So, You would think...

You would think that in a Catholic country Easter would be a big deal, right? Me too! Turns out, it might be, just, when you´re at the end of the world, you have other things to do...like eat, and not be cold. I kind of forgot all week that it was easter. Which, I would say is unusual, but on the mission I forget about all holidays (or feriado - the spanish word for it hear) unless specificallly told to me by President Gulbrandsen, or my district leader day of (or during weekly planning, if it´s in my agenda, I will remember). We didn´t have any processions, we didn´t have any fiestas, we just had a special reunion based on the Atonement of Jesus Christ like President Monson asked of us. And then we all got a chocolate easter egg after sacrament meeting. That´s what they do here. They give out chocolate eggs, most of them are hollow, the really cool ones have M&M´s inside, I have no idea how they make them. How do they get the chocolate on the inside? I still don´t know. But 2 cool Easter-y things did happen this week. First off, I was asked to speak in sacrament meeting. Whoot. They must really like me to pick me out of the four missionaries that are here (okay, two were brand new to the area, and the other one has already been here for 5 months, so it may not be stretching to much to ask me). Which was fine. I prepared my talk, had the basic idea, and then a recent convert offered to correct my spanish. This was an incredibly humbling experience, as I thought I was kind of good with my spanish, and then she started to correct my talk. What do you mean to say here? What´s that? That´s really complicated and doesn´t make sense......Pucha. My writing eloquence just hasn´t really passed on into my spanish speaking apparently. It´s a lot harder. And then. She didn´t finish editing it and we had to go, so she said she would bring it to church the next day. So I show up to church at 9:45 and she´s not there....what? She ends up calling us at 10:30 (during the meeting, we did not answer). It was a good thing I kept my notes. I will be sending the talk to you, because it was actually really good. It combined a couple of talks from October Conference 2011 by Elder Carl B. Cook and Elder Cristofferson with the other cool thing that happened this week. MISSION EASTER CONFERENCE! Loved it, it was my first conference in the south. Which meant my first time trying to work the internet here. We tried doing it at the Downs house first, but the internet was out so we all had to run to the church, and made it right as the musical number was finishing. Phew! Anyways, President Gulbrandsen talked about a lot of different things, but one example really stood out to me. He had us all close our eyes and envision ourselves entering a room where Jesus was sitting upon His throne. As we walk into the room, Jesus gets down from his throne and runs to greet us and give us a big hug, having returned home from our long journey. After this reunion we spend time together and we go to a museum like courtyard where we see scenes from our lives hanging on the walls. As we pass through our lives together with our Savior, we come to one of the most embarrassing moments of our lives, as we see ourselves sinning. With the Savior by our side we plead for his forgiveness, and with tears in his eyes he tells us that all is forgiven. I really liked this analogy. But I had two very poignant thoughts that I wanted to share with you. The first is when we enter the room where Jesus is sitting, how do you feel? Are you excited? Are you scared? Do you feel worthy to enter into the presence of your Savior? Because if you don´t, you need to study the Atonement again. You need to truly understand the meaning of repentance. (This is what I talked about on Sunday, btw). Because there is nothing in your life that you can do, that would block you from returning to your Heavenly Father if you truly repent. And this is true, real repentance, as in a change in behavior, from the heart, drawing yourself unto Christ repentance. This is why we have the Atonement in our lives, so that we can enter that room with heads held high, and not wait for him to come to us, but for us to want to RUN to him, and with tears in OUR eyes, thank him for all that he has done, for the happiness that we have received, and to feel his emanating love surround us. And to want it. Because we can, because he loves us, because he died for us that we may live again. Point two: when you are in the museum of your life, begging for forgiveness for a sin that you are watching. I don´t want to feel sad. I want to turn to Jesus and say, "Yes. I sinned. This was a terrible moment in my life. But look! Look up ahead, a scene or two. That´s where I repented. That´s where I applied the Atonement in my life. I didn´t reject your gift, the drops of blood you spilt for me were not in vain. Because look! I became a better person, this is who you allowed me to be, to discover. I truly am your disciple." Such an amazing miracle that we have the Atonement in our lives. We are so truly blessed. And then the other day we were at a recent converts house, and they were watching Lord of the Rings II. And right before they turned it off Samwise Gamgee said: "I think I understand now. In all those stories, [the heroes] had so many chances to turn back, but they didn´t. Because they has something to hold on to. They had hope. Hope for a better future, and a better day." As members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we have this hope. We have this knowledge of the Atonement of Jesus Christ and we have the opportunity to share what we know with our family and friends. And we share out of love, not out of contempt, because we truly want this happiness for those around us. Thank you for being a wonderful blessing in my life. I wish you a happy Easter. Felices Pascuas! Go eat a chocolate egg. Hermana Reed Okay, so that was super spiritual. Now I would like to give you some quotes of the week that are hilarious! "The area is always better when I leave. No, I mean it´s better because I´m not there." - Hermana Erickson, my new companion. She gives me hope. "I could convert people with my body if they could se it...but they can´t because I´m wearing to many clothes." - Hermana Erickson after putting on 5 pairs of socks "Hermana´s! You can´t be in an apartment with a man alone can you?" Hermana Marcos (member of the branch) as she was accompaning us for a couple of hours "Right. But we didn´t....you were there." "Oh, right. I was with you." Hermana Marcos is hilarious. She´s 25 and has 2 kids, convert of 4 years ish, and hilarious. She doesn´t want to have another baby because it will delay her and her husband serving a mission together. They love us, and she loves helping the missionaries! "Hey kid! Do you want to get baptized?" - Me, because we wanted to see if he would say yes. Also, we´re reactivating a member who looks like Belletrix Lestrange. She´s happier every time we go back. The church is true. :) Love you!