October 3, 2011

Hello Everyone,
   What a fantastic General Conference! I am feeling so edified and uplifted. I loved every second of conference. I remember the April Conference was my very first weekend in the field, and I only understood a few words here and there. This time, six months later, I was able to understand most everything. I felt so much love, not only for those speaking, but for those I have been called to serve. What a great blessing Conference is and the opportunity I had to be watching it here in Largo with my dear companion Hermana Dollahite once again. I hope you all had the opportunity to participate in this great blessing. If you didn't, it’s easy to do. All you have to do is go to gc.lds.org .
   While many of the talks spoke to me personally, some of them were also special because they answered a question those I am working with have posed. It was a unique experience, to feel and think of so many others during a time that has previously been more personal (or at times boring if I am being completely honest). I pray they were watching. I pray they heard and understood the power and love that was shared.
   While I did think more of others than I ever have before during Conference, I still received invaluable personal revelation. The two themes that struck me most deeply are intimately connected. The first was during President Monson's talk on his lost five dollars in the Sunday morning session. While the story was cute and a good lesson, what struck me more was the faith a young boy had in his prayers and his Heavenly Father. As I began to think on this concept, this deep and abiding faith in personal communication with the Father, no matter the size of the dilemma, the first Sunday session closed and I had some time to reflect on the lesson I had been taught.
I began to think of another lesson from the day before in the Saturday afternoon session, the story by Elder Carl B Cook of the Seventy and how those two were connected. He told about when he felt overwhelming feelings of inadequacy. I have felt inadequate many times as a missionary and could empathize with his urge to keep his head down, maybe shake it a bit, and wonder how he could possibly live up to the circumstances and responsibility that had been given to him. However, when President Monson entered the elevator, he gave him the infinitely wise council to 'look up.'
It is always better to look up, for it is there that we find the answers that help us to grow and progress and come closer to our Heavenly Father. When we look down, all we find is the world's answer to problems, "It's too hard, it isn't that important, just give up." I have a firm testimony in 'looking up,' in calling upon Our Heavenly Father to take away those burdens that we cannot manage on our own, to find the solution and power to persevere through Him and none else.
I believe that Our Heavenly Father DOES hear each prayer, no matter how small or insignificant the problem or concern seems to be. Faith is the key ingredient, and when we couple that with the requisite action, miracles will and do follow.
As far as the work goes, we are working our tails off to complete some extra tasks the Lord has assigned us this month. I'm actually not sure how we are going to do it, but I know we will somehow! One of the most exciting things for me was a crazy mad and successful dash to get one of our most promising investigators to mutual on Wednesday. It was awesome! We drove about ninety miles to make it happen, but happen it did! (The activity was scraping paint off of some science work stations downtown, I bet he LOVED that!)
Two of our other promising investigators came to one of the Saturday sessions of conference. When it ended, before we could even ask, one of them said, I LOVED that, it was all from the Book of Mormon (She has read all but the last thirty pages or so and over half of the Gospel Principles book.). It was a great week, and I can't wait for all of the miracles that I am going to see this week.
      I am so grateful to be here and to be a part of this great work. I hope I live up to the responsibilities the Lord has given me. I do know that I will never be able to if I don't keep my hope and faith in Him. I am determined and committed to keeping my eyes focused in the right direction...up.
I love you all,
Hermana Levanger