"I've Never Been So Happy to See an Ankle Monitor..."

The progressing investigator I had chosen to portray is a man named Dave. Dave was found in my last area, just a few weeks before I went home. He had a history of drug abuse and gang involvement, and even several years of time in prison. He has since cleaned up, and he let is into his home because he was impressed that we wanted to pray with him and for him. We later found out that he was always home in the evening because of a house-arrest ankle monitor that was activated every evening at 8 pm. Playing Dave has been a powerful experience both for me and for the missionaries teaching me/him. I love that I get to share this special man with such wonderful missionaries.

I recently received a letter from a sister from my most recent district. She hasn't been in the field (Kansas) for more than three weeks, but she had something urgent to say. Apparently she and her trainer came across a gentleman who was very similar to Dave--almost the exact same person! This sister said how much she felt that teaching Dave prepared her to teach this man in Kansas. The letter continued, "Brother Turner, I've never been so happy to see an ankle monitor that was activated in the evening..." She thanked me for choosing to portray one of my favorite investigators, because she felt that it had prepared her to love this particular investigator of hers even more than she thought she would.

If treated appropriately and even reverently, P.I. can be an experience that will prepare our missionaries to teach not only at a general level but at a very personal, emotional level too. It warmed my heart as I read of this sister's love for this man and his progression in the Gospel.

Our Identity: Imagining the Infinity of Immortality

Just wanted to share this quote as a supplement to this week's training.

"Think of it, brothers and sisters, even with their extensive longevity, stars are not immortal, but you are." -Neal A. Maxwell

They are Prepared

I recently had the incredible opportunity to travel back to where I served, the New York Utica mission.  Among all of the great experiences I had, one that stands alone is seeing 2 missionaries out in the field who I taught at the MTC!  Going back to my mission I looked forward to see many of the investigators and converts who I taught - but I never imagined visiting with missionaries there who I had recently taught.  I share this post because I find the last statement in the First Presidency Message of PMG to be true.  It says,  "More happiness awaits you than you have ever experienced as you labor among [the Lord's] children."  The people we taught on our missions bring us great joy and I'm sure for some we continue to keep in contact with these people.  It was amazing to see these 2 young missionaries serving faithfully and successfully after interacting so closely here at the MTC.  One Sister was training after her first 6 weeks! 

Seeing these missionaries was a humbling experience.  It brought me great joy to know that I - and us all - aid the Lord in His eternal purposes.  Teaching here at the MTC, we continue to play an integral part of the Lord's work.

God's great and eternal purposes are moving forward and it's amazing to be so involved.  If you take anything from this, know that the Lord is very aware of the work here and is not only pleased as we do our best to help prepare His servants, but that they really are ready for His work when they leave the MTC and enter the mission field.

Keep up the good work :)

Here was Heaven.

Dear friends.
Dear zone resources.
Zone teaching has become the most powerful part of my day.
...even and ESPECIALLY when it is the last hour before dinner, after 2 long shifts with only lunch inbetween for the missionaries.

If you have a moment, in humility and gratitude, I wish to share with you an experience with zone teaching that was a gift from heaven.

The fundamental on the schedule was "Revelation through prayer."
The windows of heaven opened today, and poured down right over room 409.
We started with a simple activity.
Question: how has your relationship with Heavenly Father grown in the MTC?
We made a solid list.
Somehow, the Lord led us to this question: "can you imagine what it will be like to see Heavenly Father again?"
...then this activity: "...in fact...close your eyes...imagine that reunion...what will you feel, what look will be on Heavenly Father's face, what will He say to you...?"
We closed our eyes.
Revelation. Love. The fruits of eternal life fell into our laps.
When we opened our eyes, most were misty. After one or two comments, we knew this needed to be recorded. After they recorded their experiences, I invited any who felt prompted to share. How can i even express their experiences?

Elder Christianson said that all day he has been feeling satan tug at him and make him feel like he can't do this, and it would be so easy to go home. When he closed his eyes, he saw Heavenly Father saying: "What do you mean you can't do this? Yes you can. I believe in YOU. I will be disappointed if you go home, because I know you can do this, and I need you to." He said when he opened his eyes, he wanted to punch satan in the face. (At the end of zone teaching, he stood up, and invited the whole zone to fight for the kingdom of God. powerful.) 

When i asked what they wanted to do now, one sister said "Share it!!!" and elder myers said "talk to God! it's like we can face time with him, when we imagine him there with us!" so we did both. We took 10 minutes to write a letter to God. A recorded prayer. They prayed first, and began to write. The tears continued to flow for many of us.
          
Then they shared it: We practiced the follow-up part of "revelation through prayer." they followed-up with their companions, about the experiences with prayer and with heaven that they had just had, starting with insired questions, and ending with an invitation to act on revelation received. Powerful teaching commenced, with heartfelt testimonies resonating off the fragile sound boards in such a way I knew heaven was listening from nearby.

When we came back together, we did an "I know" circle. Each missionary shared what the Lord had confirmed for them during this zone teaching. Here are a few things I heard: "I know God loves me, personally." "I know home is in God's presence, and i will stop at nothing less." "I have been converted today." "I know I can be forgiven." "I know God loved me enough to send His son so that I could return to Him." "I know nails did not hold Christ to the cross, but his love for us did." "This has been a turning point in my mission. I feel more ready for my mission than ever before. I know God is proud of me and will help me." "I know God will run to me when i return to him (prodigal son story we had studied)." "I feel like Heavenly Father is hugging my heart." Etc. etc. and more for eternity!

We read D&C 6:32 "...where two or three are gathered together in my name, as touching one thing, behold, there i will be in the midst of them-even so i am in the midst of you." This truth was sweetly confirmed.

I know this is God's work. Only He could meet all the needs of His children in this little room at the MTC through an imperfect teacher who has been at the mtc for 8.5 hours already, and has 24 missionaries who are just ready for dinner after 2 shifts with their teachers, sitting in front of her. I know God is meeting His children's needs through each of you, when you kneel in preparation, and stand in humility before His servants. I know charity never faileth. I know God loves us and wants us to come home. When we kneel to pray, and when we invite our investigators to do so, we are inviting them to go home, to talk with their father, and recognize their divine identity. THIS is something to follow up on.

Dear teachers, I invite you to seek out and expect to have converting experiences with your missionaries. Expect and be prepared to receive the blessings of heaven at every moment. Ask and ye shall receive...

P.S. We have the best job in the world. I am changed for the better, every day I come to this sacred institution. Aaah, grateful. Thank you, Heavenly Father.

Semesters, changes, and recommendations

Brothers and Sisters isn't this an amazing and glorious time to be working with missionaries and get to experience the miracles of the Lord's work first hand?! I am so excited to experience the opportunities that are just ahead in the next few months.

As Lissy pointed out in our mandatory meeting on Friday, we have a birds eye view but some of the worms eye view problems or concerns are yet to be seen/noticed. The purpose of his post is to invite you to leave your recommendations and suggestions about known and unknown problems.

Following are some of the obvious concerns that need to be addressed:

• Having a third teacher in the classroom- what's the best way for everyone to have a clear purpose?
• What is the most effective way to do PI with 3 teachers?
• How can I use my floating ZR time effectively?
• etc...

Please make a contribution to this and let's see what creative ideas we can come up with.

Russell

Some Thoughts Concerning This Work Part II

Last night I took the time to stop talking (yes I have a problem with talking too much) and simply listen to my missionaries.

I felt as though the talk that we often show our missionaries by Elder Holland rang in my ears. Listen and they will give you something testify of... or along those lines. Here is what I learned.

1. Don't rob them of an experience- I began to be nervous as I watched my missionaries become silent. In my mind I began to think "Oh no my lesson is too boring." But then something great happened! A small little sister spoke up and said, " Sometimes I feel as though we are being lectured, but today I have had to think. As I thought I gained a better understanding of my relationship with God." We often tell our missionaries that our investigators will remember the experience and not all of the things taught. Then why do we drown our missionaries in things taught and not the experience? I gained a better understanding that true doctrines must be presented, the missionaries then ponders, the spirit testifies, and the missionary applies and gains understanding.
2. Trust them, but more importantly trust God- Through this process I gained a better understanding of a missionary's calling. I sometimes over explain, talk, and list detail in fear that the missionary will not understand. In doing so I take away from the revelatory experience that missionary may have. God has called them, He trust them, and so should I.

I feel I have learned more about myself and my relationship with God through his servants, the missionaries. They may be not perfect, but they are called of God. I love them. I love this work.

Some Thoughts Concerning This Work...

After last night's class I just have to say that things are awesome!!! The missionaries the Lord is raising up are blowing me away! Brothers and Sisters, we have much to be grateful for! What a blessing it is to be here and witness this and help in a small way.

I am trying all I can to implement these recent trainings and I am seeing miracles in the class as I turn time over to them to have their own learning. As I focus on their conversion, their skills as missionaries are growing! A couple key things have stuck out to me:

1. Don't leap frog the missionaries - I don't know if you have noticed how Lisanne recently has been making the trainings more about us (or maybe I am just now noticing what she has been doing all along). She is helping us become more converted unto the Lord with the understanding that doing so will naturally create changes in the classroom. Recently I have been inviting the missionaries to consider God's hand in their own life concerning the activity we are doing. We then take those thoughts and use them to fulfill their purpose. Their studies are more powerful, their role plays are more powerful, and their desire to learn and help others is more powerful!

2. Setting up practices is key - I learned last night that if we take practice time more seriously by how much time we put into preparation and its uniqueness, the missionaries will catch the vision. They will meet our expectations, so we must push them! Think how Lisanne pushes us. Pay attention to how well thought out her practices are and how much they help us learn the objective. We must do the same!

3. Trust them - I have been humbled by the Elders' and Sisters' experiences with their Father in Heaven. Most are here because they know this is what they need to be doing. Many have quite the conversion to the Lord already. Trust them that they know the material, we are just helping them see it in the context of missionary work.

I know there are many Districts that are having their struggles. Many missionaries are needing very specific attention to needs. Don't give up on the hard times! Don't forget what you are doing and why you're here!

I will continue to enjoy this opportunity to be here at the MTC. I will forever treasure the lessons I am being taught. These blessings and gratitude are pushing me to do all I can to help them fulfill their purpose.

This is the Lord's work!!!