MLC - Leadership Council August 2014

One of the blessings of serving as Mission President and wife is to be able to meet with those who serve in leadership positions once a month.  They bless our lives with their preparation, diligence and worthiness in these callings.  We couldn't effectively lead without their inspired counsel.

Leadership Council

Zone Leaders and Sister Training Leaders accounting for their stewardship

Thank goodness for our wonderful help in the kitchen.  Lunch was delicious!!!

Sister Ball & Sister Olson - great senior missionaries.  President Clark teaching on Preach My Gospel

Random Pictures from July

Here are some fun random pictures . . . . of some pretty good-looking Elders!

President's Weekly letter #5

We thought it would be helpful to those supporting, encouraging, cheering and praying for, and loving their missionaries to know what their Mission President seeks to teach them and feels prompted to share with them each week.  This letter is sent to all our missionaries in addition to a personal letter the President sends to each individual missionary.

Dear Elders and Sisters,

In 3 Nephi 26, just after the Prophet editor Mormon is lamenting his inability to write everything that was recorded but offering his reassurance he (and his son) abridged the records for the "intent" to bless the Gentiles, appears this verse: 9. "And when they shall receive this (the Book of Mormon), which is expedient they shall have first, to try their faith, and if it shall so be that they shall believe these things then shall the 'greater things be made manifest unto them.'"  I have always wondered what the "greater things" would be.  Being a lover of the Book of Mormon, in my pride I often think I am ready for these "greater things".  The more I study Preach My Gospel coupled with my understanding of how it was written and who wrote it, I believe it fits this category of "greater things [to] be made manifest."  I absolutely love it and love each and every chapter in it.  As you have heard me reference "Complete Missionaries" much of that reference is to our required knowledge of Preach My Gospel. And while I believe this to be the base case missionary - absolutely familiar with and versed in Preach My Gospel - I am so pleased with how great you are with Preach My Gospel.  I often hear reference to it in casual conversation, I have witnessed on every teaching occasion missionaries teaching with it and to it, and I have been blessed to enjoy trainings where you have referenced it, trained from it, or referred to it for scriptural passages.  Well done, I say, Well Done!!!

In 3 Nephi 27:25 it states; "Out of the books that have been written, and which shall be written, shall this people be judged..."  Therefore, I believe we will be held accountable and judged for what is in Preach My Gospel as one of the "books...which shall be [has been] written".  I hope and pray you continue to make Preach My Gospel part of your everyday study.  Thank you for continuing to be great Preach My Gospel missionaries in your effort to be Complete Missionaries.  Thank you for your goodness, your love and support, your faith and prayers, and the inspired way in which you move the work of salvation forward. 

I am looking forward to August as one of he great baptizing months in the mission so far this year.  I know we can do it with our Complete Preparation and Exact Obedience as we assist the Lord in the Hastening of the work and serve with No Regrets!  Remember, it is His work and must be done in a His way and that requires inspired missionaries - which you are the best at being!

Love,

President Clark

Leadership Training July 23, 2014

Leadership Training 

We had a very inspiring training yesterday.  The Assistants and the Coordinating Sisters presented training on "Team Building and Motivation".  Both groups prepared well and the spirit taught each one of the missionaries what they individually needed to know as the training was presented. 

President Clark was guided to teach from the talk "Rise to Your Call" by President Henry B. Eyring.  President Clark  had one person at a time stand and read a paragraph and then state what they had learned spiritually and call on one from the audience to share the same.  We then learned in the Lord's way - spiritually - as the spirit revealed impressions to each in the room.  It was a wonderful demonstration of how the Lord teaches truth.  

I taught on "Interpersonal Relations"  which was fun as well as, I hope, inspiring.  I introduced the Herrmann Brain Dominance Instrument to the missionaries - they all discovered how and why they liked being around some people more than others.   They also learned how to better communicate, inspire and lead.  

The missionaries love lunchtime!

After lunch, it is a tradition in the California Fresno Mission to sing your thanks.  President Gelwix (Past Mission President) would begin the song with a "little routine" which the missionaries love to imitate.  Here is Elder Castaneda doing a pretty good job of it.

Isn't this a fine looking group of missionaries!  

Leadership Training
July23, 2014

Some of our favorite moments are when we have the opportunity to go out with the missionaries to teach a lesson.  I am learning a lot from these fine missionaries, they have strong testimonies and know the gospel well.  I have been very impressed with them and continue to reflect on my life at that age and think - wow, if I could have been half as good as these wonderful sisters - President Clark is having similar experiences with the Elders.  He loves teaching the gospel and states often that he just hopes being a Mission President doesn't get in the way of being a Missionary!  We love the gospel and the opportunity to serve along side of these spectacular missionaries.

We also love attending baptisms.  We have very valiant missionaries who baptize, when possible we attend those wonderful events.

Our New Missionaries Arrival Video

July 16, 2014:  

As we met the first group of "Our" missionaries we felt their love, spirit, enthusiasm, excitement and commitment to be here.  We love our Missionaries!!!

I have put together a video that tries to capture our new missionaries and their first two days in the mission field.  As you watch this video, please remember we are all amateurs and are doing our very best.  Hopefully we captured all of the new missionaries at one time or another.   

As seasoned Elders and Sisters went out with the new missionaries to participate in their first OYM (Open Your Mouth) miracles happened - contacts were made and even baptismal challenges were given.  Love the work!!!!

July 17, 2014: 

President Clark:  "I sat in private interview with the New Missionaries and after each interview would walk to the New Trainer board where the pictures of the New Trainers are there with the pictures of the New Missionaries.  Several times it was as if the card would jump out of my hand matching the New Missionary with the Lord's appointed Trainer. 

We sat in council with Sister Clark, the Assistants and Coordinating Sisters seeking the will of the Lord as to New Trainer companionships.  While there are always some obstacles to overcome with who can drive or not, especially given the number of foreign missionaries, The Lord's Hand is involved and the spirit confirms each and every companionship.

We matched the New Missionaries up with their Trainers.  The spirit of confirmation to them was simply astounding.  I had never perceived what powerful confirmation they would each receive as I announced names to be companionships, there was some cheers of joy, grand embraces, and new friends were instantly made or perhaps even old friendships (pre-existence) were renewed.

I called the parents of the new Zone and District Leaders to tell them how blessed we feel to be working with their sons.  Parents have sent us their best work (knowing personally how woefully inadequate that may make some parents feel) and it is up to this Mission President and his Wife to ensure they find the Lord in their lives in rich abundance so that their sons are returned to them much greater than when they arrived.  A sacred and solemn responsibility that can only be done in the Lord's way.  We seek that understanding daily to ensure we do our part to bless their lives - for a lifetime and even an eternity."

Transfer Week

July 15, 2014: 

Our outgoing missionaries came into the mission home for their final transfer  home.  We went to the Temple together and were blessed by their spiritual maturity.  As they came through the veil we greeted them participating in our own little slice of Celestial Joy.  Even though we have only been with them two weeks, we love them as though we've been together for their entire mission.  We gathered in the Celestial Room for a little counsel and sweet were the words the Spirit dictated as well as kind and interested were the missionaries in the counsel provided.

We gathered at the Mission Home for a lovely lunch prepared by Sister George after our Temple Session. 

President Clark and I gave them counsel that was fitting and appropriate for all of them.  

President Clark:  "Sister Clark taught "Good, Better, Best" and encouraged them to always strive for Best!  They hung on her every word.  They love her so much.  I gave them counsel as to what they should do to ensure they never fall away - Pray, Study the Scriptures, participate in FHE, and pay a Full Tithe.  We shared the great value and blessing we've enjoyed of marrying sooner rather than later and encourage them to avoid, not resist, sin and temptation - build islands of safety and safety nets to ensure they stay true to each and every covenant they have made and for the next, best one they will make - New and Everlasting Covenant.

I was blessed to know their hearts in separate interviews and through the spirit give each one individual counsel that felt "spot on".  Tears were shed and love was increased as we enjoyed the blessings of the spirit in counsel - true learning in the Lord's way.
We took our departing missionaries to the airport and bid them farewell.  As each left us we were touched by home much love existed between us after such a short period of time together.
 
Final tidbits of counsel and sweet encouragement was provided by the spirit to each departing missionary to bless their and our lives. 

As I sat and realized the hole in my heart as a result of their departure was so much larger than I had imagined it would be.  Just as I was about to enter maximum despair as a result of my loss, I recognized the new missionaries were about to come down the concourse.  My cup was again full, my heart complete."

As we sat in the airport having just sent our missionaries on, we felt so empty.  But, we looked up and recognized the new missionaries coming down the concourse.  Our hearts were again filled with joy.  Joy replaced the sorrow that we felt.  An amazing process!