Hello Friends!
Things have taken quite the unexpected turn this week. We received a transfer call, and I will be leaving Sister W. She has been called to TRAIN! She hasn't even finished her training! But I have no doubt that she is going to be incredible. It has been an absolute blast being her trainer. I didn't really have to do much! She is so capable and follows the Spirit so closely. I am so sad to have spent such a short amount of time here, but my next assignment is going to be an adventure!
I have been called to be a Traveling Sister Training Leader! Crazy!!! So as of tomorrow, I will be traveling throughout the mission assisting other companionships with finding, teaching, and such! I'm overwhelmed by this call, I feel so inadequate! But I am so grateful to have a chance to work with some incredible missionaries. I can't think of a better way to spend my final moments in the mission.
I had a member ask me this week for some advice to her son on a mission about building a successful area. I thought a lot about that question, and this is what I came up with. I don't know if there is much of a secret formula, connecting with others comes through love. I've always loved the phrase, "leave an area better than you found it." Being in my 4th area, I've had the chances to work with 6 different wards. The most successful areas are the ones where the Ward council is focused on missionary work. The Lord will provide work only in areas where He can trust the members. If He can't trust them, why would He bring His children there? That being said, I've found that the best way to get the Ward Council on board comes through serving them. Meeting with the head of each auxiliary on a one on one basis builds a lot of trust, and it shows you're ready to help. The more you're involved in Their work, the more they will care about ours. Only with rare exceptions, members WANT to support the missionaries. And they will, especially if they learn to love you. If they see you working your tail off, especially when helping them, it's inevitable! They will have that Christ-like love for you growing naturally in their lives. I think as missionaries, we expect things to change in a manner of 6 weeks, because to us, that is a big chunk of our missionary life! But as we've seen in our investigators, true lasting change takes time. We may never see an area become successful, but we can plant those seeds of helping wards become a unit that the Lord can trust. The Rutherford ward especially is one of those wards. The Lord trusts them!!
Well friends, my emails honestly most likely won't get any longer before I head home. Just know that I love the gospel, and I love this work! Never forget that the Lord loves you!
Have a great week!! I love you all!!
Sister Bethany Christensen
#blessed
Things have taken quite the unexpected turn this week. We received a transfer call, and I will be leaving Sister W. She has been called to TRAIN! She hasn't even finished her training! But I have no doubt that she is going to be incredible. It has been an absolute blast being her trainer. I didn't really have to do much! She is so capable and follows the Spirit so closely. I am so sad to have spent such a short amount of time here, but my next assignment is going to be an adventure!
I have been called to be a Traveling Sister Training Leader! Crazy!!! So as of tomorrow, I will be traveling throughout the mission assisting other companionships with finding, teaching, and such! I'm overwhelmed by this call, I feel so inadequate! But I am so grateful to have a chance to work with some incredible missionaries. I can't think of a better way to spend my final moments in the mission.
I had a member ask me this week for some advice to her son on a mission about building a successful area. I thought a lot about that question, and this is what I came up with. I don't know if there is much of a secret formula, connecting with others comes through love. I've always loved the phrase, "leave an area better than you found it." Being in my 4th area, I've had the chances to work with 6 different wards. The most successful areas are the ones where the Ward council is focused on missionary work. The Lord will provide work only in areas where He can trust the members. If He can't trust them, why would He bring His children there? That being said, I've found that the best way to get the Ward Council on board comes through serving them. Meeting with the head of each auxiliary on a one on one basis builds a lot of trust, and it shows you're ready to help. The more you're involved in Their work, the more they will care about ours. Only with rare exceptions, members WANT to support the missionaries. And they will, especially if they learn to love you. If they see you working your tail off, especially when helping them, it's inevitable! They will have that Christ-like love for you growing naturally in their lives. I think as missionaries, we expect things to change in a manner of 6 weeks, because to us, that is a big chunk of our missionary life! But as we've seen in our investigators, true lasting change takes time. We may never see an area become successful, but we can plant those seeds of helping wards become a unit that the Lord can trust. The Rutherford ward especially is one of those wards. The Lord trusts them!!
Well friends, my emails honestly most likely won't get any longer before I head home. Just know that I love the gospel, and I love this work! Never forget that the Lord loves you!
Have a great week!! I love you all!!
Sister Bethany Christensen
#blessed