Sister Watts: PRESIDENT BALLARD CAME TO CELEBRATE MY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 20/05/19

HELLO!!!

Last P-day we went to Qutab Minar for Sister Govindaraj's last P-day! It is the world's tallest brick statue building thing haha. I managed to get in without anyone questioning whether i was actually Indian or not but then on the way out one of the workers looked really confused and was like are you Indian? I was like yeah, he then asked if i was an Albino Indian haha never heard that one before.

I was sitting on the metro one day and there were these two ladies across from me which i felt were going to take a picture of me, i turn away and when i look back i see a phone pointed at me and a flash go off haha she was so embarrassed and just hid her face in her friends shoulder haha.

The other sister's bought some onions from my trusty vegetable guy friend and when he saw me he added another free cucumber haha he's the best!

I think i just had the best weekend on my mission ever!!!

I thought that we weren't going to be getting smart phones until June but I just bought my phone on Saturday and we get to set them up on Friday!!! It feels so weird to hold a massive smart phone after using a tiny little brick phone. I can barely hold it with one hand!

On saturday night i came home and found a super nice and clean living room which was all decorated with balloons and cute birthday quotes and a present waiting for me on the table. Sister Meenakshi and Sister Srinivasan had set it all up and it just made me that much more excited for my birthday!

It was my birthday on Sunday and to celebrate we had a special stake conference with President M. Russell. Ballard!!! It was awesome! I got to meet all the members and all the missionaries(even from Mumbai)! The conference was held at the Hyatt which made the day even fancier and special! It was pretty funny when he was walking down the middle to the font and he shook some people's hands and one guy went and touched his feet, it's a way that people show respect here but i can imagine he was kinda like huh.

I had so many people wish me happy birthday and i could barely take one step without someone coming up to me and talking to me. One member gave me a little cookie and candle to celebrate and i got lots of biscuits and lollies from some people who didn't know it was my birthday and just quickly found something they could give me haha.

One now member Abishek who we were teaching in Munirka had a full on real flower crown which he had made for me so when i had that on i had even more attention! It was a great start to the day!

We went home after and went to a park which is across from our apartment and the Laj Pat Sisters had invited the Laj Pat Elders over to celebrate because we live in their zone haha. We all had some delicious rasberry cheescake and it was fun!

Malviya district then had a practise at the church because we sung press forward saints for President Ballard!

We had a less active family invite me over for dinner for my birthday and we had some chicken biryani for my birthday dinner!

The next day was just as good as we had a special missionary conference with President Ballard, Elder Evans, Elder Gay and Bishop Davies and their wives. We got to shake all of their hands and i think when i shook President Ballard's hand he was kinda shocked to see a Sister who wasn't Indian and he was like oh how are you? haha.

President Ballard is so nice and he's pretty funny too haha. He talked a lot about repentance at the Stake Conference and he was like if you aren't as kind and loving as you should in your own home and you find yourself raising your voice. Get over it, it's called repentence. I really liked how he just said to do the simple things, say your prayers, stay in contact with Heavenly Father and ask him for help along the way. Jesus Christ's ministry is all focused on us, to help us. He also advised us to have a personal interview with ourselves on how we can improve and what we can do better. He reminded us how much Heavenly Father loves us and my favourite quote "The Lord loves ya, you just keep on doing what you're doing."

Favourites from the Missionary Conference!

There's a way to reach the hearts of all people. We have the power to astonish this world. - Elder Gay

When President Ballard got up to speak he was like "give a big smile for brother Ballard." He really wants us to be teaching more about who God is and helping others undertsand who they are in their relationship with him.

-We need to open our mouths more and preach about Christ. He told how he talks to people and asks if they've ever thought about what happens when they die, if they say no, he's like well you better because we are all going to die.

-We need to be looking at the members every Sunday and seeing who we can help strengthen.

-We will never have a day which is too difficult if we know about the saviour. During those times you feel it's too hard, take a few moments to think about Gethsemane and Jesus Christ pleading with our father for us.

-Another big one was obedience and he said that if you're converted to the Lord you're automatically obedient, get up on time with a smile, are nice to each other and engaged in the work.

-Be anxious everyday to be an expression of our saviours love

-This mission isn't just a time for us to learn about ourselves but it's a time for the Lord to learn about us, our desires, faithfulness, diligence, obedience and willingness to serve him.

I learnt so much and sometimes it felt like he was looking straight at me and saying things that only i needed to hear. He just looked and sounded exactly like he does at General Conference, didn't seem like a stranger at all.

Now it's P-day so it's been a pretty fun few days!

Love Sister Watts

Sister Govindaraj's last District Council