Zone Conference with Brad Wilcox

I swear this was one of the fastest weeks in my mission. The first 2 days were pretty slow but then every day after that was just so quick it was insane.

Tuesday (July 16): Man it was a long day. The whole day was really hot and we spent most of our time outside because like 3 appointments fell through. Spending countless hours in the heat not being able to wear shorts absolutely drains you. Anyways we did have just 1 appointment and thankfully it was lunch with a member so that was really good. We had so much food! Lasagne, salad, bread, Ice Cream. Mmm it was yummy.

Wednesday: Another slow day at the beginning. However it finished pretty good. This morning we travelled to go teach a recent convert because he wanted us to visit but then he wasn't even home and didn't answer the phone 🙄 oh well. We had lunch and did some studies until we changed our clothes to go do service and help clean up an older members house a bit. We did it with her ministering brother and we got a lot done. Then afterward she made us a ton of food and I mean a ton! First she brought us some chicken and it was really tasty. Then she brought some fried mushrooms, then some salad, and then she brings out a huge bowl of spaghetti and I mean huge! We somehow managed to eat that and then she brings a big cheesecake and ice cream after. I think I gained like 5 pounds just from this one meal it was so much food.

Thursday: Zone conference today! Brad Wilcox came and spoke to us about grace and the atonement and he is a phenomenal speaker! I was able to learn a lot and I really enjoyed it. The meeting was very spirit filled. Also President Checketts spoke about developing Christlike attributes. I was also able to see my mission father at his last zone conference since he goes home at the end of the transfer. Our travel home was pretty wild because the meeting ended right at rush hour travel home and man we were jammed into the train like a can of sardines and it was so hot! But we were able to make it back ok and have some dinner before going to sleep.

Friday: So today I had zone leader exchange. I was with Elder Hatch and I spent the day in the Lea Valley Area. We had a pretty good day with lots of appointments and lots of travelling. Also we got rained on for most of the day. It went by really really fast and I had a good time.

Saturday: This morning I got to play basketball for the first time in a while because in Lea Valley they live close to an outdoor basketball court. It was pouring on us the whole time and it was a lot of fun but we got soaked. The best part was that after we came back all drenched in rain the boiler wasn't working and we couldn't seem to fix it so I jumped straight into the cold shower and it was not my ideal start to the day. After our whole morning routine we met up with the other missionaries and Elder Bakman and I were finally able to come back to Stratford where we had a pretty average missionary day, nothing too exciting to report on for that one.

Sunday: Wow the week went so quick I was shocked when I woke up and knew it was already Sunday. But church was pretty great. After church we came home to eat lunch and do a tiny bit of studying before we had to travel to Hyde Park where the mission office is because we had another devotional by Brad Wilcox but this time combined as the whole mission! He spoke to us about the Gathering of Israel and it was really good. Plus I was able to see a lot of missionaries and that was so fun. It was a fantastic way to close out the week.

Three generations of missionaries. My father, me, my son, and my "brother" since my father is training for his last transfer again. (Order from left to right: Brother, Father Elder Stoddard, Elder Orchard, Son Elder Bakman)

Elder Cavalcante!!!

Everyone in My MTC group besides two that we are missing

I know that the Lord loves each of us and we all have divine potential. I promise that as we do our part to grow closer to God and His Son, Jesus Christ that we will be able to receive countless blessings in abundance! Love you all!

Elder Orchard