INFO

There is a lot of info here, but these are the responses from the bishops and Ward Mission Leaders (excluding Bro. Lusk)

The Training went great! We all left with a renewed sense of motivation to work with the Ward Council. It was great! I was so relieved! Well Transfers happened and I am staying for another transfer. This will be 7 1/2 months here! I'm so excited! Tyler came to church this week!

It was awesome! We are working harder then ever! We have rededicated ourselves to finding people to teach! We are lacking that, since we have put so much emphasis on Tyler. We realized we were at a loss when we weren't teaching Tyler. We had an amazing FHE last night a the High-Priest Group Leader's home. Tyler really felt the spirit and admitted he finally understand what a testimony is! I love seeing the progress he is making! Well, thank you for all the input on my training, it helped a lot! I am training this coming Friday on effective follow-up with the Ward-Council Members.

 

 

When was the last time you were handed a progress record? Last Sunday.  Do you wish to receive them?  Yes, for several reasons.  1.  They are a record of accountability and either increase or decrease my confidence in the companionship.  2.  Receiving the progress record creates a basic connection between missionaries, the work they are doing, and me.  3.  I get an update of the full-time missionary work that is happening in the ward in a concise format. 

·        How often do the full-time missionaries communicate with you?  Not often enough.  I would prefer some interaction at least several times per week.  Text, phone call, in person communication is all important.

·        Do you feel the Ward Council members know how to utilize the Missionaries to their full extent?  Some are better than others but I would say it is not part of our culture.

·        What are effective ways for the missionaries to facilitate direction in the Ward Council, and then motivate the council members to act?  Effective planning is vital; starting with the companionship planning what to discuss ahead of time in missionary coordination meeting, and planning ahead of time what to share in ward council.  Time is limited in these meetings so prioritizing discussion topics and presenting in a way that engenders input from the council and ultimately ends with a commitment for someone to act is crucial.  The format should follow the pattern: discuss, delegate, act, account.  Repeat as necessary.  Inspired discussion should lead to assignments, then actions, then return and report.  Commitments lead to covenant making and covenant keeping by both members and investigators.

·        How often would you expect the missionaries to follow up on action items? depends on the task but I would give a deadline with each action item which should include a weekly update.  Do the missionaries do this well?  Always room for improvement.

·        Do you feel the auxiliaries are taking action and responsibility with the action items developed in Ward Council?  Always room for improvement.

·        What would you constitute as an effective use of the time allotted to the full-time missionaries during Ward council? If this is not being demonstrated what would you suggest be improved upon?  Use the format on the Progress Record to concisely develop actions.

·        As a Bishop what do you need from your full-time missionaries? I need the missionaries to feel united in the work with the ward council and the ward.  If you feel you are working alone, we are doing something wrong.  "If we're united we all things can do..."  Strengthen newly baptized, visit less active, help with VT/HT.  Are they meeting this need? 
Always room for improvement.

·        What are your priorities at this time:

o   Youth, Recent-Concerts, Less-Active Families, Investigators, Active Members, Prospective-Elders, Un-Endowed Members

·        How often is the Ward Mission Plan discussed?  Not very often right now.

·        Are there any other improvements the missionaries serving in your ward could make to aid you in your calling or bless the lives of others?  Work more closely with me.  Prioritize teaching in members homes or with members present.  Set a high goal of teaching discussions each week.  Focus on teaching these discussions to less active/part member families.

·        What do you appreciate about the missionaries serving in your ward?  We have a great legacy of hard working, righteous, service-oriented, dedicated missionaries working in our ward.  Keep and build upon this high standard.

Quick Note

Well this week has been crazy! Bitter-Sweet. Tyler is progressing amazingly. He attended a baptism with us and loved it! He felt the spirit super strong! He asked about the simplicity. After that we found out an investigator was admitted into the hospital because she couldn't breathe. Then we checked up on another investigator to find out she passed away Tuesday. We then tried another investigator and was dropped. Then we found out Saturday night that Tyler wouldn't be able to make it to church due to his 13 yr old sister trying to kill their mother. She is now in a psychiatric hospital. Stress was very abundant this week. On the bright side; I have been able to resolve the problem with the sisters in my district. We were able to help Tyler understand that among trial the best place to turn is heaven. He told us he doesn't want anything to impede us continuing to meet with us. We have a lesson with him tonight. It is going to be on the Word of Wisdom, then we are going over the baptism interview questions.



























 

Focus on the GOOD!

Tyler is doing amazing! He wasn't at church (along with half the ward) because he was out of town with his father, who he doesn't get to see often. But he's been doing great. He has consistently been reading a chapter from the Book of Mormon daily. He read 2 on Sunday because he felt bad for missing church, it was cute. We have another appointment with him Wednesday. Elder Buhler is doing great! His birthday was yesterday. We did work but it was all kind of depressing. I felt bad for him. We made a plan to contact a lot of less active/part-member families. All claimed they were not Mormon and wanted nothing to do with us. But he was a trooper. We were able to focus on the good! We were biking and stopped a lady who was walking and I think we kind of caught her off guard. She whispered under her breath "I can't believe I ran into you." I don't think She wanted us to hear it, but I did. So I explored that route. I testified of divine intervention and how coincidences don't just happen. She started to cry, and then she got all paranoid and kept saying "I can't talk to you right now, I can't talk to you right now." I have a feeling she is in an abusive relationship. We were able to exchange info and she told us she really want s to meet with us but it will have to be when she calls us. This lady named Kassy needs the gospel in her life! I instantly developed a love for her as she said "I cant believe I ran into you." It was an amazing experience that left both of us in awe. I love how the Lord works. We have done our part, now the desire needs to work in her.

 

The 4th was great! We had the booth, which I convinced President to let Elders run as well. It was super successful! Like if we were to equate the effectiveness of the booth to tracting hours it would be like thousands of hours of tracting! I also got a nice tan! We were there from setup to close. 9:00 am- 10:00 pm. We then went with Bro. Lusk to watch fireworks. Oh speaking of that, He has agreed to take me to find a suit this week. Will you please make sure enough funds are in my account? Thanks!

 

...

 

So I had a rude awaking this week. I had exchanges with my Zone Leader and he relayed some information that devastated me! He started off by asking me how my relationship with the district was. I thought it was pretty solid....... apparently not. A sisters companionship in my district thinks that I am a very prideful leader, who focuses too much on numbers. When I heard this my heart just sunk! If there was anything I knew I did not want to be known as, it was this. I couldn't believe it! I thought I had done all I could to serve my district. It was time for some major reflection and evaluation. I re-read a talk by Ezra Taft Benson called "Beware of Pride". It's probably my most marked up/read talk I own a copy of. It was time to pull it out again. I came to realize that one aspect of pride is withholding praise and gratitude. I rededicated myself to taking more time to be thankful for my district. The only thing the companionship could give the Zone Leader was that when I call in on Sundays for collecting numbers for the week, that's all I focus on. They said I don't try to create a relationship with my district members. My initial reaction was impulsive and wrong. I got all defensive and gave a handful of legit reasons why I do it so quickly. But again I was slapped by the spirit while reading this talk and it clearly states defensiveness is used by the prideful. I am doing all I can to become a servant-leader. I want to resolve this and make it right. Also it makes it difficult because of the limitations between Elders and Sisters. It's been a stressful week! But stress means you're alive.

 

I love you all so much! Thank you for all you do! I got the dress shirts but no garments yet. I'll be looking for them.

 

Not a second Wasted,

Elder Ryan Burnham