Oct 10, 2011:
I love General Conference!
General Conference held twice a year in Salt Lake City.
Hi dear family!!! Well first I'm going to start off by saying THANK YOU for the [letters] you've sent! I am so excited to read them on the train later today.
SO this week was fabulous because of [General] Conference [=bi-annual worldwide Church Conference of Church leaders speaking for 2 days which is televised and on the internet]. I LOVE CONFERENCE. Conference has never meant so much. I love being closer to the Spirit than I have ever [been] before and just CRAVING to hear the Prophet’s voice. Conference is such a blessing, and I loved every talk. Sister Smith and I made "conference invites" to pass out to people we met, and as I did so I promised them that if they had questions about life or about the validity about what I was saying that those questions would be answered at conference. I love how true that is. For anyone, the[John 14:26] Spirit brings all true things to remembrance. And God knows exactly what we need, so if we are spiritually in tune, and if we are listening to the Prophet’s voice, our questions will be answered between the lines, if not absolutely directly. Did you go into conference with a question? Because I did, and I loved my experience. If not, read the conference magazine with questions. It's the coolest thing. I guess it's the same with the scriptures too obviously, but always having a question shows God that we are willing to change, and in essence, repent. And He is all about that and will help us always. P.S. Mother dear we don’t get our own conference magazine... could you send me one? The sisters here tend to cut up all our Ensigns [= Church magazine in English] for the pretty pictures, and it's hard for me when I get really into a talk or an article, and then the last paragraph is missing.... I'd appreciate that, and any of last month's Ensigns, New Eras, etc. that you could send to me if you have time. I mostly just want my own conference magazine to mark up and make my own.
SO this week was fabulous because of [General] Conference [=bi-annual worldwide Church Conference of Church leaders speaking for 2 days which is televised and on the internet]. I LOVE CONFERENCE. Conference has never meant so much. I love being closer to the Spirit than I have ever [been] before and just CRAVING to hear the Prophet’s voice. Conference is such a blessing, and I loved every talk. Sister Smith and I made "conference invites" to pass out to people we met, and as I did so I promised them that if they had questions about life or about the validity about what I was saying that those questions would be answered at conference. I love how true that is. For anyone, the[John 14:26] Spirit brings all true things to remembrance. And God knows exactly what we need, so if we are spiritually in tune, and if we are listening to the Prophet’s voice, our questions will be answered between the lines, if not absolutely directly. Did you go into conference with a question? Because I did, and I loved my experience. If not, read the conference magazine with questions. It's the coolest thing. I guess it's the same with the scriptures too obviously, but always having a question shows God that we are willing to change, and in essence, repent. And He is all about that and will help us always. P.S. Mother dear we don’t get our own conference magazine... could you send me one? The sisters here tend to cut up all our Ensigns [= Church magazine in English] for the pretty pictures, and it's hard for me when I get really into a talk or an article, and then the last paragraph is missing.... I'd appreciate that, and any of last month's Ensigns, New Eras, etc. that you could send to me if you have time. I mostly just want my own conference magazine to mark up and make my own.
Cool story about conference though! Do you guys remember that talk from President Monson where he talked about the Frankfurt Temple and how he prayed a man to come talk who wasn’t present, and he showed up? His name was… Peter Mourik? YOU’VE MET HIM!!! Because he gave me my Patriarchal Blessing! He is from the Netherlands, and I whipped out my Patriarchal Blessing just to make sure. YEP. Same guy. Coolio jones right?! I was so happy… SOOOO so happy. I love connections. And Patriarch Mourik was the sweetest man. Remember my blessing and how wonderful it was? He had been to Africa and showed us his things from there in his living room... and I just felt so at home, so loved, and so special. I loved my Patriarchal Blessing. It was the best. I got it shrunk and laminated so that it'd fit in my scriptures and so that I can read it often. I urge you all to do the same. I used to think I could only read it every now and then, because it is so sacred. That is not the case. The more I read it the more in tune I am with the things Heavenly Father wants me to do in my life, and the more I remember the sacred blessings I've been promised if I heed the counsel in that blessing. I am so grateful that Jacqueline knows her blessing so well to realize when a blessing is being fulfilled. I love the Lord. He is our Father in Heaven, and He loves me and you so very much. He is so aware of what is going on, and He needs us to know that so that we can move on with hope and the brightness that only His gospel brings. When we realize who we are, life is so much easier, and things make so much more sense. We rise to a higher moral standard, and we become better people through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. I love my Savior. He lives. And that is the message I am sharing with tens of people every day. Conference is such a blessing. I used to wonder what it would have felt like to listen to Abinadi, or to watch Noah build the ark. But I see the same fire I imagined these prophets having as a child in the faces of the Apostles and Prophets who declare Christ's existence today. His Apostles live, He lives, and He has a Prophet because God loves us.
So miracle story of the week: We were [talking to people] on the street one day, and I stopped a man on the street who looked to be in his thirties. I explained why I was there quickly (you learn to speak quickly as a missionary and get your point across before they walk on) and he stopped. He listened. Sister Smith then took over, and I tried to follow the conversation. He at one point said, "Mate cas?" meaning, “Do you have time?” and I realized that since he hadn't ended the sentence with "on Friday or tomorrow or just some other time" he meant did we have time NOW. I was STOKED. I said, "ANO ANO! MAME CAS TED'!" Which means yes yes we have time NOW! ( I get a little excited at times) and he asked if we could go to a cafe to talk. Sister Smith and I were grinning ear to ear. We went to sit down and he explained that, "I hope this doesn’t sound cliché, but I am just trying to find the right church right now." UM, OK NOT CLICHÉ... MIRACLE! So we introduced the Book of Mormon and gave him a part of the first lesson about prophets and the restoration [of the gospel]. I helped the best I could. We invited him to Conference, and when he asked, “Where?” I told him. He then smiled and shyly said, "I built your chapel." I was in heaven. HE BUILT OUR CHURCH! It was the best. So he came to Conference on Saturday (one session) and loved it, but was nervous around all the people and left. But we will be meeting with him soon. He is reading the Book of Mormon and is a miracle. He is in his thirties and hasn't gotten married yet because he hasn’t found anyone yet with good morals. Ladja is a miracle, and I am so so happy that God leads you to people if you are ready. I am so happy to be here.
Days are HARD. One night after much rejection, getting yelled at, and getting rained on, I got into bed and said, "Sister Smith, a mission is HARD." and she laughed and said that she felt the same way. It is hard. But some day the Czech Republic will bulge with the gospel. Who cares if this is the most atheistic country in Europe? It doesn't matter at all. People are craving this gospel. Everyone in the whole world needs it. And I am honored to have this tag on my chest, and I will forever declare my loyalties. I love Jesus Christ. He is my Savior. He loved the world so much that he atoned for us. We [as mortals] have no idea what that means. Death cannot defeat us, because it is a mortal law done away with by an immortal being. Christ is my foundation, my rock, and my Redeemer, and I love Him very very much.
I am grateful for the Book of Mormon and for the second witness it is [of Jesus Christ]. I am grateful that we have it so that there won't be so much confusion in this confusing world. I am grateful I was able to go through the temple, and I cannot WAIT to go through again. I cannot wait to have a family, and to bring an addition of perfect spirits to the strong family I have already. Mommy, you have no idea how special you were to your missionaries. You will never know how many prayers were said in your behalf and how many hours of thought and preparation were put in for you. You were ready for it, and it has blessed so many lives. Thank you for being ready for this gospel, and for sacrificing your life for it. I am forever in your debt. I love you so much.
I have to go write President Irwin now. I keep forgetting. So I hope you all have a wonderful week. You are in my thoughts and prayers. I love you all. Say hello to the animals for me. Andrew sent me a picture of him and Rexu. There are so many dogs here, and I miss Rexu! He is such a ray of sunshine!
-Sestra Satu Izatt
So miracle story of the week: We were [talking to people] on the street one day, and I stopped a man on the street who looked to be in his thirties. I explained why I was there quickly (you learn to speak quickly as a missionary and get your point across before they walk on) and he stopped. He listened. Sister Smith then took over, and I tried to follow the conversation. He at one point said, "Mate cas?" meaning, “Do you have time?” and I realized that since he hadn't ended the sentence with "on Friday or tomorrow or just some other time" he meant did we have time NOW. I was STOKED. I said, "ANO ANO! MAME CAS TED'!" Which means yes yes we have time NOW! ( I get a little excited at times) and he asked if we could go to a cafe to talk. Sister Smith and I were grinning ear to ear. We went to sit down and he explained that, "I hope this doesn’t sound cliché, but I am just trying to find the right church right now." UM, OK NOT CLICHÉ... MIRACLE! So we introduced the Book of Mormon and gave him a part of the first lesson about prophets and the restoration [of the gospel]. I helped the best I could. We invited him to Conference, and when he asked, “Where?” I told him. He then smiled and shyly said, "I built your chapel." I was in heaven. HE BUILT OUR CHURCH! It was the best. So he came to Conference on Saturday (one session) and loved it, but was nervous around all the people and left. But we will be meeting with him soon. He is reading the Book of Mormon and is a miracle. He is in his thirties and hasn't gotten married yet because he hasn’t found anyone yet with good morals. Ladja is a miracle, and I am so so happy that God leads you to people if you are ready. I am so happy to be here.
Days are HARD. One night after much rejection, getting yelled at, and getting rained on, I got into bed and said, "Sister Smith, a mission is HARD." and she laughed and said that she felt the same way. It is hard. But some day the Czech Republic will bulge with the gospel. Who cares if this is the most atheistic country in Europe? It doesn't matter at all. People are craving this gospel. Everyone in the whole world needs it. And I am honored to have this tag on my chest, and I will forever declare my loyalties. I love Jesus Christ. He is my Savior. He loved the world so much that he atoned for us. We [as mortals] have no idea what that means. Death cannot defeat us, because it is a mortal law done away with by an immortal being. Christ is my foundation, my rock, and my Redeemer, and I love Him very very much.
I am grateful for the Book of Mormon and for the second witness it is [of Jesus Christ]. I am grateful that we have it so that there won't be so much confusion in this confusing world. I am grateful I was able to go through the temple, and I cannot WAIT to go through again. I cannot wait to have a family, and to bring an addition of perfect spirits to the strong family I have already. Mommy, you have no idea how special you were to your missionaries. You will never know how many prayers were said in your behalf and how many hours of thought and preparation were put in for you. You were ready for it, and it has blessed so many lives. Thank you for being ready for this gospel, and for sacrificing your life for it. I am forever in your debt. I love you so much.
I have to go write President Irwin now. I keep forgetting. So I hope you all have a wonderful week. You are in my thoughts and prayers. I love you all. Say hello to the animals for me. Andrew sent me a picture of him and Rexu. There are so many dogs here, and I miss Rexu! He is such a ray of sunshine!
-Sestra Satu Izatt