February, my most fearsomely anticipated month (“Just wait until February, it’s REALLY hot then!”) has not turned out to be so dreadful, after all (yet). We are still getting rain – in fact we just ended 3 days of it – and it cools things down. It also makes things even more incredibly green and flowery. One of the best things about the “rolling hills of Durban” is that every time you go up one, which is every few minutes, right after you go down one, you get a new view – of another hill covered with houses, or downtown and the ocean, or the university, or the Pavilion Mall...it’s very fun!
We’ve already started seeing the fruits of the mission fast... On Monday we got a referral from the Capetown Mission: a family (with a car!) who have committed to be baptized, moving to Umlazi W, here in
The last several days have been an interview and mini-training loop for Steve and the Assistants. At the start of January each of the missionaries received a goal setting packet that included the Mission Goals and Objectives for 2008, and spaces for them to make personal goals to support those objectives, and additional goals for their own spiritual development. They sent their goals in to him a few weeks ago, and he reviews them during interviews. Most were really good, but a few districts really missed the point. Those elders have been strongly encouraged to make new, meaningful goals, and turn them in by Saturday. I expect they will...
Here are a few examples of the goal forms: PMG is, of course, Preach My Gospel.
NAME:________________________
#1.
Personal Goal:_______________________________________________________
Key Scriptures:_______________________________________________________PMG References______________________________________________________
How I will know I am achieving this goal__________________________________
What I will do daily/weekly to help achieve this goal__________________________
SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT GOALS:
#4.
Personal Goal:_______________________________________________________
Key Scriptures:________________________________________________________
PMG References_______________________________________________________
What I will do daily/weekly to help achieve this goal__________________________
This week there is an email going out to the missionaries with some of the questions that evolved during the interviews. They go along with the Teaching with Boldness theme we’ve been using. Maybe they will be of use to some of you in your constant effort to share the gospel...
“If I could show you that there is a God who is real and personal and who knows you, loves you, wants the best for you and has a plan for you, would you want to know what that plan is?”
“If I could show you that Jesus Christ is real, that through His suffering He has made it possible for you to live forever, be free of guilt and sin, and return to live with your Heavenly Father, would you want to know if that were true and how you could be a part of it?”
“If I could answer your questions about where you came from, who you are, why you are on this earth and what happens to you when you die, would you want to know the answers to these questions?”
“If I could show you that there is a prophet on the Earth today just like Moses and Jeremiah of old, who guides and directs people on how to raise families in righteousness, how to avoid the destructive temptations we are surrounded with in today’s world, how to be happy in this world, and how to return to their Heavenly Father, would you want to know about him and what he teaches?”
“If I could bring you a book that, like the Bible, testifies of Christ; a book that tells the story of another people, on another continent, who looked forward to and prophesied of Christ’s birth; a book that tells of Him visiting and ministering to them after His resurrection, and bears a second testimony that He is our redeemer; a book that supports and clarifies Bible teachings... If I could bring you this book, would you want to read it and find out for yourself if it is true?”
“Would knowing the answers to these questions change your life? Would knowing these answers be worth some of your time and effort?”
And when the answer is yes(!):
“If you are truly interested, my companion and I are willing to rearrange our time, reschedule our appointments and do all in our power to teach you about these things. We will come twice a week to teach you about these things. You in turn need to commit to being here at the scheduled time, and putting some effort into reading the things we give you to read, thinking about the things we talk about and pondering and praying about whether or not they are true. Will you commit to doing this?”
“We know that sometimes things come up that make it difficult to keep an appointment. Will you commit to SMS or call us if for some reason you can’t be there, so we don’t end a discussion with someone else and come all the way over here and not find anyone home?”
“While we are here will you turn off the television and music so we can talk freely and invite the Spirit to be with us?”
“Our message is for the whole family. Can you make sure the whole family is here to teach?”
If you are talking to the Baba (father): “We believe the father as patriarch of the family can provide real leadership for the family in the discussion of spiritual matters. Will you commit to being here and helping us lead this discussion with your family?”
“We can teach you about all these things but we can’t make you believe nor would we want you to. What we can do is show you how you can come to your own testimony that these things are true. This will take some time and effort on your part. Are you willing to do this?”
Since it’s officially the Last Days, there just isn’t time to entertain people with our visits (and face it, a couple of white missionaries in a township can be pretty entertaining). We’re looking for the people who are looking for the gospel – and it’s working.
Well, this got a little long, but I think it helps you see what’s going on here. One last note: we got a lone, mid-cycle missionary this week (visa delays) from
Love to everybody, and Happy Valentine’s Day!
Mom/Grandma/Sue/Susan/Sister President Mann
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