We are beginning our Zone Conferences!

We began our zone conferences with the Union Zone.
We had a great day together.  Our focus, our goal, our purpose and our theme as we begin this new year, and as we begin our zone conferences is - We Teach Repentance, and Baptize Converts!

Our scripture focus for the next few months combines our missionary purpose with D&C 117:2
This is what we will recite together as we begin each of our meetings:

My missionary purpose is 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.

I will awake and arise!  I will come forth, and not tarry;
for the Lord hath commanded it.    (D & C 117:2)

President Clayton began by teaching from

 3 Nephi 11 the Doctrine of Christ.

He also talked about the importance of 

studying the Book of Mormon along with PMG; 

and accompanied by the 8 Fundamentals found in the

First 12 Weeks Manual. 

We are not asking our missionaries to do More,

we are asking our missionaries to do what they are

doing..... Better! 

We must seek to improve each day, and

seek to increase our efforts in this

mighty work.

I highlighted Nephi's powerful chapter in 2 Nephi 31 

on the Doctrine of Christ.  Each missionary 

created his own worksheet as we went verse by

verse finding the vital truths that teach of 

faith unto repentance, 

repentance unto baptism

baptism by immersion

receiving the Holy Ghost

and

enduring to the end.

Key truths and supporting scriptures: 

2 Nephi 31:21 This is the way, and there is no other way.

(the right 'way' is to believe in Christ)

3 Nephi 21:6 Come unto me and know the 

true points of my doctrine.

(faith, repentance, baptism, receiving

the gift of the Holy Ghost and 

enduring to the end)

President Clayton's game

We must practice!  

Practice makes perfect!!! 

Pizza for lunch! 

These sweet Elders treated me to a sweet birthday treat!

Muchas Gracias! 

Trying to cut into that yummy ice cream cake :) 

Union Zone Leaders Elder Flores and Elder Ocampo

introducing how to effectively do practices exercises. 

Practices 

President Clayton and I going through our discussion items

Breakout session with the sisters.

Follow Up Training.

It's been just five weeks since these fabulous missionaries landed at the Guadalajara airport!
They have learned much about being a full time missionary!

Today, we are double checking how they are doing.
*How their Twelve Week Training is coming along?
*How well are their trainers, training them?
*How well are they learning and focusing on their task?
*Are they committed and determined in this important work?

We are finding out!

With our Books of Mormon

in the four finger power hold!

President's training

*Worldwide Missionary Broadcast

*Our Focus -

We Teach Repentance and Baptize Converts

*Specifically -

We teach the Doctrine of Christ

*Changes to our daily schedule and preparation day schedule

President Clayton introducing me.

He is such a sweetheart!

My teaching:

*What have you learned about yourself

in these first few weeks?

*Have you been teachable?

*D&C 31:3 - The hour of your mission is come

*D&C 42:6 - lifting up your voices as with the 

sound of a trump.

What does that mean?

*What is your capacity?

*What is your potential?

*What are you willing to contribute?

Give yourself to this work

"You will have all the power you have faith enough to have."

Breakout session.

I talk with the trainers, and President Clayton

talks with the new missionaries to find

out specifically, how things are going.

Asking the hard questions.

:)

Our assistants Elder Contreras and Elder Uribe

teaching and following up on things our

new missionaries should understand at this point.

PMG teaches us how to teach our message.

A quick bite of lunch.

The assistants getting ready for their game.

Dividing into 4 teams

President Clayton has taught,

“If we want new and better results, we have to do things differently.”
And that’s exactly what the assistants did!
They took the 7 Celestial Habits, and made a fun

and different game that helps us see just how important

these habits are in our teaching.

As we read in Preach My Gospel, our purpose

“is to open the doors to the celestial kingdom,”

as we teach the gospel of Jesus Christ.

As we extend the baptismal invitation

we provide our investigators the opportunity

to act for themselves -choosing

to follow the Savior's example

and enter the waters of baptism

for themselves.

Our game uses the representation of

the Temple as the ultimate symbol,

in this life, of the Lord’s kingdom.

Each team must:

exercise their knowledge in:

1. Teaching the lessons in order

2. Helping investigators receive revelation

(through Prayer, Reading the Book of Mormon, and Church Attendance)

3. Asking for references - always

4. Evaluating and setting goals to work more effectively.

The first part of the game consists of every team,

having to collect all the pieces they will need

to build their model of the temple

as they rotate through each station.

They practice using these celestial principles

with the investigator scenario at each station,

inviting them in various ways, to act for themselves

as they continue to learn about the gospel plan.

Each team has 2 tries to collect their pieces of the Temple they must build.

The second part - they must build the temple

with the pieces they have collected.

This game helps us see how important these 7 celestial habits

really are in our efforts to fulfill our missionary purpose.
We learn that it takes a celestial way of living and working

to carry out this celestial work!

These 7 celestial habits that we have received

from the Lord through our Prophet and the Twelve Apostles,

truly are to help us fulfill our purpose.

Two fabulous Assistants!

Each team putting their Temple together.

President Clayton

Another game to help us learn and remember these key points.

7 Celestial Habits game

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

The teams each play, eliminated those who

cannot name quickly when the ball is passed to them

one of the 7 celestial habits we

must know and use, creating

the final four.

Down to four

Down to three

The final two!

And the winner is... Elder Dehesa!  

Good for him!

Another Baptism!

Baptism of Elsa

Elsa is a very special person. Shge is really golden. Elsa met the church in difficult times in her life and the gospel has worked miracles in her life.

She made the decision to be baptized and is very happy about that decision. She is now working to unite her family with her and receive more blessings.

Bautismo de Elsa

Elsa es una persona muy especial es realmente de oro, Elsa conoció la iglesia en momentos difíciles en su vida y el evangelio obró milagros en ella.

Ella tomó la decisión de aceptar el bautismo y está muy feliz por esa decisión. Ahora está trabajando para que su familia pueda unirse con ella y recibir más bendiciones.

Elder Cervantes & Elder García

Catching up with our Baptisms!

Bautismo de Maria

Sister Maria is one of the strongest girls in Puerto Vallarta. She is hardly nine years old, but has been through a lot of things. She lost her father less than a year ago, and lived in the streets for a time, and we got to know her from her grandma, who is a member. Maria learned a lot about the gospel even though she doesn’t know how to read and write, but understands the plan that God has for her and her family. We learned a lot with Maria, she taught us that the Lord has many grand and marvelous things for each of us.

La hermanita Maria es una de las niñas mas guerreras de Puerto Vallarta. Ella tiene apenas nueve años y ha pasado por muchas cosas.

Perdió su padre hace menos de un año, y llegó a vivir en las calles por un tiempo, la conocimos por medio de su abuelita que es miembro.

Maria aprendió mucho del evangelio sin la necesidad de saber leer y escribir logro entender el plan de Dios para ella y su familia. Aprendimos mucho con Maria, ella nos enseñó que el Señor tiene muchas cosas grandes y maravillosas para todos nosotros.

Elder Palenque & Elder Cangas

Jesus was a very special investigator. When we found him, we wrote that he had many doubts about the gospel, but had a great desire to become closer to God. Jesus always knew that he was going to find his answers through prayer, and when we started to teach him the lessons he began to fulfill all his commitments and he received his answers. He truly is of gold. He is now a member and is very happy for doing the will of God.

Bautismo de Jesus

Jesús fue un investigador muy especial. Cuando le conocimos notamos que él tenía muchas dudas acerca del evangelio pero tenía un deseo muy grande de acercarse a Dios. Jesus siempre supo que si tenía de iba hallar las respuestas para sus oraciones, él es de oro, en cuanto comenzamos la enseñanza él comenzó a cumplir todos sus compromisos y recibió su respuestas. Él ahora es miembro y está muy feliz de hacer la voluntad de Dios

Elder García & Elder Castillo

Bautismo de David y Teresa

Teresa did not know anything about the church, but her husband was an inactive member and thanks to him we were able to find her and their son David. David really wanted to know about the church, and both of them were really interested in being able to become closer to God. They knew right away that this was the true church that Jesus Christ established. David and Teresa were very much prepared to enter into the waters of baptism, and now they have a strong testimony.

Teresa no sabia nada acerca de la iglesia pero su esposo (Jorge) era miembro inactivo y gracias a él pudimos encontrar a Teresa y su Hijo (David). David quería mucho conocer la iglesia y ambos se

interesaron mucho por poder acercarse mas a Dios. Supieron rápidamente que esta era la iglesia verdadera la iglesia que Jesucristo estableció. David y Teresa estaban muy preparados para entrar en las aguas bautismales, tienen un gran testimonio.

Elder Gómez y Elder Padron

Bautismo de José María

Jose and Maria were investigators for a long time, and were anxious to be baptized but weren’t married. They needed to fix a few documents, and after some time and perseverance, all was fixed and they were married on the 21st of December. Two days after their wedding they were able to enter into the waters of baptism, having the Branch President here in Ameca perform the ordinance.

It was an achievement and miracle to be able to see all the things settle in place so that they could make this covenant with our Heavenly Father. They now feel very strong spiritually, and want to enter the temple to be sealed for time and all eternity. They have a desire to serve our Heavenly Father and they do it through missionary work, sharing their testimonies with friends and neighbors.

José y María por mucho tiempo fueron investigadores, estaban ansiosos

para bautizarse pero no estaban casado, necesitaban arreglar un par de documentos, después de mucho tiempo y constancia pudo arreglarse todo y se casaron el día veinte y uno de Diciembre.

Dos días después de su boda ellos pudieron entrar en las aguas bautismales y quien efectuó la ordenanza fue el Presidente de rama aquí en Ameca.

Fue un logro y un milagro poder ver como las cosas se acomodaban para que para que ellos tomaran un convenio con nuestro Padre Celestial. Ellos ahora se sienten fuertes espiritualmente y desean entrar al templo y sellarse por tiempo y eternidad ellos desean servir a nuestro Padre y lo hacen mediante la obra misional, comparten sus testimonios con amigos y vecinos.

Elder Santos y Elder Juvera