Conference was awesome as usual. I just can't believe it's already come and gone. It was really funny being at the VC the night before all of us sisters were super excited- it felt like Christmas Eve! My top 3 favorites were President Monson, President Uchtdorf, and Elder Holland- those 3 are always my favorites :) But all of the talks were amazing. For me the theme that really stuck out was progression. So you're at this point, you're a good person, living the commandments, and now let's take it to the next level. Constant progression- loved it! I just love how plain and clear all of the talks were. These are the ways of the Lord- they are unalterable and unchanging. You follow His ways and you will be happy- simple as that! Yes, I did see Ali Brown! haha a group of sisters and I were watching it in the back room of the VC and I made them go back and pause it just to be sure. haha Ali's famous! It was also funny during another session when we were watching it in the back room in the VC when that cute old man from Guatemala was speaking. When he said he was sealed in the Mesa Temple we all cheered! haha Yay go mesa We love our temple :)
One of my other favorite talks was President Uchtdorf's from the YW broadcast. I loved it! I love looking at life as an adventure, because it totally is! Whatever we get out of this life is depended upon what we put into it. If you want to live a good happy life then do good happy things. Set goals, work hard, and make everyday an adventure!
So cool story from this last week. So sister Remington and I have been trying really hard to be productive vs. busy- which tends to be quite a challenge when some days you only have 1 hour in your area. So, we called a premissionary YW to come with us to our appointments for the day and off we went. One by one they all canceled, flaked, stood us up, or just didn't answer the door. It happens. We were down to our last 15 minutes and we found ourselves at the condos by a less active woman. We went into the woman's home and talked with her for a little bit and it winded up being a really good meeting. Then we left and it was time for our next appointment, so we headed for the car. As we were walking I noticed this woman across the parking lot unloading things form her car. I thought to myself we should go talk to her, but then remembering the time decided not to. Just then I literally felt forced to go over to her direction and told Sister Remington and Kaitlynn (member) that we had to go talk to her. So we introduce ourselves, are talking to her, and she opens up. She tells us she's had a very hard life and is looking for peace and direction. She said she was so happy that we had come over to talk to her and that she had been praying for some type of help. We testified to Marianne (that's her name) of the restored gospel and that she can find the peace she is looking for through it. It was such an amazing experience! She asked where our church was and when she could come. When she realized that we were Mormons she got even more excited and said she had been wanting to learn more about us! We set up a return appointment and then went on our way. And to think I wasn't going to go talk to her! Listen to the promptings of the spirit! You never know when your actions may be an answer to someones prayer. When we got back into the car Kaitlynn then said that everything else we had scheduled that day didn't work for a reason because we were supposed to be there at that exact time and place so we could help Marianne. I know that is true as well. Even though things may not seem to be working out the way we want them to, I know that the Lord has a greater and even grander plan- & we need to trust in His timing.
Really cool story from the VC (I am just going to copy & paste it from my letter to President Ellsworth): The Willis family came into the Visitors Center with their two children and Janine- a foreign exchange student from Germany. I got to talk to them a little bit as I took them around the Visitors center and found out that Janine was not a
Anyways family, one of the greatest lessons I have learned this far really is just to trust God. Sometimes people will break your heart. It just kills me when we are teaching these awesome people and you know that they know what they are hearing and feeling is true but they aren't willing to act upon it, and there is nothing you can do about it. People have their agency- oh I also loved Elder Scott's talk from conference talking about just this. Sometimes you do everything you can- you pray so hard for these people, you plan for them, and you really love them and want them to experience this happiness- but they have the right to act for themselves. I was talking to a senior couple about this and the Elder said, "just wait till you have kids. Sometimes you just want to take their agency away completely and tell them they can't do that, but you can't. So you just keep loving them, praying for them, and doing everything you can to help them". OY. I am so sorry that I caused you guys worry as my parents. I can't even imagine how much it pains a parent to have one of their children wander from what they know is right. PAINFUL.But anyways, on a happier note life is so incredibly wonderful and overflowing with miracles. I love you all sooo much and hope you have a great week!
Loved my letters from my favorite Applewhites! hahaha ps Eugenie, I kind of ruined your prank by reading the folded up paper first :/ haha oh well! I will write you both back later!