Interviews!

We finished our interviews today!  Here are some of the pictures we took from around the mission :)

We started our interviews with the Santiago zone.

Next, we had our Tepic interviews.

The Vallarta zone 

The Manzanillo Zone

Independencia zone

Next were our interviews with the Colima zone.

Guzman zone was next

Union Zone

And last, but not least the Lomas zone 

I Feel My Savior's Love

I have just recently seen this video of these precious children

singing I Feel My Savior's Love.  I know it is not new, but

because it is new to me, and touched my heart so much,

I'd like to share it here on our mission blog.  

As missionaries, we seek to represent our

Savior Jesus Christ in all that we do and say.

I love the words of this song that remind us to

do just that.  I especially love the words to the

fourth verse.

I'll share my Savior's love,

by serving others freely.

In serving I am blessed,

in giving I receive.

Chorus

He knows I will follow him,

give all my life to him.

I feel my Savior's love,

the love he freely gives me.

Updated LDS missionary dress and grooming guidelines

    5-20-16

Dear parents and missionaries,

The First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have made updates to the dress and grooming guidelines for missionaries.  

The updates include permission to wear "simple and conservative" sunglasses and "approved wide-brimmed hats" while proselyting.  These changes have been made to provide protection from the sun.

Additionally, the Church has announced, that sisters serving missions in countries threatened by mosquito-borne illnesses may now wear dress slacks, or long dresses during proselyting activities,to cover their legs, to protect against mosquito bites. These new guidelines will apply to us here in the Mexico Guadalajara Mission.

Sister missionaries will continue to wear skirts or dresses when attending the temple and during Sunday worship services, leadership, zone conferences and baptismal services.

What a wonderful opportunity for both our missionaries and parents to revisit the missionary clothing website and ensure that our clothing standards are within the guidelines provided.

Please visit the missionary clothing website for the updated information at:

missionary.lds.org/clothing. (Dress and Grooming)

with love,

Sister Clayton

This letter went out to all of our missionaries, to be read this coming Pday:

                                                                                                                        5-23-16

Dear missionaries,
We love you!  

This week the First Presidency, and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints have issued several updates to the missionary clothing guidelines.  Please be advised of the following updates.

SUNGLASSES: Missionaries may now wear simple and conservative sunglasses outdoors. Missionaries are instructed to not wear sunglasses while speaking with other people and are to avoid sunglasses with bright-colored rims or mirrored lenses.

HATS: Wide-brim hats with at least 3-inch brims are now allowed when necessary for protection from sun. Baseball, cowboy, bucket, newsboy and fedora hats are not acceptable.

DRESS SLACKS for sisters: Sisters serving missions in countries threatened by mosquito-borne illnesses may now wear dress slacks, or long dresses during proselyting activities, to cover their legs to protect against mosquito bites. Our mission has been approved for these changes.

The mission will provide funds for all young sister missionaries called prior to June 5, 2016, to purchase 3–4 pair of approved dress slacks. Sister missionaries called after June 6, 2016, will be instructed to purchase their own dress slacks.

Sister missionaries will continue to wear skirts or dresses when attending the temple and during Sunday worship services, leadership, zone conferences and baptismal services.

As you will recall, during our last zone conferences, we provided each companionship with permethrin insecticide and clear instructions on how to apply it in your apartment and on your clothing.  We will be investing in, and distributing additional supplies of the repellent for our missionaries use.

We will be giving specific details concerning these updated guidelines, and also answering questions in our mission council on June 1st.  All missionaries are asked to wait to purchase sunglasses, hats and approved dress slacks for the sisters, until after our June 1st mission council meeting.

Additionally, information and continued direction will be forthcoming from our Mexico Area Presidency.

I have posted this information on our mission blog. For complete details, and guidelines, you may go to the lds.org site and look under dress and grooming at:

missionary.lds.org/clothing. (Dress and Grooming)

With love,

Sister Clayton

Sayula Branch Conference

We are off to Sayula today for their Branch Conference.
We were packed and off by 8am.  It's little Ava's birthday today. Our precious little one year old granddaughter.   We were thinking of our kids and grand kids this morning as we drove. We had a sweet morning and a lovely drive together.

We got to Sayula and couldn't quite remember what street to turn on. We have been to this little House of Prayer before, but it's easy to get confused with all those one way streets, they start to all look the same.  We finally called the Elders after we circled the city center and cathedral twice.  We were very close.  They walked one street down to the city center park, and met us.  They hopped in our car, we made 2 left turns and we were there.

This little House of Prayer is right off a moderately busy, but very typical neighborhood, here in Sayula.  The front door is just another doorway along the sidewalk.  The church plaque distinguishes it as our church, but you don't see the plaque until you are right there in front.  This House of Prayer has one large rectangle room with small rooms shooting off the sides for classrooms and an office.  It has a pretty fountain inside the large room.  It isn't working now, so they have it filled with plants. Elder Rider, Elder Haynes, Hermana Lopez and Hermana Flores are serving here now.

I was so proud of Hermana Flores for playing the hymns for our meeting on the small key board as she sat on the front row in a folding chair.  She did a wonderful job.

As we began the sacrament potion of the meeting. The young man, a perspective missionary closed, and I think locked that main front door and stood there in front of it with his hands folded.  Several people arriving late, found the door shut and locked,  stood on the sidewalk right outside and knocked and knocked.  This young man just stood there protecting that door.  When the knocking continued, I saw him finally turn and whisper something through the door, and the knocking stopped.

As the Branch President began his talk, and the door was opened wide again to the street, we saw several folks file in, including an older man carrying his bike in through the front door, and set it along the back side wall.

As we sat on the stand looking out into the congregation, President Clayton leaned over to me, as he does at the beginning of each of our meetings (something he learned from Elder Bednar's teaching in the MTC), and asked me what I was thinking and feeling. Many of the faces of these good saints looked wind worn, and tired, some faces seemed full of worry, many seem stoic and quietly faithful. Today, many of these good folks looked down as they listened.  I was anxious to watch their faces as President would begin his talk because he always, always helps the members we meet with smile and feel loved, as he shares the light of the gospel, his love for the Savior and for this glorious work.

We had a great conference.  President had numerous interviews, after the meeting, and I visited with the missionaries and members while we waited.

Here are some pictures from today.


I try to always take a picture after the meeting to add to my mission history.

Here is the sweet Primary presidency. 

The nursery class.

The 6,7,and 8 year old class.

The next class of 9, 10 and 11 year olds.

The youth class

Hermana Flores and Hermana Lopez, who I love so much.

The sisters with Elder Haynes and Elder Rider, wonderful

missionaries all.

With President and I in front of the inside fountain. :)

Follow Up Training today

Another great day with our newest missionaries who have been here for four weeks already.  They are doing wonderful, and we are proud of their determination to learn and stay focused and to work hard!

Here are some pictures from today.

The assistants introduced the

 Celestial Habits Challenge!

 Think fast and name one of the 7 celestial habits

that hasn't been said yet as the ball is tossed to you.

       1.  Always give the baptismal challenge

2. Teach lessons in order

(3-5) Name three ways to receive revelation

3.  Through prayer

4.  Reading the Book of Mormon

5.  Attending church

6.  Ask for referrals

7.  Evaluate and set goals

Some possible answers might be:

Do your neighbors know that you are a member of the church?
Who do you know that would be blessed by living the gospel?
Who is the last person you talked to about the church?
Of the people you know here in the city, who do you think
should receive a visit from the missionaries, And be baptized?
Have you ever given out a Book of Mormon?  To whom?
Are all of your family members, members of the church?
Do you know any active or inactive members who have
non member friends or family members we could visit?

team 1

team 2

team 3

President, and our two assistants

Elder Petersen and Elder Teichert have their

checklists out to double check the answers

our three finalists

a quick brush up..

ready, begin

down to two

and the winner is... Elder Torres!  

Mother's Day

Happy Mothers Day!

Look what our two assistants have made for us!  They have been sneaking around for weeks collecting pictures from our missionaries, and from our children.  This afternoon, they had me sit down and surprised me with this precious video.  I love it!!!  I loved seeing the missionaries sweet notes to their mothers, and picture after picture of them with their moms.  I treasure this gift and hope you enjoy it as well!
Thank you Elder Petersen and Elder Teichert!!!