Monday, January 19, 2015

We've been going through a hard time in the area. We haven't had a whole lot of work, and we've gotten to the point of cleaning out the list of members. We really don't know what else to do. There is a possibility that this area will be closed before the end of the transfer. We think it might be the best thing.

On Friday I went into the offices the whole day to fix a database they have. In 2012, and Elder made CHETO and it runs everything from missionary purchases in the offices to baptisms, and numbers, and reports, etc. and the whole thing caved in when the area decided not to collect all of the key indicators, only Baptisms/Confirmations, Lessons with Members, Progressing Investigators and Total Ward Attendance. Elder Tenny stayed up until 3 in the morning trying to rescue it, and when he did he cried. I came in and made all the changes, but it was heavily scripted in PHP, and I'm pretty unfamiliar with that language, so it was somewhat of a miracle that it all worked out. There's still some changes that need to be made, but they're minor. I'm in the offices right now fixing other problems, but I'm afraid Elder Sosa is a bit upset that I've taken away all of his Pday.

I've been really tired all the time because of worrying over the area and just lots of work in general.

Monday, January 12, 2015

I missed a week​ because we left early to go to Capital with the other Elders from Ballester. We've been finding many new people, but it still is very difficult to help them keep their commitments, especially coming to church. I cannot stress enough the importance of a member in a lesson inviting an investigator to Church and saying that they will be with them the whole time to answer questions.

Recently we've been meeting the neighbors of members with them and extending invitations using the mormon.org pass-along cards. We've found many with interest, and they feel very comfortable because of the presence of a neighbor or friend.

One thing I've come to know very well, is that truth, when learned by the Holy Ghost, is not contentious. We teach with power and authority, and confound those who seek to put the Gospel to shame. But never have I felt any anger or contention toward anyone, only a deep yearning for their eternal happiness. It is that feeling that drives me to speak boldly. Some people harden themselves, but others listen. Sometimes we have to pass though some humiliation to find them.

And ye have murmured because he hath been plain unto you. Ye say that he hath used sharpness; ye say that he hath been angry with you; but behold, his sharpness was the sharpness of the​ ​power of the word of God, which was in him; and that which ye call anger was the truth, according to that which is in God, which he could not restrain, manifesting boldly concerning your iniquities. And it must needs be that the power of God must be with him, even unto his commanding you that ye must obey. But behold, it was not he, but it was the Spirit of the Lord which was in him, which opened his mouth to utterance that he could not shut it.
(​2 Nephi 1:26-27)

I hope it can be this way for all of us, that we can open our mouths and extend an invitation to find those who will listen and are prepared.​