After meeting with the AP’s, I sent the missionaries the following video about the blessings of keeping the commandments. A great visual of “why”.
https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2016-01-009-blessed-and-happy-are-those-who-keep-the-commandments-of-god?category=mormon-messages-2016&lang=eng
I then did some errands for the family and picked up supplies for the February missionary birthday poster. It is actually not a poster anymore. I now use the end of a metal cabinet so it is a missionary birthday display. A lot more fun and festive! After I picked up Jessie from school, we went to All a Dollar, Five Below and Joann’s for craft supplies for her half birthday party on Saturday. She hasn’t had a Texas friend birthday party since we have been in Texas so half birthday it is! She wanted an art theme.
I went to Galveston Island for a companionship study on Tuesday. It’s an hour drive to get there. It always seems to be really nice weather when I go to do comp studies. We planned for an investigator to help him continue to progress, then made plans to work with members more effectively and to get them excited about member missionary work. Zac had a home basketball game tonight. A lot of hustle but no win for Clements.
On Wednesday, the missionaries were gathered for the worldwide missionary broadcast with the focus still on teaching repentance and baptizing converts. The broadcast was done in council style with the current missionary executive committee which includes Elder Oaks, Andersen, & Bednar supported by Elder Nielsen, Bishop Waddell, Brother Allen (Director of the Missionary Department), and Sister Oscarson. We are more focused than ever to continue to help the missionaries understand how to teach repentance as part of every lesson and as they do so, the natural outcome is that those they teach will desire to be baptized. We center everything on the Savior and how each principle we teach helps individuals come unto Christ.
A new daily schedule and Pday changes were announced to the missionaries as part of the broadcast. Our missionaries have been living the new schedule for the last month. I really like how it gives the missionaries more agency and responsibility in how they manage their day. For those missionaries that are disciplined they are significantly more productive. For those that struggle with managing their time it is less than ideal, but it’s the closest experience they’ll have to what the real world will be like when they go home so it really is good for them. Bode had a basketball game tonight that was also not a win. I love watching him and the boys play but it is difficult to watch them not be coached. I asked Bode about it and he says they don’t work on skills just play basketball for practice. Ummph!
We held our mission leadership council the day after the training to really capture the energy and focus from the broadcast. As a council they discussed their role in how they can help other missionaries keep their purpose in mind and how the changes to the schedule will help them be more effective missionaries in the work. We have some great leaders in our mission! I had an appointment for teeth cleaning afterwards. Most people don’t like going to the dentist even for cleaning. I love the feeling of clean teeth. Makes me happy.
We held our teaching skills training with our new missionaries that have been out 8 weeks now. They are doing well in their teaching. Making it personal and individual to the investigator’s needs. We cover the same content, skills and tools to help them teach simply and effectively, every 6 to 8 weeks so we start to feel like a broken record. We find ways to teach the skills different each time, not easy to do, but we do our best to make it fresh and new.
Jessie had her half birthday today. I felt like she was coming down with something this morning but she insisted that she was well enough for her party. The girls modge podge tissue paper on glass vases, made tissue paper flowers and decorated wooden frames. They enjoyed vanilla gluten free fun fetti cupcakes with strawberry frosting. Before I knew it, parents were coming to pick up their daughters. The fastest two hours of my life. I have never had a birthday party go by so quickly. As the last friends left, Jessie was falling asleep on the couch. She was determined not to be sick but it caught up with her in the end. Hoping for a fast recovery for this girl.