Welcome To The PPM

On December 5, 2016 11 new missionaries arrived in the PPM.  Five are Visa waiters headed to countries around the world and will be with us until their visas arrive.  

We are also happy to welcome two sisters from Temple Square Mission who will serve in the PPM for 3 months.

D&C 4:

1 Now behold, a marvelous work is about to come forth among the children of men.

2 Therefore, O ye that embark in the service of God, see that ye serve him with all your heart, might, mind and strength, that ye may stand blameless before God at the last day.

3 Therefore, if ye have desires to serve God ye are called to the work;

4 For behold the field is white already to harvest; and lo, he that thrusteth in his sickle with his might, the same layeth up in store that he perisheth not, but bringeth salvation to his soul;

5 And faith, hope, charity and love, with an eye single to the glory of God, qualify him for the work.

6 Remember faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, brotherly kindness, godliness, charity, humility, diligence.

7 Ask, and ye shall receive; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. Amen.

Visa Waiters

Elder Ibarra is training Elder Hunter

Elder Nelson is training Elder Angulo

Sister Terry training Sister Jackson 

Sister Stimpson training Sister Madorin 

Elder Condie will train Elder Alpizar

Elder Olsen training Elder Hatch

Sister Maya training Sister Ashton

Sister Bowden training Sister Kessler

Sister Pina being trained by Sister Morrison

Sister Finau being trained by Sister Kwasney 

Sister Wells being trained by Sister Roden

Sisters Shum and Lyu from the Temple Square Mission 

December 2016 Zone Conference In Greentree

“When one learns to master the principles of setting a goal, he will then be able to make a great difference in the results he attains in this life.”   Elder M. Russell Ballard

“Every accountable child of God needs to set goals short and long range.” 

“Without goals our efforts may be scattered and unproductive.”

President Ezra Taft Benson

 

“If you have not chosen the Kingdom of God as your goal in life, it will in the end, make no difference what you choose instead.”

-- Elder Neal A. Maxwell  

Front Left:  Sisters Belnap, Maya, Elders Clarke, Kotter, Sisters Durfee, Dixon, Beckstrand, Bartlett, Simpson and Kelley

Row 2:  Sister Johnson, Elders Rawle, Holley, Sisters Morgan, Dean, Jacobsen, Christensen, McDonald, Canaan and Elder Canaan

Row 3:  Pres. Johnson, Elders Renteria, Rogowski, Walker, Cook, Smedley, Swisher, Cooper, Christensen 

Row 4:  Elders Huff, McGee, Marcum, English, Halls, Noyes, Gull, Rich, Loreto, and Li

Back Row:  Elders Parke, Wilson, Richens, Foster, Synder, Averett, Rayburn, Zubeck, Hansen, Gray, Jones, Rojas and Heywood 

Several months ago President and I received an email from one of our missionary moms.  She wondered if she and her husband could make an ornament for every missionary in our mission!

They have spent thousands of hours making this gift for each one of us!  

Here is what she shared with us when we offered to help with expenses: 

"Let me share with you a little holiday secret of my husband and mine.  Our son Jeffrey was born 18 years ago just this last September 30th.  He lived just 2  1/2 weeks and passed away on October 18th.  He would have been a Senior in high school this year and heading out on his mission in the Summer.  The holidays have always been so bitter sweet for Andy and I so to soothe some of the "bitter" and to include Jeffrey in our holiday traditions we chose many years ago to donate what we would have spent on him each Christmas to a "someone" or "cause" that we felt moved by the Spirit to support.  This year we felt moved to spend Jeffrey's Christmas on ornaments for the missionaries.  The use of our personal funds is an important part of the gift we give.  I can't tell you how grateful we are for this opportunity.  Andy is working alongside me and we are enjoying the time spent together."

Love and best wishes 

Amanda and Andy Baker

THANK YOU TO THE BAKERS AND GOD BLESS!

December 2016 Zone Conference In State College

#Light the World

I love the symbolic nature of light. Think of how many times in the scriptures we read about light!

Helaman 14:3

And behold, this will I give unto you for a sign at the time of his coming; for behold, there shall be great lights in heaven, insomuch that in the night before he cometh there shall be no darkness, insomuch that it shall appear unto man as if it was day.

  The Tradition of Burning A Candle in the Window

At our home in Providence each Christmas we put a (solar) candle in each window.  We started this tradition years ago in the '80s when we lived in Boston for a number of years.   You will notice many houses here in Pennsylvania that carry-on that tradition which actually dates back to colonial times when candles were used. 

The fireplace was center of family life in days gone by and the candles were generally lit from that fire.  A candle was often placed in the window when a member of the family was away. The lit candle was also placed in the window as a sign of good news or as a beacon to weary travelers. Candles also represented friendship and were seen as a sign of welcome to others. 

In early America, homes were often miles apart. The sight of a candle in the window from a distance was a sign of welcome to those wishing to visit!

Think about this tradition as we read this scripture:

Matthew 5:

14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.

16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Are we to do service in a boastful way so that people can see your good works is that what it says?  SO SHINE = In such a way!  We must make sure that our good works glorify our father in heaven and not us!

President Thomas S. Monson pointed out, “If you want to give a light to others, you have to glow yourself!"

Front Left:  Elder Goeckeritz, Pres. Mauro, Elder and Sister Thompson, Sister and Elder Samuelson, Sister and Pres. Johnson, Sister and Elder Clarke, Sister and Elder Christensen 

Row 2:  Elders Dagal, Aitken, Sisters Birch, McDonald, Terry, Smith, Chambers, Nelson, Faamaile, Pena, Penrod, Ewell, Smith, Carr and Wall

Row 3:  Elders Van Leeuwen, Bledsoe, Sisters Anderson, Roper, Morrison, Hansen, Hegewald, Hansen, Palmer, Brunner,  Simonsen,  Allen, Jackson

Row 4:  Elders Riggs, Manley, Boyes, Cannon, Aguinaga, Cowan, Bryan, Wood, Winfree, Butikofer, Halls, Payne, Nelson, Ibarra

Rows 5-6:  Elders Spencer, Montgomery, Ord, Olsen, Gardiner, Cuthbert, Madsen, Hatch,  Stock, Harper, Cahoon, Kinman, Holdaway, Herzog, Parke, Hansen, Torgerson, La Fon, Story, Argyle, Chafin and Walker

Back:  Elders Nelson, Ramos, Furniss, Bates, Williamson, Taylor, Taylor, Elliot, Wilkins, Gneiting, Smith