Well hello there everyone,
This week has been another quick week, the whole transfer in fact has felt incredibly quick and has just flown by. My companion says that the time here in Kisumu goes faster than anywhere else, maybe he is right... This week wasn't so full of teaching, but rather a week of teaching, of learning and of counselling. The highlight of the week was the MLC (Mission Leadership Conference), which took place on Wednesday.
On Tuesday we traveled to Eldoret. Being back in Eldoret was great, I really love that town, it's just a wonderful place and having served there for so long, it will remain dear to me. The weather, the people, everything haha it's like going home back to my people. When we arrived we dropped our stuff at the Sosiani flat, then went to Tropical Fast Food Restaurant with the Sisters, just like old times! The workers were surprised and happy to see me again. They said I had just disappeared and weren't sure if I would be returning. Not returning but visiting! We then dropped the sisters off at the Eldoret sisters' flat and returned to the Sosiani flat. The initial plan had been to stay in Langas, but like last time, that was switched last minute and rather we stayed in Sosiani. This bummed me out because I had really been looking forward to staying in Langas and enjoying that time before going to the MLC the next morning. The Langas elders were caught off guard by the last minute decision as well, but they were really awesome and came over to be with us for a while at the Sosiani flat before heading back to Langas. It's always such a blessing to have friends like they are to me. That was basically Tuesday.
Wednesday was the MLC. It began at 8:30 and continued until 2:30. We covered some really great topics, the first being how to effectively council. President Hicken is really seeking to help us to learn how to council together, because counseling is something that will be used the rest of our lives, in our homes, in our work, in the church, and among our friends, so knowing how to do so effectively is of great importance and blessing. We discussed how to counsel properly and the qualities that are needed in a good ZL, DL, and STL (Sister Training Leader). With each topic being a council, it wasn't just a training but rather we all discussed together and figured out what was most needed in our zones and how we could handle certain problems. We covered other topics including Leadership assignments, Unity, Confidentiality, and Obedience. In regards to Obedience our mission president mentioned "Help others to be willingly obedient, that's the goal." In life we each have our agency, we can nag some one to be obedient over and over, but that isn't obedience, that is grudgingly. The real goal is to teach and inspire others to have the desire to be obedient and do it willingly because they want to, not because they are forced to. There was a clip shown from the Andy Griffiths show, it was a funny clip and taught an important message. The sheriff had just deputized three more deputies and gave each a star badge, his deputy pointing to it said "The badge means something. Don't disgrace it!" That is so true, as missionaries, we wear the name of Christ. It is our duty to uphold that name and be a representative of Christ in word, action and being. This doesn't only apply to full time missionaries because as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, we covenanted to always remember Christ and to take his name upon us. So we must do our best to resemble the teachings of Christ in the way we live our life. Another quote that got to me was "Some of the best never serve in leadership." Too often we look to leadership as a sign of status or worthiness. That is not true, leadership is an opportunity of growth for that person and those they lead. It is equally important as any other calling. Overall the MLC was wonderful, inspiring and filled with the spirit. We had a nice lunch of Pizza and my companion agreed to stay at Langas that night, so it made for a really good day. Oh and I got Mangos! 10ksh each compared to 50ksh as it is in Kisumu. I love the unripe mangos because they are nice and crunchy and sour.
Thursday was our travel back to Kisumu. We had a crazy driver, very heavy on the pedal and very distracted from looking at the road. It was a pretty intense ride. We were able to sleep for the first hour when it was a straight road, but once we got to the switch backs, it felt as though we were to meet our maker. Some how my companion is able to sleep like a rock during the day, so he was out cold in the back even through all the bumps and turns. For some reason my seat was slanted toward the door, so it felt I was slipping off the entire time. I think this is was my first time wearing a seat belt on a matatu. They are hard to find and rarely used, you get pretty tightly packed in so in the case of an accident I don't think anyone will move much haha. We got back pretty late, so after taking the sisters back to their flat and carrying their bags up the stairs for them, it was late, so we grabbed some things for dinner and that was it.
Friday was exchanges with Elder Orenge. Elder Ntsele went to the Dentist again with my companion, so it we E. Orenge and I for the day. I wanted us to focus on finding and contacting, and made that the center of the day. For Comp study we studied regarding contacting and finding so as a teaching moment for Elder Orenge we worked on application of these principles. As we went to and fro from our appointments we contacted and had some really awesome experiences with those we talked to. As I sat thinking of where we could contact that morning, I had the image of a bunch of tow trucks that we walk by regularly come to mind, so in the course of the day we went and contacted a guy named Vincent in the tow trucks, very nice guy, we taught him shortly of the Restoration, and committed him to come to church. We also had an appointment with an investigator who actually fell asleep in the middle of the lesson... that was interesting... we just looked at each other unsure of what to do, but then I was prompted to ask her a question and continue on acting as if she hadn't fallen asleep so that she wouldn't wake up and be super embarrassed. It turned out to be a great day, and much was learned and taught about contacting and finding, we have been challenged to contact 10 daily and if we do so our teaching pool will greatly increase.
Saturday was a kinda slow day, we had appointments throughout the area, in some far places. So we were traveling around. In the morning my companion had a dentist appointment to check out his teeth. I was super impressed by the dental facilities. It was state of the art, reminded me a ton of the dentist back home. In the evening we visited sister Catherine one of the less active members we have been working with and who is slowly returning to activity. We shared a spiritual thought with her and committed her to come to church. Then we had a Dinner Appointment with Mama Flo, a powerful member who was Sealed in the temple a few years ago with her husband Micheal another powerful member.
Sunday was a great day, each week it's so great to be able to partake of the sacrament, and this week Steve passed the sacrament for the first time, so we passed with him so that he would be less nervous. It's great to see as he is progressing and learning his duties in the priesthood. In Priesthood class, it was funny how on the topic of self reliance people mentioned that the modern cultures are taking away from the rising generations knowledge of how to be self reliant. One of the common things here are house helps or house girls who do all the washing, cooking, cleaning, and care for the children. They are very common amongst the people who live in homes with electricity and water. So they say that due to this common occurrence, the children are not able to learn how to cook and clean and do the things that their parents had to learn while growing up.
This week wasn't super eventful, but it was wonderful to have the MLC, and there was much learning had and then the rest of the week was a time to apply what was learned. Next Monday we have transfers and this week we will be in Busia and then travelling with the couples to Migori, so things will move quick again!
Thank you all for your love, prayers and support. I know this is the work of God, and this is the true church. Each of you may receive that witness for yourself if you earnestly seek to know and ask Heavenly Father.
Love always,
Elder Rushton Jay Hiltbrand
No comments:
Post a Comment