Zone Conferences & Interviews Complete!

We have just been so busy that I really haven't had time to sit down and write about the past few weeks!  We began our zone conferences on Monday Jan. 29 and ended in BC on Feb. 5.  In these conferences our morning was spent watching training videos from Elder Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, and Elder Brent H. Nielsen, director of the Missionary Department.   The videos were all on the use of smartphones and how to use them appropriately for missionary work.  We truly learned that these devices will be a great blessing to the work as long as we use them to fulfill our purpose as missionaries, which is to invite others to come unto Christ through faith, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost and enduring to the end.  Every time we open our phone we are to ask ourselves if we are using it to fulfill that purpose.  If we are, then use it!  If we aren't, then put it away!  We are excited about getting phones, but also know that it will require our missionaries to be more diligent and more focused, and determined to rely on the spirit than ever before.
The second part of our conferences was spent improving our teaching.  We are really trying to help our missionaries become effective teachers--teaching simply and with the spirit, and using scriptures and asking inspired questions so we can meet the needs of all those we teach.  It is an ongoing process, and one we will always work on.
We also had a wonderful, spirit filled testimony meeting in each conference.  As I've said before, I wish everyone could be at a zone conference and hear the testimonies shared of the missionaries.  It is  an incredible thing to experience.  It touches me every single time!  It is such a joy to see how these elders and sisters come to know the Savior, and come to feel how His atonement blesses them.
We are enjoying reading the Book of Mormon together as a mission, and it has been fun in interviews to hear the missionaries talk about how they are learning just how much it testifies of Jesus Christ.  They also are better able to use it in their teaching and also, to testify more powerfully of its truthfulness.
Besides interviews and zone conferences Steve and I have been involved in the Confederation Park Stake Conference with Elder Rulon F. Stacey of the Seventy.  We have been with him in several other stake conferences and really enjoy being with him.  We were also able to participate in the Lethbridge YSA stake conference, which was also a treat. And then we were able to be in the Calgary West Stake Conference with Elder James E. Evanson of the Seventy.  He is our Area Seventy we work with down in Lethbridge, and he and his wife have become good friends, so that was fun to be with them at this conference.  Although we attend many stake conferences, and have to speak in all of them, we are always blessed to feel the great spirit in each of them, and to hear the different messages given.  And also to hear the choirs!  There are some incredible choirs we get to hear!  Each stake conference is inspiring.
We also held our MLC on Feb. 7 which is always great.  We love meeting with these zone leaders and sister trainer leaders.  We also role-played on teaching skills there, so that these leaders will know where they need to improve and will work hard at it so they can help their zones.  Over the past few weeks we have had several companionships teach us the Plan of Salvation, and then we evaluate with them, to help them improve.  It is fun to see their teaching improve as they practice.  Learning to teach simply determining which scriptures to use, and what questions to ask takes a lot of preparation, but the payoff is so worth it!  When they practice, and role-play, it really brings the spirit into their lessons.
We are now getting ready for transfers.  This week we will interview all the departing missionaries that leave the next week, and we will do everything else that needs to happen before the actual transfer.
We have also been able to Skype with the new mission president and his wife, President and Sister Keung, who have been called to take our place on July 1.  They are wonderful and will be such a blessing to this mission.  We pray for them as they prepare to come.
This is such great work, and my testimony of how it is truly the Lord's work has really grown.  He really does guide us in it, and we have to trust in that.  I am so grateful for this wonderful gospel and for how it has blessed my life and the lives of my family.  I have had so much happiness in my life because of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Baptism of Richard LaRose- January 27with Elders Dolinar and Crawley

Hermanas Smith, Vera, Jorgensen, Perkins at zone conference lunch!

Role-plays in zone conference!

Lots of role-plays going on at zone conference!

More role-plays!

Young elders role-playing to Seniors!

Sisters Wright and Bushnell gave Steve some peach jam and sourdough bread!

Elders Wolfe, Mecham & Grinwis before Elder Mecham left to go home.

Elders Neulinger, Tate & Sessions look good in their grey suits!

Once again we had a blizzard as we drove from Medicine Hat to Brooks!  Luckily we made it home!

Our retrainers meeting on Feb. 16.