Hello!
I am amazed at how quickly the weeks go, the past few weeks feel
like such a blur and somehow I am back here emailing again...
It's been a beautiful week in California , getting up into the 80s. I don't have
a lot of time today but I did want to report back about Elder Bednar on Friday
Wow, that was such a cool opportunity. We met as an entire mission (first time
in a loooong time we've all been together) in Elk Grove, maybe 20-30 minutes
from where we live in a big stake center. He came with Elder Lynn G. Robbins
(he gave a talk last general conference "which way do you face?"
great talk). We took a big group picture, which we are still waiting to get
back. We all filed back into the chapel where Elder Robbins shared a few
thoughts with us; he bore his testimony about how our Heavenly Father knows
each of us individually, and that it wasn't an accident that we were assigned
to the mission and areas in which we were serving. Always reassuring to hear
when sometimes you don't feel like you are accomplishing much of anything
except biking and walking around the same neighborhoods you've been in for six
months.
After, Elder Bednar took the rest of the time (about 2 1/2 hours
or more) to talk and discuss with us, more interactive than we thought it would
be! He had asked us to study and ponder three of his addresses that we would be
discussing more while he was there: "Converted unto the Lord",
"Ask in Faith" and "Seek Learning by Faith". I wish I could
copy all of my notes and thoughts but it was a great discussion how we all need
to be CONVERTED to this gospel, not just have testimonies of it. And remember
that faith is a principle of action...we have to act in faith when we are faced
with obstacles.
He gave us the opportunity towards the end to ask him questions.
Interesting to ask him mission and gospel related questions and hear his and
Elder Robbins answers. One sister asked him a thought-provoking question that
has stuck with me the past few days. She asked, with how the world and it's
changing standards/morality, what do you feel will be the most difficult
challenge for members of the church? He thought for a moment and his response
to the question was not a specific issue but the answer was will you have faith
in his plan? Will you have faith in our Heavenly Father that everything will
work out in the end? It won't always go the way we wanted or the way we
planned, there will be sadness and pain along the way, but will you trust him
to know it will all work together in his timing. Definitely something we can
all ponder and ask ourselves...
I wish that I could write more but time is short. Transfers is
next week so I won't be writing until Tuesday and we will know by then where I
will be the next six weeks. Curious to see what will happen!
Have a great week!
Love, Sister Allen
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