Conference Weekend and other fun tales!

I got to learn how to make "Cat Head Biscuits" this week with a member and an investigator. Gotta love the South. (I wish she would have sent a pic of that! Maybe next week)

We had Zone Conference and got to watch "Meet the Mormons!" It was so good! :)

I think it was last week or the week before where I was humbled to share that I had had the best week numerically (according to total lessons) that I had had on my whole mission. THIS WEEK TRUMPS IT! It was a fantastic week of teaching. Not to mention that we had 8 hours of General Conference and about the same in travel and Zone Conference. It was seriously a miracle week! :)

General Conference was great! Don't you agree? Well... I hope you all went into Conference with a question in mind pondering what revelation the Lord had in store for you. I know I did. Like last conference, I have chosen to share the personal and spiritual experience I have had with getting my answers SPECIALLY answered by the mouth of the servants of the Lord. I do not do this to "trifle with sacred things" or to draw attention to myself, but to testify that I know Christ leads and directs this church. I know the Prophet and his Apostles are called of God! I hope you all will be benefited from reading this.

It took me a long while to finally decide what I wanted my questions to be. We had been committing members time and time again to go into conference with a question. I knew I needed to do the same. Finally, Saturday morning,  in the 11th hour, I came up with the following questions that were the heaviest on my heart and mind. Any concern or challenge of heart or mind, is absolutely nothing compared to what I was going through last conference. Despite the compared lack of urgency to the inspiration I wanted, I found the following questions to guide my next 6 months. Also, it was soooo weird thinking that next conference I will be HOME!!! Hahaha had to throw that lil lil trunkee comment in. (NO I AM NOT TRUNKEE. Seriously. I just have accurate self awareness and perception [in that aspect at least haha])

1) What do I need to accomplish the rest of my mission? (Modified to: What do I need to focus on for the rest of my mission?)

2) How can I strengthen my relationship with my a) siblings (on earth) b) Christ?

3) How can I be a better daughter to my a) parents (on earth) b) Heavenly Father?

4) What can I do now to prepare for my arrival home? (Modified to: What do I need to apply when I am home?)

Okay, okay... so this might take awhile. We will see if I can get all my answers on here. I decided I would write who gave the talk and then what my thoughts were in relation to what they said. :)

1) President Packer- He spoke about how Christ "bore it with all humility and understood His divine role." I felt like that applied directly to what I need to be doing as a full-time representative of Him. I have been considering studying humility more in depth and this was just another testimony that this mission is not about me. I need to get out of the way and focus on how I can understand my purpose and my love for the Lord. Another thing he said was about overcoming our fear of men. Seeking for that gift of the spirit through sincere prayer. I know that in these last couple months of mission I need to apply that as well. There is no other time in my life that I will get to do what I am doing now. So why do I get scared at the store to talk to someone or why do I get nervous before I knock on a door? Yes, that can be a natural tendency to do so, but I need to GET OVER IT! I need to put my trust more fully in the Lord.

Elder Christofferson- He said something about how we need to assume personal responsibility. That we need to seek that as a spiritual gift. I thought this applied perfectly! I need to take the work that I am doing, whether good or bad, and decide to not make excuses. Excuses are not good enough! He also talked about exerting ourselves. Go to work so there is something for God to help us with. Just another plug to work hard and forget myself. :)

Elder Oaks- Something he said stuck out to me big time. "Live with differences." I know that I am having different companions, leaders, and investigators. It was kind of a slap in the face that I needed because I am so used to wanting people to get along with me, or be like me, or enjoy the things I like. This was a big motivator to reach out the other sister missionaries that I am not already close friends with. Sometimes I get stuck in a habit of just being friends with the people who are similar to me. I really need to break that habit! 

Jorg- That's his first name... haha I didn't write down his last name. HIS TALK. WOW. It really stuck out to me. But, in relation to this specific question, I thought that I need to improve my physical well-being by healthy exercise and control of diet. Gotta get fit! ;) AND I absolutely loved how he talked about getting really, really good at repenting thoroughly and quickly. That is something I absolutely want to apply as soon as possible! Such wonderful advice. He also talked about how we need to acknowledge our own weaknesses because some of them will be with us through mortality. Wow. Interesting. I have become extremely aware of some of my weaknesses as of late and I will continue to do so on my mission.

Elder Garrett- Talk with EVERYONE! Even in stores. Like the person in the story about talking at the watch shop. I have seen so many miracles from doing it so why do I ever get scared! Awh! Personal weakness that I think most of us have as missionaries! Pray we will have the courage to be able to overcome that so everyone can receive the gospel! :)

Elder Holland- Although it was not in relation specifically to missionary work, it super stuck out to me to focus on love and NOT FOCUS ON STATISTICS! He encouraged us to not become overly preoccupied with those kind of thoughts. I'm super motivated by numbers and I am going to focus more on the love I have for the people we are teaching.

Pres. Eyring- Said something about being called to follow inspired leaders. I am always so humbled with the great leaders we have in the mission. Sometimes they ask us to do hard things. I need to not ever complain about it!!! They are called of God and I need to respect them more. :) Not that I ever wasn't before, but just an added increase and motivation to follow and love them.

Elder Nelson- Apply to personal prayers, "Thy will be done." And he said something about how despite our weaknesses of  body or mind, we need to serve and do our best. I LOVED THAT.

Elder Ballard- He talked about how we may become more aware of negative feelings then our positive feelings. I NEED TO CHANGE THAT IN MYSELF!!! I am working on it. :) Sister B said that I am sometimes too self critical after a lesson and I need to focus on went well first, then say constructive things to improve. And he encouraged me to have more ponder time.

Well, I really don't want to write anymore about that right now.

THERE IS THIS BEEPING IN THE LIBRARY AND IT WONT STOP AND IT IS DRIVING ME CRAZYYYYYYYY!!!!

I went on exchange this week with a sister and I absolutely love her! It was so amazing to make such a good connection so fast. We laughed like my friends and I back home laugh and it just felt so comfortable and good. It was incredible the blessing we have seen this week.

okay, BYE!