Hola Todos!
I can't believe how fast this week went by. I had the wonderful opportunity to experience many great things this week and my testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ has grown even stronger. I want to start of by talking a little bit about the meeting I went to this week in San Antonio (MLC-Mission Leadership Council). It was one of the most helpful and motivating meetings I've been to on my mission. We discussed a lot of things that I would love to share with y'all but I would like to focus on one important topic for today. We received our new mission plan for this transfer and one of the things that stood out to me was to follow President Monson’s invitation to study the Book of Mormon daily. Not just read it daily but study it daily. This past April in General Conference President Thomas S. Monson spoke about this. He said, "This morning I speak about the power of the Book of Mormon and the critical need we have as members of this Church to study, ponder, and apply its teachings in our lives. The importance of having a firm and sure testimony of the Book of Mormon cannot be overstated. We live in a time of great trouble and wickedness. What will protect us from the sin and evil so prevalent in the world today? I maintain that a strong testimony of our Savior, Jesus Christ, and of His gospel will help see us through to safety. If you are not reading the Book of Mormon each day, please do so. If you will read it prayerfully and with a sincere desire to know the truth, the Holy Ghost will manifest its truth to you. If it is true--and I solemnly testify that it is--then Joseph Smith was a prophet who saw God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. Because the Book of Mormon is true, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the Lord’s Church on the earth, and the holy priesthood of God has been restored for the benefit and blessing of His children. If you do not have a firm testimony of these things, do that which is necessary to obtain one. It is essential for you to have your own testimony in these difficult times, for the testimonies of others will carry you only so far. However, once obtained, a testimony needs to be kept vital and alive through continued obedience to the commandments of God and through daily prayer and scripture study.
My dear associates in the work of the Lord, I implore each of us to prayerfully study and ponder the Book of Mormon each day. As we do so, we will be in a position to hear the voice of the Spirit, to resist temptation, to overcome doubt and fear, and to receive heaven’s help in our lives."
Our Beloved Prophet has instructed us to to this very thing. Let us follow the Prophet and obey his council. I know God knows us individually by name and knows whats best for us. He loves us. As I have studied from the Book of Mormon each day I have come to realize how much it applies to me and how important it is to each of us. President Gordon B. Hinckley once declared: "Without reservation I promise you that if you will prayerfully read the Book of Mormon, regardless of how many times you previously have read it, there will come into your hearts … the Spirit of the Lord. There will come a strengthened resolution to walk in obedience to his commandments, and there will come a stronger testimony of the living reality of the Son of God."
I undoubtedly enjoyed MLC and the things I learned. I also had the wonderful opportunity to go on exchanges with the Lead Sister Training Leaders this week. I love them and all that they do for this mission. They both taught me so much! We had success talking to some people in their area that day and were also able to do service, which is my favorite thing to do! Sister Landon got to work with another wonderful sister in the mission (Sister Croney). She used to serve at the border and I sure do miss her! They also had a lot of success working together.
We found a family yesterday! As we were walking we decided to knock on this door and a little girl opened up and said, "come in come in!" We chuckled and asked if her mom was home. Then her dad came to the door and happily invited us in. We talked to them and got to know them a little bit and then started our lesson out by talking about families and then taught them the restoration. It was a great lesson and the spirit was felt in their home. They gladly invited us back this week and I'm excited to be able to share next Monday how it goes. The family is the Garganza family (Rene, Laura, Bella, Jordan, and Chloe).
Church this week was wonderful Pearl (one of our recent converts) received a calling to be a Beehive adviser! She is so excited and we are so happy for her. Jason (one of her sons) is also getting baptized this week on the 11th after church. On Friday Jason turned 8! Our Branch President told us that when he was talking with him he asked Jason, "Why do you want to be baptized?" And Jason responded, "Well because Jesus the Christ was baptized"! Awww! I love that family! We are continuing to work on family history with them and are hoping they will get to go to the temple soon!
Kris Poff is doing so well. She has come so far since we started teaching her. She comes to church every week and absolutely loves it. She bore her testimony this Sunday and shared her story with everyone. It made me cry it was so sweet. She has such a big heart and I'm so excited for her to get baptized on the 17th of this month!
Before I finish up this email I wanted to share a excerpt from my companions weekly email that I find hilarious........
--Praying for happy days--
"As a missionary sometimes the days can get a little long but we frequently pray for eyes to see the good in each day and end laughing our way through missionary work. One day as we were leaving Pearl and Anna's apts we saw them walking up ahead of us and Chicharrone (their dog was trying to leave with them). I started calling for her loudly and she eventually turned around and ran back to us. Just before she did Sister Mann laughed and said, "That's enough embarrassing me Sister." We laughed and got in the car. Well, Sister Mann did. She locked me out and started slowly driving off (missionaries think this is hilarious because we have no other way to mess with our companions). So I was walking next to the car and making faces at her through the window when I tripped and fell to my knees. Sister Mann thought I was faking and just pulled away! So I got up and started fake limping behind her. Of course this is when Pearl and Anna turned around. Instantly, they started shouting, "Landon! What happened? Are you ok Landon?" Sister Mann finally unlocked the doors and told them what was happening. I got in and told her, "That's enough embarrassing me Sister." She would not believe me when I tried to tell her that I really had fallen! But she finally realized I wasn't a faker and felt terrible! Haha"
--Praying to share--
"Later that same night we stopped by someone's house and Sister Mann asked to use their bathroom (her bladder is our secret weapon for getting through people's doors). I sat and talked with them about family history and we were able to share a short message when she came out.
After we left the home Sister Mann said, "Sister, two incredible things happened in there. I saw big baby bums and my prayer was answered." There had been a cross stitch in the bathroom of two large baby bottoms getting into the tub. One had pigtails and one had a cowboy hat on. I really wish she had taken a picture because I can't quite picture it but it sounds hilarious to me. As she sat in the glory of this craft she had an impression to pray to be able to teach these people. The instant she said "amen" she heard us laughing in the living room and came out to find that we were perfectly ready to start a mini lesson with the women who lived there.
Miracles come in many ways my friends!"
I hope y'all have a wonderful week! I can't believe this Saturday marks 16 months in the mission! I have enjoyed every day of being out here! I love, and miss y'all!
Con amor,
Hermana Mann
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