General Conference!

Hey everyone it's been a few weeks so today might be a bit of a 2 birds with 1 stone kind of thing. 

So it's been a whirlwind of a few weeks, there's been no certainty to anything really, apart from that General Conference was on the 4th-5th of April. What an experience that was by the way, but I'll talk about that later. 

So to start, I got a new companion. President gave me and Elder Posacki  a surprise call last saturday, told us that he would be leaving on tuesday, and that I'd get a new companion on monday and that I'd be finishing his training etc. So that happened, Elder Posacki packed and left and I had my new companion. I then found out on friday that that would all be changing. I was told I'd be moving cities and getting a new companion which was a big shock, and I'll be in the same city as my trainer lol. I had a really nice 6 days with Elder Hancock but the Lord has different plans for us both and we just need to put our faith and trust in Him that it'll work out for our good. 

So I'm moving tomorrow. I get a fresh start in a new city called Katowice which is exciting, also pretty nervy but I'll be alright because I've got God on my side, and as Paul said, if God is for us then who can be against us? 

So it's been a pretty busy week haha but that's just part of being a missionary during the Covid-19 pandemic. At least the journal entries are a bit more exciting though haha. In the midst of all the craziness, I let my companion cut my hair for a bit of fun, and I think the only one who enjoyed it was him because it looked like someone had tried to cut my hair with a lawn-mower, but it gave us a good laugh and I fixed it somewhat later on so it's cool. It's one for the mission memories. I'd include a photo but I want to save myself the embarrassment haha.

Moving on, Conference happened! It was amazing and inspiring and uplifting in so many ways. I was overwhelmed with feelings of gratitude to know that we have a Prophet who leads and guides us. Each time he spoke the spirit entered into my heart and it's just such a blessing to have a living Prophet. All of the messages were inspired and the weekend as a whole brought so much comfort and peace to my soul. I'm so so so so excited to go back and listen to all of the talks. It amazed me just how personal each message felt. I realised that what made it unforgettable for me was the preparation I put in, and the hunger that I had to feel God's love. 

After a few hard weeks I just wanted to feel again that God loves me, a question that each soul yearns to have an answer to. I wanted to know what Christ thinks of me, I wanted to know what role I can have in this restoration and how I can help. I was humbled in my preparations, and taken back to the very basics, with a child-like desire to be reassured and comforted that everything will be okay. My questions were answered in an abundance, and my heart was filled with love. Of course God loves me, He sent His Son to die for me. Christ thinks everything of me and of you, because He thought us worthy of His blood, and He suffered all things both body and spirit, so that we can have the opportunity to accept His sacrifice and be found worthy to dwell in God's presence once again. We all have a role in this restoration, we have the right and privilege to receive revelation, to 'Hear Him,' we have the opportunity to go to the temple, to perform ordinances and enter into covenants and receive blessings from our Heavenly Father. We can enjoy all of the many things that thousands and thousands of Saints gave their lives for. The restoration of the Gospel is a marvelous work and a wonder. "The marvelous work is the work of the Lord's Church in the latter days, and the wonder is that He invites all of us, in spite of our weaknesses, to participate." What a blessing it is to be a part of this work, and to live in a day where the Lord speaks to His people.

 I hope you all had a wonderful weekend and I hope you all have an amazing week.

Starszy Ashworth x