Answers to prayer

Hey familia, This week was really good! Not a whole ton happened, just the usual, but I learned a lot and was very happy this week! This past Sunday was the best I´ve had here. They have all been good, but this Sunday was meant for me. Every part of it was great, but especially when we watched a devotional from Elder Scott. He talked about prayer and about how we get answers. I have been praying since I got here for a few specific things and I felt like I hadn´t gotten an answer until Saturday! I had been slightly frustrated for the past several weeks- I felt like of all the times in my life, right now I should definitely be able to get one... I have power and authority as a missionary and all I do is related to the Gospel, so why couldn´t I get an answer? I had some experiences leading up to this time and I realized what I really needed was to have more faith, and to be okay if I didn´t get an answer when I wanted. Finally, an answer did come. And then in Elder Scott´s devotional he said that when we feel like we aren´t getting an answer, we should be grateful... because it means that the Lord trusts us enough to have faith and act on our own for a while, so that we can grow even more. And an answer will always come, just in the Lord´s timing. It was really cool! I know that Heavenly Father really does answer prayers, and it is important to have complete faith and trust in Him, and then be patient. Yesterday, I had another really great experience. Hermana Valdez decided that we needed to have a district inventory. (We have companionship inventory each week and talk about strengths and weaknesses). It was very needed and very good. Our district, although we have made a lot of progress, as a whole, has not been doing our best. I won´t go into the negative things that have happened in our district, but there is definitely immense room for improvement. Hermana Valdez had us talk and make specific goals for our final week, and then she shared with us part of a talk called the 4th missionary. Super bueno! I will forward it to you... It´s super long, but the important part is the qualities of the 4th missionary. That is what I want to become! I want to give my whole heart, mind, might and strength to Heavenly Father and this work! I only have 17 months to be a missionary and I don´t want to hold anything back!! Don´t freak out, but on Monday I think I got a minor concussion. We were playing volleyball and an elder spiked the ball straight into my head. I am totally fine now but I was pretty sick the rest of that day! It could be worse though... and Elder in our district chipped his tooth playing rugby and had to have stitches and had to go out into the city to a dentist to get it fixed! I wish I could video us playing soccer here. Its like a movie. There is usually Mexican music playing super loudly from outside the wall to top it off! It is so fun! I can´t believe I am on my last week in the CCM! It has gone by very fast although it seems like an eternity ago that I first arrived. I really just want to learn a ton this last week and practice more what I know... Mom, I told you last time that we had an english fast and you said you thought that was how it was all the time anyway... Well, that would certainly be nice, but there are so many Americans here and so we aren´t exactly immersed in the language. We have this thing called Hable Su Idioma (Speak your language) which means we are supposed to as much as possible. We do speak a lot, but its hard because we are all at different levels of understanding and speaking and so we usually have to translate what we are saying. Our conversations are always in spanglish. We don´t have a ton of interaction with the natives either, unfortunately. However, today we went to the temple and I understood even more than last time! Pretty much every word actually! I just need to get better at speaking! We are going to try as a district to do a lot better at speaking Spanish siempre. Ok, so I fly out Wednesday morning at about 6am. Which means I leave the CCM in the middle of the night. I should be able to email you guys on Tuesday, but I don´t know what time yet. It will probably have to be later at night. I´m not 100 percent sure, but from what I´ve heard I should be able to call you guys on Wednesday when I´m leaving also. I need to find out for sure, but I think the only person who probably knows is the President because literally no one can give me a straight answer about if and when I can call. So, if I have any choice in the matter I will call when I get to Texas, but I will have to let you know for sure on Tuesday. Mom, have fun on your trip! I would say just go on Wednesday because I can´t promise a time when I can email you! Sorry!! And as far as the car, just do what you think is best! Pray about it and I´m sure it will all work out! :) I trust ya! Dad, thanks for sharing the stuff about stake conference. Sounds like it was good! Brad and Brooke, Write me! Also, how is puppy pants? Well, I hope you all have a great week! Gracías for your emails! ¡Les quiero! Hermana Pierce