Well, not much to say other than.... ELDER HOLLAND CAME TO OUR MISSION. We had an all mission conference with him on Saturday in Cusco. We left Puno at midnight on Friday and were only in Cusco for about 5 hours. IT WAS AMAZING. He shook each of our hands, and I had the privilege of being able to sing for him. Talk about nerves! But he cried, President Harbertson cried, the missionaries cried. So the Spirit did its job! Only five of us sang and we did come thou fount of every blessing in Spanish. It was incredible. Elder Holland yelled at us, cried with us, and loved us. He is amazing. Plus being 2 feet away from him the whole time wasnt half bad.
Well after that bomb, the rest of the week will sound pretty boring. But it was a good week! Thank you for all of your prayers and words of encouragement.
Tuesday we did divisions! I went to Incapachacutec with Hermana Campoverde and it was the best! She helped me to remember about putting my trust in God about all else and that it always matters more what he thinks of us.
Wednesday we were super blessed! We found two new investigators and were able to have 4 lessons with investigators in total. That hasnt happened for us in forever! I know that the Lord answered our prayers and helped us to find all of the people we had planned.
Thursday and Friday were good! I feel very grateful this week for the Plan of Salvation. On Thursday we were able to go and visit the wife of the second counselor in the bishopric, Hermana Eliana. They just had their first baby 2 weeks ago - Emma Rose. She is so cute! There starts the plan on this earth. On Friday we saw the ending of the plan of this earth. We were able to visit a lady who is dying of liver cancer. It was one of the most humbling moments I have ever had on my mission. We couldnt say much, but we just testified to them about the power of God and his love. She will go soon, but she will be in a better place without pain and suffering.
On a side note, I pierced my companions ears on Thursday! HAHA. I am so crazy. We had been talking about it for weeks, so we bought anesthesia in a creme from the pharmacy and she toughed it up and now she has earrings. She is so cute. I love her.
Sunday we were zombies after getting home from Cusco at 11 the night before. We had a super good lesson with our ward mission leader Juan Carlos and talked about Enduring to the End. I am just so grateful to be an instrument in the Lords hand. Juan Carlos thanked us for visiting him formally and told us that we had said exactly what he needed to hear. The Lord knows His children!! All I have to do is listen to the Spirit to be able to tell them what he needs them to hear.
And the next best news of the week.... WE FINALLY FOUND YERSON AGAIN! After he didnt get into the university he went downhill and has been in a pit the last month and just feels really alone. We had a member with us, Juan Ramon, who was able to be his friend and share personal experiences, and at the end was able to give him a blessing to know that he is not alone in this. Right as we sat down, he goes "Hermanas, I know you told me this path wouldnt be easy and that I would have trials. Well, they came. And they all came at once." God gives us adversity to help us grow! That is a very profound lesson that I am striving to understand right now. I dont know why it has to be that way, but like Elder Holland told us "The road to Salvation always goes through Gethsemane." We will all, at some point or another, have to go through some of what Christ suffered. It wont always be that way, and in the next life we will rest from all of our troubles. But for now we have to experience it. I am grateful for Heavenly Father and for everything he seems to be putting me through right now. I have asked why many times but am learning now to ask, "So Heavenly Father, what do you need from me? What will I learn from this?" This change has not been easy, and it isnt going to get easier all in one day, but I know with all my heart that the Lord is by my side. He helps each of us! I feel especially privileged in this hard time to be on the Lords errand. I love Him with all my heart and it has taken coming all the way to Peru for me to realize that - that He is my Father.
I love you all! Cheers to a great week and an even better to come!
Hermana Miceli
