Sadly, Stake Conference does not involve a large buffet of meat, but I did meet a General Authority! - The Weekly Letter

Really the biggest news of this week would be our stake conference with a visiting 70. Elder S. Gifford Nielsen (you can find his picture in the conference Ensign) payed us a visit and presided over a stake conference Saturday and Sunday, and then had a zone conference with us missionaries Monday. It was a wonderful experience, and I truly felt his love and the spirit as he visited with us. We talked a lot about the principle of repentance as well as how to connect with members and investigators. "Connect hearts" is one of the principles I'll be taking away from this experience. As a zone leader I also got the chance to attend an MLC with Elder Robbins and we discussed additional principles of leadership and how to help others, such as "catching those [we] lead doing good." It was truly a wonderful experience, and I'm so grateful for the inspired leaders the Lord has called in these latter days. I'd share more, but my notes are at home, this is just kind of coming off the top of my head. I have resolved to become a better zone leader and to get more involved in the lives of my missionaries, to love them and show them that love, and not worry so much about myself or my sector.

In terms of the work here, it's going well. Marie-Rose and Kena still haven't decided on a marriage date. Honestly there are so many people here across all of New Caledonia that are all so close to baptism, but there's just one or two little things blocking them from this saving ordinance. 

Saturday was a really crazy day for us, we taught five lessons total, which is a lot for here, including one with a new investigator named Louis. Well, not a totally new investigator, he took the lessons already about 4 years ago, but, like usual, he needs to get married and stop smoking before he can get baptized, but he has the desire to do so. Part of the problem is that he hasn't had the lessons in so long, so there's a lot to remind him of and get him doing again like coming to church. 

That really about sums it up for this past week, a lot of lessons cancelled, but then Saturday exploded and then we had this stake conference. I'm pretty exhausted after all the meetings and things we've learned. I'm excited to put it all into practice this week.

Love you all!

Elder Miner

Sculpture by a member at an exhibit about whales at the Tjibaou Cultural Center (P-day activity last week)

Me and my companion with Elder and Sister Nielsen and President and Sister Granger