My first full week as a missionary here in Mansfield is complete, and I am really enjoying being a missionary! My favorite part so far has been working with and teaching the members of the ward here. They are all super nice and excited to talk to the missionaries, especially since church is starting back up here. Every time I tell a member that I am from Utah they say one of three things: 1) I hope you’re excited for the winter!, 2) I hope you’re excited for the leaves to change their colors!, and 3)You ever watch Ohio State play football? Every person and their dog here is an Ohio State fan here, it’s pretty funny. I know my Dad wouldn’t like it if I became an Ohio State fan, but it’s really tempting when putting into consideration BYU’s average record at the end of a regular season and all the super awesome people here who are Ohio State fans.
This week the entire mission had the awesome opportunity to receive training from Elder Bennett. Elder Bennett is in the quorum of the seventy, and he oversees all the missions in the Northeast U.S and the Midwest. He taught us about how to best work with the members, as with covid you can’t really tract, and you find people to teach mainly through members. His training and counsel will prove very valuable my entire mission and I’m really excited to continually put into practice what he taught us!
This Saturday I had my first training visit with the Zone Leaders of my Zone. They were super awesome and I thought it was interesting seeing into the life of a Zone Leader. They were constantly busy with the duties of a Zone Leader, I can’t even imagine having to put your regular proselytizing duties on top of that. They taught me a lot about being a missionary and I’m really grateful for the opportunity. There have been a few days this past week when me and my trainer were inside the apartment a lot because we still aren’t really supposed to do street contacting and we still have to limit our service, but I’m having lots of fun working hard all the same!
Everyone in our ward here in Mansfield is very excited for General Conference this coming weekend, and so am I. Every time I think of general conference, I think of two things. The first being the tradition I have had in the past of going to the general priesthood session with my Dad and my Grandpa, and afterwards going out for Thai food. The second thought I always have is the lyrics to the hymn, “We thank thee O God, for a Prophet”,
We thank thee, O God, for a prophet
To guide us in these latter days.
We thank thee for sending the gospel
To lighten our minds with its rays.
We thank thee for every blessing
Bestowed by thy bounteous hand.
We feel it a pleasure to serve thee
And love to obey thy command.
General Conference is always super exciting to me, and I hope you are excited too. We get to hear the words of the Lord through a living prophet on the earth today. How cool is that? I know that if you go into General Conference seeking guidance and answers, the lord will show them to you in the messages from the apostles. May the Lord be with you all and keep you safe! I love you all.