June MLC

MLC came right at the heels of transfer day this month. Usually transfer week alone will wipe us out because of all the activities with coming-in and going-home missionaries. Our househelp quit a month ago and keeping up with all the cleaning, food prep, plus the regular schedule of mission duties had me longing for a beach, a palm tree, and a good book! As you can imagine, President and I were very tired. But, the Lord gives us extra blessings of strength and endurance while we serve, and so MLC was a delightful end of a busy week.

My assignment for MLC is to introduce the monthly theme. President Tye and I came up with an equation for June:

Love + ? = Baptism

Each week during zone and district meetings, the elders will complete the equation with lessons and topics from Preach My Gospel. For example: 

Love + My Purpose = Baptism 

Love + Inspired Questions = Baptism

My challenge to them was to pray with all their energy to be FILLED with the pure love of Christ as they teach and serve.
Moroni advises us: 

"Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons (and daughters) of God; . . ." Moroni 7:48

President spoke to the mission leaders about repentance and how important it is that the investigator understands that repentance comes before baptism.

Love + Teaching Repentance = Baptism

We have heard since that many of the missionaries have added
"LOVE PLUS"
under their name on their phones. I love seeing them get excited and motivated in the monthly themes as they press forward in the work of the Lord.

I did not get a group picture of everyone this month, but here are the pics I took of our six hours together. 

 

 

 The Assistants are going through the stats of the mission.

 Ha-ha, this picture is not because we are going through the mission stats - these elders are not part of MLC, but happened to be at the mission home for another reason. This is what happens when you are at a six hour meeting that does not apply to you, and the fourth hour just started.

 

 

 

 Two of our Sister Training Leaders taught a lesson on the Book of Mormon and when they finished, they asked everyone to hold up their scriptures. This reminds me of my Primary days and watching the children sing, "Scripture Power!"

 This was not the dessert for MLC, but the elders found this cake in the refrigerator. It was half eaten when they found it - they were
"just helping out so I could wash the dish."
That was such a kind thing to do! (a few of the sisters joined in)

I like the next two pictures. They show the different personalities in our missionaries.

 This elder is very neat and everything is in its place and orderly. To his credit, this is hour four of the six hour meeting so his spot probably looked like this the whole time. 

Although these two elders are sharing a small space, there is still a noticed difference compared to the picture above. I believe there is a lesson to be learned here - one elders definition of organized and tidy can most certainly be different than another, but they are both excellent elders just doing their best while striving for better.