Preparation and El Espíritu

Hola!

I hope that all is well wherever you may be reading this from. This was a great week again at the CCM in Peru. One highlight is from Sunday, we're supposed to write a 5 minute talk each week about a specific subject, this week was the Holy Ghost, or El Espíritu Santo. And as I prepped my talk Sunday morning, (bad idea, do it earlier) I had written down in Spanish this, "Espíritu" and I found three scriptures in English and had an idea of what I wanted to say, then it was time to sing the prelude, in other words, no more prep time. Oops. Because last week I had a really awesome talk planned out about Baptism. And didn't give it since it's just picked by inspiration over the pulpit each week. Though last week I knew I'd be speaking this week. And I had a chance or two to prep earlier in the week, but didn't. So after we were done with the first part of Sacrament Meeting, Elder Hansen the 1st councilor in the Branch Presidency gets up and thanks people for help, then says something like this, "Now we'll have the pleasure of hearing from these missionaries in this order. From the Cusco mission [my thought, YES! No eye contact! It's Elder Boelter! HAHA!...] Elder [OH NO! IT'S ME!!!!!] Fincher." *thump, thump, thump* goes Elder Fincher's heart, head, ears, brain, body, all of him.... "And then Elder Murri...." *doesn't hear anything else....sits down up front*

Then Elder Hansen sat down and I got up, in front of the whole zone, the size didn't matter though, it was the unpreparedness. But I started and just opened my mouth. I talked about the Holy Ghost, in Spanish, and yes I had to ask for Spanish scriptures since I'd forgot mine, but I talked about what I had intended to, shared a couple scriptures and then I sat back down. I really never look at the clock before I speak, but I ended at 9:25, so whenever I started until then. But afterwards people told me I did a good job with it, they were legitimately surprised that my notes in Spanish were, "Espíritu". I had to reach out and say each word as it came, but the Spirit does bring all things to your remembrance as it says in John. (14:27?) But when ye are prepared, ye shall not fear. (look for that reference please, D&C I think) That was the big lesson I learned, again. The Spirit is the comforter, but He might let you learn a lesson. So, prepare and go by the Spirit.

Other than that experience there were a couple other interesting times, but that was the highlight of the week.

Keep being awesome and live the gospel! Read the Book of Mormon and then ponder and pray about it. As you do those three things the Spirit will manifest the truth of the book itself, that Jesus Christ is the Redeemer and Savior of the world, that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God and that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the kingdom of God on the Earth today. (BoM Intro, last two paragraphs) Hasta luego!