Elder Thompson's Last Day

Part of missionary life is the constant change. For good or for bad, missionaries really never can plan for the next 6 months, because who knows what will have changed! One of those changes that happened today is Elder Thompson reaching the end of his mission. He served faithfully in 2 different missions; First in San Antonio, Texas and then here in the Referral Center. He was an example of faith and dedication. He bore a testimony today to all of us that He knew that God lives, and that He loves each of us, and that this is His work. I echo that testimony that I know that God lives, and this IS His work, "For behold, this is my work and my glory- to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man."- Moses 1:39

E. Thompson's motivational scripture reminds me of my duty and privilege as a missionary: "Shall we not go on in so great a cause? Go forward and not backward. Courage, brethren; and on, on to the victory! Let your hearts rejoice, and be exceedingly glad..."-D&C 128: 22

Friday Free Day- The last of the Zone Conferences

The RC Mission had Zone Conference today. Zone Conferences are a special meeting that take a portion of a Friday from about 8 AM to 12 PM. They are held once every six weeks. They are a special training where the whole mission can get together and have outside sources come and talk to us and present new ideas of how to help make us better missionaries. It is always a beneficial and Spiritual experience.

This Zone Conference was particularly special because it is also the day when Elder Tagg and Elder McMullin finish their missions! They are wonderful missionaries with very strong testimonies that God loves us, that His son Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world, and that the Book of Mormon is the Word of God. They will definitely be missed, and we all hope they have a great start getting back into "regular" life. :)

Friday Free Day- How to become a missionary

I figured I needed to tell my story of how I came to be a missionary at the Referral Center. I have a heart condition called neurocardiogenic syncope. It basically means that I faint sometimes if I get too hot or don't eat, etc. Any individual who wants to be a missionary fills out an application, called mission papers. Those papers are sent up to church headquarters in Salt Lake City, Utah. 


When I filled mine out, the word came back that I was not expected to serve a mission for the church because of my heart condition. Through my local church leaders I was given the option to serve other service missions. It wasn't quite the same as a proselyting mission though and I had decided before I turned in my papers that if I wasn't called on a proselyting mission I would pursue other interests.