General Conference Weekend - Best Weekend Ever

My sweet planner. In honor of Dad.

We just had to record this momentous occasion. I think that's the brightest thing Sister Smalley has ever worn. She only brought black skirts with her. My goal before we're done being companions is to have her get a colorful skirt.

 

Hello family!

Hope you're all doing well. General Conference was amazing, wasn't it?! So, so good. I'm excited for when the Ensign edition of conference comes out so I can reread them. Enjoy watching them online again. Just slightly jealous that you get to and I can't. So be grateful for that and watch them often! And study them! Their words and messages really do come from God and they're exactly what we need at this time.

 I really thought all the talks were amazing. But some of my favorites... or some that stand out in my mind right now: Elder Oaks--so good! He was so bold. I loved it. It is important that we make God our first priority. He was also just so bold to the world about what we believe and how it's not going to change because it's God's laws and ways and God is the same. I was just so impressed by him. I'm sure he will receive grief because of his talk from nonmembers and even members, but he's not ashamed of the gospel and not ashamed to be on the Lord's side. I just thought it was so good!

 

Also the sister from the Young Women presidency. She gave such a good talk. I love how she told us we have to exercise the gospel principle before we gain a testimony of it. I thought that was so good. And so true. I see it with some of our investigators. They need to try it out first so they can gain a testimony of it.

 

Elder S. Gifford Nielson--I loved his talk! I think some of the people at the chapel thought it was a little weird or didn't like it very much or something, but I loved it. He was just so excited and animated. I loved all his "exclamation marks!" And his focus on ward members and missionaries working together. Ah, I just loved it!

 

Elder Christofferson's was amazing. And President Monson's. And Elder Dube. I could just keep going on and on. It was so incredible. My heart just feels so full of love. Love of the gospel, of the Savior, of my Heavenly Father, of these incredible men and women who serve us, of our Prophet--President Thomas S. Monson. I just feel so energized and ready to go do work. There's no doubt in my mind that this gospel is true and that this is the Lord's church. I love it with all of my heart and feel so blessed to be serving a mission at this time.

One year ago the mission age was lowered. And I am SO grateful for it. I know this is exactly where I am supposed to be. The Lord is aware of me and the people I'm serving and I've been blessed enough to get to serve here in this area in the Samoan ward right now and help people to come closer to Jesus Christ and apply the healing power of the Atonement. I don't think there is anything better in life. Being a missionary has been the greatest blessing ever and I know I say this all the time and I think I've used the word love already in this letter alone about 100 times, but I just LOVE being a missionary so much! My testimony is strengthened each day and I just want to be better. A better person and a better missionary so that I can help as many of God's children as possible come closer to him.

Do you remember me telling you about Casandra? She's back on date for November 2. We had another really good lesson with her and brought a ward member with us and they really seemed to hit it off. It'll be good for her to have a friend. She didn't come to conference this weekend but hopefully she'll be able to come to church next weekend. She really wants to be baptized. But she still hasn't really read the Book of Mormon for herself. She said she would. So keep her in your prayers. The Book of Mormon really is so important. We need to read from it everyday so that we can strengthen our testimony. It is God's word and Joseph Smith translated it through His power. I'm so grateful for the Book of Mormon and I hope she can read it for herself and gain a strong testimony of its truthfulness for herself.

Other than Casandra we didn't have many lessons. It was really hard to get ahold of people this week. We tried a couple of different times but we were never able to get back in contact with Esekia. Hopefully this week.

The fireside we're hosting is going to be on the 18th. It's going to be really good! I'm excited for it. Now we just have to go and invite everyone! Hopefully we'll get lots of people to come.

A cool miracle happened this week. We were driving to the Siufanuas. They're a less active family that we've never been able to catch. The navigator was taking us there and got us lost. It took us to dead ends two different times. Anyway, we finally get to their house and knock on the door. There was no answer so we were just turning around and getting ready to go when a man walks around from the backyard. He was coming to the front to get nails from the garage. He had been working on the roof. Anyway, we got to talk to him for a few minutes and he invited us to come back and visit his family. It was just such a miracle that we were able to talk to him. If the navigator had taken us directly there we would've missed him. It was just a testament to me that this is God's work and He's aware of all His children.

So, last bit of news. Don't freak out at this though, ok? Last night our car was broken into. They took our miles monthly report, the gas credit card, Sister Smalley's wallet that she had left in the glove box, our bag of change, our GPS, and Sister Smalley's winter boots and my rain boots. I always lock the car every night so we're not exactly sure how it happened. But when we got out there this morning the passenger car door was slightly ajar--still latched but not closed all the way. Anyway, they had unloaded the console and the glove box and taken what they wanted. We called the police and the mission office and everything will be ok. They left all of our Finding Faith in Christ cards and Restoration pamphlets strewn about the front seats. They took two of my CDs too. So maybe they'll go to play it, find out it's church CDs and feel remorse for the wicked thing they did and then return all of our stuff to us. We can always hope, right ;)

I'm really sad about my rain boots though. I only got to wear them a couple of times and I loved them! Stupid Satan! Tempting people to make evil decisions. Oh well. Eternal perspective. The officer was really nice. He just told us: Welcome to the city of Burien. Anyway, we're going to be more careful from now on. But at least they didn't take more. They left my cardigan in the back seat. And they left Sister Smalley's granola bars so they must not have been hungry or cold.
Well, all is well. It has been a lovely week and this next week coming will be great as well. Hope you're all doing well. Remember to always do things that will strengthen your testimony. Ultimately that is the most important thing! Love you all so much. You're in my prayers. Make good decisions. Choose the right. The church is true!
Love,

Sister Veronica White