This was a growing week for sure! We ended up succeeding in visiting people maybe 2 times out of 20 this week. Haha. So definitely didn't go as planned. However, it was still a great week. I learned a lot!
I had an opportunity to be in a leadership training on Thursday with Elder Stephen B Allen who was in town training my mission president (who is still in his first year as the mission president). Elder Allen is the managing director of the church's Missionary Department and was a huge part of the filming of the District and District 2 - reality missionary DVDs designed to help missionaries improve. It was AWESOME. I learned so much! All the missionaries there (except about 5) were current zone leaders, district leaders, or trainers. So I REALLY need to master what he taught us because it appears that I will have more responsibilities in the near future. (I'll say more about this later)
The mother and daughter I referenced finding last weekend at the local neighborhood wide garage sale are awesome! We haven't had an official lesson with them yet, but we dropped by Thursday night for a little. We couldn't stay long since it was just us two Elders and them - we would need another guy at least older than 16 to be with us since it is a single lady. After meeting for some minutes and talking about religion and different things (turns out she has some Mormon friends and has been to church with them and more) I felt like we should offer a closing prayer. After that, my companion invited them to be baptized - even though we hadn't even shared much of any lesson. The mom, Chris, said she has been thinking about it and isn't sure. She is open to the possibility. We followed up with them Saturday to invite them to church. Even though they didn't commit, they came.
It is so funny... we have met with a number of investigators regularly and haven't gotten much clear progress with most of them. However, we meet these two and they are already keeping more commitments than everyone else. There must be a lesson there for us to improve as missionaries. There is definitely something to be said for having short frequent visits. In the past, I have been doing longer (at least 45 mins, up to 2 hrs) with investigators once per week. There is a reason why those people are not making as much progress! We are spending way too much time there and are not coming back enough. This was probably the most important thing I learned from that leadership training. Elder Allen said the LONGEST appointment should be 45 mins long with 30 mins of lesson and 15 mins of getting to know.
ALSO, Elder Allen said it is essential to have positive daily contact with our investigators. That is something I am trying to internalize. I talked to him about it in a break and he said that whenever we aren't there with the investigators, Satan is trying to get in. Satan uses everything that he has access to for 23 hours a day. The television, radio, neighbors, doubting thoughts, and more are just some of the tools he uses to prevent people from changing or progressing. He said it doesn't have to be long - texts, calls, drop-ins, or members can all help have that contact on a daily basis with investigators. That will definitely be more appreciated when we focus on shorter lessons. I feel like setting up that expectation of regular daily or at least every other day (we are still repenting trying to figure out how to implement daily contact with everyone) will make it expected and understood. Helping them realize that if they really want to learn/grow, we need to follow up with them daily - and that it won't be a big time-sucking thing, but short. I feel like this truth - of short frequent (if not daily) contact instead of long infrequent visits can go a long way in a variety of industries/fields. I love how true principles can apply to so many different areas of life!
Lastly, I want to close with my testimony. 2+ years ago I took a challenge - to read the Book of Mormon and ask God if it is His Word. Originally when that was extended 3 years ago, I said no - I was scared and had lots of preconceived notions that there couldn't possibly be any more of God's Word outside the Bible. But ultimately, I knew I had to do it and find out for myself if this was God's Word - I needed to test the word as the Bible directs (see 1 John 4:1 and Mat 7:15-1 - ye shall know a prophet by the fruits). After reading it for a period of time, I came to a point where I truly did ask God with a sincere heart intending to act on the answer I received. Immediately within 5 minutes of that sincere prayer I received the answer that it was the Word of God. Every day in personal study I can feel the Spirit testifying to me again and again that it is a true book, that Joseph Smith didn't write it, but translate the ancient record by the power of God. I know that it is truly another testament of Jesus Christ and goes hand in hand with the Bible to clearly explain the doctrine of Jesus Christ. As a missionary now, my role is not to force this truth down anyone's throat or argue with them or tell it to them or go back and forth quoting scriptures against them. My role is only to testify that I know of myself that it is God's Word and to invite people to try the word. For I do know that, "by the power of the Hold Ghost ye may know the truth of all things" (Moroni 10:5 in the Book of Mormon). I invite you to do the same.
I love all of you so much and am grateful for so many of you that have helped me develop to this point and given me the opportunity to serve out here in the Colorado Fort Collins Mission (especially my parents and family). I have grown so much out here working to understand the Spirit of God, the ability to work with my companion and all people, and develop habits that I can carry for the rest of my life.
Have an amazing week!
Sincerely,
Elder Jeff Campbell
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