Well, I've never had quite a week like this week...it flew by! My Wednesday morning/afternoon was taken training missionaries and office staff on a new referral system we have been developing for the mission. Then on Thursday we had the opportunity to take a person we've been teaching to Temple Square. I always love going to Temple Square because of the strong spirit you are able to feel as you learn about the Book of Mormon and the Restoration of the Church in the presence of the House of the Lord. That person will be baptized this upcoming Saturday and we are excited for the opportunity.
Other than that we had great success! We found 6 new people who are preparing for baptism. As a result we ended up teaching 25 lessons and keeping very busy with the logistics of helping everybody progress. The week just breezed by. I wish every week could be so good. (I guess it can be if I keep working!)
I've also begun to see the rewards of journal writing. I've done it my entire mission but have just started using it effectively. I've begun really writing down my study notes and thoughts that I have which have really made me able to recall them and find them at a moments notice. It's also a lot more rewarding to look back and read the details of my day rather than the vague snippets I had been putting in there. There truly is joy in writing things down.
This week already looks to be super-busy again. There will be a visit by an Apostle and a meeting with mission leadership. And to think...transfer talks are beginning again!
Elder Bolling
Monday, January 30, 2012
Monday, January 23, 2012
Changing Tires
The "highlight" of our week came on Saturtay as we went to pick up some materials from missionaries. As we parked the car we noticed a nice hum of air coming out of our right front tire. A flat tire! Fortunately for the situation is was also 8:00pm, 25 degrees and snowing heavily. I've never actually had to change a flat tire but it made it much more enjoyable and memorably to do it in the snow. So much for keeping my suits clean!
The rest of the week went by pretty quickly because we stayed pretty busy. We had a baptism for one of our investigators in the YSA stake. I was called into a meeting with President Miller regarding the new referral system and will be training the mission on it this week. We also started receiving numerous ward mission process referrals. We had 4 new investigators last week and should have 4-5 more this week. The momentum is rolling! We're very excited about where our area is going.
It continues to blow my mind how fast time is moving. It's the end of January already! What the what! I look forward to each day and each new opportunity to share the gospel as a missionary because I'm truly beginning to realize how quickly it will be gone.
Elder Bolling
The rest of the week went by pretty quickly because we stayed pretty busy. We had a baptism for one of our investigators in the YSA stake. I was called into a meeting with President Miller regarding the new referral system and will be training the mission on it this week. We also started receiving numerous ward mission process referrals. We had 4 new investigators last week and should have 4-5 more this week. The momentum is rolling! We're very excited about where our area is going.
It continues to blow my mind how fast time is moving. It's the end of January already! What the what! I look forward to each day and each new opportunity to share the gospel as a missionary because I'm truly beginning to realize how quickly it will be gone.
Elder Bolling
Monday, January 16, 2012
The East Coast Zone
On Wednesday transfers happened and I received a new companion. Elder Hipp! He was in my district at the MTC and we became good friends...and now we're companions! He's from Baltimore...so not too far away. We are both really excited for the transfer and to see what happens in the Sandy Zone. It should be a good six weeks!
This week were interviews with the mission president. As a zone leader that is quite an undertaking. The entire zone comes in between 8:30am and 4:00pm to interview with President Miller. We performed trainings throughout the day with the individual companionships and answered questions. It was actually one of the most exhausting days of my mission so far because constant training was involved.
We also met a wonderful couple this week. They are prepared to accept the gospel and desire to be sealed in the temple. The first step is to have them get married, which should happen this week, so that they can be baptized. Some of the most special experiences on the mission are when you work with couples and families so I am cherishing this opportunity. They are truly blessed by the spirit that they are able to feel.
This week were interviews with the mission president. As a zone leader that is quite an undertaking. The entire zone comes in between 8:30am and 4:00pm to interview with President Miller. We performed trainings throughout the day with the individual companionships and answered questions. It was actually one of the most exhausting days of my mission so far because constant training was involved.
We also met a wonderful couple this week. They are prepared to accept the gospel and desire to be sealed in the temple. The first step is to have them get married, which should happen this week, so that they can be baptized. Some of the most special experiences on the mission are when you work with couples and families so I am cherishing this opportunity. They are truly blessed by the spirit that they are able to feel.
Elder Bolling
Monday, January 9, 2012
Transfer Time!
t's transfer time again. Already? Yep! We will receive word on the new transfer assignments tomorrow at noon. I'm not too worried about where I will be as I believe I will be in Sandy for at least a few more transfers. (You never know, though!) The big question is with my companion. Elder Raymundo has been a zone leader for over a year and in this area for a year also. It's a 50/50 chance whether he finishes his mission with me or moves somewhere else for his last 6 weeks. The rest of our zone should stay fairly similar since there were so many changes...but again...you never know!
This week brought some new and exciting challenges. In our area we had to drop 5 investigators because they weren't progressing. While that was sad we were able to find 5 new ones who seem much more promising. It builds my testimony to see the many different ways that the Lord prepares people to hear the gospel. I also got the opportunity to work on a new mission project - rebuilding our accountability on tracking media referrals. I spent a lot of the week in the mission office learning the system, coming up with ideas and making a proposal to send to President Miller. It feels like I'm back in the office at Kings Dominion or Accenture...only we're saving souls here!
This week I also hit my 6-month mark on my mission. It's funny that I'm 1/4 of the way through yet it still feels like I just got out here. I guess they weren't kidding when they said it flies by fast. If it goes any quicker it will be July 2013 the next time I blink!
Elder Bolling
This week brought some new and exciting challenges. In our area we had to drop 5 investigators because they weren't progressing. While that was sad we were able to find 5 new ones who seem much more promising. It builds my testimony to see the many different ways that the Lord prepares people to hear the gospel. I also got the opportunity to work on a new mission project - rebuilding our accountability on tracking media referrals. I spent a lot of the week in the mission office learning the system, coming up with ideas and making a proposal to send to President Miller. It feels like I'm back in the office at Kings Dominion or Accenture...only we're saving souls here!
This week I also hit my 6-month mark on my mission. It's funny that I'm 1/4 of the way through yet it still feels like I just got out here. I guess they weren't kidding when they said it flies by fast. If it goes any quicker it will be July 2013 the next time I blink!
Elder Bolling
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Water Your Grass
This week was very busy but I'm at a loss for how to describe it. We continued rolling out our efforts to work more closely with the ward leadership in both our YSA stake and our family stake. We began to see some fruits from our labors as we found three new people to teach solely off of that member work. It's also been enjoyable to meet the different people in each of the wards who offer so much to the work.
The most impactful part of my week came while meeting with a Bishop. He is planning a move to California soon and we asked, "How do you feel about leaving Utah?" He has traveled a lot and he gave us this response. "It will be great. Everywhere I've lived has been great. Many people think the grass is greener on the other side...and that's only because they water their neighbor's grass. If you water the grass where you're standing things will be greener for you."
How true is that? I thought about his point and talked about it with my companion. "Watering" our grass is when we are grateful for the things we have, when we keep an optimistic point of view and look forward with faith. We "water" the other side of the grass when we compare ourselves or tell ourselves we will be happy once we have something that somebody else has. That brief idea to water your grass has stuck with me since that meeting.
All is well in Utah. We're slowly eating through the candy stash that we accumulated through the holidays. I only gained 5 pounds through December so I can't complain. We also had a baptism this past Saturday and are planning on another this Saturday. Our zone is doing well and the Elders and Sisters are doing great work. The grass is green in the Sandy Zone of the SLCS mission!
Elder Bolling
The most impactful part of my week came while meeting with a Bishop. He is planning a move to California soon and we asked, "How do you feel about leaving Utah?" He has traveled a lot and he gave us this response. "It will be great. Everywhere I've lived has been great. Many people think the grass is greener on the other side...and that's only because they water their neighbor's grass. If you water the grass where you're standing things will be greener for you."
How true is that? I thought about his point and talked about it with my companion. "Watering" our grass is when we are grateful for the things we have, when we keep an optimistic point of view and look forward with faith. We "water" the other side of the grass when we compare ourselves or tell ourselves we will be happy once we have something that somebody else has. That brief idea to water your grass has stuck with me since that meeting.
All is well in Utah. We're slowly eating through the candy stash that we accumulated through the holidays. I only gained 5 pounds through December so I can't complain. We also had a baptism this past Saturday and are planning on another this Saturday. Our zone is doing well and the Elders and Sisters are doing great work. The grass is green in the Sandy Zone of the SLCS mission!
Elder Bolling
Monday, December 26, 2011
Have Yourself...a Sick Little Christmas
A funny thing happened this week. I came under the weather for most of the week. On Tuesday I started noticing that I had a sore throat. Wednesday morning it had traveled to my sinuses and my chest. Needless to say I spent a lot of time in bed. I still went out and kept each of our appointments so we were able to have a productive week and help our investigators continue to progress. The funny thing? The week was still productive! On Tuesday we found a YSA who has been attending Church for months and wants to be baptized on January 7th. On Saturday we knocked on a door and found a family who is interested in coming back to Church. All three of their daughters are preparing to be baptized on January 21st. For a week where I spent most of my time in bed...that's pretty good!
It seems like ages ago, but we also had a baptism on Monday night. We should have one each week for the next month. Nothing keeps the motivation high than seeing the fruits of our labors.
Christmas was a blast. It started Christmas Eve with a Mission Conference where we received gifts from the mission, packages from home and letters from our parents. Let me just say that I am sufficiently stocked on toothpaste and toothbrushes until at least next Christmas! On Sunday we started the day by calling home and then attended a short Sacrament meeting. For the rest of the day we visited with members from our old areas. It was great to be able to catch up with familiar faces and see how their families are doing. I value each of the people I have met on the mission and don't know how I'll ever be able to keep in touch with them all until after my mission!
Now it's onto New Years! We will also be having a New Years Eve Conference with Elder Nelson of the Twelve. That will be another great opportunity to hear inspired words and of course catch up with good friends.
Happy New Year!
It seems like ages ago, but we also had a baptism on Monday night. We should have one each week for the next month. Nothing keeps the motivation high than seeing the fruits of our labors.
Christmas was a blast. It started Christmas Eve with a Mission Conference where we received gifts from the mission, packages from home and letters from our parents. Let me just say that I am sufficiently stocked on toothpaste and toothbrushes until at least next Christmas! On Sunday we started the day by calling home and then attended a short Sacrament meeting. For the rest of the day we visited with members from our old areas. It was great to be able to catch up with familiar faces and see how their families are doing. I value each of the people I have met on the mission and don't know how I'll ever be able to keep in touch with them all until after my mission!
Now it's onto New Years! We will also be having a New Years Eve Conference with Elder Nelson of the Twelve. That will be another great opportunity to hear inspired words and of course catch up with good friends.
Happy New Year!
Elder Bolling
Monday, December 19, 2011
Merry Christmas
Christmas is a very special time. Coincidentally enough I've never really been into the whole "Christmas craziness". As a missionary in Utah, however, you get it more than most. Not to mention Christmas songs have been playing in our car nonstop since the end of November. (It's the closest I'm getting to pop music until 2013!) I've found myself really getting into the spirit of the holiday.
Maybe it's the fact that I'm focusing my time completely on the Savior. Maybe it's because Sara sends me Christmas gifts for every day of the week. Maybe it's because I'm listening to too much Christmas music. Whatever the reason - I'm enjoying Christmas. More importantly, I'm enjoying the real reason for Christmas. The Savior Jesus Christ gave us so much when he came into this world. He did not have to take upon himself the burdens of each of us. He didn't have to complete the atonement. But he did. He did it because he and Heavenly Father love each of us perfectly and individually. Christmas is a time of hope. Yes, we hope because we get to be around friends and family. The best hope, however, comes as we turn our lives towards the example that Jesus Christ set.
This week I've been able to see that. We have two YSA's who are preparing to be baptized. Both of them are not having an easy time breaking that news to their parents. They have decided in their hearts and minds that they know the Church of Jesus Christ is true and are pressing forward. Miracles are happening in their lives as they continue their journey towards eternal life. It's amazing to see - and Christ gave us that opportunity!
We're also continuing to have lots of success in our zone. We have very good missionaries in the Sandy zone and it has made my role as a zone leader very enjoyable. As Christmas approaches, I am grateful for the opportunity to do my best and serve them and hopefully help them find more success in their mission.
Elder Bolling
Maybe it's the fact that I'm focusing my time completely on the Savior. Maybe it's because Sara sends me Christmas gifts for every day of the week. Maybe it's because I'm listening to too much Christmas music. Whatever the reason - I'm enjoying Christmas. More importantly, I'm enjoying the real reason for Christmas. The Savior Jesus Christ gave us so much when he came into this world. He did not have to take upon himself the burdens of each of us. He didn't have to complete the atonement. But he did. He did it because he and Heavenly Father love each of us perfectly and individually. Christmas is a time of hope. Yes, we hope because we get to be around friends and family. The best hope, however, comes as we turn our lives towards the example that Jesus Christ set.
This week I've been able to see that. We have two YSA's who are preparing to be baptized. Both of them are not having an easy time breaking that news to their parents. They have decided in their hearts and minds that they know the Church of Jesus Christ is true and are pressing forward. Miracles are happening in their lives as they continue their journey towards eternal life. It's amazing to see - and Christ gave us that opportunity!
We're also continuing to have lots of success in our zone. We have very good missionaries in the Sandy zone and it has made my role as a zone leader very enjoyable. As Christmas approaches, I am grateful for the opportunity to do my best and serve them and hopefully help them find more success in their mission.
Elder Bolling
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