Saludos From Chi-Town!: September 23rd, 2013 Mundelein, IL

Hello Everyone!

What a solid week! Here we go!

1. Transfers on Tuesday. Nuts. We had 2 Hermanas leave and....9 come in! 39 Missionaries all together. Did everyone catch that? 39 missionaries! Our mission opened 15 new areas and created 2 new zones. This is "the wave"! And here's the thing, we're getting another group the same size next transfer, maybe even a little bigger! The work is moving forward!

2. At our MCM meeting (with our Ward mission leader and ward missionaries) we talked about the less-actives and how we need to be focusing more on strengthening them and getting them back where they belong. WITH US! It makes me a little sad that I mentioned a few different less-actives in our area that we visit with...and none of them even recognized the names! Granted, there are a lot of them (We had ward conference yesterday, and they informed us we have about 110 people there every week........and 230+ more that don't come. What a ratio!). Hopefully we can change that!

3. Taught about the Law of Chastity to Jaime on Saturday. Woof. Let's just say I was not looking forward to this one. Is that bad to say? Not because I was scared for myself, or personally feeling uncomfortable, but because I wasn't sure how he'd react to it. Point is, I had my lovely sidekick(s), Antonio, Hmno y Hmna Quevedo (Jessica's Parents), Hmna Escobar, and of course, the Holy Ghost. It was awesome! My favorite part? When I asked Antonio, very simply, what the Law of Chastity means to him. After struggling for words for a second or two, he said it means to not have sex before/outside of marriage. Before I could jump in and fill in the blanks, Jaime did so! He went on about how it's so much more than that- it all starts with thoughts and the "little actions that lead to the big ones". Bless his heart. I love when I don't have to do the teaching in these types of situations- the Spirit had obviously already done it. He's so prepared! Side note. He was at church again yesterday- and we're hoping to get him to come to a baptism this Saturday that the Elders are having. Felicidades!

4. Again, ward conference was yesterday and it was awesome! Favorite message I learned, came from our combined 3rd hour class - which was taught by one of the councilors in the Stake Presidency. We started off reading in Mark 10:17-21 about the rich man who wanted to follow Christ but wasn't willing to sell off his riches, like Christ had commanded him to do. That was pretty much the lesson in nut shell. Everyone has one thing, big or small, that he/she knows needs to be changed or given up. What are we willing to give up? What are we willing to do to show our loving Heavenly Father that we want to follow Him and Jesus Christ? Just like the rich man, if Christ asked you to do it...would turn away (?) or would you do it? Develop the faith and humility to do it, even if you don't know why. We then turned to Mark 1:16-20, when Christ came to the Sea of Galilee and told the men to leave fishing and follow Him. They had the commandment...and they followed. No questions asked.

I'm thankful for the things I've learned, and more importantly, have

experienced out here. There's nothing like it.

Love you all so much!