Follow up

The follow up training went very well today.  There was a wonderful spirit.  We appreciated hearing from them that our mission is obedient.  These new missionaries are doing great!  We're grateful to have them serving in the Great CVM. Before returning back to their areas they had some fruit with a dip.

Letter from President Felix

All the missionaries will receive an email tomorrow in the newsletter.  Here is the letter that President Felix wrote to them:

Dear Missionaries,

It certainly has been a delight to visit with most of you now after having zone conference and interviews.  This transfer is rolling along too quickly.  We heard from those missionaries who are departing during the past couple of weeks and Sister Felix and I have been so impressed with their testimonies.  Oh how we’ll miss them.

Elder Kuepper shared his testimony in every one of the zone conferences.  Just this past week in MLC, we were impressed with the visual that Elder Kuepper painted as he talked about a young eaglet who was orphaned and was raised with a bunch of chickens.  This eaglet learned how to eat and fend for itself from the other chickens.  Not knowing anything different and despite his size and genetics, the eaglet would peck at the ground for its feed along with the chickens.  A visitor noticed the eagle amongst the chickens and thought that the eagle should be able to fly.  He picked up the eagle and tossed it in the air.  It flapped its wings and dropped to the ground.  The man then took the eagle up to the top of the barn and tossed it off, but the eagle just flapped its wings and clumsily came to the ground.  The man went away and studied how eagles learn to fly.

The man returned and asked the farmer if he could try one more time. The farmer realized that the eagle did not belong with the chickens and agreed.  The man found out that eagle’s nests are high on the edge of steep cliffs.  When the eagles are mature enough, the adult eagle coaxes the young eagle to the edge of the nest and gently pushes them into the canyon.  The only thing that can support their wings is the air.  So the man drove to a high point in a steep canyon where he gently pushed the young eagle over the edge.  The eagle, raised as a chicken, now looked up and opened his wings.  He began to soar and then to fly.  “For these eaglets, the thrill of soaring begins with the fear of falling”.

President Uchtdorf said in the most recent New Mission President’s Seminar, “Life as a missionary is about growing.  It is about having faith and hope, about acquiring knowledge and skills.  It is about enduring and trusting that God is always there and that He will bear each missionary up as on eagle’s wings.  You have to trust God.”

Sister Felix and I love all of you missionaries and we pray for you multiple times daily.  Please know that the challenges you might face with your area, a companion, homesickness, or whatever will help you grow and develop as a missionary and later as a responsible adult.  From President Uchtdorf again “Faith is a principle of power.  God works by power and His power is usually exercised in response to faith.”

Love and soar high,

President Dell C Felix

MLC

The goal for this month is 31 baptisms.  Our CVM target is Find the elect, a trial of your faith.  Our Christlike attribute is faith.  We have the faith that this mission can baptize.

We had great discussion today in MLC.  Elder Kuepper and Elder Gibb led a discussion on How to Prepare for MLC.  We need to look at what we can improve on.  In Preach My Gospel there are four principles of language learning that were adapted to priniples of leadership:  take responsibility, make your study meaningful, seek to communicate,  and learn new concepts thoroughly.

President Felix discussed three aspects from Elder Bednar:

1.  Prepare to learn

2.  Interact to edify

3.  Invite to act

The senior couples prepared a wonderful lunch - watermelon, corn casserole, baked beans, pulled pork sandwiches, chips and blueberry cobbler. 

Doug Montague from the Newberry Park Stake shared his experience as a missionary taking the example of Ammon and his brothers in teaching the Lamanites.  He had slides to go with his presentation.  I mention that because there were missionaries who had not seen a slide projector before.

Zone Leaders

Front row:  Elders Taufatofua, Swenson, Rosenlof, Davis, Stewart, Carpenter, Harvey, Weiss

Back row:  Elders Peterson, Dorius, DuPlessis, Snyder, Summers, King, Parkinson, Campbell

Sister Training Leaders

Front row:  Sisters King, Capener, Hermanas Hemingway, Scott

Back row:  Sisters Ulassin, Houseman, Hermanas Frias, Johnson

Sisters Hardy, Floyd, and Iverson busy cleaning up in the kitchen.

Sisters Ulassin and King presented the application of success in working with members is having a good attitude.  The three Ps are:  positive, proactive, and productive.  Have a positive attitude -- be supportive, encourage and help the members.  Be proactive by continuing to follow up.  Be productive in using time wisely and in gaining members trust.  The EDPEP was helping a member invite.

We were edified by listening to the departing missionaries bear testimony (Elder Keupper, Hermana Johnson, 

Elder Snyder, and Hermana Frias).

The commitment that President Felix extended was to focus on faith for this transfer and the next two transfers.

4th of July

The Senior Couples got together at the mission home to welcome the Coles.  We are so blessed in this mission to have these missionaries here serving with us.

Elders and Sisters Clark, Cole, Iverson, Floyd, Aston, Hardy

The Coles

Elder and Sister Cole began their mission here on July 1 and were able to attend zone conference in Camarillo.  With their vast experience in the Church they will add to the CES program in Camarillo and Ventura.

Camarillo and Ventura Zone Conference

Lunch was so delicious!  We had salad, mashed potatoes, pork roast with gravy and cookies.

President Felix, President & Sister Clark of the Ventura Stake, Sister & Elder Cole (CES missionaries), 

Sister & President Lithgoe of the Camarillo Stake.

Birthdays for May and June are Elders Endicott, Crook, Hubbard, King, Sister & Elder Floyd, Elders Strom, Hardy, Hermana Scott

Elder Gregory and Elder Holm

Elder Iverson looks as excited as the missionaries for their award of having the cleanest car.

Carmarillo Zone

Front row:  Elders Matthews, Atkinson, Holm, Carpenter, Anderson, Hermanas Scott, Hirst, Elders Portillo, Endicott, Crook, Sister Coleman, Hermana Anstee

Back row:  Elders Bradley, Gregory, King, Willis, Hermanas Johnson, Wiles, Elders McClane, Hubbard, Routledge, Sister Israelsen, Hermana Peterson

Ventura Zone

Front row:  Elders Castro, Deason, Gibb, Strom Taufatofua, Jones, Sister Dye, Hermanas Hemingway, Flores, 

Sister Coulon

Back row:  Elders Valladares, VanSlochteren, Kuepper, Peart, Peterson, Slaugh, Sister Baird, Hermanas Frias, Green, 

Sister Jones

To begin the afternoon session Sister Coleman sang
We'll Bring the World His Truth (Army of Helaman) with Sister Israelsen accompanying on the piano.