April 2, 2012
General Conference is one of the most exciting times there is as a missionary. I don’t know what it is, but you go to sleep the night before like a little kid on Christmas Eve and then on the whole colectivo/bus ride there you are just giddy with excitement. Will the prophet announce a new temple? Who will speak? What will be the themes? We were all smiling wide as we sat down in a tiny room to watch conference in the Mariano building, the six English speaking missionaries apart from the rest. We set up desks, pulled out our snacks and watched it on a small TV screen. The Spirit was incredible. I don’t know what it is about having a missionary tag on that makes conference such a sweet experience, but it really is. Maybe it’s because we don’t have any worldly distractions and the Gospel is just our life. Or maybe it’s because we are sitting up with notebooks waiting to write down impressions and we’re wearing dresses, suits, and ties and not curled up on the couch falling asleep in a blanket. I have heard numerous missionaries say that they didn’t appreciate Conference before their missions but now they do.
I really enjoyed the story about little Paxson in the NICU and the faith of his parents. I felt like they talked a lot about families, how to deal with trials, forgiving and not judging others, and appreciating sacred things, like the sacrament. Of course, we cheered when they talked about full-time missionaries. I felt spiritually strengthened and edified from listening to the leaders speak. I can’t wait until the Liahona comes out to read it all! And wow- loved the MTC choir which actually included hermanas! I know that the Prophet was called of God and I am so blessed to be part of this restored Gospel.
The only thing that would have made conference better would have been if more of our investigators had come. We spent the whole week testifying that there is in fact a living prophet on the earth today and we only hoped that more people would have listened. Satan has a sly way of making it hard to come to church. At least little Bryan Solis came and will be getting baptized this weekend with his brother.
We found some cool investigators this week. Maria, who lives in a house made of plastic bags and sticks and has 3 kids came up to us on the bus and told us she wanted to hear more. We called her and then went looking for her house but couldn’t find it. She came and got us and took us out past the neighborhood, into a large field where her humble house stood. She collects plastic bottles to live, which means she is among the poorest of the poor. But this doesn’t matter, as she has been prepared to receive the Gospel. She said something pushed her to talk to us on the bus (the Spirit) and she said she liked the way we dress, with our long skirts. We taught them a lesson and they accepted the baptismal invitation but for some reason they were not there on Sunday when we went to pick them up. We also found Soledad, a reference of a member, who is 28 and has a 3 year old. She is very sweet and eats up our every word. It is so wonderful when, as a missionary, you have a listening audience, people who really care and really want to change! It is the best and a huge blessing. She works on Sundays so we are going to have to overcome that but she is looking for more tranquilidad/ peace and we left the first lesson, thinking- she is going to get baptized!
Well, love you all. Enjoy Easter! It’s Holy Week here and my b-day falls on one of the days of celebration. Should be fun! The next time I write I will be 23!
Happy Birthday Mom! I love you so much!!
Hermana Brittner
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