WASHINGTON D.C. SOUTH MISSION: ELDER ANDERSEN VISITS FREDRICKSBURG

Friday, September 25, 2009

ELDER ANDERSEN VISITS FREDRICKSBURG

Elder Andersen, Pres. Albright and Sister Albright and Elder Smith.

Elder Andersen, Elder Egan, Elder Smith

Elder Andersen, Elder Averett, and Elder Smith

Elder Andersen, Elder Baldwin, and Elder Smith

Elder Andersen, Elder Shattuck, and Elder Smith

The high school where the Stake Conference was held for the Fredericksburg Stake.

On Sat., Sept 19, 2009 President Albright Attended the leadership and adult evening sessions of the Fredericksburg Stake Conference. Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve was the visiting general authority along with Elder Smith of the quorum of the Seventy. During both sessions Elder Andersen invited Pres. Albright to speak. During the leadership meeting he had him speak on missionary work and the new program being rolled out by the missionary department. Then during the evening adult session he asked him to speak about temples. He did a masterful job as usual.

On Sunday morning we drove to Fredericksburg and arrived an hour before conference was to start and there were already people arriving to get good seats. The high school is a brand new building and very beautiful. The auditorium seats about 1300. It was filled and there were around 300-400 in the cafeteria. President and I were invited to sit on the stand. (A little overwhelming). And then half way into the program, Elder Egan (one of our very spiritual district leaders and myself were asked to bear our testimonies). Elder Egan has a testimony that radiates from him. He did a great job. I could feel my heart beating in my throat. I think it is much easier to give a prepared talk than something impromptu and from the heart. At least I didn't pass out. We have 24 missionaries serving in this stake and they all attended the conference. Many of them shook Elder Andersen and Elder Smith's hands. After the session we got some of our missionaries to have pictures taken with Elder Andersen and Elder Smith who is a member of the Seventy. This was a special experience for the missionaries and a memory they will treasure for their whole lives. It was so amazing how Elder Andersen wanted the missionaries to each have their own picture and he put his arms on each of their shoulders. It just showed me how much he loved each one of them and really cared.

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Stephanie Smith Fireside

Last Sunday evening we were privileged to attend a fireside in the mission. It was held at a beautiful old chapel in McLean. One of the pictures shows the inside of the chapel and the wood beams on the very steep-pitched ceiling of the room. The gym is under the chapel in the basement. I have never seen a floorplan like this one. Very unique. This fireside hosted Sister Stephanie Smith. Her story was in the Ensign sometime in the last year. She has a remarkable conversion story. She has held very high government positions and at one time was 5th in command at the CIA. She said something at the first of her talk that I wrote down: she said, "I've been on some remarkable adventures. But no adventure in my lifetime has been as extraordinary and life-changing as my path to conversion and baptism in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints. She then told about her introduction to the church. She was at a time in her life with tremendous worldly success achieved after clawing her way to the top without any regard for others, and she felt her life was shattering into a million pieces. At this time she turned to a colleague she admired who was a member of the church. He told her two things. That her Heavenly Father knew her by name and loved her and that Heavenly Father had a plan for her success. The next day he sent her a map to the temple visitor center. She told how when the missionary sisters came to her door, she didn't think she could relate to these young women. The first thing they did was ask if they could sing to her. They sang,"I am a Child of God." That was the beginning of her conversion, a long a beautiful story. You can read it on the web at Meridian Magazine. Her testimony was a real inspiration to me. There were over 350 people there and she does a great missionary work speaking to investigators. What a blessing to have heard her and felt her spirit.

Chelsea Our recent Convert

We have met the sweetest young sister. Chelsea is amazing. She joined the church during the last year and has an incredible testimony also. She never misses any missionary function and we were able to take her with us to the Stephanie Smith Fireside. She also came to the mission home a few weeks ago and we had family night. She gave the lesson and is was unbelievable. She is hoping to go on a mission next year. What a great young woman. This is a picture of her with Elders Ganaway and Gifford.