Dear Sisters and Elders –
Please find below several important items:
First, Mother's Day is coming up and you have the opportunity to call your parents next weekend. As explained in the Missionary Handbook: "Take care that these calls do not pull your thoughts away from your service... Keep them short (preferably no longer than 30 to 40 minutes)" (p. 37). You may call your parents using the mission provided cell phone, or you may use an Internet option, like Skype, to make your calls. As always, these calls should not create an inconvenience to members or others. We are excited for you to talk with your parents.
Second, please always submit your key indicators every Monday, along with your Letter to the President. The Church recently added some reporting capabilities to IMOS, but these reports will not be accurate unless everyone completes their key indicators each week. Also, you will notice a slight change to the key indicators this week. In addition to the key indicators you have reported in the past, please include the number of "Progressing Investigators" in your report. The definition of Progressing Investigators can be found in Preach My Gospel on p. 138.
Third, please follow the Church's guidelines for meal appointments by not scheduling dinners during prime proselyting time (6:00 PM to 9:00 PM) unless a non-member is also present. If a member cannot feed you earlier and does not have a non-member to invite to their home, offer to invite one of your current investigators. This will not only help the investigator to build a friendship in the ward, but will also help the member feel the joy of sharing the gospel. Please remember that the purpose of meal appointments is to strengthen the members and help them fulfill their missionary responsibilities, and not simply to feed the missionaries (MH, p. 35).
In addition, where more than one set of missionaries serve in a ward, please avoid having dinner appointments together as a group. Separate meal appointments allow us to reach many more families. Moreover, we focus more on the members, rather than each other. Exceptions may be warranted in rare circumstances (e.g., bishop's request, ward mission correlation meeting, holiday, etc.). We trust you to use your best judgment.
Fourth, please remember to complete your weekly planning on Thursday going forward, and not on Tuesday. We are encouraged to approach our planning with 10 days in mind (PMG, p. 147). Planning on Thursday will allow you to plan more effectively for the weekend and also to set more thoughtful goals for the following week.
Finally, a few calendar items... Next week is temple week for the mission. Please remember to bring your white pants and dresses to use at the temple! Also, interviews and training are scheduled for the third and fourth weeks of May. Your zone leader has been given a schedule and can give you specific times and locations for you. In addition, we were recently notified that Elder Christoffel Golden of the Seventy will tour our mission on June 12-14, 2013. This will be a great experience for all of us and we will let you know more details as they become available.
Thank you for your efforts, your obedience, your faith, and your love of the Lord and those whom you serve.
God bless!
President Pingree