Happy New Year! "The Grand Cosecha (Harvest) 2011" (Chapter 10 Preach My Gospel)

2011 Chile Santiago East Mission Vision:

With the Lord's help and our combined faith in Jesus Christ, the year 2011 will be a time of bounteous harvest for us in the Chile Santiago East Mission.

We will labor with all our strength to: nourish by testifying, cultivate by loving and serving, and rescue by teaching (Permaneced and Chapter 3 of PMG).

Doctrine:

The law of the harvest: We will reap what we sow!

(See Matthew 13 the parables of the sower, the wheat and the tares.)

6) But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly;

and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.

7) Every man according as he purposeth in his heart,

so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity,

for God loveth a cheerful giver.

(2 Corinthians 9:6-7)

Invitation:

Those of you who regularly read this blog are invited to study the chapter in PMG that we are studying each month. We will let you know which chapter will be our focus, and then letters to missionaries could include your insights from and feelings about that chapter.

Monthly Focus: January

Chapter 10 Preach My Gospel "How Can I Improve My Teaching Skills?"

We want to have a bounteous harvest in 2011. For that reason, we know we must be excellent teachers. We have chosen to focus on Chapter 10 of Preach My Gospel during January so that we can become more powerful gospel teachers.

"The Grand Cosecha (Harvest) 2011"

On Wednesday, January 5 2011, we met with all of our Zone Leaders for our monthly Zone Leader Council. They were excited and looking forward to beginning a new year. They expressed their desires to do more and to work even harder. Some had been newly assigned to serve as Zone Leaders. Others were experienced Zone Leaders. Still others were almost ready to complete their mission service. But every single Elder was prepared to serve with all his heart, might, mind, and strength. We could see the sparkle of excitement in their eyes, and we could feel the power of strength in their actions and words.

"Therefore, O ye that embark in the service of God,

see that ye serve him with all your heart, might, mind and strength,

that ye may stand blameless before God at the last day."

D&C 4:2

We know that if we want to find, teach and baptize, we must be excellent teachers. Assistants to the President, Elder Macias and Elder Saenz brought return missionaries to our council, and the Zone Leaders practiced teaching them. Then the return missionaries offered written and verbal feedback on the experience. We focused on making our weaknesses become strengths, and we used Chapter 10 of PMG as our text.

Elder Maxfield provided a beautiful musical number which invited the spirit.

President Laycock shared feelings about the importance of being united and working together with other missionaries, stake and ward leaders, and members. He continued to emphasize the importance of greeting and talking to everyone we meet and ministering one by one. He showed us a video clip titled, "The Battle at Kruger." It is a remarkable rescue of a baby water buffalo held in the grips of a den of fierce lions and a deadly crocodile. When the water buffalo join forces to save the baby, they are victorious. We believe it is the same with missionary work. Alone, we will never be as effective as we will be if we work together with other missionaries, stake and ward leaders, and members.

"...I say unto you, be one; and if ye are not one ye are not mine."

D&C 38:27