Change

On my mission, I have really learned to love change. Love it in the fact that I can embrace and go forward with it even when it can be difficult at first. This week there have been lots of changes to missionary work including scheduling, and on what numbers we report to church headquarters. We had a training this week as we looked at the broadcast of the new changes. We talked about a lot of different things. President gave a training about mission culture, and how in the year 2017 we can improve! It was wonderful. Then he laid out plans to strengthen several areas of the mission in preparation for a new stake of Zion in the Brno area. We have one (Prague), so now we build for two :)  It is a little ways a way, but with time, faith, and hard work, it will come! We trained on making adjustments to standards and how standards in a mission can help us accomplish our goal of 100 baptisms. Then we trained on media referrals; referrals given from church headquarters, how to use drop box with the improvements we have made for access for missionaries, and on our presentation to encourage senior missionaries to come to the mission. And a lot of this work will continue next week. However, we will also have some time in Liberec this week on an exchange which will be some good time out of the office :) 

Michal is doing well! We had a lesson this week on real intent, and the purpose in keeping commitments, now that he has had experiences in feeling the Holy Ghost and knowing how it works, his ability and desire to keep commitments has increased. We are excited for him. We hope and believe that he could be baptized by the end of this transfer! We now also have several other potential investigators that we hope will meet with us in the coming week! :)

Here is a scripture for this week a little bit about change: 

2 Nephi 2:6  Wherefore, redemption cometh in and through the Holy Messiah; for he is full of grace and truth. 7 Behold, he offereth himself a sacrifice for sin, to answer the ends of the law, unto all those who have a broken heart and a contrite spirit; and unto none else can the ends of the law be answered.

Ultimately, the most important change that comes into our lives is through our repentance and coming unto our Savior Jesus Christ. Coming unto the Lord with a broken heart (feeling godly remorse), and a contrite spirit (a spirit with a willingness to change) is a process that brings lasting joy and eternal happiness through Christ who makes it all possible. I know that Christs’ sacrifice fulfills both of the eternal laws of justice and mercy to allow us to live in our Heavenly Father's kingdom. I know that I have felt his love, and that his love conquers any of the momentary happiness that we may feel we receive from Satan here on earth. God lives. Jesus is the Christ.

Have a great week! :)

Elder Belshe