December 7, 2015
Hello!
Pictures, I uploaded a
bunch on Sunday and I think one of them, the one in October, should be good.
More on the way, but I think that will be good for the family Christmas card.
Investigators and
progression through gospel topics. All in Preach my Gospel, we typically start
with the restoration because that talks about some key things that set us apart
from other churches. (Book of Mormon, Joseph Smith, priesthood authority,
modern day revelation) then plan of Salvation and Gospel of Jesus Christ with
commandments interspersed. Part of the difference in Preach my Gospel is that
it focuses more on the individual needs of the investigator and of the
missionary more, following the spirit being the most important thing. I believe
there is a line in Preach my Gospel where it says that the spirit is the most
important element of the work, so even though we typically go through in that
order we always make sure that what we teach is personally applicable and
helpful and truly what they need to hear. If people don´t keep their commitments
we normally don´t move forward and really introduce new doctrine. If you
haven´t read from the Book of Mormon (or whatever the invitation may be) then
you aren´t doing what you need to do to truly learn. Teachers invite people to
act (Elder Bednar said something like that at mission conference) if people
don´t do what they have committed to then it´s hard to move on. We typically
review or do their reading with them and help them to understand how to relate
the scriptures to themselves or make that a meaningful experience, whatever it
may be.
Yes, definitely taking
advantage of those :) [exercise stuff]
I´m back down to 1??! Yesterday I wore some pants to church that I haven´t worn
since the MTC! Better Sport in the morning, healthier eating through the day-
mostly just less food and portion control, haven´t gone off of sugar or
anything like that. Ok, I´ll follow Maddy´s example and be patient with my
Christmas package when it comes.
I´ll get that really
soon, Because......
I´m moving to Frankfurt!
Off to the hub of the mission and European stuff in the church. If you send me
packages or letters I´ll have them really soon, the church is also right next
to the apartment building so it will be easier to send you pictures and things
like that. I´m looking at another big change in life. (I´ll be a zone leader
too, don´t really know totally what to expect but I´m excited to learn and grow
more and be able to do so much with and for so many missionaries). I don´t know
yet (of course) who my companion Elder Robert Taylor and I will be with or how
that will go for Christmas, maybe we´ll skype from our iPads in the church.
Schauen wir mal [We’ll see].
Glad to hear you had fun
at the temple and are doing well :) How´s the family mission plan going? Maybe
mix some Preach my Gospel in with family scripture study, I´ve told you before
and I´ll write it again, I wish I´d studies that more before my mission. I love
it, it is so simple, foundational and really applicable for anyone in so many
areas.
This week I´ve been
pondering intent, motivation, and love a lot. Why do missionaries (or whoever
it may be) do what they do? Do you talk to people on the street so that you can
tell mission leaders about it, have cool stories for the family, be a hard
working missionary, or truly out of love and hope for the people with whom you
talk? The first things aren´t bad, I´m definitely looking forward to telling
stories and like writing good stories in emails, but that can´t be the primary
motivation to do missionary work. Love. The true motivation needs to be love,
intending to lovingly help people as we invite them to come unto Christ.
I think that´s a really
good thing to do in life, ask ourselves why we are who we are and why we do
what we do, make course corrections. Be what God would have us be and do what
he would have us do. Have joy in it :)
Have a great week! Love,
Hayden
Oh
yeah, I ended up giving my talk without notes because I had lost my iPad. I
left it on the train on the way to church. Mighty prayer (Grandpa)- mostly out
of not wanting to make mom sad, since I weirdly wasn´t too stressed that I had
lost it and wasn´t worried that I wouldn´t get it back- and I got it back on
Tuesday. Some angel who works for Hessischelandesbahn turned it in. Prayers
answered. Oh, also, a really nice woman who Elder Regehr talked with on
Saturday night (we were home at 11:30 last week, missing trains and stuff, but
with purpose it turns out) has a baptismal date now and is loving the Book of
Mormon. till next week for real this time. miracles..
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