Just Another Day in Paradise :)

​​​​​​​​​​​​Hello there!  Fine day, isn't it? 

It has been a super great and busy week!  Just the way we like it as missionaries.  :)  We had FHE with an investigator on Monday, District meeting on Tuesday, a Stake wide leadership training on Wednesday, exchanges on Thursday, an All Sisters Conference on Friday, along with a Relief Society activity on Friday night, and a potluck activity to go to on Saturday night.  This week has been so full on, but man, has it been a good one.  :) 

The Stake wide leadership training was held by Elder Lekias of the 70, and it was talking about aligning the keys of leadership with missionary work.  It was super cool, because he had the Fifes speak, and also had videos to watch as well.  It's important that as a ward we are united in missionary work, otherwise our efforts are not as effective.  At one point Elder Lekias asked a missionary if he would like the leaders of his ward to fill appointments in his planner for him.  The elder quickly responded, "Yes, please!"  haha :) 

The exchanges were great!  My companion was Sister Aperaamo again.  :)  She's amazing! We were able to practice for Sisters' Conference, where we decided to sing hymn #117, "Come unto Jesus."  It was really cool to practice with all of the zone sisters, and sounded amazing too!  When we broke into our alto and soprano groups, all the sisters slid in to be really close to me to hear the notes... I guess I need to sing louder.  :)  We also were able to do a District Blitz for the Sister Training Leader's District.  When we were tracting, we were given specific streets to tract, and a few formers to look for that they didn't have an address for.  At the end of one of those streets, one of the formers that we were looking for answers the door, and immediately lets us come in and talk with her!  It was super cool!  This is Sister Aperaamo's last transfer, so it was really cool to hear some of her stories, and gain some of her perspective on things coming up for me. 

The All Sisters Conference is similar to a Zone conference, except that it was only the sisters there.  Total, I think there were around 50 Sisters, which was cool to see all of us in one room.  We got a lot of training on how to manage our thoughts so that we aren't thinking negatively about ourselves.  There are ways to improve us without thinking negatively about ourselves. I really want to try the ideas that they gave me so that I can do better at that.   They also had the Stake Relief Society President (who lives in our ward) come and talk to us.  She talked about why there is opposition, and how our focus majorly impacts the way that we think about ourselves. 

Aussie terms: Rubbish bins (garbage can), bin bags (garbage bags), and bench (island counter area).  I guess it's really hard to find the bin bags in America... haha :)

And the scripture goes right along with the All Sister's Conference: 3 Nephi 24:17 "And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of Hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them as a man spareth his own son that serveth him."  It's kind of a simple one, but I like it.  Our Father in Heaven and our Saviour love us, and know we have great value and worth.  Just like we don't diminish the value of any gem that we wear, we shouldn't diminish the value of the precious jewels that we are.  Believe in Heavenly Father, and believe that he loves and values all of us individually. 

Love you all! Have a great week!

Pictures:  Sister Aperaamo and I, a lot of sisters in one little car, and the district trying to look cool... haha :) 

Sister Talbot and Sister Aperaamo

Lots of sisters in one little car!

The district trying to look cool!