How have your weeks gone?? Did you enjoy General Conference?? Easter?? I hope so! Well, this week has been a little bit of a downer, not going to lie. Over the previous two weeks, we have worked hard searching out new investigators, searching for the last missionary's old investigators, and just working really hard. However, this week was quite the struggle as we saw just about all the investigators that we had gained lose interest in investigating the church. We spent most of the week searching out these people and working to keep what we had already gained, but it was to no avail. So, this next week we will basically start over again as we started week one. However, there have been no reasons to be sad or discouraged this week :) Elder Ordonez and I are working really well together, our branch and members are still amazing, and I still love the city of Tupiza. The work will roll forth in its own due time :) Now, with exception to the missionary work, this week had the very special occurance that happens twice a year: General Conference! I will be the first to say that this General Conference was something really special. Not only did we get to participate in the solemn assembly, but several BIG changes were announced and lots of inspired messages were shared. Conference was an amazingly spiritual experience for me these past couple days, so I would love to focus my thought on this beautiful time. Over the past couple days, we have listened to the Prophet, the Apostles, and many other General Authorities give us counsel on a wide array of topics. General Conference, just by thinking about what happens and who speaks, should be a life and heart changing experience. Now, about this unbelievable experience, I would love to ask a question, one that can be found in Alma 5:14 (Pardon my incorrect translation because I only have a Spanish Book of Mormon on me :) : Have you experienced this mighty change in your hearts? Think about the events of these past days. Think if you have felt the Spirit or received an answer to a question. These types of experiences call for a "Mighty change of Heart." So, I ask you to think if you have had these experiences. If you have not, I invite you to use the technology that is so easily accessible and watch some of Conference over again because I promise you that such "Heart-Changing" experiences will ALWAYS be found if we search for them and are ready to receive them. If you have had these experiences, I wish to follow up with the same question that Alma uses in Alma 5:26 : If you have felt this mighty change of heart . . . I would like to ask you: Can you feel so now? Conference finished yesterday, so I hope if you have felt a change or received an answer you can still feel the power of what that means. But I am not as much worried about now, but a week from now, and in the weeks and months to come. As we continue in the following weeks, I invite you to think about the responses you received and the feelings you felt and work to feel their power forever, not just during Conference. Follow the answers you received, remember the feelings you felt, keep in mind the counsel the bretheren gave us, and I promise that you will be able to not just feel these same feelings in the days and weeks to come, you will improve in faith in spirit more than you could ever imagine. I have it easy here in the mission field (I am basically required to remember about the Gospel in every moment), but I promise that you can do it too if you make the time in your busy lives. I just want to finish by adding my testimony that I know that our Prophet today is Russell M. Nelson. He is the Prophet of God upon the face of the earth and the other General Authorities have been called of God as well. I know that if we follow their counsel that our lives will improve and we will be more prepared in every phase of our daily lives. I know this is true without doubt and I leave this with you in the name of our Savior, even Jesus Christ, Amen. Well, I want you all to know that I love you to death and send you the best regards from Tupiza, Bolivia! I am going to just keep on working here and enjoying this wonderful journey, and I hope you all keep enjoying your lives as well. I hope you all have amazing weeks!
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