Hello Everyone,This last week has been a real treat for me haha and I will try and share it with you!
So,
I will just go straight into the good stuff, ZONE CONFERENCE! This last
Zone Conference was the best one I have ever been too, and definitely
the most spiritual! i don't even know where to begin to describe it!
well, first off it was just a blast seeing the whole zone again, and
just hanging out with them all, getting to know them even more, since a
lot of us still are here for this transfer! We all got on the boat and
took off for the mainland! I feel like I haven't been in the Main land
for so long! We went to a place called "SM" which is like your average
mall here in the Philippines. We all ate dinner there, and shopped for
things that we needed. After that we all went to the hotel.... sadly my
good friends, and family I did not enjoy the hot water...we got to the
hotel, which was the same as last time, but the office accidentally
booked the rooms the day before so there where no open rooms for us and
we were stranded. It was about 9 at night, and we were trying to call
President, and also APs to see if we can get another hotel. at about
10:30 we were finally able to get settled in a hotel, which actually was
nicer, but the hot water heater didn't work! I didn't care at the
point, I was just so sick off all the missionaries complaining about
everything that was going on. Next time na lang... We have another Zone
Conference this transfer in Early July to meet the new Mission
President. So this transfer is pretty crazy!
The
next morning we went to Zone Conference, we went early so we can see
some of the other missionaries in the other Zones and talk to them. Love
It! I saw a lot of missionaries from my last area, i saw Elder Boyd
again before he goes home, i also saw Elder Perez my companion from the
MTC! It was awesome, but the best part was the Conference itself! The
Entire Conference lasted 8 hours!!!! 9-5pm! They are usually 4 at the
max! President just had a lot on his mind before he left. Ill get to
that later....
It started off with a few
talks from Missionaries which were good, it was about having faith in
Christ and converting it to faith based action. Faith is all about
doing, and acting. Many people say they have faith,but most don't act on
it. we also had a few talks from the couple missionaries which were
awesome. We have a missionary couple that are 80+ years old! This is
there 6th couple mission! Wow! what devotion. Then we have our little
fun time we always do ever zone Conference, which includes a slide show
of all the pictures that missionaries sent into the mission, which is
always fun to see. Then before lunch Sister Peterson gave a 1 talk about
the Doctrine of family which was really good, using the Family
Proclamation! After that we ate lunch and did zone Pictures for about
45min, and then returned to our seats for the grand finally! Thats when
President got up and talked to us for 4 hours! About the Priesthood,
Doctrine of Christ, Family, and the Book of Mormon. I wish how I could
have the time to share with you all what he shared with us. most of this
stuff we all ready knew, but he showed us a different perspective, an
eternal perspective, and also the deeper doctrines of all of it
including the temple, it was INSANE! Even though it was almost 4 hours
long, all of us were attentive, and just blown away in the Spirit. and
then... Probably on of the most Spiritual moments happened in my entire
life! The Spirit was all ready very strong, and definitely present in
our meeting, but at the end When President Peterson bore a pure
testimony to us, I felt as the whole chapel was lifted and was ascending
to heaven. at this point everyone was crying, even I was trying very
hard to keep it together for as long as I could! His testimony of the
Savior,and Lord Jesus Christ was the most powerful testimony I have ever
heard in my life, also as he shared his divine witness with us. Oh how I
wish i could share with you what he said, but just Like Nephi of old
"the Spirit constraineth me to write these things." This was a very
sacred moment and I have felt that i shouldn't be shared openly. i have
taken this experience personally, it has built my faith, it has driven
me to work even harder, and with a hope one day I may too also receive
such a divine witness of Our Lord Jesus Christ. I Think at that time I
felt as i was one of the Nephites in the crowd as they say the Savior
speak to those around him, just sitting there in awe, and amazement, and
feeling the spirit in an abundance! i was a great moment in my life,
and I will all ways remember it. Then at the very end, where I ended up
breaking down was when President and Sister Peterson personally wanted
to hug, thats when I broke down thinking this was the last time I would
see him I just broke down, This man has helped me so much on my mission,
through my struggles, and weaknesses, that non of you even know about,
but just me and him. As I approached him I couldn't even speak or else I
would have gotten his shirt all wet! haha..man it was ruff, and I think
i was a little depressed for a couple minutes, as i pondered that event
I thought about our time when we shall meet the savior for the first
time after this life, remembering what he has done for us,and I believe
just like that scripture says, we will all bathe his feet in our tears,
how much joy will you have when you approach the savior and he just
gives you a big hug and says welcome home! That brought so much joy to
my soul, its hard to describe. Returning home that day i was just
constantly pondering, evaluating, and thinking about my future potential
and what i need to do in my own life to make sure when I reach the
point when i meet my redeemer and creator that i can say that I did my
best to follow him and what he would have me do.
It
was a good start of the week, work was just little bit because we also
had a district Conference where we got to hear from Quiten L cook from a
broadcast to the Philippines. We were still able to get some work done,
and some really good lessons. I am more grateful then ever to be out
here in my mission, and all the blessing that I have received from that
choice in my life. Brothers and Sisters recognize something that I have
recognized on my mission, that nothing temporal in this world, or
nothing of it is more important then seeking to follow the commandments
to exactness for your eternal salvation. Our time here on earth is
extremely short compared to our time, which we shall spend in eternity!
and it is according to how we act on our choices here on earth that will
result into our eternal lives. Do wont eternal misery, or eternal
Happiness? you choose, and act on it.
I love this
Gospel so much and the knowledge that it gives me, and how much Closer I
have come to the Lord since I have started my journal, I could not
imagine the person i would be without this experience, I don't know if I
would have ever receive this kind of knowledge and understand the
importance in life,and what purpose I serve here on earth. God has a
purpose for all of his children here on earth, because we have accepted
his plan to come here, become like him, and return to him, and continue
our progression in eternity. I love you all, and miss you... but this is
pretty sweet stuff and I think I will stay here a little bit longer.
--
Elder Kikel
-on the Lord's errand-
San Pablo Philippines Mission
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