Sunday April 2, 2023

This has been General Conference weekend which in the mission field they call it our Superbowl Weekend. 😁 It has been a great weekend filled with conference sessions and being with the missionaries.  There are three now in our area here that are latinos so we had it on the TV in Español and mom and Elder Steel listened in English.  Colleen fixed both lunch and dinner yesterday for everyone and then again today she fixed a great lunch for everyone.   The Sunday morning session the missionaries all went to their church to watch it there, then we all gathered here for lunch and then watched the afternoon session here together. 

 After conference today they all went out to appointments and we went with the Elders to a part member family.  It was a great discussion and the couple were challenged to get married so that she can get baptized.  It seems like the majority of the people here are not married but just live together which is the case with them.  Even though he is a long time member and she is not a member.  It was a great experience to be in the teaching experience again, we always love those experiences.  I feel like they are pretty likely to get married and baptized, we shall see.  That is one thing about staying in one area for a long time, we will likely see some great changes in the area.  The conference was so great, there were so many great teachings and things that we all need to do to be better at.  At the very end when President Nelson started with his closing remarks, one of them asked, "Do you think he will announce more temples?"  We all said that we hope so,  that is always something that is exciting about another session of conference is the announcements of where they will build a new temple.  So when President Nelson announced a new one to be built in Retalhuleu Guatemala, one of the Hermana's that was here was so excited!  She is from Guatemala and was sooooo excited that there is going to be a new temple in her country.  She is not from close to that area but it was still so very exciting for her, which made it so very exciting for all of us.  It was a great fun weekend.  

There are three new missionaries here now that have moved here, two Hermana's  (Sister missionaries) and one new Elder.  Elder Martínez, he is from Mexico and this is his first area in the mission.  The two sisters are from Guatemala, Hermana Rosales, and Hermana Cuevas from the Dominican Republic.  It is great to be with the Elders but the Hermana's add a whole new dimension to the missionary work.  They are so happy and full of the spirit.  I am looking forward to being here with them to see what the Lord has in mind that we can accomplish together here.  

These wonderful Elders, Elder Steele and Elder López, knew that we were taking their picture but I think that even if they didn't they would still be smiling.  I love the experience we are blessed to be a part of here.  Julie Chappell sent us something that she heard someone say in their mission in Peru, she said;  "There is no comfort in the growth zone, and no growth in the comfort zone."   That is so true isn't it of all of us.  When we are in the comfort zone, that is where we are the most comfortable but there is probably not much growth.   As hard as it is to be in the growth zone, I am thankful for the opportunity to be stretched and to take on some growth, as uncomfortable as that is.  I just hope and pray that in so doing we can be of service to others and help others do some growing too.  

Today is Palm Sunday,  Jesus' glorious triumphant entry into Jerusalem. I am so thankful to Him for His giving of His life so that we can have life everlasting with our family.  The Eternal perspective is what gives me hope for the future in a world better than this one.