4-14 August 2016

We have a great group of missionaries in this group.  They all get along really well and are very positive and happy.  Here's a picture of a group of Africans, Americans, elders and sisters playing a rousing game of volleyball together during sports time.

Only one picture on this whole blog entry!  Oh well, our safari pictures made up for the lack we have now.  We find that we're doing the same thing every three weeks so there's not much new to talk about.

Elder Bednar came to visit the MTC this past week, along with his wife, and the Area Presidency and their wives.  He mainly held a question and answer period with the missionaries for almost two hours, with him inviting the Area presidency and their wives and his wife to join in at any time, which they did.  It was very inspiring - so much about following the spirit and listening to it, not trying to be perfect, but just being obedient and good, and you will be guided - many times you won't even realize you're being guided until later when you think about it.  It just feels natural.

Elder Bednar made sure that we were going to have lunch with the rest of them afterwards, and we had a delightful lunch that Aba prepared.  He singled us out after lunch before he left and shook our hands, looked us in the eyes, and told us we were warriors.  He said many senior couples won't serve because they can't leave their grandchildren.  He thanked us for our service and told us that our absence (at home) was far more important than our presence - at this point in time.  He said it's not forever, just for now.  I got so choked up as he spoke to us that I could hardly talk, but I told him how much this meant to us, especially coming from him.  Afterwards, Loel and I just stayed in the room, pretty emotional, and I said, "I can live on his words for the rest of my mission."