Hola everyone. Say, why is it everybody? Like every body. That's just weird. I like everyone better.
This week Elder Pilling does lots of things. Very busy week. Like meetings, interviews, zone Conference, zone goal setting, eating, watching, driving, church ⛪ ladada all sorts of stuff.
So yes, last Monday we were in Moorpark for district activity at my old ward mission leader's house. He bought a flame thrower since I left. Haha miss him.
Tuesday I went on exchanges with the district leader companion Elder Thueson. I forget where he's from. Plus it's not important. He's 6'5" and very wonderful. We had a great time ⌚ and I really enjoy him. He's like a big 🐻 Teddy bear! In a good way. He's been out 6 months and we saw some great things. One was our lesson with our biking buddy Andy. Now he's a very skeptical man. He does NOT want to get pushed. So we taught the restoration, focused on the priesthood authority that was restored and how that allows us to govern ourselves according to God's will. It was a really good lesson, especially since Elder Thueson and I have never taught together. It's amazing watching growth. He doesn't know if God answers prayers. He prays with his wife and son (who are active members) but he's not sure if God does or will answer prayer. Nevertheless we got him to commit to praying about the restoration and the Book Of Mormon. Spirit was strong which closed the deal. Excited to follow up this next week. We also talked to a 7th Day Adventist in the park for forever. He's been bird watching for 26 yrs. How is that even possible, like hello isn't that repetitive?? Only so many birds. Anyway.
Something happened Wednesday.... Uhhhhhhh..... Oh yes!!! We flooded the campus Canyon area. They needed some help so we went in to help them out. Went very well, it's always good to help the work.
Thursday was a very special and busy day. Had Interviews in the morning, did some work for president leading up to...... The greatest thing since 1876 when Canada 🍁 was born!! A combined zone/stake leadership meeting. So anyone who is on the ward council in the zone came, along with ward missionaries, and of course all the full time missionaries. So from 3-6 it was just missionaries. During this time 2 things REALLY stood out to me. 1. Pour out your soul.
1 thessaloninas 2:4 But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.
5 For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloak of covetousness; God is witness:
6 Nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others, when we might have been burdensome, as the apostles of Christ.
7 But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children:
8 So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us.
So much to learn here, but I just want to focus on verse 8. We don't just give the gospel, we give our souls. This really made sense to me. I try to be charitable, to share my spirit with others, but we need to give our souls to others. We need to invest so much as to leave a part of ourselves behind.Very very lovely.
The second thing from the missionary part was based off the talk "Becoming a Consecrated Missionary" by Elder Tadd Callister. The alignment was between consecration and celestial. On the missing we are consecrated for God. Set apart from the world to find, teach, baptize and keep. This should not st op us from Being Consecrated always. We are "solemnly dedicated to..." the gospel. And the relation is that if you are consecrated you are celestial. The end goal is to make it to the celestial kingdom so do that which is necessary to be celestial. We don't stop being consecrated after the mission, it is a life long journey to be dedicated to God. And that's what it's all about. It's not about the cars or the donkeys, it's the Lord. Even though a lot of it is about the donkeys.
Now in the evening session with all the people (111 in attendance, 22 missionaries) they played a video called "mis sionary work then and now". It compared an Elder Smith Sr. and elder Smith Jr. Elder Sr. Knocked doors all day, he had set lessons he taught and that's how he saw success. Elder Jr. However teaches according to his heart. nothing is set, he teaches people not lessons. He uses Facebook and Skype to teach and connect. He uses the members more. He's in their homes, he's around them, and he too sees success. Which way is right? Although Elder Sr. saw it through the number of doors knocked+faith=results elder Jr. Sees it completely different. Knocking doors is very ineffective. In my opinion. I do it, according to spiritual promptings I receive but that's about it. This whole transfer I have planned, and knocked 1 whole street. That's it. And that's because we use other sources to find. JUST BECAUSE YOU DON'T SEE MISSiONARIES KNOCKING DOORS AS MUCH DOES NOT MEAN THEY ARE BAD MISSIONARIES, IN FACT THEY ARE PROBABLY REALLY GOOD Ones WHO ARE BEING MORE Effective. God is hastening His work! In the mission Presidnt seminar Presidnt Nakken attended, Presidnt Nelson said that only 2 things need to happen before the second coming. 1. The Gathering of scattered Israel and 2. The actual Coming of the saviour. This work needs everyone. Young and old. Let the missionaries in your home. I don't care if they are nerds or tall or short, they are set apart as servants of Jesus Christ. Now not all missionaries will reach out to you, but when the do, please give them a shot.
It was an amazing meeting. Uniting the Lords work. Since my new assignment I have seen and have recognized so much more, the need to be ONE. When I got in the mission, the work was put on the missionaries to bring in converts (overall but not entirely) and since then President Nakken and all the stake Presidents, bishops, and ward leaders have been working closely together to help build up the Kingdom. This last month the whole zone had 0 baptisms. 16 missionaries and 0. We have 3 people on date for baptism in July. 2 of these people were member referrals. I believe the work of the full time mis sionary is mainly to teach. While we don't teach we find. But the members are the Main Finders. I mean we are all missionaries aren't we? We would all want the best for our parents right? And we would all want the best for our siblings right? No matter how annoying haha. I know life gets busy, I get it, but God has sheep all over and he needs us ALL to gather them. My goodness I keep going on and on. But this is clearly important.
In closing I have been thinking about why I was assigned to labour in this mission. I have begun to understand that possibly it was so that I could learn how to do member missionary work. I know that my mission will last the rest of my life. It'll be hard, I won't want to do it all the time, and I recognize it's easy for me to say this now because I am a missionary, but I do think that I'm going to be a missionary for a very long time. Haven't gotten anyone baptized yet. Soon! Come middle of July! The worth of souls is amazing. man this work is unforgiving! There is a reason we went from 170 missionaries to 136 ish missionaries, because they are needed else where, where the work is booming. But I need to gather His sheep here.
Well this email just really helped me. Hopefully you read it and learn something. If you don't know how to do missionary work, then just invite someone. Our ward mission plan is "invite someone to something twice per month" it's that simple. I know the church is true, God lives. He knows and loves us all. He will support us through everything. I know that salvation does not come easy. Elder Holland made that clear. But it's worth every ounce of energy. I've got a long way to go and I hope, and I pray, that we will all help more people come Into the true church.
Love you all,
Elder Pilling
133 W. Avenida De Los Arboles
#212
Thousand Oaks, CA 91360
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