April 18, 2011

Hello everybody!

Ok, where do I start...This week all of the missionaries had their interviews with the mission president. My companion and I being the Zone leaders had to prepare a training lesson for all the other missionaries at the building while the interviews were going on. We worked pretty hard on the lesson and it turned out very well! All the missionaries loved it. And our topic was on asking questions. I have realized that asking questions is easy, but asking the right questions or even good questions is very difficult. We had another stake report with the Newport stake this week. A stake report is when my companion and I meet with the stake presidency and give a report with everything missionary wise that has been going on in the zone. This was my second time around so it went much more smoothly for me. The man that was presiding is the 1 counselor of the stake presidency and his name is President Watkins. He is such an amazing man! I could literally just sit all day and listen to him talk about the Gospel because he has such a strong testimony and desire for missionary work! This week I have really been focusing on improving my contacting and teaching, and not over thinking anything. The Lord has been helping and blessing me so much! I know the Lord put me in this area for a reason because I am learning the most here. I have found that the reason that sometimes situations seem like they are laser guided toward our weaknesses or strengths is because they are. The lord knows where we will best learn and who will have the biggest impacts on us. I know the Lord knows each and every one of us. He loves us all. One other cool thing that has happened lately is that my companion and I were at the stake center the other day and a man was cleaning out the library. He asked us if we wanted the old ensigns that were in there because they weren't keeping anything over 3 years anymore since it is all online. We said yes and recently I have been reading general conference addresses from 1972 and they are AMAZING!! I get to look at super young pictures of Elder Thomas S. Monson ;), and Elder Gordon B. Hinckley. I love this work! I hope all is well! Until next week!