Sunday, April 14thThe conference sessions started at 9:00 this morning. We went a little early because we are having such a good time seeing all the people that are in the ward we used to go to. We miss them all so much and they said that they really miss us too. Even the kids in our Sunday School class came up to us and told us how much they miss us. It was so good to visit with them all again.
The session was wonderful and the messages so straight forward and powerful. This conference gave me a lot to ponder and think about. It sounds like there are tough times ahead and that we need to be obedient and cling to our faith.
After the first session was over the bishop said that there was a treat outside for everyone. We went out and had a couple of rolls and some punch. While we were out there Sister Szoka came to find us. She said that there was someone that she wanted us to meet. When we went back with her we met the Johnsons. They are a couple that have come here on vacation. Brother Johnson served his mission here and would you believe it, he and Alan were companions! He was just finishing up his mission when Alan arrived but they did serve together for a short time. Heavenly Father has been so good to us. They have been planning to come on this trip for 20 years and they just happened to come when we were here and come to a meeting where we were. It’s not a coincidence, it is another tender mercy! They are a lovely couple and we will have them to dinner one day this next week.
The last session was bitter sweet. It was wonderful but I hated to see it end. When you sit through them one right after another they are over so fast. It is such a long wait until the next conference that I like to spread the sessions out a little more. But watching conference in the mission field is such a special experience. The spirit is so strong in my heart when we are on a mission and I was so grateful that we are on a mission when the brothern talked about senior missionaries. I know that we are where the Lord wants us to be, doing what He wants us to do, at the time He wants us to do it. The experiences we have had since we got here have made that crystal clear to me. Even if Salt Lake doesn’t know who we are or where we are, the Lord knows and that is all that matters.
When the sessions were over we met up with the Johnsons again and they came to our house. They are hoping to see all of the places where Brother Johnson served when he was a young man. They thought they could come here and then arrange a flight to the other islands. That just isn’t possible right now. With the new airline not up and operating yet, there is only one “little” plane flying to all of the islands. You have to have reservations weeks ahead. It will take a miracle to get them on that plane. We will help them work on it tomorrow. We had made dinner plans with another couple so they just stayed a half hour but we will see them tomorrow afternoon.
We had dinner with the Szoka’s. He is a good cook and he had made chili and corn bread. With a breeze blowing it was actually not to bad to have chili and it tasted really good. I made a cake yesterday and we shared that so it was a light but yummy dinner.
We were able to face time with Bryan’s family, Greg and Kimi tonight. By the time we hung up with Kimi it was to late to call Tiff and Dave. Hopefully we can connect with them tomorrow.
Alan and I went for a walk tonight. It is finally cool enough at night to walk. It doesn’t cool off until after dark but there are street lights around Liahona so we just walked around the school. At first my leg and back really hurt but gradually it got better. We really need to walk every day. My body is used to that and I know part of my problem is the fact that we haven’t been able to walk and we are sitting all day. My body HATES that!
