November 12, 2013 letter

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

Hi daddy!

I love you, too!

The Temple grounds are pretty small. There´s some grass, a parking lot, and that´s about it. And the Temple is small, too. But the Spirit is still definitively there. And it´s a block away from the CCM and in a quieter part of Guate or La Capital (Guatemala City).

In our area, we stay in Ribera most of the time and three other areas that are within our area (a ten minute walk, max). We take buses to shop on Preparation Day and for District Meetings and other meetings, too. And some of the members drive to church, but most walk. It´s in Ribera del Rio and not that far of a walk.

I love hearing about your work in the Temple. Our family is doing some really good things right now, for both sides of the veil. We´re all working to bring the Gospel to more and more people and to help them receive the blessings of the ordinances of the Gospel and so that they can return to our Father in Heaven.

We made no-bake cookies yesterday, for P-Day. We didn´t have chocolate powder, though, so we used the Guatemala equivalent of Nesquik (ChocoPanda) and, oh man, it was delicious. So good. So, if you don´t have Hershey´s
chocolate powder and you need cocoa powder, use Nesquik. It´s really good.  Or, at least for no-bake cookies.

I love Elder Bednar´s talk. And how forward he was. If you keep the law of tithing, great. If you don´t, consider your ways and repent. Very direct, forward, and clear. It´s important to keep the law of the tithe and fast offerings.

Both Hermana Lui and I are excited for Afton to leave fo her mission. I´m so glad that she was able to go through the Temple! I remember the first time I went through, I thought of her and how much she needed to hear what is promised. I´m very excited for her and know that she will do wonderful things in the mission field "en la obra del Señor". (in the work of the Lord)

We had a really strong lesson this past week. Quite a few, actually. There was one lesson where we bore testimony of the Book of Mormon and the Spirit was so strong and we testified with power and authority. She hermana we were teaching didn´t accept another official visit, but we planted a seed and she used her agency. The language is still hard at times, but it´s getting a little easier. In lessons, it´s better.

Other than Gospel related things, its a little tough, but it´s getting there. And I´m working on my accent. Its fun to try to talk like a Guatemalan. :)  And two times this week, someone called us "angels". Both are menos activos (Less actives) and they were saying how they needed us to come when we did. Both times it was definitely the Spirit that brought us there. Not us. And this past week was the perfect week. We had goals for everyday (contact a lot of families, teach with members, etc) and we completed all of the goals EXCEPT for a baptism. We looked, so hard, and we almost had one, but it wasn´t the Lord´s time to have one this weekend. Faith, diligence, and hope. Go hand in hand.

Jesus Christ lives. And through Him, our sins and weaknesses can become clean and become strengths, respectively. I know that the Book of Mormon is true and that Joseph Smith was a Prophet of God who translated the Book of Mormon with the power of the Priesthood. I know it´s true. The Gospel changes lives. It does.

I love you, dad! Send my love to the family!

Con mucho amor,
Hermana "Pumpkin" Conover