Shoot, I don't really know what to say this week. We did a lot! We taught 18 lessons, 9 of which we had a member accompany us to and our district had 11 investigators come to church yesterday.
We had a Zone Conference on Friday in Del Rio. President Slaughter came down into the border zone with the assistants and conducted interviews while the zone leaders did some trainings. I learned quite a bit. I didn't know there were 4 accounts of the first vision, but now having read them all it's a lot like the 4 accounts of the atonement given by Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. They don't contradict, but rather compliment one another in describing pieces of one immense moment in the history of the world.
I guess some people know the key to having interviews with President because they spend a long time talking to him. I get in there and he asks me about my testimony, my companion, my family, a little bit about the area ... Done! I suppose if there was a problem we'd chat for a while. Some missionaries go in with some deep doctrinal questions for him ... I don't know maybe some day.
After Zone Conference, Elder Tuft, one of the lovely assistants to the president, came on an exchange with me and Elder Warren. It was great, really productive. His council for us upon leaving was that we could probably walk faster. Elder Warren and I kind of joked about it after he left but then during District Conference (like stake conference) I started praying in regards to whether or not I should set a goal for the number of baptisms I could witness before I finished my mission. (My big take away from the zone conference was to be more diligent in setting and fulfilling daily and weekly goals.) In that moment, President Slaughter was speaking and the spirit was very strong. I inquired as to which goals were appropriate for me to set and I played around with numbers in the hundreds. I know it's more than possible, although the answer that came as it becomes a little bit easier to recognize the spirit each time it speaks was, "lose the doubt and go to work" I went on questioning and it became nearly a conversation for a moment but that was enough for me.
It makes sense upon reflection that I wanted a "goal" or a promise from god of how many I could help enter the waters of baptism so as to justify making the next step of selling out as a servant of the lord. I believe I became even more dedicated to the work this week, and in ignorance tried to get an assurance that the sacrifice in doing so would have substantial returns. Silly me. I will move forward with faith, with more faith. Haha, I don't know if there's a better way to say that. We have to make the step first based on the understanding we gain from servants of the lord today and in the scriptures who teach us the mind of Christ. John 15:16 "ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the father in my name, he may give it you." We sacrifice ourselves to the Lord and he lifts us higher than we every would have risen ourselves.
Here's me and Elder Tuft (AP) Elder Rogers (ZL) Elder Peine (AP) Elder Humble (ex-AP) Elder Harvey (ZL) and Elder Mora (from Costa Rica)
So I found a few things to write about.
With lots of love!
Elder Tyler Meidell
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