• I feel that as we work on our problems as a companionship we will have more success in the mission life and how we feel about missionary work. It has been stressful though, because it seems that those problems are amplified when you know about it or you are just realizing how much you actually do those things that annoy your companion. This truly is the MTC for life, (Marriage Training Center). Well thank you president for all that you do. Have a great day.
• We had another great week, the highlight was our baptism on Sat. for Fitu, his wife is a member and i have never seen her as happy as she was at his baptism. She was in tears for most of the service. I felt the still small voice of the spirit say to me that this baptism and all baptism are bigger/more eternal and glorious than i really realize. We continued to teach our investigators and help them prepare for baptism.
• We had a Bishop call us and reprimand us for not giving him enough info about a baptism this upcoming week. Obviously the first thought that comes to your mind is defend, fight back but instead we chose the better way. We listened to him apologized for our imperfection in a way that was not defensive and then found out through the course of the conversation that at the Bishops PPI's he did have all the information we had been reprehended for not giving him. He tried to apologize but I think he was embarrassed. He had it all written down. We took responsibility though and told him we could have called to make sure he remembered. I think it was a building moment between us and his ward. He told us that usually missionaries leave him in the dark and so he assumed we were doing the same thing. I learned that a strong communication between a Missionary and the Bishop is essential. I still can't spell. We need to be a help as we have always been taught and we need to be meek and humble to all the Bishop asks.
• We did a mutual night with some of the Youth in the ward we live in and we actually had something funny happen from it! Well we were going over what missionaries do like teaching and stuff and we started role-playing with the kids. Well we decided to role-play the word of wisdom and there 2 volunteers to role-play. A girl and her friend. The role play was good and the kids really enjoyed it! Well 2 Sundays later we just felt like we need to go to the sacrament meeting where we had the mutual night for the ward. After sacrament meeting the girl and her friend come up to us, and the girl introduced us her friend to her formally and her friend is a non-member!!! The same friend that role-played during our mutual night!!! She said she wanted to learn more about the church after that! I thought that was just incredible! It was funny because this happened the day after I complained about not finding anybody and appointments falling through and heavenly father just helped us! We are hoping to teach her at her friend’s house soon for FHE. I just thought it was a funny story that this girl wanted to learn more about the church because of role-playing! Ha-ha Tell missionaries to make sure they role-play in companionship study and with members! You never know what can happen!
• We are trying to find some new people to teach by teaching the members first and getting the members trust. We are having some really good success so far but we rarely find some people when we tract or talk to formers. I read in the Preach My Gospel on pg. 160 that President Hinckley said that working with members is better than tracting.
• Our companion study is great and we are finding out what to teach and how to teach it according to the investigators or members. I am learning so many great things I never have learned before in the scriptures and about the church in general. Everything is going good and I can't wait for the temple day and maybe if we go to Salt Lake with you and your wife. When we have another baptism we will surely give you a call to see if you can come.
• I really like the whole sprinting to the end. I think I'm trying my best to do that. We are planning 5 baptisms for this coming Saturday and our lessons just keep increasing (23). I'm grateful for the blessings I received this transfer. I just hope other missionaries in the zone were able to catch that enthusiasm.
• This week we continued to see miracles and I was especially uplifted by the faith of another woman we are helping. Her family and she are receiving the lessons from the English elders, but she speaks Spanish, so we have been going and answering questions or helping her learn after the lessons. She is so full of faith and has a baptismal date as well. This week has been a huge trial for her, but she said that she knew because of that, that she was obviously doing the right thing and that the adversary was trying to make her lose her faith. She has been a huge inspiration for me! I love the mission and the things that I am learning. I love my morning study. I have just begun the Isaiah chapters and I am determined, with the Spirit, to understand and love them! I know it is possible. Thanks for all you do.
• Thanks for interviews this week. It’s good to get a reminder of our covenants. I think i forgot to write what i learned in zone conf. one of the things that stuck out to me the most was that we don’t have to, and perhaps shouldn't, use all the information we have. I have always had a hard time keeping lessons short, and i think it is because i feel like i have to "hit all the points". I liked how Elder Holland told us that we should bear a powerful testimony at the end about what the thing that i taught means to me.
• I am grateful for the temple. I hadn't been in a while until last week, and one of the thoughts that I had during the session was that I wish everyone could understand how valuable the knowledge we receive there is. Though I know I'm nowhere near comprehending it myself, I wish others could learn at least what I've gained from it. It's definitely another drive to keep working each day.
• One thing that is on my mind right now is how I can make the last 3 months of studies most effective. I haven't been the most effective studier the world has ever seen, but I realized the other day that I've only got a short time left to be able to dedicate that much quality time every day to study the gospel. It has definitely been a matter of thought and prayer.
• i am so glad i had the opportunity to meet with you on a personal level and become a covenant keeper and a maker! ilearned alot during interviews and realized the responsibility i have to live up to! we only have two years in the field but alifetime to think about it! I heard a quote this week that defines APT! it said: What you do speaks so loud that i cannot har what you are saying! i learned what we as missionaries need to learn while we are here! we need to grow and become the leaders of the future!
• I would honestly love a training on being polite and where we learn proper manners during a zone conference, because I know there are a ton of missionaries with the same problems, especially chewing with your mouth wide open.
• This week has taught me that the Adversary knows us all far too well. He knows the exact buttons to push and when to push them for the greatest effect to cause the greatest damage. As we read in Helaman 5:12, as we center our life on the rock of Christ, he will have no power over us, however. Nothing he throws at us will have power to take us down and cause us to miss everything our Heavenly Father has in store for us unless we allows it to. This week has also shown me how much God truly is in control.
• Wow, okay President I am going to be honest, the Lord is blessing us so much and I think I know why. I have decided since about this past week to be exactly obedient. I don't want you to think I was disobedient before, I just made little adjustments in my mission experience and have been having alot of success. I put away over 2/3's of my cd's and only listen to church hymns even though they weren't bad songs or w/e I just asked myself what am I willing to sacrifice... Hmmm I make sure to be up and STAY AWAKE at 630 that is the hard part.
• We really Stepped it up this week. After interviews we talked and we decided that we are tired of being just above mediocore missionaries. We made a new "big six" for us which were the big 6 rules that we struggled with most. Obviously theses were not major rules but it was the little things that can brig you down such as sleeping in and abusing luch hours. For its by "small and simple things" right? Once we did that we litterally have been able to tell a difference within ourselves and the opprtunities that are being put in our path. The lord has seen our sacrific and has blessed us for it. The work is progressing and more importantly at this stage of the game I feel that I am progressing and becomeing the missionary the lord wants me to become. One very small step at a time.
• I have been trying to be more obedient since our interview, like we talked about, and I haven't made great strides, but I am doing better, which makes me feel pretty good.
• I have been trying to be more obedient since our interview, like we talked about, and I haven't made great strides, but I am doing better, which makes me feel pretty good. Also one thing I learned from being district leader is that I am really appreciative when people participate in the training, so from here on out I'm going to participate more in District meetings just because I know being district leader and giving a training can be difficult. So I'm going to help out those district leaders more.
• i really liked the interview that i had with you. You always give me good words of inspiration. I love studying this gospel and finding out new information that is going to help me out lot here on the mission and for the rest of my life.
Monday, May 24, 2010
• Love the mission, thanks for everything you do! I can't stop thinking about the quote that one of the stake presidents said at our zone conference - he said "two years to serve. An eternity to think about it." - oh dangit... well, I better get BACK to work now so I don't have regrets!
• Well anyway I learned a lot from zone conferance. Instead of fervently taking notes I decided to really listen to what was being taught. One thing that I am going to take from zone conferance is that instead of having really long lessons to have short lessons on a daily basis. That is something I would like to implement in this area, that would greatly increase our amount of lessons each week.
• I can't beleive this is my last transfer. It doesn't really seem like I'm going home though.'m excited about erving the best I can and keep learning from these experiences I'm going to have in the next month, and so President I promise you I'll finish strong, and I'm going to make sure to serve the Lord the best I can until the end.
• Last Tuesday I taught the two most powerful lessons I have ever taught my whole time as a Missionary. We bore Testimony and read scriptures and I felt so guided in everything. It was simply amazing and beyond words. After a partticarlly strong Testimony from my companion I felt promted to abruptly end the lesson so April the investigator could feel the difference. It worked. We got a phone call on Wednesday from the YW leader who was so excited to tell us that April prayed after getting into a fight with her mom. She told the YW leader that she felt an inexpressable feeling of comfort and love. I'm excited. We took that same spirit with us when we taught our next lesson. A lady was offended by her Bishop's bluntness about her needing to get married to be a member and other things. WE didn't want to knock the Bishop so it was difficult to try and repair the hurt feeling without weakening or deminishing what the Bishop Said. We felt promted to talk about Pahoran and Moroni's epistles to each other. We explained how amazing it was that Pahoron was not offended but was grateful. Again I felt so strong with the Spirit giving us in the very moment we needed it what to say. I now feel like I know how to teach 100% by the Spirit and have been trying to make all my lessons likle that but to be honest I have some work and learning to do.
• Other than being rained, hailed and blown on, this week has brought us some good experiences. I have kept in mind the talk by Elder Holland which has helped us to have better lessons. The Temple has helped us also alot to feel closer to our heavenly father to receive inpsiration for our investigators.
• This week went well. I enjoyed zone conference, especially the training about music. I really enjoyed learning all about how we absorb music and how it affects us, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. I also enjoyed the new form of role-playing. I still don't like role-playing, but this new version is better.
• We have a solid baptism for this weekend. The baptism will be of Sister Pat Christensen. She is a 76 year old lady and has lived in Utah for over 50 years. Her grandson is on a mission in Chile and she will suprise him with the news that she was baptized when she speaks to him this weekend. It will make that missionary's day, if not his whole mission! I enjoyed going to the "Celebration of Family History" event downtown. It was a beautiful production and I'm grateful that we were able to go see it with an investigator. We are so blessed to serve here in the Salt Lake Valley. I'm working to "sprint to the end" by being busy all of the time and still striving to have effective personal and companionship studies. We are going to do our best to baptize weekly this transfer. All we need to do is find two more solid people for baptism.
• I have a lot to learn. I remembered that the Holy Ghost needs to be the teacher, not me. I'll be working on that this week.
• We have had some very powerful lessons, where I have really felt like the Spirit was our senior companion, and where we have all received similar promptings during lessons. I love that when we have the Spirit present, new things will be manifest to us during the lesson, and the Spirit will give us the words to say.
• We're also introducing more family home evenings to families which they really seem to like since it's non confrontional and people don't feel singled out but it's still a chance to feel the spirit. We continue to work with less actives as well on the nights we aren't teaching but this week our evenings are full of teaching either non members less actives and active members. I'm happy to say that there are more planned with non members than the rest. We made an appointment with a family this week who we have been trying to teach for weeks and finally they set one up with us. I feel very in tune with the spirit in the sense that I have been prompted as to what ward in which stake to work and when I do we find people. Revelation is very cool!!
• I've made a personal commitment to always harken, not just listen. I feel that as I do this, the Lord can mold me to be the man he's sent me here to be.
• Oh yes, and Zone Conference was a great opportunity for me to review my teaching skills and see what I need to improve on. I feel like I've been getting better at relying on the Spirit during the lessons, and teaching more to their needs. I'm still working on keeping it simple, that's my main focus right now.
• Zone Conference was really great. I think that this was the first Zone Conference where I was really prepared to receive instruction from the Lord. I was able to prepare myself and to go to conference with questions.I love the idea how we go to conferences to have our questions answered and to receive revelation from the Lord. I will always go to Zone Conference, Stake Conference, and General Conference with questions for the Lord. I have put it to the test since the time we met with Elder Bednar and my questions have been answered through the spirit. The mission is so educational and I am glad for the growth and instruction we receive.
• I really enjoyed zone conference. I know we were supposed to learn more about teaching skills, but I thought more about accountability during the conference. Personal and companionship studies are really important, and it shows the Lord that we are prepared to teach His children. Then he will put investigators in our path. Accountability while proselyting is also really important. APT is a good reminder that we need to constantly focus on our appearance and purpose so that we can use our time effectively and truly represent Jesus Christ.
• I learn in the zone conference that Holy Ghost is the teacher and we are just tools. Since the conference I started to recognized the spirit more as we teach and by helping investigators to recongize it, it brings spirit and it testifies all things. Also people can see our spirituality and how we teach. I know it is true. I know that as we are obedient, and doing our best to serve the Lord, members trust missionaries and be able to teach people with a strong spirit. I know the church is TRUE!!
• I loved the zone conference, I think that from all the zone conferences I've been in, this is the one where I have learn the most, I'm trying to apply everything We've been trying to apply all the things that we learned in conference and the work has become better and better every day. The thing that call the most my attention was the preach my gospel video about working with the bishops, in that moment I just was thinking by taking the name of christ upon us, we are taking his work upon us too, so we have to be united in one with the bishops and the members having the same goal that our heavenly father that is "to bring to pass inmortality and eternal life of man".
• I learned a lot in zone conference and I loved your talk about how we either have to connect people with Christ or reconnect people with Christ. We are going to work very hard this week and do our best to do some good.
• Zone Conference was great. I loved the break-off with the Mo-Tab director about the different filters we have for reacting to music. Elder Hollands comments were great in the training video as well. I liked the part on testimony. He said at one point not to leave any doubt about your testimony. The language of faith is so important to help people feel the Spirit. We're also going to be focusing more on keeping meetings more concise and doing the role play idea the assistants trained on.
• I really enjoyed Zone Conference this past week. I really liked Sister Tan and Christians training about building your area. I have never seen anything else besides Mountain View and how things work here so it is always good to see what works for other areas. I have been applying some of their ideas and we will see if they do good here too. I also really like the new way of role playing. I think it is more educational. One thing that I really learned was not from anything that was said, but I just had the spirit bear witness to me that this is the place and the time for what I am doing. As you and Sister Laney spoke in the beginning I just realized that you do love us, and want us to do our bests.
• We met our goal of 25 lessons this week. I got really sick the last half of the week, and I still am not doing as well as I wish I were, but I guess I managed to not hold back the companionship, and we still made it. I've been reading a lot in Matthew the past couple of days. I've been trying to be less arrogant. While I know that it was probably just because I was at the end of the row, you were awfully direct when you were talking about arrogant missionaries at zone conference. I have a lot of growing to do, but I feel like I'm moving in the right direction. I'm happy that we were able to pass our goal this week. Next week our goal is for 31, and I hope that we meet that one, too. I'm trying to read the teachings of the savior, because that usually seems to remind me of the attitude I should have.
• Zone Conference really helped me with some struggles I've been having here in this new area. I need to start getting in the mindset that I can feel the spirit regardless of the actions and agency of others, as long as I'm doing what I can. I'm so grateful to be in the mission. My mission means a lot to me. I really want to make my Heavenly Father proud of me.
• i learned in zone conferance that even though we may not fully why something is done it is done to better us and help us in the eternal perspective. i also learned that i need to go through what music i have and make sure it is something helpful and uplifting for me.
• I loved Zone Conference as well and learned so much. Most of it was personal concerns for me or my investigators, which is how Elder Bednar told us we should "take notes" and it is so wonderful. We havent been very good at having lessons for only 30-45 mins and taht is something that really personally hit me that I am trying to do better at and the results have been really good. I also learned that Faith is the number one finding tool and afterwards, I did a study on why faith is the first principle of the gospel and learned so much! If we dont truly believe/see the truthfulness of Jesus Christ, we will not act on it. For example, if we have faith that Jesus died for us and that the atonement is real, then we will be moved to action--to repent--but it begins with faith, believing in something that is not seen. I have just learned so much! I love the mission and I love my Savior Jesus Christ.
• As a companionship, we talked about what the scripture in Doctrine and Covenants 104:80 really means. "And inasmuch as you are dilligent and humble and exercise the prayer of faith, behold, i will soften the hearts of those to whom you are in debt. Untill i shall send means to you for your deliverance." (Hope it's right, it's by memory ;) well, to me dilligence is patience, knock the last door, keep working even though all appointments fall through, to exercise the prayer of faith means to recognize that this is the Lord's work and you need him. He doesn't need you and that you need to ask to receive. To be humble means that after you have been dilligent in finding, tracting, teaching and after you have witnessed that miracle you asked for, you always recognize the Lord's hand.It wasn't us that found this person, it wasn't us that had 21 lessons with a member, it wasn't us that baptized so and so, it was the Lord.
• These past few weeks I have really seen the impact of having a member in lessons. They have so much more experience than we do, having lived (or even having not always lived) the gospel. We are blessed to have many converts in our little branch who can often speak directly to the challenges our investigators face.
• Gospel study is going well. I read an amazing talk "For a Small Moment" by Elder Maxwell last week, and it has really helped me change my perspective on being here on the mission. There is still a lot to get used to, and I often feel inadequate, but I know that this "suffering" will not last forever... I will eventually feel less inadequate, and I will eventually have a stronger testimony. I am glad to be here, as always.
• I really liked zone conference last week. Probably because I wasn't chosen to participate in any role plays, just kidding. I liked how we had stations that were different than they usually are, like the music station. Also, I thought it was pretty neat that there were the different stake presidents that spoke. It was good to see that they are really enthusiastic about missionary work.
• Being able to talk to my Mom and siblings was good. It is good to talk to them and see that they are proud of what Im doing. It is a motivater to continue to work hard. I am really working on charity and meekness with many people around me.
• I got most of my comfort from Zone Conference as the Lord made sure I got a clear understanding of Doctrine and Covenants 100 [from you and President Jensen (from Sandy East Stake)].
Zone Conference
O - It seems many think but lack action
L - "Never let your Faith be difficult to detect." Faith, Obedience and Sacrifice brings Blessings
D - Act in faith, with obedience to the Lord, sacrificing any and everything I have for Him
Week
O - No Matter how well I am treating people, I am not doing enough.
L - Teach simple with the Gifts the Lord grants
D - I need to show Love despite the inperfections I witness
• Zone conference was good. I loved the explanation about roleplays and how to make them more effective. As usual I felt like you made the point well that to be a good teacher we need to pay attention and also be connecting with heaven so we can have heaven's help to teach.
• Things have been going good President, Zone Conference was great. I learned that we need to prepare ourselves more before teaching and that the Holy Ghost can use our "arsenal" of knowledge and use it to convert people. But we need to prepared as well. Also we need to not ramble and teach shorter lessons. I know from time to time that sometimes my lessons go too long and that I need to make them shorter but there are time lately that the lessons have gone long because of the many questions people ask while we are teaching them so in a way that is good if they are asking questions. But Zone Conference was a good experience and helped me a lot.
• I really enjoyed Zone Conference, and I really enjoyed the Assistant's training on roleplays. I think its a great way to roleplay, and could really help things a lot. I plan to use that from now on.
• im just trying to learn from him and trying my best to lead by example. because actions speak louder than words. zone confrence was great. i enjoyed the testimonys. every time i hear someone bare testimony. i try my best to listen to them with an open heart and mind. personal study and companionship study is very important. it helps us out throughout the rest of the day. i know things will get better. thanks for your love and kindness presdient Laney.
• We have faced several oppositions this week with a few of our investigators , but we faced it with lots of prayer and seeking help from members, we saw a miracle from that , and it was b/c the Lord helped us out , we did what we could and the Lord took care of the rest. We have been working with a part-member family and the husband came to church on Sunday!! The two lady's sitting next to me were both in tears when he walked in . It was a tender moment.
• With zone conference on Friday and calling home yesterday, I have received a lot of encouragement and motivation in the work I am doing everyday. Thank you especially for the preparation you had us do prior to this zone conference. I loved that talk by Elder Holland. I think the greatest thing I learned from the talk and from zone conference is the importance of really being in tune with and discerning the needs of my investigators. Sometimes I think I get too caught up in the agenda: the principles I need to teach, the commitments I need to leave, the details of the lesson, etc. Yes, those things are important, but not as important as the individual. I need to see and understand each person we work with in a way that will allow me to really help them feel the love of Heavenly Father. I need to really pay attention to the Spirit, and that will allow me to help them and teach them in a way I cannot do on my own.
• ive memorized atleast one scripture everyday this week and plan to do it the rest of my mission. its helped me keep my thoughts more focused because I am able to while tracting recite it in my head or out loud and help elder ayoso memorze his also. i really like this companionship, this district and zone aswell as the area and the ward mission leaders. and am looking forward to doing my best to help build the area back with the help of the spirit, because no one can do anything with out that.
• So today during my personal study I prayed to have the holy ghost be with so that I may write down things that my dad's friend would need to hear, and my testimony really grew about being connected with heaven in the mornings! Thoughts did NOT stop coming through my head as I was writing what I need to tell my dad! Things I haven't seen in months, things I saw recently, and it was incredible! The holy ghost was definitely drawing from a well in which water was there because of my morning studies! I wrote things in which I never even thought about! When I got through with everything I read it and was just amazed! The holy ghost wants something to happen and I can feel it! I can't wait to e-mail my dad and see what happens! he is going to give it to his friend today so I am hoping to hear next week about my dad being a missionary. Again my testimony is really strong about being connected with heaven in the mornings. This morning was a really great experience for me and I hope to keep staying connected! Alright
• Hey, I loved this last Zone Conference. There were a lot of new and great insights. The APs showed a different type of "Role-Playing" that I really enjoyed. Interestingly enough it was almost exactly like the idea that I came up with months ago. I never did like the other way because I didn't see how it was very effective. I very much like the new system now and look forward to using it. Before, I was told that we couldn't do group role-plays but I see a huge benefit to it.
• This week was pretty rough for us. We thought we had a solid baptism for Saturday but it ended up falling through the night before. The good news is that he is back on date for this Saturday. Also we found a new investigator that accepted to pray about a date but did not really accept it yet. The work is moving along, maybe not at the pace that we would hope, but we are trying to have more faith everyday.
• Zone Conference was amazing. I always love the Spirit that i feel at Zone Conference. Sister Tan and Sister Christensen's training was very good I thought. It's true, faith is the biggest and most effective finding tool. If we have faith and work hard the Lord will help us by using finding tools that we had never dreamed of, even if it takes a miracle, He knows how to find.
• We were just 3 lessons from our goal; this week we're going to do better. I'm trying to work the hardest I can even when I'm tired. We're going to have 5 baptisms this weekend in 3 different wards and we have 3 referrals that have already been to church to pick up.
• I also learned that it is up to us to increase the faith of the members in our area so that their faith can produce the miracles we pray for. Great faith = lots of hard work. I think this week to do better.
• So I am very much enjoying my companions and they are helping me in different ways. I guess right now I have been thinking a lot on how my mission has gone so far and how I can go out with a blast for the last few months and I guess its kinda bothered me cause more than anything I just want the Lord to accept my mission and be happy with what I have done. Maybe its just me coming to the reality that a mission does end one day or something, i dont know. Im just going to do the best I can.
• Well anyway I learned a lot from zone conferance. Instead of fervently taking notes I decided to really listen to what was being taught. One thing that I am going to take from zone conferance is that instead of having really long lessons to have short lessons on a daily basis. That is something I would like to implement in this area, that would greatly increase our amount of lessons each week.
• I can't beleive this is my last transfer. It doesn't really seem like I'm going home though.'m excited about erving the best I can and keep learning from these experiences I'm going to have in the next month, and so President I promise you I'll finish strong, and I'm going to make sure to serve the Lord the best I can until the end.
• Last Tuesday I taught the two most powerful lessons I have ever taught my whole time as a Missionary. We bore Testimony and read scriptures and I felt so guided in everything. It was simply amazing and beyond words. After a partticarlly strong Testimony from my companion I felt promted to abruptly end the lesson so April the investigator could feel the difference. It worked. We got a phone call on Wednesday from the YW leader who was so excited to tell us that April prayed after getting into a fight with her mom. She told the YW leader that she felt an inexpressable feeling of comfort and love. I'm excited. We took that same spirit with us when we taught our next lesson. A lady was offended by her Bishop's bluntness about her needing to get married to be a member and other things. WE didn't want to knock the Bishop so it was difficult to try and repair the hurt feeling without weakening or deminishing what the Bishop Said. We felt promted to talk about Pahoran and Moroni's epistles to each other. We explained how amazing it was that Pahoron was not offended but was grateful. Again I felt so strong with the Spirit giving us in the very moment we needed it what to say. I now feel like I know how to teach 100% by the Spirit and have been trying to make all my lessons likle that but to be honest I have some work and learning to do.
• Other than being rained, hailed and blown on, this week has brought us some good experiences. I have kept in mind the talk by Elder Holland which has helped us to have better lessons. The Temple has helped us also alot to feel closer to our heavenly father to receive inpsiration for our investigators.
• This week went well. I enjoyed zone conference, especially the training about music. I really enjoyed learning all about how we absorb music and how it affects us, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. I also enjoyed the new form of role-playing. I still don't like role-playing, but this new version is better.
• We have a solid baptism for this weekend. The baptism will be of Sister Pat Christensen. She is a 76 year old lady and has lived in Utah for over 50 years. Her grandson is on a mission in Chile and she will suprise him with the news that she was baptized when she speaks to him this weekend. It will make that missionary's day, if not his whole mission! I enjoyed going to the "Celebration of Family History" event downtown. It was a beautiful production and I'm grateful that we were able to go see it with an investigator. We are so blessed to serve here in the Salt Lake Valley. I'm working to "sprint to the end" by being busy all of the time and still striving to have effective personal and companionship studies. We are going to do our best to baptize weekly this transfer. All we need to do is find two more solid people for baptism.
• I have a lot to learn. I remembered that the Holy Ghost needs to be the teacher, not me. I'll be working on that this week.
• We have had some very powerful lessons, where I have really felt like the Spirit was our senior companion, and where we have all received similar promptings during lessons. I love that when we have the Spirit present, new things will be manifest to us during the lesson, and the Spirit will give us the words to say.
• We're also introducing more family home evenings to families which they really seem to like since it's non confrontional and people don't feel singled out but it's still a chance to feel the spirit. We continue to work with less actives as well on the nights we aren't teaching but this week our evenings are full of teaching either non members less actives and active members. I'm happy to say that there are more planned with non members than the rest. We made an appointment with a family this week who we have been trying to teach for weeks and finally they set one up with us. I feel very in tune with the spirit in the sense that I have been prompted as to what ward in which stake to work and when I do we find people. Revelation is very cool!!
• I've made a personal commitment to always harken, not just listen. I feel that as I do this, the Lord can mold me to be the man he's sent me here to be.
• Oh yes, and Zone Conference was a great opportunity for me to review my teaching skills and see what I need to improve on. I feel like I've been getting better at relying on the Spirit during the lessons, and teaching more to their needs. I'm still working on keeping it simple, that's my main focus right now.
• Zone Conference was really great. I think that this was the first Zone Conference where I was really prepared to receive instruction from the Lord. I was able to prepare myself and to go to conference with questions.I love the idea how we go to conferences to have our questions answered and to receive revelation from the Lord. I will always go to Zone Conference, Stake Conference, and General Conference with questions for the Lord. I have put it to the test since the time we met with Elder Bednar and my questions have been answered through the spirit. The mission is so educational and I am glad for the growth and instruction we receive.
• I really enjoyed zone conference. I know we were supposed to learn more about teaching skills, but I thought more about accountability during the conference. Personal and companionship studies are really important, and it shows the Lord that we are prepared to teach His children. Then he will put investigators in our path. Accountability while proselyting is also really important. APT is a good reminder that we need to constantly focus on our appearance and purpose so that we can use our time effectively and truly represent Jesus Christ.
• I learn in the zone conference that Holy Ghost is the teacher and we are just tools. Since the conference I started to recognized the spirit more as we teach and by helping investigators to recongize it, it brings spirit and it testifies all things. Also people can see our spirituality and how we teach. I know it is true. I know that as we are obedient, and doing our best to serve the Lord, members trust missionaries and be able to teach people with a strong spirit. I know the church is TRUE!!
• I loved the zone conference, I think that from all the zone conferences I've been in, this is the one where I have learn the most, I'm trying to apply everything We've been trying to apply all the things that we learned in conference and the work has become better and better every day. The thing that call the most my attention was the preach my gospel video about working with the bishops, in that moment I just was thinking by taking the name of christ upon us, we are taking his work upon us too, so we have to be united in one with the bishops and the members having the same goal that our heavenly father that is "to bring to pass inmortality and eternal life of man".
• I learned a lot in zone conference and I loved your talk about how we either have to connect people with Christ or reconnect people with Christ. We are going to work very hard this week and do our best to do some good.
• Zone Conference was great. I loved the break-off with the Mo-Tab director about the different filters we have for reacting to music. Elder Hollands comments were great in the training video as well. I liked the part on testimony. He said at one point not to leave any doubt about your testimony. The language of faith is so important to help people feel the Spirit. We're also going to be focusing more on keeping meetings more concise and doing the role play idea the assistants trained on.
• I really enjoyed Zone Conference this past week. I really liked Sister Tan and Christians training about building your area. I have never seen anything else besides Mountain View and how things work here so it is always good to see what works for other areas. I have been applying some of their ideas and we will see if they do good here too. I also really like the new way of role playing. I think it is more educational. One thing that I really learned was not from anything that was said, but I just had the spirit bear witness to me that this is the place and the time for what I am doing. As you and Sister Laney spoke in the beginning I just realized that you do love us, and want us to do our bests.
• We met our goal of 25 lessons this week. I got really sick the last half of the week, and I still am not doing as well as I wish I were, but I guess I managed to not hold back the companionship, and we still made it. I've been reading a lot in Matthew the past couple of days. I've been trying to be less arrogant. While I know that it was probably just because I was at the end of the row, you were awfully direct when you were talking about arrogant missionaries at zone conference. I have a lot of growing to do, but I feel like I'm moving in the right direction. I'm happy that we were able to pass our goal this week. Next week our goal is for 31, and I hope that we meet that one, too. I'm trying to read the teachings of the savior, because that usually seems to remind me of the attitude I should have.
• Zone Conference really helped me with some struggles I've been having here in this new area. I need to start getting in the mindset that I can feel the spirit regardless of the actions and agency of others, as long as I'm doing what I can. I'm so grateful to be in the mission. My mission means a lot to me. I really want to make my Heavenly Father proud of me.
• i learned in zone conferance that even though we may not fully why something is done it is done to better us and help us in the eternal perspective. i also learned that i need to go through what music i have and make sure it is something helpful and uplifting for me.
• I loved Zone Conference as well and learned so much. Most of it was personal concerns for me or my investigators, which is how Elder Bednar told us we should "take notes" and it is so wonderful. We havent been very good at having lessons for only 30-45 mins and taht is something that really personally hit me that I am trying to do better at and the results have been really good. I also learned that Faith is the number one finding tool and afterwards, I did a study on why faith is the first principle of the gospel and learned so much! If we dont truly believe/see the truthfulness of Jesus Christ, we will not act on it. For example, if we have faith that Jesus died for us and that the atonement is real, then we will be moved to action--to repent--but it begins with faith, believing in something that is not seen. I have just learned so much! I love the mission and I love my Savior Jesus Christ.
• As a companionship, we talked about what the scripture in Doctrine and Covenants 104:80 really means. "And inasmuch as you are dilligent and humble and exercise the prayer of faith, behold, i will soften the hearts of those to whom you are in debt. Untill i shall send means to you for your deliverance." (Hope it's right, it's by memory ;) well, to me dilligence is patience, knock the last door, keep working even though all appointments fall through, to exercise the prayer of faith means to recognize that this is the Lord's work and you need him. He doesn't need you and that you need to ask to receive. To be humble means that after you have been dilligent in finding, tracting, teaching and after you have witnessed that miracle you asked for, you always recognize the Lord's hand.It wasn't us that found this person, it wasn't us that had 21 lessons with a member, it wasn't us that baptized so and so, it was the Lord.
• These past few weeks I have really seen the impact of having a member in lessons. They have so much more experience than we do, having lived (or even having not always lived) the gospel. We are blessed to have many converts in our little branch who can often speak directly to the challenges our investigators face.
• Gospel study is going well. I read an amazing talk "For a Small Moment" by Elder Maxwell last week, and it has really helped me change my perspective on being here on the mission. There is still a lot to get used to, and I often feel inadequate, but I know that this "suffering" will not last forever... I will eventually feel less inadequate, and I will eventually have a stronger testimony. I am glad to be here, as always.
• I really liked zone conference last week. Probably because I wasn't chosen to participate in any role plays, just kidding. I liked how we had stations that were different than they usually are, like the music station. Also, I thought it was pretty neat that there were the different stake presidents that spoke. It was good to see that they are really enthusiastic about missionary work.
• Being able to talk to my Mom and siblings was good. It is good to talk to them and see that they are proud of what Im doing. It is a motivater to continue to work hard. I am really working on charity and meekness with many people around me.
• I got most of my comfort from Zone Conference as the Lord made sure I got a clear understanding of Doctrine and Covenants 100 [from you and President Jensen (from Sandy East Stake)].
Zone Conference
O - It seems many think but lack action
L - "Never let your Faith be difficult to detect." Faith, Obedience and Sacrifice brings Blessings
D - Act in faith, with obedience to the Lord, sacrificing any and everything I have for Him
Week
O - No Matter how well I am treating people, I am not doing enough.
L - Teach simple with the Gifts the Lord grants
D - I need to show Love despite the inperfections I witness
• Zone conference was good. I loved the explanation about roleplays and how to make them more effective. As usual I felt like you made the point well that to be a good teacher we need to pay attention and also be connecting with heaven so we can have heaven's help to teach.
• Things have been going good President, Zone Conference was great. I learned that we need to prepare ourselves more before teaching and that the Holy Ghost can use our "arsenal" of knowledge and use it to convert people. But we need to prepared as well. Also we need to not ramble and teach shorter lessons. I know from time to time that sometimes my lessons go too long and that I need to make them shorter but there are time lately that the lessons have gone long because of the many questions people ask while we are teaching them so in a way that is good if they are asking questions. But Zone Conference was a good experience and helped me a lot.
• I really enjoyed Zone Conference, and I really enjoyed the Assistant's training on roleplays. I think its a great way to roleplay, and could really help things a lot. I plan to use that from now on.
• im just trying to learn from him and trying my best to lead by example. because actions speak louder than words. zone confrence was great. i enjoyed the testimonys. every time i hear someone bare testimony. i try my best to listen to them with an open heart and mind. personal study and companionship study is very important. it helps us out throughout the rest of the day. i know things will get better. thanks for your love and kindness presdient Laney.
• We have faced several oppositions this week with a few of our investigators , but we faced it with lots of prayer and seeking help from members, we saw a miracle from that , and it was b/c the Lord helped us out , we did what we could and the Lord took care of the rest. We have been working with a part-member family and the husband came to church on Sunday!! The two lady's sitting next to me were both in tears when he walked in . It was a tender moment.
• With zone conference on Friday and calling home yesterday, I have received a lot of encouragement and motivation in the work I am doing everyday. Thank you especially for the preparation you had us do prior to this zone conference. I loved that talk by Elder Holland. I think the greatest thing I learned from the talk and from zone conference is the importance of really being in tune with and discerning the needs of my investigators. Sometimes I think I get too caught up in the agenda: the principles I need to teach, the commitments I need to leave, the details of the lesson, etc. Yes, those things are important, but not as important as the individual. I need to see and understand each person we work with in a way that will allow me to really help them feel the love of Heavenly Father. I need to really pay attention to the Spirit, and that will allow me to help them and teach them in a way I cannot do on my own.
• ive memorized atleast one scripture everyday this week and plan to do it the rest of my mission. its helped me keep my thoughts more focused because I am able to while tracting recite it in my head or out loud and help elder ayoso memorze his also. i really like this companionship, this district and zone aswell as the area and the ward mission leaders. and am looking forward to doing my best to help build the area back with the help of the spirit, because no one can do anything with out that.
• So today during my personal study I prayed to have the holy ghost be with so that I may write down things that my dad's friend would need to hear, and my testimony really grew about being connected with heaven in the mornings! Thoughts did NOT stop coming through my head as I was writing what I need to tell my dad! Things I haven't seen in months, things I saw recently, and it was incredible! The holy ghost was definitely drawing from a well in which water was there because of my morning studies! I wrote things in which I never even thought about! When I got through with everything I read it and was just amazed! The holy ghost wants something to happen and I can feel it! I can't wait to e-mail my dad and see what happens! he is going to give it to his friend today so I am hoping to hear next week about my dad being a missionary. Again my testimony is really strong about being connected with heaven in the mornings. This morning was a really great experience for me and I hope to keep staying connected! Alright
• Hey, I loved this last Zone Conference. There were a lot of new and great insights. The APs showed a different type of "Role-Playing" that I really enjoyed. Interestingly enough it was almost exactly like the idea that I came up with months ago. I never did like the other way because I didn't see how it was very effective. I very much like the new system now and look forward to using it. Before, I was told that we couldn't do group role-plays but I see a huge benefit to it.
• This week was pretty rough for us. We thought we had a solid baptism for Saturday but it ended up falling through the night before. The good news is that he is back on date for this Saturday. Also we found a new investigator that accepted to pray about a date but did not really accept it yet. The work is moving along, maybe not at the pace that we would hope, but we are trying to have more faith everyday.
• Zone Conference was amazing. I always love the Spirit that i feel at Zone Conference. Sister Tan and Sister Christensen's training was very good I thought. It's true, faith is the biggest and most effective finding tool. If we have faith and work hard the Lord will help us by using finding tools that we had never dreamed of, even if it takes a miracle, He knows how to find.
• We were just 3 lessons from our goal; this week we're going to do better. I'm trying to work the hardest I can even when I'm tired. We're going to have 5 baptisms this weekend in 3 different wards and we have 3 referrals that have already been to church to pick up.
• I also learned that it is up to us to increase the faith of the members in our area so that their faith can produce the miracles we pray for. Great faith = lots of hard work. I think this week to do better.
• So I am very much enjoying my companions and they are helping me in different ways. I guess right now I have been thinking a lot on how my mission has gone so far and how I can go out with a blast for the last few months and I guess its kinda bothered me cause more than anything I just want the Lord to accept my mission and be happy with what I have done. Maybe its just me coming to the reality that a mission does end one day or something, i dont know. Im just going to do the best I can.
Monday, May 17, 2010
• We had another busy week with more miracles. We were abel to put two new people on date and solidify another for May. We miraculously found a new investigator, at one of our investigators houses. I am really looking forward to this month, the Lord has been blessing us with people to teach. thank you for that talk, the Divine Companionship. that talk was so inspiring to me and i have been making a special effort to have to the spirit of discernment and teach more to the needs of the investigator. this week i have felt an added measure of the power of the holy ghost as i teach and i have been leaning as i am teaching.
• We had a pretty good week I loved zone conference and how we learned a new way to role paly I think it works alot nicer than the way I was taught how to roleplay. I also like learning about how the different types of music impact us on a physical and spiritual level. I also liked watching that video on how elder holland taught those members how to teach and how he used the process of makeing them agents and asking them questions to help others answer there questions. This week we had two baptisms and taught a good number of lessons we didnt find any new investigators but we are working on doing just that. Being able to talk to my family and my mom was a great thing yesterday thank you for giving me that oppertunity.
• Elder Holland says in that Teaching with the Spirit talk that we should be teaching together in a way that each of the elders speak for just a few minutes before it switches.
• On Tues I had a neat experience at our dinner apt. i have been praying for extra help to let the holy ghost help me discern the need of those we are teaching. the holy ghost and the Lord know what people need better than me, and i strive to have the holy ghost tell me what to say. So on Tue night at dinner i had the thought and as i picked up my scriptures i felt a prompting to share a scripture in Nephi that i had read that morning about faith and not forgetting the Lord. As I explained the scripture i felt the power of the holy ghost help me know what to say. then after i was done , the lady started crying and said she felt the spirit so strong as i shared the message. she said that she has been praying /pondering some things recently and while i was sharing the thought she gained a answer to her prayer and a witness that all the blessing the Lord has promised her will be fulfilled . she even told me .. you would not have known thats what i needed to hear, and i said no i didn't, but the Lord did. it was such a sweet experience , it is hard to put into words. but my testimony was strengthen in the power of the Holy Ghost and his Divine companionship.
• On our comp studies we are working on my IRA's and teaching better by asking more questions and leading more discussions. As I've applied that in my teaching, specially asking questions, I've seen that the spirit has guided my words and i have learned new truths as i was teaching. Its amazing how having the spirit is so amazing in missionary work. It helps you with every aspect of the work, finding, teaching, everything. As we put our faith in HF and work according to his will and keep our eyes open we can really become a divine companionship with the holy ghost.
• Thanks for your help this week. i especially liked the triangle of the Godhead, Leaders, and Missionaries. that was really helpful in seeing how the relationship between the three should work. that's what we're striving for. Other than that we were blessed to see many miracles this week. We found out we're going to have a surprise baptism next week as long as he passes the "Big 6" and all that, and we found a surprise new investigator yesterday. Her grandma said she wouldn't be interested and then we asked to talk to her and found out she had a lot of questions and is trying to find the true faith and is "leaning towards the LDS church." needless to say we're excited. We're striving to be as obedient as we can and to work hard even when it's tough. and so far, it's paying off. It's weird, it's almost like God blesses us when he says he's going to. who knew? i'm grateful for out blessings and i'm excited to see what else is in store for us. Sure love you!
• We are working picking up new investigators we have about 8 who want to be baptized and we are working with th ward to help us pick them up and start teaching so hopefully in the coming weeks we can see a good improvement in the area. We are constatly tring to be obedient its always on my mind as we work. Me and my companion get along well he is a good missionary and i enjoy being able to teach him but also learn from him. He is teaching me alot about my self as a teacher. And I look at him and cant help but look back when I was a new missionary and remember what I strugled with. We continue to study the lessons and role play them I cant help but feel that although my companion is learning hes learning in english and he is called to a spanish mission so I have tried to have him teach me as much as he can in Spanish, and although I dont understand it i think it helps him.
• Wow, this week has been much better than the last. I have come to realize that everytime change happens I freak out. I lose confidence that Heavenly Father is in control. I start to rely on my own abilities(which always fail me) instead of relying on him. I am learning though. This time it only took me a week to snap out of it instead of 2 or 3. I am very happy to be with new companion. My companion is so pure and willing to do hard things. I know that God is teaching me so many Christlike attributes from being together. I also have great faith that there is a purpose for me serving in this area. I know I seemed a bit unhappy in my last letter, but I have overcome the negative feelings by studying the Doctrine and Covenants at night. I have read about others who were called to go far away and do much harder things. I also have learned so much from the council the lord gives to those called. I know I am called to serve here by God through you. I so appreciate the oppurtunity to train again. I always have much more to learn from them, then they ever learn from me. I am very optimistic about the coming week!
• All went well this week. We continue to try to contact referals. But it can be difficult at times because people aren't home or they say that they are busy. But we continue to work hard each day. I continue to learn things everyday. I try to learn as much as I can about he gospel. I love reading the scriptures and learning from them as much as I can.
• During ZLC i was thinking while you were talking, and one thing that seems important and i think some missionaries struggle with is understanding their potential. It seems like all these missionaries just have so much in store if they would just realize all they could do, one important thing with that is to connect with heaven in the morning. When missionaries are connected with heaven they realize their potential and the importance of their calling. When missionaries realize this, they then help investigators catch glimpses of their potential and then in turn they connect with heaven,and then help others realize the same, and then the cycle continues. So when we connect, our potential is understood, when we understand, it helps our investigators understand their potential, when they understand they connect with heaven. I really think the push the mission is applying to morning studies and connecting with heaven is exactly what this mission needs to bring many many more into the fold of Christ.
• I've learned alot this week. I learned how effective i can be as a missionary, specially with a good companionship that works as one and not two separate people, and also that I cannot let the enemy get one inch, Not one inch because he will tear us into shreds and the war for my brothers and sisters is raging. I'm here to rescue my brothers and sisters and i cannot allow little tifs to tear the spirit away and give the enemy a victory. I'm sorry i let you down president but I have promissed the lord and i promisse you that this week we will do even better, we will work our hardest and i will serve my companion even more as i strive to better my self.
• I liked zone conference a lot this time. Even though it was focused around Chapter 10, it felt like it was more on Chapter 4 and the importance of the Spirit. I have striven to enhance my relationship with the Spirit throughout my mission, but most especially in the last year. The importance of the Spirit and the power of the Atonement are the two biggest things that I feel I learned on my mission. I liked the discussion on discernment and the prerequisites that were spoken of in order to receive it. I can't remember the section off the top of my head, but it enhanced my understanding. I am going to strive to discern people's needs even better and do all that I can to give them the best opportunity to accept the Gospel.
• I'll tell you this. Heavenly Father has made me aware that the enemy knows who i am and what i'm capable of doing and he is going to try and break me. And HF has let me know that he wants me to go and find his lost sheep. I Know i wont be tempted beyond what I'm capable of enduring and HF knows me better then i know my self so i know to relly on his arm and look to him for strength and guidance as I am tempted by the enemy. THE WAR IS RAGING AND I'M NOT QUITTING. I'm here to serve and rescue my lost brothers and sisters. I strayed and came back with a stronger testimony then before, now i just need to help out.
• well we still have a lot of work to do....about the zoneconference...im really nervous...we have been working alot on how to teach and laern at the same time...i know that i souldnt bee a problem and it sould be easy...but i have never tryed to train exept animals and they dont say anything they just do as they are told...pres. Rudd said that i sould use that at zoneconference, but that is alot of candy i have to bring, so wee are gonna to stick with PMG and the scriptures.Beside being nervous...we had a good week...we told everyone we meet that we need to find and we are very blessed. yesterday 2 cars stoped to give us referrals...and something happened that i never though would happen over the phone...my companion was talking to one of our potentiel investigators and soudenly a date was extended and asked to pray abaut it...1)i had No clue if i sould laugh og site very still 2) i thanked Haevenly Father so much, for a quick companion...and he said yes (our PI said yes). so a really filled with experience week and im so glad to be in this area and serve the Lord.
• Well this week has been an awesome week. As you can see the Lord has blessed us a lot by allowing us to find those persons that he has prepared to receive the gospel, and to be honest with you this last two days I've been feeling a joy that I never felt before in my life. This last two days I can surely say that the spirit has been working a lot through us to testify of the divinity of the lord Jesus Christ and his attonment. I had great experiences on this last two days. The lessons have been taught by the spirit because many of the things I say are not thing that I use to say before, and just as the investigator is learning from them, I feel that I'm being edified too during the lesson. The spirit is working through us a greatly. Yesterday as I was going to sleep I ask the lord to let me know what we should do for the lessons that we have today and the lord let me saw clearly exactly what we should do, and as we talk about it today in companionship study, I could see how the spirit has unified my companion and I beacause our ideas were so similar and we know that the things that we are going to do today are the things that our heavenly father want us to do.
• We have had a wonderful week of success and hard work. We have been working so hard and trying to be so obedient and to teach with the spirit. The Lord has blessed so greatly this past week. we have 10 people with a baptismal date, 9 of which are for this month. We were also blest to meet and come in contact with 7 new people. The lord is truly a God of power and of mercy. He has helped and blessed us as we have done the best that we could. I have been so tired at night. I know that if we continue to do what he has asked of us that the work in our area will continue to progress quickly. I also love my companion greatly. We are learning so much from each other and we are teaching in unity and the Lords Spirit has been with us. Thank you for all you do Prsident Laney. Your are a great example for us.
• This has been a good week. It is tough though because everyone has so many peoblems that they have to work through to make it where they want to be. It has strengthened my testimony of living the gospel. Living the gospel just makes it so much easier on yourself. The more that i have been learning about the atonement the more that it amazes me. I have found that we can only turn our back on the savior but that He will never turn His back on us. I know that the Lord loves me. This next week we will try our best to get more people to church and help those who are struggling in their lives.
• I wasnt as happy as i usually am, I was down, I was de-moralized and felt bad. As I was reviewing my self and trying to find the sorce of those feelings I came to the realisation that I hadnt tried my hardest to bring souls unto christ. That night i prayed and asked for forgiveness from HF for wasting his time. I'm not here on my time, I'm on the lords time and i wasted it. Well i asked for forgiveness and on sunday renewed my covenants to do my best to not waste my lords time. My mission goal is to do the best job i can possibly do in every situation the lord gives me. Well, HF is helping me by proving me. Trying to see what i'll do. I've shown him my willingness to obey and excersise faith so now he's turning up the heat on me alittle and i'm having to raise my standards for my self.
• This zone conference was very uplifting, I learned that if we get into a routine as missionaries we can become dull to what the spirit wants to communicate to us. I made goals and plans to prevent myself from falling into any sort of routine because as that routine becomes mechanical the spirit leaves, it is a pit fall, but at the same time certain routines are worthy as long as you maintain the spirit with you I.E. reading scriptures, praying, and exercising. I really enjoyed Brother Otley's musical presentation and how he intermingled an intellectual approach with a spiritual one. The work is going great in our area, this weekend I was able to return to a former area for a couple baptisms . Thank you for allowing us to return to baptisms.
• I really enjoyed Zone conference. It really helps to be reminded of things because we do so much everyday that its easy to forget the more important things at times, and we get caught up in habits. But it helped realize how open we have to be with finding people and visiting and teaching everyone we can including members to help look for investigators. I like the new way of role playing, its a good way for everyone to learn instead of just the people role playing. I really appreciated the visitor from the Tabernacle choir's former director. That was special becuase he realted his lesson to music and I'm really into the world of music, i hae better understanding now about putting things in their proper context. The whole conference was great and helpful.
• Oh yes, and Zone Conference was a great opportunity for me to review my teaching skills and see what I need to improve on. I feel like I've been getting better at relying on the Spirit during the lessons, and teaching more to their needs. I'm still working on keeping it simple, that's my main focus right now.
• We had a pretty good week I loved zone conference and how we learned a new way to role paly I think it works alot nicer than the way I was taught how to roleplay. I also like learning about how the different types of music impact us on a physical and spiritual level. I also liked watching that video on how elder holland taught those members how to teach and how he used the process of makeing them agents and asking them questions to help others answer there questions. This week we had two baptisms and taught a good number of lessons we didnt find any new investigators but we are working on doing just that. Being able to talk to my family and my mom was a great thing yesterday thank you for giving me that oppertunity.
• Elder Holland says in that Teaching with the Spirit talk that we should be teaching together in a way that each of the elders speak for just a few minutes before it switches.
• On Tues I had a neat experience at our dinner apt. i have been praying for extra help to let the holy ghost help me discern the need of those we are teaching. the holy ghost and the Lord know what people need better than me, and i strive to have the holy ghost tell me what to say. So on Tue night at dinner i had the thought and as i picked up my scriptures i felt a prompting to share a scripture in Nephi that i had read that morning about faith and not forgetting the Lord. As I explained the scripture i felt the power of the holy ghost help me know what to say. then after i was done , the lady started crying and said she felt the spirit so strong as i shared the message. she said that she has been praying /pondering some things recently and while i was sharing the thought she gained a answer to her prayer and a witness that all the blessing the Lord has promised her will be fulfilled . she even told me .. you would not have known thats what i needed to hear, and i said no i didn't, but the Lord did. it was such a sweet experience , it is hard to put into words. but my testimony was strengthen in the power of the Holy Ghost and his Divine companionship.
• On our comp studies we are working on my IRA's and teaching better by asking more questions and leading more discussions. As I've applied that in my teaching, specially asking questions, I've seen that the spirit has guided my words and i have learned new truths as i was teaching. Its amazing how having the spirit is so amazing in missionary work. It helps you with every aspect of the work, finding, teaching, everything. As we put our faith in HF and work according to his will and keep our eyes open we can really become a divine companionship with the holy ghost.
• Thanks for your help this week. i especially liked the triangle of the Godhead, Leaders, and Missionaries. that was really helpful in seeing how the relationship between the three should work. that's what we're striving for. Other than that we were blessed to see many miracles this week. We found out we're going to have a surprise baptism next week as long as he passes the "Big 6" and all that, and we found a surprise new investigator yesterday. Her grandma said she wouldn't be interested and then we asked to talk to her and found out she had a lot of questions and is trying to find the true faith and is "leaning towards the LDS church." needless to say we're excited. We're striving to be as obedient as we can and to work hard even when it's tough. and so far, it's paying off. It's weird, it's almost like God blesses us when he says he's going to. who knew? i'm grateful for out blessings and i'm excited to see what else is in store for us. Sure love you!
• We are working picking up new investigators we have about 8 who want to be baptized and we are working with th ward to help us pick them up and start teaching so hopefully in the coming weeks we can see a good improvement in the area. We are constatly tring to be obedient its always on my mind as we work. Me and my companion get along well he is a good missionary and i enjoy being able to teach him but also learn from him. He is teaching me alot about my self as a teacher. And I look at him and cant help but look back when I was a new missionary and remember what I strugled with. We continue to study the lessons and role play them I cant help but feel that although my companion is learning hes learning in english and he is called to a spanish mission so I have tried to have him teach me as much as he can in Spanish, and although I dont understand it i think it helps him.
• Wow, this week has been much better than the last. I have come to realize that everytime change happens I freak out. I lose confidence that Heavenly Father is in control. I start to rely on my own abilities(which always fail me) instead of relying on him. I am learning though. This time it only took me a week to snap out of it instead of 2 or 3. I am very happy to be with new companion. My companion is so pure and willing to do hard things. I know that God is teaching me so many Christlike attributes from being together. I also have great faith that there is a purpose for me serving in this area. I know I seemed a bit unhappy in my last letter, but I have overcome the negative feelings by studying the Doctrine and Covenants at night. I have read about others who were called to go far away and do much harder things. I also have learned so much from the council the lord gives to those called. I know I am called to serve here by God through you. I so appreciate the oppurtunity to train again. I always have much more to learn from them, then they ever learn from me. I am very optimistic about the coming week!
• All went well this week. We continue to try to contact referals. But it can be difficult at times because people aren't home or they say that they are busy. But we continue to work hard each day. I continue to learn things everyday. I try to learn as much as I can about he gospel. I love reading the scriptures and learning from them as much as I can.
• During ZLC i was thinking while you were talking, and one thing that seems important and i think some missionaries struggle with is understanding their potential. It seems like all these missionaries just have so much in store if they would just realize all they could do, one important thing with that is to connect with heaven in the morning. When missionaries are connected with heaven they realize their potential and the importance of their calling. When missionaries realize this, they then help investigators catch glimpses of their potential and then in turn they connect with heaven,and then help others realize the same, and then the cycle continues. So when we connect, our potential is understood, when we understand, it helps our investigators understand their potential, when they understand they connect with heaven. I really think the push the mission is applying to morning studies and connecting with heaven is exactly what this mission needs to bring many many more into the fold of Christ.
• I've learned alot this week. I learned how effective i can be as a missionary, specially with a good companionship that works as one and not two separate people, and also that I cannot let the enemy get one inch, Not one inch because he will tear us into shreds and the war for my brothers and sisters is raging. I'm here to rescue my brothers and sisters and i cannot allow little tifs to tear the spirit away and give the enemy a victory. I'm sorry i let you down president but I have promissed the lord and i promisse you that this week we will do even better, we will work our hardest and i will serve my companion even more as i strive to better my self.
• I liked zone conference a lot this time. Even though it was focused around Chapter 10, it felt like it was more on Chapter 4 and the importance of the Spirit. I have striven to enhance my relationship with the Spirit throughout my mission, but most especially in the last year. The importance of the Spirit and the power of the Atonement are the two biggest things that I feel I learned on my mission. I liked the discussion on discernment and the prerequisites that were spoken of in order to receive it. I can't remember the section off the top of my head, but it enhanced my understanding. I am going to strive to discern people's needs even better and do all that I can to give them the best opportunity to accept the Gospel.
• I'll tell you this. Heavenly Father has made me aware that the enemy knows who i am and what i'm capable of doing and he is going to try and break me. And HF has let me know that he wants me to go and find his lost sheep. I Know i wont be tempted beyond what I'm capable of enduring and HF knows me better then i know my self so i know to relly on his arm and look to him for strength and guidance as I am tempted by the enemy. THE WAR IS RAGING AND I'M NOT QUITTING. I'm here to serve and rescue my lost brothers and sisters. I strayed and came back with a stronger testimony then before, now i just need to help out.
• well we still have a lot of work to do....about the zoneconference...im really nervous...we have been working alot on how to teach and laern at the same time...i know that i souldnt bee a problem and it sould be easy...but i have never tryed to train exept animals and they dont say anything they just do as they are told...pres. Rudd said that i sould use that at zoneconference, but that is alot of candy i have to bring, so wee are gonna to stick with PMG and the scriptures.Beside being nervous...we had a good week...we told everyone we meet that we need to find and we are very blessed. yesterday 2 cars stoped to give us referrals...and something happened that i never though would happen over the phone...my companion was talking to one of our potentiel investigators and soudenly a date was extended and asked to pray abaut it...1)i had No clue if i sould laugh og site very still 2) i thanked Haevenly Father so much, for a quick companion...and he said yes (our PI said yes). so a really filled with experience week and im so glad to be in this area and serve the Lord.
• Well this week has been an awesome week. As you can see the Lord has blessed us a lot by allowing us to find those persons that he has prepared to receive the gospel, and to be honest with you this last two days I've been feeling a joy that I never felt before in my life. This last two days I can surely say that the spirit has been working a lot through us to testify of the divinity of the lord Jesus Christ and his attonment. I had great experiences on this last two days. The lessons have been taught by the spirit because many of the things I say are not thing that I use to say before, and just as the investigator is learning from them, I feel that I'm being edified too during the lesson. The spirit is working through us a greatly. Yesterday as I was going to sleep I ask the lord to let me know what we should do for the lessons that we have today and the lord let me saw clearly exactly what we should do, and as we talk about it today in companionship study, I could see how the spirit has unified my companion and I beacause our ideas were so similar and we know that the things that we are going to do today are the things that our heavenly father want us to do.
• We have had a wonderful week of success and hard work. We have been working so hard and trying to be so obedient and to teach with the spirit. The Lord has blessed so greatly this past week. we have 10 people with a baptismal date, 9 of which are for this month. We were also blest to meet and come in contact with 7 new people. The lord is truly a God of power and of mercy. He has helped and blessed us as we have done the best that we could. I have been so tired at night. I know that if we continue to do what he has asked of us that the work in our area will continue to progress quickly. I also love my companion greatly. We are learning so much from each other and we are teaching in unity and the Lords Spirit has been with us. Thank you for all you do Prsident Laney. Your are a great example for us.
• This has been a good week. It is tough though because everyone has so many peoblems that they have to work through to make it where they want to be. It has strengthened my testimony of living the gospel. Living the gospel just makes it so much easier on yourself. The more that i have been learning about the atonement the more that it amazes me. I have found that we can only turn our back on the savior but that He will never turn His back on us. I know that the Lord loves me. This next week we will try our best to get more people to church and help those who are struggling in their lives.
• I wasnt as happy as i usually am, I was down, I was de-moralized and felt bad. As I was reviewing my self and trying to find the sorce of those feelings I came to the realisation that I hadnt tried my hardest to bring souls unto christ. That night i prayed and asked for forgiveness from HF for wasting his time. I'm not here on my time, I'm on the lords time and i wasted it. Well i asked for forgiveness and on sunday renewed my covenants to do my best to not waste my lords time. My mission goal is to do the best job i can possibly do in every situation the lord gives me. Well, HF is helping me by proving me. Trying to see what i'll do. I've shown him my willingness to obey and excersise faith so now he's turning up the heat on me alittle and i'm having to raise my standards for my self.
• This zone conference was very uplifting, I learned that if we get into a routine as missionaries we can become dull to what the spirit wants to communicate to us. I made goals and plans to prevent myself from falling into any sort of routine because as that routine becomes mechanical the spirit leaves, it is a pit fall, but at the same time certain routines are worthy as long as you maintain the spirit with you I.E. reading scriptures, praying, and exercising. I really enjoyed Brother Otley's musical presentation and how he intermingled an intellectual approach with a spiritual one. The work is going great in our area, this weekend I was able to return to a former area for a couple baptisms . Thank you for allowing us to return to baptisms.
• I really enjoyed Zone conference. It really helps to be reminded of things because we do so much everyday that its easy to forget the more important things at times, and we get caught up in habits. But it helped realize how open we have to be with finding people and visiting and teaching everyone we can including members to help look for investigators. I like the new way of role playing, its a good way for everyone to learn instead of just the people role playing. I really appreciated the visitor from the Tabernacle choir's former director. That was special becuase he realted his lesson to music and I'm really into the world of music, i hae better understanding now about putting things in their proper context. The whole conference was great and helpful.
• Oh yes, and Zone Conference was a great opportunity for me to review my teaching skills and see what I need to improve on. I feel like I've been getting better at relying on the Spirit during the lessons, and teaching more to their needs. I'm still working on keeping it simple, that's my main focus right now.
Monday, May 3, 2010
• We had a wonderful week with our investigators. We picked up three new ones and we tried different style of lesson with each of them. One we had like a testimony meeting cause the wife was less active, I'm glad we read D&C 88:77-78,122 recently. It really works. We were blessed to see 2 of our less-actives go to church. I am going to change my study habits, I am going to have a little pocket size notebook around me, and if I receive teachings from the Holy Ghost I'm going to write it down, read about it, ponder it, then ask if there is more to learn. Hopefully I wont fall on my face doing this the first couple of time I try it.
• The trip downtown is a perfect experience, gives you a little boost after a short month and gets you excited to keep serving. When you came around to me and told me to think of some goals for my mission I put some thought into it. So far I have came up with about four, but I'm sure I'll change the a little as I learn more. So far they are...
1. Be 100% obiendent
2. Be an example/leader for other Elders
3. Love my companion and help make this experience the best for them
4. Leave my area better than it was
• This week was very exciting and we had people come to church! FINALLY!! President we finally found some people who are ready! The 1%! It is a family of 6 that came to church, except the father because he works. At least 5 of the family came. After working hard the area is blossoming again!! I knew there was no such thing as a dead area! I am so happy for my past area as well ! I had the opportunity to go back 3 different times for baptisms! I love missionary work !
• Great week as usual!!!! I've noticed something funny about my goals. The goals that I pray hardest and place the highest priority on are always the goals that we achieve. My last companion was always praying over lessons and I was always praying over finding. Now i guess I need to learn to pray over them both. Ha ha. The week was great. We had amazing teaching moments with people.
• For example, we talk about numbers all the time, and a lot of us have forgotten WHY we have numbers. If we have our heart in the numbers and not in the souls, we will NEVER progress. Its all about where our heart is. I was reflecting on that, and reflecting on the companions that I have had, and I learned something very important from each of them. From my current companion, I learned that I should focus on the people not on numbers, that has effected me forever.
• Last Saturday we had a baptism!!!!! Luis is 16 years old. He got confirmed yesterday and he is really happy. His family came to support him and we started teaching his close friend as well. He is alos getting baptized next month. It is amazing to see this guy being baptized and his friend is seeing the spirit and wanting to do thing that is making him happy. Even though his mom said that her son is changing. At the baptism, James(who got baptized last month/the miracle baptism) gave a talk and shared testimony for Luis. He encouraged him to prepare for mission together. It is amazing to see recent convert supporting newer convert. they are both so special. I am so greatful the gospel. James changed alot but Luis changed alot too. This gangster boy started reading the Book of Mormon and he takes notes. He doesn't go to school but he is getting ready to go back to school again. He used to dress up like gangster but now he wears white shirt to church looking great. I know that all those people are going to be the future missionaries, priesthood holders and building zion. I love them and love the gospel.
• I have been grateful for my companion’s drive this week to remain focused on the goal at hand. My studies have been greatly improved by focus, and especially by meaningful prayer. I am studying the PMG lessons again, and adding more scriptures to my study to help amplify my teaching.
• We found such a golden investigator on Sunday! He was a media referral. Man, those media referrals are golden! Whenever I hear one from the phone I get so excited because I know we just found somone new! I haven't had one not workout yet! He has grown up in the church but because his parents were not active he was never baptized. In the past year he has started going to church on his own and wants us to teach him! I am so excited to get back into that house.
• The work is good. We're getting some member firesides going in the north stake. The stake president is very missionary minded, and things should be going well. He's been showing the Finding Through members' sections in the preach my gospel dvds at each ward's ward conference. Things will be picking up in that stake soon.
• We had an awesome experience yesterday in which I realized that missionaries are nothing when it comes to teaching! We were teaching one of our new investigators and we were just crashing and burning it seemed like. I remember praying over and over and just pleading with the Lord to just let the holy ghost take over! Our prayer was definitely answered! The spirit took over and we were able to extend her commitments in which she happily accepted. That experience just showed me that it doesn't matter what you know and how long you have been or anything like that, but its the spirit that has to direct the lessons. We have been role-playing alot in companionship study and it has been great practice to try and speak from the heart and let the spirit guide.
• I hope you are having a wonderful day! I loved having you and Sister Laney come to "our home." I am very thankful for the family that we live with, they are so nice to us and I feel like they are my family. This week was really great. I told my companion that our last week together had to be the best so we set high goals and worked super hard. We tought 46 lessons and the Baptisms fell through because the Bishop in that ward for some reason keeps changing the date we give our investigators, there is lack of communication between us but we will let him do what he thinks it's best.
• This week was wonderful! We started teaching this one family. They have not been to church in a very long time and have one unbaptized son. I learned a really good lesson when we started teaching them though. I started trying to break the ice by talking about the things they enjoyed, and it worked a little. But it was still a little awkward and they were still a little quiet, but when we had a prayer and began teaching, the whole family opened up a ton. The spirit was really strong and I know that it was the spirit that caused the family to be more open. I really want to get that whole family active again so they can be sealed in the temple they live 1 minute away from. Also, we should be picking up the 4 new investigators this week that we thought we could last week, which is why we set our goals so high. Things are going really good. Take care!
• Yesterday the Stake President asked me if I would speak at his stake conference. That is my last Sunday in the mission. It will be neat to leave the mission addressing an entire stake. The President asked me so speak about the most important things I would want the members to know. I'm excited for this opportunity. I know that these last 6 weeks will be some of the most important weeks of my mission. I am going to work as hard as I can to finish in the right way.
• This week was great with a baptism of a great boy named Jonathan! I have a greater testimony that if we are doing what we are suppose to be doing that the investigators will find US!! Because that is exactly what happened with Jonathan. We were walking down the road and decided to take a different path than we had planned on taking.. Later we hear footsteps coming up behind us and it was Jonathan! He had been taught in Murray , but moved about 2 months ago. He said he had been looking for missionaries to walk down the road so he could continue the lessons! We had been praying for a golden investigator! Our recent converts are doing great because they are still ACTIVE which is wonderful of course. We have other great investigators we are working with !
• Take the good, leave the bad. Just like Elder Bednar said "Discernment is seeing good in others and helping them to see it too" okay so not an exact quote but something to that effect.
• This past week, I have focused a lot on faith and have come to understand that in order to have any kind of success with the people, I first have to believe that they will accept, that they will be baptized and that they will get sealed in the temple. I must SEE that in my mind and then act in a way that is in accordance with it, speaking with the langauge of faith and being a challenging and testifying type of missionary. I also have worked very hard at talking to everyone. It is hard for me, but when I think about the joy of the message that I have and that the worst that someone can say is "NO, IM not interested," I have been able to open my mouth. I am just so thankful for this opportunity that I have to share the gospel with others and see it grow within me as well.
• Im working in do what this last meeting you said, and as preach my gospel says one of the more important things in teaching is listening, Im grateful for your talk this wednesday because It just came in this exact moment that I needed the most.
• I have been studying ch. 10 from PMG. It's been really helpful for me to improve in my teaching skills. I'm studying a lot to learn how to discover the people's needs, so i can teach them more effective. Being in a proselyting area is a challenge to me, but i know as i effort to work hard and to do what the Lord wants me to do i will receive His help in everything i do.
• "People are like stained-glass windows. They sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in, their true beauty is revealed only if there is a light from within."
• My companion is teaching me a lot about taking care of the small things that would stop companionship's from finding or being obedient. Such as making sure they are in proselyting clothes while they study and making sure they are getting up at 6:30 and and not 7:20 or something like that. I am excited to help missionaries with the small and simple things. We have great district leaders that are showing great potential at the moment and we are really going to stress with them leading by example! For the district leaders to lead by example and for us as zone leaders as well, to lead by example. For me I think there is no better way to lead than by example, and doing it with your zone. I don't want to have people follow me if I am not doing what I tell them! That doesn't make sense. We have a great zone and I am excited to work with the missionaries in our zone! It is going to be an awesome transfer!
• This week i read the Divine companionship . It was excellent . I felt the holy ghost teach me several thing i need to start improving on with my teaching. For one, i am going to pray more for the spirit of discernment. that is so important . I want to "astonish" my investigators i want them to feel the spirit so strongly that they feel and know that the Lord is speaking to them through us. I want to live in a way so i can be close to the spirit at all times in all places .
• The trip downtown is a perfect experience, gives you a little boost after a short month and gets you excited to keep serving. When you came around to me and told me to think of some goals for my mission I put some thought into it. So far I have came up with about four, but I'm sure I'll change the a little as I learn more. So far they are...
1. Be 100% obiendent
2. Be an example/leader for other Elders
3. Love my companion and help make this experience the best for them
4. Leave my area better than it was
• This week was very exciting and we had people come to church! FINALLY!! President we finally found some people who are ready! The 1%! It is a family of 6 that came to church, except the father because he works. At least 5 of the family came. After working hard the area is blossoming again!! I knew there was no such thing as a dead area! I am so happy for my past area as well ! I had the opportunity to go back 3 different times for baptisms! I love missionary work !
• Great week as usual!!!! I've noticed something funny about my goals. The goals that I pray hardest and place the highest priority on are always the goals that we achieve. My last companion was always praying over lessons and I was always praying over finding. Now i guess I need to learn to pray over them both. Ha ha. The week was great. We had amazing teaching moments with people.
• For example, we talk about numbers all the time, and a lot of us have forgotten WHY we have numbers. If we have our heart in the numbers and not in the souls, we will NEVER progress. Its all about where our heart is. I was reflecting on that, and reflecting on the companions that I have had, and I learned something very important from each of them. From my current companion, I learned that I should focus on the people not on numbers, that has effected me forever.
• Last Saturday we had a baptism!!!!! Luis is 16 years old. He got confirmed yesterday and he is really happy. His family came to support him and we started teaching his close friend as well. He is alos getting baptized next month. It is amazing to see this guy being baptized and his friend is seeing the spirit and wanting to do thing that is making him happy. Even though his mom said that her son is changing. At the baptism, James(who got baptized last month/the miracle baptism) gave a talk and shared testimony for Luis. He encouraged him to prepare for mission together. It is amazing to see recent convert supporting newer convert. they are both so special. I am so greatful the gospel. James changed alot but Luis changed alot too. This gangster boy started reading the Book of Mormon and he takes notes. He doesn't go to school but he is getting ready to go back to school again. He used to dress up like gangster but now he wears white shirt to church looking great. I know that all those people are going to be the future missionaries, priesthood holders and building zion. I love them and love the gospel.
• I have been grateful for my companion’s drive this week to remain focused on the goal at hand. My studies have been greatly improved by focus, and especially by meaningful prayer. I am studying the PMG lessons again, and adding more scriptures to my study to help amplify my teaching.
• We found such a golden investigator on Sunday! He was a media referral. Man, those media referrals are golden! Whenever I hear one from the phone I get so excited because I know we just found somone new! I haven't had one not workout yet! He has grown up in the church but because his parents were not active he was never baptized. In the past year he has started going to church on his own and wants us to teach him! I am so excited to get back into that house.
• The work is good. We're getting some member firesides going in the north stake. The stake president is very missionary minded, and things should be going well. He's been showing the Finding Through members' sections in the preach my gospel dvds at each ward's ward conference. Things will be picking up in that stake soon.
• We had an awesome experience yesterday in which I realized that missionaries are nothing when it comes to teaching! We were teaching one of our new investigators and we were just crashing and burning it seemed like. I remember praying over and over and just pleading with the Lord to just let the holy ghost take over! Our prayer was definitely answered! The spirit took over and we were able to extend her commitments in which she happily accepted. That experience just showed me that it doesn't matter what you know and how long you have been or anything like that, but its the spirit that has to direct the lessons. We have been role-playing alot in companionship study and it has been great practice to try and speak from the heart and let the spirit guide.
• I hope you are having a wonderful day! I loved having you and Sister Laney come to "our home." I am very thankful for the family that we live with, they are so nice to us and I feel like they are my family. This week was really great. I told my companion that our last week together had to be the best so we set high goals and worked super hard. We tought 46 lessons and the Baptisms fell through because the Bishop in that ward for some reason keeps changing the date we give our investigators, there is lack of communication between us but we will let him do what he thinks it's best.
• This week was wonderful! We started teaching this one family. They have not been to church in a very long time and have one unbaptized son. I learned a really good lesson when we started teaching them though. I started trying to break the ice by talking about the things they enjoyed, and it worked a little. But it was still a little awkward and they were still a little quiet, but when we had a prayer and began teaching, the whole family opened up a ton. The spirit was really strong and I know that it was the spirit that caused the family to be more open. I really want to get that whole family active again so they can be sealed in the temple they live 1 minute away from. Also, we should be picking up the 4 new investigators this week that we thought we could last week, which is why we set our goals so high. Things are going really good. Take care!
• Yesterday the Stake President asked me if I would speak at his stake conference. That is my last Sunday in the mission. It will be neat to leave the mission addressing an entire stake. The President asked me so speak about the most important things I would want the members to know. I'm excited for this opportunity. I know that these last 6 weeks will be some of the most important weeks of my mission. I am going to work as hard as I can to finish in the right way.
• This week was great with a baptism of a great boy named Jonathan! I have a greater testimony that if we are doing what we are suppose to be doing that the investigators will find US!! Because that is exactly what happened with Jonathan. We were walking down the road and decided to take a different path than we had planned on taking.. Later we hear footsteps coming up behind us and it was Jonathan! He had been taught in Murray , but moved about 2 months ago. He said he had been looking for missionaries to walk down the road so he could continue the lessons! We had been praying for a golden investigator! Our recent converts are doing great because they are still ACTIVE which is wonderful of course. We have other great investigators we are working with !
• Take the good, leave the bad. Just like Elder Bednar said "Discernment is seeing good in others and helping them to see it too" okay so not an exact quote but something to that effect.
• This past week, I have focused a lot on faith and have come to understand that in order to have any kind of success with the people, I first have to believe that they will accept, that they will be baptized and that they will get sealed in the temple. I must SEE that in my mind and then act in a way that is in accordance with it, speaking with the langauge of faith and being a challenging and testifying type of missionary. I also have worked very hard at talking to everyone. It is hard for me, but when I think about the joy of the message that I have and that the worst that someone can say is "NO, IM not interested," I have been able to open my mouth. I am just so thankful for this opportunity that I have to share the gospel with others and see it grow within me as well.
• Im working in do what this last meeting you said, and as preach my gospel says one of the more important things in teaching is listening, Im grateful for your talk this wednesday because It just came in this exact moment that I needed the most.
• I have been studying ch. 10 from PMG. It's been really helpful for me to improve in my teaching skills. I'm studying a lot to learn how to discover the people's needs, so i can teach them more effective. Being in a proselyting area is a challenge to me, but i know as i effort to work hard and to do what the Lord wants me to do i will receive His help in everything i do.
• "People are like stained-glass windows. They sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in, their true beauty is revealed only if there is a light from within."
• My companion is teaching me a lot about taking care of the small things that would stop companionship's from finding or being obedient. Such as making sure they are in proselyting clothes while they study and making sure they are getting up at 6:30 and and not 7:20 or something like that. I am excited to help missionaries with the small and simple things. We have great district leaders that are showing great potential at the moment and we are really going to stress with them leading by example! For the district leaders to lead by example and for us as zone leaders as well, to lead by example. For me I think there is no better way to lead than by example, and doing it with your zone. I don't want to have people follow me if I am not doing what I tell them! That doesn't make sense. We have a great zone and I am excited to work with the missionaries in our zone! It is going to be an awesome transfer!
• This week i read the Divine companionship . It was excellent . I felt the holy ghost teach me several thing i need to start improving on with my teaching. For one, i am going to pray more for the spirit of discernment. that is so important . I want to "astonish" my investigators i want them to feel the spirit so strongly that they feel and know that the Lord is speaking to them through us. I want to live in a way so i can be close to the spirit at all times in all places .
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