Conference was like Navidad!

Hola everyone.  How is the real world? The MTC world continues to turn and fly by.  Another week has gone by and I don't know where it went!!  How was CONFERENCE..Holly and Alex hope you loved it.  It's pretty cool to be there eh!  What were your favorite talks?  Watching Conference here was different...I learned so so so much that I needed to learn.  That is the beauty of it.  You get out of it what you need to hear.  And of course Conferencia to missionaros is like Christmas!!  We didn't do anything for two days but sit and watch.  My favorite talks were Richard G. Scott and Henry B. Eyring...Richard G. Scott just seems to always say what I need to hear.  Interesting comment about faith and character like i'd never thought about before.  Character is used in the moments of great challenges.  Faith is strengthen as we exercise it.  I loved how Henry B. Eyring talked about Trusting in God always.  Never give up on Him.  I also loved how Elder Holland talked so sincerely about how we truly are individually loved by God.  I believe that.  And I hope all of you do too.  Because you are.  He loves us more than we could ever imagine.  If you try to know that you will.  Bet you all liked the taklk by Uchtdorf, slow down, simplify your lives and find time for the important things aka El Evangelio aka The Gospel.  Family night matters, Family prayer matters as much as it may seem like it doesn't with your crazy hockey schedules.  Anyways, Conferencia was like Navidad for me:)  Just what I needed and what the world needed too I think.  Oh and how could I forget Thomas S. Monsons talk about gratitude.  it is true that our focus is often on what we lack, not what we are grateful for.  So new mindset for me...not focusing on my problems but on gratitude.  When I do, I realize my problems are so small in comparison to what I have been blessed with.

Entonces...we got 2 new roomies this week...hahaha They are really nice, off to Alabama leaving about the same time as us cuz they are english...hahaha i've been here so long.  But i've learned so much, so its all good.  Life is so interesting.  When you take a step back with more of an eternal perspective things seem to be much less of a big deal.  As you said it Dad..in the moment it is your whole world.  Then you look back and it is just a small moment.  The MTC will be a small moment when I look back but an important moment.  I've been working on not being judgmental in my head haha..its hard, especially for girls...but when you take the time to get to know someone you realize how incredible they are and what they have to offer..and most often they are not what you judged them to be!  We tell ourselves that all the time maybe but actually DOING is a whole other story.

So one of the new sisters in our room..she put her papers in about a year ago and was told she needed to lose 34 pounds to come on a mission.  So she worked as hard as she possibly could and a year later is here.  She was so so so grateful to be here, cool to see that fresh perspective.  Because again this is a privilage.  She earned the badge she wears..and because of that it means so much to her. 

A littel insider information--I really like these new sisters but one of them snores ahahaha I knew this was coming!! Surprisingly i've been fine.  We will see if it stays that way.  I consider it training for the day I marry a snorer!!!!

Well if there is one overarching life lesson i've learned thus far, it is...I can do hard things!  Trials are something else...often surprising.  Never ever give up.  Be grateful for it instead.  That is what I am trying to do.  Stay the course ..focus on what you are doing and do it the very best that you can and we will be blessed for that.  Always trust he is there.  I do. Eventhough in the moments where you doubt yourself most it is hard, don't give up on yourself or on him.  The lord doesn't take away our problems he only strengthens us to overcome them when we DO, not just say but DO.

Espanol is coming along.  We are teaching in Spanish..I have my good Spanish Days and Bad Spanish Days but its all about how much I speak it.  We had to teach in English last night.  That was weird.  Kind of rusty I think i teach differently in Spanish.  Simply haha..but im realizing too that simplicity is really the best way.  Simplicity with the Spirit will communicate everything they need to hear.

Well I love you all so much.  Thank you for the letters.  Mom and Dad your letters helped me so much this week.  I am lucky to have some of the best parents in the world.

El Evangelio is true.  I know it.  God loves us more than we could ever imagine!

Have a BUENO week! Mwahhhh...EMAIL HUG

Hermie Holland