Amazing Zone Conference

Hello Everyone! Yesterday we had an amazing zone conference! The spirit was extremely strong! It was great. President Kendrick talked about the culture of the California Carlsbad mission and he gave 8 things that define who we are and what are vision should be. It was amazing and probably mission changing (meaning the california carlsbad mission). It definatley will take the mission to a new level. So that we do more, and become more. It has been amazing to watch how he has changed things and taken the mission to a new level. He and Sister Kendrick really focus on forgetting about leadership and really loving each missionary individually and helping us to truly BECOME like the savior rather than just do missionary things. If you all could just see this mission. They really do love each missionary. Something President Kendirck said at the Zone Conference ( The #2 culture of the califronia calrsbad mission) was That "we are more than just exactly obedient, we are more than just dilligent, we are consecrated missionaries) Alot of the focus has just been on obedience, then the last few months implementing dilligence, and now he has taken it to a new level. I understand i am not even close to consecrated but it is cool to see that he has totally raised the expectaitions. More than just obedient, you cant just be obedient and dilligent, it is required that you give your all, not because of self discipline but because of a desire to help those in need and to follow our savior. That is the difference between dilligence and consecration, doing it not because of self discipline, although that is important, but because of desire. He also qouted alma for this example"O that I were an angel,...and could have the wish of mine heart, that I might go forth and speak with the atrump of God, with a voice to shake the earth, and cry repentance unto every people!that they should repent and acome unto our God, that there might not be more sorrow upon all the face of the earth." He also talked alot about our purpose as missionaries. Our purpose is to Find, Teach, and Baptize. Everything we do should be to that extent. He said missionaries who come on there mission to personally "grow" find that they do not grow at all and in the process find little whom to share the gospel with. However, missionaries who go on a mission to Find, Teach, baptize both find, teach, and baptize and in the process "find themselves" he quoted the scripture "whosoever shall find his life shall lose it, but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake shall find it" When we go to help other people ( that being our sole purpose) we in the process of time without realizing it, find ourselves. ( I am still working on everything- because i definatelty need to:) It is important that we be before we do though so that we have the correct motives for our actions. He also mentioned how we understand that converison comees only as investigators excerisce there faith. As they simply Pray, read, and go to church they will become converted. He qouted Elder Bednar who said that acting in faith breaks down barriers that block the spirit. Sister Kendrick also gave a training/talk on attitude. It was a great talk. we also recieved a training on Christlike atttributes. The entire trainings, besides a few, were focused on becoming so we can help our investigators do the same. We talk to everyone, share the light and do all we can. It was a pretty amazing day. It is extremely important that we give our ALL. that is the requirement and nothing else. Although we are not perfect myself especially we should strive. Also at the Zone Conference was Elder Bowman! Haha my last companion, he got transferred in from Carlsbad the night before unexpectdly with his same compmanion from Carlsbad so that was good. WE also are still teaching two girls form Arkansas tommorrow. They are AWESOME They also came to church last week again and loved it. We are also teaching a man named Robert who LOVED hearing about the Plan of Salvation at church. Last night we were able to give a blessing to two of our investigators who are struggling. As we gave the blessing I felt a little bit of how much heavenly Father truly loved this person as his son. These two, and all are sons and daughters of God. I could tell he was, in a loving way, very glad for the changes they had already made. I repented for judging them- they can make it. Anyways it was a GREAT week all around. Very grateful to be serving in such a great mission with such great people here. I am definatley not perfect and am continuing to work on improving. Love, Elder Thompson Haha i have seen some of that soup somewhere hahanice@! Elder Bowman, Elder Rupper, elder Thmopson, elder Bringhurst