Week-16

Another week is done, and Thanksgiving is on its way. Something I'm thankful for this week is the members in my wards who have been giving us so much food.

MONDAY wasn't anything too special. Just the normal P-day activities and some tracting once it got later in the evening. It's getting really cold out now, but that just means I can wear my sweaters.

TUESDAY was zone conference for the northern zones, and as always, that's a lot of missionaries in one spot. It was great because we got to hear President Edwards talk about his experience on his mission, which just reminded me that on the mission, it's normal to have hard times and to be rejected, but we're able to take strength from the covenants we've made and keep going. Afterward, all the northern zones had lunch together, which was pretty fun because I was able to meet and get to know a lot of missionaries I've never talked with before.

WEDNESDAY we had house inspections in the middle of the day, so we went out finding in the morning and then came back to unlock the apartment for the inspectors. It went really well for us, with our apartment having no real issues other than things the complex was supposed to take care of. After they left, it was right back to finding and knocking on doors. Once dinner rolled around, we headed over to some members' house to eat with them. I actually found out that they were from Virginia originally and had been in a ward really close to my home ward before they moved to New Mexico. I was not expecting to meet this many people from VA, but it's a fun surprise.

THURSDAY was an early day for us because we had some service with a member that morning. It wasn't that hard, just moving a lot of stuff into their garage so it'd be ready for their moving company to get it, but I was glad to be able to help them out.

FRIDAY our district council was very focused on how we talk to people on the streets and about how the questions we should be asking them should be inspired by the Spirit so we can best answer their needs. It was a good reminder and has helped me get out of the habit of just asking the same questions over and over. For lunch, I brought my own food, but my companion didn't have anything, so we went to Burger King and got him some food and crowns for both of us. At the end of our day, after a lot of tracting, we came home to our Zone leaders making pancakes for everyone. That wasn't too weird, and I just moved on with getting ready for bed, but then they got on a call with the sister missionaries. The ZLs wanted chocolate chips and syrup, and the sisters wanted pancakes, so they asked Elder Holbrook and me to go give them pancakes and get their stuff. It was a bit odd walking to the other side of our complex holding a plate of pancakes, but it was funny, and both groups got what they wanted.

SATURDAY was a day of tracting in the rain and cold. What was cool was that one of the first houses we knocked on, we decided to offer helping him out with anything, and he accepted right then and there. It was funny, but I'm glad that it got us out of the rain. It wasn't anything too hard, just us moving some furniture from the garage into the front room, and we even got some red chili for it.

SUNDAY was another early morning because of ward council. It was actually really good because they focused a lot on missionary work and about how they want to redo the ward mission plan for the coming year and how they want to help us with the work. After church, we got all of our studies done and then headed to our first lesson of the day. The lesson went really well, with the spirit testifying very strongly of the plan of salvation and about how it will bless her life. When we have lessons like that, it really helps motivate me to get back out there and find those who will accept the restored gospel into their lives.

Because everyone is getting ready for Thanksgiving, they have a bunch of food and leftovers, so there have been very few days this week where we weren't sent home with leftovers. My spiritual thought for the week comes from Elder Gary E. Stevenson of the quorum of the twelve apostles and his talk from this last general conference. He talked about promptings of the spirit and how the best way to invite them is by standing in holy places, being with holy people, testifying of holy truths, and listening to the Holy Spirit. As we strive after the teachings of Christ and the prophets, we can better know the Lord's will for us by seeking to invite the spirit to guide us in our actions. Happy Thanksgiving to all, and I hope you have many things to be thankful for this year.