Hey Everyone!
Yes it's Tuesday. No I’m not being
disobedient, Today is P day for all of the Pocatello area Missionaries. I'll
explain....
So yesterday Elder James B. Martino
came to the mission to conduct a Mission Tour. Every so often a General
Authority will come to give training and help instruct and edify the mission.
So he spent Sunday night with the Assistants to President and President going
out and teaching people in the Assistants area. Then Monday he met with all the
Pocatello area missionaries. It was a great meeting and he was a really amazing
man. His wife spoke to us as well. They are from Texas and when she spoke you
could tell! She has that Texas drawl about her! But it was neat because as we were
going up to shake hands and meet Elder Martino recognized Elder Blake because
his Dad is a Stake President down in Texas. It was a LONG meeting BUT they
provided really good Brazilian and Thai food for Lunch. So the meeting started
at 8, we took a break for lunch at 12:30 and then went from 1:30 to 3. Very
long meeting but very much worth it! Something that the Martino's talked about
is the Importance of finding the One. (No this is not a marriage reference,
although they did talk about that.... talk about making a group of missionaries
cringe!) They talked about How in the Scriptures Christ talked about how if a
Man who has 100 sheep loses one, he leaves the 99 and goes to find the one. And
how great does he rejoice when he finds that one and brings it back to the
fold. That is ALL OF OUR JOBS. To bring the lost sheep back into the
fold.
So last Monday we had a ton of stuff
to do. So we didn't have time to spend with the Zone. We were running around
all day! Hair Cuts and Shopping and trying to exercise. It doesn't seem like a
lot to do but it’s a ton!
Tuesday we had Zone Training. This
is where Elder Wauneka and I train the zone on what we learned from our Mission
Leadership Council. This meeting was Incredible! Our zone had been struggling a
lot with Unity. Unity in the companionship, in the district and ultimately in
the zone. It was really not looking good. We thought we were going to have to
separate some companionship's or do something drastic to make a change. Elder
Wauneka and I both realized that this meeting was either going to make us or
break us in terms of the zone doing well. So Monday night we didn't get ANY
sleep we were up the whole time preparing our training's and how we could help
the zone. We realized that a lot of the problem came from the zone not being
able to see the Unity Elder Wauneka and I had for each other. We found out
afterwards that a lot of the missionaries thought we didn't get along! So we
decided to just head on confront that issue and tell them that WE DO GET ALONG!
Hahah We have a weird way of showing it and yeah sometimes we butt heads but we
get along! So with that concern out of the way we went on to give our
training's.
I went first and read an excerpt
from President Eyring's Priesthood talk "Man Down" It's a great talk I
highly recommend you read it. It talks about the roles of the priesthood but it
is easily transformed into the roles of a missionary. (I want to preface this
next part, I NEVER cry in training's. I don't so I have no idea where this next
part came from... well actually I do.) So as I was reading this excerpt about 2
soldiers who lay down their lives to save another because they knew it was
their duty to protect honor and serve their fellow soldier, I began to weep.
The spirit filled the room and for the first time in a while I saw the members
of the zone look at each other differently. I went on to talk about how we are
soldiers in God's Army, and how we have the Duty to watch out for our fellow
soldiers and love them. I even quoted Coach Boone from Remember the Titans.
"You don't have to like each other, but you will respect each other... and
maybe just maybe we'll learn to teach the gospel like Men" That last part
is changed a little bit! ;)
Then Elder Wauneka gave a powerful
training on having Companion Inventories. He realized that this was a big
problem because many companionship's couldn't resolve their issues because they
weren't having effective Comp Inventories. So he gave a great training on that
and we had everyone practice. The room transformed almost instantly from the
beginning. It went from a feeling of Hostility and tension, to the spirit being
there and missionaries being able to open up and really fix some of the
problems they've been having, not just bottle it up. And by no means am I
trying to honk Elder Wauneka and My own horn. Because it was 100 % the spirit
that changed the hearts of the missionaries. The Holy Ghost was able to soften
their hearts to overcome the struggles they were having! It was an amazing
meeting and everyone could breathe a little easier afterwards. The rest of the week we had to visit
investigators and do service.
Aubrey: Aubrey is an 8 year old girl
we've been teaching. Her family is Less Active but we've developed a friendship
because we go there to lift weights with the Dad. So last week we were teaching
her and we found out that she turns 9 on Nov 18th. And she wants to be baptized
on that day!!! So we set everything up and she has asked Elder Wauneka to
Baptize her and I to confirm her. She is an awesome little girl who understands
a ton of the gospel. Her mom and siblings have been coming to church more now
that she is preparing to be baptized. We're still working on the Dad.
Matthew and Nathan: These boys are
doing really well. They want to be baptized so badly! They remind me so much of
me and my brothers when we were younger. We got a long well until someone lost
their temper... Then it’s all out warfare.... hitting and yelling. It only
happens occasionally but there is nothing we can do when it does happen. It
totally reminds me of the boys in my family!
Well family! I love you guys! OH!
Elder Wauneka and I got a car full time now!!!! Yep, that's right. We are
rocking the Soccer Mom van!!!! :) :) :) ME and Wauneka, cruising around town in
a dodge caravan! Hahah it's the Assistants old van and it only has 800 miles
left until it has to be sold so they are letting us use it until then. It’s
actually a really nice car. I'm totally sold on the Minivan scene!
Love you guys!
Elder Rash
Later this past week we got the following photos. Caleb along with all of the missionaries leaving mid transfer on Dec. 17th went to the Temple with President and Sister Brinkerhoff. This undoubtedly was a bittersweet experience for them. Caleb also had another baptism. - Aubrey
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| Outgoing Missionaries for last Temple day with President & Sister Brinkerhoff |
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| Aubrey's Baptism |
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| Zone Leaders transporting Elders |
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| Sporting his Family Reunion T-Shirt that he missed |
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| Reunited with Elder Larson at the Temple |
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