Week 25: tender chicken

This week has been one full of ups and downs. Man I don't even know where to start, so I am just going to type as fast as I can. I hope that this gibberish makes some sort of sense when it all comes out.

We had transfers this week! I said goodbye to my "mom", Hna Snowsen and said hola to my new companion Hna Ryan! Man she is so cool! She is a convert of 3 years. The thing that is most amazing to me is her testimony. It is so strong and she has such a desire to share the gospel with everyone! Her mom and grandparents are straight from Spain. She is the middle of three chilren. She doesn't really have any support at home. Very very little. So all the love that can go to her would be amazing! rebecca.ryan@myldsmail.net She is 23 and she has almost graduated from college. She is studying art! So she does movie stuff, like animation and everything. super duper cool! She has been out on the mission the same amount of time that I have, so we go home together! We are a super young companionship, but it is so much fun! Hna Ryan is the bomb! And she always says "tender chicken!" hahahaha it is so so so funny!

Big event number two..... I hope you all remember Genoveva. She is the light and life of my world right now. Before Hna Snowden left we taught her about the Holy Ghost again and it was amazing! Genoveva knows what the spirit is and recognizes it more that a lot of other people and she is only 9! So for those of you who don't know, Genoveva's mom, Hope, had a court trial for the custody of her kids this week. Long story short. Hope lost all of her kids. Genoveva is gone. I'm not going to lie to you all. This absolutely broke my heart. I have never felt more heartbroken. Talking to Hope about everything that happened was one of the hardest things I have done. Knowing that I wont get to see Genoveva's face light up when we go see her and teach her. I won't get to see her run up to me and give me a hug and tell me that she loves me. Man.... It is hard. But when hard things happen, God is always right there and he finds ways to open doors that you never thought could ever be opened. As I was talking to Hope about everything that happened, and as I was completely heartbroken, this overwhelming love for Hope filled me from head to toe and I knew at that point exactly what could heal her broken heart. The Book of Mormon. I quickly acted on this prompting of the spirit and explained and testified of the power of the Book of Mormon. I asked her to read it. We also asked her if she would like a blessing. She agreed, so the next day we came back with the elders and they gave her a priesthood blessing. I don't think yall realize how huge this is. When I first met Hope she straight up told us that we could teach Genoveva, but that she didn't want anything to do with us. She loved her daughter, but didn't have any desire to learn about the church at all. As time went on, she slowly warmed up to us. But this was a crowning moment. For her to confide in us and love us and let the elders give her a blessing was a miracle. A tender mercy of the Lord. She also told us that she read the Book of Mormon all night! The Lord has his way of helping people. Hope left for Texas on Sunday to go fight for her kids back.

I am still super heartbroken, but I know without a doubt that the Lord has a plan for this family. I know that someday I will get to see Genoveva again and get to teach by her side. I testify to yall that the Lord is real. He loves us. He has a plan. There is no way we can know that plan, but we can trust him. He knows all and he loves unconditionally. I know that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is what brings real and lasting happiness to our lives. I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God. I know that miracles happen today. I know that I will get to hug Genoveva again, and I look forward to that day.

Well.... now I have to wipe all the tears off my face, but I love you all so much!

Hna Hilton

My favorite person in the whole stinking wide world!

I love this family so much. 
(these pictures are old, but I feel that it is appropriate to send them again :) )