September 29th Elder Zwick and even more miracles

 Okay, so to be brutally honest... when we came here we didn't have a teaching pool, the miracle I'd like to share is... We now have a very solid teaching pool!!! The woman named R___ has agreed to a baptismal date for the 11th and she told us super awesome stories about how she KNOWS that this is true. How she's always felt that something was missing and she recognizes that this is it. She told us that lately she's been waking up at 1am and then again at 3am just Wanting to read the Book of Mormon, she says "it's like my soul is hungry" and that the Book of Mormon soothes her hunger. She absolutely loves loves loves it. We've also had a ton of member referrals for their friends because of the Primary Program. I LOVE the primary program, the little kids did so well... both at singing, speaking, and inviting their friends.

Elder Craig Zwick (Of the First Quorum of Seventy)  and Sister Jan Zwick

  Just as another testimony... Member referrals are the best ever, the bomb.com, the bomb diggity, they are the bee's knees... if bee's had little knees.. they would be them. I really can't tell you how much better and more "expeditious" (speedy, and efficient) they generally are. :D I LOVE THEM!!! Because we don't have to worry about a lot of things... who will be there friend, if they'll feel accepted, or any of that. If there's anyone you even might think would listen... ask. It'll change their, yours, and the missionaries lives... not to mention the wards. New Converts are the best! Anywho that's my two bits for the day.

  Now... for Elder Zwick... I'm gonna be honest. It would take me weeks to write out all that I learned but! Highlights from his talks. 

  1). Always begin each meeting with the mental question: What am I willing to Change?

  2). Reverence indicates willingness to learn "Reverence invites Revelation" Boyd K. Packer

   

  3). If we're willing to change the spirit will be with us

  4). Powerful teaching pattern- start w/story, support with principle, link to Doctrine, Testify... and then move on. Don't repeat the cycle. Move to a different doctrine/principle.

  5). The goal of life is to unite our body and spirit to become obedient to God's commandments

  6). "Therefore What?" Once we've learned something... what are we going to do with it?

  7). How will I measure my life -Clayton Christensen= read

     

  8). There's a dialect in Mexico that's mayan (Tzotzil) and they greet each other by asking what sounded like "Cushe Elan" (not sure if that's how it's spelled)... it means "How is your Heart?"( many of their phrases revolve around the heart: Are you thirsty? "My heart is dry", remorseful? "My heart weeps" or "My heart withdraws". A Sixteenth century Dominican friar compiled more than eighty of these metaphors relating to the heart. Scholars call this a testament to the Ancient Mayan belief that the heart is what makes us fundamentally human. )- *

  9). Am I going to allow the Lord to expand my capacity?

 10). "I will never limit myself by what I think is my capacity. I will allow the Lord to expand my capacity... and he will" -Elder Zwick

 11). Lot's of stories about the Zwicks' son- remind me later

 12). MINI IPADS ARE COMING BEFORE CHRISTMAS

 13). 5 lessons for a successful life : found in D&C 105

 3 But behold, they have not learned to be obedient to the things which I required at their hands, but are full of all manner of evil, and do not impart of their substance, as becometh saints, to the poor and afflicted among them;-verse 3 impart of your substance or GIVE YOUR BEST

 4 And are not united according to the union required by the law of the celestial kingdom;  -verse 4 BE UNITED

 5 And Zion cannot be built up unless it is by the principles of the law of the celestial kingdom; otherwise I cannot receive her unto myself.  -verse 5 LEARN OBEDIENCE

 

 12 For behold, I have prepared a great endowment and blessing to be poured out upon them, inasmuch as they are faithful and continue in humility before me.    -verse 12 CONTINUE IN HUMILITY

 13 Therefore it is expedient in me that mine elders should wait for a little season, for the redemption of Zion.   - verse 13 PATIENCE and LONG SUFFERING

              

           

 14). Occasionally you have to adjust to have a sure foundation- story of the Portland Temple Foundation (500 steel beams, 100ft long driven into the ground and capped with concrete to secure it in muddy dirt).

 15). Work must be:

           -hard

           -smart

           -obedient

 16). Am I worthy of Christ's trust?

 17). Am I flattening out in productivity/growth or am I growing constantly?

 18). What wilt thou that I should do? -Paul

Saul's Damascus Road Conversion

(Acts 22:1-21; Acts 26:1-23)

1And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, 2And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. 3And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: 4And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? 5And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. 6And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do. 7And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man. 8And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus. 9And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.

 19). How to become more involved:

          - Strengthen understanding of the Doctrine

          - Pray for strength, courage, and opportunities

          - Trust the Spirit

Anywho .... I don't have time to say anymore but... needless to say it was a VERY good meeting and I'm super excited for General Conference!!!!! Hope all is well. I pray for you, "thank you for all you do... but especially, thank you for who you are!" -President Wakolo.

Love y'all,

Sister Foster

The following is an excerpt from Sister Hannah Broach's letter (Taylor's companion): 
 "So, we had a pretty cool week this week! Elder Zwick came and talked to us and he also did a fireside for all ward council members, and he got everybody super pumped up and super excited about the work! Let me just tell you, him and his wife have some POWER when they speak! I learned soo much from them. One of my favorite parts about our meeting with them was when his wife got up and spoke to us. She talked about feeling insignificant and feeling like there had been times in her life when she was ready to give up. She shared one of those times with us. She told us about how her husband was called to be a mission president in Chile. She was very fearful, and didn't know very much spanish. She said it didn't help that when they arrived at the mission home they very first thing she noticed was the giant fence with barbed-wire on top that guarded the home. Her children were still young and she felt scared, and soo confused. She then said that a few hours after their arrival, the telephone rang. Elder Zwick answered and this was the response of the person on the other end: "President, you don't know me, and I don't know you, but I am one of your missionaries. I am standing in a telephone booth wearing nothing but my companions overcoat. We were in the church for a baptism when 9 terrorists came into the church with machine guns. They put a gun to my head, and made me take off my clothes. They then poured floor wax on my clothes and lit them on fire. The church is currently burning to the ground. What would you like us to do?"..... Sister Zwick said that in that moment, she was DONE. She was ready to throw in the towel, grab her kids and run away! She said, "I can't do this!" She then talked to us about how her little son helped her to remember that she need to have faith in Heavenly Father and His plan for her. It was very humbling because I know there have been times, especially recently, that I have said, "I CAN'T DO THIS!!" Elder and Sister Zwick taught me a lot about having faith to carry on, even when all seems lost. To continue to strive to be better and to not be content with mediocrity. Goodness! I could go on all day about what they taught me! I guess the bottom line is that I promised that I am going to work harder to be a better servant of the Lord. "



 *Tzotzil reference from "Mexican Enough, My Life Between the Borderlines")