Last week I kept feeling a bit more down despite the amazing times around me. Obviously Satan's doing, but I think I feel better in the evenings after the day is over because I feel very accomplished and satisfied with the work I do.
Tuesday I started training Sister Aversa to do my job, which is Intake and Validation. She is very good with coding and soon she will move onto the Repair phase and work more closely with uploading the correct files when issues arise. She serves with us on Tuesdays and Thursdays, but she will be moving quickly through these phases to begin. She and I spent a little too much time that Tuesday because we were hung up on a giant issue in which a ton of the Swedish General Conference talks on both the app and LDS.org play in English instead of Swedish. Nana and Grandpa commented on the fact that most Swedes speak English anyway, but then why would they bother changing the language to Swedish?
I was able to spend time Tuesday evening with my new friend, Clare, around City Creek, and then I dropped her off at LDS Business College. She is one of the first friends I've hung out with outside any other activities!
Wednesday we had Zone Conference on the 26th floor! From my understanding, it is basically every Young Church Service Missionary in Temple Square. I could be wrong, but I also know that pretty much all of the missionaries are under Elder and Sister Wright. Elder LeGrand Curtis Jr. and his lovely wife of the Quorum of the Seventy spoke to us. They are a very cute couple. On her copy of the pictures of the General Presidency, the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, and the Quorum of the Seventy, she has drawn a big red heart around her husband's face. She talked a lot about the calling of being a missionary and how we are all disciples and no matter what calling you have, it helps spread Christ's gospel. Elder Curtis spoke using D&C Section 4 as a guide about our purpose as a missionary. He explained that missionary work is definitely hard work, but it is the greatest work we will ever do.
The missionary choir sang and I was dead center of course because I'm an alto and a middle part. I was extremely nervous that I would mess something up, but it went pretty well.
Thursday I worked with Sister Aversa again and this time we received about eight emails from one Spanish-speaking brother. It seems he listened to half of the Book of Psalms and he reported every tiny issue concerning "distorted audio", or "fuzzy sounds", or "missing verses". Sister Aversa had the fun job of listening to certain chapters three times each: one on iOS, one on Android, and one on LDS.org audio. She knows some Spanish since she is Brazilian and she took a couple years of it, but it was very difficult to keep up with. She reminds me of me from two weeks ago commenting on every single funny email or response.
Friday, I attended my cousin's dance recital and I found it very fascinating. It was based on a book, and the performance was titled, "Elfwyn's Saga", so I assume the book is also titled the same.
On Saturday, I had the opportunity to serve at General Women's Conference! I gave out translation receivers for live viewers that struggle with hearing or just hearing English. It was an extremely rainy day, so don't believe those beautiful sunny shots you see in the introduction online! The process was simple, but soon hectic when attendees came flooding in as if they were rain themselves.
People came to our table and asked for a language. We asked how many, and asked them to fill out a card with their name, phone number, and ward. The language had a corresponding number on a sheet of paper. Spanish, obviously, was most popular and we had all of the receivers set to Spanish to begin.
Sister Ashby and I served at the same table and I tried hard not to be a show-off when I could address people in several different languages, but then Sister Ashby had me write down phrases for her to say. She made me feel better about expressing my talent because of her willingness to learn.
She was soon grateful she had done that because I was pulled away by an usher needing a Spanish translator for two women that spoke no English. Conference was soon starting and our table was swarmed, but Sister Ashby stuck to her Spanish notes saying carefully, "cuantos?" and "escribe su nombre y numero por favor", and "tenga un buen dia".
I ran to the receivers and picked up two for the women and we hurried down the stairs to get to their section, but when we walked in on the opening hymn, the usher standing next to their row explained that it was full. We heard the opening prayer and the choir began to sing again as we became panicky. I had never been in the conference center before and I wasn't sure how to fix the problem. Soon, another usher ushered the women to a row near the very front, which was all fittingly underscored by the choir singing, "I Feel My Savior's Love".
As the translation receivers' table was less busy, Sister Ashby and I tried to stand at the very very top and very back of the Conference Center to listen, but women were whispering and it made it difficult to pay attention. We decided to go back down to the table to listen on the receivers.
I must say though, I don't think I've ever seen so many women in my entire life. I've definitely seen plenty of people, but not specifically women.
At the end of the night, I drove Sister Ashby home, and she set all of my car's radio stations for me, since she listens to the radio mostly and I hadn't fixed them yet.
Sunday, I was called to be part of the Family Home Evening Committee!
Tonight, I finally went to FHE, so that was cool. I am meeting more people and I'm so glad to be part of my ward.
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