Had Mini-Mission with the YM/YW this week...

Hermana Child here, sending saludos to all those who she loves!---

This week we had a pretty neat experience as a mission...they organized what was called a mini-mission, for all of the Young Men and Young Women (16-18 for the girls, 16-17 for the boys) that wanted to participate..in stakes close to Concepcion, our stake and the neighboring stake. All the YM/YW from our stake that wanted to were sent to stay with members near Concepcion, and those that were from the Concepcion area were sent to our stakes. Almost all the missionaries in our two stakes (around 35-40) received a "mini"-companion for 4 days. They were given name tags and were expected to hold the same standards and do the same work that we do. They slept with members, but did everything else with us. My companion for the past few days has been Hermana Morales...a cute thing, 18 yrs. old, who has a very sincere desire to serve a mission. What a great experience we had together...we were able to find new people and invite them to baptism, help other people see the importance of keeping the commandments, and even have crazy, "unique" experiences that you only get to have if you're a missionary...haha...someday there will be time to tell them all.

You'd think that after months of sharing my feelings and testimony with other people, that I just might be able to do it more eloquently, or a little more clearly and precisely. But, I still can't put words to some of the things that I have felt this week. I still can't explain what I really feel when I see someone come to church for the first time, or explain why I have been so blessed with an incredible family, or express with words what I have learned from each and every companion that I've had. I still can't find a way to get across the depth and sincerity of my testimony of the Savior and the love of my Heavenly Father that I have felt and experienced because of His Holy Spirit...words just can't do it sufficiently. But, words, actions and genuinity are necessary in order to invite the Spirit, so that people can feel the things that I will never be able to put into their heart alone.

Conversion, that is personal or the conversion of others, can and will only be done through the Lord's way, through feeling and obeying the promptings of the Spirit. What an incredible gift it is to have the Holy Ghost guiding and directing the hearts of men, purifying their desires, and putting in their hearts the necessary love to obey Christ.

I love this work, with all my heart. It's not easy. I'm exhausted. But, the true and full gospel is this gospel that we preach, and that's why it works so well in the life of every person, forever.

I love you all so so very much! keep up the goodness!!

Love,

Hermana Chil-D

fotos:

la mini-mision with our little cute companions

Hna. Rojas made aji de gaillina for us all for lunch!

a street (the llama is really great, right?) in the centro of Chillan- 15 min walk from our sector.

a little easter surprise from hna. Rojas when we woke up. So sweet.