As you all know, I've never been much of a "counter-downer." Like my 16th birthday... No one even knew it was coming.
;) ...so I tease. I've been counting down, and if you didn't catch that first joke- I counted down the last 100 days to my 16th birthday, and even had the running count down on the seminary white board. And the bishop may have announced it from the pulpit in sacrament meeting to tease me...
But all is well, I have a lot of cramming to do to finish getting ready. I told my mom I just wanted to leave and not deal with all the prep stuff and packing. She told me that's how you know you're an adult: packing is no longer fun. It's true.
I wanted to touch on conference! Wasn't it the best?!! I always love conference. There was so much to learn. I can't wait to get the Ensign and read them. I thoroughly enjoyed the prophets talk, as well as the sincere testimonies that were bore. If there was anything I learned from this whole April conference, it was that to teach others about the gospel of Jesus Christ you must teach boldly the doctrine. Many different "touchy" subjects were talked about, such as roles of men and women, marriage, technology... Etc, and they boldly taught the doctrine. There was never any sugar-coating, and most importantly there was never any judge-mental comments. I love that, and I hope to teach that way in the field.
Also on the lines of conference, between the first and second session on Saturday (byutv) there was a special 10 min highlight on the New York South mission and my mission president! :) it talked about how the missionaries were actively serving in the community by helping to clean up after Hurricane Sandy. What an amazing thing to see!
So... On Facebook there is a group of sister missionaries called "Many are called, but few are sisters..." that has 5,797 members in it. People in the group often joke that the name needs to be changed because its obviously not true any more, but regardless, the group rocks. There has been made a document with all 405 missions listed, and then as you get your call you type your name, report date, which MTC, and your language under that mission. :) Shortly after I was added to the group I was tagged in a post that suggested all the New York South-ers add each other as friends and get a small group together. So that's what we did! I am the only one left who hadn't left, but they each have a blog or email list that gets forwarded and it has been so fun to read and hear about the MTC, and MY mission!! :) they are all doing great, and having a blast! I can't wait to meet them, they all seem to be amazing women. Though, that's a give in. Only the best are called to New York. ;)
I have made it my goal to finish the Book of Mormon before I leave, and so in the next 19 days I will be reading a fair amount. It was in my call to reread the Book of Mormon before leaving, and President Calderwood asked us to read the Book of Mormon to find all the attributes of Christ and all references to the Atonement.
As I said before-- I speak on April 21st at 1pm at the stake center! So don't miss it! :) and another great reason not to miss it is Rick Reeve offered to do a piano solo on sacrament that day! He is making a special trip to our ward to play. I can't wait, he even told me to choose the song- so it'll be extra good.
Love and happiness, my friends.
