November 21, 2011

November 21, 2011 – Week 6 of Transfer 15


Where to begin… It has been a good week, like I mentioned last week it has been full of trainings. The leadership training (happens every 2nd month) was unique and turned out well. We pulled in all the district leaders of the mission and gathered them in the cultural hall of our mission office. There in the cultural hall I held a mock district meeting for an hour and half. I focused on teaching with and power and authority expounded on how we do that! In the 11th section the Doctrine and Covenants we learn from verse 21 there are two ingredients to teach with this divine power. Those two Ingredients are the spirit and the word. The entire training was focused on the power of the WORD, or in other words the importance of using scriptures in our lessons. I used Preach My Gospel to get into the details of how we should introduce, read and apply scriptures in our lessons.

The purpose of the “mock” district meeting wasn’t for the training itself but to give them an example of an effective district meeting which included district accountability and a training saturated in Preach My Gospel. I focused on following the training model which is to explain, demonstrate, practice, evaluate and repractice. It was unique in that we have never done training like this but it was extremely effective. In front of the white board we had a few tables out and 5 chairs around those tables for the elders of my “district”. Around the three point line of the court we had the 25 other district leaders observing and taking notes. President Miller was there on the side to pause whenever he would like to either highlight something I did well or to correct! It was much fun!

The following day we had another leadership training but this time the zone leaders were included. Elder David F. Evans of the seventy (1st quorum) presided at this training. He is the executive director of the missionary department and he had his entire crew there with him. Including my all time favorite Elder Stephen B. Allen the managing director of the missionary department. The training was given from these two good brothers and it was focused on chapter 9 of Preach My Gospel. They had about 10 others from the missionary department (including people from the MTC) observing this pilot training, it was quite intense. They highlighted many areas of improvement and helped us cut some of the traditions of our fathers. President, Elder Speigner and I had a solid half hour with Elder Evans before the training in President’s office. It has been unreal working with so many General Authorities as an Assistant to President Miller. BUT It doesn’t stop there. Last night Elder M. Russel Ballard of the Twelve spoke to our South Cottonwood Stake. We were able to meet him and introduce him to a few our recent converts.

As far as our area goes we did have an extremely successful week. This coming week we will be fasting and praying for a few our investigators mainly Aaliyah, Victoria and Lumeh. Something needs to happen with them and they all have the potential to be baptized this coming weekend but it we will need the Lord’s help. Yesterday was an exceptional Sabbath Day. As always attended about four sacrament meetings but we received some money referrals. There are so many people who are not of our faith who just attend sacrament meeting weekly! It is difficult to find them, we often call them active non-members. During one of our sacrament meetings yesterday I saw a “mini Blake and Lindsay” sitting together. Long story short she was attending church with her boyfriend and after speaking to the both of them we scheduled a lesson for this coming Wednesday, should be great!

You are right, we have the American Thanksgiving holiday this week! I think we might be heading over to Bishop Ulrich’s home in my first area for dinner, I have kept in contact with him throughout my mission. Now as far as transfers goes… things are looking good and my dream of training my last two transfers is coming alive. That’s not for sure but it very well could happen. There are a few possibilities of what could happen but none of us will really know until President makes the final decision. For the past few weeks he has written me a couple letters with specific questions and what not, so who knows! The Elder who is being considered as an Assistant does have much skills when it comes to technology and neither does Elder Speigner but he has been learning what is needed. I’m excited for whatever the Lord has in store for me! I am willing to serve in any postion and in any way, whatever it is I am going to push beyond what I have pushed before! Enjoy the rest of your trip!

Love Elder Pizzey!