized this coming week. She pretty much just said "Sorry I won't be able to, have a great night!" Wait, WHAT? We let her know it was important and she needed to come so her baptism wouldn't be postponed and she told us she wanted to postpone it and didn't feel ready. But that's ridiculous because she's the most ready person in the world. But Satan always works hard and I knew that. So we told her to read her Book of Mormon and come to at least one session and afterwards we would talk, and she agreed.

Anyway that was scary. We realized we hadn't seen her in 5 days since she had moved our appointment and then we couldn't that day and then she started working. And then we found out that Citlaly and Jose Luis hadn't seen her in that time either because of crazy things in their life. DON'T LEAVE YOUR INVESTIGATORS ALONE! All they do is get attacked. Well we went and saw her at work real quick beforehand and she did come to the afternoon session. I felt the spirit so strong that whole session, and felt like every talk was talking to her. Don't be afraid, read the scriptures, stay steady, etc. But then suddenly Elder Bednar stands up with his "My message is for those of you who aren't members." POW. And I think all five of us just like jerked up and listened. After the session we all went into a classroom to talk and the spirit was so strong. We had some scriptures prepared to read to her but after the prayer before my companion could start, I just asked how conference was for everyone and looked at Citlaly. She talked about how it was her first one and yesterday both sessions had just answered all of her questions and spoken to her, and shared lots of experiences, and her conversion experience and started crying really hard and talking about her family and the change she's seen. After she finished Jose Luis talked about how special it was to watch his wife go through her first experience and bore his testimony as well. And then we all looked at V. and she started crying as well and talking about how she's just been scared and confused because her family didn't want her to do it. She said she never doubted that she wanted to be a member of this church but she felt so alone and started getting scared. We were all crying, I'm not a crier and I was crying, and my companion and poor José Luis did a really good job of just being really chill in a room of crying women haha. But I cannot describe the spirit in that room. We kept talking and read Alma 7:11-15 and the powers of heaven and angels were just in there with us telling us that this baptism was not to be canceled. Such cool stuff. 

Another AMAZING thing that happened this week is that we had a conference with President, aaaaand he told us that once a transfer we get to go to the TEMPLE! We get to go to the temple! I'm on cloud nine and can't wait, I think we're going to go next week for my companion's birthday. The TEMPLE! Honestly the temple is the thing I've missed most on my mission, (except you mom, of COURSE.) And also, after the conference when we were taking pictures, Pres. George leaned over to my companion and asked if she and I wanted to go to the canyon with them on Monday because they had promised two other hermanas they'd take them and it'd be more fun if we went too. Real sneakily. Well, YEAH! So that's why I'm sending this early and about to head to Tuxtla to meet with Pres. and his wife. We thought it was so funny, we'll just pretend we're not President's pets, because we totally are. Haha not really but we are friends and I'll send pictures next week!

Love you all!