(Hermana S.) I love this work!

It has been a fabulous week!!! Seriously, so great. I just love Actopan so much. It's such a great ward. Let me just tell you, the ward loves us. Haha. Every second I turn around and someone has something to tell us. Sometimes I forget that there are Elders, too (I think the members forget, too). But just as an example of how we cannnnnnnn't do this work without members and their trust in us, this week we had 12 new investigators, 7 from references from the members! We are finally starting to work together in this. Yesterday the Bishop asked me to speak again in church (on family history, I told the story of the first member of the family, Daniel Burbank) and then later in the third hour he asked my companion and me to teach everyone in combined Relief Society and Priesthood how to study efficiently the scriptures like President Egbert has taught us. Great things are happening in Actopan! Eight investigators in church yesterday. I never want to leave!!!

We had zone conference this past week and - wow - it changed my whole life! Presidente taught us how to study in the way of the Lord. You can take any verse from the scriptures and do this, because let us remember that not even the hundredth part could be taken down in the Book of Mormon. If we study this way, we can discover that every verse refers to the Savior and we can strengthen our testimony and relationship with Him. 

1. Ask "What?" What is the context? What do the words mean? What is the message we want to share the prophet? 

2. Ask "Why?" Why this message? Why is it important? Why does it apply to me? 

3. Look for Patterns: There are patterns in the scriptures that are repeated many times. The lives of many people in the scriptures are alike and all point to the Savior. The scriptures show and teach "symbols and figures" of Christ. (Mosiah 3:15) If we seek, we will find them. 

4. Meditate in the Savior: When we learn any principle of scripture have to meditate in Christ. We know that the scriptures teach us concerning His life, mission and facts about Him. When we meditate concerning the principles we learn, the Spirit can teach us and help us know how these principles lead us closer to our Savior. Without meditating, we will not learn by the Spirit and we will forget the principle that was learned. Meditation is essential. 

5. Apply it to myself: Finally, every effective study only becomes effective if a change occurs in the life of the learner. When we learn this way, we realize the need to follow the teaching that we have learned and maybe change some things in our lives. It is through these changes we draw closer to our Heavenly Father and the Savior and we benefit by studying.  

I don't have much time, so I am just going to copy and paste what I wrote to Presidente this morning and you can Google translate it! Or ask someone who knows Spanish or something! Haha. 

El estudio eficaz está haciendo milagros. El día después de la conferencia, me puse a estudiar en la manera que nos enseñó y fue una experiencia muy especial para mí. Yo estudié Mormón 6:1 "Y ahora concluyo mi relato concerniente a la destrucción de mi pueblo, los nefitas. Y sucedió que marchamos delante de los lamanitas." Lo leí y pensé, "Ummm... no creo que sea posible extractar más de esta escritura." Pero, pues ni modo, y estudié en la manera que nos enseñó. Después de meditar un tiempo, mi di cuenta de algunas cosas. Primero, que Mormón en este momento seguramente conocía las predicaciones. Él sabía que iba a ser destruido su pueblo. Entonces, ¿por qué marchó adelante? Hice una lista: su familia, su fe, su libertad, sus antepasados. Y al pensar en el Señor, lo pude relacionar. Obviamente, Jesucristo sabía Su llamamiento. Sabía que iba a sufrir y morir y que iba a ser el momento singular más difícil en todo el mundo. Entonces ¿Por qué lo hizo Él? Por amor. Por obediencia a Su Padre. Para cumplir con todo lo que fue llamado a hacer. Este estudio me ha fortalecido el testimonio del Salvador. Me ha dado una resolución más grande de obedecer y hacer todo lo que fui llamada a hacer. Y esto no es todo, Presidente. ¡Cada día, cada estudio ha sido así de increíble! ¡Gracias por amarnos tanto para enseñarnos esto! 

También, mi compañera y yo hemos aplicado esta enseñanza con las comidas. Toda la semana pasada, enseñamos del estudio eficaz y hicimos tarjetitas con los pasos para hacerlo. Los miembros se han comprometido a estudiar en esta manera. Pero esto no es todo... Empezamos un estudio del Libro de Mormón para cada semana y también hicimos un estudio eficaz con un versículo que leímos (1 Nefi 1:12). El obispo le gustó mucho y nos pidió a enseñarlo la tercera hora ayer a todos mayores que 12 años.

Judith is doing great, although she had an accident on her bike with a motorcyclist and has a few wounds. Prayers would be great. We also are teaching some great people who went to church yesterday and are teaching a new family of references who are stellar! And to top it all off, Sister Sosa sent me pictures of the baptism of RAUL!!!!!! I am so happy I could cry. Actually I did cry. Thinking back on everything we experienced with him, I can't help but to think of how he has changed in these few months. He has already read the BoM and is working on the Pearl of Great Price and Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith. 

I love this work!!! I love the scriptures and I love the Savior. I am so happy to be a missionary and to be changed by these amazing people and the Savior Himself. 

Love you all so much,

Hna. Snyder