10-21-13

Well mother,  I met your favorite author   (Clayton M. Christensen:  The Power of Everyday Missionaries).  

Elder and Sister Christensen, the authors of  "the power of everyday missionaries" came and spoke to us.  it was SO good.  so we drove 2.5 hours to Naperville to attend that. total we did 6 hours of driving on Saturday because we drove to Naperville and back and then we had stake conference,(the stake center is about 40 min away from where we live) so we went straight there to be ontime.  the missionaries were allowed to attend the adult session. it was super good. -will share thoughts and lessons below- we got there and they recruited us missionaries to be in the choir. so we all practiced the song 3 or 4 times and then got up there and sang it for conference.  it was pretty good considering. I am sure nothing like the choir at your stake conference that sounded so wonderful!  so that was a LONG DAY...   

and a highlight was seeing Sister Pankretz!! YAY!! i love her!  it felt like we were companions again for a couple of hours at least. I just love her SO much. I am going to miss her when she goes home.  and i got to see a lot of my other missionary friends. it was a great reunion! I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY!! 

Did i tell you that we share our area with elders?  it has been a fun experience sharing our area and ward with them.  it makes a difference as to the speed of the work! its so cool!!  do you have two sets of missionaries yet?  

so some thoughts from the lessons learned from Elder Christensen and the speakers in Stake conference. 

First, our main focus with our discussion withe Elder Christensen was how we as Missionaries can make a difference in our wards. and how there are great things that we can do to really help the members get involved and inspire each other to love missionary work.

He made the point about the Atonement. that it wasnt just one giant mass of sins and sadness that He experienced all at once, but it was very individual for each of us. experiencing everything - as if he has literally lived our lives. -  and so when we are bring the gospel to others lives and teaching them of this love we are no longer neglecting that part of the Atonement. This allows us to use the atonement in a greater way than we ever have done before and help others to use it in theirs.  what a great calling each of us has to use the atonement more fully in our lives.  i love that eye opening thought!   - thank you Elder Christensen.  

At stake conference we got to hear from The Nauvoo temple president and matron. they are wonderful and really stresed the importance of reaching out to those how have fallen away.  It just loved hearing from them.  And Just all that jazz.  

It is just amazing to be here as a missionary in the beginning stages of "changing the paradigm".    as many have said.  That i get to be a missionary during this time we have really felt the push to bring more into the fold.  I feel like i am a pilot missionary helping to pave the way for future missionaries and wards. as to how to work with each other and unite our efforts in being missionaries.  I am privileged. 

I am so lucky! 

this Church is True.  Joseph Smith is a prophet of God. Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer.   I love him.  Amen. and Hallelujah!! 

peace and blessins.

Sister O'Neil