Thanksgiving In Singapore

Zone Conference this week made for an exciting change to our normal week and included a plane ride to and from Singapore. Due to visa problems, the mission leaders have decided that it is best for the missionaries to come into Singapore to have zone conference instead of having the leaders fly out every three months to the missionaries in their areas. So, I spent two nights at the mission home in Singapore.

Zone Conference brings with it a lot of consequences, one is the travel that it takes to get there (essentially it takes us half a day of travel to get there from our home). Another consequence is the enjoyment that we get from being able to interact with missionaries who we don't see very often. I got to see Elder Howell (the first time since the MTC) and it was great just to meet and talk with other missionaries from our zone. Zone Conference, of course, also brings a lot of training, and I really enjoyed the presentations and the doctrines that were shared. One of my favorite parts was Elder Tad R Callister's talk on being a consecrated missionary, which was shared by our mission president's wife: Sister Simmons. Another fun fact is that we watched a music video of "Savior, Redeemer of my Soul" that was played by the youth Symphony that Ethan Bullock is in (there was an Elder in the conference who was in the music video and he knew Ethan)!

Other random facts from Singapore: I had cereal for like the first time in two months (and I took advantage of it). I got the Liahona magazine which included the conference talks. I received a package from home with Christmas presents in it! I got more langauge material from the Taiwan Taipei to study. I got to go to China town. I went on a run with some of the Elders and it was awesome (we probably only went 4 miles and I was way sore the next day...probably because I haven't ran since the MTC).

For those of you who asked, we did celebrate Thanksgiving, and probably quite a bit more than other missionaries outside of the US. It just so happened that our Zone Conference was on Thursday, and so we had a fairly traditional styled thanksgiving meal, along with pizza later to top it all off. 

As we enter into this season of gratitude, starting with Thanksgiving and ending with Christmas, I am so grateful for the Savior and for the potential that we have to change our lives through him. Missionary work is about others, and I am finding more and more joy as I forget myself and look to improve so that I can be a better instrument for the Lord. I am experiencing many miracles that confirm to me that the Lord truly is preparing His children to hear the word of God. The Church is true, and if anyone is struggling with their testimony, just remember to be patient with yourself and to trust in the savior, remembering your past experiences with Him.

Sincerely,

Elder Allen

(sorry, I forgot to charge my camera for Singapore and then I forgot to bring it here to send the pics that I did take...)