Lesson Learning and Blessing Earning

Hola a todos!

Wow, my blog titles get cheesier every week, I'm so sorry! Hahaha! Hermana Doyle and I went on a fun trip last p-day to downtown Fairfax and so I didn't have much time to write a weekly email but I am alive and well!

We have had a really great few weeks! News is out: I am leaving Little River and will find out this Saturday where I am going next! I am so sad because I have been here for 6 months! 1/3 of my mission. It feels like I am leaving my home ward again. But I am also excited for what is next!

Lesson learned this week: practice what you preach.

In case you haven't heard we had a snowstorm Thursday that was so terrible we couldn't use our cars. Hermana Doyle used the most of our time and walked through the storm for a little to some wonderful lessons! By night time we got permission to use cars for scheduled appointments. We had a lesson with Kat and re-taught the Commandments by playing a buzzer game I made up with a light up toy Aunt Karry sent me when I got my wisdom teeth out. Here's how the game goes; there are either two teams or two people against each other. Hermana Doyle and I take turns explaining a commandment and when the explanation is over the first person to hit their color on the buzzer shares one blessing we get from keeping that commandment. It is always so fun and people get so competitive haha! We were on the last commandment which is to honor and obey the law of the place you live in. In that moment my stomach dropped to the ground as I realized we had forgotten to get a pass for the visitors parking lot in Kat's apartment. Towing here is Virginia and DC is brutal! They are everywhere and they are so quick! We quickly wrapped up and I made a comment that we had forgotten to get a visitors pass. Kat looked concerned and told us to run. My pride got the best of me, this has happened to me before but I have never gotten towed so I was confident it would be there.
We run.
Look around.
And our car is gone.
We are standing outside at 9PM in the middle of the snow with no car.
Hahahaha! Lesson learned people, keep the commandments! They will bless your life and keep you out of bad situations!

Really though, I have been learning a lot about obedience and how important it is in this life. I have seen loved ones and have found myself in sticky situations that could have been avoided had we only kept God's commandments and been obedient. There is a HUGE difference in my life from when I am doing things that are in line when the gospel and when I don't. Preach My Gospel says it perfectly: "Obedience to the commandments brings us peace in this life and eternal life in the world to come. Obedience shows our love for God. Disobedience brings us sorrow." If anyone seeks lasting happiness and peace ask yourself how you can be more obedient to God's commandments and the peace and joy will come! I PROMISE that!

Here's a recap of my last Sunday in Little River: (next Sunday is conference so this is technically my last real Sunday)

• Minnie gave her first talk in sacrament.
• Kat and her husband got a calling!!! 
• Winter's grandmother who came back to church after her baptism gave the lesson in relief society. 
• Amazing investigators came and have been coming regularly since last month and love it! 

It was such a great Sunday. To see the growth of the ward, the recent converts, the less actives... it is so rewarding to see how far these people I met months ago have come as they learn and strive to enduring to the end. I remember how different they were when I met them, some of them wanted nothing to do with us! I was in the back of sacrament watching Minnie give her talk and looking around at some of the most incredible people I have ever met. And when we went over for dinner our sweet Banana ran to show me her faith plant. She explained she has been reading and praying and now her plant is growing. You should have seen the excitement in her little face! This is what missionary work is ALL about. I really felt like I gave this area all I had even if it wasn't much it was enough so that the Lord could do the rest. I will forever cherish my time in Little Rio.

We had our ward Easter activity this week and us and the Elders got to teach the kids about Christ's Atonement through a fun easter egg activity. Inside of each egg was an object that represented a part of Christ's ministry and death. The last egg was empty which represented the tomb after his resurrection. The kids were blown away! hahaha! The easter bunny (Hermano Loza) made a surprise visit and half the kids started crying and screaming ahahaha! I have never laughed so hard in my life. I had a golden picture of Obispo's daughter being forced to take a picture with him. We were happy to though. I am so excited for easter weekend coming up, especially CONFERENCE!!!!

General Conference is this week and I can't wait another second!!! I am so excited! I want to invite you all to take the time this week to listen in God's prophet here on earth today, Russel M. Neilson. Number 6 from the 13 Articles of Faith reads:

"We believe in the same organization that existed in the Primitive Church, namely, apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, and so forth."

As stated in the Bible many times, God has promised to always send prophets to lead and guide his children here on earth. And really, what is there to lose? I invite you all to watch it and to write down any question you have about God, life on earth, personal issues and listen attentively, you will hear your answer in the Conference. I do this every conference and it has strengthened my testimony that these are men called of God and are inspired through revelation. God loves us and knows us and his apostles and prophets are evidence of that in our day.

I know and love the truths in the gospel, I share this because it has made such a huge impact on my life and on the lives of the people I love here in Virginia. I love you all so much! Have a wonderful week and pray it doesn't snow again... jaja!

Love always,

Hermana Tapia