What is my mission?
We have a new mission president and his wife serving here in Hamilton. President Cummings and his wife finished their three year service and now President Erekson and his wife are here to serve. They are from Idaho, USA.
This week was President Erekson's tour of the mission. He, his wife, and two assistants traveled to the different areas of the mission to speak to and meet with all the missionaries in our mission. Elder Folland and I attended one of the meetings in Hamilton. Sister Erekson spoke of the joy that can come from serving as missionaries. President Erekson spoke of several experiences that he had where placing emphasis on the "ONE" was given greater importance and priority than the agenda. One experience was when he was asked to conduct a meeting where
Elder David R. Bednar, an apostle would be speaking. Before the meeting started, Elder Bednar asked him what was going on at his home that evening. He responded that all was fine. Elder Bednar persisted until President Erekson told him that it was his daughter's prom night. Elder Bednar told him that he would leave to go home in time to see his daughter off. President Erekson replied that his daughter understood and that he didn't need to go. Elder Bednar insisted, so 45 minutes after the meeting started, he got up to go home to see his daughter off for prom. President Erekson asked each of us to fast and pray to know our individual and collective mission here in Hamilton. What does the Lord want each of us to do? Once we know, we can work to bring that to pass. Our assignment here is to work in the mission office, but we have been called to be missionaries. We have been called to invite others to come unto Christ.
Elder Folland has been working hard this week on the logistics of the mission transfers. Every six weeks, we have a transfer, which means some elders and sisters are given new areas. They either have to go by bus or car to their new areas. Elder Folland has to organize the transportation and purchase bus tickets if necessary. It sounds pretty easy, but it's actually a bit more intense and complicated than it sounds. I was trained on travel and visas by an employee from the area office. If a missionary's visa will expire before his/her release date, I have to apply for a new visa or their release date is changed to coincide with their visa expiration. I also have to request travel for departing missionaries.
Saturday, we traveled with the other office couple, the Taylor's to a place called Rotorua. We drove a vehicle that we needed to give to a companionship of elders. They would in turn give us the vehicle they'd been driving. Their vehicle had been vandalized so we needed to take it back for repairs. Because it is an older vehicle, it will be sold at auction. While in Rotorua, we visited the hot springs and the Redwood Forest.
We love our landlords! They are so good to us. They give us yummy food and bread. They make us laugh with their witty humor.
We took a couple who have finished their mission to the airport in Auckland after church today. It has been a busy week!
We testify of the divinity of our Savior Jesus Christ. He is our Redeemer and our Friend. He loves with an incomprehensible love. God is our Father. He has a wonderful plan for each of us. We can know of that plan through prayer and obedience to His commandments. May we all seek to know His will.
Love,
Elder and Sister Folland
This week was President Erekson's tour of the mission. He, his wife, and two assistants traveled to the different areas of the mission to speak to and meet with all the missionaries in our mission. Elder Folland and I attended one of the meetings in Hamilton. Sister Erekson spoke of the joy that can come from serving as missionaries. President Erekson spoke of several experiences that he had where placing emphasis on the "ONE" was given greater importance and priority than the agenda. One experience was when he was asked to conduct a meeting where
Elder David R. Bednar, an apostle would be speaking. Before the meeting started, Elder Bednar asked him what was going on at his home that evening. He responded that all was fine. Elder Bednar persisted until President Erekson told him that it was his daughter's prom night. Elder Bednar told him that he would leave to go home in time to see his daughter off. President Erekson replied that his daughter understood and that he didn't need to go. Elder Bednar insisted, so 45 minutes after the meeting started, he got up to go home to see his daughter off for prom. President Erekson asked each of us to fast and pray to know our individual and collective mission here in Hamilton. What does the Lord want each of us to do? Once we know, we can work to bring that to pass. Our assignment here is to work in the mission office, but we have been called to be missionaries. We have been called to invite others to come unto Christ.
Elder Folland has been working hard this week on the logistics of the mission transfers. Every six weeks, we have a transfer, which means some elders and sisters are given new areas. They either have to go by bus or car to their new areas. Elder Folland has to organize the transportation and purchase bus tickets if necessary. It sounds pretty easy, but it's actually a bit more intense and complicated than it sounds. I was trained on travel and visas by an employee from the area office. If a missionary's visa will expire before his/her release date, I have to apply for a new visa or their release date is changed to coincide with their visa expiration. I also have to request travel for departing missionaries.
Saturday, we traveled with the other office couple, the Taylor's to a place called Rotorua. We drove a vehicle that we needed to give to a companionship of elders. They would in turn give us the vehicle they'd been driving. Their vehicle had been vandalized so we needed to take it back for repairs. Because it is an older vehicle, it will be sold at auction. While in Rotorua, we visited the hot springs and the Redwood Forest.
We love our landlords! They are so good to us. They give us yummy food and bread. They make us laugh with their witty humor.
We took a couple who have finished their mission to the airport in Auckland after church today. It has been a busy week!
We testify of the divinity of our Savior Jesus Christ. He is our Redeemer and our Friend. He loves with an incomprehensible love. God is our Father. He has a wonderful plan for each of us. We can know of that plan through prayer and obedience to His commandments. May we all seek to know His will.
Love,
Elder and Sister Folland
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