Zone Conferences
We had three zone conferences this week! It was great! We held two of the zone conferences in the theatre that is located in the building that houses our mission office and we had lunch in beautiful Kai Hall. It is located directly west of the mission office and next to the new stake center. Our third zone conference was held in a church building in a city called Tauranga, about a 1 1/2 hour drive from Hamilton. Two of the conferences included two zones. There are five zones in our mission.
Elder Folland and I do vehicle inspections. These inspections help us to know which vehicles need services or repairs. We also grade on upkeep and cleanliness. Those missionaries who receive a 10 are rewarded with a snicker bar. it's amazing how motivating a snickers bar can be--haha!! After vehicle inspections, we help the other office couple prepare lunch for everyone. This time around, we served grilled chicken sandwiches, fruit, veggie chips, and brownies a la mode.
We were able to listen to President Erekson's talk to the missionaries in the afternoon session in Tauranga. He was filled with the Spirit of the Lord as he spoke. I hung on every word! He began with a video presentation of a talk given by Elder David R. Bednar, one of the twelve apostles. This talk was given in the Missionary Traininng Center. Elder Bednar spoke of the Character of Christ. The Character of Jesus Christ led to the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Without the Character He posessed, there would have been no Atonement. Jesus Christ had the power to extend compassion when He was in the midst of similar distress. For example, after having fasted forty days, Christ was tempted of the devil. He resisted the temptations again and again. In the midst of such trials, Jesus knew that John was cast into prison, and he sent angels, and behold they came and ministered unto him (JST-Matthew 4:11). So even though the Savior was himself going through immense testing and distress, he turned outward and sent angels to John the Baptist to comfort him. In his remarks after the video presentation, President Erekson urged us to resist turning inward. As missionaries, we must have a clear vision! Then we PLAN to strengthen our hope in the vision. The plan is measurable. Numbers are a way to measure. Every...single...number represents a SOUL. Many missionaries do not understand why we need to measure our work. But we must be accountable to the goals we set. This concept is taught best in the temple. We need to be accountable. Jesus Christ set the perfect example. We were taught by President Erekson to focus on the PLAN. It is necessary to accomplish our VISION.
Elder Folland taught us several concepts related to Jesus Christ and the Tree of Life in our morning devotionals this week. in Nephi Chapter 11, Nephi is shown the vision that his father Lehi had. He was shown the tree, which fruit thereof was very desirable. Nephi desired to know the interpretation of the Tree of Life. The Spirit proceeded to show Nephi the life of Christ, from His birth through his Crucifixion. The tree is a representation of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the Light and Life of the world. So it makes sense that Christ is the Tree of Life. The Tree of Life is the greatest of all the gifts of God. In Doctrine and Covenants 14:7, it states that eternal life is the greatest gift of God. In John 17:3, it states that "This is life eternal, that they may know Thee, the only true God and Jesus Christ whom Thou hast sent". This shows the interconnection between Jesus Christ, Eternal Life, and the Tree of Life.
Saturday is our P-Day. We got our household chores done, and then drove over to Waikato River Walk. It is a lovely walking/biking trail along the river. We had intermittent rain for the first bit of the walk, and then sun and clear blue skies for the remainder. It was a wonderful rejuvenation! Our mission assignment consists of many hours in an office setting, so it is so refreshing to be outside and exercise when we get the chance. We met a lovely lady on the trail, and talked with her for awhile. We gave her a pass-a-long card and invited her to request a Book of Mormon. We were able to do the same last Saturday to the young woman who helped us in the outdoor shop. I love the new cards that give instructions how to download a free digital copy of The Book of Mormon.
We were able to visit Waihi Beach as we traveled back from Tauranga yesterday. We took some photos, but it was too soggy to walk on the beach in our dress shoes. We found Kelly's Seafood and had some amazing fish and chips for dinner. It was a nice end to a wonderful week in the mission!
Jesus Christ is the Light that shines in darkness. We know He can truly light our path as we seek Him. May we seek His guidance in our lives! He loves you and so do we!
Elder and Sister Folland
Elder Folland and I do vehicle inspections. These inspections help us to know which vehicles need services or repairs. We also grade on upkeep and cleanliness. Those missionaries who receive a 10 are rewarded with a snicker bar. it's amazing how motivating a snickers bar can be--haha!! After vehicle inspections, we help the other office couple prepare lunch for everyone. This time around, we served grilled chicken sandwiches, fruit, veggie chips, and brownies a la mode.
We were able to listen to President Erekson's talk to the missionaries in the afternoon session in Tauranga. He was filled with the Spirit of the Lord as he spoke. I hung on every word! He began with a video presentation of a talk given by Elder David R. Bednar, one of the twelve apostles. This talk was given in the Missionary Traininng Center. Elder Bednar spoke of the Character of Christ. The Character of Jesus Christ led to the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Without the Character He posessed, there would have been no Atonement. Jesus Christ had the power to extend compassion when He was in the midst of similar distress. For example, after having fasted forty days, Christ was tempted of the devil. He resisted the temptations again and again. In the midst of such trials, Jesus knew that John was cast into prison, and he sent angels, and behold they came and ministered unto him (JST-Matthew 4:11). So even though the Savior was himself going through immense testing and distress, he turned outward and sent angels to John the Baptist to comfort him. In his remarks after the video presentation, President Erekson urged us to resist turning inward. As missionaries, we must have a clear vision! Then we PLAN to strengthen our hope in the vision. The plan is measurable. Numbers are a way to measure. Every...single...number represents a SOUL. Many missionaries do not understand why we need to measure our work. But we must be accountable to the goals we set. This concept is taught best in the temple. We need to be accountable. Jesus Christ set the perfect example. We were taught by President Erekson to focus on the PLAN. It is necessary to accomplish our VISION.
Elder Folland taught us several concepts related to Jesus Christ and the Tree of Life in our morning devotionals this week. in Nephi Chapter 11, Nephi is shown the vision that his father Lehi had. He was shown the tree, which fruit thereof was very desirable. Nephi desired to know the interpretation of the Tree of Life. The Spirit proceeded to show Nephi the life of Christ, from His birth through his Crucifixion. The tree is a representation of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the Light and Life of the world. So it makes sense that Christ is the Tree of Life. The Tree of Life is the greatest of all the gifts of God. In Doctrine and Covenants 14:7, it states that eternal life is the greatest gift of God. In John 17:3, it states that "This is life eternal, that they may know Thee, the only true God and Jesus Christ whom Thou hast sent". This shows the interconnection between Jesus Christ, Eternal Life, and the Tree of Life.
Saturday is our P-Day. We got our household chores done, and then drove over to Waikato River Walk. It is a lovely walking/biking trail along the river. We had intermittent rain for the first bit of the walk, and then sun and clear blue skies for the remainder. It was a wonderful rejuvenation! Our mission assignment consists of many hours in an office setting, so it is so refreshing to be outside and exercise when we get the chance. We met a lovely lady on the trail, and talked with her for awhile. We gave her a pass-a-long card and invited her to request a Book of Mormon. We were able to do the same last Saturday to the young woman who helped us in the outdoor shop. I love the new cards that give instructions how to download a free digital copy of The Book of Mormon.
We were able to visit Waihi Beach as we traveled back from Tauranga yesterday. We took some photos, but it was too soggy to walk on the beach in our dress shoes. We found Kelly's Seafood and had some amazing fish and chips for dinner. It was a nice end to a wonderful week in the mission!
Jesus Christ is the Light that shines in darkness. We know He can truly light our path as we seek Him. May we seek His guidance in our lives! He loves you and so do we!
Elder and Sister Folland
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