April 9, 2014
Buenos Dias!
What a fabulous week it has been!! General
Conference was such a great break from the every day grind of the MTC. It was
so good to listen to the Prophet and Apostles teach the things we as
missionaries are supposed to teach, but rather so simply and beautiful.
Teaching simply is not easy, and the more I'm here, the more I see that simple
teaching will come with deep, intimate knowledge and understanding of the
Doctrine. It is clear in their simple teachings that the General Authorities
KNOW this Doctrine.
So for General Conference we went up to
main campus both days and stayed there and watched it pretty much all day. It
was fun because I got to see a lot of my friends that are up at main campus. Saturday
General Conference was very enlightening for me. It was so weird because while
I am super focused on my mission and what I'm doing now, I felt like I received
a lot of revelation about what I want to do after my mission. One thing I
realized was something I had been thinking about a lot while I've been here. I
see the organ played here a lot, with devotionals and all, and every time I
watch people play I always think to myself "Wow, that would be so cool to
know how to play." Well I had the same thoughts as I was watching
conference and it hit me. I need to learn how to play the organ when I get
home. I don't know why, but I'm really excited to learn and take on that
challenge. I bet you're happy about that one, Mom. :) jaja!
I also, received a lot of revelation about
what kind of wife and mother I want to be. I thought that was really interesting
because that is not where I'm at in my life right now. But I completely see how
this mission is going to be helping me with that and other things for the rest
of my life. Elder Cook's talk got me thinking A LOT about family history and
how important it is. I've always been intimidated to do family history because
it seems so hard, but I really want to start doing family history when I get
back also. So, again, I'm excited for that.
Saturday night we watched the General Women's Meeting
while the Elders attended the Priesthood session. We didn't get to watch it the
previous Saturday
for this very reason. And oh my goodness I just LOVED it!! It was marvelous!
What I loved most about it was the sweet and TENDER spirit that was there. I
felt like you could feel the spirit of the Women of the Church, and how
wonderful and powerful that was. I just loved it. So so great! :)
Sunday Morning Session was MY session. Jaja. I say MY
session because I felt as though every single one of those talks was meant for
me and my mission and future investigators. I learned so much. I wish I could
write everything I learned, unfortunately there isn't time for that. :( I loved
President Uchtdorf's ATTITUDE of gratitude talk. It’s not about counting your
blessings in the happy moments, its about having a consistent attitude of
gratitude even in those circumstances you may not be content in. There was more
I liked in that talk, but I forgot my notes from conference...oops. Elder
Ballard's message was perfect for missionaries! Follow up, I mean that's
constantly what we're doing here in the mission field?? Another fantastic talk
I related to sooo well was Elder Bednar's. As missionaries we are often required
to take on some pretty heavy loads. But it is those loads that help us become
the missionaries and people we are meant to be. It is those loads that bring us
closer to our Savior. Those loads are hard, but we don't have to carry them by
ourselves. Those loads keep us moving forward IF WE LET THEM. Otherwise we
could just stay put, never TRYING to move forward. I could go on and on and on
about all these talks, so its probably best if I leave it at this. Sunday
Morning was my favorite session; however I honestly learned and grew so much
throughout every single session. What a beautiful thing it is to watch
conference through the eyes of a missionary. It really changes it.
Okay, so if I haven't said this yet, I will
say it now. I am here at the MTC at the PERFECT time. I mean, we got David
Archuleta, General Conference, Easter- which means a general authority will be
speaking to us, awesome weather, not too crowded, and now this: a VOCAL POINT
devotional! Oh my heart, I LOVE Vocal Point! Sunday night they came and performed
for us for devo since we had be listening to talks all day. Oh my goodness, if
I didn't say it enough last week, then let me say it again. I love music!! The
spirit testified to me multiple times throughout the program that being on a
mission is EXACTLY where I need to be right now, no matter how hard some days
are. The songs they sang were absolutely perfect, and some of my absolute
favorite from their hymn album. Couples were Nearer, My God, To Thee, and I Need Thee Every
Hour. Those are two of my favorite hymns of all time. They bring me so much
peace, it's incredible. The funny thing is, is that as we sing hymns all day
every day, they pretty much are all slowly becoming my favorite.
#missionaryprobs
Oh quick fun side note. I met a sister on Saturday
who is from Germany
and guess what? She knows Shad! He served in her ward! How cool is that?? Well,
I'm kind of a ditz and didn't ask her name, but she's going to St. George, UT,
so maybe I'll see her again before she leaves and can ask her. That would be
cool. But yeah, I just thought I'd share that fun fact.
Well, it looks as if this is the end of
another email for another week. It's crazy to think that in just 12 days, one
more p-day, I will be off to Argentina!
I have never been more nervous and excited at the same time! Ah!! Well I love
you all more than you could ever know! Miracles happen when we love the way
Christ does. President Monson talked all about having Christ's love for others
in his Sunday
Morning talk. Go reread it! :) And remember, Stay Anxiously Engaged!! :)
xoxo,
Hermana Van Wagoner
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