We enjoyed a quiet easygoing Sunday. We didn’t have stake conferences, transfers, or zone conferences to prepare for. We enjoyed going to church all together to watch Jessie in the primary program. Jessie delivered her part and sang as beautiful as ever. I am cherishing this today because she is our last and we only have one more primary program with one our children performing in it. Who doesn’t love the primary program Sunday? One of my favorites.
Zac played in a golf tournament on Monday in Sienna Plantation so I went to watch him. It was fun to see him in action. I was fortunate enough to run into his coach when I arrived so he could drive me to where Zac was playing. I intended to walk the course however when I got to the hole he was on two student photographers each had a golf cart and offered me a ride. Very sweet of them. Zac did well, he shot an 88. The boy he was playing with, also named Zac, shot a 76 winning the tournament. Zac was happy he did well but saw where he could improve. This has been a fun new adventure for all of us. Later that day, I finally took Zac to the doctor for his cough. He never really got rid of it from August. Diagnosis? Bronchitis. He is on antibiotics again and has an inhaler. I hope this kicks his cough for good. I tried to catch some of Bode’s first basketball game but he tweaked his back over the weekend so ended up not playing.
On Tuesday, we received confirmation that we would have a visitor from the missionary department to help with our smartphone launch. Aaron and I quickly planned to have another MLC to accommodate the visit and started preparing how to train the mission leadership so that they can help in the launch of the smartphones There is heavy emphasis on purpose… They don’t pick up and look at their phone unless they have a purposeful reason to do so. They always have to see each other’s screens, they need to share all texts or sent messages with each other, and they follow a guideline that helps identify temptation, choice, and continuous learning. We also introduced the new chapter eight of PMG and walked the missionaries through purposeful goal setting and planning using their phones. Overall the training was a success and it was a good role play for the larger conferences upcoming.
I had three companionship studies this week. Tuesday, I was with the Alvin sisters. That day I also was a member friend for a sister that is investigating the church with the sisters that serve in our ward. Their investigator has made a lot of changes but needs to pray to know. She likes everything that is being taught but hasn’t really prayed about the Book of Mormon, she has prayed to know that Joseph is a prophet and that we need a prophet today so she is headed in the right direction. Wednesday, I met with the sisters from the Shadowcreek ward. Afterwards, we all met with Aaron and the missionary department visitor in regard to the MLC and how the sisters and AP’s could help in teaching the others leaders in the mission. He gave them their smartphones on Monday to set up and use different features to share their experience in MLC. Thursday I was in Texas City with the sisters that serve in that branch. I know I say this often but the time I spend with the sisters in companionship studies is one of my favorites. I always am filled with the spirit and a greater abundance of love. Love for them, their investigators, the gospel and life. It is awesome!
Aaron has been going nonstop. Most nights this week we don’t see him until after 8pm. He had two of his regularly scheduled Stake Presidency meetings this week. One of the nights he trained a group of ward mission leaders on the new technologies coming and showed them how they can look at progress reports, new member progress, and other important reports in LDS Tools. Very few leaders know about these tools which surprises him. and I hope to open more minds to how these reports can help them in all their meetings.
We spoke in the Friendswood Stake Conference on Saturday night. Aaron and I introduced the #LightTheWorld initiative for the Christmas season. Aaron also showed them the new missionary referral option that is built into LDS Tools. It was a great conference. I found the Stake President’s talk on modesty insightful because modesty is not limited to our dress/appearance but also includes our language and behavior. It got me thinking about areas I could personally be better.
Because Bode’s back is hurt, he hasn’t practiced much this week during class and has been relegated to the B team and scoreboard, but he never seems to mind. Jessie is so enamored with Hamilton, the musical, right now that she sings it everywhere she goes and is often giving me random facts about Hamilton, Aaron Burr and the Revolutionary War. Her report was this week. I am confident she was able to share his life story without a problem. She felt good about it. Because of her great interest in Hamilton, I looked to see if it was coming to Houston. Jessie and I were happy to see it is coming in April but sad to see how expensive the tickets are. $800 for the top row and $3500 for lower level. Yikes! Needless to say, we won’t be going. Bummer.