This past week has been full of many activities. On Monday Sister Hawley prepared the monthly President's report on baptisms. She also completed the ELM newsletter, Truth Will Prevail, in time to print enough copies to pass out to all mission companionships. Elder Hawley received 6 of our mission vehicles being recalled. He also contracted on three flats for three companionships to move into. On Tuesday afternoon President Kopischke arrived for his tour of the England London Mission. Elder Kopischke is the area president and regional representative for the Church and he is from Frankfort, German. Each evening he met with stake officers. On Wednesday and Thursday all 8 mission zones congregated in the chapel to hear Elder Kopischke's counsel, instruction, and enthusiasm for missionary work. A fine ham Christmas luncheon was prepared both days for 70 missionaries each day by a wonderful and generous group of sisters from the Hyde Park Ward. On Friday Elder Kopischke met with and instructed the mission zone leaders. It was a busy week, full of much activity. At the end of each zone conference meetings, Elder and Sister Hawley swapped out old Nokia mobile phones for new Samsung phones, making many companionships, who'd been making do with semi-functional telephones, very, very happy. This fall we've said farewell to some dear missionaries who have been released, including the Inskeep's and Elder Conner Gietz, the senior AP when we arrived in the mission. We've greeted missionaries from all around the world, including Brazil, Portugal, and Italy. And we've enthusiastically watched as Elder Avanesyan "graduated" from his English tutors to "fly on his own" with a new area assignment and companionship.
Some words of counsel from Elder Kopischke & President Patch:
-- Put your head in the heavens. You will know that all things are possible.
-- Know what is right. Do what is right. Teach what is right.
[President Patch's definition of Leadership]
-- What is my hope for this conference? It is important to be instructed by the Spirit of the Lord.
-- Focus: Give a face to your dream. We learn from our own experience, and then we can testify of its truthfulness. It increases our faith. Then we can teach others. [Ether 12:19]
-- Personal righteousness increases your power to teach.
-- Covenants are our safety net. We can have our agency, and our covenants provide balance, boundaries, protection & prevention.
-- Agency is to act as God would act.
-- You can act but not enforce.
-- The Spirit teaches. The Spirit converts. The Spirit makes known and familiar. [PMG, Chapter 11; D&C 42:14]
-- Faith is a principle of action and power and desires.
-- Miracles come by the will of God. You are not responsible for the miracles, but you are responsible for the effort. Let desire grow until it finds some place in your heart. [Alma 32:28]
-- I will go,... and do,... what the Lord has commanded, because I know the Lord giveth no commandment save He shall prepare a way for them....
