March 26th through April 1st

March 26^th through April 1^st:  Wow what a conference.  I can’t remember a more exciting and powerful general conference.  My take-a-ways  were that we need to learn how to receive more personal revelation, we need to learn how to love as Jesus loved, we need to take care of and minister to each other. My personal favorite was a comment that President Nelson said right after he announced the 7 new temples.  “Maybe these temples won’t be life changing for you, but your time in the temple will be.” I know of no better place to learn how to receive more personal revelation, how to love as Jesus loved, and how to minister than the temple.  Our service in 5 different temples has truly been life changing for us.  Monday we took the missionaries shopping.

On our Monday shopping trip to Walmart, Babbett found this item she thinks each apartment should have.  I will be sending in the request this next week.

Tuesday and Wednesday we had our new counselor and assistant, Oscar and Clara Flohr, shadow us on our shifts so we could begin their training.  Wednesday afternoon we took the Ellington’s, Flohr’s and Jenson’s to lunch.  This was a good-bye lunch for the Ellington’s as they will fly home on Thursday. 

Good-bye lunch for the Ellington's.

Thursday and Friday the Flohr’s did a shift on their own.  Thursday we went over for the first session and then stayed and helped them for a few hours.  The temple was busier than normal and we had groups from Senahu and Coban that were with us for 3 days.  

Part of the group from Senahu.

We got up and took the Ellington’s to the airport early Thursday morning.  It is sad to see them leave and we will miss them.  We are down to 2 North American couples.  Saturday we watched all three sessions of conference in our recliners.  I did stay awake and enjoyed every talk.  Sunday we had all the missionaries and the sister missionaries over for Easter dinner between sessions.  There were 16 of us.  We cooked a ham and green beans, Sister Jenson brought funeral potatoes, Sister Holman made rolls, Sister Jenson made a cake for dessert, Sister Gordon made a pasta salad, and mom also made deviled eggs. It was a feast and we then opened the 12 eggs that held the scriptures and small objects that tell the Easter story.  The Spirit testified of the reality of the resurrection of Jesus Christ and that He lives.  

Sunday lunch, L to R, Sister and Elder Holman, Elder and Sister Jenson, the sister missionaries, Brother and Sister Reyna, Grandson of the Funes, President and Sister Funes, Sister and Brother Gordon, Brother Fajardo, and Mom.

We then watched the last session of conference.  A number of times during the conference I received spiritual confirmations that Russell M. Nelson is truly God’s chosen prophet here on earth.  I came away from conference edified and uplifted and with a desire to be better, to love more and learn to receive more personal revelation.  

The Gordon's, our missionaries from Belize, joined us for conference Sunday.

We talked to all of our children in the evening.  We love them and miss them, but we love what we are doing here also.  I am sure that when we leave here we will miss the experiences and the people we have grown to love and serve with.  What a great week and remember it is a great day to be a missionary.