Missionary Minutes
We've done a few things differently during this past week. I thought you might be interested in knowing what we've been up to.
Over the past few months, we have been attempting to contact members of the Jacinto City Ward (Spanish) who have become inactive or partially active. However, we have been largely unable to speak with them. Either they have moved or won't answer the door for a variety of reasons. Some are ashamed of what they've been up to or think they are not worthy to come to church.
We have decided to alter our approach a little to see if we can encourage our ward members to soften their hearts and become active participants again in the Lord's church. This week we mailed 68 cards introducing ourselves and inviting each family to return to church. We will do mailings every month. We hope it will be an influence for re-activity.
I am convinced that these families do not understand the reason for partaking of the Sacramental bread and water. I wonder if the concept of weekly repentance and acceptance of the atonement was taught to them strongly enough. Repentance is an ongoing process because none of us are perfect and each of us, not just our inactive friends, needs to improve.
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland gave a stirring talk about that during the April 2019 General Conference. you may listen/watch it here: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2019/04/28holland?lang=eng It is about 15 minutes long. Listen to the whole thing.
On Saturday we attended two sessions of the Houston Texas Summerwood Stake Conference presided over by Elder Karl M. Tilleman, an Area Authority Seventy. What a dynamic speaker! We attended also the Sunday session of Stake also. We were well instructed and inspired.
Before the Sunday session started, I noted that the Stake choir that was going to sing during the Sunday Morning Session was pretty sparse, so I approached the conductor and gave her our calling card and indicated that we would be willing to sing in future efforts. She asked me to sing with them Sunday morning. I did, but probably shouldn't have because I never practiced with them beforehand. Oh well...it is what is is.
After Sunday's session we came home to enjoy our lunch and decided to look up Elder Tilleman's profile. Wow! He was drafted into the NBA, but declined. He was a stand-out basketball player for the nation of Canada and holds some Olympic records for 3 point shooting that have never been broken. He actually played against Michael Jordan and others of that era. I think that is amazing for a 6'2" player.
At any rate we enjoyed our time with him. He came to visit with us after the conference for a moment. We felt that he singled us out for greeting. I have no idea why.
Have a good week!
Over the past few months, we have been attempting to contact members of the Jacinto City Ward (Spanish) who have become inactive or partially active. However, we have been largely unable to speak with them. Either they have moved or won't answer the door for a variety of reasons. Some are ashamed of what they've been up to or think they are not worthy to come to church.
We have decided to alter our approach a little to see if we can encourage our ward members to soften their hearts and become active participants again in the Lord's church. This week we mailed 68 cards introducing ourselves and inviting each family to return to church. We will do mailings every month. We hope it will be an influence for re-activity.
I am convinced that these families do not understand the reason for partaking of the Sacramental bread and water. I wonder if the concept of weekly repentance and acceptance of the atonement was taught to them strongly enough. Repentance is an ongoing process because none of us are perfect and each of us, not just our inactive friends, needs to improve.
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland gave a stirring talk about that during the April 2019 General Conference. you may listen/watch it here: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2019/04/28holland?lang=eng It is about 15 minutes long. Listen to the whole thing.
On Saturday we attended two sessions of the Houston Texas Summerwood Stake Conference presided over by Elder Karl M. Tilleman, an Area Authority Seventy. What a dynamic speaker! We attended also the Sunday session of Stake also. We were well instructed and inspired.
Before the Sunday session started, I noted that the Stake choir that was going to sing during the Sunday Morning Session was pretty sparse, so I approached the conductor and gave her our calling card and indicated that we would be willing to sing in future efforts. She asked me to sing with them Sunday morning. I did, but probably shouldn't have because I never practiced with them beforehand. Oh well...it is what is is.
After Sunday's session we came home to enjoy our lunch and decided to look up Elder Tilleman's profile. Wow! He was drafted into the NBA, but declined. He was a stand-out basketball player for the nation of Canada and holds some Olympic records for 3 point shooting that have never been broken. He actually played against Michael Jordan and others of that era. I think that is amazing for a 6'2" player.
At any rate we enjoyed our time with him. He came to visit with us after the conference for a moment. We felt that he singled us out for greeting. I have no idea why.
Have a good week!
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