Monday, July 11, 2011

Keeping UP

   I have been known to tell our missionaries that it is much easier to "keep up" than to "catch up" when it's time to clean their apartments. When it comes to blogging, I think that I need to take my own advice. Time flies on wings of lightening...here's the update... just try to keep up with us!

June 12th- My husband and I traveled to and spoke in the branch in Alice, Texas, where we now have two missionaries serving. We greatly enjoyed the hospitality of the Campbells and Burgess families. Here are pictures of the chapel in Alice and of beautiful little Jaden and the "Liahona" she used as she gave her talk in Primary and repeated her talk again later, just for us.

Jaden and the Liahona (it has directional hands inside)






Chapel in Alice, Texas

June 13th- President Trayner's birthday...Happy birthday young man!



June 15th- June 23rd:  We held five Zone Conferences in various locations throughout the mission. Missionaries learned about contacting and finding new investigators. In our mission, we know that:

NEW INVESTIGATORS + INSPIRED TEACHING = BAPTISMS

We have made a lot of progress since our arrival last year. As we have worked with the missionaries to improve their teaching and planning skills, the relationship of new investigators to baptisms has increased monthly. Now that our teaching skills are showing improvement, we used the Zone Conferences to train missionaries on how to find those who are prepared to hear the Gospel. We held some activities where the missionaries put their best skills to the test. We also checked the 72-hour-kits that each missionary put together so that we are ready should a hurricane decide to come into the Gulf Coast. Here are pictures of some of the zones and one of Elder Cluff, who would be going home in a week. He decided to duct tape his 72-hour kit to himself:
 











June 24th:  Dinner for outgoing senior missionaries.  MUCHAS GRACIAS to the Snyders and the Andersons for the time and service that they exerted while here in the Texas McAllen Mission! You won't be forgotten!

Joseph Smith said:
"After all that has been said, the greatest and most important duty is to preach the Gospel... Let the Saints remember that great things depend on their individual exertion, and that they are called to be co-workers with us and the Holy Spirit in accomplishing the great work of the last days."

 Farewell and signing of the horns:
 
 

 
 

June 24th-25th- Apartment Inspections. We had the opportunity to inspect twelve apartments where our missionaries live. Other Senior couples covered the many other apartments throughout the mission.  Here are some pictures of our newest apartment in Perezville...



June 27th- Arrival of the five newest....Welcome to our mission!





June 28th: Transfer Day.  The rain and the good-bye tears all began at the same time...



 

 













June 29th: The pain of letting them go home...we'd keep them with us until we go home if we could...honestly!





 


 





END OF JUNE RECORD!  We have set another record for the number of baptisms in one month!!! In the month of June, 113 souls were brought to Christ through the efforts of the missionaries of the Texas McAllen Mission- more than in any previous months (that we are aware of)... EXITO!






1 comment:

  1. Sister Trayner,
    I believe you and your husband are my brother's mission presidents. My brother is Elder De La Fuente. My mom and I love following your blog. I actually found it when I was googling a picture of Texas to make my brother a mission blog. We also spotted him in a couple of your pictures. So fun! I'm so happy to hear that there is so much success in McAllen. Thank you for taking good care of our Elder! We miss him so much. Looking forward to your next post! :)

    Laura Green

    ReplyDelete