Hey now, you're in Oxnard, get your tag on and go preach!

Well, this week has been splendid. We had Zone Conference! It was incredible. Learned a lot of things! Nothing I could say would be able to do it justice. Wow. This is the Lord's work. It is run by men and women who dedicate themselves to God and through them He builds His kingdom on earth. The conference was so good. They really put the gospel of Jesus Christ into perspective for us. They talked about the journey we make as missionaries. There was a point when we were doing it on our own, we did the best we could, but we have limits. When we hit our limits, we still need to keep giving all we have and being diligent. How is that possible? How can we give more, if we've already given all that we have? I will tell you. It is through the enabling power of the atonement. I have learned that the atonement isn't just for cleansing sin or bring strength in times of trial - it is also for doing more than you can do on your own, going from better to best. Once we go through that process, we can go even further with the sanctifying power of the Holy Ghost. That's how this work is possible. And of course, that is when we see the miracles, when we have gone beyond our own limits. It makes sense, right? How could we work miracles with only our own strength? That is why we have to exceed our limits in order to work miracles. That is why obedience and diligence are so important to this work. This is one of the many many many lessons I have learned this week. Wow. There's so much about this life I never understood before.

Here's a cool story. So last week, we met this really scary woman who my companion and I are convinced is under Satan's power. Never have I met someone where that was so clear. She was trying to interfere with God's work by keeping us from visiting one of our investigators. She was trying to convince us that our investigator wasn't interested and only keeps having us over to be nice. In this moment I had this overwhelming feeling that we are truly fighting a battle to save souls. Satan is real and captures people to use them for his purposes. Even though we were scared to go back after that, we knew if Satan thought it was important enough to try to stop us, we really needed to go back. We went last week and ended up talking to our investigator's 20 year old daughter, Eliana. It turns out she used to be really active in her church, but she has gone so far away from God -- It's gotten to the point where she feels like she's too far off to be able to come back. It brought me so much joy to be able to testify to her that the atonement is for everyone, there is nothing you can't repent of. That is a truth that is near and dear to my heart, I was so grateful to be able to testify of that truth. She really opened up. Her heart is so softened and she is so humbled right now. She is ready to come back to God. She said she wants to investigate further, our church along with her own, and find the truth. I believe she will find it, because she is willing to do what it takes with an open heart. When people do so, God promises to manifest the truth to them. She will find it. I am excited to continue working with her. We are truly on the battle field out here. There are opposing forces fighting for each person's soul.

I have learned that true joy doesn't come from our own success, but in helping others reach theirs.

Thanks for reading,
Hna. Cannon

All the sisters in 2 zones! As sister's in Zion!

Hey now, you're in Oxnard, get your tag on and go preach!