We Thank Thee Oh God for a Prophet...

This  week really was a lot better than the last one.  The funny thing
is that I am learning, I am happy,  and I lived through it.  Amazing
how that happens right ? In Matthew 10, the Lord tells the apostles
to shake the dust off their feet  after others don't receive them.
That's exactly what we need to learn to do.  The worst thing that
dust can do is be a little uncomfortable,  irritating, or annoying, but
 its not going to kill me. A little dust never killed anyone...
I think.   Don't quote me on that.   Everything turned out fine. 
Lorenzo got baptized on Wednesday and nothing went according
 to plan.  But he got baptized.  He just wept afterward. 
It was an experience I´ll  never forget.  It was so special. 
I am learning so much and I am being forced to learn to
just go with the flow . To do my  best but to adapt when  changes
come.   Virginia is getting baptized this Saturday and I am so
 happy!  She is so wonderful!  She asked us  our names and so
now she always calls us  Ana  Belen and Raquel.   haha.
We've tried to explain that we´re referred to as Hermana
and Elders, but she  always calls us by name. We are
 working on kindly breaking the  habit.  Conference yesterday
 was incredible! I loved every second of it. The member
were so faithful. It can be really expensive to take a
whole family to the stake center (in Centro) so the church
hired a collectivo ( a bus)  to take them. We took some
less active members with us  and it was a great experience.
 One of the little girls in  our ward ¨Cami¨ is seriously an angel.
 She is 4 years old and has  such incredible love and Spirit.
I thought about her a lot yesterday during the conference
when they mentioned loving like little children, and having
a willingness and  eagerness to learn. I realized how selfish
and self centered I've  been and how much more I need
to love others.  There is  a test at the end of  Preach My
Gospel in  chapter  6 about Christlike attributes that I love!
I take it  every change  but I went through this morning to
 find what I  can do specifically to have more love and charity
for others.  Here is an idea for a FHE  activity = make copies
of the little test and  have each person fill it out.  
I learn so much every time.    Another idea...we
were meeting with our ward mission leader this week
 and talking about PMG.  1st that every leader  should have
a copy and 2nd, he told us that their family has gone through
the FHE manual like a thousnad times and that  families could
 use PMG for FHE lessons. I loved the idea. 
Start with the families.  Can you imagine if everyone lived
and shared the gospel the way preach my gospel says ?! how
 wonderful it would be .    We didn't get to see the Saturday 
sessions of conference but they are going to give us a
Liahona next month when it comes out. I am so excited!
 I loved Elder Hollands testimony of the Book of Mormon. 
My love for that book has grown exponentially  here on my
mission. I'm embarassed that it was right there in front of
 me all this time and I didn't appreciate it. I think it was in
Elder Christoffersons talk about stewardship where he talked
about parents who allow children to  make their own religious
 decisions is denying God...or something like that.  And that
quote he read from Elder Eyring. Wow.  Basically I  just want to
 say thank you mom and dad.  Thank you for encouraging me to go to
activities, church, seminary, sit down and watch conference ,
practice being reverent... All these memories of little life
 lessons that come flooding back. I am so grateful.
You taught  and still teach with love. I can honestly say now
 that I go to those meetings, sit reverently, etc, because
I love God, not because I am obligated to do so.  I hope
 I can be half the parents that you have been to
me. I hope I can remember.  Don't let me forget Ok?
     Mom, I got  my package! I cried.  A lot. Right after
I finished writing my email last week, the Elders called
and brought  my package over. It was the best thing in the
world and I really felt your love so strong. You are  so
 dang thoughtful! It was everything I could have asked
 for and more.  Thanks for being my parents. 
Hey, guess what I just realized?
I have almost been on a mission for 4 months!
Wow, I cant believe it. Have the best week ever.
I love you all so much!
Love , Rae