Zone Conferences and Interviews

Last week we held all 4 of our zone conferences-two in Calgary, one in Lethbridge, and one in Taber. They were all so great! Our morning was spent learning more about using our smartphones and applying the Safeguards for Technology. There are 4 safeguards the missionaries are to follow which will help them as they incorporate the phones into their missionary work. They are 1-Always be in tune to spiritual promptings 2-Stay focused on your mission purpose 3-Be disciplined 4- Be one.
We spent time talking about the importance of each one, how everything we do with our phones should be guided by the spirit, and as we stay focused on our purpose of inviting others to come unto Christ, stay disciplined, and be united with our companion, we really won't fail. The missionaries are learning to 're-learn' how to use modern technology--to use it for righteous purposes, not just out of boredom. We know it will take some re-thinking and more self-mastery, but we really know our missionaries are ready for it. We know that all of the modern technology has been created at this time to assist in hastening the Lord's work. If we use it righteously, amazing things will happen! We also talked a lot about using Facebook, and using it properly, as well. We have already seen miracles happen by using it the right way, and it is really exciting. We know as the missionaries develop good habits about how to use their phones on their mission, it will bless them as they go home. Missionaries will conduct 'companion device audits' with their companions, where they will trade phones, and their companion will look through their phone and be sure everything they are doing is appropriate. We determined that if we are following the safeguards, we will really have no problem with this, because everything on our phone is about missionary work. We trust our missionaries and are excited to see what will happen as they use these smartphones!
As always, our testimony meetings at the end of each conference were a highlight. They are so filled with the spirit, and it is powerful to hear such beautiful testimonies from missionaries as they speak about how they are coming to know their Savior and to love Him more than ever. I wrote down some of the phrases of testimonies that were shared because they were so touching:
"I feel closer to my Savior as I read the Book of Mormon."
"I'm so grateful that the gospel has become 'delicious' to me."
"I know that Heavenly Father loves us and gave us His son."
"I do know the Savior lives. I've been completely changed by the gospel."
"Even if it's hard I can look at the end of the day and see the little miracles."
"I feel so much joy and happiness in the gospel and I want other people to feel it."
"I know that Jesus Christ lives."
"No matter what, we always have worth in the sight of our Heavenly Father."
So, you can see why we always love zone conferences!!
We were able to attend two baptisms on Saturday, one of a young single adult named Elli, and the other of a man named Ramon. There is really nothing like witnessing a convert baptism. To see people accept the gospel and make significant changes in their lives is so inspiring. We love being able to attend these baptisms.
We participated in the Lethbridge East Stake Conference that weekend, and it was a great conference with many inspiring messages. Afterwards, President and Sister Stewart invited us to their home for lunch, along with their counselors and their families. Somehow, they knew it was Steve's birthday and they brought out a beautiful cake and sang Happy Birthday to him. They are so good to us! We have really loved our friendships with the Stake Presidents.
We returned home Sunday afternoon and then on Monday began interviews again and have been conducting interviews all week long. It has been fun to have the missionaries tell us what they learned from zone conference the week before.
This week we have actually some some warmer days--up to 8 celsius on Tuesday, which is 46 Fahrenheit! It was wonderful! But today it is snowing again--but we feel like spring is coming and we can't wait! Even the Calgarians are tired of the snow we've had! The good weather also lifts the spirits of our missionaries, too. It can be hard to get out on those extremely cold winter days--it's hard to go out when it's -22 out there! So, I admire our missionaries for their determination and faith to go do the work. We love them!