Autlan Branch Conference 3-25-18

What a beautiful drive we had into Manzanillo.  Sunday morning, we met our three assistants in Barra de Navidad and drove together to Autlan where Elder Rose and Elder Davis are serving.  We had a lovely conference. Elder Rose and Elder Davis are doing an outstanding job in Autlan, which is a city high in the mountains, three hours from Manzanillo, and two hours from Barra de Navidad. The drive to Autlan is gorgeous, but full of windy and curvy roads up to the little mountainous city. These Elders are the furthest area in Manzanillo. They attend district class every other week, and call in on those off weeks.  The branch is doing well.  Elder Rose and Elder Davis taught a wonderful gospel principle class. After the conference, we drove them and the assistants over to take a peek at their apartment, and again, impressively clean and organized.  We left the assistants with them to do divisions.
Wonderful visit.

These three hopped into the back seat to make room

for Elder Rose and Elder Davis 

heading over to see their apartment

Elder Rose and Elder Davis

outside of their apartment in Autlan 

Great day!

#we love our missionaries!

Transfer weekend preparations

We had our office staff meeting today (3-27-18) and I snapped a quick picture of us in the Elder's office instead of in President Clayton's office.  The office is under construction, and so this was the safest place to be today!  We surely appreciate these office Elders. They are really the unsung heroes in the mission, and do so much of the behind the scenes work that make our conferences, councils, training's, and especially our transfers run so smoothly. They serve in the office, and also carry their own areas.  They are organized and disciplined, and we are grateful for them!

From left to right
Elder Sevilla - visas, flight tickets for Latinos, cell phones, English tests.
Elder Anderson - Financial Secretary - all financial affairs, flight tickets for Americans, name tags
Elder Ramirez - (has just finished training Elder Sevilla and will be reassigned back into the field this transfer) he’s been awesome!
Elder Martindale  - materials and referrals, president's car, certificates, letters to parents
Elder Moreno - housing, mailing supplies and furnishings

The other half of the equation are the Assistants!  Elder Long, Elder Cluff and newly called Elder Velasquez.  We are grateful for them as well!!  They are outstanding examples here in the mission. They really do provide by example, a missionary standard of excellence.  We have great confidence in them as they travel throughout the mission, representing President Clayton and I, working with and strengthening our missionaries. They too carry their own areas, and then some.
We had a goodbye breakfast for Elder Long this morning as part of our transfer meeting.
We love our missionaries!!!

By the way... these are Elder Long's shoes.

Like so many other missionaries here in the mission....

their shoes tell the tale.  They really do walk, and walk,

and walk........ and walk.

We appreciate every step they take... and we know

the Savior, Jesus Christ, does too!

#we love our missionaries!

Follow Up Training 3-22-18

What a wonderful day we have had with our new missionaries.  These 10 new missionaries have been here for just 5 weeks!  They are doing very, very well. We are double checking their focus and progress.  There is much to learn and much to practice.  They are coming along!
Here are some highlights of our day together!

Our Assistants teaching

(Including our new Assistant,

Elder Velasquez) 

Our wonderful office Elders helping the

assistants with their game.

Assistants Game

The 8 Fundamentals of Preach My Gospel

1. The Doctrine of Christ - Our Missionary Purpose

2. The Role of the Holy Ghost in Conversion

3. Revelation through Prayer

4. Revelation through the Book of Mormon

5. Revelation Through Church Attendance

6. Teach People, Not Lessons

7. We Invite, They Commit, We Follow Up

8. How to Begin Teaching

The assistants teach of the importance of each of these

fundamentals that are found in Preach My Gospel and in

the 12 weeks training manual for new missionaries.

These fundamentals are what help us as missionaries

have success in bringing people unto Christ. We consistently

focus on and teach these things to our investigators with

the end or goal in mind.

That end or goal is entering into the Temple.

Second Game...

Preach My Gospel teaches us missionaries that we must ask for references
from each person we know and meet. In the mission we have an automatic
reference card with 10 examples of questions we can use to ask for references.
In this game the missionaries must know the 10 questions. They ask a question
and then pass the ball onto the next person. If you can’t respond with one of
the 10 questions that hasn’t been said when the ball is tossed to you, or if you
repeat an answer that has been said... you’re out! There are three groups at the
beginning and then the winners of those three groups go into a finals round.

Elder Cano is our winner!!

Great day together!

Let’s just take one more look at this

outstanding group! 

#we love our missionaries!

Sending letters cards and packages

I thought I would re-post this important information regarding sending letters, cards and packages.
Our office Elders have asked that I update the information specifying what address is best to use for letters or packages that must be signed for. Please note:

Where should I ship my package to?

Because our office elders are not always in the mission office and

available to receive packages during the day, all letters and

packages (which are typically sent through USPS) should be sent to

the Mission Office PO Box Address below where they can be

received at any time.  

Mission Office PO Box address: 

(For parcels and letters sent from USPS) 

Apartado Postal 51-74 

Col. Las Aguilas  

Zapopan, Jalisco, Mexico 

C.P. 45081  

All packages that require a signature from the recipient should be

sent to the Mission Office Address below. A recipient signature is

a standard requirement of shipping companies such as FedEx, UPS,

DHL and Estafeta.

Mission Office Address: 

(For packages sent from UPS, FedEx, DHL or Estafeta) 

Volcan Vesubio 5106 

Col. El colli Urbano 

Zapopan, Jalisco, Mexico 

C.P. 45070  

What can I send my missionary?

When sending packages internationally, the contents of the package

must be listed with a price value declared (in US dollars for packages

coming from the US, for other countries, please check with your

postal service for individual packaging guidelines.)

You should take your unsealed package to your chosen shipping

company and there they will have you list and price the items in

your package.

Shipping companies each have their own lists of things they will

and won't ship.  We have seen some packages come with homemade

treats, candy, and clothing, and other packages are stopped at

customs or at the border, opened and inspected, and some denied

for the same kinds of contents. Again, packages are inspected at

random at the Mexican border.

When will my missionary receive my package?

For most shipping companies, 5-8 business days is standard shipping.

Express shipping can take up to 3 days to deliver.

What shipping company should I use?

FedEx, UPS, USPS, Estefeta and DHL are all well trusted shipping

companies and are used frequently.

When sending parcels and letters, please send them to the

Mission Office PO Box Address.
For packages sent through FedEx, UPS, DHL or Estafeta they

must be sent to the Mission Office Address as these shipping

companies require a recipient signature.  

How much will it cost to send a package to my missionary?

Most packages sent from the US to Mexico through standard shipping

typically cost from $60-80 US dollars. ​ Again, for all international postal

guidelines and pricing, please contact your individual postal service.

One option you may wish to consider is using this missionary

package website:  

https://www.missionarypackagemx.com/

This company is not affiliated with the church, but is owned and

operated by members here in Mexico and is made specifically for

missionaries serving in Mexico. I am not promoting this, but it is an

option some families use.

Is it safe to send a package to Mexico?

Yes, of course. Please remember that in customs, and at the

Mexican border, packages are inspected at random, but are more

likely to be checked it they contain a value of US $100 or more.

When sending a package, make sure that you can track it safely here.

A gentle reminder - 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