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Our MTC District
E & S Forslen, E & S Roberts, Us, E & S Esplain (?)

June 7, 2016

Today we spent time learning how to teach people, not lessons and reviewing the information in Preach my Gospel about the restoration and using the Book of Mormon to gain testimonies.  We spent time practicing how to teach by listening.

Tonight we went to a devotional with Elder David A. Bednar and his wife.  It was a very special and uplifting evening.  Elder Bednar's talk was about one by one, using the New Testament and Luke 15 and the parables of the lost sheep, piece of silver, and prodigal son to illustrate how the Lord knows us.  And then he used the Book of Mormon 3 Nephi 11...the people touched his wounds one by one (which probably took over 20 hours with 2500 people) and then Christ blessed the children one by one.  He challenged us to find other examples of one by one.  When we are on the Lord's errand there are no coincidences when we meet people.  The Lord know you as the one,  He knows others as the one.  Help others know God's love for each one.  Elder Bednar then explained about the closing song, which he had been on his mind for years.  It is titled "One By One".  It was so touching and the spirit truly testified that it was special.  A great end of the day.

Lynn and I spent some time just talking about how we could use this on our mission and having the faith to know that people will be put in our path that we are meant to help.  We are being sent to where the Lord want us at this time and place.

June 8, 2016

Today we had to teach The Restoration to a "fake" investigator.  We had to spend about 15 mins getting to know them, do a "transition" and then start the lesson.  At the end, we had to do some kind of invite.  I was kind of nervous about it, trying to remember the main points of the lesson and then the other stuff.  It was fun to have Lynn there because he could help if I got stuck.  And then we were evaluated on it.  It didn't go too bad.  And we did feel the spirit during our lesson.  We had an older man and he was getting tired by the end of our session.  So that took up our morning.  In the afternoon, we practiced "The Plan of Salvation" which was a lot easier to remember the main points
Steve, Sharon, and Lynn's mom, Helen, came down and we went out to dinner with them.  It was so good to see them and get away for a few hours.

   It was fun having Sharon, Steve, and Mom here and to go to dinner with them.  One fun thing.  After dinner Steve wanted some Cinnabuns at the mall.  When the cashier rung up the bill, it was less than expected. I commented that it was not enough, and she said that she saw my Missionary Tag and gave us 50% off.  I thought that was a wonderful gesture.
June 9, 2016

We spent the morning talking about how to teach with the Holy Ghost.  And then in the afternoon, we taught the lesson on another investigator.  We had a cute gal and enjoyed our teaching time.  It didn't go too badly.  We did our laundry and had the whole laundromat to ourselves.  There were computers there so we each spent time on the LDS website while waiting for our laundry.
  Something I really, really enjoyed was watching and hearing Sandy bear strong testimony to the investigator.  Even though I love hearing her share her testimony in Fast & Testimony meeting, there is something extra special being by her side and bearing testimony and hearing her bear testimony.  I'm so blessed to have her for my companion. 

June 10, 2016

We had a great couple talk to us about things we can do besides what is assigned to us.  They had been on several missions (about 10).  They were a good example of going the extra mile.  It helped me realize that we can do more.  We then pretended to be an inactive couple and then changed roles with others and had to write a lesson plan for the inactives.  The best thing to remember is that we should always leave some kind of invite...scripture, conference talk to read, etc.  We then spent time remembering the week and setting goals and saying goodby to those in our district that we had grown close to.  It was kind of hard to see them leave.
   This one senior couple from South Carolina with a strong southern accent, Odums (going to Cove Fort Mission) was playing an inactive couple and we were their missionaries.  He used one saying that broke us up laughing so hard.  He said something like, "That's as good as a tick on a hound dog.  They were really fun to talk to.  There are so many Senior Missionaries with they own special story.  It's amazing.

J'lene then picked us up to take us to the credit union to get new credit cards and then we went to her house and visited and ate with Dean and J'lene, Jeremy and T J had arrived so they could go to a reunion tomorrow.  It was fun to be with them.  J'lene helped me with a few sewing items.