Happy Thanksgiving!

I can't believe that Thanksgiving is here already! Mind-boggling. We're going to have dinner(really, lunch since it's at 1) at the Miner's house. I've never had dinner there before, but brother Miner went on exchange with us one night and he was really cool. So it should be fun. :)

We had Zone Conference on Tuesday. It was the best Zone Conference I've had on my mission. I greatly enjoyed it. The big focus was on Family Home Evening. President and Sister Merkley really want us to teach our investigators and recent converts about family home evening. We played a game called "Love in the Zone," part of which included all of us singing "Popcorn Popping." It was so fun. But I did gain a much greater appreciation for family home evening. President Merkley talked a lot about how important it is. In his opinion, it is the second most important meeting in the church. The MOST important meeting is what one of the General Authorities called "Family Executive Council" aka Date Night. He said that it is extremely important for Mom and Dad to have regular date nights. They also need to discuss their childrens needs and seek the Lord's counsel regarding their children. He quoted an old talk by a Modern-Day Prophet(I think it was David O. McKay). The Prophet spoke about the most important Priesthood Interview we will ever have. The one with the Savior when He judges us. He said that he knows the first 2 questions He will ask us. First, He will ask us to give an accounting on our relationship with our spouse. Second, He will ask us to give an accounting of our children. I believe that to be true. Pres. Merkley quoted another General Authority when he made a promise in a talk. He said that if we have Family Home Evening BEFORE we have children, God will bless us with Children that will listen when we teach them the Gospel.

Pres. Merkley also told me, basically, that I need to be ready to take over Webb City, because that's exactly what's going to happen when Elder Stapley goes home. I'm glad to know that he trusts me with that responsibility. But it does put me under a lot of pressure to learn the area as quickly as possible. The Lord has helped me to learn it very quickly so far. I know that I can handle it with His help.

We have one Ward Missionary here in Webb City. He is an awesome guy. He and his wife are finally going to the temple in December. (they have been married for a few years and have several children). I am so excited for them. I miss the temple so badly. I hope that as part of Thanksgiving you all take the opportunity to go to the Temple and pray within its walls to Heavenly Father and thank Him for your many blessings. I promise you that as you do so, you will feel the Spirit and know that our Heavenly Father loves you and wants nothing but your happiness.

In answer to your question mom, we are never home when the mailman comes so I couldn't sign for it. It would be just fine to have them drop it off. Nobody will hurt it. :)

We have not had any snow yet. It was rainy last week(our bike week, of course). But no snow yet. The weather here is just ridiculously weird.

We are teaching an RLDS aka Community of Christ family. They are really cool. They pretty much know that their church is false. It's just hard for them to leave it because it's their whole life. They will come around eventually though. Teaching them did lead me to look up this awesome article:http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?hideNav=1&locale=0&sourceId=09cd615b01a6b010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD

Well that's about all I have to report this week. It was wonderful to hear from you! I hope you have a good week!

Love,
Elder Bracken