Does anyone else find it interesting that the doctrine we advertise most is Eternal Families. But one of the most complicated and deep doctrine we have is the what/who/how of Eternal families? Just saying...
I've realized that my mission has put me back into that mindset of being a busy body. I really can't sit still unless it's 10:30 and my head hits the pillow. During my lunch hour I either have to cook and eat the whole hour or do something after I eat. I seriously can't sit and do nothing. I almost get anxious. I can hold still as long as I'm doing something (i.e. I can sit in Sacrament fine because I'm doing something).
Canandaigua has to be one of the most organized areas now. We've got everyone on the directory contacted and labelled (Active, Less Active Member, Moved, uninterested, etc) which is all written on a master list. We have a map with each type (Active, Less Active, etc) labelled, including the former investigators. We have our area sectioned off into 4 areas in which we have a paper for each area which has each person listed with their membership status (active, etc) and notes about them which are sorted geographically for most effective contacting with minimal backtracking. There isn't a name on there that we at least don't know about. Boom.
I'm really trying to be the most effective I can be. Trying to really organize this area and make it really effective. I came up with a fridge magnet that has 10 steps to using technology to share the gospel. Hopefully I can get those going and every member will have it on the fridge and will be utilizing it. Really I feel like one of the few finding options we have left is simply to tract. Almost everything else is being done and we aren't finding anyone. I'm really pretty willing to tract if I need to. Our area is just pretty spread apart so it's not easy to go door to door.
I've also started using the Gospel Library Study Pad section as a way to type my journal. That way, each month I can just print it off and paste it into my paper journal. The reason I'm doing this is because I can type good details on my day in 5 minutes versus 30 minutes of writing it out. And I don't have 30 minutes. The blessings of modern technology and serving in this mission. And I can copy/paste journal inserts. So my letter home should be full of more detail as well as my journal.
Okay... Okay... I do think I'm more extroverted then I let on. This last Friday I was feeling a little extra down and frustrated. It was our weekly planning session in the morning, which was causing some struggles to get my companion to participate and focus. With a couple interruptions it went until about 4:00. At which our dinner appointment with Brother Thornton (ex spy/Germany Missionary/Brother Maxwell's Uncle) we went to a Hibachi Grill. Sooo sweet! He spoils us! It's he coolest thing ever. They cook it in front of you. But anyway, he carries on great conversation and after talking with him for an hour and a half non stop, I felt nice and refreshed! Go figure.
General Conference is great! It's a feast so big that I can't eat it all. Luckily they publish the leftovers for later. Which is really good because I found that It was really hard for me to focus 100% on Conference. I found my mind trying to multitask and think about upcoming events, needs of the people we are working with, spiritual thoughts to share with families, etc.
It was really cool as right before Priesthood session, Steven was talking to me about the Women's Group that is crying out for "equality" in the priesthood and receiving the priesthood. Right as we finished the conversation and Elder Oaks started to talk, he hit on every last hung we were talking about. Exactly! He explained perfectly the keys of the priesthood, authority of the priesthood and power of the priesthood. He also spoke very well on how the genders are equal. Equal does not mean the same. We are very different but we are equal partners. Way sweet! I just wish I could soak every last word of General Conference in. Very inspired talks. They were getting pretty bold this Saturday too!
Here is my invitation to everyone in our family: Will you make a Mormon.org account? Put some thought into it and report back to me in letters and emails? Share this with the aunts and uncles and Grandma and Grandpa. Especially Cathy as I could see hers being inspirational with how she is a successful business woman. I hope within the next week or two that when I ask members in NY build courage (like President Monson said) to share their beliefs online, that I will be able to share that my family too has accepted that invitation. Will you do that and ask our other family members to do that? And then report back?
You heard M. Russel Ballard. Study Preach My Gospel. *cough* Blake *cough* it will help a ton!
That pretty much wraps it up. General Conference is cool #LDSConf
Transfers never make any sense. But my new companion is going to be Elder Brinley. Apparently he is supposed to be good missionary! Yay!! But seriously... All the transfers make no sense at all. But I'm going on to transfer 7 with my 6th companion (I think I counted that right). I'm going to set some records at this rate.
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