Hello!
In just a month and a half into 2016 we few Missionaries in Fiji have already had about 250 Saints: Baptisms and Returning Members; Children of God who have risen above all odds and transformed their lives to follow the Savior Jesus Christ! They are all preparing to receive the blessings and glories of Eternity. Armies of people with their eyes set and fixed on the House of The Lord, the Temple--to make their families eternal and receive the blessings God has in store for them.
It has been an amazing week. We have a goal of 10 Saints this month, and potential of 20 in the District for this month. We currently have 6 amazing individuals who were Baptized and Confirmed this week, and 2 Returning Members who have gotten ready for the Temple, and my schedule is packed with Baptismal Interviews for families and groups of amazing people deciding to follow Jesus Christ, set for Baptism on the 27th of this month.
The two things I am most grateful for, is that we started off this month with a District fast and have had very powerful District Meetings and unity activities and that we all hold each other up and above the trials and challenges. Nothing has negative power over this district, because we face it like a family. This is a group who lives true to the name "Unisan." And the second thing I am most grateful for is that we aren't ever just having surges of success and then dry spells. We have learned how to be consistent, balanced and steady in all aspects of the work.
We have already set up and planned the month of March, and in just this companionship of Nasinu Hindi we have 17 individuals who want to be Baptized in March or April. Each of these individuals is SO dear to my heart. I almost weep as I type about them. I am privileged to know these Indians who are leaving behind the world, for that which never perisheth.
Elder Delfin and Elder Mo'unga gave us powerful reviews of the Worldwide Missionary Broadcast and challenged us with very meaningful commitments as to how to implement those trainings in our work this week.
We then had a Training and Discussion I led, and which each member of the District participated in very freely. The Holy Ghost was strong and led what was shared and gained as a contributing body of Elders edifying one another. I gave the Training Heavenly Father taught me when I first became a District Leader, of "Comp... Comp... you have been given who and what you've been given and you don't have power to change that. All the success of the District, Zone, Mission and Worldwide Mission Hastening all starts at the basic unity: your Companionship. Strengthen it and fill it with only the pure love and light of Christ, and you've got a District, Zone, Mission, World that functions on Miracles and Powerhouse of Fruititious Labor. But it is all up to you what you do with the raw materials you are given 'Comp... and Comp....' You spell the rest: 'Ete' or 'Lete.' The only difference is if you choose to put 'The L in it!' Love and Longsuffering." Then we opened it up to what the Holy Ghost taught each of us while that was taught. We discussed what Longsuffering means. We opened it up to the Senior Missionary Couple in relation to Marriage and Compromise and respecting Agency but choosing love no matter what.
Eyes of each of the District Members sparked up as we then went on and talked about how our relationships are like blinking eyes. They are one and function powerfully--and to the outside world it looks like they just do without effort; but the reality of the matter is that they are doing constant, consistent little things called a blink. We committed each other to for the rest of our missions always do little blinks. Acts of small and simple gestures of courtesy, love and charity for our fellow men wherever we be or whomever with.
We talked about how we must teach in unity as a companionship of not 2, but 3. We recited the Mission Motto with a twist: only use your voice, not tongue or lips. Then we used voice and tongue, but not lips. Then all 3. This is like our companionship of 3. Only when all 3 work in flowing harmony can the message get to the ears and hearts and souls of God's children.
Then, Elder Van Der Linden (who the whole District just loves! We have a special respect and admiration for this Elder) shared a story to relate his time in Nabua. I cried! It changed the way I see missionary work! He taught us that it isn't about being the missionaries everyone thanks or remembers or sees or praises or acknowledges. It is about being the missionary that the Lord trusts to do the real work--the kind Christ did; the kind that wasn't in the headlines or favor or applause realms, but the kind that really got the kingdom and Christ connected to a child of God that needs love and needs real needs met.
The things that the people we are working with are struggling with are often things I once had to overcome. It makes me laugh to see God using who I once was to perfectly help my "children" now facing the same things God took so much time and love to show me. I know that the Mission is designed perfect! I know that the Lord is smiling(: The rest of my mission is to build others like God was so kind and patient to do for me. Building my brothers and sisters one with Christ and Father in this perfect work of love and progress is all my heart is set on; for now and ever after the mission.
I have never sacrificed more, walked more, gone through more pressure... never been happier or more satisfied and fulfilled! I LIVE TO BE ON FIRE FOREVER. We are all meant to live in the flame of the most uncomfortable zone our life has to offer--if we wish to be refined to our highest destiny. There is no comfort in the growth zone.
This is a drawing that Elder Van Der Linden drew.
Some pain and 'remodeling' and new views and do's must be a constant if growth and improvement are to be a constant. The life without ceiling or barrier is only for the few who are willing to do what most all won't. Be one of the few. No limits. No comfort. Christ knows you can. So you do. Simple as that.
If you're not changing your life for the better, you're not having faith in JesusChrist; and you are drawing away from Him. Are you having the faith to make "pain changes"?
A miracle of our week: one of our dear people we're working with had told us that they weren't going to be Baptized because they felt comfortable in their Hindu culture and weren't willing to leave it. This was the 5th time they had been invited to be baptized. They know the Book of Mormon is true and that what we teach is right and they experienced the Temple and want to go back there... but the cares of the world had a hold on their heart. We prayed and prepared and then came back the next day and the Holy Ghost touched them as they read the scriptures. They promised themselves they will be Baptized! It was such a happy moment of relief! We laughed and said, "look, we all want it now, but we need to make sure nothing can shake us so that 3 weeks from now we forgot we wanted this more than the world. So lets promise ourselves and agree we'll put Christ first and make this goal happen!" This family is progressing toward Baptism with their eyes on the temple!
The best thing is that this is a family I had just started teaching as I left Nasinu months ago. Now, I can see the fruit coming forth after all this time. This is a season of seeing fulfilling fruit of my labor all coming forth on every side! We had a fast with them for this Baptismal goal as well. They fasted! The scriptures have the power to change hearts! It is true!
What are you willing to do to receive the things the world can't give? Will you give up the world or lose your own soul? We all are faced with this choice.
Another one of the amazing Recent Converts who are so heroically strong and an example to me, said: " I now am so happy every day. No matter what. I used to come home after school and be sad if I had a bad day, but now it's like nothing can bring me down. I have a smile on my face wherever I go that can't be wiped off! I am really a totally different person because God sent my 2 angels to save, change and guide me. I cannot wait to serve my own mission and share the true resorted gospel and bring others to feel this joy like I have."
I challenge you to make sharing the gospel to be part of your nature. Let it flow out of your mouth as freely as sports or cartoons. Speak Christ always.
In just a month and a half into 2016 we few Missionaries in Fiji have already had about 250 Saints: Baptisms and Returning Members; Children of God who have risen above all odds and transformed their lives to follow the Savior Jesus Christ! They are all preparing to receive the blessings and glories of Eternity. Armies of people with their eyes set and fixed on the House of The Lord, the Temple--to make their families eternal and receive the blessings God has in store for them.
It has been an amazing week. We have a goal of 10 Saints this month, and potential of 20 in the District for this month. We currently have 6 amazing individuals who were Baptized and Confirmed this week, and 2 Returning Members who have gotten ready for the Temple, and my schedule is packed with Baptismal Interviews for families and groups of amazing people deciding to follow Jesus Christ, set for Baptism on the 27th of this month.
The Savior is personally coming, and because the message is true, the Mission is on Fire!
The two things I am most grateful for, is that we started off this month with a District fast and have had very powerful District Meetings and unity activities and that we all hold each other up and above the trials and challenges. Nothing has negative power over this district, because we face it like a family. This is a group who lives true to the name "Unisan." And the second thing I am most grateful for is that we aren't ever just having surges of success and then dry spells. We have learned how to be consistent, balanced and steady in all aspects of the work.
We have already set up and planned the month of March, and in just this companionship of Nasinu Hindi we have 17 individuals who want to be Baptized in March or April. Each of these individuals is SO dear to my heart. I almost weep as I type about them. I am privileged to know these Indians who are leaving behind the world, for that which never perisheth.
Each night in my nightly prayers, I kneel and open the sacred records I keep of these missionaries in my District and their struggles, joys and progress. These sheep have my heart wrapped up around their lives. They mean everything to me, and I won't let anything in my mission take higher priority than their growth because the work is all in proportion to their spiritual, emotional, mental, physical and social health.
Nightly I always pray for each Elder by name and spend time on just him and his record and sincerely seek Heaven's help and comments or revelation about him and feel Heavenly Father guide me just as if I were their father in how I can help them reach their next steps of growth or higher vision or more perfect focus on the right areas they can improve.
Nightly I always pray for each Elder by name and spend time on just him and his record and sincerely seek Heaven's help and comments or revelation about him and feel Heavenly Father guide me just as if I were their father in how I can help them reach their next steps of growth or higher vision or more perfect focus on the right areas they can improve.
Heaven really does answer.
On the back, I plan exchanges (24hour period where I swap companions with another companionship for training purposes) and write the outcome of the exchange and any commitments they gave me, and commitments I gave them. No exchange I will ever go on on the remaining 8 months of the mission will be anything less than transformative and full-mission impacting in the short and long term for these missionaries and myself. This District will know how to have a high vision and set the powerful, smart, consecrated, wise goals to make all the highest vision they could imagine, reality.
There is so much to share about the District. They have no walls. What I mean is, they confide in me whenever they are going through a struggle and each looks forward to exchanges and District Meetings. This is a District of 8 Teachable Elders who have built Personal Realtionships with Jesus Christ that have led us to put our hearts on Exact Obedience--and these 3 ingredients are why we are each Working so Hard. Elder Delfin and Elder Mo'unga gave us powerful reviews of the Worldwide Missionary Broadcast and challenged us with very meaningful commitments as to how to implement those trainings in our work this week.
We then had a Training and Discussion I led, and which each member of the District participated in very freely. The Holy Ghost was strong and led what was shared and gained as a contributing body of Elders edifying one another. I gave the Training Heavenly Father taught me when I first became a District Leader, of "Comp... Comp... you have been given who and what you've been given and you don't have power to change that. All the success of the District, Zone, Mission and Worldwide Mission Hastening all starts at the basic unity: your Companionship. Strengthen it and fill it with only the pure love and light of Christ, and you've got a District, Zone, Mission, World that functions on Miracles and Powerhouse of Fruititious Labor. But it is all up to you what you do with the raw materials you are given 'Comp... and Comp....' You spell the rest: 'Ete' or 'Lete.' The only difference is if you choose to put 'The L in it!' Love and Longsuffering." Then we opened it up to what the Holy Ghost taught each of us while that was taught. We discussed what Longsuffering means. We opened it up to the Senior Missionary Couple in relation to Marriage and Compromise and respecting Agency but choosing love no matter what.
Eyes of each of the District Members sparked up as we then went on and talked about how our relationships are like blinking eyes. They are one and function powerfully--and to the outside world it looks like they just do without effort; but the reality of the matter is that they are doing constant, consistent little things called a blink. We committed each other to for the rest of our missions always do little blinks. Acts of small and simple gestures of courtesy, love and charity for our fellow men wherever we be or whomever with.
We talked about how we must teach in unity as a companionship of not 2, but 3. We recited the Mission Motto with a twist: only use your voice, not tongue or lips. Then we used voice and tongue, but not lips. Then all 3. This is like our companionship of 3. Only when all 3 work in flowing harmony can the message get to the ears and hearts and souls of God's children.
Then, Elder Van Der Linden (who the whole District just loves! We have a special respect and admiration for this Elder) shared a story to relate his time in Nabua. I cried! It changed the way I see missionary work! He taught us that it isn't about being the missionaries everyone thanks or remembers or sees or praises or acknowledges. It is about being the missionary that the Lord trusts to do the real work--the kind Christ did; the kind that wasn't in the headlines or favor or applause realms, but the kind that really got the kingdom and Christ connected to a child of God that needs love and needs real needs met.
The things that the people we are working with are struggling with are often things I once had to overcome. It makes me laugh to see God using who I once was to perfectly help my "children" now facing the same things God took so much time and love to show me. I know that the Mission is designed perfect! I know that the Lord is smiling(: The rest of my mission is to build others like God was so kind and patient to do for me. Building my brothers and sisters one with Christ and Father in this perfect work of love and progress is all my heart is set on; for now and ever after the mission.
I have never sacrificed more, walked more, gone through more pressure... never been happier or more satisfied and fulfilled! I LIVE TO BE ON FIRE FOREVER. We are all meant to live in the flame of the most uncomfortable zone our life has to offer--if we wish to be refined to our highest destiny. There is no comfort in the growth zone.
This is a drawing that Elder Van Der Linden drew.
Some pain and 'remodeling' and new views and do's must be a constant if growth and improvement are to be a constant. The life without ceiling or barrier is only for the few who are willing to do what most all won't. Be one of the few. No limits. No comfort. Christ knows you can. So you do. Simple as that.
If you're not changing your life for the better, you're not having faith in JesusChrist; and you are drawing away from Him. Are you having the faith to make "pain changes"?
A miracle of our week: one of our dear people we're working with had told us that they weren't going to be Baptized because they felt comfortable in their Hindu culture and weren't willing to leave it. This was the 5th time they had been invited to be baptized. They know the Book of Mormon is true and that what we teach is right and they experienced the Temple and want to go back there... but the cares of the world had a hold on their heart. We prayed and prepared and then came back the next day and the Holy Ghost touched them as they read the scriptures. They promised themselves they will be Baptized! It was such a happy moment of relief! We laughed and said, "look, we all want it now, but we need to make sure nothing can shake us so that 3 weeks from now we forgot we wanted this more than the world. So lets promise ourselves and agree we'll put Christ first and make this goal happen!" This family is progressing toward Baptism with their eyes on the temple!
The best thing is that this is a family I had just started teaching as I left Nasinu months ago. Now, I can see the fruit coming forth after all this time. This is a season of seeing fulfilling fruit of my labor all coming forth on every side! We had a fast with them for this Baptismal goal as well. They fasted! The scriptures have the power to change hearts! It is true!
What are you willing to do to receive the things the world can't give? Will you give up the world or lose your own soul? We all are faced with this choice.
Another one of the amazing Recent Converts who are so heroically strong and an example to me, said: " I now am so happy every day. No matter what. I used to come home after school and be sad if I had a bad day, but now it's like nothing can bring me down. I have a smile on my face wherever I go that can't be wiped off! I am really a totally different person because God sent my 2 angels to save, change and guide me. I cannot wait to serve my own mission and share the true resorted gospel and bring others to feel this joy like I have."
I challenge you to make sharing the gospel to be part of your nature. Let it flow out of your mouth as freely as sports or cartoons. Speak Christ always.
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