"I see my mother in jail..."

HAPPY CONFERENCE!!! WOW I JUST LOVE CONFERENCE. (a direct quote from every missionary email you're getting today) (but for real. I love conference) 

MILAGRITOS:

• Sometimes I feel like the simplest little moments are the biggest miracles in my life. I can't honestly say that I've seen a lot of the Bible type miracles in my life. I haven't seen anyone raised from the dead, I've never seen someone who was blind, finally see, I've never seen someone be miraculously healed. Anyway, I've never seen anything like that (if I think hard enough I really have seen people be saved from death, sick people be healed, and well also I guess glasses exist so thats cool. But that's besides the point.) But if the Lord's hand was in Lazarus raising from the dead, and the Lord's hand was in me and my comp walking along a certain street just in time to help a little old lady find her bracelet, I think I'd call both of those miracles. Because God had His hand in both of them. "The magnitude does not distinguish the miracle, only that it came from God" - Elder Rasband. So I LOVE little miracles, almost better than the big ones, because it's kinda pretty obvious why it would be helpful to raise someone from the dead or make a blind man see or send an angel to tell someone to repent. But the thought that God wants to take part in helping a little old lady find her bracelet? Or give Carlito a picture of Christ? Or send us walking down the street right as Adela was feeling sad? Or help us run into some random rapper dude on the bus three times in a row? It's kinda wholesome. Cause God wants to be there for the big things. But He also wants to be there for the little tiny ones that really, honestly, we could have lived our lives without them. He's kinda like a dad who gives his son a brand new nice car, but also every time he goes to the store he grabs his favorite candy bar for him. But like a million times better than that. But He makes those little miracles happen, and He continues to, for every person, everywhere, billions and billions of times over. Every minute of the day. He's so cool. I kinda love Him. 

• ANYWAY after that rant. Here's one of my lil miracles of the week. We were watching conference with the SWEETEST family, who have a 6 year old kid. He's a bit of a wild dude but genuinely one of the cutest kids in the world. And during conference he's back flipping off the couch, asking for ice cream, pulling his mom's hair, ya know, the usual from 6 year olds. And then he turns to one of us and says "wait, did the church exist before Jesus came to earth?" And we told him yes and then he said "but.... how?" Which made me just grin from ear to ear cause he really was thinking about the gospel and about prophets and Christ and things. And also, his parents really did well because he knew, if he knew nothing else, that Christ is at the center of this church. And so we took a minute to explain it to him, until he understood and he went right back to doing his backflips. And yet there was something small and incredible and miracle-ly about that little moment for me. Good work Mateo. 

THINGS THAT MADE ME LAUGH:

• Ya know how people tell us "hello!" All the time instead of "Hola!"? Yeah I'm used to it now. But this week some dude walked past us and said "aloha!" And honestly when I tell you both me and my comp did a double take at that one, it was hilarious. Whatta dude. 

• The one lil moment in conference where (i dont remember his name please forgive me) said "....she married one of my best friends" and the absolute laughter that came out of him. It brought me such joy. I love funny people and I love even more people who find themselves funny. Good work man with amazing accent who I can't remember his name.

• The opening song of the first conference was "love at home" and the first line of that is "I see my mother kneeling" which in Spanish is "Veo a mi madre hincarse" which Mateo (lil dude from earlier in the email) took upon himself to say I LOVE THIS SONG and sing "veo a mi madre en carcel" which sounds quite similar but actually means "I see my mother in jail." So.... that made my life. 

• My comp served her last mission in El Paso Texas, who apparently are in great need of a temple. And she has been talking all week about hoping so bad to get a temple in El Paso, and if any of yall watched conference, El Paso did not get a temple. And I don't think I've seen anyone so depressed in my life. Ahaha she laid on a floor for an hour last night mourning. It was like a break up. Go on a mission folks. You'll really really get attached to your people haha. 

SPIRITUAL THOUGHT: 

Okay yeah so to be honest I have no idea what to do with my spiritual thought. There were so many spiritual thoughts crammed into my brain and heart this weekend. So... I guess my spiritual thought has got to be WATCH CONFERENCE!!! Did you watch it?? REWATCH IT?? Do you know what so many people would give to have one more page of the Bible? Just that much more direction from God? And here we are. With words not only from the Lord to the ancient people, but to you. Individually. Straight from the heavens directly to your heart. And the only way to recieve that revelation is to watch it or read it or listen to it or do whatever you need to but absorb those words. We have a prophet on the earth today. I don't think most of us understand the magnitude of that statement. It means God still loves us. It means God still loves YOU. It means we need Him just as much (if not more) than they needed Him thousands of years ago. It means we still need to rely on Him. It means He's still merciful. It means He is EXACTLY who He says He is. I'm so grateful for our prophet and a God who keeps His promises. The church is true. And if you're thinking about going on a mission, maybe possibly (please please please) do it. You'll change eternities. 

LOVE YALL!! WATCH CONFERENCE!! READ YOUR SCRIPTURES!! CHOOSE THE RIGHT!! CHOOSE JOY!! (those last two are kinda the same thing) HAVE A GOOD LIFE!!

- hermana allen