Macey Gates: Sister Macey Gates // Week Four

Awe i dont even know what to say!! This week has been SO GOOD!!! Its like this place is turning into america haha and guess what... I HAD STEAK!!!!! Yo fui como OMG!!! haha it was like carne asada but it was so so good and everyone made fun of me cause thats all i talk about. is having steak haha. Its been really cool cause this week and last week everyone in my district got sick and i was the only one that didnt. I know its cause i kept my promise with my heavenly father that i would start and finish el libro de mormon before my birthday and i am so blessed because of it. So this week we planned to teach our teacher(our investigator) the restoration and we had it all planned out and felt so good about it. We get in there to teach him and he asked about 1 nephi 8 cause he didnt understand the tree of life. We got so excited cause a few weeks ago we actually read that chapter together and talked about it to understand it and it was the most amazing lesson. We had no idea how to say it in spanish, but we were able to and then we bore our testimonies. I have never felt the spirit so strong and my testimony grew so much. I even learned so much stuff as i was explaining it to him and i know it was the spirit teaching. My teacher thanked me for my testimony after. This week i learned that your testimony is the strongest part of the gospel and it can touch so many people even if its just simple. Yesterday we were going to teach him and we were just going to walk in and follow the spirit, but i felt prompted to hurry and study the plan de salvacion. I was able to take over the lesson and gain confidence in myself that i could teach the plan de salvacion in a simple way. It was the most amazing experience and to see the hope in his eyes was so amazing. I know for a fact it was the spirit. Friday Elder banegas in our district was struggling so bad and wanted to give up cause he isnt learning spanish as fast and has a harder time with it. Me and Hermana homer felt prompted to read with him and Elder Backus Alma 26. That chapter basically maps out our journey on our missions. I was able to share 1 Nephi 17:45 because it helped me when i was struggling. We helped him out and let him know that we loved him and we were willing to help him anytime and it was amazing as we were reading alma 26 the rest of our district came in and usually they are so roudy but they came in cause they felt the spirit and helped give input. Elder Albin was also struggling and it was amazing to see the faith he had in the importance of staying here and finishing the mission he started. It was powerful cause all he does is make jokes all the time cause he just cant focus and do anything else but he does try and is progressing and it is amazing to see that. That night Elder banegas wanted a blessing but we told our district leader that it should be open to anyone who needs one. Mostly all of us got one except 3 of us. I will never forget that night. It was like a circle of angels and i didnt think that would ever happen in our district. The boys asked each of their companions to give them blessings and most of them it was their first time and wow the spirit was so strong. i wasnt going to get one but i felt prompted to have Elder Albin give me one. It was a simple blessing, and it helped me realize what i have done here to change and what my purpose is. He told me the next day that that was his first blessing and thanked me for the opportunity because he gained so much confidence in himself. Since then he has had so much motivation. Our teacher played the song You Raise Me Up for fun while we were studying, and i couldnt help but think about jesus the whole time. My goal in life is to become like him. I want to be able to raise people up so they can stand on mountains. I want to raise people up as they walk on stormy seas. I want to be strong for people when they are on my shoulder. I want to raise people up to more than they can be. I know that im not perfect, but i am trying my best. I know jesus christ is the way and through him i can do anything. We were being investigators for some elders and they shared with us how music can help gain our testimonies and he told us to read our favorite hymn. Mine was Now Let Us Rejoice. I love the end when it was " and jesus will say to all israel Come Home" That song gives so much hope and makes me so happy. Hermana Homer chose I know that my redeemer lives. Reading that was absolutely amazing and to see how much jesus loves us. I challenge you all to read those two hymns and really ponder what they say and read your favorite hymn. It is so powerful the message it brings. I know this is long but i was just so excited to tell you all how great of a week this was. I hope all is going good and I miss and love my family so dang much and everysingle time i bear my testimony on family i cant help but feel the spirit so strong and cry cause i love you guys so much. Teaching people that their families can be together forever is the most amazing feeling. I pray for you guys everytime i pray and i hope you all know that jesus is our best friend even when we dont think we have any. He wants to talk to you and i challenge all of you to pray out loud and see how you feel. I know this church is true with all my heart. Yo se que me familia es el meyor y le amo mi familia mucho. Jesucristo es el camino y Dios quiere hablar con ustedes. Nos Vemos familia;)

Hermana Gates:)