Fan the Flame of Your Faith (December 28th - January 1st)

My Group 40L

New Years Eve YSA
Melbourne Convention 2013 

For New Years Eve, YSA come from all around Australia to Melbourne for a convention at a University, for fun activities, dances, spiritual uplifting, friend making, city adventures and more. 

I will give you a brief account of some amazing days spent with some amazing people. 

Day 1 (Saturday 28th): 

• Really hot weather 
• Registrations at Melbourne University (and finding out I had an amazing room to stay in)
• Catch busses to Luna Park
• Rides, Dinner, Friend making and Dance at Luna Park

Day 2 (Sunday 29th):

• Sacrament/Sunday School
• Relief Society Priesthood
• Workshops (2/4 to choose from)
• Dinner
• Fireside
• Chills with friends

Day 3 (Monday 30th):

• Melbourne Adventures! (Zoo or Ice skating)
• Free time around Melbourne
• Get ready for Ball
• Convention Ball at Melbourne Town Hall

Day 4 (Tuesday 31st):

• Service Project
• Chills around Melbourne
• Chills back at Uni with friends 
• BBQ Dinner
• Get Ready for NYE Dance
• Mid Summers Night Dream NYE Dance with candy bar, photobooth, sticky note wall of goals for 2014, amazing props, decent music, countdown and chilling outside because it was too hot inside, haha. 
• Countdown
• Run outside for Fireworks
• Continue dancing
• Stay up all night and have our own "after party" playing games all night!

Day 5 (Wednesday 1st):

• Still awake in the morning
• stop playing games at 6:30 am
• Get ready for the day and pack our things
• Breakfast
• Farewell
• Go home and sleep the rest of the day!

I learnt a lot at convention! This years topic was "Fan the Flame of Your Faith" the talk given by Jeffrey R. Holland.

I made a lot of friends, and strengthened friendships I already had, had an all nighter, danced like no one was watching (even though in fact there were plenty of people watching! haha), met sisters that served in Temple Square (they've helped me out so much!) laughed lots, screamed and counted down to new years, cried of joy, hugged friends, lost my voice, said goodbyes, basically had an amazing time!

But the things that stood out to me most were: 1. Conversion is never ending! We are constantly going through conversion and testimony building 2. The Atonement is real in so many more ways I previously had testimony of. 3. Jesus Christ is there for us and he loves us so much, he wants to support and bless us in our lives. 4. DREAM BIG!

Sincerely, Jennadene Ryan