Serving a Successful Mission - Pray for the Missionaries
Elder Mohr, Elder Searls, Sister Christensen, Sister Bennett, and Sister Hall
My heart has been heavy this week as we have had missionaries call us with questions that do not have easy answers. When you have 135 missionaries there is a lot going on. I told Mark, I feel like we have many balls in the air and some we are just not sure how to catch!
Here are some of the issues we are trying to resolve.
Missionaries:
who consistently have a hard time getting along with their companions.
who aren’t sure how to navigate uncomfortable feelings as they venture out of their comfort zone.
who tend to be perfectionistic and struggle feeling like they are not a good enough missionary, even when working hard.
who do not want to obey some of the rules.
who have bad habits, that affect how they feel about themselves and need help in overcoming them.
who are being weighed down with problems at home or whose families don’t support them.
who don’t know how to work.
who have health challenges along with mental health challenges.
who want to quit and go home because missions are hard.
who desperately want to stay but need to go home to get more support for a health issue or injury.
who need guidance and support as they work through the repentance process.
who don’t feel successful because of a lack of meeting their baptismal goals.
who need spiritual strengthening.
who struggle with homesickness.
who are discouraged.
As mission leaders we so love our missionaries and want to help them all be successful on their mission and find joy in the work. We want to help them learn and grow. This week, Mark and I have spent time discussing what it is that constitutes a “successful mission.” Honestly, the answer looks different for each missionary. This is what complicates coming up with the perfect solution. It is not an easy; A + B = C formula.
Elder Phillippi and Elder Eldredge with two of their friends.
When President Nelson extended the call to us to be mission leaders, he provided insight into the definition of a successful missionary. He said, “Have your missionaries become your converts. I hope you will help each missionary to have a love for and a testimony of Jesus Christ with a commitment to be His life-long disciple.”
To help our missionaries emulate the Savior and be His disciples we have decided to start by teaching them to show compassion to themselves, as well as others. We teach them that they can do hard things by yoking themselves to the Savior. We show them how to rely on the spirit to guide and strengthen them. The Lord promises us in Isaiah 41:10, “I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee.”
In addition, we encourage them to be willing to take risks. We help them to regulate their emotions and teach them to not give up.
We teach missionaries that their influence as a missionary is not measured in the number of people they are teaching, or in how many of these friends choose to be baptized. Baptisms are important, yet each missionary’s influence for good goes way beyond these metrics. They have the opportunity to touch many lives here in California and at home as they spread Christlike love and continue to serve and sacrifice for the Lord.
Serving a mission is hard work, and we see great blessings and miracles come to our missionaries because of their willingness to serve. We see our missionaries growing and changing!
Elder Carter, Elder Hong, and Elder Mendoza Castillo
Our mission theme is 3 Nephi 5:13 “Behold, I am a disciple of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I have been called of Him to declare His word among His people, that they might have everlasting life.” It is Mark’s and my prayer that our missionaries will become lifelong disciples of the Savior for we know this is what will bring them happiness and joy in this life and eternal life in the world to come.
Before coming on my mission when I prayed for missionaries, I have always said something along these lines, “Please help the missionaries to find those people who are looking for more love and peace in their lives and have a desire to come unto Christ and His Gospel.” From now on I will add, “Please strengthen and guide these wonderful young men and women. Be with them daily and let them know how much they are loved! “
When you pray for missionaries please consider adding these same thoughts as you petition God. Please pray for their mission leaders as well! :) Thank you!
Have a great day! Elaine
Elder Sherman, Hermana Estrada , Hermana Marquez, and Elder Hancock
