Saturday 16th July - Testimony Meeting & Home

Having gotten back up from the Valley floor, we held the closing testimony meeting for the Youth Conference in the Scenic World Cinema. It was great listening to the youth share their testimonies. Being in the small group that came back on the second Cableway ride, we missed the start of the testimony meeting, so I didn't get to hear all of the testimonies. Some of the things that I do remember include:

• Many of the youth being thankful for the Conference and the Leaders
• Bearing testimony of the Temple, and of striving to get the Temple again
• Many of the "Tough Poly Boys" being humble enough to bear their testimonies of the Gospel despite the "tough image"
• One of the youth admitting to thinking at the start that "The Conference was going to be boring" and then thoroughly enjoying it
• Youth sharing their gratitude for their friendships
• One of the youth talking about being challenged about their testimony during recent work experience and realising that they do have a strong testimony of the Gospel

I made the comment that the youth on this conference had been a great example. Everybody had behaved themselves. They had been friendly. They had done as they had been asked. I didn't hear any complaining. Everywhere we went, people commented about their good behaviour. Both Elissa and I were very blessed to be able to have been a part of this Youth Conference.

Pres Horsburgh closed off the testimony meeting sharing his thougths and feelings. The statement he made that stood out to me most was his analogy about a rising tide lifting all boats. That we had all been a part of that rising tide, and had been lifted up as a part of this conference. Now, we needed to take these great thoughts and experiences home with us and put them into use in our everyday lives.

We closed off our meeting on a spiritual high. The youth packed onto the bus, whilst the families got into their cars. It was now about 4:30PM - an hour and a half later than we were meant to have left - ooops. We were going to begetting the kids home late. We were due abck in Canberra - 3 hours away at 6PM. We had originally panned to drive back to Canberra via Oberon - the back way from the Blue Mountains to Canberra, however the bus driver advised that the road was too dangerous with kangaroos at dusk this time of night, and so would be going back into Sydney and the down to Canberra - making it an even longer drive back - double oops :) I believe the bus eventually got back at 9PM - 3 hours late .. still, hopefully the youth developed friendships, learnt the value and joy of service, felt the spirit and had fun during their three days at Youth Conference.