Follow Up Training 7-13-17

We had a great day at follow up training.

These six new missionaries are not so new

any longer!  After 5 weeks in the mission,

they are coming to understand what it

means to give themselves to this work.

It requires diligence and faith.  This work

of the Lord asks that we be humble and teachable.

We are proud of their efforts.

The assistants game.

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.

Here are our teams!

Team #1

Team #2

Team #3

Thank you to Elder Mora, Elder Long and 

Elder Torres for their help.

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.

Game #2

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, eliminating those who

cannot quickly name one of the 7 celestial habits

we must know and use, when the ball is passed

to them, creating the final four.

Companions, sister Terron and sister Clawson

were the two finalists

And Sister Clawson won!!

Well done!

Here are our six fabulous not so new any more missionaries!

great day together!

Church in Coapinole! 7-9-17

We went to church this morning in the Coapinole ward.
It was wonderful to see and worship with Elder Padron, Elder Shehee, Sister Lyman and Sister Velasquez.  Great missionaries all!

Baptisms from last week 6-26-17 - 7-3-17

Here are some of the baptisms from our last week.
1.

Baptism of Angel

This is Angel, he is a youth with lots of desires to follow the Savior. A huge step for him was his Baptism. Now he is enduring to the end every day. Not all his family are members. His excitement to follow the Gospel of Jesus Christ helps him make the best decisions of his life. Every day he thinks about going on a mission and when he can testify of Christ.

Elder Angulo, Elder Powley, Elder Drumright 

Bautismo de Angel

Él es Angel y es un joven con muchos deseos de seguir al Salvador. Un gran paso que dio en eso fue su bautismo y ahora solo sigue cada día perseverando hasta el fin. No toda su familia son miembros. Pero su gran entusiasmo por seguir el evangelio de Jesucristo lo lleva a tomar las mejores decisiones en su vida. Cada día solo piensa y piensa con el deseo de ir a una misión y testificar de la verdad.

2.

Baptism of Tirso

Meet our Recent Convert, Tirso! Tirso Herrera Hernández is a golden convert! In his baptismal service he shared his Testimony, it was very simple, “I know that the Book of Mormon is true and that Joseph restored the Gospel on the earth. I am going to endure to the end and never wander from the Gospel path.” We are very excited for him and know that he will stay strong in his testimony.

Hermana Lyman, Hermana Velasquez

Bautismo de Tirso

¡Conozca a nuestro nuevo converso, Tirso! ¡Tirso Herrera Hernández es un converso de oro! En su servicio bautismal él compartió su testimonio, Era sencillo, "Se que el libro de Mormón es verdadero y que José restauró el Evangelio a la tierra. Voy a perseverar hasta el fin y nunca desviarme." Estamos muy emocionadas por él y sabemos que él va a seguir firme. 

3.

Baptism of Carlos Daniel

The family had been inactive for 2 years, for several reasons. After we had visited them, the brother mentioned to us that he wanted his son to be baptized because he felt guilty that he hadn’t been. Carlos was very excited when we taught him, sometimes he was afraid to answer, but with time he gained more trust and he paid his tithing and learned well. Really, they are a very special family. After becoming active again, and making sacred Covenants, they are now part of the Church and are strengthening it.

Elder Mejia, Elder Mickelson  

Bautismo de Carlos Daniel

La Familia se había inactivado por 2 años, por algunas razones.  Después de visitarles y animarlos, el hermano nos mencionó el deseo de que su hijo fuera bautizado pues se sentía algo culpable por él. Carlos estuvo muy animado por que le enseñáramos, y a veces sentía miedo de contestar, pero con tiempo él nos tuvo confianza e incluso pago su diezmo y aprendió muy bien. Realmente son una familia muy especial, pues después de reactivarse y hacer los convenios necesarios, están ahora en la iglesia fortaleciéndola y cumpliendo

Youth Missionary Activity in Coapinole!

Elder Padron, Elder Shehee, Sister Lyman and Sister Velasquez organized an activity for the Youth in the Coapinole Ward. We taught them HBT (How to Begin Teaching) and how to contact. Afterwards we took them into the street, where we contacted and the youth taught investigators! 

It was so much fun and these youths will be more prepared for their missions! 

Organizamos una actividad para los jóvenes en el barrio de Coapinole. Le enseñamos CCE (como comenzar enseñar) y como contactar. ¡Después llevamos todos a la calle y contactamos, también enseñaron investigadores! ¡Era tan divertido y estos jóvenes van estar listos para servir misiones! 

July Mission Council 7-4-17

July Mission Council today!!
We had a wonderful day together teaching and learning about the mighty prophet Joseph Smith and the latter day restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
It has been a rich and spiritually powerful day for us.

It is always such an honor to have our pictures

taken on the steps of the Guadalajara Temple.

We began with a quick donut and chocolate milk treat.

A picture below of our mission leaders

before we got started.

President began by thanking Elder Contreras

our faithful assistant, for his outstanding

service to us.  This is his last mission council.

He will be returning home this next transfer.

President's teaching of the Prophet Joseph Smith.

What did he do that other prophets have done?

 *He never gave up

      *His life was difficult

             *He had much opposition

*He was rejected

But... he completed his mission.

It was not easy for the prophet Joseph.  It will not be easy for us

*We must testify of the prophet Joseph.

*We cannot leave any lesson or message, without

testifying of Joseph Smith.

He restored 

  *Power

*Keys

        *Teachings

          *Ordinances

Our message of Christ will be increased 

as we testify of His messenger.

I taught about our effective use of the Restoration 

 Pamphlet.

I did a quick role play of how not to use 

the pamphlet...

We went through the pamphlet highlighting

the awesome material and resources that

are available to us.

Our Assistants Elder Torres and Elder Contreras

taught about our first missionary purpose, 

 teaching the Doctrine of Christ.

They had Elder Cabrera and Elder Castillo

help them with an object lesson 

Sister's breakout session.

President's closing remarks

We always testify of Jesus Christ,

but we must remember to testify of

His chosen Prophet.

Church in Jala 7-2-17

We had such a sweet day today as we met with the saints in Jala.
Jala is a small pueblo in the northern central part of our mission.
Our Assistants Elder Contreras and Elder Torres divide their time between there and Tepic.
President established this Group over a year and a half ago.  Brother Pichardo is the group leader.
The group began with he and his wife and brother and sister Vazquez and their three children.
Today there were 36 in attendance.  The Elders had 10 investigators there, a family of seven from Ahuacatlan, and three folks from the neighboring pueblo Ixtlan del Rio.

We had a full house and were 12 chairs short.  President Clayton whispered to me that he will have extra chairs brought for this group before next Sunday.

President and Elder Torres standing by the portable font that was taped up in a few places.

(note, a new portable font is also being ordered)

Sweet Sister Josefina with Elder Contreras

She looked like such an angel standing there

prepared and ready to step into that cold water.

The group that came early to witness 

Josefina's baptism

A few more came in time for church

From my journal:

We have had an incredible experience this morning.

We were up early to go to Jala for an early morning baptism and church with this small group. It rained all night and it continued to be rainy and foggy as we drove.

This is the assistant's area and they have worked diligently, with the group leader, brother Pichardo and his wife, and the members here... and the Lord is greatly blessing them.

Their welcoming hearts befriend and include all who come.  They work together and stay connected in each others lives.  They take turns teaching, and giving talks, they make themselves available to go on divisions with the Elders when needed, they support and feed the Elders, they pick members up for church or take them home when needed.  Their Christlike efforts are bringing blessings indeed.

Today, there were 36 in attendance. There was a family from Ixtlan del Rio and Sister Josefina was baptized and confirmed, one of the families had just had a new baby, and the grandfather came today to give him a name and to bless him. Sister Lucia Aguilar is going to go to the Temple next weekend for her endowments, so President Clayton gave her her final interview after the meeting.

The sacrament was special today, as is always the case. The traffic was especially noisy, we could hear chickens continually clucking and a cat fight out back, but the warmth of the spirit of the Lord was with us in our meeting today. What an honor it was to worship with these sweet saints today.

Baptisms for the week of 6-26-17

#1

Baptism of Martha and Rodrigo

One day a Sister took us to visit another family, my companion suddenly felt the need to contact Sister Martha, and she was carrying a water jug in the street. We offered to help and she told us that she was fine, but she accepted a visit for another day. They knew of God, Brother Rodrigo was a Catholic Priest, but seeing the wonders of the Gospel they decided to change their lives and accept a Baptismal date. Now they are preparing for their eternal Family and want their daughters to follow.

Elder Monroy and Elder Cabrera

Bautismo de Martha y Rodrigo

A ellos los conocimos un día que una hermana nos llevo visitar a otra familia, de pronto mi compañero sintió la necesidad de contactar a la Hna Martha ella llevaba un garrafon de agua por la calle, le ofrecimos ayuda ella dijo que estaba bien, pero acepto una visita para otro día. Ellos conocían de Dios y Hno Rodrigo era sacerdote católico, pero al ver lo maravilloso del evangelio decidieron cambiar sus vidas y aceptar una fecha meta. Ahora ellos están esforzándose por ser una familia eterna y quieren que sus hijas les sigan.

#2

Baptism of Marilu Nava

Sister Marilu lived in Tijuana for a long time, there, her daughter knew a Christian Church and invited her to attend a church, because she knew her mother was Catholic but didn’t practice her beliefs. Her parents are members of the Church and they had invited her to listen to the missionaries, all of the sudden she decided to go to Church, there we met her and started to teach her. We realized that many missionaries had taught her but the challenge was that she was not married, we invited her to pray and ask our Father in Heaven to help her get married, so that she could be baptized. We supported her and we prayed with her and for her a lot. And this is how her prayer was answered, now she knows the truth, and has taken the most important step of her life.

Elder Cabrera and Elder Monroy

Bautismo de Marilu Nava

Hna Marilu vivía en Tijuana por mucho tiempo, allá su hija conoció una iglesia Cristiana y le invito a que se acercara a una iglesia ya que ella era católica pero no practicaba sus creencias.Sus padres son miembros de la iglesia y le habían invitado a escuchar a los misioneros, de repente ella decidió ir a la iglesia y ahí le conocimos, le empezamos a enseñar. Nos dimos cuenta que varios misioneros le habían enseñado el desafió era que no estaba casada, le invitamos a que orar y le pidiera al Padre que le ayudara a casarse para que ella pudiera tomar un bautismo. Nosotros le apoyamos mucho y oramos mucho con ella y por ella! Y así lo hizo su oración fue contestada y ella ahora sabe que es verdad y tomo la decisión mas importante de su vida.