Zone Conference

Ok so this week was Zone Conference. I don't know if I ever explained anything about how zone conference works, but there is always a part of the conference where the new missionaries who just got there share a testimony and the missionaries in their final transfer share what is known as the dying testimony. With the number of missionaries in our mission being reduced there tends to be a lot more dying testimonies than new missionary testimonies. This zone conference there were 3 death testimonies and know new missionary testimonies, 2 of the missionaries (a sister and an Elder) have been in districts with me, and it is so strange to see them go. I am to the point in my mission where I am one of the old ones who knows and has served with all the dying missionaries and it is strange cause i don't know when that transition happened, when I shifted from a greeny or a new missionary to an old one. Time is a strange strange thing. On the same topic of dying testimonies, sorella acerson gave a talk on dying testimonies in the Book of mormon, and the power that comes as the great prophets of the book of mormon bore powerful testimonies before their death to their family and friends. After her talk we were able to watch Elder holland's general conference talk, that many of us had not yet seen, due to the time delay. Wow. It was powerful. I Love this gospel so much, the spirit that comes during the baring and sharing of testimonies is so beautiful and amazing.

Another talk that was shared at zone conference was regarding anchors. They told us that a 44 pound anchor, when sunken to the sea floor can hold a 50,000 pound boat in place. The idea of the talk was to encourage us to let go of the little things that hold us back or keep us from reaching our potential. Sometimes the little things are easy to ignore or disregard, and yet often times it is the little things, the little rules we don't keep of the rationalization that we make, or the weakness we hold onto, that causes the most damage.

This week we found a new investigator, named Luigi. He is 22 and loves basketball (he is also very tall) and he speaks English really well, because his sister lives in the states. We had our first lesson with him in the home of a member family here from Canada/all over the world. It was a pretty good lesson, though we are not sure how well it went over. He was kind of hard to read, but I think the fact that he was willing to meet with us and he accepted a book of mormon is a good sign. He mentioned a few times how he was taken back by our conviction am so grateful for my testimony of this gospel and that i can with conviction say that I know this church is true and that God loves us so much and that he has prepared a plan for us. It is truly amazing and wonderful. me and my companion have been practicing a song that we are going to sing for a baptism next week, and the words come from bruce R maconkie's testimony where he simply yet powerfully said “I
am one of his witnesses, and in a coming day I shall feel the nail marks in his hands and in his feet and shall wet his feet with my tears.
But I shall not know any better then than I know now that he is God’s Almighty Son, that he is our Savior and Redeemer, and that salvation comes in and through his atoning blood and in no other way.”
Testimonies are so powerful and I pray that we will all be able to share our testimonies at moments notice to strengthen those around us.

I love you all!

P.S. Oh and I forgot to respond to that comment laynes sister made so here is my response: Marco antonio and Monica are great! I told them hello for you when I saw them at zone singing, since I have now been transfered to the Rome 2 area. As far as Arnel and Norme Alabastro go, I read their name on the ward list, but that is all I know about them. I never saw them in church, so you should write them and tell them to step it up! I will mention it to the Rome one sisters and maybe they can try and contact them as well. Hope life is going well for you!!! I miss your sister and our MTC days, but I am sure she is having a great time on the island!