The new month begins with mission council - the Ayudantes, the Zone Leaders, and an invited companionship of Hermanas joined us for the March council meeting at the mission home on Tuesday morning. Actually, they began with a brief session on Monday evening conducted by the Ayudantes. Hermanas Gum and Brown came in from Zaragoza for the council.
As is our custom, Tuesday morning began with a hearty breakfast prepared by the Hna. Hinckley and the Ayudantes. Pancakes and maple syrup (thanks, Mapeline!) are a treat for our American missionaries!
But the real fun began after breakfast. We had a wonderful discussion about the progress of the mission and revised our Standards of Excellence to reflect the higher performance of missionaries over the last several months. We have remarkable young mission leaders who have a great spirit about them and who demonstrate great faith.
This year we have a specific focus each month on one aspect of Preach My Gospel. In January, we worked on becoming "world-class" planners (Chapter 10). We saw many miracles as our missionaries worked on making more meaningful plans to help investigators.
In February and March our focus is on using the Book of Mormon more effectively (Chapter 5). Again, we had many stories reported in the council about how directing investigators to find answers to their questions in the Book of Mormon created miracles. The Hermanas reported on an investigator of theirs who just didn't believe that God could ever forgive her of her sins. They asked her to read the story of Alma the Younger and think about how this might apply to her. She returned with a new understanding of the Atonement and the faith that she could put the past behind her and be free from sin.
Just for fun, we did a little Book of Mormon quiz with the council members - the President would give a short description of a Book of Mormon event or key doctrine, and the missionaries were to name the corresponding chapter. He was unable to stump the panel! The scriptural knowledge of these young missionaries is impressive!
We left the council having been fed the Spirit and with a greater vision of how to lift the work in the coming year!
But the real fun began after breakfast. We had a wonderful discussion about the progress of the mission and revised our Standards of Excellence to reflect the higher performance of missionaries over the last several months. We have remarkable young mission leaders who have a great spirit about them and who demonstrate great faith.
This year we have a specific focus each month on one aspect of Preach My Gospel. In January, we worked on becoming "world-class" planners (Chapter 10). We saw many miracles as our missionaries worked on making more meaningful plans to help investigators.
In February and March our focus is on using the Book of Mormon more effectively (Chapter 5). Again, we had many stories reported in the council about how directing investigators to find answers to their questions in the Book of Mormon created miracles. The Hermanas reported on an investigator of theirs who just didn't believe that God could ever forgive her of her sins. They asked her to read the story of Alma the Younger and think about how this might apply to her. She returned with a new understanding of the Atonement and the faith that she could put the past behind her and be free from sin.
Just for fun, we did a little Book of Mormon quiz with the council members - the President would give a short description of a Book of Mormon event or key doctrine, and the missionaries were to name the corresponding chapter. He was unable to stump the panel! The scriptural knowledge of these young missionaries is impressive!
Seated: Hnas. Gum, Brown, Hinckley, Pte. Hinckley
Standing: Elders Jensen, Raban, Lammi, Davis, Millard, Burton, Morales, Groves, Wilcox, Evans, Miskin, Gogarty
Why is this woman smiling?
We left the council having been fed the Spirit and with a greater vision of how to lift the work in the coming year!
Such a happy Hermana!
ReplyDeletePS: I love the new blog pictures on the header and sidebar!
ReplyDeleteWhat a cute picture. Look at the power hermanas in the front! We're blessed having Hermana Gum and Hermana Brown in Zaragoza. Son tan trabajadoras y entrañables! Hermana Hinckley, you're such a good example to them! They were so happy when you told them they can (actually have to) look cute!
ReplyDelete