Elder Peter Goode: Mission Conference in Rome- Week 36 1/2

Hi! I'm exhausted! To make a long story short, I got sick with this crazy throat thing that my companion had last week. I have no idea how or what it's doing to me but I couldn't walk in a straight line last week because I was so light headed! So last week was spent in the house just super terribly boring, then on Monday we traveled all day to Rome. In the morning we took a bus for 2 hours to Palermo, then the whole zone got on a train for an hour to the airport, then we got on 2 separate planes and flew to Rome for an hour, which was terrible because of a rain storm and the turbulence was just terrifying! We were all convinced we weren't going to make it the the conference in Rome! Anyway, we all arrived safely in Rome and then took the metro system, which is just crazy! (We were lucky not to be robbed hahah!) Then we got to the church after 30 minutes of walking in the rain, then we ran to the hotel soaking wet in our suits. By 9:30pm we fell asleep. Then yesterday morning, we were out of the hotel by 6:30 in the morning to make it to the conference center of some 5 star hotel to wait until Elder Bednar got there! It was really just one of the most inspired things i have ever seen, he didn't have a written talk or anything he just asked specific questions to the audience about how we felt about Missionaries and the use of media and about what we felt were the advantages and disadvantages of the iPad, then he opened it up to free questions. We talked a lot about families and about the scripture study we can do to help improve ourselves. Then he talked about how it's not about finding the perfect wife and family it is about creating one! It was soooo good! I could just feel the power and the spirit as soon as Elder Bednar walked in the room! Then after the conference we took a train last night at 9:30pm until this morning when we arrived in Palermo at 10am. It wasn't the best nights sleep, haha! Then we went back to one of the apartments and prepared lunch and then we took our 2 hour bus back to Tràpani and here we are! Over all it was great! I was a little bummed I didn't get to see Rome as much because I was sick and offered to watch the bags in the train station while the others ventured out in Rome, but it was alright!

It's so exciting to have your testimony strengthened and to know that, thanks to the atonement, we have been given the power to continue forward in righteousness, if we choose and use our moral agency!

I heard that Colin put in his papers!! So awesome! Anyway. I love you guys have a great week! By the way, thanks for the packages, I enjoyed them all! Have a great week!

Anziano Goode