Message from Mark

I thought I would share this message from Mark. It is so nice to read his emails. This one is especially nice because it is more than one paragraph long;)

well people are wonderful. for the most part. we are teaching a few people we will see how committed they are. commitment is the hardest thing to get others to have. we can tell them the commandment and the blessings that come with it but in the end they have to do it. its hard. 

well i am almost envious of my older cousins that are getting back now. but all the girls are leavings on missions so nope. haha. 

i have found that the most effective way to do missionary work is to have the members do the finding and be the friends. this is how there will be retention in the converts. having a true friend in the church. someone who will help them help themselves. we as missionaries talk to a lot of different people. different needs different backgrounds different beliefs. but there are a few things that are the same for all of them. they all need to partake in the saving ordinances of the gospel, live up to those covenants, and help others along the way. this is what will allow them to return to live with god. 

we as missionaries have been trying to focus more on lasting conversion. now just baptismal statistics. when we help them understand the plan of salvation. and help them understand that they want to have the highest degree of glory. i think that is what will help them understand that baptism isn't the end it is the beginning. there is a new key indicator for missionaries. the percentage of new members that attended the temple after 3 months. 

missionaries are not the best friends. we can help where we can but in the end we will always leave. eventually we will leave. we can keep in contact. but we can't be there to answer every question. new members need a friend. they also need a sense of purpose, or being needed. they need a calling. with out that they drift away. 

missionaries are called to teach the gospel. we were not given the calling as missionaries to knock on doors. it is a responsibility of every member of the church to share the gospel and to find those that are prepared for the gospel. it isn't the missionaries job to find. we do do a lot of finding, but we shouldn't have to. 

something that i heard and i like. i think i will apply it in my own life when i am back. having weekly and day goals of how many people i share the gospel. key indicators. it will hold myself accountable of how effective and how hard i am trying to serve the lord. in the very least it will keep my mind focused on trying to share the gospel. also i will have specific names and action plans for the week. like inviting so and so to a church activity. or so and so to church. or inviting so and so to have a dinner will me and the missionaries. whatever i feel inspired to do.   

i love you.  ELDER GRANT