I
think the best part of this week was Mission Leadership Council with Elder
Hamula. It was such a blessing to be able to visit with Elder Hamula on a more
personal level. We had lunch and we got to know him and he got to know us. That
was really nice.
Actually
I love what President Lindsay said as well. He read Alma 29:9 about being an
instrument in God's hands. That means that we don't know what we'll be doing
necessarily. It may be that we have heaps of baptisms, it may be that we find a
lot of less actives, it may be that we help our companion, or some of all of
those. So, at the end of the day numbers really don't matter. It matters that
we're doing God's will for us.
Then
Elder Hamula got up. He told us that he's come to our mission several times in
the past few years and that we're at our best that he has ever seen. There has
been steady growth and that the missionaries in the mission are the best, and
most obedient in the history of this mission. He made us feel really good, but
then he gave us a caution: "you're only a day or two away from loosing it
all. You have to press forward EVERY single day. You can't ever feel content or
like there's nothing more you need to do. That's when everything can go to
ruin.” It was such a good reminder. We're doing well, but we need to keep
moving upwards.
He
also read from JST Genesis 14:25-32 and talked about how we can and should be.
He said that a lot of people think it's just for men because it talks about the
Priesthood, but as sisters, because we have been called and set apart, we've
been given a portion and access to that Priesthood power, which is pretty
awesome.
He
talked about how important unity is. He gave us the example of the tower of Babel
and how they were all united but they were united in an unrighteous cause, so
God took away their unity by taking away their communication. He said we have
to be unified horizontally (with each other) and vertically (with God.)
He
also talked with us about what we thought our mission's level of obedience is
at right now. He talked about how it doesn't matter what mission you go to,
there will always be a gap. You'll never be at a ten. He said it really doesn't
matter where you are but that you know what's making the gap from being at a
ten. He said as leaders we should expect the gap and then inspire change in
others. He said Satan wants us all to see the gap but then to run away from it
and hide. It's good to see the gap, but then to do something about it.
He
showed us Jacob 5:65-66. It's like I've never read those scriptures before. It
says that you shouldn't clear away all the bad at once. You have to do it
little by little or the roots won't be strong enough to keep someone standing.
So we should tolerate imperfection. Even if there are heaps of things that we,
or others, need to change, we can't tell them everything at once. That's not
the Lord's way. We have to help the good grow and as the good grows we slowly
take out the bad. It reminded me of mum's phrase, "water what you want to
have grow."
Then
he gave us steps for how to correct. It's something I already knew but putting
it in steps really helped me see it more clearly.
HOW
TO CORRECT:
#1
Build a relationship of trust and love. You have to show your love or they
won't want to change.
#2
Identify in them what they're doing well. With this you have to be genuine.
#3
Be humble enough to ask them what you can do to improve.
#4
"May I make some observations for you?" You ask their permission. But
before that you can also ask them what THEY think they should do.
#5
Find only one or two things to talk about. It goes back to the scripture in
Jacob 5. You can't tell them everything all at once. Take it slowly.
I
feel like it was perfect advice for missionary leadership, but also life. This
is the way we can correct for the rest of our lives. It's a very loving and not
an attack at them, but a sincere love to help them be better.
He
then had us ask him questions. But first, he taught us how to ask good
questions. He said we should ask "Joseph Smith" like questions. We
should ask them with intent to act. He also gave the example of Luke 23:8-9
when the Savior doesn't answer Herod because he really doesn't intend to act on
what Christ says.
So
several Elders asked questions and then Elder Hamula said that he wanted one
more question and he wanted it to be from the sisters. None of the sisters were
saying anything and then Sister E nudged me and told me to ask mine. So I did.
My question was, “how can I
develop meekness in my teaching while still being bold?"
I
was a bit nervous because I wasn't sure if it was a good question, but he
paused and said, "wow, thank you. That is such a good question. This is a
good group." He then gave me some of the greatest council I've received.
He
took me to Ether 12:27 and he said that real boldness comes only after learning
humility and meekness. He said to put aside the boldness and just focus on
meekness and selflessness. Then the real boldness will come, but only after
accessing the Savior's grace. Then he gave me his formula to change.
FORMULA
TO CHANGE:
#1
Acknowledge your agency.
Never
say, "that's just the way I am." As soon as you say that, you are
damning yourself. The whole point of life is to change ourselves. We have the
ability to CHOOSE.
#2
Choose to act outwardly the way you want to be inwardly.
It
starts to change how you are inside when you do those things outwardly. He
talked about how it works that way when you're feeling mad, but then you force
yourself to smile and you feel better on the inside.
#3
Access the grace of Christ
Come
to the Lord and let Him show you how to do it. We can't do this on our own.
It's impossible. We have to rely on him. All good things come from him.
Then,
he turned to me and told me that I just asked the question that was in
everyone's soul. It was just what I needed. I felt so uplifted. He was so
loving. During all of the council he gave, you could feel the love oozing out
of him. It inspired me to change for the better. I wish I could type up
everything, although I did share a lot, because it really changed me. I felt so
uplifted and inspired. It was all of the things that I needed to hear. I know
that, if for no other reason, I needed to be STL this transfer because I needed
that experience with Elder Hamula. God is so good to me.
Then
yesterday we had zone conference with him and that was incredible as well. He
said a lot of similar things, but it was powerful to hear it again. One
of the things that really stood out to me was when he said that missionaries go
to missions more for who their mission president is than for the actual
location. I know that's true for me. I know I'm supposed to be in Perth, but I
have felt many times, and especially yesterday, that I am here because I needed
President and Sister Lindsay. I cannot even describe the love that I have
for them. They have done so much for me. They are exactly what I needed.
He
also talked to us about the why, what and how of missionary work. It's
something we all know, but it was a good reminder for us to break it down
simply.
Why?
to cleanse the souls of men.
What?
declaring repentance.
How?
by leaving commitments.
He
also talked about what it means to be a special witness. It was powerful. I
felt very strongly that he was called of God. You could tell by the inspired
way he spoke and how it touched everyone's hearts. I am thankful to have been
able to meet and get to know one of Christ's special witnesses. He is so full
of love which makes everything he says so much more motivating. I learned a lot
from him.
I
love you all. Can't believe I've been doing this for a year now. I couldn't be
happier. I'm so thankful this was a part of God's plan for me, even if it wasn't
my plan. I love being a missionary. I love helping others change their life,
but most of all I'm thankful for how much it's changed mine. I love you and I'm
praying for you!
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