Crazy Zone Conference Week
It's kind of been a wild week for us. Zone conferences are always kind of hectic, but this week was especially so. Usually we have two zone conferences in the Barcelona Stake Center. Each one has two zones that attend. We can usually haul everything we need for both days there on day one. We can set up all the tables, and get everything ready on the first day, and so the second day, we just show up and do all of the heavy cleaning after the 2nd conference. This time we did day one at the Barcelona Stake Center and day two at the Hospitalet Stake Center. It meant double the work (set up, take down, and cleaning), but it allowed the Hospitalet and Lleida zones to not have to travel so far. The first day was also complicated because a new couple arrived on Tuesday morning and Sister Musser and I were assigned to take the President's car to the airport to pick them up and take them to the Zone conference. I kind of felt bad for them because I know that they were jet-lagged beyond belief and all they really wanted to do is to get some sleep. However, they were troopers, and the energy of the missionaries always seems to rub off on us "more seasoned" types. So, Tuesday and Wednesday were non-stop Zone Conference days for us. Thursday and Friday President and Sister Heckman traveled with the assistants to Valencia and then to the Islands for the other two zone conferences.
For us, Thursday and Friday were basically "catch up" days to get everything done. There was a lot of that too, because we had to stand up two new pisos (apartments) and close one down. Lots of contracts to sign, bank transfers to make, new landlords to set up as vendors, etc. Friday night was institute like always and so when we finally hit the pillow Friday night about midnight, we were pretty happy to not have to set an alarm for Saturday. On Saturday we were able to attend a baptism of Leon Prince. He is a result of Friday night institute with the Young Single Adults (JAs). He moved to Spain from England, and so his Spanish isn't that good. So, we were able to do the whole baptism in English which allowed the missionaries to ask Sister Musser if she would speak at the baptism. She did a great job and the Spirit was certainly there when she bore her testimony. I loved it. We sang the hymns in both English and Spanish which meant that we needed to find the matching English hymns in the Gospel Library app for those of us who wanted to sing in English. It was pretty fun.
Today, we went to Church and then did "Come Follow Me" together. It was special for me this week because of the focus on the Atonement. I had never quite realized before that we have several different descriptions of what the Savior went through in the Garden, but only one where He describes His experience in the first person. That is in Section 19. We also watched the Bible Video depicting His experience in the Garden. It focussed me on the fact that I will never fully understand the depths of pain, anguish, and agony that He went through for me. I certainly will never be able to repay Him for what He did. I know that because of the eternal nature of His sacrifice, there is no depth that I can sink to where His light won't reach me. I think of the hymn that was written by James E. Faust and wonder along with him "how many drops of blood were spilled for me?" The joy of the Gospel Message is that He freely gives this precious gift to each and every one of us regardless of whether or not we are willing to receive it. It is just always there. All He asks is for us to try to become more like Him so that we can return home to our Heavenly Father.
I certainly hope that you all have a wonderful week. We love you and miss you, and hope that you can feel His love in your hearts this week.
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