An Amazing Weekend

Hermanas Layton, Vilches and Breitenstein at Temple

Holy cow, this was an amazing weekend!!! We had mission conference on Friday. Our mission president told some of us that this would be a life changing experience but he wouldn't tell us why. Well, it definitely was!

Before the conference our mission president had us all read the talks  Ask in Faith and  Seek Learning by Faith by Elder Bednar and said that we would be using the talks during the conference. They always have the sisters sit in the front of the chapel.

We were in the very front row, and guess what! Elder Bednar was the speaker!!! It was so amazing. He talked for a while about the two talks that they had us read and then had a lot of time for questions and answers. It was about three hours long and the spirit was very strong. Towards the end he told us that most of us would never have an opportunity like this again to be with an apostle with so few people in the room. That was sad to think about.

Orange Mission District Missionaries at Temple

Well we were very lucky because when we came to church on Easter Sunday Elder Bednar was there in our ward!!! I feel so blessed that I was able to listen to him again. He is such a powerful speaker. He gave the talk in English but had someone translating it to Spanish. I know that I will never forget this experience. I feel so blessed to have been able to listen to an apostle of the Lord this weekend.

He shook all of the missionaries hands before the conference of Friday which was cool. Elder Bednar's wife and my Mission President's wife are cousins, so I think that had something to do with him coming here. I know that he is an Apostle of the Lord because I could feel it when he spoke.

I know that Thomas S. Monson is a prophet on the earth today and I am so grateful that we have a living prophet. I know that Joseph Smith restored the Church again  to the earth and what a blessing that is.

Hermana Layton at Newport Beach Temple

That is sweet that Eric is starting his mission papers! He is going to be an awesome missionary. I can't wait to hear where he is going. When can he turn the papers in? Also I can't believe that he is going to be in Anaheim! Most likely I wont be able to see him. There would be a better chance that I could if I was serving in that area, but we are not allowed to leave our area unless we are going on exchanges.

I'm glad that Sister Rush email you the pictures. She is pretty awesome. :) Dad, I miss you. I am looking forward to your next letter. You are the best! :)

Random facts.. there are random wild parrots everywhere here and also wild bunnys. Haha.

Love you all.

Spanish Is Pretty Hard But I Love It

MTC district

Hola! This week has been another great one. I love this area! My companion's names are Hermana Vilches and Hermana Breitenstein. Hermana Vilches is the one that is fluent with the language. She knew Spanish before her mission. They are really helpful with the language.

Spanish is pretty hard but I love it. There was one day this week where I was talking in Spanish all day and I knocked on one door and said something to them in Spanish. I was so used to speaking Spanish that I didnt realize that they answered me in English and I kept replying in Spanish and he kept talking in English. The conversation probably sounded really funny. My companions were laughing at me the rest of the day. So funny. :)

So this week I extended the baptismal invite for the first time. It was the first lesson that we had with him and it went really well. When I asked him he sat there for a couple minutes thinking about it and then he said that he would, but first he wants to know for sure that this is true. He has been reading his scriptures and praying so I know that he will find his answer.

Hermanas Vilches, Breitenstein and Layton

We are working with a lady that set a date to be baptized on the 26th of this month but it all depends on of she gets married or not. She really wants to but her boyfriend doesn't quite yet. She knows that the church is true and she has a really strong testimony so hopefully they will get married before the 26th.

We had my first zone conference this week. It was awesome. We heard from my mission president and his wife. It was a really great experience! They have amazing testimonies.
I am starting to get to know the people in the ward a lot more. They are great! The little kids are the cutest! On Sundays we stand by the door and greet everyone coming in and sometimes the little kids will just run up and give me a huge hug. It's sad that I'm not supposed to hug back but their hugs still make my day.

I don't have a ton of time but I want you to know that I know that the Gospel was restored to the earth and that Joseph Smith was a true prophet. I love teaching the first lesson and especially the first vision because it brings the Spirit into the room so strong. I love the gospel. I know that it can bring so much joy into our lives. Don't be afraid to share it with people. Find names that you can give to the missionaries in the ward. That is the best way to do missionary work! :)

Oh and a question that I think you asked last week that I forgot to answer... I was told that most likely I will be serving in all Spanish speaking areas. The only reason why they would move me to an English area is if they really needed drivers. A lot of the missionaries from out of the country can't drive. The mission president really likes to keep you where you have been called though so my companions said they really do not think I will serve in an English area. I guess there is a chance that I could though.

I love and you miss you all so much. Tell Aunt Karen that there is a letter on the way. It takes me forever to write back especially now that I am out in the field. Tell Grandma, Grandpa and Sean that I love them so much!!! and the Vegas family too! :) Gracias!