Surprise visit!

What a great week it was. On Saturday after a very surprising and shocking visit from an aunt and uncle with a box full of  food we headed to San Antonio. After our drive and preparing spiritually in the chapel we were able to hear from our mission president and also his wife along with a special visit from Elder Craig C. Christensen who is in the Presidency of the Seventy. It was a very spiritual conference and it was amazing to learn of many ways

that I can continue to improve as a missionary. It was neat as Elder Christensen had President Polley be his companion and they were both able to teach us and both answer the questions that we asked throughout the meeting. First Elder Christensen spoke about our purpose of "Teaching Repentance and Baptizing Converts" and after he then discussed a quote from our beloved Prophet President Thomas S. Monson " “Now is the time for members and missionaries to come together, to work together, to labor in the Lord’s vineyard to bring souls unto Him. He has prepared the means for us to share the gospel in a multitude of ways, and He will assist us in our labors if we will act in faith to fulfill His work.”. After he helped us understand these two focuses of his we then had a question and answer.

I loved hearing President Polley and Elder Christensen share stories from there past experiences and also their missions that they have served. They were both full of love and it was amazing to be able to feel of Christ's love through them. The spirit was so strong and taught me and helped me find things that I need to change. Throughout the question and answer the topic of prayer was brought up several times. He shared how he prays and what important things he does before his morning and evening prayer to bring the spirit in such as singing a hymn, reading a scripture, or reflecting back on the last time you felt the influence of the spirit. He also taught us how Joseph Smith obeyed no matter what he was told to do and invited us to follow his example and obey with faith. I really enjoyed hearing his testimony of Christ and the Prophet Joseph Smith. He said that around 57 different heavenly angles appeared to Joseph and that Moroni appeared to him about 22 different times. When he shared his testimony I knew that he knew what he was saying is true. I hope that I can continue to increase my testimony and the power that comes with it.

This week we also had the opportunity to take out one of the priest in the ward names Elijah. Most of his family does not come to church but he comes almost every Sunday. He is a great example for his family and he has a desire to serve a mission.

Yesterday our bishop came up to us before stake conference started and shared an experience of a non-LDS family who recently went a a funeral in another ward. This family was taught by the missionaries a while back but they didn't have the greatest desire to change and join the church. The bishop shared how at the funeral they talked with the bishop there and they feel that it is time to learn more about our believes including the Plan of Salvation. He said that this family is ready and that they will be setting up a family home evening and that we will be able to go and teach them at bishops home. This was another miracle that we have seen after working hard and talking with everyone. The Lord truly has blessed us in this area and this will hopefully be the family that we have been praying for. We are excited to see how things go with this family in the next couple of weeks.

"The course of our lives is not determined by great, awesome decisions, our direction is set by the little day to day choices which chart the track on which we run."