Called to Serve

One of my favourite quotes is:

"The single most important thing you can do to prepare for a call to serve isbecome a missionary long before you go on a mission".

Elder David A. Bednar

When I first decided to go on a mission, I never thought how hard it would be just getting my papers completed and sent through. It took a while for me to get my doctor's authority and not to mention the pain endured to soldier through the dental... But as we know and have been counselled in D&C 4:3 "Therefore, if you have desires to serve God, ye are called to the work" Because we each desire to serve as full time missionaries, we should not let the trails which we encounter along the way, stop our progression to the field! It is WHITE and it is ready to harvest....

5th November is the day that I had received the YELLOW ENVELOPE... I know and add my testimony to Elder Haynes of the amazing spiritual experience you will experience when you see it.

You know what it is.

You know its something that you have been anticipating for a long time.

You know it holds information that will seal your future for the next 18-24months.

When I opened the call letter - "WHOOSH!" words just cannot explain the feeling you get. I don't even know if there are any words in the English dictionary to even explain the feeling that comes over you when you read it. I was blessed to be surrounded by family and friends. I know that this will be one of the most fondest memories of being call to serve. Being able to share that experience with everyone that I love is awesome.

Auckland, New Zealand is going to be my playground starting Feburary 25th 2010.

Bring on the cold weather! Brrrrrr!!!

I am excited to be called to New Zealand as I hear it is quite populated with polynesians! Bring on the language study lessons!!! LOL!!!

The missionary preparation class has helped me loads with preparing to serve as a full-time missionary. Not only have I learned to love preach my gospel, but I have made friends with poeple whom also have the desire to serve. This has greatly increased my desire to serve and to become the best missioanry I can be.

For this, I am very thankful.

The Lord has a plan for each of us. We should know though that:

"It is not WHERE you serve but HOW you serve that counts"

I know that I have a Loving Heavenly Father, who has blessed me with a wonderful family. I learnt that he planned a way in which I can return to live with him someday, even before I came to this Earth. I know that I can one day be reunited with him if I am righteous in the choices that I make in this life. I have the power to help others come to this understanding, because I know when I am serving others, I am showing my Heavenly Father that I love him. This is made easier when I learn to love the people in whom I serve and teach.

I know that in the Spring of 1920 a young boy prayed to know of the truth and did see a pillar of light exactly over his head, above the brightness of the sun standing above him in the air. I believe that one of them spake unto him, calling him by name and pointing to the other proclaimed: "This is my beloved son, hear him!" I know all this to be true! AND because faith leads to action. I have chosen to serve!

Romans 1:16

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth...."

PEACE Y'ALL *ILY*:

Sister Masoe

Why I'm Going

When i Got my call i was so excited, every morning i would check with letterbox but when i got the package addressed "Elder Christian Paul Haynes" i just couldnt explain the emotions. I got really excited and happy and started running round like i had eaten too much suger. It is an amazing experiance to get a mission call, the spirit is with you and you know without a doubt that the next two years will be the best of your life. I hope you all get the chance to experiance it in the near future, it is amazing. I couldnt open the package fast enough and i didn't even read the letter all i saw was "New Zealand Wellington Mission" and "Thursday, January 14, 2010."

So many people have told me that a mission is like living 20 years in 2, i know its not gonna be easy and it wont be all fun but its definately worth it. I have a testimony that a mission is the best thing i could be doing with my life and im sure as you read the scriptures you will come to a similar conclusion. This Gospel brings me great happiness , i always feel awsome when reading the scriptures with the spirit, but what is the point of all this happiness and joy we have if we dont share it with anyone. That is part of the reason why families are so important, it is in families that we share and grow in the Gospel, how great shall be your joy if you bring a family together through the Gospel it is my hope to do so.

The other reason is becuase of the saviour, i hope that one day i will be able to stand before him unnabashed witha high head knowing that i have done all that i could to show that his sacrifice was not in vain. With that in mind as i was reading a scripture touched me, its Mark 8: 34-38

34 And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
35 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his Life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it.
36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?
37 Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
38 Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.

There are a couple of relavent points but to know what i know and have felt what i have felt i will never be ashamed of Christ, i know him and i know what he has done for me. So my mission i dedicate to him in a way to say thanks, i love you.

The greatest advice i could give is to first convert yourself, convert is a verb it means listening to your leaders and heeding to there words, reading the scriptures everyday and praying morning day and night. When you are converted you will be ready to be a strong missionary.

I know this church is true and the president monson is a prophet called of God to lead his people. I Love my Saviour and i have faith in our Heavenly Father.

Elder Haynes

Farewell Sister Allen

Farewell to Sister Allen who is currently reporting as a missionary to the New Zealand Missionary Training Centre (MTC) today. Sis. Allen will be at the MTC for a few weeks before reporting to the Australia Melbourne East Mission on the 2nd of December. We wish her all the best as she devotes 18 months to the Lord's work. If you wish to write to Sis. Allen, please see me (Samantha Biddle) for her contact details.

Photo: Sis. Allen on the right outside the LDS Sydney Temple.

Lesson 7- Commitment

Thank you to our teachers for a wonderful lesson on Sunday about making and keeping commitments. I hope we've all been seeking missionary experiences through our day to day life. As I mentioned in our last class, please put to practice inviting people to make commitments, whether it be inviting a non-member friend to Church or inviting an inactive friend to attend a YSA fireside. I know that as we practice the techniques taught to us in 'Preach My Gospel' we will become more effective missionaries and tools in the Lord's hand.

I'd like to share a paragraph from PMG and I hope you too can feel the importance of extending commitments whether it be to a friend or to yourself.

"Commitment is an essential part of repentance. It is the act of obligating oneself to a course of action and then diligently following through on that decision. When people are genuinely committed, they have real intent, meaning that they fully intend to do what they have committed to do. They make an unwavering and earnest decision to change. They become devoted to Christ and dedicate themselves to His gospel. Keeping their commitment is how they "truly manifest by their works that they have received of the Spirit of Christ unto the remission of their sins" (D&C 20:37). When you ask for commitments as part of your teaching, you are inviting the investigator to repent." PMG pg 195

Waiting in patience :)

Well, i've finally put my papers in =D And i'm so very grateful that i've made the decision to serve.
I remember while preparing to recieve my Patriarchal Blessing that i was hoping for a definite 'You are going to serve a mission..' It didn't say, so i knew then that it was a decision i had to make on my own, and ask it of the Lord if it was right. And it is the right choice for me, immersing oneself in the service of the Lord, gospel doctrine and inviting others to come unto Christ...what could be more special and important? Especially one to look forward to in determination and faith?

M.