Missionary WORK

“This is hard work,” said the young missionary.
“Yes, it is,” I said, “but isn’t it great!”
𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤: “an activity involving mental or physical effort done in order to achieve a purpose or result.”
We held Zone Conferences in Antwerp and Zoetermeer this week.
There was insightful instruction given throughout each session.
For a large portion of my time, I chose to focus a lot of my direction around one word…. “𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐊!”
Today, many have forgotten the value of work and look upon it as something to avoid.
David O. McKay said, “Let us realize that the privilege to work is a gift, that power to work is a blessing, that love of work is success.”
I learned the value of work through my parents example, they were certainly unafraid of hard work.
In the summer of 1977, when I was 12 years old, I started a daily early morning newspaper round.
By 5.30am, I was in the newsagent’s sorting out the newspapers for early morning delivery.
Frequently, I’d head off on my round on my bicycle.

Dynamo’s

In those days my lights were powered by a dynamo on the wheel.
The output of the dynamo was determined by how hard I pedalled.
If I pedalled hard, the lights were bright.
Pedalling softer, the lights were dimmer.
If I stopped there was no light.
And so, it is with all of us in life, especially in missionary work.

Pedal hard

You have to keep pedalling and working hard to have light in your life.
It’s my experience that industry, devotion, and hard work lead to enlightened progress.
There is no substitute to hard work.
Gordon B. Hinckley said “Nothing happens unless we work. You never will plough a field by turning it over in your mind. You have to get out and take hold of the plough and go to work. Work is what makes things happen.”
In Missionary work, the requirement is 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒌!
It became part of me a long time ago.
Let it become part of you too.
It is through the discipline of work, that we determine what we become.
What role has work played in your life?

Think and Thank

To thank is to think and to think is to thank.
When you think, you can’t help but to thank.
Recently, I discovered this powerful thought…
“What you think about and what you thank about is what you will bring about.”
Can you think of something that you are thankful for?

Gratitude

Gratitude seems to be rare these days…
An “absence of gratitude is the mark of a narrow, uneducated mind” – Gordon B. Hinckley.
I know that gratitude creates the most wonderful feeling.
It can resolve disputes.
It can strengthen friendships.
It will change others hearts and they will respond differently than they have before.
Funnily enough – you’ll be happier too!
Someone once said that “gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all others.”
And another has said that “feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.”
Sometimes gratitude does not come very easily.
Yet, we need to be more grateful.
“The words “Think and Thank” are inscribed in many of the Cromwellian churches of England. These words ought to be inscribed in our hearts, too: “Think and Thank”. Think of all we have to be grateful for and thank God for all our boons and bounties.” – Dale Carnegie

Pause

If we pause to think, we’ll have cause to thank.
As we think, there are so many things we can give grateful thanks for.
Including the gift of life, our families, friends, our loved ones, the beauty of the earth, our freedom to choose, our faith and Jesus Christ.
Mother Teresa said: “The best way to show my gratitude to God is to accept everything, even my problems, with joy.”
Its time to think and thank – today.
“Gratitude is medicine for the soul” – Russell M. Nelson.
How can you cultivate an attitude of gratitude within your own heart and soul?
What are you grateful for?

Study Time

On Friday evening, we started our online winter devotionals.
Our first guest this year, was Brad Wilcox, counsellor in the Young Men General Presidency.
His theme: “𝑺𝒕𝒖𝒅𝒚 𝑻𝒊𝒎𝒆”
One of his opening remarks was “Why do you keep a journal?”
Quickly he retorted “Its cheaper than a counsellor!”
I laughed.
Since the age of 12, I’ve been an ardent advocate of writing journals daily and have used that remark several times myself!
It is a truism!
“Use your journal as a tool to help make your life” Brad said.
Oftentimes journals can read like “the diary of a fish” going round and round again, as you repetitively record daily events, meals, travel, incidents etc.
He encouraged us all to go deeper, to record personal stories, share your testimony, insert uplifting quotes, pictures and take your journal everywhere as if it was your personal scripture.

Inspiring

Journals are a source of inspiration.
Quoting from memory Mosiah 3:19 in the Book of Mormon (the most oft referenced verse in General Conference), in an interactive way he encouraged us to “write about the lines, write between the lines and write beyond the lines.”
He passionately inspired us to write about this verse in our own words, our personal understanding, that will “wake you up during study time.”
“Writing is thinking made visible” he said.
Randomly, many on the call were invited to share parts of the verse in their own words.
The result?
We understood what the verse really meant, in a much more powerful and personal way.
His words: “For the prideful and unrepentant man makes himself an enemy to God, but God is not his enemy, God is his best friend.”
We slowed down and learned together.
A feeling of love permeated our virtual room, sinking deeply into our souls.
The whole evening was like manna from heaven.
This was real joy and real love in action, manifesting itself before our privileged eyes.
Please, consider your journals, your study time and Mosiah 3:19.
In your own words, what does that verse mean to you?

Curious?

“How do I have better conversations?” the young missionary asked.
In response I said, “Be curious!”
We then roleplayed several conversations, restating and rephrasing words spoken, then asking further questions, by being 𝒄𝒖𝒓𝒊𝒐𝒖𝒔.
It was enlightening as we explored questions together.
Children tend to have it in abundance.
Curiosity has to be a personal practice.
Curiosity allows us to find out about another person’s reality, their views and their perspective.
Its easier said than done, but it takes humility and meekness, to escape the trap of thinking/feeling of “being right” at times, and see beyond our own thoughts.
To be really curious you need to see beyond what you think you know and become much more fascinated by the way others see things.
Consider every conversation as an opportunity to learn something new.
Curiosity requires that you become genuinely super interested in what the other person is thinking and saying.
It is important to slow down, be very present and take time to ask questions, listen and observe.
And you also need to suspend any judgements that you may be tempted to make!
Be inquisitive.
Ask others their opinions, their perspectives, and their approaches to certain things.
“I have no special talent. I am only passionately curious.” – Albert Einstein.
Curious minds are exploring minds.
Yesterday, I met a complete stranger and engaged with them on a personal level, by being curious about where they came from, why they were in Amsterdam, and simply showing some genuine interest in them.
It was a wonderful conversation, and we discovered some insightful connections.
I was simply being curious.
These are a few of my thoughts and ideas this morning.
I’d be really interested in hearing a few of yours.
How do you stay curious?

Hold on

It was a simple example…
Last week we met with our Mission Leadership Council in our home.
It is always a powerful experience as we talk, share and counsel together.
A few themes emerged in our session.
Followership and Discipleship were two of them.
The flip side of leadership is followership.
Powerful followership is not about being blindly obedient or passively compliant; it involves active engagement, participation, constructive thinking, shared responsibility, taking direction and to 𝒉𝒐𝒍𝒅 𝒐𝒏.
It matters – a lot!
With the help of one of the missionaries, I used a teaching exercise that captured an insightful message.
I asked Brigitta Broadbent to stand and extend her hand a few inches below my own hand.
Then, I invited her to follow the movements of my hand from side to side and up and down.
I moved my hand rapidly and unpredictably.
Although Brigitta did well, it was evident for all to see that as the follower, she often fell behind.
I asked Brigitta and the others how could she do better?
Their response…?
It was simple really…
Trusting me, she clasped my hand and held on.
We tried again.
The result?
It was easy for Brigitta to follow my hand movements with exactness and precision.
Similarly, every missionary, as a follower and disciple of Jesus Christ, works tirelessly to be as close to Jesus Christ, by holding on to Him.
Daily, they place their nametags next to their hearts, as a constant reminder as to who they follow and cling to.
Part of following Jesus Christ is leading others to Him.
Neal A. Maxwell said: “We cannot lead or draw others to Christ unless we stand closer to Him than they do.”
How can you be a better follower?

Handwritten

“Thank you” I said.
I was moved by another handwritten note.
It contained a thoughtful message of love, gratitude, and appreciation.
What is it about receiving a handwritten note?
There is something so special and powerful about it.
It is a labour of love.
Knowing that someone has sat down, taken time, crafted some words, written by their own hand, and then either posted it or given it to you.
Seeing actual words, penned in their own writing, somehow conveys feelings in a much more powerful, intimate, and personal way.
It indicates a deeper investment of time, in you.
The words used, can speak volumes to your heart, conveying deep meaning.
Such as, “I can’t even express…” or “You won’t even know…”
It is something unique.

I care

It also says something about you, that you care enough to make a genuinely personal gesture.
Recently, I have counselled with a few missionaries about taking time to craft a handwritten letter to a family member or friend.
In our digital world that feels increasingly disconnected, and impersonal, a handwritten note, really can make all the difference.
In fact, these notes grow rarer, day by day.
Each handwritten note, says “𝓘 𝓬𝓪𝓻𝓮.”
A handwritten note may seem like a small gesture, but I know it can have a huge impact on both the sender and the receiver.

They’re all about love

They are special messages for you and me.
I’ve kept all of the ones I’ve received in the mission field.
When I’ve felt a little low, I’ve reread many.
They act as a powerful reminder that others love and care.
All I have to do is open them and start reading.
In a similar manner, the scriptures are like special handwritten, crafted messages from our Heavenly Father for you and me.
All we have to do is open them and start reading.
In the Book of Mormon, we read in Nephi 4:15 “I write the things of my soul…”
Consider your feelings…
Craft a handwritten note, by sharing some things from your soul.

Groundhog Day

Every six weeks, Monic and I return to Schiphol Airport.
In the beginning of our mission, the pattern was arrivals on a Tuesday and departures on a Thursday.
Now, departures and arrivals all happen on the same day, a Friday.
We’re often there in between, for many other reasons too.
Regardless, we have a deep familiarity with Schiphol and our 42 day, six-week cycle.
Over these last 2 ½ years of consistent practice, we have learned many lessons.
Do you remember the 1993 movie Groundhog Day?
In the movie Bill Murray’s plays a cynical weatherman, who for some reason gets stuck in a repetitive time loop.
Repeating the same cycle over and over again (that was our 23rd last week) reminds me of the story line of the movie.
In the movie, through consistent practice, Bill Murray’s character Phil Connors, learns how to be remarkably resourceful by turning a challenging day into a great day.

Changes

During the course of the movie, he 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆𝒔.
The lesson?
The more you focus on others by serving, being grateful and appreciative, the happier you will be.
In real life, through consistent practice, each missionary learns how to be remarkably resourceful by turning many challenging days into many great days.
Each missionary 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆𝒔.
Likewise, their final day, is also a challenging one.
Transformed, these young men and women depart for home having become some of our dearest friends.
We all struggle to say farewell.
Departures are emotion filled, with tears of sadness and hugs aplenty.
In between their arrival and departure, we’ve experienced so much together – we’ve all 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐝.
Moments later, the arrivals are also emotion filled, but this time the tears are filled with joy, wonder, excitement, and hugs aplenty.
The journey ahead will transform them too.
Every time is the same, but different.
What am I learning over and over again?
We create our own reality, by living to learn and learning to live.
Over and over again, we have the choice to make today, and every day, either sad or happy, dull or inspiring, meaningless or fulfilling.
What will you choose today to make it great?

Divine Passports

Travelling to a foreign land?
A passport verifies your identity and nationality.
If you don’t have your passport, then – you won’t get in!
On Friday we were at Schiphol (again).
We were eagerly awaiting 8 new missionaries.
6 of the missionaries arrived, then I received a message from Bentley Lorimer
“Hey, so I think I left my passport on the plane, me and Aliyah Oliveira will be out a little later than everyone else!”…
Then… “We are pretty sure they found it, and they are just taking us to get it.”
Time passed…
15 minutes became 60, then 90!
They’d gone to security, then back to the arrivals gate, then back to security and subsequently directed to lost & found.
Bentley’s anxiety levels reached record levels!

Lost and Found

Finally, lost & found said that Delta flight staff had located it and she needed to come and collect it.
Reunited with her passport, and her identity confirmed, she made it safely through security feeling ever so discombobulated!
We were delighted to eventually greet them both.
Passports are critical, allowing us to travel safely through countries.

The first passport

In the Old Testament, the book of Nehemiah records the first ever mentioned passport.
In Nehemiah 2:7 we read that he asked the king for letters to be able to pass through specific lands on his way to his destination.
Those letters were his traveling papers. Today, we’d call them a passport.
His true identity was confirmed by the seal of the Kings letters and travelled safely towards Judah, and home again.
In a like manner, an understanding of the gospel of Jesus Christ is just like a divine passport that confirms our true identity and nationality.
In Romans 8:16-17, we learn that we are the literal spirit offspring or children of God our Father.
You are indeed a child of God.
Divine passports are critical, allowing us all to travel safely through life and onwards into eternity.
For the next 18 months, Bentley’s mission is to help reduce others anxiety levels in Belgium and the Netherlands, by helping them find their divine passport and return safely home.
Look out for her – she’ll be passing your way sometime soon!

It is a Privilege

Privilege: a special right or advantage that a particular person or group of people has.
In the course of my daily responsibilities, I feel extremely privileged.
I recognise the divine privilege of loving and serving one another.
Humbly, and boldly, I have the privilege of representing Jesus Christ as a disciple, every day.

Missionary Service

I have the privilege to lift and serve missionaries.
It is a continuing privilege to have worked with them daily, for 2 ½ years.
I have the privilege of interviewing each of them 1 by 1, every few weeks.
It is an honour and privilege to be associated with each of them.
This week, I have the privilege to interview 8 departing missionaries for the last time and 9 arriving missionaries for the first time.

Priesthood Service

I have the privilege of holding the priesthood of God and bestowing blessings.
I have the privilege to officiate in the temple.
I have the privilege of a temple marriage, being sealed to my companion for time and all eternity.
I have had the privilege of raising three wonderful children.
I have the privilege of being born at this time when the gospel has been restored to the earth.
I have the privilege to frequently testify of the reality of Jesus Christ and His restored gospel.
I have the privilege of travelling throughout Belgium and the Netherlands to meet with so many wonderful people both in an out of the church.
I have the privilege of associating with so many incredible leaders of the church in these nations and regularly counsel with them.
I have the privilege of seeing so many new members join the church, week in week out.
I have the privilege of choice, to determine what I want to do every day.

Family Service

I have had the privilege of being born of “goodly parents.”
I am grateful for the privilege of being a husband, a father, a son, a brother, and friend.
What an honour and privilege it is to be living here and now.
Privilege might feel like a difficult word to discuss, but it doesn’t have to be.
With front row seats on the world stage, in these last days, let’s not be spectators, but participants in the two great Commandments of loving and serving one another.
What a wonderful privilege.
What privileges are you grateful for?

I’m grateful

Reflecting this morning on 2023, I have an overwhelming sense of gratitude swelling in my heart.
I am thankful for so many wonderous things.
I am grateful for the gift of life.
I am grateful for my noble parents and wonderful siblings.
I am grateful for my incredible wife on our eternal quest and remarkable children entrusted to our care.
I am grateful for my extended family and friends.
I am grateful for the hundreds of missionaries that I’ve come to know and for their devotion.
I am grateful for the blessings of service.
I am grateful for the beauties of the earth.
I am grateful for the lifting power of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ, for Him, His Atonement and my testimony of those truths.
I am grateful for Preach My Gospel!

Recollections

I recall an experience from 28th and 29th June this year.
Preach My Gospel – 2nd Edition had just been published online.
Those two days of Zone Conferences, in Antwerp and Utrecht, were revelatory.
Our printers rushed through hard copies for everyone.
All the missionaries only had an online access for 4 or 5 days.
In the meetings I asked if anyone would like to come forward and share anything that they’d learned in those few days, from the new version.

One by One

One by one, by one, by one, by one, by one, by one, by one, by one, by one, by one, by one, by one, by one, by one, by one, by one, by one, by one….. they came forward unceasingly.
I wept.
Something powerful, something unique, something inspiring, something unifying happened that day to all of us, together, as we learned about the Power of Preach My Gospel – the nuts and bolts of missionary work.
Quotes from my journal entries those days “special” “great” “wonderful” “exhausting.”
We all changed.
Those were just 2 of 365 remarkable days of 2023.
Unashamedly, unabashedly, honestly – I am a man of faith.
I am grateful for all those one-by-one experiences that strengthened my faith once more.
What are you grateful for?