General Conference

This week has flown by.


First off, General Conference was amazing! I loved every talk given. It is so hard to pick favorites but there are a few that stick out to me. I forgot to bring my notebook so I'll just talk on one that I liked. It happened to be Elder Cook's talk at the very end of Conference. I really like the scripture he recited in D&C 121 where it talks about how even if the gates of hell stand open to receive us, it shall be well with us and all will be for our experience and gain. We need to maintain the perspective that opposition and trials are there for our benefit and are there to build us up, to gain experience, and make us better disciples of Christ. Quite a bit of conference was on gaining that attitude of discipleship, using the Holy Ghost to grow our testimonies into sure foundation, and making sure we know what is contained in The Living Christ. I love the focuses that each talk brought!

We had a wonderful finding experience this week. We were in hour of power walking around campus like usual. We came to a usual spot that has a junction of walking paths. Normally, we keep going forward, but as we came to there were two people on the side that we don't normally go. We go over and contact them. One is slightly interested, and the other wasn't. But after we were done contacting them we continued on this different path. As we were walking, a woman in her 20's was walking in our direction wearing headphones. We contact her, she takes out her headphones and we share a little bit about the Gospel. She was a little apprehensive at first, but soon she became interested. Her name is Claudia. After we pray with her, she opens up to us and tells us that she normally isn't out walking, or around this area of campus at all! But for some reason, she felt like she needed to leave her apartment and go for a walk. Heavenly Father knows where we need to be! I'm grateful we felt prompted to talk to the two people a little ways off. Even if they weren't super interested, God tested our obedience and faith and rewarded us with a wonderful new investigator. You never know what Heavenly Father has around each corner! You just need to be ready to act on the promptings that come! I was reminded of this experience when Elder Rasband was speaking. Through all the Talks given on the Holy Ghost I felt like we need to be more spiritually in tune 24/7.

Also, at the beginning of this week we were able to meet with a really promising Investigator, Francis, and put him on date to be baptized. He is progressing well! He just studies all the time haha.
There's been some big storms passing through lately. Lots of flooding and tornado warnings. We are safe now that they are all over!
--

Elder Henry Blackburn
Texas Houston East Mission


Love,
Elder Blackburn