The Best Zone Conferences Ever!!!

We had five separate zone conferences this time. It was great to meet in smaller groups. We talked about our "Mission Goals". Our long range goal of 150 Baptisms this year. Our medium range goal of 1 Baptism per District per Transfer. Our short term goals - Placing a Book of Mormon everyday, 15 quality lessons each week, and speaking Russian fluently from 5pm -9pm each day. It was very exciting to see the missionaries faces! The brand new missionaries - said why so few baptisms? The fairly new missionaries said - very attainable. The missionaries that have been out over a year said - that's stretching ourselves, and the missionaries fairly close to going home said maybe but not realistic. It was very interesting. Then they talked about Ephesians 6:12 and D&C 27:15-18 "Putting on the Armor of God." As we study the missionary white handbook we are putting on the Armor of God. The breastplate of righteousness is to be obedient to His will and learn what you should learn and what you should do. Be what you should be. Truth - starting our day out right with studying. Keep your feet shod with the gospel and remember repentance, faith and our covenants we've made. The shield of faith - principle of action - God endows power as we act in faith and we will be able to withstand the fiery darts of satan. The Helmet of Salvation is the hope and faith that protects our mind. The Sword of My Spirit - the armor on the front of our body only protects those who do not turn and run. Don't turn away the still small voice. The spirit bears us up and strengthens us. The spirit protects us physically and spiritually. Talks were given by the assistants about the dedicatory prayer that Pres. Packer gave at the opening of Ukraine for missionary work. It was very powerful and said that hundreds of thousands would want to know the truth and would be baptized. Many of those who have received their P. blessings are from different tribes here and in "Mormon Doctrine" it talks of the lost ten tribes and how they will seek out Ephriam for their blessings. That is exactly why were are here! It is happening! As we are obedient - the Lord will open the doors and they will seek us out for their blessings!!! President Fry gave an excellent talk comparing us to a kite. We need string, a person to hold the string, the wind, wood reinforcement crossed in the middle and a tail. The string is the commandments and it needs to be attached to the heart of the kite or to our heart. The person holding the string is Christ. The tail adds stability and is prayer, faith, hope etc. The wind is opposition that helps us grow and soar. Christ holds tightly to the string and lets it out bit by bit as we learn more about his commandments and obey them. If we feel we can do it alone and cut the string - we crash and burn so to speak. As we soar higher and higher - we gain more freedom and knowledge and our testimonies grow. As we are obedient - the Lord blesses us! As missionaires our blessings are seeing the joy the gospel brings to these people we teach. I use to get really bugged when my son would write home about numbers etc. I didn't want the mention of numbers when we first got our call to go on this mission, but studying Preach My Gospel and listening to the DVD's that go along with it - I caught the vision. I don't remember which of the Apostles said it but he said very powerfully - sharing the gospel is our responsiblitiy! If you don't set a goal - it won't happen. The people here are ready - many have been studying and coming to church for years and still aren't baptized. If they don't set a goal - it won't happen and they are being deprived of their blessings. It is up to us as missionaries and members to see to it that they are not deprived of their blessings that they have waited for a very long time. If we truly love our fellowman and God, we will want to share the gospel and it is our responsibility to do so. As the zone conference progressed, the missionaries caught the vision, and everyone felt the spirit bare witness of the important work we are here to do. Each night we got home from zone conference, we would get a phone call from one of the district or zone leaders that they had put someone on date! Ochen horosho!!!