"Be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason for the hope that is in you." Pual‏ (Photos at end)

Dear Family,

I kind of forgot it was Thanksgiving this week until you all mentioned it in your emails. HAPPY THANKSGIVING! Honestly, half the time I can`t remember what season or month it is because the weather is opposite to what I`m used to, and the fact that it`s Thanksgiving or Christmas doesn`t change a thing about the things I do. Ha. Anyway, I`m so glad you`ve invited people over for Thanksgiving dinner. I see the whole world differently as a missionary, and I see more clearly than ever that life is really about what we do for others. I`m so thankful I have parents who understand that. 

Dad, how great you went on a campout with the young men. Even though there are just a few YM, it is so worth it to make the effort to do actitivies like that. And I loved your lost wedding ring story. It had me thinking about what I have learned about prayer here on the mission, because I pray for soooo many things and many times what I ask for is not what I get. But I absolutely believe with all my heart that God hears and answers every prayer, it`s just that sometimes the answer is no, and sometimes the answer is yes, and sometimes the answer is yes, but we have to wait a while until we get it. Like any responsible parent, he doesn`t give us everything we want right when we ask for it. And yet other times he answers us with exactly what we want, faster than we can believe. Like yesterday when it started raining in the morning, and I knew that if it kept raining NO one would go to church. I prayed that it would stop and that Marian would come to church so Eduardo could get confirmed, and what do you know, the rain stopped, and we had more people at church than we have had in almost 2 months, and Eduardo got confirmed. God answers prayers. :) Whether they be prayers for help with the subjunctive in Spanish, or prayers for help finding a lost wedding ring, or prayers asking to know if the Church of Jesus Christ is true, or prayers that a less active will come to church, or prayers that a disruptive child will settle down, or prayers that the Spirit will touch the heart of a rebellious son, or prayers for help with overwhelming problems at work, or prayers to be happy when nothing goes how you planned, or prayers to know if you should go on a mission......God hears and answers. 

Eduardo is Marian and Jorge`s 9-year-old son, who is such a good boy. His parents still aren`t married and he just couldn`t wait to get baptized, he was dying to! We thought it would be a good motivator and example for them if he got baptized, so he did on Saturday! He is so prepared and I have high hopes for him. I used to think that baptisms of kids were for some reason less significant, but really, I think they are the best. If they have the support they need, they have so much potential in the church. I hope he paves the way for his 3 younger brothers and his parents, and they become an eternal family with 4 missionary sons. 

Something pretty special was that yesterday in our branch we had a surprise visit from an area Seventy, Elder Digiovanni. I thought he was one of the THE seventy, so I explained to Marian that Christ is the head of the church, then there`s the prophet, then 12 apostles, then seventy men who are called to represent the church throughout the world. He helped confirm Eduardo, which was special for him. I talked with Elder Digiovanni for a bit and told him some things that he should talk to our branch pres about. 

Mom, I laughed too, about Mrs. Giles being in mourning about Mitt`s loss (I heard Mitt won the popular vote, Obama just won the electoral vote, is that not the case?). And Carrie, I laughed so much last week at your email about Ethan telling the whole world about Obama`s lack of values....haha, what a great kid. I hope he has that same courage as a missionary. Today as I was crammed onto a bus with way more people than it should legally be able to occupy, I looked out over the sea of people and thought about how their lives would be so different with an understanding of the gospel. I was the only one on that whole bus who is sealed to my family for eternity (even Hna. Quito isn`t). I wanted to just shout to everyone on that bus, as Ethan shouted to everyone in the grocery store about Obama, that the gospel of Jesus Christ has been restored, and that there is hope in the world thanks to our Savior`s and His hand that is always stretched out to us. But, I didn`t have the guts. Sin of omission, surely. 

Hna Quito and I finished our first change together (changes are 6 weeks). We contacted 714 people, taught 84 lessons, 65 more lessons with member, and contacted 49 references. And had one baptism. That is a lot of work for one baptism. But if that`s what it takes, that`s what I will DO!

Here in Paraguay there are signs everywhere, on houses, stores, fences, that say, "Gracias San Expedito por los favores recibidos." They are thanking a saint for the blessings that they have received, from him supposedly. It breaks my heart to see people thanking a person when it is GOD who has blessed them. This Thanksgiving, I encourage all of us to take the time to thank God for every blessing we have. I am going to recognize Thanksgiving with the most comprehensive list I can make of all the blessings I have. Well, I will start one. It will probably be a lifelong work. 

I am so thankful I have the privilege to be a missionary for Jesus Christ. I thank God for that opportunity in almost every prayer. It is so much more of a privilege than a sacrifice. I am so eternally grateful to have been born to the parents I have, to have been born at a time when the gospel is on the earth, to have been raised in the gospel in a wonderful ward, and to have a knowledge of what is most important in life. I am so thankful for Jesus Christ and the hope He offers us, the enabling power His atonement gives us, and the shot at eternity we all have thanks to His great sacrifice. I am thankful for the Spirit that guides, protects, inspires,  and even improves Spanish abilities. These are my greatest blessings. 

If, for some reason you have a hard time being grateful this year, here are some ideas that I can give you:

-You don`t have to deal with borrachos (drunk men). 

-You live in a country where the Church is incredibly strong.

-You have constant electricity and running water.

-You can read, write, learn.

-You can speak English.

-You live in a fairly mosquito-free area.

-You most likely don`t have to carry all your groceries home from the store.

-You have never gone hungry in your life. 

I don`t have time to finish, but you get the idea. I am so thankful for each member of my family, and for everyone who has sent me emails or letters, and for everyone who supports me. I am truly more blessed than I could possibly ever deserve. I am overwhelmed with gratitude. 

Your grateful daughter/sister/friend/missionary,

Hermana  Faith Goimarac

"May we realize and understand how close to us He is willing to come, how far He is willing to go to help us, how much He loves us, and how much He is willing to do for us." Thomas S. Monson‏

Queridos,

Hope! Welcome back to the U.S. this week! Buen viaje!

Thank you for filling me in on the news, as sickening as it is. I honestly didn`t at all know that Obama had won, and politics was the last thing on my mind. But on Friday we had to go to Asuncion to do migrations (I had to sign my name about 5 times and get my picture taken.....such a waste of a day but it had to be done to stay in the country, I guess) and I got to talk to other missionaries while we waited. It wasn`t until then that I heard Obama won, and I honestly felt sick to my stomach. I really thought Mitt would win. I`m always so naive. I always think things will just go great, and then I`m always devastated. It happens on a daily basis, you`d think I would learn to expect the worse, but I never do. Anyway, I`m thankful for the gospel perspective we have to help us through times like these. What makes me really sad is to see our country vote for same-sex marriage, by the popular vote. ¿What is this world coming to? Surely the last days.

Training is going great. Hermana Quito is progressing very well, and we are really mejorando juntos (improving together). I am so thankful for the opportunity I have to train, because I learn so much and push myself a lot more in order to be a good example. We truly talk to everybody. We each contacted 79 people this week, our district leader couldn`t believe it. We want to be more receptive to the Spirit, so we fasted this week to know what we need to do to purify ourselves, to be worthier conduits. I made a list of things that make it harder for me to feel the spirit. At first it was difficult to make a list, because I was trying to think of things I should give up. I thought, "I literally gave up everything the last time I did this. I have nothing left to give." But I realized that when I think negatively or become stressed about not having had a baptism this change or that people aren`t going to chruch, or when I complain to myself, I am distancing myself from the spirit. It was interesting to me, dad, that Elder Eyring spoke about being optimistic. It is a gospel principle we forget sometimes. It hasn`t been a struggle for me to be optimistic before, but I have learned that pessimism really does drive away the spirit. Hna Quito is very serious laughter and humor is pretty scarce in our relationship (mostly because of the language barrier). But I have been working on that and we are happier. I also realized that when I distance myself from the spirit when I feel like I should talk to someone or do something, but ignore that prompting. I feel guilty all day. So that is my motivation to literally talk to everybody. We see a lot of blessings from talking with everyone.
One thing we do is when the alarm goes off at 6:20 in the morning we immediately shout D&C 4:1-4. A little cheesy, yes, but it actually helps so much. When I wake up remembering that a marvelous work is about to come forth and that the field is white.....the whole morning and day is just better. The last thing I feel like doing when I hear the alarm go off is try to remember a scritpure memorized in Spanish, but Elder Holland says that if we wake up as a straight arrow we will be straight arrows all day. So, vale la pena (it`s worth the pain).

This week last year (November 16th) I opened my mission call! It was such a great day, no? I remember how absolutely happy I was. I am eternally grateful I made it on a mission. Last year today I knew nothing about Paraguay, and now I could talk about it for hours and it holds such a place in my heart and always will.

We haven`t been able to catch Osvaldo at home this week except for a 3-minute chat before he had to go...so I don`t have much to say. I don`t think he`s as golden as I thought but igual, thank you for your prayers. We will keep trying. The mission is so full of emotional roller coasters. Like any relationship either ends in a break up or marriage, every person we talk to either has to be dropped or baptized, which means we are either devasted or ecstatic. We really put our hearts out there in the battlefield.

I mentioned that we had to go to Asuncion this week and it was a terribly long trip and waste of time, but the one good thing is that when I was in the mission office I got the package Cameron sent me! Hermana Quito was so touched you sent her things, Cameron. Honestly it was so fun to share that with her. You knew exactly what we needed. Zip lock bags? How did you know those are like gold in Paraguay? And my favorite granola bars with scriptures on them? Genious. You really made our day, on a very tiring day, too. Hermana Quito is so grateful. We took a picture of us with all the stuff you sent, but I can`t send pictures because our internet cafe here is chupa (junk), but I will in the future. Thank you so much and thank you for sending it, mom. It made us so happy!

I have had a lot of really sweet moments as I`ve read the Book of Mormon this week. Even when I`m not reading a verse that is particularly applicable to me I can feel the spirit so strongly that the Book of Mormon is true, that God loves His children and that He gave us this church to guide us. I just know it so much. It is so clear to me. I wish it could be that clear to everyone. I love the gospel so much, it is truly everything to me. My testimony has grown a lot over the past seven months, and even in moments when I feel I should be seeing more fruits of our labors, I feel so much motivation to just work, work, work, and I know that comes from the Spirit. I know He loves each of us and knows us personally, and has a plan for us. Thank you for reminding me of that, mom. I spend all day telling others that God knows them that sometimes I forget it applies to me, too.

Hurrah for Israel! A marvelous work is about to come forth, and as Hope said, "I am SO going to be a part of it."

Much love,
Your Sister Missionary who is currently surviving off cold watermelon,
Hermana Goimarac

Queridos, 

Hope! Welcome back to the U.S. this week! Buen viaje!

Thank you for filling me in on the news, as sickening as it is. I honestly didn`t at all know that Obama had won, and politics was the last thing on my mind. But on Friday we had to go to Asuncion to do migrations (I had to sign my name about 5 times and get my picture taken.....such a waste of a day but it had to be done to stay in the country, I guess) and I got to talk to other missionaries while we waited. It wasn`t until then that I heard Obama won, and I honestly felt sick to my stomach. I really thought Mitt would win. I`m always so naive. I always think things will just go great, and then I`m devastated. It happens on a daily basis; you`d think I would learn to expect the worst, but I never do. Anyway, I`m thankful for the gospel perspective we have to help us through times like these. What makes me really sad is to see our country vote for same-sex marriage, by the popular vote. ¿What is this world coming to? Surely the last days. 

Training is going great. Hermana Quito is progressing very well, and we are really mejorando juntos (improving together). I am so thankful for the opportunity I have to train, because I learn so much and push myself a lot more in order to be a good example. We truly talk to everybody. We each contacted 79 people this week; our district leader couldn`t believe it. We want to be more receptive to the Spirit, so we fasted this week to know what we need to do to purify ourselves, to be worthier conduits. I made a list of things that make it harder for me to feel the spirit. At first it was difficult to make a list, because I was trying to think of things I should give up. I thought, "I literally gave up everything the last time I did this. I have nothing left to give." But I realized that when I think negatively or become stressed about not having had a baptism this change or that people aren`t going to church, or when I complain to myself, I am distancing myself from the spirit. It was interesting to me, dad, that Elder Eyring spoke about being optimistic. It is a gospel principle we forget sometimes. It hasn`t been a struggle for me to be optimistic before, but I have learned that pessimism really does drive away the spirit. Hna Quito is very serious; laughter and humor are pretty scarce in our relationship (mostly because of the language barrier). But I have been working on that and we are happier. I also realized that when I distance myself from the spirit-- when I feel like I should talk to someone or do something, but ignore that prompting-- I feel guilty all day. So that is my motivation to literally talk to everybody. We see a lot of blessings from talking with everyone. 

One thing we do is when the alarm goes off at 6:20 in the morning we immediately shout the words to D&C 4:1-4. A little cheesy, yes, but it actually helps so much. When I wake up remembering that a marvelous work is about to come forth and that the field is white all ready to harvest.....the whole morning and day is just better. The last thing I feel like doing when I hear the alarm go off is try to remember a scritpure memorized in Spanish, but Elder Holland says that if we wake up as a straight arrow we will be straight arrows all day. So, vale la pena (it`s worth the pain). 

This week last year (November 16th) I opened my mission call! It was such a great day, no? I remember how absolutely happy I was. I am eternally grateful I made it on a mission. Last year today I knew nothing about Paraguay, and now I could talk about it for hours and it holds such a place in my heart and always will.

We haven`t been able to catch Osvaldo at home this week except for a 3-minute chat before he had to go...so I don`t have much to say. I don`t think he`s as golden as I thought but igual, thank you for your prayers. We will keep trying. The mission is so full of emotional roller coasters. Just as any relationship  ends in either a break up or marriage, every person we talk to either has to be dropped or baptized, which means we are either devasted or ecstatic. We really put our hearts out there in the battlefield.

I mentioned that we had to go to Asuncion this week and it was a terribly long trip and waste of time, but the one good thing is that when I was in the mission office I got the package Cameron sent me! Hermana Quito was so touched you sent her things, Cameron. Honestly it was so fun to share that with her. You knew exactly what we needed. Zip lock bags? How did you know those are like gold in Paraguay? And my favorite granola bars with scriptures on them? Genious. You really made our day, on a very tiring day, too. Hermana Quito is so grateful. We took a picture of us with all the stuff you sent, but I can`t send pictures because our internet cafe here is chupa (junk), but I will in the future. Thank you so much and thank you for sending it, mom. It made us so happy!

I have had a lot of really sweet moments as I`ve read the Book of Mormon this week. Even when I`m not reading a verse that is particularly applicable to me I can feel the spirit so strongly that the Book of Mormon is true, that God loves His children and that He gave us this church to guide us. I just know it so much. It is so clear to me. I wish it could be that clear to everyone. I love the gospel so much, it is truly everything to me. My testimony has grown a lot over the past seven months, and even in moments when I feel I should be seeing more fruits of our labors, I feel so much motivation to just work, work, work, and I know that comes from the Spirit. I know He loves each of us and knows us personally, and has a plan for us. Thank you for reminding me of that, mom. I spend all day telling others that God knows them that sometimes I forget it applies to me, too. 

Hurrah for Israel! A marvelous work is about to come forth, and as Hope said, "I am SO going to be a part of it."

Much love,
Your Sister Missionary who is currently surviving off cold watermelon,
Hermana Goimarac

"Rejoice, for though we may seem to be encircled, in fact we are not." Neal A. Maxwell

Dear Family,

What a fun week it sounds like you had in Mexico! It was so cute to read about Melanie loving the sea shells. I`m so glad you went. It`s important to take trips.

So how are politics????? Someone tell me! It`s November 2012 and I know NOTHING. It`s killing me. Who`s winning? Also, whenever anyone this week learned I`m from the estados unidos, they said there were strong winds there. I asked where and they just shrugged and said in the United States. It sounds like there was a hurricane in New Jersey? Is everyone ok? Just curious. I love America, what can I say.

Also, some missionaries talk about sending Christmas presents home and stuff.....sorry if you`re expecting something because I have no money and no time to send anything. It would be pretty awesome to send you something Paraguayo, but you`ll have to wait 11 more months. Hopefully I`ll have a baptism between now and Christmas and that will be the best present of all, no? Less than two months until I can talk you all on Skype! So excited!

Last Sunday as we were leaving the house headed for a with-member lesson with Marian and Jorge, I had the impression to take a Book of Mormon with me. I usually always forget to have one on hand in my bag. And it didn`t make sense to take one to a lesson with Marian who already has a Book of Mormon. But as we were walking to her house, we passed a young father in our neighborhood out putting ant killer on a tree. I decided to ask him his name because, well, he is our neighbor and I haven`t met him yet. Before even knowing who we are or what church we represent, he invited us to sit down.  He said, "You share the word of God, no?" I answered that yes we did, and told him we are missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (I`ve said that at least 1 million times by now but I love it every time, still). His name is Osvaldo and his boss at his work in Asuncion is a member, he said. Osvaldo said he used to be Catholic just because his mom baptized him into the church, but that a year ago a co-worker invited him to an evangelical church called Buenas Nuevas (Good News) in Caacupe, and he was pretty much born again, and is a die-hard believer now. We didn`t have much time but we shared the first lesson in about 10 minutes with his beautiful wife and two little children, and he had a lot of questions about Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon, and I gave him the Book of Mormon that I conveniently had, thanks to the Spirit.  He is SOOOO golden! We left walking on air that we had found a beautiful family, a true answer to many prayers.

We went back on Thursday and he said that he had read the introduction to the Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith`s testimony, and he loved how Joseph Smith talked so much of Jesus Christ, because anything and everything that has to do with Christ he loves. He respects us as missionaries so much. He just thinks it is so admirable that we dedicate our lives to this. He was like, "I mean, the United States!? That is so far away! And to leave your family! You two are like the apostle Paul!" Hna Quito wisely explained in four words why we do what we do, "Porque es la verdad"  (Because it’s the truth).  We left him 3 Nephi 11 to read and asked him to pray.

We went back on Saturday to invite him to church, and he was a little hesitant about everything. He said that when he reads the Bible it touches his heart and he knows it is from God, but the Book of Mormon is just another book, written by men. I asked him if he had read anything past the introduction, and he admitted he hadn`t. He is judging the book by the cover, pretty much. He said he told one of his church buddies he visited with us, and I`m pretty sure his friend put some junk into his head. He was doubting a lot in that visit and my heart was sinking. Before we had a chance to invite him to church he told us he was going to his church in Caacupe the next day with his family. But he said that he needs to do some more investigating and said that he just might go to our church on Sunday the next day, alone, because his wife doesn`t like any of this Mormonism stuff. He asked us to pray for him, that he can find the truth. He truly does want to find the truth, which makes him a needle in a haystack. Oh, I hate Satan!!!!

Oh, as we left that visit there was not one thing I wanted in the whole world more than for this man in Paraguay to understand and to feel the truth of the church of Jesus Christ. I was already fasting but I wished there was something more I could have given up to show God just how badly I wanted Osvaldo to feel the Spirit. I have been praying constantly for him ever since. He didn`t come to church, but we are going to visit him tonight. I will keep you posted. But please, please, please, pray for Osvaldo. Pray that he will open his heart and truly feel the Spirit. Pray he will read the Book of Mormon and give it a chance.

We worked sooooo hard this week and put in so many hot, sweaty hours and pushed ourselves to do hard things. We worked a lot with members. We made a lot of visits on Saturday with members because inviting someone to church with a member present makes it easier for them to attend, because they know someone. But even with that and passing by houses to walk to church with investigators, we had no one in church. We`re putting on a special noche de rama (branch night) on Thursday so that members can invite their friends and we can find new investigators. There are never any activities in this branch, because no one has callings! Our branch president is....not super active and is pretty difficult, but we are taking the kill-him-with-kindness approach to motivate him. Anyway, I`m sure this isn`t very interesting to any of you, but for me it`s my life right now.

Yesterday in church I bore my testimony about how when we know we are children of God, everything just makes so much sense. If God is our loving Heavenly Father, of course he will give us a church with all the truths and the authority, of course he will make it possible for families to be together forever, of course he will guide us through prophets, etc. I found myself telling the branch that if they didn`t know that God loves them, they need to pray that night and ask, "Heavenly Father, do you love me?" and promised them they would feel the love of God. It was a great testimony meeting and how I wish we could have had investigators there to enjoy the spirit. But at least I can say, I’m at peace, that we declared the gospel with the sound of a trump and we have cried repentance. We did everything in our power to get people to church.

I love you, family. The more I live on my mission the more I realize how important the family is. Just looking at a picture of a young family in a plan of salvation pamphlet this morning I got emotional thinking about how central the family is in God`s plan. A loving mom,  dad, and children. That`s how it is supposed to be. I am so content to be a missionary right now and I love every minute, but having my own family is what I look forward to the most.

Also, Hope, and every other girl who wants to serve a mission, I found this quote recently that Russell M. Nelson said in 1985, "The influence of the young women of the church, like a sleeping giant, will awaken, rise, and inspire the inhabitants of the earth as a mighty force of righteousness." With thousands of young women turning in mission applications, is prophesy fulfilled or what?! But really, they are just joining the ranks of the already-mighty force of women of the church, whether they be sunbeam teachers or studious newly weds, or stay at home moms, or grandmas raising grandchildren, or the faithful visiting teacher. May we all give a little more to add more might to our mighty force of righteousness!

Quiero que todos sepan que amo a nuestro Salvador, Jesucristo, con todo mi corazon. El es mi fuerza y mi motivacion. Les quiero.  (I want everyone to know that i love our Savior, Jesus Christ, with all my heart.  He is my strength and my motivation.  I love you.)

Your Sister Missionary,

Hermana Goimarac

Life's Best Teachings Are Caught, Not Taught

To Faith's loyal readers--I should have posted this last week, but our family was preparing to go on a trip, and I plumb forgot!  So sorry!

Dear Family,

First things first. Aunt Loretta, happy birthday this week! I am so impressed you`re doing a 55-mile bike ride. Way to gooooo!!!!! Carrie and mom, sean pacientes con ustedes mismas. Estoy muy emocionada hablar con ustedes cuando regreso, solamente que voy a sentir un poco avergonzada porque van a hablar mas correctamente. (Also, Carrie, I about cried with your story about Ethan and the lady at the store.) Mom, I told Hna Quito about how you were overwhelmed with verb tenses and the subjunctive, and she said to tell you, "No se preocupe." She`s right. It`s amazing how everyone understands you even when you don`t use the right tense. I should know, haha. But I also know how you feel and understand. I want to be grammatically correct and fluent so badly. And  want to be that way NOW.

Which brings me to an apology. I feel so bad for any email in which I have even hinted at complaining or saying how things are not going the way I want them to go. If Elder Bednar were to read my email from last week, he probably would have said, "Get over yourself. It is not about YOU. It is not about ME. It never was. It is about HIM." And I whole-heartedly agree.  Every little worry or frustration I expressed last week was resolved and smashed to pieces by what I heard and felt on Saturday with Elder Bednar.  It was very interactive, with lots of question and answer (sounds like you did the same with Elder Anderson last week, dad) because that is how they want US to teach, with the learner being very involved. His main point was that we must ACT to receive revelation, to really learn. We need to involve investigators through asking questions, committing them to read, pray, go to church, and give them opportunities to bear testimony or share how they feel or what they believe. It is in acting that we discover what is truth, and realize what we believe. Teaching is NOT talking, he said. We cannot talk at people like they are objects. We must let them act, not let them be acted upon. We cannot think, "I will be such a good missionary that I will make them believe!" God certainly doesn`t do that to us.We are all agents unto ourselves.

He also said that sometimes perfectly obedient, hard-working missionaries don`t see much success for a while. And they think, "I am being obedient, I think I deserve to see some fruits of my labors. I want to teach lessons, I want to see baptisms." You know what the problem with that is? The I is in the way. Anyway, I could go on but the point is not what Elder Bednar said (as good as it was) but more what I felt. The Spirit was so strong you could have cut it with a knife. Why me? Why do I get such incredible experiences with opportunities to ask apostles questions?

To stand in front of an army of missionaries and an apostle and two mission presidents and lead them in singing ¨"Behold a Royal Army" and sing together, "A vencer, a vencer, a vencer!" Wow. As Elder Bednar walked off the stand he looked at me and said, "Gracias."  I had that same throbbing, flooding of the Spirit  feeling that I felt when I met Elder Holland in Jerusalem. Just overwhelmed and 100% convinced of his authority. It was a day never to be forgotten.  I know that the twelve apostles and prophet of the church are truly led and guided by God himself. How thankful I am to be on the same team as them, we are all in this together, like one big family, all trying to help our brothers and sister partake of the fruit that is sweeter above all that is sweet.

The night before the conference we went to Asuncion and stayed in President`s house. To walk into his home felt like walking into my own home to my own parents (almost, not quite as good but a good substitute considering), or perhaps a little taste of how it will feel to enter heaven`s gates so to speak, welcomed by loving parents in an environment full of the Spirit. We had a lovely dinner and I got to see my old companions. We talked about some talks by Elder Bednar and watched a live interview he had on Paraguay`s national television. As close to a vacation as I will get during the mission, for sure.

Marian and Jorge....didn`t get married because of money issues, yet again. But last night we had such a wonderful lesson with Marian and a member family who also had to get married to get baptized. We put into practice what we learned from Elder Bednar (or, by the Spirit, when Elder Bednar happened to be there, would be more accurate) and simply asked, "Marian, how has your quality of life improved as you have begun living the gospel?" It sparked a very powerful conversation between all of us. She is so committed, even though she has little support from Jorge. I am so excited to watch her grow in the gospel. She is even helping us teach her neighbor. A dry missionary, so we say (one who hasn`t been baptized). Great things are happening, and it`s not at all because of me. It`s alllllllllll God`s work. I just try to be a worthy conduit.

That is why, Hope, you don`t have to feel at all worried about if`you`re prepared enough or good enough to be a missionary, and a successful missionary at that. It has nothing to do with our talents or eloquence or convincing power, or even our bravery at talking to strangers (for example, remember how I used to really squirm at the thought of making a phone call? I avoided it at alllll costs. Now I make many phone calls a day and in Spanish at that, and all of them are hard phone calls when I have to ask someone to do something. But I just do it and it`s ok). It has everything to do with our committment to be obedient, to live worthily, and do our best. God makes up the difference. He gives us the bravery or whatever we need as we exercise faith. You will be an outstanding missionary with your determination. I wrote some letters today to fellow sister missionaries and told all of them how absolutely thrilled I am my sister is going on a mission. You have no idea how happy it makes me. Although, the thought crossed my mind that I am going to have to wait a long time to get married after I get home if you are to be at my wedding. I don`t know if I can promise that.....let`s just hope you can leave in January and just maybe I can wait until July 2014. It`s tempting to wait for you, after all you`re one of two of my siblings who can be at my temple wedding.

Con mucho amor,

Su Hermana Misionera,

the one and only (for now....) Hermana Goimarac