Opotiki
About November 2018, the mission here in Hamilton underwent a major change. The missionaries were given access to smart phones. It makes the work much more efficient because the missionaries have immediate access to their area book, phone numbers of their investigators and members of the Church, and the list of benefits goes on and on. It also makes our work in the mission office easier. There is always a potential downside to good things like mobile devices. Mobile devices can become major distractions to the missionaries. There is a guidebook entitled "Safeguards for Using Technology" that each missionary becomes familiar with. Unfortunately, misuse of mobile devices is too common among the missionaries. There are those who are very obedient to the guidelines, and others who give in too often to misuse. On the 11th September, we were able to participate in a Zoom mission conference with one of the Twelve Apostles, Elder Gary Stevenson. During the conference, it was mentioned that The Church discovered that 10% of missions world-wide are doing better since the Pandemic. It was found that the main reasons that they were doing better in spite of the effects of the Pandemic were the following: 1) They remained focused on their missionary purpose, 2) They involved the members of the Church in their missionary work, and 3) They followed the "Safeguards for Using Technology". Elder Stevenson told our missionaries that they are right now where the Lord wants them to be. The majority of our missionaries are citizens or permanent residents of New Zealand. They have been "reassigned" to the New Zealand Hamilton Mission. Most of these missionaries were in places like Japan, the Philippines, America, South or Central American countries, islands such as Tonga, Kiribati, Papua New Guinea, and other islands, Africa, etc...Now they are HOME, working in their own country. There are definitely adjustments. Some missionaries have a harder time adjusting than others. It was good for our missionaries to hear from an apostle that they are where they need to be right now.
We've been involved in zone conferences the past two weeks. We had lunch provided by a member of the Church who is a caterer. Since the office couples usually prepare and serve the lunches, it was refreshing for us to be able to attend the conference. One of the topics most talked about was using technology appropriately. Many missionaries came to their interviews with President Erekson, offering to turn in their phones. In most cases, he would not take the phones, telling the missionaries that they needed to learn to use the phones appropriately and they could only do this by having the phone. President Erekson also shared that he had been praying about what to share with the missionaries in the conference, and the inspiration came clearly to him that he should receive what he needed to say from the missionaries. He then had his assistants assign various missionaries from each zone speak---some only having one day's notice to prepare. It was amazing to be taught by these young missionaries! The Spirit of the Lord stirred my heart. Most of these missionaries are from New Zealand, and few used notes while they were presenting. They love the people! It is almost impossible for them to adhere to the restrictions brought about by Covid-19, especially the social distancing---they have to give hugs!!
We've been turning in some of our missionary housing the last couple of months, as we have about 40 fewer young missionaries and all of our senior missionaries currently serving will be gone by June 2021. Elder Folland and I, along with the other office couple (the Claytons), traveled to Opotiki (about a 3 1/2 hour drive from Temple View) to do a final inspection on a missionary flat and turn in the keys. We spent Saturday attending a baptism, walking along a beautiful beach, and driving the beautiful coastal road. We were able to stay in a beautiful home with ocean views. Missionary work is intensive, but we do have a few perks. :-) The baptism was a special experience for us. Four young people from the same family were baptized. The missionaries serving in this area were able to meet the mother a short time ago, and she expressed needing and wanting to change her life. She had become a member of the Church years ago, but had never really been actively involved in the Church. The misssionaries, Elder Hulme and Elder Aukuso, have been teaching the family. It was heart-warming to see how much love these children ages 8-15 have for the missionaries who've been teaching them. It was a choice experience for us to be there.
Comments
Post a Comment