October 12, 2015

Rupert Zone - Zone Conference 10-2015

Well this week was rather emotional.  We finally moved back in with Sister Wayment and it's really been good. It was really rough going to bed on time with the Hermanas. It was really fun - don't get me wrong. Harmana Maldonado did my nails. They look really cute.  They are acrylic with gel over them. I really like them.  But it was time to say good-bye.  I missed my BED and my own shower and pillow, most importantly my own space.  

Jose is still the same and we are going to push back his baptismal date and Natassha is still deciding on a date.

This week was really busy. First we had a interview with President Curtis. It went really good. We talked about ways to be better missionaries - myself and my companion. I also told him I was struggling spiritually. He made suggestion of trying to do companion study every morning and then texting him to tell him how we did. It has been better this last week. I loved being with President Curtis.

Second, we heard Brother Brad Wilcox speak.  He was Fantastic! I really liked his talks. He talked about The atonement. I sent one of his talks to you guys and I hope you really like it.

Some of the things I learned were -  We should recognized the Spirit in ourselves and we need to keep going, even when we are having a hard time. The Lord is there to carry us. There are not two footsteps in the sand. There is only one set. The Savior carries us during our hardest times. God doesn't compare us to others.

Elder Enrique Falabella for his mission tour. Here are a few of the many principles we discussed:

Fasting and fast offerings – “The Church designates one Sunday a month as a day of fasting. … Members of the Church contribute a generous fast offering for the care of the poor and the needy. This offering should be at least the value of the two meals the Church member went without while fasting. (“Tithing and Fast Offering” pamphlet.) Elder Falabella reminded us that we are under obligation to pay our fast offering every month and must be setting the example for the people we teach (as well as establishing this pattern of righteousness in our lives).

You can use the funds you receive from the mission to pay fast offerings (see Handbook, pg 43 & 45). As you progress in life, you will find joy by increasing your fast offering to an amount much greater than the calculated value of the two meals.

Dividing your time between units – If you are assigned to support multiple units, you should allocate and spend your Sunday meeting time (and daily proselyting time) where you can be most effective in doing the Lord’s work. Do not come late or leave early from one ward’s meetings (especially Sacrament meetings) to attend a meeting in another ward. Determine where you need to be based on the number of your units, the number of people progressing in each unit, and other resources available to help when you are absent. Coordinate as needed (daily?) with ward mission leaders and fellow-shippers to ensure they know which investigators or less-active members might be attending a ward when you are elsewhere.

I’m looking forward to learning about your experiences as a “full time missionary” as you committed to Elder Falabella. What happens to your mind, spirit, and desires when you “devote all your time and attention (thoughts, conversations, travel time, member visits, time shopping on Mondays, ‘down time’) to serving the Lord, leaving behind all other personal affairs”?

May the Lord bless you each and everyone of you.I hope you have a good week. I love you guys. Miss you and I will talk to you guys next week.

Love Sister Chelsea Blake