Meaningful Service

Dear Sisters and Elders –

As missionaries, we are encouraged to participate in planned and unplanned service to others. Today, I would like to address planned community service activities.

In the Missionary Handbook it explains: "You should seek opportunities for service projects in the community each week" (39).

The most important motive for service is a sincere, Christ-like desire to help others. This is our primary purpose for engaging in planned community service. However, some service projects have greater potential to move the Lord's work forward than others.

Identify projects that (1) make a meaningful difference in someone's life, (2) build positive relations for the Church in the community, and (3) have potential to lead to teaching opportunities. For example, teaching an ESL class, serving food at a shelter, reading books or newspapers to the blind, volunteering at a blood drive, or visiting residents of a senior center are examples of such activities. There are many opportunities like these that render vital service, but also provide frequent interaction with those not of our faith and have the potential to lead to teaching opportunities.

Please avoid service projects that do not provide meaningful service to others, but are simply opportunities to get together socially with a group of members or missionaries during the week. Always ask yourself: "Is this service project helping us to fulfill our purpose as missionaries?" I trust your judgment to identify which service projects are truly meaningful, and which are not.

In addition, I feel to review several important guidelines from the Missionary Handbook regarding planned community service projects.

1. "Strive to represent the Lord according to the highest standards of obedience and conduct. Keep your words, thoughts, and actions in harmony with the message of His gospel" (7). Wear your proselyting clothes and missionary tag when providing service and always act in a Christ-like way.

2. "Limit planned service activities to daytime hours on days other than weekends, holidays, or preparation days" (39). Service should not interfere with the morning schedule or with prime proselyting time.

3. "Stay with your companion during all service activities" (39). You should not pair off with other companions during service.

4. "Because of increasing legal complexities surrounding relationships with children, do not give service in such places as schools or day-care centers" (40).

5. "Do not become involved in commercial activities" (40). Your planned service should not be for business enterprises, but only for non-profit organizations that help those in real need.

6. "Service activities should not increase your expenses" (40). Spend your time, talents, and skills on service projects, not your limited funds.

In the Mission President's Handbook, it also explains: "Missionaries should work with local Church leaders to identify worthwhile projects" (29). A current effort by the Church Public Affairs council in Houston is underway. In the future, the public affairs directors for each stake will work with stake presidents to identify qualified charities for the stake to support. When these charities are identified, the missionaries in each zone will be asked to focus their planned service activities on those organizations. More details about these planned community service opportunities will be forthcoming.

Thank you for your efforts to follow the Savior's admonition to care for others, and for doing it in a way that builds His Kingdom effectively. It is an honor to serve with you!

Love,
President Pingree

 

Huntsville and Waller

Missionaries from the Huntsville District conducted district meeting this morning and discussed a "leaving a blessing" approach for contacting people.  Afterwards, a regular Friday devotional was held at the Institute of Religion at Sam Houston University where President Pingree was the featured speaker this week. Elder and Sister Eldredge direct the Institute and provide a wonderful service there!  

 

Also, Elder and Sister Stillman had their final interviews and dinner tonight.  The Stillmans have been serving in Waller and have been critical in establishing the Waller Spanish Branch.  They have done an excellent job reaching out to less active members and in providing support to branch leadership.  They will also be remembered for delivering a birthday cake to every member of the branch on their birthday!

 

 

 

 

Farewell Elder and Sister Stillman!

Weekly Letter

Dear Sisters and Elders –

I would like to clarify something from zone conference. We discussed finding investigators based on the following priorities:

1. Part member families;

2. New and less active families;

3. Active members;

4. Current and former investigators; and

5. Personal finding efforts.

While some of these methods may be more productive than others, we should continue to use each of these methods in our finding efforts. As explained in the Mission President’s Handbook: “Help your missionaries identify finding methods that are most fruitful in your mission. Take care, however, not to eliminate any valid finding method. For example, do not let your missionaries focus so intensely on finding through members that they neglect finding through their own efforts, including street contacting and tracting (p. 39).”

Regardless of the methods of finding employed, we should always seek to “open our mouths” and “talk to everyone.” When we are out and about, the Lord will help us to cross paths with those He has prepared. We simply need to contact as many people as possible in ways that will help them to feel the Spirit.

Also, after every lesson, contact, or interaction with anyone, always remember to ask, “Who do you know that could benefit from our message?” I really believe that this simple practice will lead us to many of those the Lord has prepared to receive the gospel. “Missionaries who apply this principle usually have many people to teach” (PMG, 159).

I have great faith in your ability to determine through prayer and the Spirit, and in consultation with the bishop and ward mission leader, which finding methods will be most productive in your assigned area. However, each of these finding methods will need to be employed to some extent in order to find all of those the Lord has prepared.

Thank you for your continued efforts to find people to teach.

With much love,

President Pingree

Zone Conferences

The mission held three zone conferences this past week.  During the sessions we discussed goals for 2013 and held several workshops on finding people to teach.  Local Relief Society organizations provided lunches and presentations were made on clean apartments, birthdays, automobile safety and maintenance, health, and other administrative matters. Towards the end of each conference, several missionaries gave talks on diligence and departing missionaries shared their testimonies, as well as others in each zone.  We love being together to feel the Spirit, develop our skills, and maintain friendships.