Here I Am!

Hello!  My apologies for not writing last week..  but I am here in Santa Elena with already lots of experiences and miracles that I will remember for a very long time!  We can{t believe that we have already been here for about three weeks!

 

Last Monday for PDay we went to the river banks with the two elders in our branch to enjoy the sights, feel the breeze and just relax. We also shared one kilo of ice cream, I{ll let you use your imagination for those that are not sure how big that is : )   It was a great way to celebrate my one year mark!  Ah!  I{ve hit the point on the calendar where I am constantly thinking [a year ago I was here, and I was doing this... weird...[  Part of me feels like I have been a missionary forever andt that my life doesn{t exist at home... like it as all a dream, and the other part can{t believe it has flown by so fast.  I am trying to grasp every day and life it to the fullest.

 

I LOVE this branch!  The YSA{s continue to amaze me.  A few days ago I heard them talking about wanting to do a family home evening activity with the elders, and before we knew it it turned into a huge activity in the church building, fliers and cake and everything!  I love when an enthusiastic and youthful group takes an idea and really runs with it!  It is quite the treat when we constantly hear [I have a referral for you![ and they are legit referrals too.  We received a referral from an amazing soon to be missionary, and this friend of his is now our most promising investigators.  We{ve seen her four days in a row and she{s already come to a baptism and two church activities (this branch is filled with activities!!  woohoo!)  I loved seeing the members fellowship this strong single mom and her two children.  I realized the family home evening was perfect for her when I heard one of the youth share her testimony of when she gave a book of mormon to her catholic school teacher, and how her teacher ended up really feeling the Spirit and was worried about changing her culture after so many years, and this youth told her that she needn{t be afraid because the Lord would help her because it is true... and this is exactly what is happening to our investigator!  She teaches in a Catholic school and has already heard so much of the gospel and knows what she feels is true, and she is scared to leave her job.  I know the Lord is in this work and that all these sequences of events are not coincidences!  I know all of us can pray to see the Lord{s hand guiding us.  Sometimes we truck along thinking our efforts are thrown at the wall and we never break through, but if we have more patience and open our eyes, we can see that we are not the only ones chipping away.  The Lord is right there with us breaking away the hardest parts with us. 

 

I love you all and I hope you have a wonderful week!  I miss you all tons, and I am trying to keep writing hand written letters... I am sorry I am behind!  The post seems to be very behind as well, just the other week I got a letter than was sent at the end of June!  Please know that every email and note is very much appreciated.  I love you very much and I hope you are finding success in your current endeavors. 

xoxo hermana hill

PS...Please feel free to leave Hillary a comment on these posts and we will forward it to her to read!!