Transfers are here!

This week is transfer week and we have two great missionaries leaving us: Sister Lamb and Elder Merritt.

Sister Lamb, a Sister Training Leader, has completed her mission and is on her way home.

Elder Merritt is being transferred to St Lucia.

We will have two new missionaries here sometime this week… In the meantime, Sister Call is working with a local member for a couple of days until her new companion arrives.

In view of those leaving us, we held a very special District Meeting. After everyone had a chance to report on their week, Sister Lamb was given the opportunity to teach all of us some of the important things she has learned during her time serving in the West Indies. It is a tradition we have on St Martin: those leaving for home teach us what they have learned during their time serving the Lord.

Elder Cox and Elder Ashcraft share how their week went, and also gave one example of one possitive thing they have learned from their companion.

Elder Whipple and Elder Merritt discuss their week.

Elder Jones and Elder Stevens talk about their week (see Elder Jones’ smile? he never leaves home without it!)

Elder Sabin and Elder Moux discuss their week. I had the opportunity to go out teaching with them this week–it was wonderful. They are great teachers! We shared a gospel message and committed a wonderful woman to set a date to be baptized.

Sister Lamb and Sister Call give their weekly report.

Then it was Sister Lamb’s turn to teach all of us. Here are some highlights of what she shared with us:

1. Be obedient. Follow all of the rules laid out in the White Handbook every missionary carries with them. She told a story about how Pres Mehr asked all the missionaries to rate how obedient they were, on a scale of one to ten. Most thought they were about an 8. They were encouraged to find a way to get that number to 10. Be a TEN!
2. This is the Lord’s work. We need to humbly ask the Lord for His help and guidance. We want to be sure we are following His will, and not our own.
3. Go the extra mile. God often places all of the blessings at the end of the second mile, not the first!
4. Do many good things of your own free choice, rather than waiting to be commanded in all things. She quoted D&C 58:26-28:

5.  26 For behold, it is not meet that I should command in all things; for he that is compelled in all things, the same is a slothful and not a wise servant; wherefore he receiveth no reward.

    27 Verily I say, men should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness;

    28 For the power is in them, wherein they are agents unto themselves. And inasmuch as men do good they shall in nowise lose their reward.

6. Be cheerful. She read several scriptures that talk about the joy that comes from serving the Lord, and that we should be happy and cheerful while we serve. People notice us. They notice if we are happy or sad or misbehaving. As we are servants of Jesus Christ and serve as examples of the lifestyle we seek others to emulate, we should be cheerful.
7. She again emphasized the importance of finding joy in the work by reading D&C 123:17:
8. 17 Therefore, dearly beloved brethren, let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed.
9. Happiness comes from living the Gospel. If we do our part, God will do His part.
10. Member relationships. In order to move the work forward–in order to be successful– we have to enlist the help of the local members. The first step is to get to know the members in your area. The second step is to persuade the members to go out teaching with you. Once they can participate in a teaching appointment they will feel the spirit, they will understand the joy that comes when you see people’s lives change for the better, and they will be motivated to aid you in your work.
11. Last, but not least, is Gratitude. Always be thankful for the blessings you receive. Always thank the Lord for the gifts and blessings that come to you and your family.

One last group shot of the St Martin Zone!

Back row, left to right: Jones, Moux, Sabin, Whipple, Merritt, Cox, Ashcraft, Stevens

Front row (the good looking ones!): Call, Lamb, and the Clawsons

Sister Lamb and Call say goodbye at the airport

Terri and I say our last goodbyes to Sister Lamb