Rokin' Perú: Behold a Royal Army

This week started off kind of slow, and was even at the begining, one of the hardest weeks of the mission. My companion just wasn't having a good work ethic this week. I don't know why, but he had just changed his work ethic in a comlete 180 degree turn. It was becoming a pretty hard week. Then on Friday, it started getting better.

I spoke too soon on the pensh haha. She gave us the same things for 5 days straight for breakfast and lunch.. so we changed to Jose Luis´s aunt! She lives here, right in front of our room, and she was a pensh before in Paita for 9 years, then she moved here.

Anyway, Friday there was a sports activity for the ward. We stopped by to take out citas (appointments) with them, then we played a bit of soccer and volleyball to get the confidence of the members more. It was super fun and helped me relax and feel better from the hard week. I really felt the spirit as we were playing. It was a bunch of fun.

For our investigators, Nely, we haven't found her home, familia Zapata.. tampoco (neither). They didn't come to church either. And Manuel, we went with the bishop to talk to Manuel's dad. The mom says yes to baptism for Manuel, but the dad says not yet. The dad is afraid we´ll baptize him and leave him. He just needs a little more confidence and then we´ll baptize him.

Conference... was. AMAZING! One of the best conferences yet. I probably felt the spirit stronger in this conference more than any other in my life. It was an amazing way to kick off the spririt as we sustained President Nelson in the Solemn Assembly. That was a super special and spiritual moment! I could just feel the spirit and love radiating. I did write down the Solemn Assembly feelings I had in my journal. I think it was President Eyring.. I don't remember, but one of them challenged us to do that. And.. I did. I haven't missed a day writing in my journal in the whole mission. I was pretty sad about Elder Uceda being released, but at least I will be able to hear him until the end of the mission.

I can barely narrow down some of my favorite talks because they were all great talks! But I loved the talk from Elder Bednar on meekness. I honestly never really knew what that meant before. Also, in the priesthood session, how they stressed understanding our calling and working more maturely. I really liked how Elder D. Todd Christofferson said, "The priesthood is greater than it´s offices", the stress President Dallin H. Oaks put on how the priesthood is the same power used to open the gates to the heavenly kingdom of God, and how I must learn HOW to use my calling, for the Lord careth not where I serve, rather HOW I serve. Came to mind D&C 107:99-100. As well as, when Devin G. Durrant spoke, as well as Elder Jeffrey R. Holland spoke on the new "Ministering." I thought to myself simply, "What would Dad do?" I thought, "this new ´ministering´will be easy, because I have such a great example of a father who already taught me the principles they talked about today. He already taught me how to truely LOVE and MINISTER to the people whom we serve and not roboticly teach a lesson." I can't thank you enough Dad for the great lesson you taught me through your perfect example of charity always. Although at times I "renegué" (reneged) I know now that the Lord inspired you to prepare me for this day and to know how to truly love and serve those around us. Thanks Dad!

Finishing the conference, I LOVED President Nelson´s talk about personal revelation. I could feel he was speaking directly to me as he also mentioned things that are specifically in my patriarcal blessing. What an example of personal revelation, and as Elder Jeffrey R. Holland said, "What a Prophet!"

I was super suprised at the announcing of SEVEN new temples, two of them being in India and Russia. I could feel during all the sessions, as they spoke of, "preparing to meet the Lord by becoming like him", that the second coming is so close and we must prepare now, and as Elder Oaks said, "To do the ´small and simple things´that will bring us closer to God and his kingdom." It's been a powerful session. I invite all to take President Nelson´s invitation and ponder more on the talks given this weekend because it has truly been an ´historical conference´.

I know God loves me. I know and truly feel in my heart and mind He is real "and no one can take away what I truly feel in my heart and mind." I know that "I am a son of God, not a son of man". This is the church of Christ.

Con amor, Elder Rokovitz