To the Missionaries of the Great Texas Houston Mission,
We have been so happy to see how many people are coming to church due to your faithful efforts to make invitations to church part of everything interaction we have. More than a third of our companionships achieved this important standard of three investigators at church last week.
Now that we are getting so many people to church, it is important to consider what kind of experience we'd like them to have. Planning for their experience may be just as important than getting them there. In PMG p. 148, we read some of the things we ought to consider in our planning for their experience at church:
1. Plan who will take these people to church, who will greet them, and who will sit with them during meetings (not just Sacrament meeting).
2. Plan to contact quorum and auxiliary leaders and any teachers responsible for the classes the investigators will attend (as well as finding out who will be speaking at church and what the topic is so you can be sure to prepare your investigators and a call to the speakers to let them know that you will have investigators there and that you will be praying for them to bring a beautiful Spirit to the meeting :)).
3. Plan to inform the bishop (and the ward council).
We would like to request that you add a 4th principle to this:
4. Who/What member family would be helpful to their progression and commit them to invite your investigators over to their home for dinner/FHE, etc while they are at church. This will not only help those you teach progress, but will also get the members more committed to participating in the work.
As we do our part to plan of the Church experience, we will greatly increase the chances for the Spirit to testify to the hearts of those we teach of the truthfulness of the gospel and enable all involved, missionaries, members and investigators to feel a unity of faith.
Great things are happening and there is no where else we'd rather be than to be experiencing these blessings with you!
Love,
President and Sister Mortensen
 |
| We attended the District Meeting in Bear Creek last week |
 |
| Great leadership from Elder Moon and Elder Barton |
 |
| We saw many of our senior missionaries at a ward Luau |
 |
| And Elder Stevens with Elder Toolson and Elder Whitlock |
 |
| Nearly 12 weeks ago Pres. Mortensen issued a challenge to the new missionaries and their trainers. He said that we would take the companionship who extended a baptismal invitation every day for the most consecutive days out to a fancy dinner. About six weeks in we still had about 9 companionships in the running. We were so impressed! The winners were Elder Kenyan and Elder Sirstins and Sister Korth and Sister Winterton. Great Job! |
We held Temple Grounds Tours again yesterday. We had another big turnout and everyone enjoyed the spirit on the Temple Grounds. We are so blessed to have a temple among us. The following are pictures from that evening.
 |
| Elder Robins directs traffic and security |
 |
| Our Tour Guides minus the Assistants |
 |
| This great group came from Huntsville |
 |
| Elder Harris leads a tour |
 |
| Sister Coronado teaches about the significance of the Angel Moroni |
 |
| Elder Davis and Elder Nixon received their visas and will be leaving us for Argentina this week. We are so sad to see them go, but we know they will be a wonderful blessing to the people in Argentina. |
 |
| Hermana Sumsion leads a tour |
 |
| Elder Steed leads a tour |
 |
| Hermana Woodard leads a tour |
 |
| It was a beautiful night! |
