Hey, Guess What? ... I sang in the Conference Center!!!

ALOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHA familia y amigos!!!! How are y'all doing? I am just dandy. Actually better than dandy. Wanna know why?

BECAUSE I SANG FOR THE PROPHET...THAT'S WHY!!!!!!!

It was seriously one of the best moments of my life. It was a bit terrifying to look out into the crowd to see 22,000 women but I seriously believe that there were angels singing with us. I could go into great detail about everything that happened that day, but I'll just focus on some highlights so this isn't sleep-inducing:

• The General Relief Society is so sweet. Before the meeting they spoke to us and basically made me feel like I was the most special person in the world. And then after the meeting they waited for us all to file out so they could give every sister a hug. By the way, there were about 360 sisters in the choir. And they hugged every last one of us! The funny thing is, though, that I really didn't feel like I was just another sister in the missionary choir. I really felt like they loved me personally and individually. It really reminded me of how Christ loves us. He doesn't see us as a statistic or another warm body or anything like that. Rather, He sees us as the people we are AND as the people we have the potential to become. I don't think I've ever felt the pure love of Christ as strongly as I felt in that meeting.
• When we were riding the bus home Pres. Hacking (of the MTC presidency) asked us to sing some of the hymns that we sang during the broadcast. After that was done we kept singing hymns all the way home. We probably still had 30 or 40 minutes left in the trip but we didn't stop (and we were singing in 3-part improvised a capella harmony, which was legit). The Spirit was SO STRONG and I really felt like we were an army of sisters that has the potential to change the world.
• They fed us well. I came home with 3 Snickers bars and a belly full of 2 sandwiches.
• Sister Wadley, the chorister, was so inspiring. She looks really serious on the broadcast but in real life she's CRAZY but in a good way. Anyways, she really helped us to do our best through constant positive encouragement. It was awesome. 
• I got to live my dream and sing with a missionary choir in the Conference Center! I thank my Heavenly Father for making that happen. That's a once in a lifetime chance crossed off my bucket list!

It was just an overall incredible experience, and you can always re-watch the performances on lds.org!

That was basically the most exciting thing that happened this week. We did have some crazy illnesses going on too. I think people enter the MTC and any health problems they might have had all of the sudden get 100x worse. I've definitely seen the power of the priesthood work this week!

In other news, I go to Oklahoma tomorrow!! I'm leaving on my P-Day, so they've given me today to do laundry and email and pack all of my stuff. Hopefully my suitcases aren't overweight :). Everyone in my district is leaving one by one which is really sad because we've all gotten so close and I don't know when I'll see them again. I'm especially going to miss my companion, who is an ANGEL and I love her. I wish we were all going to the same mission like many other districts here, but c'est la vive.

Along the same vine, anyone who wants to send me letters (which is everyone right?) should send them to my Oklahoma address, not the MTC address.

Thank you SO MUCH for all the dearelders and the package!! The cookies were like manna from heaven. And I love hearing all of your squirrely thoughts, Mama. And tell Ashley that I'm so happy that she's getting better and give Jonas and Addie a hug from me!!

Love you all!! Abrazos y besos!

Herman A. Holloway

Some funny moments from the week:

1. Elder Lier was flipping through our orange MTC manual thing (which is in Spanish) when he suddenly exclaims, "hey! These numbers are in English!". Yes, yes they are. They're also in Arabic!
2. Coming out of devotional yesterday Hna. Quinones and I heard an elder say "there was a straight up B-Dog sitting in front of us!" If you don't know what that means, ask Trevor and Sam. And Trev and Sam, if you ever say that  I might vomit on you then punch you.
3. Hna. Quinones was watching the sign language interpreter during this beautiful harp solo of "A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief". She taps me on the shoulder and points to the interpreter and says "did you know that they can sign music in sign language?" Me: "...She's probably just signing the words to the hymn."
4. Hna. Quinones and I have perfected freaky face pictures together. I have pictoral evidence but the computers are not camera-friendly so you'll have to wait until next week.

Bethani asked me to include the two links below for those of you interested in watching these lovely sister missionaries sing. Bethani is wearing purple and her hair looks blonde in both of the pictures below. It was awesome to see her doing what she loves and is passionate about! We are so excited to talk to her tomorrow!!!

Love you all,

Kim

http://www.lds.org/broadcasts/watch/general-relief-society-meeting/2013/09?lang=eng&vid=2703212494001

http://www.lds.org/broadcasts/watch/general-relief-society-meeting/2013/09?lang=eng&vid=2703107187001