It has been a beautiful week here in
Nova Scotia. The sun has been out all week and it has been hot and
humid. For most of the week, I wore a short-sleeved T-Shirt. It is a
glorious time to be a missionary. It is summer. At zone conference on
Wenesday, President Leavitt was talking about the winters and maritimers.
He jokingly said "I've been living here for 3 years and they say it's
the worst winter they've ever had every winter." So that is a bit
disconcerting. At Church yesterday, Sister Caulfield came up to me
and said that my dentist wants to know how I'm doing and that Kylie is
coming to my mission; she also said that he wanted to remind me to "Brush
my teeth." Sister Caulfield and Doctor Heggie are related. So next time you see Dr. Heggie you can tell him that I
got his message and I'm doing great and brushing my teeth every night
:).
With President Leavitt now going home in 2
weeks, it is beginning to sink in and it has been taking it's emotional
toll on me. It's
interesting how President Leavitt is still doing business as usual
despite going home soon. You could hardly tell that he is going home in 2
weeks. I have been thinking a lot about my impressions and thoughts
from Zone Conference lately. It was a very spiritual zone conference. I
almost cried at the end.
While we were out in sun on Tuesday, Elder McGuire got a bug bite
that started out small but kept growing. We had to go to a lesson at the time. So on the way there he was holding his
finger. Trying to get to feel better. So we got to the lesson and he
ignored it during the lesson. The brother really opened up to us about why he hasn't been going to Church. He said he has been going in circles and isn't happy. He wants to come back because the guilt of breaking one of
the standards has been getting to him and he wants to repent. Elder
McGuire was in a hurry that lesson so it lasted for only 30 minutes. After
we got out of the lesson Elder M called Sister Leavitt and she told him to
get some Reactane from the drug store. So he did and he took a pill and
it got a lot better.
Wednesday was Zone
Conference in Dartmouth. We car pooled with the Sisters there and back. When
we got there, there was a line to greet President and Sister Leavitt.
When it came to my turn, President Leavitt shook my hand and gave me a
big hug. Then he asked how long I've been out; I told him 10 months.
Then he responded you're halfway there; your going to make it now! Then he asked me how long I've been in Bridgewater so I told him
it'll be 4 transfers by the end of this one. Then he responded, "Usually
missionaries stay in our area for up to 4-5 transfers. I've talked to
the new mission president and I don't make any suggestions on what I
think he should do. So just keep doing what you're doing
and you'll be fine, don't worry about it. Know that he'll be guided by the
Lord." It was almost as if he knew I was nervous about the new mission
president. I haven't even said anything to him about that. It shows you
how in tune he is with the spirit. So after everyone was done greeting
President and Sister Leavitt, Zone Conference began. During lunch President made us finish our questionnaire with the Pratts.
Then we did a group picture and video of our zone to send to them. In the afternoon, the Assistants gave
a training on teaching for understanding and then we roleplayed. It was a good exercise. I learned that I
need to teach more simply. After that training we all went into the
chapel for final testimonies from the missionaries going home and of
course President and Sister Leavitt's final address.
In Sister Leavitt's
testimony she talked: 1. Never take your garments off, 2. Love your
scriptures, 3. Be good to yourself. The part that stuck to me when she
was talking about being good to ourselves. Too often I think I get too
down on myself than I need to. She said that we all should pat ourselves
on the back and we shouldn't get discouraged for our efforts. We're
doing a better job than we think we are.
In President Leavitt's talk, he
talked about how the power is in us to become what we want to become. We
are in charge of the happiness on our missions. He shared a story of
him and his brother owning their company. He talked about how it was
stressful and hard. They were joking back and forth saying "you take
the company I can't handle this." But then he realized that he can handle
it and endured through it. He talked about D & C 58. Being
compelled and accepting it with a doubtful heart. He also talked about
how it says we shall do many things out of our own free will. Each one
of us chose to be on a mission. The power is in us to accomplish our
mission and get through hard times. My favorite quote was "We have the
power to become what we want to become." His talk really touched me. He
kept on looking at me when he was giving that talk too. I got the
impression I have the power in me to get through my mission and
everything that happens. I have the power to make it through this
transfer and to get through trying companions. It was a really spiritual
moment for me.
Have a great week!
Love,
Elder O'Brien
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