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Hola mi Familia!
Wow,
a long crazy week.
Firstly,
awesome conference, right? Admittedly, Saturday session was hard to
listen to, for everyone and their companion! Marriage and Family is a
great subject, but makes missionaries get a little trunky. I had to
listen really hard to get the messages that were meant for me! But they
were there and they were very powerful, so I am definitely going to have
to go back and re-read and study them. And The 2nd session?! I was so
sad about what happened, and to watch President Uchtdorf seem so sad, it
was hard to watch. Satan has sick tactics. But God has GREAT ones! Did
you pay attention to the songs that were sung? I mean, how amazing were
they, that those songs had been picked weeks ahead, by some lady who not
many people even know, and she just thought she'd give the YSA an
easyish song to sing. But it was "We thank they oh God for a prophet!"
How inspired was that moment? And the other song? I can't remember it,
but every Member was on their feet singing it with pride! We BELIEVE.
Sunday
was great. It was like one powerful smack down talk after another! I
got the topics of Discipleship, destiny, and perspective that really hit
me hard. And Holland and Uchtdorf's testimonies of the savior were
powerful! And then at night, we got to listen to a "live concert" of
VOCAL POINT! (also made the few of the sister...ok, most.... very
trunky!) A very good bad idea! But it was all okay in the end. The guys
are awesome.
Monday
was mostly spent trying to discern how Hna McCarty was feeling. She was
struggling for a bit, but by Wednesday, it all got fixed. Like I said
before, Hno N. is very perceptive and he had some individual
interviews with us where we were able to address our concerns and he
gave us advice. He talked to me first because we have a similar
understanding when it comes to reading people. I was for a while the
mediator between my companions and he wanted to get some insider
knowledge. After that, I left it up to him, and he did great,
Halleluja.
Tuesday,
I had to give the invocation in front of 2000 people for the Tuesday
night devo. Let's just say I was nervous, but I am glad the speaker
wasn't a General Authority. At least not one of the 12. Haha, after I
finished, the deaf missionaries busted up laughing. I guess their
interpreter had translated what I had said wrong. She was beat red and
they were all trying to contain their laughter. It actually made me feel
less nervous cause the attention wasn't on me by that point.
Thursday
I started PACKING! I should have taken a nap though, because by class
time at night, again with Hno Norton, I was going to cry! Just exhausted
and feeling down about the language. Firstly, before that story though,
on our first day here, Hna W. had us write a letter to ourselves. I
told you about that in one of the letters, but it was good to get some
advice from "an old friend" haha. Okay, now back to night time and
exhaustion. I felt a little overloaded and didn't want to play the
language game, and he was a gem and didn't make me, but once again he's
perceptive, this time weeks in advance and for everyone! After the
language game, he pulled out his phone and showed us a recording device
on his phone. He had RECORDED ALL OUR OUR LESSONS WITH HIM!! Talk about
perfect timing too because I was feeling bad about my language skills,
but me and Hna McCarty were able to listen to our first lesson and kill
over because we were laughing so hard. this one time I was just rambling
some incoherent phrase, about what?--I know not!! But laughter was
seriously the best medicine that night. He is actually going to send us
this at our 6th month mark, when we hit a wall, just to show us that we
are progressing and doing great! I still have a long way to go, but hey!
Progress is great!
Yesterday
was infield orientation. aka the longest day of my life... but i was
tired and had a bad attitude. By the end, we were having a good time
though. And it did get me a little bit more excited about the field.
what was great though was just going and during companion study just
talking with each other about our hopes and fears for the mission field.
I love these girls a lot and our relationship has grown so much, even
in the past few days! it's pretty beautiful I think.
Haha, sorry I said SHORT letter, didn't I??
Once a blogger, always a blogger.
Next time I write, I will be in Cali!
I love you all, and I am excited for the sunshine!
Con Amor,
Hna Howell
