Ryan sounds like a great little wedding planner. I always knew he wasn't a typical guy. Scripture study is all good, but weekly planning? To each their own I guess. Kaden seems like he is everyone's best friend - lucky! Leon is doing well. New area is good, the work is really good. Conference was awesome!
This week:
So first off we had a very busy week having to do with Leon. He is 17 and we went over to his uncles house on Tuesday and taught him the gospel of Jesus Christ with his uncle. We set him to be baptized for the 17th of this month with presidents permission. We then went over on Thursday to Leon's house and taught him the restoration and had him start reading The Book of Mormon. Still trying to set everything up, but we felt the 17th was too fast so we re-set him for the 31st. So the next day we get a text from Bro Patuwai (his uncle) saying that Leon's step mum wanted to talk to us. That didn't sound good seeing how she is his guardian at the moment and Leon needs her permission. We went over when Leon wasn't home so she could talk to us privately. She started off by saying that she wanted Leon to get baptized so that was a relief. But she then informed us of how busy his schedule was. He is working, going to school, and trying to make up 20 credits so he can graduate, he only has until the 31st to do all of that. Plus on top of that he is preparing for a court case on the 30th that could send him to prison or at the very best Home Detention. He is preparing by going through a process called restorative justice. So now we are teaching him once a week on Sundays. Leon and his dad both came to conference so that was good.
I had an interesting experience with conference this week. It was during the Saturday afternoon session, or maybe priesthood session I can't really remember. There seemed to be a lot of addresses concerning faith, and staying strong, ignoring your doubts, never turning your back on truth, and other things having to do with that... suddenly I realized for the first time that I have no doubts about the gospel. Every other time for as long as I remember it seemed that when this topic came up I had some doubt in the back of my mind whatever it may be. This time was different. I know it was just a small feeling but I felt more confident in my testimony than I ever have in my life. I am not sure exactly at what point my testimony was solidified. I can't remember a certain event or time that it happened. I just know now that I know. I know that this is the true church. I know that God is real. I know that God is my father and he loves me. I know that I can now honestly say that I know the gospel is true without a doubt. I love this feeling, I love this small revelation that I have received and I now want to declare it more than ever before. I find myself wanting to tell anyone and everyone. This is probably a pretty good thing for a missionary to have... I just keep thinking, "Well, it took you long enough!" :)
I loved conference. My spiritual mind feels like it exploded and my testimony feels like concrete... all together, not a bad feeling at all.
Love
Elder Summers