November 25, 2013
Hello
Family!
I hope all is well. I am
great! In answer to your question, yes, my heart has been acting up again and I
have had several episodes in the past two weeks. The mission doctor would like
me to go to the cardiologist here just to check up and make sure that everything
is ok. That is why they need the papers, just so they don`t have to do some of
the same tests over again. Yes, I believe that those three papers are what they
need. If you can, scan them and send them through email. Hna. Erickson said that would work too. . But yes. Don`t worry, I`m fine :)
In other, much more exciting news,
You`ll never guess who came to visit our mission this last weekend?! Elder
Russell M. Nelson! He was here in Peru and they were supposed to be leaving for
Venezuela on Saturday morning. But...their trip was delayed because of some
things going on in their country, entonces, Elder Nelson asked, where should we
go? to Elder Uceda, The area 70 president here and he said, To the Peru Lima
Norte mission! And so, him, his wife, Elder Rasband, and Elder Uceda and his
wife, all came for a special mission conference for our mission. It was probably
the best experience in my whole entire life. I am not even joking. The spirit
was so incredibly strong I can`t even put into words what I felt. We all got
the opportunity to shake all of their hands, and then after I went through the
line Hna Erickson asked me to go up and start playing the piano as kind of a
background music while all the missionaries went through the line. So I was
just sitting up there playing the piano when all of a sudden I looked up and
Elder Nelson was standing RIGHT next to me listening to me play. He stuck his
hand out and looked right at me and said, "Thank you for your beautiful
piano playing Sister" and then he shook my hand again and sat down. I am
pretty sure that was the best moment of my whole life. :)
All of the messages and things we
learned were so inspired. I have so many pages of notes and I wish I could tell
you everything that I learned, but I don`t have a lot of time. But one thing I
absolutely loved was when the scripture in D and C 88:73 was shared. It says, "Behold,
I will ahasten my work in its time."
Elder Nelson told us
that this is the scripture for our generation of missionaries. That we are the
generation that was prophesied about. this is OUR time. And the greatest thing
about that? Is that it isn`t just talking about the full time missionaries! With
the new "Work of Salvation" we are now working fully together members
and missionaries to bring about the work of Salvation. I couldn`t help but feel
a sense of urgency as he was talking. We really are living in the last times.
Another thing that really stuck out to me was when he said, "Write these
numbers down and then save this page for your Grandchildren." He then
proceeded to tell us the numbers of the church in Peru. For example, 100
stakes, 12 missions, 1 temple, and 2 announced. He then said, "I want to
tell you all that this is only the beginning" We haven`t seen nothin` yet.
:) And that one day we will be able to show this page to our grandchildren and
they won’t believe that there were only "100" stakes in Peru.
Ahhhhhhhhh! Doesn`t that
get anybody else excited?! And that is not only here in Peru, but everywhere
around the world. I am just feeling so grateful and excited to be a part of
this. But remember family, even if you aren`t a full time missionary you are
part of it as well! Now is the time to work together.
I don`t have time to
tell you anymore but I will try and tell you more next week. I want to leave
with you a quote from Elder Holland,
"In fact,
I have a theory about those earlier dispensations I have thought often
about them and the destructive circumstances that confronted them. They faced
terribly difficult times and, for the most part, did not succeed
in their dispensations. In short, apostasy and destruction of one kind or
another was the ultimate fate of every general dispensation we have ever had
down through time. But here’s my theory. My theory is that those great men and
women, the leaders in those ages past, were able to keep going, to keep
testifying, to keep trying to do their best, not because they knew that they would
succeed but because they knew that you would. I believe they
took courage and hope not so much from their own circumstances as from
yours. One way or another, I think virtually all of the
prophets and early apostles had their visionary moments of our time—a view that
gave them courage in their own less-successful eras. Those early brethren knew
an amazing amount about us. Prophets such as Moses, Nephi, and the brother of
Jared saw the latter days in tremendously detailed vision. Some of what they
saw wasn’t pleasing, but surely all those earlier generations took heart from
knowing that there would finally be one dispensation that would not
fail. Ours, not theirs, was the day that gave them “heavenly and joyful
anticipations” and caused them to sing and prophesy of victory. Ours is the
day, collectively speaking, toward which the prophets have been looking from
the beginning of time, and those earlier brethren are over there still cheering
us on! In a very real way, their chance to consider themselves
fully successful depends on our faithfulness and our victory.
I love the idea of going into the battle of the last days representing Alma and
Abinadi and what they pled for and representing Peter and Paul and the
sacrifices they made. If you can’t get excited about that kind of assignment in
the drama of history, you can’t get excited!" Elder Holland, Terror,
Triumph and a Wedding Feast.
One last thing. Elder Nelson left us with an apostolic blessing.
In it was included a blessing of health. I know that everything with my heart
will be OK. I`m not worried :)
I love you all and hope you have a wonderful week.
Con mucho amor,
Hermana Shelton
Pictures:
Peru has been good to me. If the scales are correct I`ve lost
about 15 pounds :)
My first companionship reunited for the very last time at the
mission conference with Elder Nelson. Hna Mamani finishes her mission next
week. I`m gonna miss her way too much.
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