Well it´s been a week full of a lot of mixed emotions. Its not very easy to experience so many changes within a week but I have been adjusting well to my sector. It was very difficult to tell everyone goodbye in Collao there are so many people I love dearly, but Tomè is absolutely gorgeous! The members are so willing to work with us and we have some great investigators and recent converts that we are teaching. I live in a house rather than an apartement building and it has the most beautiful veiw of the ocean. My sector in on top of a hill and a lot smaller than my last area, and I am already able to remember a lot of the streets and names of the people so I am happy.
On Friday one of the other hermanas we live with informed me that the bishop wanted me to give a talk but that there wasnt an assigned topic. I truly pondered and prayed a lot about what I should talk about and decided to talk about the importance and safety that comes from attending the temple. Sunday morning I was making breakfast before going upstairs to finish my talk when I suddenly felt the strongest impression to talk about keeping the sabbath day holy. I still dont know my ward very well or the needs of the people but I knew without a doubt that that impression came from the spirit.
Luckily after the special zone conference and my email to all of you I already had a lot of my thoughts put together I just had to translate it. I quickly ran upstairs and began to prepare. In my new ward the classes are first and in the Gospel Princples class our ward mission leader just happened to be teaching about The Sabbath Day. As I stood up to give my talk, regardless of not knowing anyone, and having to translate my words from English to Spanish as I went along, I didnt feel nervous. I felt that the spirit was guiding my words and helping me to boldly testify about the importance of honoring our savior on his sacred day.
We ate lunch with our ward mission leader and his family and I explained to him how grateful I was for his class and how it was perfect to help prepare everyone for my talk. He then explained that he should have been teaching about the sacrament, but had a feeling that he should change the class. I know that the spirit always guides us and testifies of all truth. I´m sure that something similar to that happens every 6 months with general conference. It is incredible how if we listen we are able to understand God´s will and be a more effective instrument in his hands.
I am so grateful for the time I have been given to be a missionary of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I know that the Book of Mormon is true and the key to our religion. I know that Christ lives and through his atoning sacrifice we an return to our Heavenly Father`s presence. He desires each of his children to live with him eternally and for that reason the missionary work is stronger now than ever before. I testify that the power of prayer is real and that if each of you think about the people in your lives who are not memebers or who have maybe fallen away, the holy ghost can testify to you which one of them is ready to accept Christ and his true gospel into their lives.
I love you all and thank you for your constant prayers and support. I hope you have a wonderful week!
Con harto amor,
Hermana Parkin
Just wanted to let you know how much I love you both and how grateful I am for your constant support and love. It has been hard adjusting this last week to a new companion and new area, but I love Tomè already and am excited to keep working hard. It seems strange that my mission is going to be ending soon. I am striving to enjoy every last minute and give all that I have to the work. I have had a few friends from the mission ask me about when my homecoming will be. I know its far away still but do you have any idea. Well Have a wondeful week! Tell everyone hi for me.
Love,
Hermana Parkin