Week 7.5

My weeks must be off because there's no way it's been 8. That's why this is week 7.5 wooo 

We went on a hike of sorts by the ocean for our district activity last Monday and saw so many dolphins! They were surfing and jumping the waves- very jealous.

We met someone named Hannah on the pier. She's so cool! She came to institute and absolutely loved it. Zoe is also doing well. We had another bible study with her and are hoping to start teaching the lessons soon...

On Friday, Sister Hill went to mission leadership council which is like 7 hours long so I was in a trio with the sisters in our district. We had so much fun- they're awesome! I had my first member meal with them because we don't get a lot of those in ysa work. SO GOOD. The members were very cool and have a little dog that reminded me a lot of Toby.

This weekend was a ysa conference so we got to attend a lot of it! On Saturday, we went to the first part of the activity and basically just played 9-square for two hours. They were playing some good music haha I've gotten to listen to a lot of non missionary "gentile music" in these first few weeks. The devotional part of the conference on Sunday was really good! I saw someone I was friends with at byu who's doing summer sales here so that was crazy. Go cougs.

I had a wild experience with the spirit and I won't get into it but all you have to know is promptings from the spirit are so real! Follow them!

I've been reading in Alma these last few days. A favorite story of mine is in chapter 24 when the Lamanites are converted and start calling themselves the Anti-Nephi-Lehis. They bury their weapons of war as "a testimony to God, and also to men, that they never would use weapons again for the shedding of man's blood; and this they did, vouching and covenanting with God, that rather than shed the blood of their brethren they would give up their own lives; and rather than take away from a brother they would give unto him." (18) We later read that these people were killed in war by the Lamanites, but after seeing what they'd done the Lamanites have a change of heart, repent, and throw down their weapons of war. Verse 27 says, "There was not a wicked man slain among them; but there were more than a thousand brought to the knowledge of the truth."

Wow lots to unpack from that. First, the Anti-Nephi-Lehis are SO COOL. Their willingness to sacrifice their lives and the faith that had to come with that is unreal. Second, their choice not only affected themselves but brought thousands of Lamanites to the truth. If I can have the faith they had and be willing to sacrifice as much as they did by the end of my mission, it'll be a mission accomplished.

Never go a day without opening the Book of Mormon. I love everyone so very much and hope this 4th is the best one yet. Go team America 

My goal for this week is to take more pictures because I took maybe 3.