Worth MORE than a thousand words ❤️

Hey Y'all!! 

A while back we had Zone Conference which is honestly the best part of the transfer!! Zone Conference is where all the missionaries in the Southern part of the mission get together and get trainings from our Mission president and other mission leaders. This time is one that most missionaries count down the days till! It is always something to look forward too. I always get to see my favorite people that I have left behind in my last areas!! 

This Zone Conference was a very very special one. I feel like there is always a theme to go along with the speakers. I have heard conferences on miracles, consecration, and The Book of Mormon. All amazing things and topics we needed to hear about for sure. This time however, this one was different, the theme was Jesus Christ. The theme was our Lord, Savior, Rock and Redeemer... Jesus Christ. I feel like the Spirit was different this time around. It was beautiful and clear. Our mission president's wife, Sister Basha spoke first. She put up images of Christ on the screen and asked us what we saw in each one of them. It was really cool because although it was the same picture, we all saw it differently. I felt that symbolically represents how we all have the same Jesus but he means different things to different people. 

I love finding new pictures of Jesus Christ. I love how all artists depict Him differently, yet all the same. The same glow, the same smile, the same love. 

Here were some of my favorites. 

1.) Golden Hour

I saw this picture because it sorta just struck me. I love the colors and the facial expressions of both the lamb and of Christ. I love how Christ is holding the lamb. To me, the lamb looks safe and comforted in the arms of our Savior. It feels like this lamb was carrying a burden on His shoulders but Christ lifted that burden. Jesus Christ took it upon himself.  

Mosiah 14:4-6,

"Surely he has borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows; yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed."

I know that he would do it all over again if he had too. He will take your sins and burdens upon himself, and carry you home. 

2.) Silence in the Storm 

Isaiah 53:4-5 comes to mind when I see this picture. 

"Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed." 

While I know Christ would do it all over again for me and for you, it was still hard. I KNOW it was still hard for Jesus Christ. I know he asked many times if there was any other way, yet he did it anyway. I know he was still hurt, bruised, and beaten. Too me, this is a picture of solitude, of humility, of rest. Even the Savior had to rest every once and a while. To me,  Christ is bowing his head in prayer asking God, "what's next?" Jesus Christ was constantly thinking about His father's will. It makes me reconsider... what am I always thinking about? 

3.) The Good Shepard

When I came across this picture it made me think of this story by an Anonymous Source. This was his story:

"One morning, I stumbled upon a thought I’d recorded in my journal from my branch president in the missionary training center. His thought referenced Matthew 4, around the beginning of the Savior’s ministry, when His miracles began to draw people’s attention. The end of the chapter describes the multitude of people who followed Him (see verse 25). The narrative continues in Matthew 5: “And seeing the multitudes, [Jesus] went up into a mountain” (verse 1). A question arises: Why would Jesus climb up a mountain? The crowd of people was already right behind Him. He could have turned around and taught the multitude right where He was. 

The rest of the first verse in Matthew 5 reads: “And when [Jesus] was set, his disciples came unto him.” Although this certainly includes Christ’s chosen Apostles, the word disciple could encompass more people than the 12 men alone. Disciple means “a follower of Jesus Christ who lives according to Christ’s teachings.” These dedicated disciples of Christ were the ones willing to climb the mountain to hear the Savior—not the curious miracle-seekers or the sheep-like tagalongs—and they were the ones who got to hear the Sermon on the Mount." I love this story and how it fits with this picture. We are Christ’s disciples. We are his sheep. One thing I have learned is that if we are on the right path, it will always be uphill. 

4.)

Now this one, this one is my favorite of them all. Sister Basha showed a picture similar to this and said that everyone put the crown of thorns and a red rob on him to mock him. "Yet" she said, "To me, he's never looked more like a King." Chills + Tears. I absolutely loved when she said that, I have never felt that more in my absolute being. Jesus Christ is the King of Kings. You might have a King but I can garentee you that mine is better. 

What also stuck out to me is that Christ is looking up. He has been beaten, torn and spit on, and is about to be crucified yet he is looking up to God. No matter what happened he never lost hope in his Father in Heaven. That is a great reminder to me that God will never leave or abandon us. He will never leave us comfortless. We just need to look up, focus less on the storm and more on the sun behind the clouds. 

As missionaries we are super lucky because we get fed dinner almost every night! After every meal we always give a little spiritual message. My absolute favorite message to share with people is when we ask them about their favorite picture of Christ. They will always bare such a sincere testimony that brings the Spirit so strong everytime! I am so grateful for the influence that Jesus Christ and being His servant had had on my life. I know that Jesus Christ is real and is in the details of everything. I think it's super special talking about and looking at pictures of Jesus Christ. It always brings the Spirit into the room and makes people smile. Jesus is the Christ, no matter what picture, no matter the artists. You can just tell. Fill your house with pictures of Christ and soon your heart will be filled also! 

Christ is worth everything because He gave everything ❤️

Love,

Sister Pickett

What's your favorite picture of Christ??  

What do you see in these pictures? 

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I have a real treat for y'all today!!! I am throwing a curve ball at you because I am giving you a recipe I never even tried before. I got this recipe from one of my best friends here. He sent it to me and said, "I found a recipe that is worthy of the blog."

So here it is!! 

"This upside down cake was probably the best desert thing I have eaten on my mission. The lady who made it, it was her first attempt at it. And when she was cooking it, it got a little burnt and she was embarrassed to serve it to us. But after we convinced her that it would be fine. She brought it out, and took a taste. It was so yummy. Moral of the story, looks don't describe the taste of the food. And I loved the taste of it. It kind of tastes like an apple cobbler. And I love apple cobbler! 10/10 recommend trying."

You heard it folks!! If your looking for a warm comfort dessert, this is the one for you!! I just might have to try it myself. 

Let me know what you think!