Zone Conference in Efate

Elda West, Hilliman, Sista Sellesin, me, Elda Fidow, Crowell, and Bramell

This week was zone conference! The theme was "Be clean. Be ready.  Be busy."  As always, the mission president made sure to make the training VERY entertaining!  Sista Sellesin and I got to give training on being clean on the outside (showering every day, using deodorant, brushing your teeth, etc.).  You would be surprised how many of our missionaries here don't actually use soap when they shower, and don't see the need to wash their clothes . . . so we did our best to teach them basic stuff.  We even made up a song and dance to help everyone remember to brush their teeth! J  President talked about the importance of companionship unity and how everything starts with you.  If you want to change your relationship with your companion, change yourself.  If you want your district to be more successful, change yourself.  If you want the mission to be more obedient, start with yourself.  He also read the mission blessing Elder D. Todd Christofferson gave while he was visiting the Solomon Islands a few weeks back.  One thing I loved that he said was that people may choose not to accept what we teach, but they won't be able to deny that it is true.  Pretty amazing promise if you ask me! 

My favorite part about zone conference though had to be MLC (mission leadership conference).  We wrote up on the board problems that our zone is facing, and then started to figure out solutions.  I don't know how to explain it, but everything people said seemed to be exactly what I needed to hear.  I have been praying for answers to a few questions and as we talked about our zone and how to fix things, I was able to find my answers.  When we were finished President said that it had been the most incredible MLC he has ever been to, and that revelation had been shared.  So true!  God is aware of us and he does answer prayers! 

My missionary zone

Sista Sellesin and I also made an exchange with the sistas in Beverly Hills this week.  They have been having a few issues.  With the help of the spirit we were able to help them find a few solutions.  One attribute I am working on right now is charity.  I have found that praying to have that love, as we read about in Moroni chapter 7, helps a ton.  It's not easy, but with the Lord's help it is possible.

You asked how I wash my clothes.  Well, we have a "washing machine," but it's just a thing that spins the clothes.  You have to fill it up with water, and then drain it, and then rinse it, and then spin it, and then hang it out to dry.  It takes a good 1-2 hours to do our laundry.  But it's all good because it makes the clothes cleaner than washing them by hand (which I've done, and the clothes never actually get clean that way).

On Monday we had family house night at Emily and Shem's house.  It has been amazing to see the change in their whole family since they were baptized just a few months ago.  Because people here live in groups of extended family, 3 of Emily's less-active sistas have started coming back to church.  On Monday Emily's son, Jaron, told us that he has started to fill out his mission papers!!!  He turns 18 on August 1st and I could not be more excited for him!!!  We really enjoyed playing games and spending time with them.

So guess what!  If the ENT doctor this next Saturday can't fix my ears, I get to go to New Zealand or Australia to fix it!  Pretty cool huh?!  I'm kind of hoping he won't be able to just so I can go! Not really, because I want this pain to go away . . . but kind of!  I’ve had a double ear infection for over two months.  That can’t be good!  I’m going to come home partially deaf or with some kind of balance/equilibrium problem!  The antibiotics they’ve given me haven’t helped at all.  This is NOT the United States!  The nurse thinks it's because I can't clear them, and so the bacteria is just staying inside.  At this point it just needs to go away! It's getting worse and worse, and now the pain is always there.  Sometimes I feel like I have the flu.  But I've got to say a trip would be sweet!  If life gives me lemons, why not make lemonade?!  

Well that's it for this week!  I know this church is true and I love sharing that knowledge with others.  Thanks for your constant support and love!

Family House Night with the pikininis