Sixty-six

So here is the low down of this weeks events ;)

-Thanksgiving themed Zone Conference

-2 Exchanges with the Elders of Brive and Perigeux

-1 day of raking leaves

-And a mission wide turned focus on focusing on part-member families

The zone conference was quite delightful. President Brown introduced

the Éclairer Le monde theme for this Christmas. He also gave us the

directive to basically stop contacting and porting and to work with

part member families. It was quite a conference. We are focusing on

this until the end of the year for the 250 baptism goal this

year. We are at 142 so these next 4 weeks are going to be

legendary! As well we had our personal interviews with President

Brown. Every interview I have had with President Brown have been

enriching, and this interview was not an exception. I do have a

feeling I am leaving Angouleme in one week donc on verra.

The exchanges we had were great and truly all the missionaries in this

District are all total friends. They know how to have a good time but

more importantly they know how to work hard.

We raked leaves for the Benes all of Wednesday. Who would know that

raking leaves is such a workout? A nice meal and refreshments were

quite a recompense though. I have no idea why anyone rakes

leaves when you can use a high powered air blower. When we found that

bad boy, life was great.

This week I have been studying a good amount of Elder Neal

Maxwell's general conference talks. Personally I think his talks are

some of the most life changing talks I have read from any

Apostle. They are quite well thought out and layered.

I have been studying the emotion of being happy lately. I have

come to find that happiness is an conscious emotion one must

constantly strive mentally to be filled. It is not always a

consequence but is rather a state of being. One can simply choose to

be ticked or "stoked". I don't know about you but life is difficult

and complicated enough by itself.  Why should we use sarcasm and

negative remarks that blunt one's self confidence, worth, and moral.

Let us be lifters. Let us be someone that enlightens others around us

and not depress. Let us give hope, not despair. Let us so other’s guilt

can be relieved instantly by the Atonement of Christ  and we can walk

anew. I love this Gospel. It broadens my scope of vision and enhances

comprehension. That is the "fruit" spoken of in Alma 32.

Love ya all and choose to be happy!

Elder Duffy