Russell M. Nelson!

This week was probably the hardest of my whole mission. I learned SO much...but it was tough, because I had to learn these lessons in a hard way that will change me for good. One day I will tell you everything that happened, but in a nut shell I learned the Lord has a plan for everyone...and we must be humble, and drop our pride, and THEN he can help us.  THEN he will give us the peace that we need to carry on. "Doubt your doubts, before you doubt your faith." -President Utchdorf

One thing that was ABSOLUTELY amazing that happened this week is that Elder Russell M. Nelson, and Sister Nelson came to visit our mission!! They came with Elder Rasband, and the area president as well. The talks they gave were absolutely incredible. Sister Nelson is one of the most intelligent wonderful women I have ever met...and it was actually quite hysterical my experience with Elder Nelson...I walked up and shook his hand, and he looks me in the eyes, looks down at my name tag and says..."Elder Stone!"....I just smiled and he said..."Oh...excuse me...Sister Stone." HAHAHA. Also...I didn't have words so I just laughed and said..."Como esta?" Okay...seriously Carli? What country are you from? His wife said..."Where are you from?" And I laughed and said..."California." And that was it. It was pretty funny. But our mission president sent a bus down to Tacna...the 40 missionaries here got on the bus at 1:30am, and we arrived at 9am in Arequipa...just in time to see Elder Nelson.

This week was had a baptism that was completely prepared...we have an investigator who is awesome...his name is Christian, and he´s 20.  He wanted so badly to be baptized, and we had his interview and everything planned, but with our last minute trip to Arequipa for Elder Nelson we had to reschedule his baptismal interview for Saturday RIGHT before his baptism...unfortunately he had some past sins that he hadn't quite figured out, and he needs to have another interview with someone who has a few more priesthood keys. We had to go in and tell everyone waiting in the baptism that we are going to wait until next Saturday...it was tough, but he showed up for church yesterday with an even deeper desire to change...and I know that this will be a blessing for him.

I am learning this week...I am learning what the Lord wants for me, and I am learning that He knows better than I know my capacity. I know He loves me, and I know that through others He answers our prayers...I know that this is His work.  I know that this mission is hard because we grow.  The Lord can do this work on his own, but he calls us because He wants to teach us how to be more like Him and prepare us to be Gods too.  He sent His son for US.  He suffered so we could be happy and enjoy this life...no matter what trails we face.  "God be thanked for the matchless gift of his divine son."

I am thankful for all of you this Thanksgiving week.  Love you all!

Sister Carli Stone

PS. UNO! Yes...I won...twice. Here in Perú you can play a "red skip" on a "green four"....
no entiendo.