August 3, 2020 Zone Conference

Hello Family and friends!! I hope you have had a wonderful week! This week we had our big zoom zone conference! We got to hear the missions focus, as well as their change of direction on involving members, and Facebook. They shared something they are calling "Facebook tracting." Its a way that we reach out to individuals in our assigned area over Facebook like we might have done if we were meeting them in person. 

We decided to try it this Friday. We sat together, prayed and read our safeguards for using technology before we opened Facebook and began selecting people at random to message. If I could describe it in one word, it would be awkward!!  

We felt uncomfortable as we friended and messaged possible potentials who currently live in Alvin. After an hour of searching, and many hours later, we had seen no success. It was early the next day during planning, when we chose a goal for the day. My companion, sister Stephens, suggested we set our goal to have one person respond to us over Facebook. I was a little hesitant to set that goal, because I knew it was out of our control, but Sister Stephens assured me that as long as we did all we could, God would take care of the rest. 

Our schedule was packed with lessons that day, and around 8 we noticed that we didn't get the chance to go "Facebook tracting." How would we reach our goal if we didn't put in the effort. But God is good! 

Around 8:15 a woman named Judy, who we had messaged the day before responded. She was open about prayer and spoke of how God had blessed her life. She was our miracle. 

With minimal effort on our part, the lord helped us accomplish our goal, and not only did we find Judy, but we found 3 people to teach this week, meeting our goal 100%. I know God loves each and every one of us. Exact obedience is vital, but in the end, it is God who performs the miracles. 

I love you all! A quick insight from zone conference that changed my perspective on repentance: when we come before our bishops and our priesthood leaders for help and guidance, we aren't burdening them with our addictions or questions; instead, we are putting them in a poison to be more like the Savior then they ever have before. You give them a chance to help a beloved son or daughter of God change and progress. Our priesthood leaders are there to help and guide us. Don't be afraid if that someone who needs help is you. The savior embraced the woman caught in adultery, he approached the leper, and knelt beside the woman with the issue of blood. People who felt unworthy of love, are those whom he so openly and clearly loved.  Let that be you.

Love you all!!