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. :)