October 18, 2006

Ah, another Zone Conference under our belts. They're always amazing. Since Elder Michelson came last time a lot of the organization of the mission has changed. We used to have Zone Conference with 2 Zones, and now it's each one individually. That's supposed to cut down on time for people being away from their areas.... more time in the field proselyting. It kindof just felt like District Meeting because my district now is 1/2 the Zone. It was really good though. We learned a lot about faith and how we really need to strengthen it to be able to comprehend the change that we can make in the work. President Peterson was at a Mission Presidents training meeting and Elder Packer ( i think) shared how President Hinckley has really been concerned about the progress in North America. Three years ago he had said that everywhere needed to double the amount of baptisms. Since then everywhere has increased, except North America & Europe. We've actually declined. I think we let ourselves believe too much that the missionary work is just better in other parts of the world. It's easy in South America right...? They just walk up to you so they say. But it should be like that everywhere. Heavenly Father doesn't want the people in Ohio in the church any less than he wants those in Chile. Even within the mission, there's always the "good areas" and the "dead areas" but yet some missionaries can go in and find lots of people. I think most of it is about our level of faith. We can have success anywhere if we allow ourselves to be helped by the Lord through our faith.

I think that's true as a member too. We're challengin all the ward members to invite someone into their home to be taught by the missionaries. Most people say they have already asked everyone they know and they have been turned down. Does that mean that it's just not your lot to be able to share the gospel? You don't deserve that opportunity? Definently not. We've all been called to be missionaries. We all have the responsibility and blessing to share what we have with others. We haven't been called to that to fail. We just need to learn to exercise our faith and pray and plead with our Father to help us know what we can do to recognize the opportunities we have. I invite all of you to do that. We're all here to succeed.

We actually had a really cool experience Monday. This lady in our ward had just visited her sisters family who had been having a family taught by the missionaries in their home. They were embracing the gospel. She was able to see the success and the joy that her sister felt being able to assist in that way. When she came back she shared that in Relief Society and how she wanted to have that opportunity. Our faith is kindled by hearing the testimonies and experiences of others. Her faith was strengthened. The next time we talked to her she invited us all (the 4 sisters in the ward) over for dinner and said that she had at least 4 people that were going to come over to introduce to the gospel, in addition to her kids that haven't been coming to church. We taught a simple lesson about Christ, and she commited all of them to come to church next Sunday. One of them came to the Enrichment activity last night too. We hardly did anything, but the success will come. I know it will. And this sister is on fire. Her sincere desire is to share the gospel and she's having success because she has the faith to open her mouth. We can all have that success, and I know that the joy is full and ready to be poured out upon our heads.

Let me know about your experieces, I know success will come.
Best wishes,
Sister Salisbury