{Letter #65} Car Time!
Well, my excitement of having a minivan has turned into me driving for 3-4 hours today.
So I'm a little short on time! It's been a great week though! We had Mission Leadership Council (MLC), zone council (with President and Sister Botchway!), and a bunch of lessons!
At MLC there was a lot of good discussion on what we can do to improve our efforts to find, teach, and baptize as a mission. It was really good for the most part!
Something interesting that happened was a lot of missionaries there were focusing a lot on the negative and everything that our mission is currently doing poorly. It ultimately ended up in a lot of discussion of HOW we can do things different. HOW we can change.
But they completely skipped over the WHY and the WHAT. The things that actually influence our attitudes and behaviors.
"True doctrine, understood, changes attitudes and behaviors" -I don't remember who
But when we understand doctrine and the WHY behind what we are doing we are far happier. We are far more likely to actually have lasting change.
Although it wasn't the most productive council, I still learned so much!
At Zone Council we talked about some changes that the mission had in rules. Most of these seem like looser rules at first glance, but are actually an invitation for us missionaries to step up and live a higher law. Really interesting
Something interesting that happened was a lot of missionaries there were focusing a lot on the negative and everything that our mission is currently doing poorly. It ultimately ended up in a lot of discussion of HOW we can do things different. HOW we can change.
But they completely skipped over the WHY and the WHAT. The things that actually influence our attitudes and behaviors.
"True doctrine, understood, changes attitudes and behaviors" -I don't remember who
But when we understand doctrine and the WHY behind what we are doing we are far happier. We are far more likely to actually have lasting change.
Although it wasn't the most productive council, I still learned so much!
At Zone Council we talked about some changes that the mission had in rules. Most of these seem like looser rules at first glance, but are actually an invitation for us missionaries to step up and live a higher law. Really interesting
And then we talked about how living the doctrine of Christ blesses our lives and the lives of all God's children! It was awesome! The Spirit was very present and I learned a lot from all the missionaries in the zone!
We have had a lot of lessons this past week with a few of our friends. It's really interesting to see how big of a difference it makes in people's conversion when they try to keep the invitations we extend.
When we invite someone to read the Book of Mormon, pray, or come worship church, we invite them to take the foundational steps to build their testimony and increase their conversion! When people act on it I can see them become happier, gain more hope and peace, and find a true lasting purpose!
It's amazing!
When they don't act on these things they simply stay the same way they were when we first met them. It's a little sad when that happens. All we can do is continue to love and pray that the Spirit will work in their hearts.
Some other things that happened this week:
-went to a baptism and ran into a friend from VA
-some amazing talks in church and lessons in EQ
-linger longer after church + about 5 lbs of brisket to take home after that
My spiritual thought for this week is from Alma's teachings. (And my Dad sent this verse to me today and I really loved it) He said:
"And now we only wait to hear the joyful news declared unto us by the mouth of angels, of his coming; for the time cometh, we know not how soon. Would to God that it might be in my day; but let it be sooner or later, in it I will rejoice."
As we look to Christ we will have true lasting joy! I promise that to each of you! Look to Christ this week!
Love you all! Let me know if I can do anything for you!
Love,
Elder Goold
PS Here's a glimpse of our family phone call today:
(Me in Tualatin, Mom in Alpine, Dad in Saint George, Emma in Provo, Cami at work in Birmingham, Spence in the grocery store in Highland. Missing: Garrett at work, Ellie doing homework in Rexburg)
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