On Thursday and Friday we held a mission council with all of the Zone Leaders as well as a pair of Hermanas - las Hermanas Grimm and Konopinski. We began the council Thursday at 5:00 p.m. and met for two hours followed by another hour or two with the Ayudantes (assistants). Friday morning we had a great breakfast thanks to Hna. Hinckley and our wonderful helper, Carolina. We began meetings again at 10:00 a.m. and concluded about 4:00 p.m. (with breaks for snacks and lunch). All told we served 46 meals during the day. But we also had a great spiritual feast, reviewing much of what we learned at the annual Seminar for Mission Presidents held a week ago in Preston, England.
In England Elder L. Tom Perry emphasized the importance of teaching 20 leassons every week. We do this by teaching each progressing investigator 3 short lessons a week, continuing to teach recent converts, and teaching as many less actives (as suggested by the Bishop and the Ward Council) as the remaining time allows. Our missionaries have generally been teaching about 10 lessons each week, so this represents a substantial step forward. The missionaries are excited about increasing their teaching and about the increased involvement of ward leaders and members as they teach more less-active and part-member families. We are confident this will ultimately result in more of our Heavenly Father's children receiving the blessings of the restored Gospel.
Evidence of hard-working missionaries...We had six wonderful baptisms in the mission this week. One of them was Hna. Rocio, a wonderful young sister whom Hna. Hinckley met in the metro a few weeks ago. She had been well-taught by Elder Jensen and Elder Mitchell, as well as Elder Lara who came into Barcelona from Menorca this week. Unfortunately, Pte. and Hna. Hinckley were in Zaragoza for the weekend reorganizing the Zaragoza 2nd Branch and could not attend the baptism, but we were able to meet with Rocio Sunday evening after returning to Barcelona. We had a wonderful visit as the newest member of ward told us of her baptism and her desires to go the temple in Madrid and perform baptisms for the dead.
Elders Jensen, Lara, and MitchellHna. Rocio, Hna. Hinckley, Pte. Hinckley
In the living room of the mission home on Sunday evening after Rocio's confirmation
So fun to see your investigator. She looks darling. What a wonderful day for her (& you)! What a great story.
ReplyDeleteMom you look so classy & HAPPY in every picture! Pops you are looking sharp & vibrant yourself. You both look tan ... I guess the sun shines a lot in Barcelona! Super love!
My name is Amy and I'm Elder Jensen's older sister. It's so fun for us to be able to read updates from Spain. I LOVE reading Ste....Elder Jensen's letters and this just allows us to know what goes on outside the mission home!! Thank you Pres. and Sis. Hinckley for keeping my baby bro. safe. As my mom ALWAYS says, B3....Be wise, Be worthy, Be working. (she might have added more since I was a missionary)
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