December Interviews!

This interview rotation, while President Clayton interviewed each missionary individually, I visited
and taught with the zone about a multitude of miscellaneous things...
*The Light the World Initiative
*Foot care
*Personal and mission finances
*Obedience - 5 expectations
*I gave specific and clear direction on defining:
    ~missionary lessons
    ~ investigators
    ~ progressing investigators
*Understanding our role in extending and offering Invitations to Act
*Reading the Book of Luke this December
*Chapter 6 in PMG on Christlike Attributes
*We watched several lds Christmas music videos and talked about the Saviors birth.

We began this month’s interviews with the Lomas Zone!

Next was our Independencia Zone

Union Zone was next

Vallarta Zone 

Nayarit Zone (Tepic)

Nayarit Zone (Santiago)

Colima Zone was next

Then the Manzanillo Zone

And finally... our Guzman Zone!

#we love our missionaries!

Tepic Stake Conference. 12-10-17

We have had a marvelous weekend here in Tepic for the Tepic Stake Conference.
The visiting Area Authority was Elder Villanueva.  What a wonderful spirit he brought with him.

My heart was touched as I listened to the Stake Patriarch speak.  He told of how he was a married mature man when the full time missionaries came into my life.  I didn't know how to read, and they taught me to read.  The first book I read was the Book of Mormon.  I will be forever grateful for these inspired young men, for their courage to come and teach a man like me Moroni 10:3-5 and how to put those words into effect in my life.

   

One more picture with Stake President Huerta.

Just a quick reminder to families 12-7-17

Dear families,

We appreciate your love and support!  We really do. Thank you, thank you for your prayers and faith in this marvelous work. This is a labor for your missionaries that is difficult, and challenging day in, and day out.   I can testify, that your missionaries are earnestly preparing themselves each day to represent our Savior as best they can.

Your missionaries are praying in faith for the spirit of the Lord to accompany them in this work.

They are seeking the Lord's spirit to be with them personally, and in their companionship's, as they contact and greet those they meet each day; and especially as they teach the gospel of Jesus Christ. Their desire is that they might be sensitive to, and respond to the promptings of the Holy Ghost, enabling them to teach mightily and with more power.  I am confident that your missionaries are giving their very best efforts.

We are grateful for every encouraging word you give to your missionary. We appreciate your letters of faith, of love and of testimony.  We are grateful for letters that do not distract your missionary from this important work.  Your missionaries are strengthened by the uplifting and motivating letters of love they receive from home.

Your emails of confidence and support can brighten a difficult day, they can encourage your missionary to stay the course, to grit through and overcome their challenges and to seek the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the true source of comfort and peace.

Missionaries in this mission do not have permission to use online chat methods of communicating with family and friends.  Any device or technology that offers real time communication is not approved.  Nor do we desire our missionaries to make an arrangement with family and/or friends to be on the computer at the 'same time' so that emails can be written back and forth simultaneously... or within minutes, allowing them to answer questions immediately and visit back and forth over email, during our missionary's set time to write letters.   These methods of communicating with family and loved ones are very distracting, and are over reaching the purpose of weekly letter writing.

We are encouraging our missionaries to go to their internet site each preparation day, to read letters from family, friends and loved ones there in their inbox, and then, to write their one letter back to their family, and perhaps a group letter for others,  highlighting their experiences, sharing their testimony and unfolding the miracles they have participated in and witnessed.

May we please remind all, that our missionaries have a limited time on the computer each week.  It is their time to communicate with their mission president and their family and loved ones.

Missionaries are strengthened by families, friends and loved ones who send letters and emails that are filled with personal and family missionary experiences past and present.  Letters that share testimonies, and insights from personal scripture study are appreciated.  All missionaries love to hear family updates, but please keep them concise and positive.  Please do not unduly worry your missionary with things that will cause them to fret and feel stressed.  

Please, share the good things that are happening at home!  Especially share the gospel centered things you are involved in.  More than anything else, be sure and convey your love and encouragement. Thank them for their service, and express how proud you are of them.

I testify that we are each involved in the greatest work of the face of the earth.  The Lord Jesus Christ is truly hastening His work.  We are privileged to be rolling up our sleeves, and giving our absolute all, in this part of the Lord's vineyard here in Guadalajara Mexico.

When you help to strengthen your missionary, you are strengthening and moving forward our Savior's important work.

Thank you for your love and support!

With love,

President and Sister Clayton

A gentle reminder 12-7-17

Media use here in the mission

Dear missionaries and families:

I thought I would put a gentle reminder on the mission blog to all missionaries and families defining our mission policy concerning technology. Our guidelines are very clear.

We appreciate your support.

*We know that a good number of our missionaries have brought or have acquired a personal device for use here in the mission.

*We are not recommending or encouraging the use or purchase of any device for use here in the mission.

*This mission has not been approved to use technology.  Missionaries may however, have and use their own personal devices with the following guidelines:

1. Missionaries are allowed to have and use iPod devices, and listen to uplifting and inspirational music.  Music that edifies and draws us closer to our Heavenly Father is our goal.  Missionaries may not have or use ear buds of any kind without specific approval from President Clayton.

* A missionary acquiring a new ipod device here in the mission may borrow a companion, or fellow missionary's USB cord to add music to their new device.  Downloading music here in the mission is not approved.

2. All devices such as tablets, iPads, iPhones and iPods may be used to take pictures, to access the lds gospel library, lds music, lds tools, the mormon channel, and google maps; as well as to use the calendar, the calculator, the clock, and to take notes.

*Note - We have approved downloading the Dictionary, the Spanish Translator and the Uber app. (These three apps may be downloaded and used here in the mission.)

Missionaries have  permission to update the google maps and Uber app, when needed on pdays through wifi. Missionaries can access Uber daily as needed.

3. MISSIONARIES MAY NOT ACCESS THEIR EMAIL USING THEIR DEVICE AT ANY TIME.     PERIOD.

*All missionaries must email their families and President Clayton each Pday at an approved internet location.

*Missionaries do have permission to go to lds.org,  mormon.org and our Guadalajara mission blog on pdays.

*We allow missionaries to attach or save pictures from an email from home, for example, to a jump drive or something similar.  They are not allowed to download anything directly to their device through wifi.

*It will take great discipline for you NOT to access WiFi with your device, at the church building or in members or investigators homes, or other places where you find there is accessible internet.

*Google chat, Facebook, any social media site, opening any link, or adding unapproved apps will cause you to lose your device.

*Any report or finding of misuse will cause the missionary to lose his/her device immediately.  There are no second chances.

4. We have received approval from the Area Presidency, to encourage those we teach to download the lds gospel library onto their own device as a significant resource and wonderful blessing.

*Missionaries may NOT use their own device to demonstrate that, but can guide and encourage the investigator or member as they download it for themselves.

5. Missionaries must be careful with their device, as if it is broken, stolen or lost, it cannot be reimbursed or replaced.

*We also caution missionaries against taking an excess number of pictures or lingering looking through their pictures, allowing them to become a distraction.

As is always the case, these devices can be a blessing to us.  Do not allow them to become a preoccupation or hindrance to you and your important work.

With love,

President and Sister Clayton

December Leadership Council 12-6-17

What a fabulous day we have had!! We met with our Zone, District, and Sister Training Leaders.  Such outstanding leaders all!
Here are some highlights of our (long) day together.

We always start with a picture on the steps of the beautiful Guadalajara Temple.

With... our most important tool!

The Book of Mormon in our hands!!

Getting started

President Clayton's teaching.

Leaders/Leadership

*As the Zone Leaders go...

so goes the zone!

President Clayton's object lesson.

*Effective leaders do not lead from behind.

They lead out.. in front! (Alma 2:16)

*Discussion and example -

The Prophet Joseph Smith and

Zion's Camp 

Righteous Leaders ~

*remind others of their faith and courage

*Believe and do- expecting miracles

*Motivate themselves to act to motivate others.

*How do we do that?

*We should never fear to do good.

*Can we hear the music?

*Unity in our companionships

*Light the way

From behind or in front?

a picnic lunch with tacos

My teaching -

Understanding the purpose of our

trials and challenges.

The account of the brother of Jared and their travels to the promised land in barges they built, following the instructions of the Lord.

*How they would breathe?

*How would they have light?

*And, how would they steer these unique barges ?

It is a story of great and unprecedented faith.

This small group of ancient saints suffered much, their challenges certainly were many.  They endured and called upon the Lord earnestly, as He, Himself, steered them towards the Promised land…   

How did He steer them?

He caused furious winds to blow them, and great and terrible tempests, with mountainous waves which buried and broke upon them....pushing and pulling them through the deep and terrifying ocean for 344 days.

It was through undoubtedly countless challenges that they endured, that finally led them to the promised land.  The winds and the waves were to them... their trials and challenges.

What can we learn from those who have gone before?

Without those furious winds and mountainous waves continually pushing them, the Jaredites would have never reached the promised land!

We are told in Ether 4:9 that they sang praises and did thank the Lord all the day long, and when the night came, they did not cease to praise the Lord.  

*Humility

*Relying on the Lord in all things

*If we stay in the barge...And allow the Lord to steer us.... Where will we arrive?

Quotes to Ponder~

* “I believe with all my heart that because God loves us, there are some particularized challenges that he will deliver to each of us.  He will customize the curriculum for each of us in order to teach us the things we most need to know.  He will set before us in life what we need, not always what we like.  And this will require us to accept with all our hearts… the truth that there is divine design in each of our lives.”

Neal A Maxwell

*  “Life is a storm sometimes. Sometimes in life we just try to outlast the storm, forgetting to call upon the one who can calm it.  Peace may not come as perfect calm as it did on the sea of Galilee. Instead when we hasten to call upon the master and allow Him to bear our burdens – our peace may come in small reminders of His love and care, giving us strength to get through the storm.  Our private storms may not be as tempestuous as the storms others face, BUT IT IS NOT THE VELOCITY OF THE STORM THAT MAKES OUR HEAVENLY FATHER WILLING TO HELP US, it is our hastening to call for His help that allows Him to calm our hearts during life’s storms”.

* “It was meant to be that life would be a challenge.  Stand steady and face your challenges! There is great purpose in our struggles”.  Boyd K. Packer

* “I am thankful for my struggle, because without it, I wouldn’t have stumbled across my strength.”

President Clayton's Game!

5 teams, with the sisters being 

careful judges...

We are a team!

We work as a team

Everybody comes... 

Everybody helps...

We don't leave anybody behind..

Everybody matters...

We must help each other!

Every member of the team is needed

and valued...

Assistants Teaching

They once again highlighted the 

leadership training manual.

What a wonderfully motivated group today.

President Clayton's closing 

Let's take just one more look at these fabulous missionaries..

#we love our missionaries

Lomas Stake Conference 12-3-17

Wonderful Lomas Stake Conference this morning.
Here we are with the Lomas Zone who serve in this stake!

With Stake President and Sister Olguin on the far left.

Zone and District Activities!

1.

ZONE ACTIVITY IN PUERTO VALLARTA

We came together as the Puerta Vallarta Zone to contact people using whiteboards that had questions of the soul. They were a great help to cause others to reflect. We also did several musical presentations using church hymns. The zone has had many new investigators thanks to this activity. It was a wonderful day of missionary work.  

Nos unimos como Zona Puerto Vallarta para contactar a personas haciendo uso de "whiteboards" que incluían preguntas del alma y fueron de gran ayuda para hacer reflexionar a las personas. También hicimos algunas presentaciones musicales con himnos de la iglesia. La zona ha tenido muchos nuevos investigadores gracias a esta actividad. Fue un magnífico día de trabajo. 

2.

Actividad de Zona en Manzanillo

Why not go for our own? We visited the less active and inactive members. This helped to strengthen the Branch and to increase their testimonies. We, together with the leaders worked hard and invited many to return to church. We hope for good results and great miracles from the Lord.  

¿Por qué no ir por los nuestros? Visitamos a los miembros menos activos e inactivos, eso ayudo a la rama a fortalecerse y aumentar sus testimonios. Nosotros junto con los líderes trabajamos mucho y les invitamos a regresar a la iglesia. Esperamos buenos resultados y grandes milagros del Señor.  

3.

ACTIVIDAD DE ZONA EN NAYARIT

In Santiago we updated the ward directory lists and handed out tickets in the morning. In the afternoon we invited everyone to go to Hawaii with us. When the plane crashed and everyone died, we took advantage of the opportunity and showed everyone a representation of the Plan of Salvation.  

En Santiago igual depuramos las listas y repartimos boletos en la mañana. Y en la tarde invitamos a todos a ir a Hawaii con nosotros. Cuando el avión se cayó y todos se murieron, pudimos aprovechar la situación y enseñar a todos una representación de el Plan de Salvación.

4.

ACTIVIDAD DE ZONA EN NAYARIT

In Tecuala we had an activity themed, “Lehi´s Dream.” In the morning all of the missionaries and members when to visit less actives and to update the ward directory lists if the families didn’t live there. In the morning we passed out invitations and in the afternoon we enjoyed learning from Lehi’s dream and how to overcome things that sometimes distract us from the things of God.  

En Tecuala hicimos una actividad del sueño de Lehi. En la mañana todos los misioneros y miembros fueron a visitar a las menos activos y a depurar las listas si las familias ya no vivían allí, en la mañana pudimos repartir invitaciones, y en la tarde pudimos disfrutar mientras aprendimos del sueño de Lehi y como vencer las cosas que a veces nos distraen de las cosas de Dios.

5.

ACTIVIDAD DE ZONA EN COLIMA

We had our zone activity in the Magistarial ward, where the members were able to learn about their importance in missionary work, the importance of listening to the spirit, and even how to contact people. Every one of them is anxious to work with the missionaries in the zone and to preach the gospel.  

Tuvimos nuestra actividad de zona Colima en el barrio de Magisterial donde los miembros pudieron aprender de desde la importancia de los miembros en la obra misional, la importancia de escuchar al Espíritu Santo y hasta contactar a las personas. Todos ellos están ansiosos de poder trabajar con los misioneros de la zona y de predicar el evangelio.