8 Months!

 HEY! Can you believe it?? I've been gone for 8 months! It seems
unreal to me that it is October today! Wow! Next thing you know
Christmas will be here and gone and the new year will be upon us!
Craaaazy!
    So I spent a long time emailing President today, I have been
pretty scanty on my letter to him the past couple weeks. haha So this
week the letter home will be shorter. I guess I can't do both in the
same week.
      I was very appreciative of the opportunity I had to watch the
General Relief Society Broadcast this past Saturday. It was so
wonderful to hear from the newly sustained presidency. They are truly
called to be in those positions. I loved that they all focused their
thoughts on the Atonement of our Savior. It was very touching for all
the Sisters that we were able to talk to about it. We had an
investigator there as well and she really enjoyed it. I loved Pres.
Eyring's talk as well. I know that listening to the Spirit is so
important. Even though his thoughts were focused mainly on the
importance of Visting Teaching, I was thinking more along the lines of
missionary work. He related a story about his daughter and her VT
companion and how the other sister felt the need to go and visit her
companion even though they had no appointments set for the day. As a
result, lives were saved. I was thinking first about how my companions

can sense when I am having a hard day and they cheer me up. And I hope
and pray to still have that connection when the mission is completed.
Then I was thinking about all the times we have to rely on the Spirit
to show us where the Lord wants us during the day to day work. As a
result, souls are saved. I have never relied this much on the Spirit
till I came on my mission. And now I don't know what I would do with
out Him. I am so grateful that I have the blessing to have Him with me
constantly if I live the way I am commanded to. I love that He is part
of the Doctrine of Christ. I remember when I was serving in Walla
Walla and Elder Maynes came to visit for their Stake Conference and at
the adult session he spoke on the importance of the Holy Ghost. How
wonderful it is that two of the greatest gifts God has given us are
two of the members of the Godhead. I am eternally grateful for the
gift of my Savior and the Holy Spirit. I can't believe how hard it is
to explain and teach about him sometimes though. Some people just seem
to have a more difficult time recognizing His influence then others.
For example, one of our investigators has been taking the lessons for
years now and she studies the scriptures and the gospel principals
manual, she attends church at least twice a month, last week we
committed her to fast and pray for the answer, which we did with her.
We haven't had the chance to teach her again since then to follow up
and to be honest with you, I am nervous that she didn't the answer
that she was seeking. She seems to want a sign even though we have
read many scriptures and given examples and born testimony on the
still small voice. She understands and accepts and believes everything
except that Joseph Smith was a prophet. I know that this relys on a
testimony of the Book of Mormon and I feel like we have explained and
testified that fact to her. So pretty much what I am saying is that I
understand the role of the Holy Ghost in conversion, I just have a
hard time accepting the agency of others sometimes. haha!
     I am so excited for general conference this coming weekend! I
have developed a love for these very important 8 hours! We have been
given such a blessing to be able to hear from our beloved prophet and
apostles twice a year. I hope that everyone takes advantage of this
wonderful opportunity to listen to the words of the Lord given through
a living modern day prophet. A literal Moses or Noah or Abraham in our
day! Its so great!
     Next week we will be going to the temple in Portland so our p-day
will be changed to Tuesday instead. I am so excited to go to the
temple again. It seems too long to be able to go only once every three
months. I want to go all the time just to feel the peace and be taught
in the house of our God. I am excited to go with Sister Dilworth as
well. She's so cool! haha
     Well I gotta get going, time is up! I love you all and I miss you
and just keep on choosing the right. Keep praying and going to church
and reading the scriptures! Those are not just lazy answers! They are
true and they will increase your testimony! I expect a full report
about conference next week! haha! Keep praying for opportunities to
share the Gospel. Christ Lives! :)