On Monday September 12, 2016 we welcomed twenty-five new missionaries to the Pennsylvania Pittsburgh Mission. They make quite a statement without saying a word at the airport!...
Tuesday, September 20, 2016
Saturday, September 10, 2016
Specialized Training from Especial Witnesses
Elder and Sister Perkins and Elder and Sister Meurs visited the PPM and spent three days traveling through the mission instructing, inspiring, interviewing and encouraging us all. The following are pictures and quotes from the missionaries about their experience.
"My highlight was definitely hearing from Elder Perkins and elder Meurs. What a special day that was! It truly was a revelatory experience for me. I left with a greater desire and motivation to share the gospel. I needed to hear everything that was said. I felt the spirit just confirm to me why I was called to this mission when elder Perkins was talking about how we are assigned to our missions. I've heard that process of assigning missionaries to missions several times, but this time it just stuck with me. God wants me where I am- here in Pennsylvania! So grateful to know that He sees the bigger picture and that my call was truly inspired. It was a wonderful experience hearing from those inspired general authorities!"
"Well you have probably heard this from every other missionary today, but WOAH! This week was amazing!! The opportunity to meet, be instructed, and edified from Elder Perkins and Muerstheir wives, along with hearing from you and Sister Johnson this week has been out of this world cool! I will definitely never forget this weekend, or the spirit that was felt. I'm glad I took notes ha!"
"Something that really stood out to me was how to every question asked most of the time Elder Perkins would think of a scripture that would answer the question perfectly. This has been one of my goals in teaching people, because I think this simple action can help the people being taught realize they can go to the scriptures of their own choosing and find scriptures to help them on a day to day basis. Which is what will help them feel the spirit and lead to repentance and conversion. So again. This weekend was great!"
Elder and Sister Perkins, Elder and Sister Meurs and President and Sister Johnson
"The General Authority visit was amazing. It was a huge motivation to find more people to teach and just to become more diligent missionaries."
"Now for the best part of this week. The General Authority visit and training! I am so grateful for their advice and training. When I was interviewed by Elder Meurs he gave me such great advice when it came to working brought my health problems. They aren't ever a big deal, but they were occasionally annoying. I really needed to hear what he had to say and it is something that will carry with me the rest of my life. In that moment I felt like he was sent here just for me, which I know he wasn't, but it was just a testimony that God was really hearing and answering my prayers. He really did care and He really does know my individual challenges and exactly how to help me."
Elder and Sister Perkins visiting with missionaries at lunch.
Elder and Sister Meurs visiting with missionaries at lunch.
"This week has just been spectacular. Honestly, I can't tell you how much this week has impacted me. I have felt so uplifted from the general authority visit! They are God sent president! The things they said and did were so inspired! The spirit whispered to me so many things on how I can be better and how I can help those who I'm called to serve."
"The training by elder Meurs and Perkins were amazing. I had to write a good portion of it down so I wouldn't forget. When I think of general authority's I usually think of them as massive spiritual powerhouses which to an extent they are. But they are also very humble people who just keep their covenants and listen to spiritual promptings. They where both so humble, just trying to do what the lord asks. My favorite part was when elder Perkins talked about how missionaries are assigned to their missions."
"Oh man.. This week was awesome. Especially with Elder Perkins and Elder Meurs. These men are truly called of God! I went in there with a couple questions, and left with all of them answered! It was so fun being with all the missionaries in this half of the mission feeling the spirit SO strong. Definitely a highlight of my mission!"
"Last week was just so inspiring. I feel so spritially renewed and reenergized. I just love having special representatives of the Lord with us. I really loved what Elder Perkins said about success is achieved with humility and without it doesnt matter how hard you work it wouldnt come. And what Elder Meurssaid that "The greatest of moments come when its down to the last breath of things. In finding, I dont know anything more to do but to be full-time servants."
In Harrisburg
"I loved the General Authority visit. It was truly inspired and answered questions I had. It was focused on Finding, but went off on other important topics like the importance of the Book of Mormon and just Preach My Gospel in general. I think that was definitely the Spirit guiding everyone who spoke to hit on the things that we needed to hear as individuals and as a mission."
"The training this past week has helped us a lot in developing a culture of finding. We have seen many small miracles in finding people who have been prepared. As we live up to it I know that the Lord can guide us."
"Hey president! This week was amazing!! The visits from Elder Perkins and Elder Meurs was just amazing. It was a revelatory experience in every aspect of the word. My little note pad is just full of things the spirit told me. Our zone was so pumped after zone conference to get work done."
In Cranberry
Thursday, September 8, 2016
Welcome New Sr. Missionaries!
We are very excited to welcome three new missionary couples into the PPM! We are grateful they are here and willing to give their time and talents to serve in the Lord's hastening in this part of His vineyard. We wish them the very best!
Elder And Sister Curtis from Grand Junction Colorado will serve in Meadville.
Elder and Sister Clarke from Clovis, CA are joining the office staff and will be taking care of housing and financial and many other details of the mission.
Elder and Sister Thompson from Spanish Fork, Utah are serving in and around Harrisburg.
Friday, August 19, 2016
Joyfully Entering In At the Gate
"Repent all ye ends of the earth, and come on to me and be baptized in my name, that ye may be sanctified by the reception of the Holy Ghost". 3 Nephi 27:20
Elders Gull and Davidson taught Jamie who was baptized this month.
Elder Samuelson baptized Janet Lee who was also taught by Elders Goeckeritz, Rayburn and Gardiner
Others in photo: Brother Brockoven baptized her, Jamie, Sister Brockoven and daughter Jamie
Front row: Elders O'Keefe, Halsey, Marlon (baptized on Aug 13), Elder Calaway, President Hoggard
Elders Gallini, Ekins, Alaguretnam, Lundberg and Richens
Sister Belnap, Kristian (baptized on Aug. 7) and Sister Simpson
Wednesday, August 10, 2016
MLC August 2016
"The greatest responsibility you will have as a Zone Leader or Sister Training Leader is to help the missionaries in your zone hasten the work of salvation."
Elder Liston and Elder Halls conducted a training on responsibilities of Sister Training Leaders and Zone Leaders as they go on weekly exchanges. They offer encouragement, fresh perspective, love and example. Other components of exchanges are following up, praying for them, reviewing aspects of missionary work, and planning together.
Elders Gull and Davidson helped teach Jamie who was baptized Aug. 6
Front: Elders Halls, Kotter, Syndergaard, Haroldsen, Ramos and Kap
"If a man will seek to elevate others the very work itself will turn and elevate him."
- Joseph Smith
Elders Kotter and Syndergaard shared a highlight as told by Elder Gull and Elder Davidson
"We met Jamie at church. She was a friend of the B family. We talked to them about sharing the gospel with their friends about two months prior of meeting Jamie! Sister B told us she had a friend named Jamie. Well Sister B worked with Jamie to get her to church for about two or so months. Then Jamie finally came to church with her husband and the B family. She loved it! She then got home and referred her self to us through Mormon.org. We called and set up a date to meet with her. We heard her story over the phone and prayed who we could take to go with us. We thought of Brother S a recent convert about a year ago. Well we got in there and we soon found out that she knew Brother S from selling one of her dogs to his family! An instant relationship was built! Then we shared the restoration with her. She loved it! She said she has been searching her whole life for this gospel! We soon knew she was the "Elect of God" we always prayed for! She was so prepared because of the member she was close to! The member (Bro.S) we brought had the similar story as to how he gained a testimony and was eventually baptized as Jamie is gaining, it was so amazing as they shared stories! It was an answer to our prayer! Jamie said that the spirit she feels in the church is so amazing! Nothing compares to it! Jamie has gone through so many trials as she went through her conversion process. With her husband being difficult to the adversary attacking her in so many little ways. But as she has continued to learn the Gospel her testimony has grown to be so amazing. She said nothing will stop her from entering the baptismal waters! Then two weeks later attend the temple to do names for her ancestors. She also has Home and Visting teachers already (Bro S is her HTeacher) She also is getting extended a calling the Sunday after her baptism. She also wants her Grandson to be blessed in the church as well! It is amazing that we really had nothing to do with finding her. The members did all the work! It has given us a stronger testimony that the members are the way! As in Elder Bednars quote "Members are all time finders and Missionaries are all time teachers" really applies in this amazing humbling experience. The ward council has done a great job of backing us up and making sure it is the Lords way of making sure she is converted! Now because of all this she will be baptized tomorrow Aug.6th!
President Johnson conducted a training on safeguards for using technology and reviewed the survey taken in the mission in June. It was exciting to see many areas that have seen improvement! Here are some examples: What are we doing well?
-Understanding and living our purpose
-Doing personal finding
-Listening to the spirit
-Reading the Book of Mormon daily
-Weekly Planning
-Reading and Applying the missionary handbook
-Studying Preach My Gospel on a daily basis
Things we will work on: Preach My Gospel Planning and Finding
Row 2: Sisters Penrod, Allen, De Mille, Bartlett, Taunima, Hansen, Wall and Thompson
Row 3: Pres. Johnson, Elder Hansen, Spencer, May, Hummer, Liston and Nelson
Back: Elders Herzog, Renteria, Hatch, Aitken
August 2016 Farewell and Best Wishes
"And now, my beloved brethren, after ye have gotten into this strait and narrow path, I would ask if all is done? Behold, I say unto you, Nay; for ye have not come thus far save it were by the word of Christ with unshaken faith in him, relying wholly upon the merits of him who is mighty to save.
Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life." 2 Nephi 31: 19-20
Many thanks for your devoted service! Love and blessings as you return with honor!
Elder Ramos saying goodbye to Elder Whitby
A farewell hike on the trails near the mission home...
Happy Hikers!
Front: Elders Whitby, Masina, Miller, Woll and GardunoMiddle: Elders Ekins, Devey, Gee, Draper, Saylor, and Sister Wadsworth
Back: President and Sister Johnson, Sisters Blake, Roberts, Johnson and Wilson
"Buff"contest? And the winner is President Johnson (in his age category anyway!)
Sister Blake
"Conversion is not an end, but a beginning of a new way of life!" -Elder L. Tom Perry
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