Follow Up Training

We had a wonderful Follow Up Training this week.

Here are our newest missionaries with their trainers.

Here are some highlights of our day together.

 Celestial Habits Challenge!

 Think fast and name one of the 7 celestial habits

that haven'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

team 1

team 2

team 3

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?

and our winner is Hermana Loria.

great day.

September Mission Council

Great. Day. Again.
What a wonderful day we had with our mission leaders.
Our theme for our training today was -
The Power of Prayers in our Role as Leaders

Here are some highlights of our day together.

By the way, please resist the temptation to think these first pictures look like others
we have taken in this same location, in front of the glorious Guadalajara Temple.
Look closely at the eyes of these dedicated missionaries.
Every picture we take is unique, each picture is personal, and every single one
of these leaders are here on these steps, committed, ready and intent on learning what
President Clayton and I would have them focus on and carry to the missionaries within
their stewardship. In each of their areas; these leaders are seeking to be unified in hastening this
work of our Father in Heaven.

Here is our Mexico Guadalajara Mission Leadership September 6, 2016.

 To New Heights!!

Holding once again, our most powerful message!

The Book of Mormon.

President-

*Reviewed again the correct doctrine of the Godhead

*God the Father - creator of heaven and earth

- the author of His glorious Plan

                           

    *God the Son - He brought about the Atonement

        - His greatest purpose in this life, was 

                     to do the will of His Father 

*God the Holy Ghost- the testifier of all truth. 

- the comforter, and sanctifier 

~~~~~~~

additionally-

*How and when do we pray?

*We teach our investigators to kneel.

*Ether 2:14 - the Lord rebuking the Brother of Jared

for three hours, for not remembering to 

call upon the Father.

*No one can know the spiritual truths 

that are available to them, 

without prayer.

~~~~~~~~~

Sister Clayton -

Prayers are unique and personal

Prayer is an essential and enabling spiritual link between God and man.

*I’ve tried to picture in my mind the night that Joseph Smith read that passage in James chapter 1 verse 5.

For such a small country boy, I have tried to visualize how perplexing those religious revivals might have been for him.  The noise, and the confusion of it all.

*The power of the word of God came upon young Joseph as he read the words, if you lack wisdom - you can ask God - and He will answer you.  He won’t scold you for asking, but ask in faith, and He will surely answer you.

*I imagine that Joseph closed his bible that night and pondered those words until he fell asleep.

*He had to be familiar with the verse in Matthew 7:7   Ask and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.

*Joseph had searched and read and studied much, still, he felt he lacked the wisdom to know for himself what church he should align himself with.

*And so it was the words in James that pricked his heart. If you lack wisdom, you can ask… you can ask of God yourself.

*Joseph made a plan.  He found a certain spot, perhaps one of his favorites places in the woods there close by his home - in a grove of trees.  His intent, as he approached this quiet place, was to find out for himself what church was correct. And that is exactly what he ran home to tell his mother, after his glorious experience.

Mother.  I have learned for myself.

*Remember in 1 Nephi 15: 1-11 when Nephi had been carried away in the spirit and had seen a remarkable vision. He came back to the tent of his father to find his brothers disputing with one another over the things their father had taught them.  Nephi, who is filled with the spirit listens for a few minutes and then says to them basically, I know you have questions, but ...

*Have you inquired of the Lord?  Have you asked for yourselves? Don’t rely on our father, or me, go to the source, and ask for yourself.

~~~~~~~

*How did Joseph’s experience that early spring morning set the stage for each and every one of us as we have questions, and seek to find answers.......for ourselves ?

*God demonstrates His love for us by providing the opportunity to pray.  
*We show our love to God as we kneel in prayer.

~~~~~~~

***Henry B Eyring - "The Father to whom we pray is the Glorious God who created worlds through His Beloved Son. He hears our prayers as He heard Joseph’s prayer—as clearly as if they were being offered in His presence".

President Clayton's Preach My Gospel game. 

                                                                        6 Teams

How well do you know PMG? 

How quick can you find important

doctrines and teachings??

*Actually President is a softy.  He made the last

question worth 6 points, but still and all, team 4 won!

Congratulations to team 4!

The assistants teaching

When a strong wind blows, the leaves on a tree get shaken up. The strong leaves remain strong and firm while the weaker leaves are blown off and taken to and fro. The difference is the amount of life that flows through the leaves from the tree. That tree is our Heavenly Father. We are those leaves. The life that flows from the tree is the truth that God reveals to His children for their salvation. The wind that blows is the wickedness of the world and the fiery darts of Satan. The only way we, as missionaries, can take up our "weapons of war" and resist the enemy is to always have a fullness of life flowing through us. That is the only possible way to be victorious in this latter day battle.

Likewise, it is the only way our investigators, as children of God, can fight back and claim victory against Satan. As they seek to be full of the life that only God can give them, they too will find the strength to resist the enemy and enjoy the blessings the gospel can bring.

For the last part of our meeting we broke divided for

our Sister Training meeting, while President 

spoke with the Elders.

I sure love these sister leaders!

great day.

She's not a convert, she's converted. Church in Jala

Our ride was gorgeous this morning as we drove to Jala for our Sunday meeting.

Look at that blue sky, set against those green rocky hills; 

and that stunning rock wall meandering across the field,

 and the cows taking advantage of that soft grass.

a little closer look.

We called the assistants as we drove into the small pueblo. They were just a few streets away, walking to church themselves, so we pulled over and waited for them, and drove together to the Pichardo's home.

We were the first to arrive. Brother and sister Pichardo had everything set up and ready. The chairs were lined up in 3 rows, hopeful that all invited would come. The sacrament table had been prepared, and they had a small table in front with the hymn books stacked and ready, and a set of scriptures along side them. I was struck with how the early afternoon light came in from the back porch, and shone across the sacrament table cloth, showing bits of sunlight as it beamed in between the eyelet pattern.

The chairs were lined up facing the kitchen that was framed in with a brick archway. The dishes were freshly washed, stacked and draining. The doorway to the side led to the back patio where their bathroom, washer and scrubbing sink was. We could see out to the clothes lines in their small yard. With no back door, the sun shone right in and we were so thankful for the occasional warm breeze that blew in.

There were 13 members there today. Brother and sister Pichardo, Roberto and his wife Agripina Vazquez with their three sweet children. They are expecting their 4th baby. Agripina is due in November and everyone is so excited and anxious to love this baby. Also there was brother Alan Vega, a member for many months now, and the newest baptized member, sister Lucia Zuniga.

As I sat in that white lawn chair during the meeting, in this sweet home, my heart was filled with love for these faithful members. They gather together each sabbath day, here in Jala, so grateful that they do not have to travel far any longer to participate in the ordinance and blessing of the sacrament. They do not take for granted the privilege of partaking of these sacred emblems. That is why they come together simply and specifically. The warm association they have with each other is evident.

I noticed that the two priesthood holders, brother Vazquez and brother Vega sang the sacrament song entirely, then, brother Vazquez stood reverently, and broke the pieces of bread into just enough pieces for this small group, while we quietly watched.

It was so very sacred.

I will be forever grateful for the Sabbath experience we had today. The setting and circumstances in which they met were just unforgettable. Here in this humble home we once again could hear the traffic outside bumping along that cobblestone road out front, and the roosters occasionally crowing  down the way, and today the Pichardo's little dog and 2 cats were also meandering here and there, in and out the open doors. A new sound today, were the Pichardo's kitchen and main room curtains that were gathered at the ends in knots that were tied with round balls of clay pottery that were actually wind chimes, that softly clanked together when the breeze blew in making a soft soothing sound every so often.

Brother Pichardo began the testimony meeting, then, brother Vazquez who was sitting in the row behind his wife with his son, stood next and came around to the front row and took his wife by the hand, and led her to the front with him. They both stood together as he bore his testimony. It was like he brought her up to stand next to him, to give him courage and strength to bear his heart. I could see the tears as he walked around past me to get her, and as they stood there, and he composed himself, she wiped the tears from his cheeks again and again, and squeezed his hand. His testimony was so heartfelt and personal, I could hardly look at them standing there. It was so precious and genuine. He told of how difficult things had been recently for them, and how he wondered how they were going to do it all. As a taxi driver, President and I knew his car had broken down. It broke my heart thinking of the stress and pressure that brought to him and to them.  Listening to him testify that he had been discouraged of late, but that coming today, and participating in the sacrament, he had felt strengthened and had felt the Lord’s calming and soothing spirit reassure him that all would be well.

Sister Zuniga shared with us that she had had such problems throughout her life, both growing up and during her adult life. She told us how she had been so unsettled for so long, but when she came into the church, she could finally admit, that yes, she had problems, but since she had joined the church, she now could see that, this is life!  I am truly happy she said, for the first time, and feel like I have a purpose and so much to live for.

I remembered what the Elders told me the day she was baptized... they said, she's not a convert, she's converted. How evident that was today.

President Clayton closed the meeting by sharing what he and I both understand clearer than ever before, that the preacher is no better than the hearer, neither is the teacher any better than the learner, and thus, they are all equal and do all labor, every man according to his strength. (Alma 1:26)  He then left a blessing with this small faithful group.

President Clayton interviewed several members afterwards, and as we visited together,  Elder Manriquez told me that the main Catholic priest in Jala told his congregation recently that he knew that there were now American missionaries that had been sent to their pueblo there in Jala. He told his congregation that they are wearing white shirts and dark suits and had name tags on. Be nice to them he told them. They are doing good things. They are wanting to help us, so be good to them. President Clayton said he would like to meet this Catholic priest, and thank him personally.

Bob and I both commented as we drove home, that wouldn't members everywhere, be blessed by attending church in the Pichard's home.

Just a closer look at these faithful members.

                                                  This was a good day. :)

We serve where we are called, and when we are called.

# a lesson in being faithful.

I remember well a Saturday morning long ago in Albuquerque New Mexico.  It was General Conference weekend. President Clayton had been recently called as the Bishop of the Taylor Ranch Ward. Weeks earlier, as the building cleaning assignment list had gone around his priesthood meeting, he had signed our family up to go clean the church building before the Saturday morning session of conference began. I can remember the grumbles, mostly by me, as we ate an early breakfast and piled into the car to get the job accomplished and make it back home in time for the morning session.
When we got to the church building, there was not a car in the parking lot.  No one else had come. I am embarrassed to admit, that I specifically remember rolling my eyes.  We sat there for a minute there in the car, in the parking lot, and then President Clayton said to our kids... who's here?   And they all said, no one.  No one else is here dad!  He got out of the car and we all followed him out of the car, and as the kids and I gathered around him, he asked again, who’s here?  And the kids said, just us.

No one is here except us.  And he said, that's right.  You know who’s here he asked as our kids looked at one another?  The Faithful!  The Faithful Are Here, he said with his fists in the air!  He unlocked the church doors, with his newly acquired keys and I'll always remember the girls dancing around and around, and the boys leaping and jumping down that long church hallway calling out, The Faithful!  The Faithful Are Here!  For just over an hour as we emptied trash cans, and cleaned chalkboards, as we checked the hymn book holders for spilled cheerios and loose crayons, as we vacuumed the two entryways, and polished those bathroom mirrors, our kids and their dad peeked out from here and there calling out to each other, Only The Faithful!  The Faithful Are Here!  We Are The Faithful!  All the way home we sung out the word Faithful.  That's right!  We Are The Faithful they said.

  That, was a good day.

That word has been a key word in our family, and one that we have used back and forth in family home evenings, and in our Sunday evening devotionals.  

When Scott would come home from school in Alaska and if I had been baking, he would come in and smelling chocolate chip cookies, or sweet rolls, he would say, way to be faithful mamalu, way to be faithful.

But seriously, over the years, we have tried to teach our children what it means to be truly faithful; and that if we seek to be such, how rich the blessings would be.

When our oldest son Matt left for college, we gathered our children together that first Sunday evening, after he left and we said, do you think Matt went to church this morning? Of course, they all chimed. Do you think he's reading his scriptures and saying his prayers each day now that he's at college, and away from home? Of course, they were convinced. He did. He was faithful. As our children left for their missions, each had experiences and trials that were eye opening, and spiritually awaking. They had opportunities that strengthened their faith and helped to shape their adult spiritual life.

I love Bruce R. McConkie's teaching that 'faith is a gift from God, bestowed as a reward for personal righteousness'. He continues by detailing, 'the greater the measure of obedience to God's laws, the greater will be the endowment of faith'.

Well today in Ameca I felt again those words come to my mind, only with a deeper sincerity and richer meaning.  Today President Clayton released President Partida after serving as Branch President for 8 years, and called him to be the 1st counselor to the newly called Branch President, who has only been a member, for not quite 2 years. President Partida will be such a support and guide to this new President,  but he will not have the burden he has had for these many years upon his shoulders. These past 8 years President Partida and his wife have faithfully served the saints here in Ameca amid great hardships financially, and with his work, and other pressures, but most especially with their health.  

Sister Partida has been plagued with severe and extremely painful and debilitating arthritis.  Her hands and feet have become so sore and deformed.  The pain is also affected by the weather, yet, she rarely misses coming to church.  She comes and participates and always, always with a smile, always so gracious.

Those two have given and given and sacrificed and endured as they have served.  We have seen over and over again this little branch combine together and rent a bus to come to the temple.  It puts me to shame when I see such devotion and dedication, despite such affliction and sacrifice, and yet today, as we thanked them for their years of service, they both said, it has not been a sacrifice, we have received so many blessings. Today as President Clayton asked Sister Partida to bear her testimony, she said, we serve where we are called and when we are called. If we say no to a calling, we say no to the blessings. And my heart just melted with love. I was overflowing with gratitude that I had been there to witness such devotion.

Ameca is the 1st branch we visited as we arrived in the mission over a year ago.  I remember being so touched that first day with the earnest desire these members had to do their part and to magnify their callings. I remember that first Sunday, that Sister Partida, who was the Relief Society president gave the lesson, and afterwards, she opened her spiral notebook and asked each sister to give an accounting of their visiting teaching,  right then and there after the lesson.  I was surprised that she asked for a verbal accounting there in their meeting, but these sisters didn’t flinch, they responded when their names were called, and their report was tender as they told of their visits and the contacts they had made.  And please don’t misunderstand, it was not showy or boastful, nor do I think they were doing it for my benefit.  In a quiet and humble manner, they gave their report.

The Sunday School lesson on our first Sunday in Ameca, was taught by a newly baptized member, Brother Gustavo Caro Munoz.  He taught an outstanding lesson, with his two little girls toddling around the front where he was standing, sucking on little lollipops , with their fingers all sticky and adorable. Occasionally holding onto his pant legs as he taught with their precious stickiness.

Today, he was called to be the new Branch President.  He and his wife Christina just glowed.

I was so pleased to see his nonmember parents there today, and Christina’s nonmember mother was there.  President Clayton took a minute as he set him apart, and explained about keys to their parents. Sacred keys that would be given to him that would allow him to receive revelation for those within his stewardship.  And that would include all of Ameca,  He was now the shepherd for all of Ameca.

#priceless experience.


President Partida and his wife Gloria
We love them so much.

New Branch President Gustavo Caro Munoz and his wife Christina 

with their darling little girls

Evelyn, Christina, and Sarahi, 

President Munoz with his new counselors

left, 2nd counselor Raymundo Villalobos

and right 1st counselor Brother Partida

with President Clayton

I love this sweet hermana and I look for her each time 

we come to Ameca.

hermana Guillerma Guardado Flores. 

Our faithful missionaries serving here in Ameca

Elder and Sister Ortega (they are such outstanding missionaries!

honestly, what a great work they are doing. I love how positive

and happy they always are).

Sweethearts sister Marciano and sister Rodriguez

and Elder Santos and Elder Valdez who serve in Tala and

come to work in Ameca once a week.

I love these sisters!