I hope all of you were able to watch the broadcast last night. We've been hearing and talking about it for the past month and it was terrific! We don't know when our mission will actually be given instruction to start using the internet to proselyte, or what will happen with opening meetinghouses to do tours. We already do tours with investigators or anyone we meet who's interested, but it sounded like they want missionaries at the building during the day in case people just show up hoping to check it out. But we'll wait for the word. Aside from that news, it was surprisingly familiar. We hear and talk about the need for us to work more closely with members all the time. And like was said, after all that has been said, our greatest and most important duty is to preach the gospel. And we can do that as we live lives in which the Spirit can guide us in our service to others. To be honest, I felt like if we just "do good," everything will fall into place. Yes we have to be more proactive and shine a little brighter, and INVITE others to do that which will increase their faith, but that means just being more faithful disciples. I'm super excited that the Brethren are renewing the focus. Our ward mission leader came up to us after the broadcast and said, "Elders, our ward mission needs to start setting goals with you guys. And I need to be filling your planners." We're stoked! Our new YSA ward is already really missionary-minded, so they'll do great in moving the work forward.
Oh, didn't you like the videos they showed? Especially the example of that family where all the family members were helping out their friends and acquaintances. It helps to set the vision. But I believe that vision will grow as we prayerfully study it out. Please do. May we think about how we can take a greater part in the work of salvation. I know that the Spirit will fill our lives in greater measure as we do. Thanks for everything, family. I love you guys. Have a great week!
Elder Gathro
Monday, June 24, 2013
Monday, June 17, 2013
Here You Go
Dear Family,
"This is my first last best chance to have any hope for a fresh start at a new beginning for the first time again." This is my last first day of the transfer. I've been thinking a lot about the goals I want to set and what I want to still accomplish and become before my time runs out. I set some exercise goals too, and this morning I had to wake up and haggle my companion a little bit for him to get up early with me and run. Really, you get what you go for. If it's a priority, you'll do it. So we'll see what happens.
This week went really well. Monday night we had skit night for FHE that we participate in with our investigator. So much fun! And afterward we sat down for a short lesson and it turned out that he was having doubts about his baptism (scheduled for this past Saturday) because of some opposition from his mother. So we decided that we would do a fast with him on Tuesday, and it worked miracles! When we met with him after the fast he was picking out people for his baptismal service. There is power in fasting. I know it. His baptism turned out really well! It was a really spiritual event.
Last night we had the mission president's fireside at the local institute. Elder Perez and I decided we wanted to translate, which I was excited for but a little worried because I don't use my Spanish nearly as much. But the translation came out really well, and I talked to a few native-speakers there. With them the Spanish still flows no problem.
Transfers are this Wednesday so things are a bit crazy around here. It's all coming together but there's sure a lot going on. I really gotta get better at administering. Any advice?
Anywhooligans, that's been my week. Thanks for everything, Family. You the best siblings and parents I've ever had! Enjoy your week!
Much love,
Elder Gathro
"This is my first last best chance to have any hope for a fresh start at a new beginning for the first time again." This is my last first day of the transfer. I've been thinking a lot about the goals I want to set and what I want to still accomplish and become before my time runs out. I set some exercise goals too, and this morning I had to wake up and haggle my companion a little bit for him to get up early with me and run. Really, you get what you go for. If it's a priority, you'll do it. So we'll see what happens.
This week went really well. Monday night we had skit night for FHE that we participate in with our investigator. So much fun! And afterward we sat down for a short lesson and it turned out that he was having doubts about his baptism (scheduled for this past Saturday) because of some opposition from his mother. So we decided that we would do a fast with him on Tuesday, and it worked miracles! When we met with him after the fast he was picking out people for his baptismal service. There is power in fasting. I know it. His baptism turned out really well! It was a really spiritual event.
Last night we had the mission president's fireside at the local institute. Elder Perez and I decided we wanted to translate, which I was excited for but a little worried because I don't use my Spanish nearly as much. But the translation came out really well, and I talked to a few native-speakers there. With them the Spanish still flows no problem.
Transfers are this Wednesday so things are a bit crazy around here. It's all coming together but there's sure a lot going on. I really gotta get better at administering. Any advice?
Anywhooligans, that's been my week. Thanks for everything, Family. You the best siblings and parents I've ever had! Enjoy your week!
Much love,
Elder Gathro
Monday, June 10, 2013
Road Trip
Hey familia,
My whole mission I've heard about this one town in the middle of the desert where missionaries have to take a shuttle to get there. Not a lot of action, just a small ward. Kinda dead but somehow magically fun. Well, I got to go this week! The missionaries who cover the town also cover another small town so my companion stayed with one of the elders and the other elder and I took the shuttle down to Ajo, AZ! It's also always been my dream to teach someone on a bus. Well it was a dream come true. Except that the guy I was talking to and teaching wasn't very interested haha. But it was cool anyway. The town actually has a lot of work right now. The members are fantastic and the bishop has a vision for the ward. The missionaries are teaching this cute little family in which the husband is a bit hesitant but is progressing well. I wish I could have stayed another full day. Although after the exchange I felt like I had just come back from a campout, because the place the missionaries stay at down there is a little shack that a member owns. Food was scarce but I learned how to make microwaved pancakes...with honey they're not too bad :)
We did another exchange with some Spanish elders in our zone and it was more challenging than I thought it would be. I have not ceased to learn how very important communication is. As our mission president says, the degree to which we communicate is the degree to which we teach, which is the degree to which we can lead, which is the degree to which the Lord can use us in blessing the lives of others. And for some missionaries in our mission, it's very difficult to communicate. For me at times it's still hard, especially in unfamiliar situations. But I firmly believe that the Lord can help us overcome those barriers. It's basically a question of how can God help us improve our weaknesses. As we've been reading a lot in the Book of Mormon recently I found again the scripture that says, "Whatsoever thing ye shall ask in faith, believing that ye shall receive in the name of Christ, ye shall receive it." (Enos 1:15) I believe that. I know that the Lord is eager to aid us in whatever our struggles may be, even to the farthest extreme. And I believe that as me make it a matter of consistent prayer and focus in our lives, God will bless us to become stronger. A lot depends on our faith and vision of what we think we can accomplish with the Lord.
I did my first baptismal interview in Spanish yesterday! Things are going great in our wards. We have a baptism coming up this Saturday for a young man who's been learning for several months. He's a really great guy, a student at ASU, and he's making evident changes in his life. It's hard to upload photos because I don't have a cord, but I'll see if I can borrow one to shoot you a few pics. I love you all and wish you a wonderful week!
Elder Gathro
My whole mission I've heard about this one town in the middle of the desert where missionaries have to take a shuttle to get there. Not a lot of action, just a small ward. Kinda dead but somehow magically fun. Well, I got to go this week! The missionaries who cover the town also cover another small town so my companion stayed with one of the elders and the other elder and I took the shuttle down to Ajo, AZ! It's also always been my dream to teach someone on a bus. Well it was a dream come true. Except that the guy I was talking to and teaching wasn't very interested haha. But it was cool anyway. The town actually has a lot of work right now. The members are fantastic and the bishop has a vision for the ward. The missionaries are teaching this cute little family in which the husband is a bit hesitant but is progressing well. I wish I could have stayed another full day. Although after the exchange I felt like I had just come back from a campout, because the place the missionaries stay at down there is a little shack that a member owns. Food was scarce but I learned how to make microwaved pancakes...with honey they're not too bad :)
We did another exchange with some Spanish elders in our zone and it was more challenging than I thought it would be. I have not ceased to learn how very important communication is. As our mission president says, the degree to which we communicate is the degree to which we teach, which is the degree to which we can lead, which is the degree to which the Lord can use us in blessing the lives of others. And for some missionaries in our mission, it's very difficult to communicate. For me at times it's still hard, especially in unfamiliar situations. But I firmly believe that the Lord can help us overcome those barriers. It's basically a question of how can God help us improve our weaknesses. As we've been reading a lot in the Book of Mormon recently I found again the scripture that says, "Whatsoever thing ye shall ask in faith, believing that ye shall receive in the name of Christ, ye shall receive it." (Enos 1:15) I believe that. I know that the Lord is eager to aid us in whatever our struggles may be, even to the farthest extreme. And I believe that as me make it a matter of consistent prayer and focus in our lives, God will bless us to become stronger. A lot depends on our faith and vision of what we think we can accomplish with the Lord.
I did my first baptismal interview in Spanish yesterday! Things are going great in our wards. We have a baptism coming up this Saturday for a young man who's been learning for several months. He's a really great guy, a student at ASU, and he's making evident changes in his life. It's hard to upload photos because I don't have a cord, but I'll see if I can borrow one to shoot you a few pics. I love you all and wish you a wonderful week!
Elder Gathro
Monday, June 3, 2013
Week Tras Week
Dear Family,
This was a really good week with some good personal growth. We did an exchange early in the week that I kinda felt sloppy about just overall. Like it wasn't very purposeful. But then we did another exchange on Friday that was very different. I insisted that before we went to bed Thursday (it was an exchange from Thurs night to Fri night) we had to identify what we wanted to get out of the exchange. Then when it came time to exchange back and we evaluated how the day went, we had something to measure it against. And we were all looking for ways to improve on things. It was really uplifting. I'm learning week after week more about "vision". When we can see what God sees, it makes us powerful in what we do. We can know the will of God and how we are to carry it out. I'm finding a lot of connections to that subject that I thought possible. It's an answer to prayer.
Our mission right now is attempting to read the entire Book of Mormon before our mission president and wife leave. We started this week in our district meetings and are focusing on the Atonement of Jesus Christ as we study. It's another answer to my prayers because I really want to become even more knowledgeable of the scriptures and know how to use them better in my teaching. So this is forcing me to make it a greater priority. And it has already make a marked difference. I can't help but feel like the Spirit is working more closely in my missionary service. What a blessing! :)
Good to hear from you all and thanks for the video, Ben! I love you all!
Elder Gathro
PS- We went hiking this morning right by ASU Stadium. From the top of the hill we could see the entire Phoenix valley. Quite the sight! And my first time hiking since I've been in Arizona.
This was a really good week with some good personal growth. We did an exchange early in the week that I kinda felt sloppy about just overall. Like it wasn't very purposeful. But then we did another exchange on Friday that was very different. I insisted that before we went to bed Thursday (it was an exchange from Thurs night to Fri night) we had to identify what we wanted to get out of the exchange. Then when it came time to exchange back and we evaluated how the day went, we had something to measure it against. And we were all looking for ways to improve on things. It was really uplifting. I'm learning week after week more about "vision". When we can see what God sees, it makes us powerful in what we do. We can know the will of God and how we are to carry it out. I'm finding a lot of connections to that subject that I thought possible. It's an answer to prayer.
Our mission right now is attempting to read the entire Book of Mormon before our mission president and wife leave. We started this week in our district meetings and are focusing on the Atonement of Jesus Christ as we study. It's another answer to my prayers because I really want to become even more knowledgeable of the scriptures and know how to use them better in my teaching. So this is forcing me to make it a greater priority. And it has already make a marked difference. I can't help but feel like the Spirit is working more closely in my missionary service. What a blessing! :)
Good to hear from you all and thanks for the video, Ben! I love you all!
Elder Gathro
PS- We went hiking this morning right by ASU Stadium. From the top of the hill we could see the entire Phoenix valley. Quite the sight! And my first time hiking since I've been in Arizona.
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