yo se.

my very first sunday in ecuador was a fast sunday.
i remember feeling so excited before the meeting because i had never experienced attending church in a different country before.
and i wasn't disappointed.
i was touched by entire families walking up to the stand together and bearing witness of the truthfulness of the gospel one by one, supporting and edifying each other.
it was such a beautiful illustration and example of how families in the church should be: united, loving, and firm in the faith.

it touched me so deeply that i told myself i would bear my testimony before i left.

a month went by, and i found myself sick with a fever and chills.
i had counted on that sunday being The Sunday.
but it wasn't time yet.

and then today, a beautiful fast and testimony meeting occurred again.

the moment i sat on the wooden bench, i knew that today was The Sunday [i knew because my foot wouldn't stop moving, my hands got cold, and i kept folding my arms across my stomach].

during the sacrament, i took out my notebook, said a prayer, and started writing.
my spanish wasn't perfectly grammatically correct, but i knew that i could receive help if i had the faith to receive it.

after a few people had shared their testimonies, chelsea [my fellow volunteer] and i walked up to the front of the room and sat down.
as i sat and listened, i prayed that my knees wouldn't buckle as i stood at the pulpit, that my legs would be strong enough to walk to the stand, and that my heart would be filled with the Spirit to know what to say and how to say it.

and then i waited,
waited,
waited

until, finally, it was my turn.

"Buenos dias, hermanos y hermanas..." i began. as i looked out at the congregation, my trepidations evaporated. faith replaced fear. i saw smiling faces looking back at me, silently supporting me and encouraging me in this difficult and frightening endeavor.

i thought about the time i had spent here,
the people i had met,
the experiences i had had,
the friendships i've made,
the love i've felt,
the lessons i've learned.

and it filled my heart with joy.

i clumsily expressed what i know to be true, and sat down.
peace filled my soul and flowed through me. i felt the Spirit more strongly than i ever have before in a testimony meeting and i knew that that was Heavenly Father's way of expressing his love for me.

even though i've had rough days and weeks here,
even though i've been spit, pooped, and thrown up on,
even though i've missed my friends and family more than they know,
i know why i'm here.

i know i've said this before, possibly in jest, but my life has been forever changed.

mi testimonio es muy sencillo.
yo se que nuestro Padre Celestial nos escucha, nos protege, y tiene todo el poder a hacer cosas maravillosas y milagros en nuestras vidas.
yo se que Jesucristo es nuestro Salvador, que El murio para salvarnos. yo se que nos ama, y nos conoce. El vive.
yo se que Jose Smith fue un profeta verdadero, y que restauro el evangelio para la salvacion de todos.
yo se que el Presidente Monson es nuestro profeta hoy y que nos ama. yo se que el recibe revelaciones directamente del Senor para ayudarnos. nos guia. nos ama. yo se que las cosas que el dice son verdaderos.
Yo se que nuestras oraciones estan oidos y contestados por un amado Padre Celestial.
Yo se que podemos hacer convenios con el Padre en el templo y que nuestros familias pueden ser eternas.
es dulce a saber esas cosas.
y dejo esas cosas en el nombre de Jesucristo,
amen.