Hard, Amazing, Spiritual, And Boring

Go and look at my Spanish for Missionaries book; go to page 86 and tell me that the picture doesn't look like our church building. Mom go to the Bible dictionary on pg 763 and look at the Revelation of John number 4, you will be so happy.

This past week has been hard, amazing, spiritual and boring. Its boring because I do the same thing everyday and it's not fun things. It is frustrating, we only get to teach for 15 minutes out of a 10 hours a day, teaching is the best part. I feel a lot better and we had a health presentation last night and I will be more careful with the health stuff. One reason I think I may have gotten sick is because I ate way to much pineapple and then I had papaya  which I have never ate. It is the most disgusting fruit ever. Even if its good for you don't eat it, its horrible and taste so bad.

I'm dying with no hymns. Its killing me that I can't listen to hymns. I totally wish I made CD and brought a CD player because I need my hymns. Two of my friends have music and every now and then we listen to it during study time and the spirit is so much stronger when we listen to the hymns. Church music is so powerful and could be a great teacher if you have it with you. It so hard not having them to listen to, I miss my hymns.

The weirdest thing happened to me this week, every time I'm about to end my prayer I get uncomfortable until I pray for three certain friends, so I do and feel like my prayer is finished. Two of those three I never have thought once about praying for them. It blew my mind and the things I pray for them about are all different. It was a great experience but I was shocked when they came to my mind. Its weird but cool. Last Monday is when it happened, I was saying my prayer for the night then one name popped in my head then I prayed for that person then another one then I prayed for them and then the last name came into my mind. I felt peaceful and calm after. Just an amazing experience. 

I'm starting to see my gifts of teaching. Last Tuesday our district no had a testimony meeting after a devotional. Five people shared their testimony, then I felt like I needed to share mine. I shared with them the importance of being worthy and thanked them for being worthy and coming out here. I also shared how great it is that we are here in land of the Book of Mormon and get to walk in the footsteps of our favorite stories.The room started getting quieter then I talked about my call and how I thought I was going to a certain place for my mission because of I how felt. When I got my call and it said Guatemala, Quetzaltenango Mission, I told them I was confused, angry, sad and disappointed. I shared with them how I found out I was going to where I needed to serve; when we were reading in the story of Ammon, the spirit just hit me and said you're going to where you are needed. The room was dead silent and you could tell I had everybody's attention. I bore my testimony like I never have done before. I know for a fact that Christ lives and the Book of Mormon is true and that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God and is a true prophet. I also shared with them that the day I was sick I read Elder Holland's talk, 'Lord I Believe' and at the end he talks about if you are not quite converted and have some unbelief you can lean on his testimony because he knows for a fact that this church is true. So before I ended I told them if any of you have some unbelief or struggling with your testimony or anything LEAN ON MINE because I know for a fact this church is true. I finished then I looked over at couple of Hermanas who had watery eyes and the room was dead silent and you could feel the spirit so strong. It was amazing. 

When I teach I can feel the spirit so strong and I know the spirit is teaching me. I have learned that anytime before you speak be silent for a couple of seconds and clear your mind because that moment of silence is a call to heaven and you are about to be one with the Holy Ghost. That is what I have been working on in my lessons and it is working and I have also been doing the same during my prayers, the spirit is amazing.

We watched Elder Holland's address to the Provo MTC. It was so powerful especially the end. It was from 2011, go and watch it this week our for FHE. http://laytreasuresinheaven.com/feed-my-sheep-elder-holland/ It is just wow, he talks about Peter and Christ and how Christ asked him if he loves him. If we truly love Christ, our life won't be the same. We won't be going back to our old life, we will BE FEEDING HIS SHEEP now and forever. Also you need to watch Elder Holland's talk about the Book of Mormon. It is also truly amazing. They showed us the Mormon Message version. The message is just so powerful.

Fast Sundays are sweet because we have 4 hours of personal study. We do have testimony meeting and I have never seen a line so long for testimony meeting in my life. It was all Latinos except for the 2 white people. It was crazy but they asked me to sit on the stand so I could raise and lower the mic. It was sweet. I sit where Brother Chrystler sits at Stake Conference, that is where the control is. Also the dinner on Fast Sunday is way good. I started reading Jesus el Cristo in espanol and it is way good. Last night I went to the bano and read it when I was there and I understood the paragraph I reading. It was amazing. The only problem is i can't speak espanol but I understand it. 

I'm so excited to leave to leave for the field, August 20th. Tomorrow I can finally play soccer, we get to go and play at a Stake Center. SOOOOOO STOKED!  I've made some amazing new friends. Some I want to room with and one you and dad definitely have to meet. He's amazing, I love him so much.

You need to study and read Helaman, chapters 5 through 6. 

What i love about Mom and Dad is the emails and great stories I get from them .

Love,
Elder Mcilmoil
August 5, 2013

Scripture of the week: John 21
Do you LOVE him???