Tengo gozo en mi alma hoy

Hola familia y amigos!

We had exchanges on Tuesday! I love exchanges! I was able to go to Logan Square with Hermana Kohlhase while Hermana Dowdle stayed in our area with Hermana Hammond. I had such a great time with Hermana Kohlhase! We learned a lot from each other and we definitely saw miracles. One of my favorite parts was when we went to visit a less active member who doesn't remember a whole lot about the church and usually isn't very interactive when it comes to missionary messages. So for our lesson we focused on the Restoration of the Gospel and towards the end of the lesson I asked her what it meant to her that all these things are true. She said she wasn't sure and instead asked me the same question. I looked right into her eyes and bore my testimony of the truthfulness of this gospel and the innumerable blessings it has brought into my life. The Spirit was so strong and this woman's eyes were locked on mine the entire time I was speaking and I knew that the Spirit touched her heart too. THEN, we were on our way to visit a member and we were running late BUT we made a goal that morning to talk to EVERYONE so we did that on the way. As we were passing out cards Hermana Kohlhase looked through the window of this apartment lobby that we were by and saw another member from the ward! She motioned us to come in so we went to say hi to her and she wanted to show us her new apartment that she had just moved into that day. It was so funny we were like, "Hermana we don't have time we're running late to an appointment." Then she said, "That's ok let me show you my new apartment!" This lady is so adorable, so of course we checked out her new apartment. Then she was telling us that she was going to sleep in her old apartment that night because they hadn't moved the furniture yet, but her daughter took her phone with her so she had no way of contacting anyone to get a ride back home. So good thing we were talking to EVERYONE because then she was able to use our phone and get someone to come pick her up rather than be stranded in her new apartment! Blessings all over the place! 

We had an awesome district meeting on Wednesday! This past week we really focused on Chapter 4 of Preach My Gospel: How Do I Recognize and Understand the Spirit? So we did the activity where someone is blindfolded and they have to follow someone's voice (aka the SPIRIT) to find an object hidden in the room. So Elder Yeates was blindfolded and he was trying to find this little toy panda that we pinned to the ceiling. So of course the "Spirit" told him he needed to get on a chair so he would be able to reach the panda and eventually he reached his goal. It was awesome relating this activity to how the Spirit guides us in missionary work. Sometimes the Spirit will tell us to do things we're not so comfortable with at first, like getting on a chair while blindfolded or talking to a stranger and inviting them to learn about the gospel, but that is how we will learn and find success. Without the Spirit this work is impossible. 

On Thursday we went to volunteer at a food pantry! So that was pretty cool. We'll probably go back this Thursday too. Saturday I got to play piano at a baptism that the Elders had! It was awesome! I love baptismal services. The Spirit is always so strong and it always touches my heart to see the joy of these people who have taken this step to draw closer to our Savior. 

I absolutely loved yesterday. Fast Sunday! We had an awesome, spirit filled testimony meeting that I really enjoyed. I really liked something Hermano Alvarado said, "No preocupe por ser perfectos, pero preocupe por ser mejores." Don't worry about being perfect, but worry about being better. So simple, so powerful! I love it! Then we had dinner with Elder and Sister Christensen! They're the new senior missionaries serving in the office! Time just FLEW with them! They're so sweet! We probably would have talked all night if we could! 

Anyway, this was my week! I'm so excited for tomorrow because we have a MISSION wide meeting with Elder Zwick from the seventy who will address us! Well I hope everyone is doing well! I want the world to know that I know this church is true! This is the Church of Jesus Christ and it has blessed and continues to bless my life immensely. The Atonement of Jesus Christ is very real. I'm so thankful for this time I have to be an official representative of the Savior and to help others have this joy as well. I love you all so very much and I hope you have a great week! 

Alma 29:9-10

Mantener la sonrisa :)

Hermana Knowles

I don't really keep track of what hymns I've already shared so sorry if I repeat some! Haha I love this song! There is Sunshine in My Soul Today! ...and hey there's sunshine outside today too! Blessings all over the place x2! I love Chicago! 

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Tengo gozo en mi alma hoy

1.	Tengo gozo en mi alma hoy,
	que brilla mucho más
	que el sol con todo su fulgor,
	pues Cristo es mi luz.
	Tengo gozo en mi alma,
	donde todo es amor y paz
	y Cristo reina con amor;
	tengo gozo y solaz.
2.	Un canto en mi alma hay,
	canción al Rey Jesús,
	que Él escucha con amor,
	brindándome Su luz.
	Tengo gozo en mi alma,
	donde todo es amor y paz
	y Cristo reina con amor;
	tengo gozo y solaz.
3.	Primavera en mi alma hay,
	y cerca Dios está,
	y en mi corazón, la paz
	que siempre Él me da.
	Tengo gozo en mi alma,
	donde todo es amor y paz
	y Cristo reina con amor;
	tengo gozo y solaz.
4.	Alegría en mi alma hay,
	y siempre gran amor
	Por bendiciones que me da,
	a Él daré loor.
	Tengo gozo en mi alma,
	donde todo es amor y paz
	y Cristo reina con amor;
	tengo gozo y solaz.