Zone Conferences
We met in 2 groups for zone conferences this month. Presidente Zenteno from the Zapadores Stake spoke our 2nd day, and his thoughts were excellente. He spoke about Obediencia. He is a young counselor in the Stake Presidency, with a wife and 3 small children and only home from his mission 10 years, probably about 31 yrs old. He married his wife about 4 mos after he was home, and loved his mission. He shared this with our missionaries…..
He mentioned that President Hinckley said the following:
“Faith is the Power/ La Fe es el Poder
Obedience is the Price/ La Obediencia es el Precio
Love is the Motive/ El Amor es el Motivo
The Spirit is the Key/ El Espiritu es la Clave
Christ is the Reason/ Cristo es la Razon.”
• We should obey God of our own free Hill. D&C 58:26-29
• We should obey even when we don’t understand. Moses 5:5-6 Adam offered sacrifices, not knowing why, only that God had commanded it.
• God will prepare a way. 1 Ne 3:7, I will go and do what the Lord commands because I know that he will never give a command to the sons of hombres without preparing a way for them to accomplish it that He has commanded.
• No commandment is too big or too small for us too obey. Remember story of Naaman…
• Jesus Christ obeyed His Father.
o Juan 6:38, Matthew 26:39 Thankfully Jesucristo obeyed the will of the Father en all things and made possible the salvation for everyone.
• There are concequencias of obedience and disobedience. DyC 130:21, DyC 132:5
• Obedience will bring about Eternal Life. DyC 14:7, and DyC 76:6-10
Read more!
Saturday, October 4, 2008
Elder Leatham’s Talk about Faith
Elder Dan Leatham and his wife Kim, a couple from Pleasant Grove, Utah are both serving so faithfully in our mission. They are living in a small pueblito called Batuco, out in the campo. Together between them, they have years of experience serving in leadership callings in the church and are such a steady and loving influence with our missionaries...
They are great to uplift and cheer on our missionaries, as well as demonstrating such innovative and unique ways to connect with investigators. They have shared some incredible stories with us about who they meet, what they do to keep connected and how to break the ice. He even takes fotos of ugly dogs fro a funny hobby!
Pdte asked him to speak at our 2nd zone conference. Elder Leatham served Spanish speaking mission when he was younger, so he did very well as he read his talk to us and passed on his notes to generously afterwards, so they could be detailed here for the mission.
He spoke of having the job as a young boy, to warm the family home with a coal fire. He had to also keep fire hot enough to last through the night and then start it again in the morning. He talked about it almost going out every night, but found a small ember in the morning, blew on it softly, to help with the start again. Elements of building a fire are heat and fuel. If we add these elements it grows or lack of them, it will go out.
He compared building a fire like also a model for building our Faith. Alma 32:27, compared to the seen analogy, the fire is similar. It grows if we take care of it. If we add more, it will grow, just like the seed will increase if we nourish it. How do we nourish our small fire of Faith? Pres. Hinckley says we need three things: A friend, a responsibility/calling, and to be nourished with the Good word of God. Moroni 6:4. We have to show diligence, paciencia, prayer and fasting. Then our faith will grow. Also, we need oxygen for the fire to keep going, which is like our good attitude to do the will of the Lord. We will do anything He asks without wanting anything else. We will do what He asks because of our love for Him. Alma 33:23, God will help our faith grow.
Read more!
They are great to uplift and cheer on our missionaries, as well as demonstrating such innovative and unique ways to connect with investigators. They have shared some incredible stories with us about who they meet, what they do to keep connected and how to break the ice. He even takes fotos of ugly dogs fro a funny hobby!
Pdte asked him to speak at our 2nd zone conference. Elder Leatham served Spanish speaking mission when he was younger, so he did very well as he read his talk to us and passed on his notes to generously afterwards, so they could be detailed here for the mission.
He spoke of having the job as a young boy, to warm the family home with a coal fire. He had to also keep fire hot enough to last through the night and then start it again in the morning. He talked about it almost going out every night, but found a small ember in the morning, blew on it softly, to help with the start again. Elements of building a fire are heat and fuel. If we add these elements it grows or lack of them, it will go out.
He compared building a fire like also a model for building our Faith. Alma 32:27, compared to the seen analogy, the fire is similar. It grows if we take care of it. If we add more, it will grow, just like the seed will increase if we nourish it. How do we nourish our small fire of Faith? Pres. Hinckley says we need three things: A friend, a responsibility/calling, and to be nourished with the Good word of God. Moroni 6:4. We have to show diligence, paciencia, prayer and fasting. Then our faith will grow. Also, we need oxygen for the fire to keep going, which is like our good attitude to do the will of the Lord. We will do anything He asks without wanting anything else. We will do what He asks because of our love for Him. Alma 33:23, God will help our faith grow.
Read more!
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Day in the Life of the missionaries
My dear Elders and Sisters, from Aug 8, 2008
I had the great opportunity to work with Elder Brumley and Elder Biagioni this last Thursday and Friday. It was a excellent experience. Thursday night we taught a mother and her two girls the importance of prayer and we took enough time in the lesson to teach them the “how” in the commitment to pray. Afterwards this mother followed by one of her daughters offered some very beautiful prayers. The mother committed to come to church this Sunday with all of her family.
We reminded her of the importance to pray to be able to fulfill her commitment to attend church because the advisory is going to work really hard to make it so they don´t go. Friday morning we shared a special breakfast sent by Sister May. After we had time to study personally and as a companionship, we all shared what we had learned from the Book of Mormon and after we read the Mission Hand Book along with Preach My Gospel. We studied chapter 9 about how to use family history to find new investigators. During our language study I took advantage to ask Elder Biagioni about Spanish. I learned a few important points. We felt a very strong spirit during our study time. After, we left to work in the rain. It reminded me of when I was a missionary in Bolivia. What a privilege it is to be missionaries! Thank you Elder Brumley and Elder Biagioni for the time that we shared together and also for all of your efforts to bring to pass the work of the Lord!
Always remember what the Lord expects of us:
1. Fulfill our purpose to Invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end
2. Faith, Hope, and Charity
3. Obedience
4. Study and Apply Preach My Gospel
5. Diligence
Three Questions to think about:
1. Are we remembering our purpose of missionary work in everything we do?
2. Are we working in close collaboration with the leaders and members of the ward in order to find, teach, retain and activate?
3. Are we obedient because we love the Lord?
Thoughts from my Book of Mormon Study this morning:
In Alma 45: 2-7, Alma was interviewing his son Helaman before he went on a mission. Alma asked him the following:
1. Do you have a testimony of the Book of Mormon?
2. Do you have a testimony of Jesus Christ?
3. Do you keep the Commandments?
These are also good questions for us also in order to evaluate ourselves and our motivation in doing missionary work.
Thank you for all of you hard work in inviting others to come unto Christ. The gospel does miracles in the lives of the people who are looking for peace and happiness.
Con amor,
Presidente May
Read more!
I had the great opportunity to work with Elder Brumley and Elder Biagioni this last Thursday and Friday. It was a excellent experience. Thursday night we taught a mother and her two girls the importance of prayer and we took enough time in the lesson to teach them the “how” in the commitment to pray. Afterwards this mother followed by one of her daughters offered some very beautiful prayers. The mother committed to come to church this Sunday with all of her family.
We reminded her of the importance to pray to be able to fulfill her commitment to attend church because the advisory is going to work really hard to make it so they don´t go. Friday morning we shared a special breakfast sent by Sister May. After we had time to study personally and as a companionship, we all shared what we had learned from the Book of Mormon and after we read the Mission Hand Book along with Preach My Gospel. We studied chapter 9 about how to use family history to find new investigators. During our language study I took advantage to ask Elder Biagioni about Spanish. I learned a few important points. We felt a very strong spirit during our study time. After, we left to work in the rain. It reminded me of when I was a missionary in Bolivia. What a privilege it is to be missionaries! Thank you Elder Brumley and Elder Biagioni for the time that we shared together and also for all of your efforts to bring to pass the work of the Lord!
Always remember what the Lord expects of us:
1. Fulfill our purpose to Invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end
2. Faith, Hope, and Charity
3. Obedience
4. Study and Apply Preach My Gospel
5. Diligence
Three Questions to think about:
1. Are we remembering our purpose of missionary work in everything we do?
2. Are we working in close collaboration with the leaders and members of the ward in order to find, teach, retain and activate?
3. Are we obedient because we love the Lord?
Thoughts from my Book of Mormon Study this morning:
In Alma 45: 2-7, Alma was interviewing his son Helaman before he went on a mission. Alma asked him the following:
1. Do you have a testimony of the Book of Mormon?
2. Do you have a testimony of Jesus Christ?
3. Do you keep the Commandments?
These are also good questions for us also in order to evaluate ourselves and our motivation in doing missionary work.
Thank you for all of you hard work in inviting others to come unto Christ. The gospel does miracles in the lives of the people who are looking for peace and happiness.
Con amor,
Presidente May
Read more!
Monday, September 8, 2008
Weekly Message from Presidente May to the Missionaries
Estimados Elderes Y Hermanas,
Les mando mi amor a cada uno de ustedes. He estado reflexionando mucho sobre la importancia de la obediencia en esta obra. Sabemos que es la primera ley de los cielos. Hay muchos ejemplos en las escrituras de la obediencia y las bendiciones que viene por causa de ella. (1 Nefi 3:7, D y C 105:6, 2 Reyes 5:1-14) Hay muchas bendiciones que recibimos por medio de la obediencia con exactitud. Exactitud quiere decir que si el horario es levantarnos a las 7:30, nos levantamos a esta hora. Si nos levantamos a las 7:31 somos desobedientes y tenemos que arrepentirnos.
Estas bendiciones vendrán cuando seamos constantes todos los días para obedecer los mandamientos del Señor y las reglas de la misión. No vendrán cuando seamos obedientes por una hora del día, dos horas del día, la mitad del día, etc. Ni las vendrán por ser obediente un día de la semana, dos días de la semana, tres días por la semana, etc. Las bendiciones vendrán cuando seamos constantes en nuestra obediencia. La bendición más grande que vendrá cuando seamos obedientes con exactitud es el poder de los cielos para llevar a cabo a nuestro propósito de bautizar, retener, y reactivar. El Espíritu Santo siempre estará con nosotros para mostrarnos a donde ir, que hacer y qué decir. Si queremos lograr nuestro potencial como misioneros y una misión, la obediencia cien por ciento nos concederá el poder de los cielos para hacerlo.
Asignación:
1. Traigan sus agendas a sus entrevistas conmigo para que yo las pueda revisar.
2. Por favor responden en su carta me mandan hoy a la siguiente pregunta:
Usar el frase ¨En esta misión nosotros… ¨ use 5 palabras o frases simples que a lo mejor describe como es su misión (por ejemplo, En esta misión somos obedientes o En esta misión trabjamos duros, etc.) En pocas palabras, que hacemos en esta misión.
Recuerdo Esto: Meta bautismal para el mes de Setiembre-120
1. Cumplir con Nuestro Objetivo
2. Desarrollar La Fe, Esperanza, y Caridad
3. La Obediencia
4. El Estudio y Aplicación del Predicad Mi Evangelio
5. La Diligencia
Resultados:
6 personas cumplieron con el compromiso con El Señor del bautismo
14 personas cumplieron con el compromiso con El Señor de la confirmación
435 cumplieron con el compromiso con El Señor de fijar una fecha bautismal
250 cumplieron con el compromiso con El Señor de asistir la iglesia
565 cumplieron con el compromiso con El Señor de escuchar el evangelio
31 está cumpliendo con sus compromisos con El Señor que tengan un gran deseo a bautizarse
65 referencias de miembros
20 personas en la iglesia por un miembro
Reflexiones del Libro de Mormon:
• Helaman 5 Nefi renuncio al asiento judicial y se dedico a predicar el evangelio con su hermano Lehi. Se acordaban de las palabras de su padre Helaman:
• 5:6 La importancia de guardar los mandamientos como misionero para poder enseñar la obediencia a otros.
• 5:8 Los motivos para predicar el evangelio tienen que ser puros y no para la gloria del mundo.
• 5:11 El gran mensaje del evangelio que Cristo vino para redimirnos de nuestro pecados y por medio del arrepentimiento podamos tener el poder del Redentor para la salvación.
Les amamos y deseamos que cada uno de ustedes tengan éxito en bautizar, retener, y reactivar.
-Presidente May
Read more!
Les mando mi amor a cada uno de ustedes. He estado reflexionando mucho sobre la importancia de la obediencia en esta obra. Sabemos que es la primera ley de los cielos. Hay muchos ejemplos en las escrituras de la obediencia y las bendiciones que viene por causa de ella. (1 Nefi 3:7, D y C 105:6, 2 Reyes 5:1-14) Hay muchas bendiciones que recibimos por medio de la obediencia con exactitud. Exactitud quiere decir que si el horario es levantarnos a las 7:30, nos levantamos a esta hora. Si nos levantamos a las 7:31 somos desobedientes y tenemos que arrepentirnos.
Estas bendiciones vendrán cuando seamos constantes todos los días para obedecer los mandamientos del Señor y las reglas de la misión. No vendrán cuando seamos obedientes por una hora del día, dos horas del día, la mitad del día, etc. Ni las vendrán por ser obediente un día de la semana, dos días de la semana, tres días por la semana, etc. Las bendiciones vendrán cuando seamos constantes en nuestra obediencia. La bendición más grande que vendrá cuando seamos obedientes con exactitud es el poder de los cielos para llevar a cabo a nuestro propósito de bautizar, retener, y reactivar. El Espíritu Santo siempre estará con nosotros para mostrarnos a donde ir, que hacer y qué decir. Si queremos lograr nuestro potencial como misioneros y una misión, la obediencia cien por ciento nos concederá el poder de los cielos para hacerlo.
Asignación:
1. Traigan sus agendas a sus entrevistas conmigo para que yo las pueda revisar.
2. Por favor responden en su carta me mandan hoy a la siguiente pregunta:
Usar el frase ¨En esta misión nosotros… ¨ use 5 palabras o frases simples que a lo mejor describe como es su misión (por ejemplo, En esta misión somos obedientes o En esta misión trabjamos duros, etc.) En pocas palabras, que hacemos en esta misión.
Recuerdo Esto: Meta bautismal para el mes de Setiembre-120
1. Cumplir con Nuestro Objetivo
2. Desarrollar La Fe, Esperanza, y Caridad
3. La Obediencia
4. El Estudio y Aplicación del Predicad Mi Evangelio
5. La Diligencia
Resultados:
6 personas cumplieron con el compromiso con El Señor del bautismo
14 personas cumplieron con el compromiso con El Señor de la confirmación
435 cumplieron con el compromiso con El Señor de fijar una fecha bautismal
250 cumplieron con el compromiso con El Señor de asistir la iglesia
565 cumplieron con el compromiso con El Señor de escuchar el evangelio
31 está cumpliendo con sus compromisos con El Señor que tengan un gran deseo a bautizarse
65 referencias de miembros
20 personas en la iglesia por un miembro
Reflexiones del Libro de Mormon:
• Helaman 5 Nefi renuncio al asiento judicial y se dedico a predicar el evangelio con su hermano Lehi. Se acordaban de las palabras de su padre Helaman:
• 5:6 La importancia de guardar los mandamientos como misionero para poder enseñar la obediencia a otros.
• 5:8 Los motivos para predicar el evangelio tienen que ser puros y no para la gloria del mundo.
• 5:11 El gran mensaje del evangelio que Cristo vino para redimirnos de nuestro pecados y por medio del arrepentimiento podamos tener el poder del Redentor para la salvación.
Les amamos y deseamos que cada uno de ustedes tengan éxito en bautizar, retener, y reactivar.
-Presidente May
Read more!
Success Stories, comments sent to the President
The following are excerpts from the letters to the President that come every Monday morning. Enjoy some of them, without names, of course, but powerful messages; "Hemos estado aplicando el como orar y leer las escrituras con nuestros nuevos conversos e investigadores y ha sido maravilloso ellos están desarrollando un gran cambio en sus vidas tanto que ellos nos lo han hecho saber."
2."Tengo un gran testimonio del libro de Mormón un testimonio personal pero al ver el cambio que este produce en una familia cuando los padres y los hijos lo leen juntos, este testimonio crece. Jony y Dora son nuestros hermanos que se están preparando para ser parte de la iglesia, ellos leen cada día personalmente y como familia el libro de Mormón Jony nos conto que el antes bebía alcohol y robaba una cosita en los supermercados pero que al leer el Libro de Mormón muchas cosas han cambiado el dijo “este libro me ha cambiado, realmente yo lo puedo ver” antes gastaba su dinero en vino y con sus amigos pero ahora no cuando le pagaron este 15 el fue al supermercado compro víveres y un regalo para su esposa, cuando el nos conto esto sus esposa tenia lagrimas en los ojos, y el dijo la que se ha dado cuenta de mi cambio es ella, entonces ella dijo que si moviendo su cabeza. Jony nos dice que esta cansado de esta vida que quiere ser feliz y estar junto a su familia."
3. "Estamos enseñando a una jovencita( Valentina Villanueva), su papa tenia 18 años de no asistir a la iglesia, pero estamos muy felices de ver a ellos dos juntos, y ella tiene fecha bautismal para el 31 de Agosto, es una jovencita muy especial, se que ellos dos juntos seran verdaderos pilares para que el resto de la familia pueda activarse, tengo un fuerte testimonio de trabajar con personas menos activos, cada vez que encontramos personas asi, es un privilegio compartir con ellos e invitarles a venir a cristo otravez, y conocemos nuevas personas que estan dispuestos a seguir a cristo."
4. |amo este evangelio, y cada dia es mi deseo perderme en esta obra, y saborear lo delicioso de ser misionera.|
5. |Algo que me impresiona de este barrio es que tienen mucho amor a las personas que vienen y a sus miembros vi que algunos maestros a veces no sabian lo que estaban enseñando sin embargo la paciencia y el amor de ellos hacia que estos miembros e investigadores sintieran el poder de convencimiento del espiritu fue algo nuevo para mi y me gusta es un enfoque que todos los barrios deben tener mas que pagar diezmos o seres sabios personas que se aman y son discipulos reales de Cristo."
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2."Tengo un gran testimonio del libro de Mormón un testimonio personal pero al ver el cambio que este produce en una familia cuando los padres y los hijos lo leen juntos, este testimonio crece. Jony y Dora son nuestros hermanos que se están preparando para ser parte de la iglesia, ellos leen cada día personalmente y como familia el libro de Mormón Jony nos conto que el antes bebía alcohol y robaba una cosita en los supermercados pero que al leer el Libro de Mormón muchas cosas han cambiado el dijo “este libro me ha cambiado, realmente yo lo puedo ver” antes gastaba su dinero en vino y con sus amigos pero ahora no cuando le pagaron este 15 el fue al supermercado compro víveres y un regalo para su esposa, cuando el nos conto esto sus esposa tenia lagrimas en los ojos, y el dijo la que se ha dado cuenta de mi cambio es ella, entonces ella dijo que si moviendo su cabeza. Jony nos dice que esta cansado de esta vida que quiere ser feliz y estar junto a su familia."
3. "Estamos enseñando a una jovencita( Valentina Villanueva), su papa tenia 18 años de no asistir a la iglesia, pero estamos muy felices de ver a ellos dos juntos, y ella tiene fecha bautismal para el 31 de Agosto, es una jovencita muy especial, se que ellos dos juntos seran verdaderos pilares para que el resto de la familia pueda activarse, tengo un fuerte testimonio de trabajar con personas menos activos, cada vez que encontramos personas asi, es un privilegio compartir con ellos e invitarles a venir a cristo otravez, y conocemos nuevas personas que estan dispuestos a seguir a cristo."
4. |amo este evangelio, y cada dia es mi deseo perderme en esta obra, y saborear lo delicioso de ser misionera.|
5. |Algo que me impresiona de este barrio es que tienen mucho amor a las personas que vienen y a sus miembros vi que algunos maestros a veces no sabian lo que estaban enseñando sin embargo la paciencia y el amor de ellos hacia que estos miembros e investigadores sintieran el poder de convencimiento del espiritu fue algo nuevo para mi y me gusta es un enfoque que todos los barrios deben tener mas que pagar diezmos o seres sabios personas que se aman y son discipulos reales de Cristo."
Read more!
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Zone Conference Themes
Every six weeks the mission holds a Zone Conference. The first one we had was held on 2 different days, so we had smaller groups so we could get to know the missionaries a bit easier with less crowds. We had the first one with about 80 missionaries, and the next day we had the 2nd one with about 75 missionaries. Then the following month, last change we met as a whole mission, which was wonderful for all of us to be together. Of course the whole meeting is done completely in Spanish. Here is an explanation of what the themes are about:
The assistants to the Presidente conduct the meetings, and we have a song, prayer and any business announcements. Presidente May gave the missionaries the assignment to study and prepare a 3-5 minute talk each on the theme of the Pure love of Christ; Charity/Caridad. Each missionary was to study and research in their scriptures, PMG, etc on the subject and be prepared to share their talks if called upon. Then during the conference, the President asked 4-5 different missionaries to come and teach from the pulpit and express the things that they have learned. These missionaries are fabulous, and we are so grateful for their obedience and preparation. Then last change we also did another theme, which was Faith/Fe. This was delightful to hear these fine missionaries compartir their thoughts and testimonies, especially those who taught how they have learned about faith in their missions. Each month we have another theme as they prepare.
Read more!
The assistants to the Presidente conduct the meetings, and we have a song, prayer and any business announcements. Presidente May gave the missionaries the assignment to study and prepare a 3-5 minute talk each on the theme of the Pure love of Christ; Charity/Caridad. Each missionary was to study and research in their scriptures, PMG, etc on the subject and be prepared to share their talks if called upon. Then during the conference, the President asked 4-5 different missionaries to come and teach from the pulpit and express the things that they have learned. These missionaries are fabulous, and we are so grateful for their obedience and preparation. Then last change we also did another theme, which was Faith/Fe. This was delightful to hear these fine missionaries compartir their thoughts and testimonies, especially those who taught how they have learned about faith in their missions. Each month we have another theme as they prepare.
Read more!
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