My highlight of the week this week was Sunday for a few reasons. First of all, it was testimony meeting (because of Conference last week) and that was so amazing again. Almost the entire ward bore their testimonies and each and every one was simple and sincere and in that moment the ward really felt like a family! It was a neat experience and it reminded me that sharing your testimony is one of the most powerful ways of inviting the Spirit and helping others feel the spirit. Speaking of bearing testimonies, I really love the story of Brigham Young. He didn't get baptized into the church until after over a year of learning about the restored gospel and this is what he said about his conversion (buckle up it's a long quote):
"If all the talent, tact, wisdom, and refinement of the world had been sent to me with the Book of Mormon, and had declared, in the most exalted of earthly eloquence, the truth of it, undertaking to prove it by learning and worldly wisdom, they would have been to me like smoke which arises only to vanish away. But then I saw a man without eloquence or talents for public speaking, who could only say, 'I know by the power of the Holy Ghost that the Book of Mormon is true, that Joseph Smith is a prophet of the Lord,' the Holy Ghost proceeding from that individual illuminated my understanding, and a light, glory, and immortality were before me. I was encircled by them, filled with them, and I knew for myself that the testimony of the man was true"
I know for a fact that what he's saying here is true. Many times the testimonies of recent converts are incredibly powerful because, although they might not know as much as someone who has been in the Church their whole life, they are able to share their conviction of a gospel truth through a direct, simple, and sincere declaration of belief. Because of that, I know our testimonies don't need to be eloquent for them to be effective in helping strengthen people. What they DO need to be is shared. I invite you to bear your testimony at the next available opportunity and I promise it will help someone no matter how it might seem to you.
Uh oh I almost forgot to talk about the other part of today! Today was.........Elder Barahona's birthday!!!! We ate lunch ate Hna Andreas' house and she had a surprise cake for him! It was a huge coconut cake with this yummy carmelly stuff in the middle and MMMMM. She didn't have candles and insisted on using matches and so that's what she did. She put like 10 matches all right in the middle of the cake and after we sang, Elder B lit it up and it was a mini firework show! I'll send pictures of that if I have time. Anyways happy birthday Elder Barahona, He's officially 20 now!
This is my favorite quote of the week that I read this week, and it's because I'm trying my best to do what it says. Spanish is hard but the more I learn the better I can connect with and love the people:
"Try to truly feel and see everyone around you as a child of God, laugh with them. Rejoice with them. Weep with them. Respect them. Heal, lift, and strengthen them." - Dieter F. Utchdorf
I hope you all have an awesome week!
Elder Hilton
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