Week #3 at the MTC

Hola todos!! I can't believe week four has already begun. Our Avanzados or leaders left us last night and this morning, which was super hard. Their leadership and examples to us Principiantes helped us feel so welcomed and loved, but I know they're ready to serve the Lord and the people of Peru. I got called as the next Avanzada leader for the incoming Hermanas, and am so excited. We should be getting 4 new Hermanas from the Philippines and four from the United States. We've been praying for them and their famlies as they are heading to Peru this very moment. So exciting!!  My district just got back from the Lima Temple and it was such an amazing experience. The temple was so tiny, especially compared to the Seattle temple, but we felt the sprit so strongly in the Lord's house.

Hermana Lawrence and I had a really great lesson with our investigator, Carlos this past week. We truly felt el don de lenguas (The Gift of Tongues) working with us during our lesson. We taught him about repentance and were preparing him for baptism. We really sought to ask him good questions, and seek out his needs by listening to him intently. After the lesson, Hermana Lawrence and I felt so full of the spirit and were a little emotional. Just goes to show how powerful the messgae of the gospel is, even when you're teaching it to a fake investigator and without a perfect knowlege of the language you're speaking in! Our teacher, Hermano Lozano complimedted us on the lesson afterwards and we felt good about the progress we{ve been making. Just ging to keep pressing forward and working hard with the language everyday!

It's been such a blessing to be here at the CCM with clean water and a nice bed and food to eat. I'm reminded everytime we leave for the temple or other activities how fortunate we are to be trained here on sacred ground before we head out in the real world to help our brothers and sisters. I know this gospel is true with all my heart. As long as we strive to keep the Lord's commandments, He will surely bless us and our desire to follow Him will increase. I encourage you this week to write down a question you have or keep one in your heart, then open the Book of Mormon and read. I promise that your mind and heart will be more sensitive to the whisperings of the Spriti and you will find answers. I know this and have felt this these past few weeks, and it has helped me so much in coming closer to my Savior. I know God loves each and everyone of you and is aware of you and all you're going through. Talk to Him, becasue He wants to speak with you.

Have an amazing week!!

-Hermana Doney