Week 53- Slow

This week besides the eye incident was pretty slow. This week because of holidays, we had a lot of lessons cancel so we only had 6 which is the lowest I have ever had in my mission. It’s just frustrating. Luckily yesterday we worked, and we should have about 13 lessons which will be good. I think we’re going to try and figure out if we can get more consistent lessons with some families. Like every other week or every week if possible.

Let’s see, oh my eye is fine which is good. Nothing to worry about which is good. That was a relief and also frustrating because so much time was spent getting it check out.

Let’s see probably the best thing this week was I had 2 exchanges. One on Tuesday was with Elder Christensen which was pretty good. We spent a lot of the day trying to Facebook finding which was alright nothing too crazy. I learned from him that it is important to work to have companion unity in teaching and to adjust your teaching to the needs of who you are teaching. He just related about how his trainer really would be pretty hard on people and would mostly teach the lessons in a very direct harsh way, when in some cases people needed a message of comfort and empathy. So that was good to learn.

Wednesday we had a good discussion on conceration and that we need to strive to submit our wills to God and that, as Elder Maxwell taught, will actually make us free rather than binding us, which is contrary to our normal way of thinking. So I loved that. This next week we’re going to discuss hope, although I may need to add a part about charity. Most of my district seems pretty down right now, unhappy with leaders and rules. So I am hoping that by discussing hope and focusing on having Charity and softening our hearts towards our leaders and the rules that we can be happier. They seem to feel like the Zone Leaders are disconnected from what is happening in the zone and I feel that too sometimes. I chalk it mostly up to them being busy so my focus may be to try to see how we can be the solution to the perceived problem and try to make opportunities for us to be closer to the zone leaders. Because I know both are very good missionaries who do care about the work and the missionaries, they are also just busy.

Speaking of which I had an exchange with Elder McGaufin on Thursday. He’s probably one of the best teachers I have seen and he really puts thought into what he’s going to say and the planning. He also knows how to adjust his teaching. Like Thursday, we taught Marcus (my cousins son) and he was really good at adjusting to Marcus’ level of understanding and previous knowledge. He also is super generous. Like we got food to end our exchange and he paid for my meal which was unexpected. (Both zone leaders do have like 300 in funds because their members feed them every night and they have hotel breakfast, but still he didn’t have to do that.)

Friday was P-day/New Years day which was fun, we played some football in the rain and called families. It was pretty chill but good. Then we had a lesson with Perla which was good. We finished going over all principles and then gave her a mock baptismal interview. She seems to be ready to for baptism, but we have a lesson on Thursday where we’ll go over everything and double check and then on Friday we should have the interview and on Saturday we’ll have the baptism. I am pretty nervous but also excited for it. It should be good; she feels ready this time which is a big plus and she seems ready to go through with it, so fingers crossed and I guess if you all could pray for her too that would be great. We also had ZLC (Zone leadership council) and we came up with a plan that hopefully will increase the number of new people we have to teach in the zone and increase unity in the zone. Saturday was interviews with President which were good, very short as usual, but he did say if I have questions of need more time we can schedule them for another day with more time. This whole week he is going to be interviewing all 238 missionaries. So lots and lots of time [20 hours at five minutes each] hence why he said we could meet later. This next week is looking good between the increase of lessons and the baptism. So wahoo!!

Questions –
How did you spend your New Year’s Eve? – Inside on Facebook and then I fell asleep at 9:50 haha
What are your plans for the day?- Well we went shopping and then we’re planning on playing football with Harbor View and Jennings Park and then spikeball with the Zone Leaders hopefully. Then just call family and read, because I keep falling asleep when I try to finish the Infinite Atonement because I am always so tired haha.
Are Nerf guns now banned in the mission again?- Not yet
Have you and Elder Ray found some less hands-on ways of blowing off some energy? – We’ve been playing racket ball which is fun.

What have you learned about patience and waiting on the Lord during this pandemic? – Patience is key for sanity. Seriously, if I am not patient I will get more frustrated m so it’s key to my happiness

How do you turn to Him for peace when you get anxious and frustrated? – Prayer and trying to find answers in the scriptures

Can you still play nerf(with eye protection) or was that banned? – Not banned yet but we haven’t played again

How have you served your companion recently? – I make his bed and food a lot. Also Ibtey just to listen sometimes

What gospel book were you hoping to read while in lockdown? – Like here Jesus the Christ

The close ups are my dilated eyes from my eye appointment. Oh I forgot while getting that I got to share a little bit of what we do as missionaries with the nurse who was asking about it all, so that was pretty nice.

Elder Tonkinson
https://eldertonkinson.home.blog/