Edvalsons in England: April Blog Post

April 3, 2018

Greetings from the mission! It’s been a while since we’ve communicated. That doesn’t mean we don’t think of you all and pray for you and miss you too. In our last episode, I had a cold as I recall. I just finished my last antibiotic this morning. I am feeling much better although still some wheezing going on and I”m really not as strong as I can be. I call it “without guts”. I haven’t been outside for weeks - Doctors order - and probably a good idea. I missed our Zone Conference so I’m sad about that and you know, it’s just a hassle not feeling 100 per cent. Done complaining now.

We are closing in on our weekend of the International Chinese Mandarin Convention. We will have 41 students and I think (hope) they’re all housed at this point. The college students here have about a month long Easter break. If they’re Grad students, not as much, but still a fair amount of time. They can get terrific deals here so they’re off for Paris or India and everywhere in between. We have a few who will be staying here - mainly because they’re from the USA (Melissa) or El Salvador (that’s Oscar) so they will probably help us set up some games and do some cooking. Rachel and Angela, the Chinese girls who came up with the idea will be calling the shots and we’ll be their helpers.

This last weekend we showed the General Conference of the LDS Church which is presented in May and in October. We live streamed all of it so that means we watched the morning and afternoon sessions from 5-7pm and from 9-11pm. We had a fair amount of YSA here and we had pot luck dinners between sessions. Such a great way to celebrate Easter because the Conference is all about how we can follow Jesus Christ more lovingly and with renewed vigor. Our previous Prophet, President Monson was known for his kind service to others. His health had been a bit precarious for a while and he passed away first part of January. We believe that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ and so we have 12 Apostles and also the President and two counselors. The senior Apostle becomes the President of the Church so there is no jostling for power or confusion. Our new President, Russell M. Nelson is a world-renowned heart surgeon who helped invent the first heart-lung machine. He is 93 and still skis. We believe he was prepared for this service and the membership of the world (over 16 million internationally) showed that by raising our hands throughout the world in solidarity with him and his counselors. Then the fun began. Since we believe this is the Lord’s church, inspiration is absolutely essential and that can means inspired change and improvement and what is best for the Church as a whole right now. It was just a very exciting Conference as they changed our practice of visiting everyone we can to ministering to everyone we can. What’s the difference? The visiting was great and worked well, but it became a bit “check on your calendar if you gave your families the message of the month.” Now we are encouraged to serve as needed the way the families need to be served. In addition, all the youth will become more involved in serving and ministering to others. One of the most exciting changes to me were the two new Apostles who were called replace two who had passed away (they serve for a lifetime) One of the Apostles is from Brazil and the other is a Chinese-American Rhodes Scholar and we love the diversity. Also announced were 7 new Temples all over the world including one in India and one in Russia - no city has been chosen for Russia as yet. I’ll just end with a few of our favorite quotes from Conference:

President Nelson: “Let us thank the Lord for his inspiration and guidance. Let us all press on in the work of the Lord. I exhort you to study the messages of this conference in the next 6 months…. The Lord has made important adjustments in the ways we serve one another through ministering….Our message to the world is simple and sincere. We invite all of God’s children on both sides of the veil, to come unto their Savior, receive the blessings of the Holy Temple (we presently have 159), have enduring joy and qualify for Eternal Life…..In coming days, it will not be possible to know what is truth and how to act without the knowledge from the Holy Ghost.”

Gerard Caussee (from France - Presiding Bishop): “Our work is about people and covenants. Are we active in the Gospel or only busy in the Church.?”

Dieter F. Uchtdorf (from Germany - Apostle): “We all die, but you will live again, free from pain and suffering. Because of Christ, all will have this blessing.”

Massimo De Feo (from Italy - A General Authority): True disciples love to be in holy places and to make holy the places where they are.”

Jean B. Bingham (USA - General Relief Society President (women’s organization): “Our service to others is what the Savior did. Ask how can I share the love of this Gospel with this family or person.”

Jeffrey R. Holland (USA Apostle) (He was the Dean of the Religion Dept at BYU when I worked in that department many years ago - later Pres. of BYU) “We have a heaven sent opportunity to comfort those who stand in need, to practice our religion undefiled. To give the warm hand of friendship. We must see this as a way to care for one another in a bold way.”

David Bednar (USA Apostle): “The uniting quality of meekness and the three aspects of it - A righteous response; A willing submission; and Strong self restraint. Meekness is a defining attribute of Jesus Christ. It is protection from blindness of pride and selfishness.”

Larry Echo Hawk (Native American General Authority): forgive freely and receive peace.”

May the peace that passeth understanding be with you as we go into beautiful springtime. We love you; we miss you; Thank you for your many kind messages. We can feel your support.

Sister Edvalson & Elder Edvalson