Vancouver Mission Star

This message was written by President and Sister Middleton.  It also appears in the Vancouver Star, the weekly newsletter of the Vancouver Mission.  It is sent to each companionship throughout the mission.

Canada Vancouver Mission Newsletter                                                                                                                March 4, 2008

Elder Dennis B. Neuenschwander to Tour the Mission

                We are excited to welcome Elder Dennis B. Neuenschwander, a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy, to British Columbia.  He will tour our mission from March 9 – 14, 2008, with a Zone Conference at the Vancouver stake center on Monday, March 10; at the Kelowna Chapel on Tuesday, March 11; at the Prince George stake center on Wednesday, March 12; and at the Victoria stake center on Thursday, March 13.  All missionaries should be in the chapel by 7:40 a.m., sitting next to their companion and with their zone.  Additionally, a fireside will be held in the Victoria stake center at 7 p.m. on Thursday, March 13, for all ward and branch members and investigators, featuring Elder Dennis B. Neuenschwander.  We are thrilled to welcome him to beautiful British Columbia!

Proselyting Through Ping Pong, by Elders Spencer Mun, (with Elders Choi and Huh)   

                “The Coquitlam Ward Mission Leader, Brother David Zuskind, is amazing!  We had a talk about how to get everyone involved in missionary work without forcing people to do it.  As we mentioned the Korean sports night, and how the Koreans love ping pong, brother Zuskind suggested with great enthusiasm that we organize a huge ping pong tournament, with a missionary theme of course.  It will have both a men’s and women’s bracket and will be organized by age and skill level.  All participants will receive a free 5x7 ‘Action Photo.’  Brother Zuskind also is thinking that if this goes well, then maybe we can do one at a stake level.”

Merritt Branch Members Are Finding Investigators; Tracting works, by Elders James Brown (and Tyler Mather)

                “It has been another epic week here in Merritt.  Elder Mather and I found 3 more new investigators this week to add to our already growing and ever increasing teaching pool!  It’s been great!  Two are from the results of tracting around town in the past week.  They seem genuine in their interest and excited about the Book of Mormon.  The other investigator we have picked up this week, Connie, is a referral from a member here in Merritt.  We are eager to get the member involved with the teaching process.  Her testimony of the gospel will greatly magnify the Spirit during our lessons and help Connie in the conversion process.

                “This week I was asked to speak in Sacrament Meeting.  I spoke on my mission so far and how it has changed me.  Near the end of my talk I was able to gently plead with the members and tell them that the full-time missionaries cannot do the work alone effectively without help from the members.  There seemed to be a positive response.  After my talk, President Robert Jensen also urged the congregation to assist in the work by helping us in whatever way they can.”

Exchanges with Young Men and Adults is a Great Tool, by Elders Youngho Hea (and Kelby Godfrey)

                “The work in Nanaimo is going really well!  Last Sunday, Bishop Russell, in Nanaimo Ward, set apart all the ward missionaries, and we had an orientation on the youth exchange program with the youth and the Ward Mission Leader, Leigh Sheppard.  We explained how an exchange program between missionaries and members works, and discussed the great amount of potential that this program has.  After the orientation, all the young men were very excited, and one of them asked us if we can find him a youth-version of the White Handbook of missionary rules based upon the original one that full-time missionaries read.

                “The beauty of this program is that it increases the effectiveness of the work through regular exchanges.  We have already set up four exchanges for this weekend, and we are also going on exchanges with other adult members of the ward.  For example, we went on exchanges twice today with members in both Nanaimo and Mt Benson Wards.  Through this we are now able to fill each day with appointments and personal finding effectively.  There is no downtime for us now, and both my companion and I are getting more and more excited to work in this area!”

Hard Work Leads to Baptisms, by Elder Jungjune Huh (and Elders Spencer Mun and Woong Hyun Choi)

                “This week we had a baptism!  It was on Sunday night and was the climax of this transfer.  The Spirit was so strong and I think it was the biggest baptism attendance I’ve ever seen.  Eric, our investigator, was very happy and so were we. 

                “We had a good week!  I talked to a record 50 people in one day and it just felt so good to bear my testimony of this great Gospel of Jesus Christ.”

                With eager anticipation we look forward to the mission tour of Elder Neuenschwander next week.  It will be a week of inspiration and uplift.  We love each of you.

President and Sister Middleton

(Check off weekly whether you have achieved each of the eight goals below.)

q Ask for a referral name in every conversation with a member or non-member alike… “Will you bring an acquaintance on a Spiritual Tour?”

q Challenge members to Set-A-Date for a Spiritual Tour or a Church event which can be coupled with a Spiritual Tour  with their non-member friend at least 3 times yearly.

q Our goal is to find at least one new investigator daily. 

q       Our goal is to teach 15 or more full lessons weekly…

q       …with at least 3 Spiritual Tours weekly.

q Extend at least one baptismal invitation and commitment each week.

q Remember our mission goal:  10 Gospel contacts per day per missionary outside our usual finding and teaching duties.  That includes a Gospel message to everyone you see.

q As weekly goals are set for each Key Indicator, pray for inspiration, and set goals that are lofty yet achievable.  Our ultimate long-term goal is for at least 3 baptisms per companionship per transfer.  

“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.  Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord.” -- 2 Timothy 1:7,8

The Coveted “Off the Hook” Award:

(Week-ending March 2, 2008)

In Recognition of the following:

 

Baptisms Year to Date

Abbotsford (7 Baptisms)

Honorable Mention: Vernon (6 Baptisms)

 

Baptisms this Week:

Abbotsford (1 Baptism )

 

Investigators with a Baptismal Date:

Abbotsford  (6 with Baptismal Dates)

 

Investigators Attending Sacrament Meeting:

Surrey Language (25 Investigators at Sacrament Meeting)

Honorable Mention:  Abbotsford (17), Van. Lang. (16), Victoria (17)

 

Lessons with a Member Present:

  Abbotsford Zone and Prince George (19 Lessons with a Member Present)

Honorable Mention: Nanaimo (16 Lessons with a Member Present)

 

Other Lessons Taught

Vancouver (268)

 

Contacts

Vancouver (31.7 contacts per day)

Honorable Mention:  Kelowna (22.1 Contacts/day) and Victoria (21.8 contacts/day)

 

Progressing Investigators:

Surrey Language Zone (23 Progressing Investigators)

 

New Investigators:

Surrey  (11 New Investigators)

Honorable Mention:  Surrey Language (10 new Investigators)

 

Full Lessons:

Kelowna (17 Average per companionship)

 

COMPANIONSHIPS:

Elders Peck and Cheng:  1 at Sacrament, 6 member present, 112 other, 483 contacts, 24 full, 23 to non-members

 

Elders Bowles and Smith:  3 with baptismal date, 12 at Sacrament, 4 member present, 22 other, 8 progressing, 1 new, 129 contacts, 18 full, 17 to non members

 

Elders Godfrey and Hea:  5 member present, 41 other, 4 new, 143 contacts, 21 full

 

Elders Magnusson and Taylor:  1 at Sacrament, 1 member present, 30 other, 1 progressing, 1 new, 292 contacts

 

Elders Mun, Kim and Huh:  9 at Sacrament, 4 member present, 51 other, 9 progressing, 4 new, 158 contacts, 19 full

 

Elders Binks and Seebeck:  50 other, 2 progressing, 3 new, 90 contacts

 

Elders Hunsaker and Terry:  1 with baptismal date, 2 at Sacrament, 6 member present, 112 contacts, 16 full

 

Elders Earnest and Knapp:  1 with baptismal date, 1 at Sacrament, 3 member present, 98 other, 353 contacts, 15 full

 

Elders Shibayama and Fullmer:  1 with baptismal date, 8 at Sacrament, 2 member present, 24 other, 3 progressing, 247 contacts

 

Honorable Mention:

 

Elders Johnson and Barker:  7 at Sacrament, 8 member present, 10 progressing, 153 contacts, 19 full, 11 to non-members

 

Elders Carlisle and McDowell:  191 contacts 

 

Elders Heaton and Anderson:  1 with baptismal date, 4 at Sacrament, 7 member present, 4 progressing, 137 contacts, 15 full, 8 to non-members

 

Elders Mousseau and Douglas:  1 with baptismal date, 4 at Sacrament, 3 progressing

 

Elders Brown and Mather:  1 with baptismal date, 1 at Sacrament, 33 other, 2 progressing

 

Sisters Caribou and Dye:  1 with baptismal date, 1 at Sacrament, 1 member present, 2 progressing, 104 contacts, 21 full

 

Sisters Dalling and Lee: 3 at Sacrament, 4 member present, 3 progressing, 16 full, 8 to non-members  

 

Elders Marianno and Hassell:  4 at Sacrament, 7 member present, 4 progressing

 

Elders Curtis and Wilson:  20 other, 21 Full

 

Elders Heinzen and Roberts:  9 at Sacrament, 3 member present, 31 other, 5 progressing, 171 contacts

 

Elders Cornwell and Green, 2 at Sacrament, 16 other, 4 progressing, 300 contacts

 

Elders Nebeker and White:  5 at Sacrament, 3 member present, 22 other, 5 progressing, 5 new, 172 contacts

 

Sisters D’Amours and Anderson:  1 at Sacrament, 4 member present, 39 other, 109 contacts, 16 full, 11 to non-members

 

Elders Klekas and K. Taylor:  3 with baptismal date, 6 at Sacrament, 55 other, 5 progressing, 385 contacts, 16 full, 13 to non-members

 

Sisters Overlock and van den Bosch:  4 at Sacrament, 4 member present, 3 new,

 

Elders Martinez and Shaw:  1 at Sacrament, 36 other, 6 progressing, 111 contacts

 

Elders Saito and Leavitt:  51 other, 3 new, 250 contacts, 15 full, 12 to non-members

Congratulations on your accomplishments this week!

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