Week 85 - The Week with Elder Uchtdorf!!!

Well this week was absolutely incredible honestly! I had lots of really good spiritual moments this week and I was able to learn a lot that I am ready to put into practice.

 

On Tuesday we had our Leaders Meeting where all the Zone Leaders and Sister Training Leaders meet up in Montevideo to talk about our plans and goals to help improve the entire mission. There were lots of really good presentations that I was able to really learn a lot from. It was also great seeing so many friends of mine in the mission that are also leaders now. It was just a great all around experience.

 

On Thursday we had a really good Weekly Planning talking about everything we had heard in the Leaders Meeting and we set some good goals of some small and simple things we could do to improve, especially pertaining to our work with the members.

We also met a guy named L. on Thursday. He seemed super cool and he was super nice. He said that he has always had a belief in God but hasn't really ever gone to a church. That was a really interesting point he made, that was later brought up by Elder Uchtdorf on Saturday!

 

The conference we had with Elder Uchtdorf was absolutely incredible! We got to hear short messages from President and Sister Dunford, President and Sister Escobar (from the other Montevideo mission), Elder and Sister Bragg of the Area Presidency, and then Sister Uchtdorf. After they all gave short 5 min. messages, we got to hear from Elder Uchtdorf for probably 25-30 minutes. It was absolutely incredible!

One thing that he talked about that I really enjoyed and wanted to share with you was a little bit about what I just mentioned with L. He talked a lot about how Joseph Smith had the question about which church was true, but that was not an uncommon question in the day. Then he talked about how that is no longer the question these days, the question now is "Why church?" "Why religion?" and that we should be very prepared to answer those questions and be ready to invite people to "Come and See." He also mentioned a lot about how important it is that our invitations be something that is from heart to heart and not something that just comes from our brains and has no feeling.

He really shared a lot of things that I wish I could talk more about, but really, that would make this letter really huge. I really enjoyed what he said about the heart to heart thing though, and the fact that to be able to accomplish that we need to be converted ourselves.

I know this church is true and I will forever be grateful for the things I've learned and the perspective that it gives me. I'm especially grateful for the mission and for the great learning opportunity it is for me to learn.

I love you all!

Nos vemos!

 

-Elder Martin