The warm weather of Houston we know and love has returned and it was another wonderful week here in the Great THSM. We continued our emphasis on simple teaching this week and had all the missionaries record themselves teaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We also recorded ours and here’s the link if you’d like to watch. https://www.facebook.com/aaron.hall.351/videos/10216439199119298/
This week I participated in a companionship study as well as a weekly planning session with the same two sisters at different times this week. Our time together for the companionship was limited so I decided to join them for their weekly planning as well. It was time well spent planning and studying for their investigators needs. I went to lunch with a dear friend who I love going with because our conversations really make me think and grow personally and spiritually. I really appreciate our time together.
We had another lesson skills meeting on Thursday. Our trainers are doing a great job in helping new missionaries progress. We focused this last meeting on making sure we all teach by the Spirit. We also continue to emphasize the importance of commitment invitations by inviting in the Savior’s name and then asking why they want to keep this commitment, what blessings they hope for, and if there are any obstacles that might get in their way. We succeed when we invite and it’s something I need to remind the missionaries of regularly. We had one of our new elders take the 11 essential teaching skills and put them to memory by using his fingers. It was very creative and we’ve shared it with the mission to help them remember the simple things they need to do every time they teach.
We had our MLC to prepare for our zone conferences that will be held in March. It went well and it’s hard to believe we only have three of these left. I started the meeting off by teaching leadership principles using the Savior’s attributes and had the missionaries review “Jesus: The Perfect Leader”. I taught the missionaries to become leaders that others can follow, to regularly seek divine guidance, have a vision, to participate in councils regularly, and to become a shepherd to those they lead. Our assistants focus on helping our missionaries return to their WHY and they did an excellent job teaching. Aaron and I encouraged them to use the parable of the oranges. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mku7k5BUa4o relating it to their purpose and intent as missionaries. As a result, one of our assistants created his own title of liberty to help his stay focused on why he is here and what he has been called to do and invited the rest of the MLC to do the same. It was so powerful. We did our regular return and report on success for the past month and set our baptism commitment for the month ahead. We also had a great counsel on a number of topics that were brought up to by the missionaries that they felt needed to be addressed.
Jessie has decided to play in a tennis tournament that will have weekly matches on Saturday for 6 weeks. I’m really surprised how much she has taken to tennis but very happy for her expanding her horizons. She still loves singing and dancing on her own which is fun to capture. Her is a cute snippit I sent to my sister https://www.facebook.com/KathiJensen05/videos/10156266541534885/ She has a lot of fun being creative. With basketball season over Bode is working on his strength and shooting. Most days after school he has been lifting weight and shooting the basketball in the backyard. He wants to start training with Coach Frank again. Zac is staying busy golfing each day after school. I am loving how much golf has brought joy to him. Allie continues to amaze me as she blesses the lives around her because of her insightfulness, willingness to listen and reassure. She has a way of seeing the bigger picture and doesn’t tend to get wrapped up in drama. These kids make this moms heart happy.
We just received materials from the church to begin the moving home process. Not sure if I’m ready for all that just yet but life in the great THSM rolls on.