March 11, 2015 "The scuba analogy."

Another sweet week with a lot of driving.... 900 ks... but we were able to get a lot accomplished!!  We actually will be having the first baptism in this area in 7 and a half months!!! His name is Itu and he is so cool! this guy used to be crazy and it shows...  He has a bunch of homemade tattoos that he did himself and everytime we tell his family he is getting baptized and that he has quit drinking and smoking they just laugh! It is kind of sad but at the same time it is so cool that he has come so far that no one even believes him... I'm sure Alma the younger had the same problems so I think it is cool! This week I did get a little discouraged because we have been working extremely hard and haven't seen an increase in investigators or anything but then again I realized that faith is tested before we can receive blessings so I know that I just need to continually be diligent and the area will get better it will improve.  Also this week I have seen the blessings of being obedient.  There was a missionary in our zone who has been on mission for almost 6 months and still barely knows any english... We were trying to figure it out and found out he was breaking some mission rules.  We had to sit down and talk with him and he admitted to it and it was solved.  Ever since then his companion said that the spirit has been much stronger and he is picking up english a lot better! Obedience is the first law in heaven and I could say it is the same for mission as well. 

Also we were able to teach zone meeting and I came up with this super cool analogy.  Its called the scuba analogy and how we need to be scuba missionaries and not snorkle missionaries.  As we think about the two, which one is more likely to find hidden treasures?  The scuba diver has much more equipment that helps him.  First is the oxygen that the scuba diver receives which is a lot less limited than that of a snorkler.  We can apply this and swap the oxygen for the spirit. Without the spirit we cannot be lead to those hidden people or receive guidance on what to teach.  The goggles which can be applied as scriptures because they help us see our purpose as missionaries and the purpose of our life.  Then the fins is our love.  Love is what motivates us, what pushes us to be the best we can be.  Love for our area, investigators, and our companions.  Then the wet suit which is the atonement that is what will keep us going when it seems too cold or hard to push through.  Then finally the weights which are the trials that the Lord can give us because of our preparation. The missionaries seemed to think it was cool so I thought I would share it cause it can be used in life as well.  Also we talked about diligence so at the end we had everyone test their diligence by putting their feet in ice water for ten minutes and if they succeeded then the would get a candy bar hahaha.

Much love jon jon