This week we had zone conferences with Elder Dube and it was amazing. He taught a lot and I learned a lot, but by far what most impressed me was his ability to make each person feel individually loved and valued. What a great quality! Our Mission President spoke as well and my favorite quote from him was "We cannot trust someone we do not know. Spend time with the Savior."
I believe that spending time with the Savior is a double edged sword. There are easy and uplifting ways of "spending time" with him...such as reading the scriptures and learning more of the life he lived. As we live righteously we have His spirit with us continually which grants us peace. But we also spend time with the Savior as we face the things that he faced. Rejection, pain, embarrassment, chastisement for righteous actions, etc. It is in the heartbreak that we come to know our Savior most intimately.
I spent my 13th month mark in West Palm again on an exchange with Sis. Root. She is one of my top 5 favorite missionaries because she just has a great head on her shoulders. She is awesome and I loved spending the day learning from her. I got to see Bernarod too, which was a cool bonus. :)
Quote of the week: "The doctrines of salvation are not discovered in a laboratory or on a geological field trip or by accompanying Darwin around the world. They come by revelation and in no other way." -Bruce R. McConkie This is one of the greatest lessons I have learned so far on my mission. The basics of the gospel are the most important and the ones that will hold us steady as storms rage around us. Seek inspiration to become converted to the atonement and plan of salvation. Peace comes in no other way.
I love each of you so much and hope everything is going well. I hope you all have a great week!
-Sister Bren Scadden