So, this week was transfers! Elder Berry [Jacob's companion] went to be Mc'Carthy Hill District Leader - my birthplace! I loved that area; he'll get to enjoy all of Mc'Carthy 1 AND 2 combined, since so many missionaries went home, and none came (new Pres = no greenies for this month; expect 20 in Sept!). He'll be serving with Elder Nielson, who happens to be one of his down-the-street neighbors from back home. He went to school with him for 2 years, and Elder Nielson's sister was in Elder Berry's grade. It should be interesting; haha. On another note, Elder Afu is AP! Remember him, from my MTC? It's crazy; Pres. Judd shook the entire mission this transfer. He completely threw out Pres. Smith's way of calling people (progression and whatnot) and made some completely unseen changes. It was definitely a powerful way to start his Presidency; haha.
As for the District, everyone else stayed. The District is doing well. We're having to start extending dates for Sept, so Aug. is left to who actually comes to Church. Sunday we got 3, but 2 of them were Kwami Martinson and his two sons (only 1 is over 8). It was great; his son Peter (the 11-yr-old from last week) ran up to me after his first class and said "Elder Collings! I wanna be baptized in this Church! When can I do that?" Probably one of the greatest things I've heard from an 11-yr-old!. Just as great is that his younger son (4-5, something like that) came with him, and when he showed up, he found one of his friends, they grabbed hands, and took off to class, so I think that he's going to have no problem adjusting to the Church.
The biggest thing this week was that we got 9 member present lessons! I've never had so many in one week. Normally it's a struggle just to get 3 or 4. Our Ward is really starting to do their part. Bishop Koomson went out with us during the week and walked to see a few of the homes of our investigators. We have about 9 within 10 minutes walking distance of his house (if not shorter) and we were able to take him to meet a few of them. We even had a lesson with Margaret, Bro. Charles' daughter (the inactive member from a few weeks ago; remember?). Bro. Ampofo, the Elders' Quorum President, is now getting Home Teaching up and running, which should really help the Ward in retention, and also help us get investigators more smoothly transitioned into the Ward.
Probably the biggest help, though, is Bro. Joe Paluka. He's the somewhat new Ward Mission Leader (called a few weeks ago; I think I mentioned him before...). He's doing wonderfully. He makes calls, he visits the investigators, and does what he can to go out with us teaching.
We also have other members helping here and there. Sis. Sackey (2nd Councilor's Wife) went out with us to visit an investigator who lives nearby her house, even though she and her sister were coming to chop [I don't know what this means "coming to chop"...]. It's amazing how much difference even the smallest contributions from the Ward can make. Not only does it help the investigators feel welcomed and wanted, but it helps the missionaries. It's unbelievable to report 9 MP's in a week. It really shows that the Ward appreciates what we're doing; too often, the biggest hindrance to the Work here is that the missionaries feel like the Ward just doesn't care. There has been many times when it seemed to me that parts of the mission should be shut down so that these Wards can see what it'd be like to not have missionaries. Missionary Work is so successful and fruitful here that it often gets put on the backburner, and it really discourages the missionaries. But seeing the Wards perform missionary work like this, seeing the effort their giving, whether big or small, really helps move the Work forward, as it really helps motivate the missionaries.
I implore everyone to do what they can to help the missionaries. Saying hello and greeting them, giving them rides, cooking for them; all these things are great, and a wonderful help... But I can almost guarantee you that, if they had to choose between a meal or a referral, every single missionary in the world would choose the referral. 30 minutes to teach a lesson with them is far more valuable than 30 minutes to prepare a meal. I know that it is hard, but it is worth it, and it is what the Lord requires of His Saints. "Seek ye first to build up the kingdom of God" (JST - Matt. 6:33). Pres. Hinckley put it best when he said:
"I am saying that out of a spirit of appreciation and gratitude, and a sense of duty, you ought to make whatever adjustment is necessary to give a little of your time... to the work of sharing with others the gospel, which is the source of so much of the good that you have.
I promise that if you will do so, you will come to know that what appears today to be a sacrifice will prove instead to be the greatest investment that you will ever make." (Gordon B. Hinckley, "Words of the Prophet: Forget Yourself and Go", New Era, 2002).
True, he is speaking to young men serving full-time missions, but I feel that it is just as true to those members who sacrifice part of their time to be missionaries. There is no sacrifice in missionary work; only long-term investment. And the rewards are great, and the promise is sure. To once again quote Pres. Hinckley, he said:
“Great are the promises of the Lord. The marvelous thing to me is that the Lord never asks us to do anything that He does not attach to it a blessing. It is not a sacrifice to live the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is never a sacrifice when you get back more than you give. It is an investment. And the living of the gospel of Jesus Christ becomes a greater investment than any of which I know because its dividends are eternal and everlasting” (Tacoma, Washington, regional conference, 20 Aug. 1995).
Sis. Carol B. Thomas, First Councilor in the Young Women General Presidency, stated, speaking of member missionary work:
"Many of you are doing remarkable things. Megan, a young woman, prayed many months for two friends who were not members of the Church, arranging for one friend to sign up for seminary and inviting the other to be taught by the missionaries. Recently these two young women were baptized. The Church needs you. President Hinckley cannot walk down the halls of your school and teach your friends, but you can, and the Lord is counting on you. We’re so proud of the courage you have as you share your love for the gospel with your friends." (Carol B. Thomas, "Sacrifice: An Eternal Investment," April 2001 General Conference Address).
When the Resurrected Christ was going to leave His disciples, He spoke to them concerning missionary work:
"And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen" (Matt. 28: 18-20).
Christ stated He had all power in heaven and earth, and then to do missionary work. He could have said "All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and pay your tithes," or "All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and read the scriptures, go to seminary, pray always, do your home teaching." There are many things pertaining to His Gospel and His Church, but He told them first and foremost to do missionary work.
I know these things are true. The Lord blesses us when we do missionary work. Help the missionaries in your Ward, or Stake, or area; whichever the case. By all means, feed them, carry them, help them in such temporal ways. But more-so than that, help them carry out the Work of the Lord by giving them your friends, your family, your time, your effort, yours prayers, yourself. I know that if we all do this, God will pour out His blessings upon us in a a great abundance unlike anything we've experienced in our lives. The Lord's Work must go forward; we are His tools to do it. Let us do so. This I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
--Elder Collings
As for the District, everyone else stayed. The District is doing well. We're having to start extending dates for Sept, so Aug. is left to who actually comes to Church. Sunday we got 3, but 2 of them were Kwami Martinson and his two sons (only 1 is over 8). It was great; his son Peter (the 11-yr-old from last week) ran up to me after his first class and said "Elder Collings! I wanna be baptized in this Church! When can I do that?" Probably one of the greatest things I've heard from an 11-yr-old!. Just as great is that his younger son (4-5, something like that) came with him, and when he showed up, he found one of his friends, they grabbed hands, and took off to class, so I think that he's going to have no problem adjusting to the Church.
The biggest thing this week was that we got 9 member present lessons! I've never had so many in one week. Normally it's a struggle just to get 3 or 4. Our Ward is really starting to do their part. Bishop Koomson went out with us during the week and walked to see a few of the homes of our investigators. We have about 9 within 10 minutes walking distance of his house (if not shorter) and we were able to take him to meet a few of them. We even had a lesson with Margaret, Bro. Charles' daughter (the inactive member from a few weeks ago; remember?). Bro. Ampofo, the Elders' Quorum President, is now getting Home Teaching up and running, which should really help the Ward in retention, and also help us get investigators more smoothly transitioned into the Ward.
Probably the biggest help, though, is Bro. Joe Paluka. He's the somewhat new Ward Mission Leader (called a few weeks ago; I think I mentioned him before...). He's doing wonderfully. He makes calls, he visits the investigators, and does what he can to go out with us teaching.
We also have other members helping here and there. Sis. Sackey (2nd Councilor's Wife) went out with us to visit an investigator who lives nearby her house, even though she and her sister were coming to chop [I don't know what this means "coming to chop"...]. It's amazing how much difference even the smallest contributions from the Ward can make. Not only does it help the investigators feel welcomed and wanted, but it helps the missionaries. It's unbelievable to report 9 MP's in a week. It really shows that the Ward appreciates what we're doing; too often, the biggest hindrance to the Work here is that the missionaries feel like the Ward just doesn't care. There has been many times when it seemed to me that parts of the mission should be shut down so that these Wards can see what it'd be like to not have missionaries. Missionary Work is so successful and fruitful here that it often gets put on the backburner, and it really discourages the missionaries. But seeing the Wards perform missionary work like this, seeing the effort their giving, whether big or small, really helps move the Work forward, as it really helps motivate the missionaries.
I implore everyone to do what they can to help the missionaries. Saying hello and greeting them, giving them rides, cooking for them; all these things are great, and a wonderful help... But I can almost guarantee you that, if they had to choose between a meal or a referral, every single missionary in the world would choose the referral. 30 minutes to teach a lesson with them is far more valuable than 30 minutes to prepare a meal. I know that it is hard, but it is worth it, and it is what the Lord requires of His Saints. "Seek ye first to build up the kingdom of God" (JST - Matt. 6:33). Pres. Hinckley put it best when he said:
"I am saying that out of a spirit of appreciation and gratitude, and a sense of duty, you ought to make whatever adjustment is necessary to give a little of your time... to the work of sharing with others the gospel, which is the source of so much of the good that you have.
I promise that if you will do so, you will come to know that what appears today to be a sacrifice will prove instead to be the greatest investment that you will ever make." (Gordon B. Hinckley, "Words of the Prophet: Forget Yourself and Go", New Era, 2002).
True, he is speaking to young men serving full-time missions, but I feel that it is just as true to those members who sacrifice part of their time to be missionaries. There is no sacrifice in missionary work; only long-term investment. And the rewards are great, and the promise is sure. To once again quote Pres. Hinckley, he said:
“Great are the promises of the Lord. The marvelous thing to me is that the Lord never asks us to do anything that He does not attach to it a blessing. It is not a sacrifice to live the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is never a sacrifice when you get back more than you give. It is an investment. And the living of the gospel of Jesus Christ becomes a greater investment than any of which I know because its dividends are eternal and everlasting” (Tacoma, Washington, regional conference, 20 Aug. 1995).
Sis. Carol B. Thomas, First Councilor in the Young Women General Presidency, stated, speaking of member missionary work:
"Many of you are doing remarkable things. Megan, a young woman, prayed many months for two friends who were not members of the Church, arranging for one friend to sign up for seminary and inviting the other to be taught by the missionaries. Recently these two young women were baptized. The Church needs you. President Hinckley cannot walk down the halls of your school and teach your friends, but you can, and the Lord is counting on you. We’re so proud of the courage you have as you share your love for the gospel with your friends." (Carol B. Thomas, "Sacrifice: An Eternal Investment," April 2001 General Conference Address).
When the Resurrected Christ was going to leave His disciples, He spoke to them concerning missionary work:
"And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen" (Matt. 28: 18-20).
Christ stated He had all power in heaven and earth, and then to do missionary work. He could have said "All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and pay your tithes," or "All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and read the scriptures, go to seminary, pray always, do your home teaching." There are many things pertaining to His Gospel and His Church, but He told them first and foremost to do missionary work.
I know these things are true. The Lord blesses us when we do missionary work. Help the missionaries in your Ward, or Stake, or area; whichever the case. By all means, feed them, carry them, help them in such temporal ways. But more-so than that, help them carry out the Work of the Lord by giving them your friends, your family, your time, your effort, yours prayers, yourself. I know that if we all do this, God will pour out His blessings upon us in a a great abundance unlike anything we've experienced in our lives. The Lord's Work must go forward; we are His tools to do it. Let us do so. This I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
--Elder Collings
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