I haven't really talked about President Smith a whole ton but I realized something this week about him. We were in a meeting and he shared with us that in 2016 as a mission we baptized around 2000 people. That is enough people to open up an entire new stake. But there hasn't been even a new ward opened. And that is because retention isn't really being stressed. There are two things that are happening. One is that someone gets baptized, they go to church for a few weeks and then they stop going for whatever reason. And two is someone gets baptized and stays active but someone other member stops going to church.
He is a mechanical engineer so he loves statistics and numbers. But as he was talking I realized what I think one of his purposes is here. Let me give a super quick history of the past 4 years in the mission. Before President Corbitt got here the mission was baptizing about 15-20 people. President Corbitt got here, through a long process the mission became super obedient, and normally the mission was baptizing 150-200 each month. I am so grateful for President Corbitt and everything he taught us about finding people who are prepared and how much he taught us about faith. There are a lot of missionaries who were super worried about what would happen with the change, including me a little bit. But I realized that President Smith is the perfect man to take the mission to the next level. Not only are we going to keep going with all of the good things that President Corbitt taught us but President Smith I feel is going to add his unique gifts to the mission.
One thing he has been teaching us is about having charity in everything we do especially for our investigators. And I'm not saying we didn't before but President Smith is going to teach us and focus on teaching in such a way that the investigators really become coverts and never go inactive. My explanation for this is a lot longer so sorry if that was confusing or something but basically I am super excited to see what happens over the next 10 months.
Only other thing is that I was asked to give a talk in sacrament meeting. It was over the joy of preaching the gospel. I don't think I have to explain that much about it. Just go and read 1 Nephi chapter 8 and then Doctrine and Covenants 18:15-16.
Man I love this mission so much and don't know what I did to be called here but I know that I have a purpose for being where I am and I have to keep being the missionary that the Lord needs me to be. I miss y'all so much and love hearing about y'alls lives.
Have an amazing week back at school! It is kind of weird for me because right at the end of this school year I come back home. That is nuts that Britt is heading up to college!! I know you guys have probably taken care of this but did yall change the tires? Those tires don't really go well with water and that is nothing to say about snow.
I love yall!!!
Love,
Elder Robertson
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| These are the baptisms from last week |
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| My new zone in Ralma |
