Weekly Planning

We are really stressing a new Youth Mission Week idea for the ward and we are really excited about it! I am super happy to be here during this time. Just remember that God loves us and we can gain strength from his Spirit. I am so grateful to know that. 

Spiritual: The spirit that outgoing missionaries have is incredible. They radiate the Love of God that has been flowing through them for the last 18 months to two years. I love being in their presence. I am so happy to be in the position to be able to work with them. This week was a little crazy because of transfers. We have been working like dogs to get everything in order to be able to get things going for people to be moved all over the mission. I am a firm believer now that President Mella is a man that has been called of God. The mission leadership is inspired. It has been so cool to view that revelatory experience. A lot of missionaries do not understand what goes on for transfers and what an intense experience it is. The first thing we do is fast and pray together for the Lord to guide our thoughts and direct our hearts to bring to pass conversion. What an incredible experience that is. We then remove all of the outgoing missionaries and then proceed to remove all the missionaries who are up for transfers. The first decision we actually make is to pick the missionaries who will train this next transfer. We then start moving missionaries in. We generally decide it based on feelings and thoughts we have about what will help them have the best chance for success. It’s amazing to see and feel the confirmation that what we picked was right. It is an incredible experience. The message that I want to share most though is that Transfers are based on Faith. We do not know for sure where the missionaries need to go but we have faith that the Lord is directing our thoughts so we do not fear. It’s an incredible sensation. The hard part is that we sometimes have to wait all the way through a transfer to find out why a companionship is together. I will keep you posted for the miracles. Just remember that even leaders work on faith. The faith of the individual and the faith of the leader are the things that precede the miracle. The trick is to remember that the Miracle will come.

Funny: The Vietnamese elders brought in a box of chicken today that they got from a member in the branch. The head was still in the box. As was the foot. With the "Large Talons." We decided we were not hungry. :)

Where I am at: Transfers rule our life. It’s a busy time of year but we are having a good time helping the mission. I love where I am at. I love seeing the gospel change the members as well as the missionaries. This is a happy time of life for Elder Black. I am so in Love with this place. I love you all!