You had some questions this last week that I wasn't able to answer. We were a bit busy, forgive me. So, let me delve into those, since I haven't got a letter from you yet.
Do you get proselyting time?
Yes :) Which is something that I was scared of losing, I'm not going to lie. We work really hard with the time that we do have. President wants all of the ZL areas to be model areas for our Zones. It's tough work, but we get out there and make it a model area :) It's amazing what the Lord allows you to do when you give your whole heart. I wish that I had understood how much divine help I had access to in my other areas. Imagine what the Lord could have done with me then.
Anyways, that's thinking backwards, and "no man, putting his hand to the plow and looking backwards is fit for the Kingdom of God." One of our Zone Goals is focusing forwards.
Are you still assigned to a ward?
Yes, every area with missionaries in it is assigned to a ward. We attend the East Grinstead ward, and it really is an amazing ward. There are some awesome recent converts here. In fact, we just attended a devotional at the Temple Visitors Centre called "Why I Believe," which put on entirely by recent converts, sharing their experiences. We brought three of our investigators to it, and each of them were able to connect with one of the recent converts. It was such a Fast Sunday miracle :)
Where do you live? Temple grounds? Office?
In a flat near East Grinstead Town Centre. Funny story, we live on Fosters Way. I'll have to get a picture of that :) A pretty nice flat, too. Literally, it's the nicest flat I've ever lived in, in my life. I kind of feel guilty living in it, especially as I consider my friends in the Philippines or Brazil. #1stWorldMissionary
Photos
Wow, it's been a while since I've updated photos. Sorry. My last area didn't have the technology access to do it, so I've just decided to leave you with this email for now, and use the rest of my time to try and sort out my pictures and get them up on the travel blog.
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In other news, there was quite a big revelation that happened in Mission Leadership Council that has recently changed the mission dramatically. I told you that meeting was one of the most spiritual experiences of my life. We are no longer accounting for lessons taught on the street, but instead strictly adhering to the standards of Preach My Gospel. This means that the entire mission's "Other Lesson" key indicator is going to drop dramatically. This administration came about because we counseled and felt that missionaries were basing their worth on a number, and not on what the Lord saw them as. So, the focus of our mission currently is being accountable to the Lord, and focusing what we do on quality instead of quantity.
It's going to be tough for our Zone, who already struggle because they balance area work and digital work. But, we really feel like the Zone Training we put on last week inspired everyone to continue their hard work on the street, and look to find the one. They are such awesome missionaries, I love them. Experienced missionaries already have this skill to just roll with the punches, and turn lemons into lemonade, but even the newer missionaries to the Zone and mission are really getting involved and have caught the fire of quality in missionary work.
I'm so excited for this Transfer :) The Lord is blessing us so much.
Alright, I'd better get to work on those pictures. I'll let you know about our investigators next week, because Chris' baptismal date is coming up! Super exciting, and he is doing really well. A recent convert in the ward has taken him under his wing, and he just feels right at home.
Love, Elder Foster
Do you get proselyting time?
Yes :) Which is something that I was scared of losing, I'm not going to lie. We work really hard with the time that we do have. President wants all of the ZL areas to be model areas for our Zones. It's tough work, but we get out there and make it a model area :) It's amazing what the Lord allows you to do when you give your whole heart. I wish that I had understood how much divine help I had access to in my other areas. Imagine what the Lord could have done with me then.
Anyways, that's thinking backwards, and "no man, putting his hand to the plow and looking backwards is fit for the Kingdom of God." One of our Zone Goals is focusing forwards.
Are you still assigned to a ward?
Yes, every area with missionaries in it is assigned to a ward. We attend the East Grinstead ward, and it really is an amazing ward. There are some awesome recent converts here. In fact, we just attended a devotional at the Temple Visitors Centre called "Why I Believe," which put on entirely by recent converts, sharing their experiences. We brought three of our investigators to it, and each of them were able to connect with one of the recent converts. It was such a Fast Sunday miracle :)
Where do you live? Temple grounds? Office?
In a flat near East Grinstead Town Centre. Funny story, we live on Fosters Way. I'll have to get a picture of that :) A pretty nice flat, too. Literally, it's the nicest flat I've ever lived in, in my life. I kind of feel guilty living in it, especially as I consider my friends in the Philippines or Brazil. #1stWorldMissionary
Photos
Wow, it's been a while since I've updated photos. Sorry. My last area didn't have the technology access to do it, so I've just decided to leave you with this email for now, and use the rest of my time to try and sort out my pictures and get them up on the travel blog.
---
In other news, there was quite a big revelation that happened in Mission Leadership Council that has recently changed the mission dramatically. I told you that meeting was one of the most spiritual experiences of my life. We are no longer accounting for lessons taught on the street, but instead strictly adhering to the standards of Preach My Gospel. This means that the entire mission's "Other Lesson" key indicator is going to drop dramatically. This administration came about because we counseled and felt that missionaries were basing their worth on a number, and not on what the Lord saw them as. So, the focus of our mission currently is being accountable to the Lord, and focusing what we do on quality instead of quantity.
It's going to be tough for our Zone, who already struggle because they balance area work and digital work. But, we really feel like the Zone Training we put on last week inspired everyone to continue their hard work on the street, and look to find the one. They are such awesome missionaries, I love them. Experienced missionaries already have this skill to just roll with the punches, and turn lemons into lemonade, but even the newer missionaries to the Zone and mission are really getting involved and have caught the fire of quality in missionary work.
I'm so excited for this Transfer :) The Lord is blessing us so much.
Alright, I'd better get to work on those pictures. I'll let you know about our investigators next week, because Chris' baptismal date is coming up! Super exciting, and he is doing really well. A recent convert in the ward has taken him under his wing, and he just feels right at home.
Love, Elder Foster