This week was so fast and so long all at the same time. We had a lot of miracles and special events though, so here are the highlights <3
1. Zone Conference! We had our Zone Conference this week, and it was really good. We talked more about the importance of planning and goal setting - two things I'm really not all that good at. So I'm glad we talked about them! Sister Fisher has a saying that she likes that goes like this: "If you fail to plan, you plan to fail." And I don't like failing, so we've started planning with a little more real intent. One of my favorite parts of the conference though was that we had a recent convert come and talk about his conversion story and the influence the gospel had on him, particularly his time on Temple Square. On one of the days, not ours, we actually had my recent convert Carlos come! It was the sweetest thing to hear him share his testimony of how his life has changed because of the gospel and how he's so much happier and closer to his Savior. I was really glad that he was able to come.
2. We met Elder Stevenson from the 12 Apostles! It was seriously the most casual thing.. we were walking into the Joseph Smith Memorial Building in the little space between the JSMB and the Church Administration Building, when there we see Bishop Cause (French and spoke in G.C.) talking to a tall man with his back to us. The tall man turns around... and it was the apostle! We kept walking and he put his arms out and said Sisters! We of course stopped, and he started talking to us about where we were from and how long we'd been out.. it was so cool! Then he started to leave, was walking away, and I said "Hey, wait!" and he turned back around and (so lame, I know) just told him that I really like the video online of him and his family about their family photo and idealized reality, and he just laughed and put his arm around me and said that it was very accurate and that he was glad I liked it. So, now I wish I would of asked or said something more profound - but either way, it was really fun.
3. We found an amazing new investigator from chat - his name is James, and he's seriously so cool. He's from Ireland, and he came to mormon.org and wanted to ask about hymns that we have in the church. He ran into the gospel library app online, and has been reading everything he could on there. He's even been reading Preach My Gospel, so we feel a little silly teaching him the lessons sine he basically already knows all of them. We've been able to Skype him and teach him though, and he's the sweetest thing. He lives pretty far away from church buildings and missionaries though, so we certainly have an adventure in front of us with figuring out what to do to help him, but we really do love him!
4. We watched 17 Miracles this week in preparation for the hike of the Mormon Trail that we're doing today, and honestly my mission has made me so soft. I just wept through that movie. I have come to love the history of the church so much though, and I'm really grateful for all those people that sacrificed so much to come and build this city and this temple. I'm really grateful for all the people who throughout history have sacrificed so much to follow Jesus Christ and be examples for the rest of us, people like Adam, Moses, Paul, Peter, Nephi, Moroni, Joseph Smith, Thomas Monson, and ultimately Jesus Christ. I am so grateful for my Savior who suffered more than anyone else, so that through Him I can be healed not just of sin and regret, but from pain and from sadness and sickness and everything else in between.
I love you all, and I'll have Pday again on Friday!
--Sister Black
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