These photos are all on the way walking to the zoo.

JANUARY 13, 2009 TUESDAY

Today was district meeting at 10:00 and it was a great meeting again. The theme for today was “Teach to Find” and a review of what was taught at zone conference by Pres. Matern (obedience to mission rules). Some of the main points of presentations were: why are we afraid, what do we need to do to change, obedience, missionary progress program, practice & lesson outlines, memorize 200 scriptures, three mountains to climb (find (fear), teach (courage), Baptism (go for it), and DL Elder Pine taught us how to climb the three mountains. The game this time was also a fun one. The person who organized the game wrote a random name, place or thing on separate paper slips, enough for three each for each player. These were placed in categories of names, places, things. Each player drew one slip from each category. The object of the game was to use the three words to add to a story the first person started with his three words and try to have it make sense or funny or whatever. When you have 10 players as we did, the story took a lot of twists and turns, but we had a lot of fun with it.

After the meeting I gave four haircuts and then we had the privilege of going with Elders Evans and Ehlend to a teaching appointment with Rolf. The focus of this lesson was to go more into depth on the principle of repentance and also encourage and support him in not smoking. He was smoke free for about a month and then he gave in. He’s on his program again and this time he says he’s going to stick it out. We hope and pray he will.

After that came the English class and then Institute. Paulina, Dora and we were present for the English class. We had a chance to talk to Dora and ask her when we could come and give her son a blessing. She said everyone in her family has the flu except her, so she doesn’t want us to come yet. It’s good to see her being active in church and coming to English class.

The Institute class was on Toaism. It’s fun to learn about the other religions of the world, and each has some good things in it. There is only one, however, that has the fully restored gospel. It’s interesting to see which parts the other churches have and the parts they are missing. The one part all others don’t have is the Priesthood, the power and authority from God to act in His name and administer the saving ordinances necessary for Eternal Life. If they only knew and realized it. And that’s why we have missionaries flooding the earth, to carry this message to everyone who has an open mind to listen and an open heart to accept the testifying witness of the Holy Ghost. Every person who sincerely seeks, will receive that witness when they hear the gospel. The Lord has given us this promise.