October 3, 2011

Hola,

General Conference was obviously the big thing this week, but hopefully I can get to that at the end.

Last Monday we had an activity for the entire mission. Since my mission is so small it´s not too difficult for all of us to get together. This activity was to celebrate the 18th of Sept. (Chile´s Independence day) even though it was a week later. Each of the zones did a fun little skit that either had to do with the missionary work or Chile. My zone did a funny skit on the reactions we get when we knock. Another zone sang a chilean song in classic chilean costumes. It was really fun. Afterwards we watched a little movie of OUR mission and then had the wonderful opportunity to listen to a devotional by Pres. Laycock. After the devotional we watched A MOVIE!! We watched remember the titans. There is a lot of cultural differences in my mission as there are many gringos and latinos. However we can and should be all united as ONE. We also found out during our activity that all of the missionaries in our mission will be able to go to the stadium in Ñuñoa on the 15 for a big Celebration that the church is having to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the mission in Chile. It´s going to be like a days of celebration type thing and I´m so excited to be a part of one again. :D That also means there will be people here from Salt Lake including the prophet so we have to look our best!

In the beginning of this week I was still having a hard time getting used to having a different companion. It´s not that Hna. Castellón isn´t nice or anything, actually she is so incredible and loving. I just haven´t had a different companion since I´ve been out here in Chile let alone a latin companion. We have adjusted pretty well now, and now we´re good friends and are always joking around. I try to be considerate and always speak spanish also I was taught by Hna. Wojciechowski to speak spanish as frequently as possible. Well Hna. Castellón really wants to learn English, which is great, but now she only wants me to speak English. Oh my being bilingual is difficult sometimes. ha ha. I hope that I can really help her out with her English but I also hope that I can really improve my Spanish. 

Alright Conference!! First off once again I really missed my mom´s delicious homemade cinnamon rolls. It´s alright it´s worth it. There were a lot of talks I loved. I also had the great pleasure of seeing my mom and Emily along with the women of my ward on TV during the end of the Relief Society session. It was a wonderful tender mercy of the Lord! Oh where do I begin...

I loved how much they talked about the use of technology. We really have everything at the touch of our fingertips and we can do so much through technology. Everyone is always so amazed when I show the family names that I have. I know that Family History is so important and the gospel is made more real as we do the work for our own ancestors. The gospel is so amazing and so clear. I love how simple it is and how all of it can boil down to if the Book of Mormon is true or not. If it´s true and I KNOW IT IS. Then everything else that is taught by the leaders of the church is true. I also loved how much they talked about the Holy Ghost and how he can be our constant guide to help us through our lives. 

Well unfortunately I´m out of time. I LOVE YOU ALL!!!

-Hna. Howe