Hopefully this message isn't too short, but I am going to try my best to summarize all the important stuff.... This week has been crazzzzzyyyy!!
More things to do...
Your first question to me was what is different about being a zone leader than a district leader. Weeeeeell...... Just like...... Heeeaaapps! We have so many more things to do as zone leaders. We get a lot more phone calls, a lot more problems, a lot of things that are asked of us, a lot of special assignments. Just a lot.
Members of our zone call us to ask questions about pretty much everything; permission to go out of area, questions and clarification about rules, what is going on in the ward (because we have like 50 million missionaries in our ward). Every Wednesday night we collect key indicator actuals for the first half of the week (Monday to Wednesday) and every Sunday we collect the actuals for the whole week. When we get those, we report them to our assistants to the president. Also, every month we lead a zone training meeting, where we do pretty much the same stuff as district meetings, but on a larger scale, with higher expectations of us. We conduct trade-offs with the district leaders in our zone. Tonight I am going on a trade off with one of our district leaders, Elder Howse, who was district leader in Tuggeranong when I first came into the mission. So that is kinda funny and awkward at the same time! Now I am his zone leader.... It is okay. He is the man! No worries.
Pretty much we are the Zone Slaves
Every month, we also go to the mission office for what is called Missionary Leadership Council, where all of the zone leaders, and I think the sister training leaders go for a super long training from President Lew and his assistants. But it is nice, because we get to interact with the other zone leaders. And some of the zone leaders I am good friends with! (Elder Tito, Elder Olsen, Elder Winkelman etc..). We have a whole bunch of other responsibilities, but those are the main ones. Pretty much we are the zone slaves. We had to help everyone move flats last Tuesday. We drive people everywhere, because we are the only elders in the zone with a car. I am still learning a lot about it! But I know that associating this closely with such great missionaries will help me to learn and grow astronomically! I have some massive shoes to fill.
Thanks for the reminder about my setting apart blessing. It is really important that I do stay humble. And yes, I do think that it was the Spirit of Prophecy. I truly am humbled at the job I have ahead of me. It is nothing to be recognized for, I realize, and I know that I am more than under qualified. I still wonder why in the world I was called to be a zone leader. Especially at this phase of my mission.
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| Elders Larsen and Winkelman. Brothers in arms. |
You also asked how my first week with Elder Winkelman was. It was really good! This area is awesome! Lots of good members, and lots of things to do. Our ward mission leader is on to it! The man! What has been my favorite experience? Probably seeing firsthand how powerful of an influence that members can be in missionary work. A former stake president, who is now a counselor to President Lew is in our ward, President Simpson. We took him with us to a few lessons. And he did awesome! He smashed it! We as missionaries didn't have to really do anything! He took control of the lesson, and led it directly where he wanted it to be, which just so happened to be where we wanted it to be too! He was fantastic! I really would encourage all of you back home to go out with the missionaries and help them out with lessons. Women and girls 16+, go out with the sister missionaries. Men and boys 16+, go out with the elders. They will love you for the rest of your life! Serious!
[Elder Winkelman and I practice our Spanish with each other. Especially if there is something we want to communicate that we don't want others to hear. So that is pretty fun :). My companionship reminds me of the letter that you wrote me about Jarrad Gallagher, Dad. A lot of the same qualities. Most of them actually. He just isn't 6'4". That is the only flaw. Jokes! No flaw there! But he is the man! He is going home with Elder Cocker, in August. So I may figuratively kill him off. (mission lingo) When a missionary goes home, he "dies". Same idea as missionary trainers being dads.]
Demographics of our zone
What are the cultural demographics of our zone? Well, being in the greater Sydney area, it is a melting pot. There are heaps of Lebanese people, heaps of Polys, heaps of Aussies, heaps of Indians. Just a lot of different cultures. The majority of people here are Lebanese, I would say. Lots of Muslims! They are good, though. Most are pretty nice.
The best Italian food. Ever.
Our ward struggles to feed all of us. Which is okay. There are 10 missionaries. It is to be expected. But when we do get fed, the ward members feed us good! There is one part member family, where the wife is an active member, and the husband is an investigator that we have been working with. The husband is from Italy, and makes the best Italian food. Ever. Everything from scratch.
Actually we had a pretty hectic lesson with him. His wife was a huge help. We pretty much talked about how he can receive an answer to his prayers that the Book of Mormon is the word of God. And his wife bore powerful testimony to him. Once again, another experience with having members at lessons with the missionaries.
Talk ideas for Dad
Hmmmm.... What can you share in your talk... Well, there are a bunch of scriptures about the atonement that I love in the Book of Mormon. There is Alma 7:11-13; Mosiah 5:7-12; Alma 34:9-10; 2 Nephi 2 (pretty much the whole chapter); 2 Nephi 9 (once again, pretty much the whole chapter); Alma 42; Alma 11:40-45 and maaaany more. I also know that Preach My Gospel has lots of answers and doctrine concerning the Atonement and it's significance in all aspects of life. Other than that, I don't know. Well I do, but I don't want to take away the opportunity that you have to prepare for your talk :).
That is pretty much it! Nothing else too incredibly exciting happened. We are working hard. And having much success! Hopefully I have more to tell you about the miracles we have serving here next week.
I love you guys!
Elder Laseni (as the Islanders have changed my name)/Elder Larsen
P.S. I lost my case for my retainer.... (weird thing to lose) I still have my retainer itself. I was wondering if you could send me another case sometime? I am not desperate though.
Transfer Letter from President Lew
Dear Elder Larsen,
Thank you for accepting the call to serve as a Zone Leader. You have been obedient in keeping the mission rules and you stand as an example to the other missionaries. Thank you for being an excellent teacher who has the ability to articulate your thoughts with clarity and ease. You have a good understanding of the scriptures, and the doctrines taught therein.
The responsibility of being a Zone Leader is one of the greatest opportunities of leadership a missionary can have and it is certainly one of the most trusted. It is a very special assignment, and will have far-reaching effects on the missionaries you serve here in the Australia Sydney South Mission.
You are a wonderful example of the teachings of the gospel and also a wonderful representative of your home. I feel that you will continue to be a tower of strength for good in our great mission.
I love you,
President Larry J. Lew
AUSTRALIA SYDNEY SOUTH MISSION
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