On Thursday we had the awesome opportunity to participate in a special mission wide devotional with Elder Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. He talked with us for over an hour, covering a wide range of Gospel topics. Most of the time was spent in addressing questions directed to him by our missionaries. It was very personal and actually felt like he was right there in the room with us. It was very interesting to observe how carefully he would follow up when responding to a question to get a feel for what the individual had heard and whether additional clarification or insight would be helpful.
One thing Elder Bednar emphasized right from the beginning was that, in light of recent events, it is evident that the Lord is directing his church. We might be surprised by events, but He is not.
One thing Elder Bednar emphasized right from the beginning was that, in light of recent events, it is evident that the Lord is directing his church. We might be surprised by events, but He is not.
Well, things are starting to loosen up a little bit here and there, but most missionary work is still taking place remotely through social media and on-line teaching. The young Elders and Sisters are really becoming proficient with the available tools and rather than slowing down the work seems to be accelerating.
Our mission is preparing to receive those missionaries who returned to the US from overseas that have been reassigned to serve in missions here in the United States or Canada. We are expecting to grow by over 100 missionaries before the end of summer. It will be kind of like having transfers every two weeks instead of every six weeks for the next four months and is presenting some very interesting logistical challenges. We're just glad that we're still here to see how it unfolds and hopefully can help with these 'adjustments'.
Our mission is preparing to receive those missionaries who returned to the US from overseas that have been reassigned to serve in missions here in the United States or Canada. We are expecting to grow by over 100 missionaries before the end of summer. It will be kind of like having transfers every two weeks instead of every six weeks for the next four months and is presenting some very interesting logistical challenges. We're just glad that we're still here to see how it unfolds and hopefully can help with these 'adjustments'.
We discovered a civil war monument in the town of Double Springs about an hours drive northwest of us. It stands in front of the Winston County Court House. It is very interesting because it depicts a soldier who is dressed 1/2 in a Union uniform and 1/2 in a Confederate uniform. It represents the way the Civil War was not a clean division of Northern and Southern states but actually divided families and communities. Winston County, Alabama did not join the confederacy during the Civil War and is even today known as the Free State of Winston. There were some citizens of the county who joined the Union Army and some who joined the Confederacy with some families being divided.
It is sobering to think that the primary issue leading up to the Civil War was States Rights vs Federal Authority which is still a mater of contention today.
We found a new apartment. One of us is ready to move in, the other not so much - and she has the deciding vote 😞.
Mission Miracle:
"Aside from that, we have received so many referrals! It almost worries us how we can handle even more when we are out of the quarantine... when we plan our days, they are completely packed. We can see no room to fit all the things we need to accomplish let alone getting creative and taking time to go on walks.... but somehow every day, the Lord gives us a glimpse of Heavenly time I guess. Things just have a habit of working out when we are on His errand. We just take it one miracle at a time these days! What a time to be alive!"
Glad to hear you are doing so well and that the Lord's work is moving rapidly forward! It is, indeed, a marvelous time to be alive.
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