Elder Dallin H. Oaks came to visit the Texas McAllen Mission this week and we had interviews with Presidente Maluenda on another day of the week. Through all the meetings and experiences this week, I have learned a lot about personal revelation, we get prompted to do things or say things ALL THE TIME. We just often are too slow to react or do anything with what we receive...revelation doesn't need to come on a soapbox or in a vision, they can be small clever snippets of happiness. Meetings are long and obnoxious in the mission, for the most part. But also they can be great times to get those snap shots of ideas to help improve. Started the week with zone meeting on monday and then had tuesday full of service activities - we made 60 oatmeal cookies during our morning companionship study. Then wednesday we had a full day of interviews - basically a full day of trainings on how to be a more effective, happier "missionary" but everything we learn during these trainings perfectly applies to regular life. (coolest training: time yourself when you read 2 Nephi 4: 16-19; hasta "...my sins" and it should be somewhere around 18 seconds : this is how long it took Nefi to whine and then change his attitude, we can all give ourselves 18 seconds before we should just start listing the things that we are grateful for. simple enough right?) Thursday and friday we had some of our investigators get interviewed for baptism and that was absolute chaos. I still believe that agency is the absolute best gift that we have been given. Everyone should be more aware of the little decisions that we make and own them. Happiness is that we can take credit for who we become... and this leads me to saturday! Elder Dallin H. Oaks came and spoke to the whole mission in McAllen. That meant another 6 hours in the car for us here in Laredo... but worth it. "You are responsible to ESTABLISH..." -Elder Oaks was talking about establishing the church in the areas that we serve but this phrase also is a huge principle of the reason we are on earth. Establish means: "to set up a structure or corporation on a firm foundation" "to show something of truth, prove" We have to establish our lives, we have to set them up on firm foundations and have integrity, show through our works the things that we say and believe. We are responsible for how we establish our lives. Last quote, "Adversity is mandatory but misery is optional." Love from Laredo, H. Crawford