"Come as you are, but don't plan to stay as you are"

Singing at the Civil Rights Workshop at University of New Orleans

P-day at the Aquarium

Trying to blend in with the rest of the fish

General Conference is kind of like the Super Bowl for missionaries. Like I get waaaay happy when it comes around. This conference did not disappoint! I hope y'all took the time to watch it this year. I'm excited to reread everything and be lifted and inspired again. Words just can't describe the peace and joy i felt as I listened to our prophet and other leaders of the church speak.  

This week was crazy busy and full of surprises! Sister Pedro and I went to our first MLC this week and the spirit was so strong. We were both pretty nervous about the idea of instructing the NOLA zones - we've never done this before. But after MLC we were confident that the message we were teaching was what our zones needed so we stopped thinking about ourselves and worrying about us teaching and focused on others and the message they would be receiving. Moral of the story - when we can refocus and turn outward with faith our burdens are lifted!

Sis and I got asked to pull together a musical program last minute again (this seems to be a theme lately haha) so we rounded up some missionaries and sang at a civil rights workshop last Saturday. It was actually really cool - a bunch of students from colleges all over New Orleans met at UNO for a political discussion and they decided to start the discussion with music and prayer. I love the rich spiritual beliefs in the South!

a favorite conference quote: "Brothers and sisters, we live in a mortal world with many songs we cannot or do not yet sing. But I plead with each one of us to stay permanently and faithfully in the choir, where we will be able to savor forever that most precious anthem of all—“the song of redeeming love” [Alma 5:26; see also Alma 26:13]. Fortunately, the seats for this particular number are limitless. … “Come as you are,” a loving Father says to each of us, but He adds, “Don’t plan to stay as you are.” We smile and remember that God is determined to make of us more than we thought we could be. In this great oratorio that is His plan for our exaltation, may we humbly follow His baton and keep working on the songs we cannot sing, until we can offer those “carol[s] to [our] King” [Hymns, no. 227]."

Elder Jeffrey R Holland

I love y'all!! When there are days that you just can't sing another note, stand close to Jesus Christ. He has perfect pitch and His voice will carry you through. Keep trying, keep loving, and keep singing. Have a bless'd week!

Love,

Sister Thomas

Julie was so excited to get this sombrero for her birthday lol

I made a new friend in the French Quarter today!