Letter #28 4/08/2013 General Conference!!

Hello Family!!

How has everyone's week been? Mine has been pretty fantastic :) Probably one of the best weeks of my LIFE!!! We had V's baptism this week!! It was a really nice service!! Because of conference though she hasn't been confirmed yet. She'll be confirmed this Sunday, so there is like a 12 day period between her baptism and confirmation. Crazy!! But we taught them again this week, and we picked up her step-dad as a new investigator! He is Catholic, and he seems pretty committed to that. But it also sounds like he has very similar beliefs to ours. We're sure he will desire to be baptized :) We're super excited for this family!!!

I would also like to announce that we have NOT had any bike troubles this week!! WOO!!! It sure was nice :) Granted... We also got the car this week... But we still didn't have any issues!! haha 

This Tuesday we have something called Activity Zone Conference. It's where all the missionaries from 3 zones come together and have a 3 hour conference, then go and play like frisbee and other sports for the other 3 hours. To show our district unity all the Elders from our district are all getting matching shirts! I think I sent a picture home of it, but it says "Christ Lives In Me" on it. It's hilarious. But we're putting our last names on the back, and some numbers. So it's almost like a jersey. It's fantastic :D So we've sort of had like a 4 day weekend with Conference weekend, Preparation day today, then activity conference tomorrow!

Something I've realized here in Jacksonville is just how important that unity is. People can sense when companions don't get along. And when they don't get along, it's SO much harder to invite the spirit. No matter how true the words you're teaching are, if you're stressed or angry, you are not in a position or environment to teach effectively.

 

Also, Elder Bentley would like me to reassure you that we are working hard. He worries sometimes that because we have a lot of fun, that people assume we're disobedient. It's interesting how that happens... It seems like people often mistake frowns and depression for reverence. More and more this transfer I've seen how untrue that is. It's important to love the people we teach. It's what internalizes what we teach. It kind of goes back to actions speak louder than words. I think Elder Bentley and I are good at loving the people we teach. I hope I can maintain this love and happiness with my next companion :) My goal is going to be to love him. To make him my best friend, just as Elder Bentley has made me his best friend. It's important!!

 And.... CONFERENCE WEEKEND!!! It has been so wonderful to hear these men speak. I had several questions going into the conference, and like everyone else they were all answered one way or another. Granted, some I had to stretch to answer them, but about half of them were honestly directly answered by a specific talk. It was crazy!!! Elder Holland probably gave my favorite talk. I LOVED how he showed how important believing is. That we are ALL here to walk by faith. It makes me want to re-evaluate my testimony and find where it is weak. Find the doctrines that I only believe, and then find the doctrines that I KNOW. I'll do that for a study this week and let you know how it goes :)

Okay, so for those who don't know, we missionaries are now allowed to email friends. As such, my mom forwards emails from my cousins and close friends, and I've sent out a lot of emails to my high school and college friends :) Each one who has messaged me back has mentioned how their priorities have changed, and how the mission has changed their life. They also mention how happy they are to be servants of the Lord!! It's so wonderful to be a part of this modern day army. To be a soldier in this eternal war of both Good and Evil, and in the modern Information War. Like my friends, I too have seen a change in my life. I have a new found sense of direction and purpose. I know why I am here, and what I want to be. I also take comfort in knowing that I have the tools necessary to get me there :) One of those tools is a modern prophet, who just spoke in conference!! I hope all that read this know how blessed we really are. I'm not just saying that. Can you imagine believing that when we die, that we're just gone? Can you imagine not knowing why bad things happen? Not knowing how to feel happy and fulfilled? Not having a standard by which to make decisions and choices? It's such a blessing!! It really makes life easy. I just thought everyone should know :)

I don't have a scripture for you... Just a note to my Dad: Thank you for being a wonderful Priesthood leader in the home. Thank you for showing me how to raise a family in righteousness. Thank you for putting an emphasis on the gospel, on education, and for allowing me agency to make my own decisions. Thanks Dad :) I love you. I'm proud of you!! I read Elder Bentley your letters and I laugh and tell him all the stories we have together. They're awesome :) I've been really lucky... I've truly been blessed. It's hard to ask for a better life than the one I've had :) And I know that it's almost entirely because of how both you and Mom raised us together as a family. So thank you :)  

Well! Here's to another fantastic week!! Life is what you make it. I truly believe that. I also know that working with a smile changes your perspective on life. Smiling just makes everything better for some reason. So everyone should smile more :) 

I love you all!! I wish you all the best :) have a wonderful week!! 

HURRAH FOR ISRAEL!!!

Love, Elder Kilbourne