This last week we had a couple of super powerful days with Zone Conference on Thursday and a visit from Elder Zwick of the Seventy on Friday! Zone Conference was actually 2 zones and we had a really good time, especially since it was Christmas themed. We had a $5 gift exchange...actually it was more of a battle. They put all of the presents in the middle, passed around 2 pie tins with 2 dice in each, and each time someone rolled a double they went into the middle, put worker gloves on, and unwrapped as many presents as they could. They then threw/slid the gifts they got open back to their seat. At that point those presents were yours. Only two people could be in the middle at a time unwrapping gifts though, so once someone else rolled a double, your time was up! There were about 60 missionaries at this conference (about half sisters and half elders), in a big circle, playing this game...haha it was quite the sight! Even Sister McDonough [the mission president's wife] played and got a couple gifts! Sister Walker and I actually did really well, surprisingly. Actually, I'm not surprised Sister Walker did so well since she is such a go-getter, but many people didn't even roll a double the entire game and Sister Walker and I walked out with our arms full of stuff we had gotten. :)
My gift that I put in the middle was a nutcracker that I converted into a missionary. It was originally a teacher, but after some time with a pair of scissors, some rubber-cement, a sharpie, and a white out pen, he came out looking like an Elder. I really liked it! So much so I was half tempted to keep it for myself, but I didn't.
So that was probably the excitement of the week! The spirit felt at Zone Conference was just as enjoyable and so powerful. I received answers I had been praying about for a while, and my testimony and faith were rekindled as I felt the spirit burn within my heart and testify of the truthfulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ. We also got to hear the testimonies of those missionaries that will be leaving this transfer and the next (before next zone conference). One of those was our current District Leader. He's been serving in Florence as long as Sister Meek and I have been, so he's one of the missionaries I actually know better. Another one was one of our Sister Training Leaders who I really love and admire. There were many others, and it's weird that it's getting to the point that I do know most of them that are going home.
Hearing their testimonies makes you reflect on the things you have done since coming out to serve a mission. It made me take a self-check and see if I am serving the Lord the way I want to and the way He expects me to. Am I doing all I can to make time count? After all, it is His time I am using. I was humbled as I felt the spirit testify to me that this is His work, His time, and His gospel. These are our Heavenly Father's children and He loves all of us.
Probably the over-arching question of the conference and Elder Zwick's meeting for me was, "Am I willing to change?" Repentance and the Lord's atonement have been on my mind lately, and one of the words I've come to love to associate with repentance is change. Repentance is not punishment, as one of the apostles said. It is the hope-filled path of change. Change to becoming like our Savior Jesus Christ, to living a life of peace and happiness, to returning to our Heavenly Father. Elder Zwick shared a scripture with us, putting it in question form, "And are we willing to enter into a covenant with our God to do his will...?" (Mosiah 5:5) Are we? Are you?
That's the question I had to seriously ask myself. There are things our mission President and the apostles have asked us to do or change as missionaries (nothing big, like shortening lessons to make them more simple and intense with the spirit). Am I willing to change old habits, even if they aren't really bad, in order to make things better and follow the council the Lord has given us through his representatives - our church leaders. I am a representative of Jesus Christ, who did all the will of the Father. That means that I too should do all the will of the Father, whether that comes through our living prophet, the apostles, my mission president, my district leader, or personal revelation. I testify that it is "up to us to be the change." (Josh Groban song) I know that if we will choose to change, the Lord will help us and bless us with more than we know.
I love you all so much! And I pray that you all are enjoying this wonderful Christmas season! May your days be bright, and your faith even brighter! I know that the Lord Jesus Christ lives and loves us! He lives! May THE force be with you all, and in you all, as you decide to change this Christmas season.
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