Sixty-fifth Week - April 19, 2015

Hello, everyone! 

This week was pretty interesting.  I was out of my area or in meetings for the majority of the week.  My week went as follows: 

Monday - Pday and FHE

Tuesday - Special Training and the start of a trade off up in Manly 

Wednesday - Trade off all day 

Thursday - I worked in my area and started a trade off in Greenwich with the District Leader there 

Friday - Trade off all day 

Saturday- District Meeting and working back in my area 

Sunday- In my area 

I have to be honest when I say that I really didn't feel like I was in my area.  Between jumping around the zone and other things, I didn't actually get to do much in my assigned area.  That being said it was still such an amazing week full of miracles. 

It was kind of a different type of special training this week.  President and Sister Howes are getting ready to leave and President and Sister Checketts are preparing to come.  As a result, this special training was a look back on their time as mission parents.  It was a time to look back on the many lessons that we have all learned.  

 

We took time to write up on the board all of the trainings that they gave, as far back as we can remember.  In addition to that, Sister Howes gave us a training on remaining active after our mission.  President Howes, while he was a Stake President, went around and found that 30% of the return missionaries in his stake, went less active on returning home.  As a Zone, we took the time to make a list of things that each of us, regardless of where we are in our lives, can do to make sure we stay on the right track.  I invite each of us to look at whether or not we are doing these things to endure to the end.

In a more spiritual sense.  Many of you know we had Stake Conference not too long ago where we were able to help Felix receive the Melchizedek Priesthood.  As I sat and looked at Felix and the many others that stood to be recognized for their advancement, I wanted more.  I pondered what we could do to make sure we had more people prepared for the next conference so that more people could receive the Priesthood.  A thought came to mind to start now and to identify and work with people to help them get the Priesthood.  I thought it was early but asked each companionship to have two people they are actively working with to help them receive the Melchizedek Priesthood for next stake conference.  Well, the other night we got a message from President Howes stating that the Quorum of the 12 Apostles have approved for a special stake conference to take place on the 24th of May. 

In preparation for that, the stake president has asked that the entire stake prepare 25 people to receive the Melchizedek Priesthood. With about a month, it is a very tight amount of time to find and to begin preparing people receive the Melchizedek Priesthood.  We were then asked to report all of the people we were working with.  Within ten minutes of getting the text message, we were able to report seven people with whom we had been working with to help them receive the Melchizedek Priesthood.  As I hung up from reporting the names, a thought popped in my mind saying, "This is why you prepared."  The Lord knew that this conference would be called and He knew what would be expected for this conference.  I am grateful for the Lord directing this work more than I can possibly understand. 

Thank you so much for the support that each of you continue to show me.  I truly do appreciate it.  I hope that each of us can continually be led by our Heavenly Father to do his will and to do his work.  I know each of us can do this no matter our capacity. 

Love,

Elder Wilde

P.S.  On a not so important note the district got to district meeting early and wrote on the board wishing me happy birthday.  The "DNFU" means (Do not forget us) and is something that Sister Howes said at special training.  "Good Good Good" is something that President Howes says all the time.