Guess what! Miracles happen! Transfers were this last weekend, and we were so sure it was time for a change... but no! Hermana Tovar and I are staying put in the promised land of Carmen de Patagones. :) Hooray! It´s super unusual to have the same companionship in the same area for so long, so we were so surprised. And so so happy.
It has been a wonderful week. The biggest part of that has been the amazing family we have been teaching! Maybe you remember V from the last email - the young mom who is super awesome. Anyways, this week her two boys came back from their trip and we got to meet them! N is 14 years old, but is so mature and hna Tovar and I have been so impressed by how great he is. (future missionary!!!) I is 7, and is the cutest, funniest little boy. Also... he turns 8 this week so can be baptized with his family. :) Another miracle! Anyways, they are so much fun to teach. The read the book of mormon together, and V is such a great mom. And on saturday they came together to a session of conference! Basically we love them already so much, and teaching families is the best ever.
We had a really sweet experience with M, the 12 year old girl I mentioned before, this week. It´s a long story (no worries, you´ll get to hear the details when I´m home) but basically monday night we took her out to get an ice cream and just talk. We had barely walked out the door when she started pouring out her heart to us about all the terrible things she had passed through. It is so apparent that we are the first people who not only listen to hear but also sincerely care about her. She put her arms around us and said, "las quiero. Ustedes son mis mejores amigas" (I love you. You guys are my best friends). Sunday she came with us and the yw president to the first session of conference. This little girl is definitely one of the biggest reasons why we are staying here. She deserves love and attention.
General Conference was AMAZING!!!!!!! It just flew by, and I loved each and every moment. The Patagones/Viedma branches all came to the chapel in Viedma to watch, and they had a little room with the transmission in english for all the yankee missionaries. :) There are about 9 of us. I was so happy to be able to hear it in english. I can´t even say which talk was my favorite, there were so many! And I can tell you that I received so many answers to my questions, and answers I didn´t even know I was seeking. I loved Elder Holland´s talk, it was just the encouragement I need, as does every missionary and member, to keep going and keep testifying even when we face so much rejection and sometimes anger. A common theme that I noticed was that of how to receive a testimony, or how to be truly converted. That´s something I´ve been studying a lot lately. This last week I read the book of Enos in the Book of Mormon and this thought came to me: Being truly converted only comes through WORK. We cannot just ask once and then sit waiting for a testimony to come knocking at the door. First we must remember what we have heard and learned. Then we must desire it! We have to want to know for ourselves. Then comes the work part - as Enos did, praying with all his heart and soul for a day and a night. Sometimes it even takes longer. We must be PERSISTENT, PATIENT, and PRAYERFUL. It doesn´t come easy because it is a gift of such great value. The best things in life don´t come easy, right? But it is so worth it. That´s something I want to tell to every member, every investigator, everyone. Don´t give up! The Lord is so willing and ready if we put in our part of the effort.
On a lighter note, this week I discovered that I am a pretty good pranker. April Fool´s day was a great success for me. :) I tricked my companion into thinking I was getting emergency transferred, later we tricked the elders into believing that we were getting in trouble with president for something they did wrong in the branch, and then I told my district leader that night that I couldn´t stand my companion any more and she was so mean to me. Don´t worry, we also worked that day. :)
Anyways, I love you all, and I love this work. I know without a doubt that this is the Restored church of Jesus Christ. He lives!!
love,
Hermana Nelson
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