Tips on Teaching

Dear Sisters and Elders –
 

Sister Pingree and I attended a mission president training seminar a couple of weeks ago.  Tracy Watson, Director of Proselyting for the Church, shared some tips on improving our teaching based on extensive in-field observation of missionaries across the world.  I would like to share two of these tips with you today.

Brother Watson strongly encouraged missionaries (1) to use the pamphlets when teaching lessons and (2) to keep the message to 15 to 20 minutes.  Those who follow this advice experience a 30% investigator dropout rate compared to a 70% drop out rate experienced by missionaries who don't.

Using the pamphlets helps missionaries to present a clear, concise, and powerful message.  Moreover, the pamphlet gives the investigator something to reference during the lesson and allows for added study between lessons.

Most investigators also appreciate shorter lessons.  Shorter lessons respect people's time and keep the discussion focused on gospel doctrines rather than extended "chit chat."  Shorter, doctrinally-focused lessons facilitate the presence of the Spirit.  He encouraged us to teach shorter, but more frequent lessons to investigators.

I invite each of us to consider ways to utilize the pamphlets effectively in our teaching and to teach shorter, more frequent lessons to investigators.

Please know how honored we are to serve alongside you in Houston.  We love you and respect your righteous desires to serve the Lord.

President Pingree

Behold! A Royal Army

This week transfers were held in the Texas Houston Mission.  We said farewell to Sisters Hansen and Faasalafa and Elders Pliego, Beers, Knight and Ward.  Elder and Sister Hayward also completed their faithful service in the Navasota Branch along with Elder and Sister Bowcutt who have diligently served in the mission office over finances, apartments, etc.  We will miss all of these missionaries greatly! 

 

We also welcomed in 40 new missionaries  - a record number for the THM!  To accommodate these numbers, 13 new areas/boundary changes were opened which necessitated finding living quarters, supplies, transportation and furnishings for each.  A very large percentage of the missionaries in the THM are now serving as trainers, even those who have been in the field less than twelve weeks. We are now over 200 missionaries with many more to come in the months ahead. We are happy to welcome these new missionaries who are full of enthusiasm and faith and know they will help move the work forward in this area. 

 

Transfers included training meetings, firesides, temple attendance, meals, a mission-wide transfer, orientation meetings, etc.  A big thank you to the senior office missionaries and the Chappells for their tireless efforts and support.   

 

Please find below some pictures from transfers, including new missionaries with trainers.

 



Departing Group

Elder and Sister Hayward

Elder and Sister Bowcutt

New Missionaries