Sorry - no pictures this week. But lots of learning and teaching.
On Sunday this last week, we participated in the Ward Council with the missionaries and Ward leadership. They really are working well together and are supportive of the things we suggest that would help in new member retention and new friend fellowshipping. There are a couple of very good investigators (friends) that aren’t quite ready for baptism but really want what the church has to offer. One is struggling with the Word of Wisdom, another can’t see how they could pay tithing, a third one has to wait to resolve a legal issue. The missionaries have so many other contacts and friends who are progressing, so the Ward is going to take responsibility for the progress of these three. We’re working to get the individuals who have been called as Ward Missionaries to take the front-line responsibility for these three in particular. In the past, the Ward Missionaries haven’t really been expected to do much, so it’s going to take some time and training.
As we are getting to know the recent converts, we are truly
enjoying getting to know them and help them see what the Covenant Path means,
and how they can progress in a way that meets their needs.
We met with the Madrid family last Tuesday. What a joy it
was to be able to get to know them. On Sunday, we introduced ourselves and
asked if there would be a time we could visit with them. They were excited and
invited us to their home on Tuesday evening. We got there and they gave us a
treat and told us their story. It was truly inspiring.
They have two boys – a 10-year-old and a 5-year-old. They
came to Canada about two years ago, and when they tried to find a school for
their older boy, they got turned away every time. She kept trying, and they
basically had to home school him for the first year. When the same thing kept
happening as they prepared for the second school year, Sister Madrid was so
discouraged she prayed and told God that if she didn’t get an answer from the
school by Thursday admitting their son, she was going to go back to Mexico. Her
husband told her that she shouldn’t make ultimatums with God, and there were so
many other good things here that they should keep trying.
Well, on Thursday morning, at 9:02 am, she got a call
telling her that her son would be admitted to that school. She was overjoyed,
but interestingly, she started receiving messages about our church in Facebook
that same day. They weren’t messages from friends or acquaintances – they were
just popping up. So they responded to one, the missionaries contacted them, and
the message of the restored gospel resonated with them.
They were baptized last December and are completely engaged
in every way. They have prepared their own names and done baptisms for the dead
at the temple and continue to look for family members who need their work done.
The father, Erick, has been ordained an elder, and Sister Madrid, Laura, was
just called to teach the new member Sunday School class. She told us she was
nervous, but we told her we would be there and gave her some ideas on how to
get started. It will be fun to see their continued growth as they prepare to
receive their endowments. They have started the Temple Preparation class, and
while we were there, they asked us how long it would be before they could do
that and be sealed as a family. We told them that as soon as they had been
members for a year, they could do that if they were worthy. They asked us if we
could be there, to which we replied, “We’ll move heaven and earth if that’s
what it takes to be there with you.”
As we talked about things, I felt prompted to ask them if
they knew about Patriarchal Blessings. They looked at each other and said that
they had heard about them and hoped that we would help them learn what that
was. It just seemed that we had been inspired to get to know them at the
perfect moment that they needed it. It will be such a joy to us to be able to
continue to teach them and learn from them and share with them in the joy of
the gospel plan.
As an aside, when we got there, the 10-year-old very
politely waited to find out if he needed to translate for these old gringos.
When he realized that we could communicate with his parents, who speak no
English, didn’t need him, he politely excused himself and went to play with his
younger brother in the other room. Such sweet, humble people. They are as dear
to us as if they were our own children and grandchildren, and we’ve only known them
for a week.
Another recent convert is Zaid. He was baptized last Sunday.
His mother is a member in Mexico and had been sending him Conference talks to
listen to. When he met the missionaries, he was already prepared. He is about
22 years old, and a hard worker, but had broken his collarbone on the job, and
so wasn’t working when he met the missionaries. That gave them time to teach
him and baptize him. The day after his baptism, he was able to go back to work,
and it’s been difficult finding a time to teach him the new-member lessons.
Well, today was Labor Day here in Canada, so he had the day
off. We invited him over for dinner and taught the first lesson on the
Restoration. Since he had been well-taught by the missionaries, it was mostly a
review. But he received it so well and was so humble and gracious. One of the
missionaries had given him a tie to wear next week when he receives the Aaronic
Priesthood, so I tried to show him how to tie it. I suggested he could find a
YouTube video that he could practice with during the week.
We taught him about the Aaronic Priesthood, and what it
meant to have that authority to help pass the Sacrament. It will be fun to
continue to see him progress.
And the last one I’ll mention here is Tony. He was baptized
3-4 months ago, and has been ordained a Priest, but hasn’t felt ready to help
with the Sacrament yet. We had a phenomenal visit with him after church
yesterday. He’s ready to get a white shirt, the Bishop already gave him a tie,
so we’ll see if he participates with the Aaronic Priesthood next Sunday. He
asked about Patriarchal Blessings, and after I explained it to him, he said
that he was excited to learn more and prepare for that. He has committed to
weekly appointments so we can keep a connection and keep helping him learn, as
well.
We also found a member whose baptism and confirmation had
never been recorded. We know who baptized him – there is a picture on the wall
in the hall at church of them just before the baptism. The missionary who
taught him and witnessed his baptism is here in the ward (for a second time –
serendipity? I think not.)
Since I was involved in fixing an identical problem in
Tupiza when we were there, it was easy to find the instructions in the General
Handbook, so I’m working at getting that taken care of as well.
Sister Lyon and I have been invited to talk about conversion
with the missionaries at our District Council this week, so we are preparing
for that. We enjoy learning with the missionaries each week in these Councils.
Each transfer (every six to seven weeks), they hold a Zone
Council. One difference from our experience in Tupiza in these zone meetings is
the role that the Sister Training Leader companionship has. They share time
with the Zone Leaders in giving instruction and council. We see real growth in
these young missionaries and are grateful to be here with them.
And, lastly, we had a “game night” with the other Senior
missionaries here in the mission. There were seven other companionships there,
all about our age, and we enjoyed identifying songs (“Guess that tune”) from
our era. Sister Lyon loved “rocking out” with these dear faithful Senior
missionaries.
