Senior Missionary Conference

This week we attended a senior missionary conference.  All the senior missionaries in the Germany Berlin Mission attended.  It was fun seeing everyone and meeting those we never come in contact with.  We compared notes, exchanged ideas and were taught to be better senior missionaries.  The theme of the conference was Mosiah 18:21.  "Our Hearts Knit as One".  We were taught by President and Sister Kosak, His counselors, President Gruse and President Stank, and each other.

  The first day, we were taught about our role as a senior missionary.  We are to support the YSA's, the Geminde, and the Missonaries.  Bro. Gruse and President Kosak taught about "Climbing Mountains".  The question was asked, why do we climb mountains?  Why do we go back down the mountain?  We climb to learn and progress.  We come back down to share what we learned with others and to encourage them to climb the mountains for themselves.  After dinner together, we played games and visited with one another. 

The second day, the AP's taught a lesson on "Clarity of focus".   They showed us how we work together as companions, missionaries, and ward members.  We then went to The Resistance" Museum.  We had a guide which told us a lot of the history of the resistance movement here in Germany during WWII.  Dan and I had been there before, but were glad to learn more of the history that occured.  In the Afternoon, Bro. and Sis. Stank taught a class about working with the YSA's.  We have 3 duties.  1.  We must love them.  2.  We must be a good example to them.  3.  We must bear testimony of Jesus Christ to them.  Our goal is to bring them to Jesus Christ/Temple.  We also talked about the changes coming to the YSA program in Europe.  We then had a class on "The Journey of Life Long Learning", a talk by Elder Robert D. Hales.  We were taught that all elements of life long learning have eternal consequences, and the result of life long learning is who we become.  After dinner, we gathered for FHE at the Presidents's home.  We returned to the hotel late and tired  It had been a full day.

The last day, we were instructed by President and Sis Kosak on "Following Christ", and then had a testimony meeting.  We closed with a song and a prayer, said our goodbyes and everyone started for home.  It was a great 3 day conference.  It lifted spirits and renewed our zeal to be missionaries.  Just before we left, President Kosak announced that President Monson will be in Berlin on October 14th to speak to all the saints in this part of Germany.  We are all very excited to see our prophet and hear his words.  President Monson was very instrumental in getting the Freiberg Temple built in East Germany before the wall ame down and has a great love for the German people.