Wow. That's all I can think to say.
Conference was just that good. I don't know if they just stepped it up this conference, or if I'm just more in tune with the spirit, but I absolutely loved conference. Shoot, I didn't even once fall asleep! It's sad to think I only have one more of those left on my mission. But, I'll make the best of it, that's for sure. The only really depressing thing about conference was LACK OF INVESTIGATORS! We had an investigator promise she would be at the last session of conference, so all throughout conference I was getting super excited for her, because it was so good! 15 minutes before the last session started, she texted and said she wouldn't be able to make it. Sometimes missionary work can be so... depressing. Sometimes you put a lot of trust in people, and they really let you down. But, we make the best of it, and we move on.
Gas prices in California recently rose over 4 dollars a gallon, which to me seems ludicrous. I have no idea what the rest of the country is like right now, but I would have to assume that because of all of California's ridiculous taxes on things, this is about as expensive as it gets. Slap a 9% sales tax on top of all of the already ridiculous taxes, and you've got one expensive place to live. Throw that on top of a high unemployment rate, and you've got some humble people. Now we just need to find them....
I came across an interesting sight the other day. One I've probably seen a dozen times, but it didn't really occur to me the oddity of it until then. I came around a corner in the city, to see a row of palm trees, and in the not too distant background behind said trees, were snow capped mountains. Now, this obviously isn't the only state with palm trees, nor the only state with snow capped mountains, but it is the only one that I'm aware of where the two are in view of each other. I'd send a picture, but I didn't have my camera on me to take one, so you'll just have to take my word on it. It was pretty cool.
Long email today! Last bit. A brother in church gave an interesting thought. He was talking about some of the things he owns that he needs for work. He said that if his truck were to break down, he would have to go get it fixed right then. He could not wait till the next day, he could not take a day off of work. He needs it fixed so he can use it for work the next day. He said the same thing about his laptop. If it were to fry, he would need to have it fixed or replaced as soon as possible. He could not let it wait, because it's very important to him. Then he said to put yourself in the place of the truck, or the laptop, and the Lord is the owner. We need to put ourselves in a place of importance to the Lord, so that when we start to break down, we are so important to His work that he needs us fixed that moment. If we aren't important to his work then he doesn't need us working right then, but if we are instrumental in accomplishing his will, then he will hold us up. He will give us what we need to keep moving on when we start to break down. I have definitely seen that as a missionary, and my challenge to all of you is to put yourself in a position were you are so important to bringing about the Lords work, that he will not let you break down.
I love and miss you all.
Elder Keenan Monnett
