Working down the home stretch

Elder Hatch and I had prayed and fasted on July 4th in preparation for Mission Leadership Council and on July 6th in hopes of retaining and remember and implementing the things we learned from MLC. It helped immensely. We felt we needed to inform and train the district leaders in our zone, so that they in turn could help in training each of their district members in our zone meeting and in their district meetings to come. So we made plans with the district leaders in our zone.

On Tuesday we picked up our district leaders down in McMinnville while their companions went out and worked in the surrounding area. We had a short district leader council to help each of them catch the vision that you'd given to us. They in turn started their own spiritual preparations for zone meeting so that they might be able to present the vision God had for their districts. It was amazing to see the Spirit guide our thoughts and actions throughout last week.

Our zone meet turned out to be a success. We had the district leaders inform each missionary to come to the meeting spiritually prepared. We changed the setting of our meeting to the chapel to set the tone and we had each companionship come in reverently and listen to the prelude music while we met with the district leaders briefly before the meeting to coordinate. We also found it very helpful to implement the Sisters for a brief coordination before the meeting as well, so that they could offer the revelation that they, too, had received from MLC.

Immediately following our zone meeting, Elder Hatch took one missionary from Newberg and went on exchange back to Dairy Creek, I traveled back with another Elder to Newberg 1st Ward to work in their area for a day. At first, I was very nervous about my abilities to make a difference in this Elder's life, but after we had companion study the next day, I was filled with the Spirit of Christ in having a strong desire to help him. I had heard things about this missionary's past, but as I relied on the Lord, those preconceived notions quickly passed my mind. I felt an overwhelming love for this missionary as he bore testimony about how he gained his testimony and why he came on a mission, and then as we talked of his personal goals, visions, and strategies. The contrast between the before and after companion study that day was incredible. His attitude and heart changed. We connected rather well, and his whole countenance seemed to have changed. I loved being able to witness and be a part of that miracle.

In Dairy Creek Ward, we are excited with how the work is just exploding as we've exercised our faith in the Lord. Many of investigators are now progressing when before they were not.  A woman who be interviewed tomorrow evening is so excited to be baptized. She said "If we have to push the baptism back, that is fine, as long as I can get baptized eventually." She bore powerful, yet simple testimony of how she knows the Book of Mormon to be a blessing to her in her life, and she made great comments in Gospel Essentials in church on Sunday. She's a bit rough on the edges, but who isn't in some aspect or another?

I love that I am a missionary in this ward at this time. The members are seeing the fruits springing forth left and right and I can see their faith increasing as well. Elder Hatch and I held a special fast with our ward mission leader, and a few of our investigators. I am overwhelmed by the strength that my faith in the Lord is growing in us.