Transfer Time

Today we finished another big transfer in the Texas Houston Mission! Ten faithful missionaries returned home and twenty five arrived from the MTC in Provo.  We will dearly miss Elders Curtis, Crane, Richins, Boehmer, Sagal, Kauo, Ammon, Leishman, Trotter and Sister Crowley.  Activities for them included a career workshop, interviews, temple excursion, dinner, fireside and breakfast.  Our new missionaries arrived on Wednesday afternoon, three hours after the others left. They were a very tired group having awakened at 1:30AM the night before to prepare and catch their flight.  Together they participated in orientation meetings, interviews, dinner, fireside, breakfast, more training meetings and lunch.  We welcome each new missionary to Houston and wish them the very best as they begin their full-time missionary service!

A mission transfer meeting was also held this week.  Again, due to the large numbers of incoming missionaries, new areas have been opened, additional missionaries have been added to wards/branches and many are training, even those who have been here only six weeks.  Your prayers and encouragement are needed in their behalf.  We also thank all who continue to help things operate smoothly, especially those working in the mission office. Below, please find a few pictures from transfers as well as some additional ones taken during the week.

Departing Missionaries at Houston Temple

Elder Ammon with mother and sister

Heading home

New Missionaries

New Missionaries with Trainers

Finding Strength in the Atonement

Dear Sisters and Elders –

One of the most important abilities we should learn on a mission (and in life) is to rely on the Lord when we confront challenges.

When confronting difficulties, the “natural man” seeks to escape the situation or to remove the challenge.  The natural man or woman will actually pray for the trial to be taken away.  However, God provides challenges for us to grow and for us to become more like Him.  In reality, trials can be great blessings!

We are not alone to face our challenges.  God intends to help us!  “Through the grace of the Lord…, through [our] faith in the Atonement of Jesus Christ and repentance of [our] sins, [we] receive strength and assistance to do good works that [we] otherwise would not be able to maintain if left to [our] own means” (See “Grace,” Bible Dictionary).

There are many examples of faithful saints in the scriptures who relied upon God to overcome challenges.  A few of these include: Nephi (1 Ne. 7:17), the people of Alma (Mosiah 24:14-15), and Alma and Amulek (Alma 14:26-28). 

Like these Book of Mormon saints, we too can access the strengthening power of the Atonement to overcome challenges.  “The enabling power of the Atonement strengthens us to do and be good and to serve beyond our own individual desire and natural capacity” (David A. Bednar, “The Atonement and the Journey of Mortality,” Liahona, April 2012). 

Isn’t it great?  God does not leave us alone but stands by to support and help us accomplish what He requires of us.  Through the Atonement we can receive strength to keep a difficult commandment or to change a bad habit.  We can access the power to love and support a companion more effectively.  We can find increased capacity to find, teach, and baptize in our areas. 

To access the power of the Atonement we must first pray in faith, and ask for something specific (i.e., “give me strength to break these bands”).  Then, we must put forth our very best efforts to accomplish that thing for which we ask.  Finally, we must be clean (or in the process of repenting) in order to qualify for the assistance.

I invite each of us to conscientiously access the strengthening power of the Atonement in our lives.  As we do, He will bless us to perform beyond our natural desires and capacities.

With much love,

 

President Pingree

Thank You, Bournes

Today, Dr. and Sister Bourne finished their missionary service.  Dr. Bourne (assisted by his wife) has been serving as our Area Medical Advisor for the past 18 months (over eight missions in Texas and two in Oklahoma).  They have been a great resource and help to the missionaries serving here and we thank them for their faithful service!  Dr. and Sister Rose will now fulfill this assignment and we welcome them.  Dr. Rose is a semi-retired family practice physician from Utah.  Also attached are various pictures taken during the week.

 



Dr. and Sister Bourne

 

Hermanas Burnham and Parry do their nightly planning
at the mission home due to an issue with their apartment.

Mission Leadership Council

MLC

Pingrees with Sisters Sullivan and Barker

Hermanas Villanueva and Carter quickly drop by the mission
office for supplies

Dr. and Sister Rose
New Area Medical Advisor and wife

Elders Meyers and Lewis following a baptism

Elders Boehmer and Schmidt with member

Zone members gather for a p-day activity at Meyer Park

One Heart, One Mind

Dear Sisters and Elders – 

Christ taught: “I say unto you, be one; and if ye are not one ye are not mine” (D&C 38:27).  

I love the story of the people of Enoch. Although the people had different personalities and perspectives, they were of “one heart and one mind” in their devotion to Christ and in their commitment to each other. They were not selfish, but instead combined their time, talents, and resources to help each other and to build the Kingdom of God on the earth.  They achieved such spiritual power and unity that Satan had no control or influence upon them.

We can achieve this same type of society in our mission. We can create a Zion mission where we are of “one heart and one mind” in our devotion to Christ and in our loyalty to one another.  It will take humility.  It will take faith in Christ.  It will require personal sacrifice from each of us.  It will not be easy, but we can do it with the Lord’s help.

I invite each of us to make the following commitments so that we can build a Zion mission:

·       Commit to personal righteousness and repent daily of personal sins;

·       Love and serve your companion each day;

·       NEVER speak negatively about another missionary; and

·       Pray for the success of the entire mission.

Thank you for your personal sacrifices to love God, your companion, and every other missionary.  It is an honor to serve with you in this mission family.

Love,

President Pingree