Elder Zealand: Ward conference, FHE, and last minute birthday party....

Lets just say that YSA ward is Bomb. We had Ward Conference all week this week and so it was basically activities every day. Monday we had 2 FHE's. Tuesday we had Rescue Night. Wednesday we had Institute and games. Thursday we had a Cottage evening. Friday there was a Ball (We didn't go to that one :)). Saturday there was games at the chapel. Sunday was church and then a linger longer feed after church. So overall it was a great week!

So to start with our 2 FHE's. 1. A new member in our ward, named Gups, invited us over for an FHE with some of his neighbors who were former investigators. So on Sunday night we went over and invited them to the FHE. They seemed really cool and keen to come over. Well Monday night came and we showed up.... and they didn't. So eventually we had to leave and go to our other FHE and then after we left that family home evening we got a text saying that they came like and hour and a half late... So all goods. We will try again. Our next FHE was with a member in our ward. Her name is Lose. Interestingly enough she was actually one of my MTC teachers. She was the one that seemed to not like my comp and I. Well she likes me now! Ha. So she had a less active friend coming to the FHE and so she invited us to come and meet/get to know her better. That also went well.

Skip to Thursday. For the Cottage Evening (Basically a long FHE for all of the YSA) they asked us to be in charge of it. Its suppose to be a place that YSA can bring their friends and so we can meet them... Doesn't really work like that too well... Our theme for the Conference was "The Greatest Work That You Can Do Is Within The Walls Of Your Own Home." So that's what our Cottage Evening was on. We made 3 groups and they were given one of three topics. FHE, Family Dinner, or Family Scripture Study. Then they were given 3 objects that we got from the $2 store. For example, an ax or a bat (like a rubber animal bat) or a football or an inflatable baby or a stuffed pokeball. Just random stuff! They had to make up a skit using these items showing a good and a bad example of how to do this. Lets just say that most YSA are bad actors... Haha. They were pretty funny. Most of them didn't really make too much sense but it all worked out! We then talked about how we all can make an impact on our own family things. Even as YSA they can make a FHE or a family dinner better for their families so that they can grow and become closer from that. Overall it was great and then after that there was a huge feed. #everyeventhasfood

So Saturday was heaps of fun! The games started at 6 so we went over and there wasn't very many people there so we were kinda gutted... But then as the night went on the place got packed! There were so many people there! There were heaps of new faces there and then it was great to get to see them come to church yesterday! We had so many people at church yesterday!!! It was awesome! Again. Tell them there will be food and they will always be there!

On Thursday around 3 Elder Clark randomly asked me if I wanted to know a secret... So I said yes. Well he then told me that it was his birthday... It was 3 o'clock... I was kinda annoyed... So then I told him that I had to go to the bathroom and so we went to the chapel that was close by and I had the phone so I texted some of our missionaries and told them and so they set up a surprise for him when we got home. Then I texted our Relief Society President and told her and so they all sang to him at the cottage evening. He was so mad. He was trying to keep it a secret and not tell anyone. (he had told everyone that his Birthday was in July) So no I am not the worst companion ever. But I figured it all out and then we had a party. #winning

Our investigators this week were pretty build ups! One hard thing working with YSA is that they are never home and they have crazy schedules. That makes them very hard to catch and hard to set solid appointments with. So most of our appointments fell through this week. It was also really stink that none of them made it to any of the ward conference.. So we have a lot of work to do. Although with Salote we will be seeing her this week. She kinda fell off the radar becuase her partner came back to town and he kinda tries to keep her from us.. Which is annoying. Well he left yesterday for 5 weeks. So that's 5 weeks that we get free from him where we can teach her! She is keen herself and loves us coming over but he isn't I guess... idk. Please pray for her!

My Spiritual thought this week is from the beginning of the Book Of Mormon. As I was studying from Preach my Gospel this week a sentence really stuck out to me that I haven't taken notice of before. It says "Encourage them to read the Book of Mormon from the beginning, including the testimonies of the three and eight witnesses and the testimony of the Prophet Joseph Smith." The part that I really loved was how it shows that the testimonies of the 3 and 8 witnesses and the testimony of Joseph Smith are really important and impacting passages! We need to read them and they can teach us and help us feel of the spirit just as much as the rest of the Book can. So I want to invite yous all to read those this week and to read it wanting to learn something and I can promise that you will learn and strengthen your testimony of the Book Of Mormon.

Well there is my week! Love yous heaps!

Love Elder Seelos!