ELDER AND SISTER ZIVIC

This week, we had the wonderful opportunity to travel to Barbados, as a Zone, and be instructed by one of the Lord's servants,  Elder Claudio Zivic, a member of the 1st Quorum of the Seventy and member of our Caribbean Area Presidency.
(Sisters Lamb and Smith, Elders Ramdhanie, Leany, Naylor, Pierson, Dearing, Bingham
Sister Mehr, President Mehr, Elder Zivic, Sister Zivic, Elder and Sister Smith)

It was a long day, and we were hot and tired, but the spirit was strong and taught us much.  Elder Zivic asked us to never disappoint the trust our Prophet has in us as missionaries.

He taught us about Divine Grace.  This is the Divine help we receive to help or bless others.  Do we need Divine Grace as missionaries?  Without that help, we wouldn't have 18-19 year olds doing this missionary work.

D&C 43:8-10 When we meet together, we should instruct and edify.  We will know how to help the church.  We need repentance and the ability to follow promptings to be sanctified.  These conferences prompt us to commit to be better.  Because we are missionaries, this is the kingdom we have now.  If we don't fulfill that responsibility, as missionaries, we can lose that kingdom.  Mosiah 2:9  We should open our ears, minds, and hearts to know in what ways we can improve.

There are 3 words that define a successful missionary.  OBEDIENCE, WORTHINESS, HEALTH.

Discouragement can be overcome if we take care of our health.

The vision for our mission is to have each companionship baptise one person per month.  We have doubled our baptisms since President Mehr has been the Mission President.  The mission produced a miracle!!!  We are doing wonderful things as missionaries, but all things can be perfected.  A great tragedy is when someone isn't teachable (that includes us as missionaries).  Lacking humility changed the lives of Laman and Lemuel in the Book of Mormon.  We need an optomistic attitude when we face challenges.  Being teachable allows us to progress more easily.

(So great to meet up with friends during Zone Conference.  Elders Beck and Dearing)

In order to achieve another level in this mission, we need to break the old mindset.  Brainstorm and obtain new ideas.  As missionaries, we need to be having spiritual experiences each day.  When was the last time you had a spiritual experience?  The work we are doing is completely spiritual in nature.  

(Sister Lamb, Elder Gubler, Sister Smith and Sister Gubler)

D&C 84:88  If we always have the spirit with us, we will always want to do what the Lord says.  D&C 112:5 When you hear the whisper of the spirit, pay attention.  Never ignore those whisperings.  What a great privilege we have as missionaries!!!  Don't waste time!

(Elders Bingham and Olesen)

Be engaged in asking, seeking, knocking

(Elders Naylor and Bingham with Sister Mehr)

Personally, how deeply rooted are you in the Book of Mormon?  If you were to bear testimony, what do you truly know?  What have you experienced in life to help you gain that testimony?  As missionaries, there is so much structure.  Never again will you have 2 hours each day where you can study the scriptures.  Cherish that time.  Study conscientiously!  As missionaries, we can make or break our mission between the hours of 6:30 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. 

(Elders Shariatmadarie, Dearing and Beck....helping Elder Dearing get his cuffs buttoned up)

Make a list of the gifts you see in your companion and then share them with the Lord.

(Elders Olesen and Scott from our Trinidad Zone)

How can I gain a desire to fulfill my purpose?  Gain that desire by experiencing the Atonement.

Study the Atonement and see how it applies to me.  Feel sorrow, humble myself, pray with diligence.

(Elder Grange from our Trinidad Zone)

The Book of Mormon is the keystone of our religion in at least 3 ways.  1.) It is our witness.  2.) It has the fulness of the doctrine.  3.) It is the foundation of our testimony.

(Elders Leany and Scott were both in our Trinidad Zone)

The best thing we can teach our investigators is how to repent.  They must learn how to make and keep commitments.  These commitments prepare people to make and keep sacred covenants.  Don't be casual about this.  This is eternal life that we are dealing with!!!!  It is the most important path this investigator will ever walk!

Repentance requires a sincere and lasting change of thoughts, desires, habits, and actions.

Elders Naylor and Leany)

The words "Come unto Christ" are an invitation.  When we invite others to come, their hearts are changed.

(Sisters Feltis and Tilby)

Remember, no effort is wasted!

(Sisters Aiteria and Graziano)

The photo master!  President Mehr

Sister Mehr...ever the perfect organizer!

Elders Dearing and Hatch (Assistant to President Mehr)

Sister Smith and Elder Hatch (trying on necklaces??!!)

Elder Contreras

Elder Leany

Sister Smith

Elders Bingham (Elder B. was a very good sport because he was sick with chickungunya fever during the conference) and Hatch

Wednesday, the Grand Anse missionaries, plus Ricky and Jemin, did a service project at some tennis courts that needed a lot of attention in the St. Georges area.  It was a great morning!  Got lots done and only sweat a likkle bik!!!

Ricky, Elder Smith, Sister Smith Jr., Sister Lamb, Jemin, Elders Ramdhanie and Dearing

Sister Smith

Ricky sharpening his cutlass.

Sister Lamb picking up debris.

Elder Smith

This is the "before" picture of the weeds we chopped down

Ricky, the cutlass master!

Jemin with his modern cutlass!

Sisters Lamb and Smith dragging a boatload of debris to be burned

Elder Dearing.  Chop, chop, chop!

Water break

Watermelon break with Elder Ramdhanie

Ricky and Ryan Stanisclaus are making clay nativity sets with a Caribbean flare. They are selling them, so everybody should put an order in!!!!!  Hint, hint!!!