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

 

Enthusiasm for the Work

Dear Sister and Elders – 

As missionaries, we must maintain enthusiasm for the work and our missionary purpose.  One of the most common temptations faced by missionaries is to lose focus and become discouraged.  Certainly, the adversary wants us to be discouraged because “discouragement will weaken [our] faith” (PMG, 10). 

It is important to remember that we control whether or not we become discouraged.  Attitude is a choice, and there are many things we can do to maintain a positive motivation and a strong sense of purpose.  In our last zone conference, you all identified many ways to stay enthusiastic and focused on our missionary purpose.  Please find a summary of these below:

• Increase your understanding of the Atonement of Jesus Christ (PMG, p. 2)
• Study the Book of Mormon
• Obey the standards in the Missionary Handbook
• Be diligent with morning schedule so you have the Spirit (e.g., arise on time, exercise, personal study, companion study)
• Work hard and use your time wisely
• Teach the missionary lessons every day (even if it is to members)
• Recognize and record daily miracles in journal
• Replace negative thoughts with positive thoughts (e.g., favorite scriptures or hymns, etc.)
• Understand what constitutes real missionary success (PMG, 10)
• Remember your important missionary purpose
• Listen to spiritually uplifting music
• See the hand of God in all things

Please choose to use these practical ways to increase your motivation and sense of purpose.  I promise that as you do, the Lord will bless you with increased vision for the work, a stronger Spirit, and greater joy in His service.

Thank you for you examples of faith, diligence, and enthusiasm for the work of the Lord!

Love, President Pingree

 

Welcome Elder and Sister Eastley

First, we welcome Elder and Sister Eastley who arrived last week.  They will be serving in the mission office overseeing finance, housing, and other administrative functions.  They have served two previous missions together, one in Russia and the other in Lebanon.  We are grateful to have them here and know they will be a great addition to the mission.  Second, please find below some pictures from this week's stake correlation meeting in Hunstville, TX. 

President Pingree with Elder and Sister Eastley

Helping Investigators Get to Baptism

Dear Sisters and Elders – 
 

Sister Pingree and I really enjoyed being with you last week during zone conferences.  There was a strong spirit in each of the conferences and we left so grateful for the devotion you have for the Lord and your efforts to spread His gospel faithfully.  We love serving with you!

Among others things, we discussed the importance of exercising our faith to baptize every month.  As the Lord explained, "I am a God of miracles; and I will show unto the world that I am the same yesterday, today, and forever; and I work not among the children of men save it be according to their faith" (2 Nephi 27:23).  With the Lord's help, and our faith, we can baptize each month!

The Lord will bless us with miracles as we demonstrate our faith.  We show the Lord faith as we obey the standards in the Mission Handbook, plan effectively, study effectively, practice teach, talk with everyone, work hard, and stay positive.  The Lord can help us to find, teach, and baptize MANY more of those He has already prepared to receive the restored gospel.

During zone conferences, we discussed "Practical Ways to Help Investigators Get Baptized."  Please find below ten suggestions that were identified:

1.     State missionary purpose often

2.     Use the Powerful First Lesson

3.     Invite investigator to be baptized no later than the second lesson

4.     Use the baptismal invitations provided in Preach My Gospel, p. 40

5.     Help investigator to pray, read the Book of Mormon, and attend Church

6.     Have a member present at every possible lesson

7.     Maintain daily contact with investigator

8.     Have investigator meet with the bishop

9.     Invite investigator to attend a baptismal service

10.  Review baptismal questions with the investigator

 

As you plan for each of your investigators, please use these practical suggestions.

Baptism is central to our purpose as missionaries.  The Lord admonished, "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost" (Matthew 28:19).  Heavenly Father wants EVERY ONE of His children to return back to Him.  They cannot do so unless they are baptized.  As we exercise our faith and rely on the Lord, we WILL be able to bring people to baptism every month.

We are excited about this work and the many blessings the Lord has in store for those seeking the truth.

With much love,

President Pingree