So I just had a terrible experience....I had a really, really, really, really long email written, with a ton of inspiring, spirit-filled stuff, and all that jazz, and it freaking disappeared!!! I about threw a DB fit, but somehow controlled myself! :) Anyway, I´ll try to recreate it. So this time I am using a computer that actually has a functioning A button! Count your blessings everyone :) But this week was really good, with a highlight being Wendy´s baptism! I had the opportunity to be the one to baptize her, and it was a really neat experience, even if it took two tries to do it! :) The first time a part of the baptismal clothing right around her knee didn´t go all the way under, because the clothing is really big and baggy, but the second time was the charm! Haha...Also, we had a really cool visit with an 88 year old lady named Christina. We were teaching the first lesson, the Restoration, and she started crying when we talked about the Savior and His Atoning sacrifice and how much he loves all of us individually, that He suffered and died specifically for You. That was a good, testimony building lesson. And as far as my Spanish goes, I´ve definitely seen improvement, slowly, but surely! And conference was amazing! I really loved the talk by Richard G. Scott about the absolute need to pray, individually as well as in families, study the scriptures, individually and as families, have FHE, and go to the temple. He used much more power and volume than I have ever noticed in him before, which I thought was well deserved and necessary. He said that we can´t let ANYTHING get in the way of regularly, steadfastly doing these four things, and that if we do, we need to straighten out our priorities. I thought it was really good, and also really liked the emphasis placed on the importance of gaining your own personal testimony. Sometimes we feel content with where we are at, or sometimes we feel like we are never going to get an answer, but that just simply isn´t true! God has promised us that He WILL answer us, if we just study his word, then sincerely pray about it, believing we will recive, having faith in Christ and real intent, being willing to act on the answer we receive. I hope and pray that everyone will do everything they can to receive this personal confirmation of this church and gospel. It is so vital to do so, and even if we have received a witness in the past, if we have "had a mightly change of heart, and have felt to receive the song of redeeming love, do we feel so now?" (Alma 5:26 goes something like that) I encourage you to keep praying to God to receive this wonderful witness by the power of the Holy Ghost, so that you can really feel how much He loves you and the truthfulness of this restored gospel. I love you all, and hope the best for everyone!
Elder Budge