Follow the Spirit

Well this is my last email in the CCM. The next time I email I will be out in the field. The CCM went by so fast!! I wish I could have slowed it down, but I just want to get out in the field!!! I am now the official chorister/photographer at the CCM. I did not think I was going to be taking any pictures with a professional camera the next few years, but Hermana Gonzales, the CCM President's wife, gave me her camera and wanted pictures off all the missionaries in their districts, and just having fun. We had a special devotional on Tuesday from a member of the 4th quorum of the 70, Elder Villar. For the devotional I had to prepare a musical number. We spent forever working on it and it was wonderful. We sang "Soy un Hijo de Dios" (I am a child of God). We combined three different versions of the songs that I had sang before, together into one song. The power of music is incredible. It is one of the most vital ways the spirit can speak to us. I also know that as we prayerfully study and use a language, it can be learned. Towards the end of Villar´s address, my translator stopped working. I took it off and prayed that I may be able to understand him. I picked up most of the address just by the words I already new, but when he bore his testimony I was able to understand every word he said. I know that the only reason that was possible was because I was working diligently on my studies and being obedient, and through the words I knew I could pick out the rest of the words I didn’t know. The Lord blesses us when we are diligent and obedient. The Gift of tongues is real! Without the Lord's help I wouldn’t be able to learn a second language. I think the Highlight of my week was today. I went to the temple today and I was praying that when we went shopping later that I would be able to place a Book of Mormon, as it was my last week here. My comp. Van Skyhalk and I were walking into one of the stores and we met these Latinos who just came back from Miami from vacation. We left and I just had a horrible sick feeling come about me. I knew that that was my chance to place a Book of Mormon. We went back and talked with them some more. Come to find out, one of them had already taken lessons from the missionaries, but stopped for some reason. He then left, leaving his wife and she didn't want to hear. We went about shopping and I still had that same sick feeling. I knew I needed to go talk to them again. We went back talked to them for a little more. I didn't understand most of what they had said, but I did understand that he loved the Church doctrine, he just wanted to be catholic. I gave him a Libro de Mormon, and a Plan de Salvacion pamphlet, putting the pamphlet in 3 Nephi 11 (when the Savior come to the Americas) and said, "Este libro es para usted". I then explained that I don’t know what happened to make him quit taking the discussions, but I know that the Book of Mormon is true and that the Lord has provided a way for all of us to return to live with him again as families. I then told him about the pamphlet. I don’t recall exactly what I said, but after my comp. and I had borne our testimonies, he very seriously said he would read it with his wife. The Spirit works in mysterious ways. I know that the spirit can change someone’s heart. Regardless of a language barrier. I have never been so happy in my life. The Gospel is true, and it is amazing. It hurts me to know that so few people don’t have what I have.