Called to Serve : New people and waterfalls in Barrio 8

Citizens of America,

First off, thank you to all of the people who thought about me today and wrote me notes. If I had more time I would wrote you all more, but know that each and every one of you mean a lot for me in my life.

This week went pretty well, but was a little on the slower side though. One of the funniest things that happened this week was we were teaching this part member/ part active family and the dad shared this story. It was a long story. Anyways, he finished his story and the 9 year old girl goes, " that's great dad but you have committed a sin, you wrote on your hand with pen and you tell us that we can never do that." It was an awesome kid comment that made my day.

Today we had a super rad day. We went to this super sweet waterfall with a member from my companions first area. It was super super pretty and quite the escape. There was fresh air, no buildings, and hardly anyone around. It was a great opportunity to just relax and be with nature. I truly am grateful for all of Gods creations and how much I can feel Gods love for us being around all he created to make us happy.

One of the best experiences this week was meeting with this young girl from Peru. We met with her right outside of the temple and we shared the first lesson. She had an aunt that was Mormon and had taken her to church before. She was super into the lesson and showed some super real desires to read the Book of Mormon and to pray to know from God if these things are true. I know she will receive that answer as she does her part without a doubt in my mind. What's really cool about her was one day I was studying and had a feeling to write my testimony in a Book of Mormon to give it out some time to who knows who. Well, the Lord gave me the opportunity to give it to someone that very day while waiting for the train and it was her. It felt super good to not only give the Book away, but to share a written testimony with someone, and especially with someone so humble and willing to listen to the gospel.

I also heard something that really touched me in a sacrament talk this week. This guy named Angel Diestra (right hand angel in English) talked about how often times the words of testimony shared are the same amongst us, but what is really heard and felt is what comes from what's in the heart of the person sharing the testimony. That one hit me hard because I know it's true. As we live the gospel and do all we can to come closer to God, we can bear powerful testimony from the heart and don't need to worry about the words so much.

Other than that, life goes on little by little here in Spain. I think the mission just progressively gets better and better. I love the people we have to work with right now, be members, or investigators, or the other missionaries in the zone, and I'm super grateful to be here.

Hope you can all feel the love I have for each of you