Hey Family!!
So today is the 4th, and I am emailing from an internet cafe by our apartment and it feels nothing like the fourth haha. For example...the music is supera ranchera/mexican rap...then the song Duke of Earl came on and I thought of Dad singing it, but then it turned into a weird ranchera rap duke of earl remix english spanish CRAZY! haha and quite entertaining if I do say so myself.
Lately here its been pretty hot-mid 90s during the day and mid 70s at night, but the heat isn't a bad thing, summer finally came here I suppose. So our zone didn't change too much with the new boundaries, actually didn't change at all boundary wise, but I'm sure next transfer we will get a little scrambled, just trying to keep it interesting I guess. Of course we got some new missionaries in the zone, but areas stayed the same.
Our District leaders are stacked this transfer which makes it easier to sleep at night quite honestly. When the district leaders know what they are doing everything runs smoothly, but when they are struggling, we feel it on our shoulders for sure. Our Zone goal for July is SWEET!! If I do say so myself. It is called Battle: L.A. Taking the name from the movie, but focused on one baptism per companionship in the month through doing a few different things. We split the zone into battalions -districts- and talked about how we are fighting the same fight that satan started in the councils in heaven and that we are given charge over this area of the battle...L.A.
The idea is to use our different weapons-the commandments, because that is what kills satan so to speak as people change and repent by living the commandments, they leave their old selves behind and join the ranks of our side-the side of Christ, the side of Righteousness. So, to use our weapons we are teaching the commandments with the other lessons, or as we go through the restoration plan of salvation, and gospel of jesus christ because they are all connected, and we have found that missionaries generally save teaching the commandments for last, after the first three lessons. This does not give them enough time to truly change and gain a testimony through experience.
Also, teaching the commandments up front as we go helps us find out who is elect and ready to hear the gospel and who is not. Rather than teaching someone for 3-4 weeks and then finding out they need to be married, or they are addicted to tobacco, we can find out and work with them early on and if they are ready to change, perfect, we can work with them on that as we teach the doctrine, but if they refuse, then they are not elect and we haven't wasted 4 weeks teaching someone who will not change.
So those are our weapons, mission objective is baptism, and the target is the elect investigators. When we presented it in District Meeting on Friday, we called the whole Zone together and did it in front of everyone and made it all intense with stuff written on the board and a sheet over it and we ripped the sheet off and there was the goal, it was pretty epic I must say. Each district made a banner that represents them and their assigned area of duty, and we used some sweet scriptures from D&C about satan waging war against the church of the Lamb, and Michael the archangel leading his army against the adversary. It got the blood pumping for sure. To keep it going all month, we will all be reading Alma 43 through Helaman 3 -the war chapters to learn how this battle was fought anciently.
Also, the month will include two debriefs or interviews with the district leaders to see how the weapons are being used and such, I'm really excited about Battle: L.A. And the coolest part is the picture/symbol of it. Its the picture Ashley made of Christ looking over LA-not the painted one but the other one and we edited it into sepia tones and typed Battle LA in the top right in the sky...it looks SICK!! We printed it out and made it so it can be put in everyone's planners day to day so they see it and remember. I am excited to present it at ZLC on Tuesday.
Elder K's release date is the end of this transfer so August 3rd, and we are looking hard for new seekers, investigators, but it seems like none of them will come to church! Pretty frustrating Sundays, but we kind of forecasted some weeding and disappointment while focusing on the elect. This week consisted of a lot of planning for zone goal and presentations, and such and the only real highlight was friday night when president came out on exchanges with us for 5 hours. We set two baptismal dates and found some new investigators, and we were able to use the teaching model pretty well, and I just love President Baker, and the opportunity I have to work with him so closely.
He is a great teacher and inspiration and helps me to be better. It was cool walking the streets of the ghetto with him too, kind of felt like we were with King Benjamin who labored among his people and at the same time I felt like Harry Potter going to work with Dumbledore haha I think that just came to my head because there are so many Harry Potter billboards/bus ads here, its nuts but I'm sure you're getting that in New York too. President said that the church is spending a lot of money advertising these days and that their "I'm a Mormon" ads have already started in NYC so keep an eye out.
Spoiler Alert!! The other day some Elders tracting in hollywood tracted into the producer of a new movie coming out called Mormon: Rise of a General and its about...well Mormon of course, but they are using the Book of Mormon as the story line and the producers are non members but evidently the screenplay and stuff is being reviewed by Elder D. Todd Christofferson to make sure it is accurate and not anti-Mormon stuff. You guys see any of that stuff for that stupid play about us?? I have only heard about it, wondering how big it really is up there.
As far as how I am doing?? I'm doing thats for sure haha...pretty good I guess, a week like this week was kind of expected after so much success last week, just part of the roller coaster they call the mission. I am loving being in the service of the Lord, and watching myself grow. For example Sunday I confirmed Hermana C. in Sacrament meeting and I wasn't nervous at all. Missionary moments started out being a stressful experience with worries about filling time and what to say, but we did another one yesterday and now I don't even get nervous, I just stand up there and talk, and it is an awesome feeling to know that a year ago I couldn't have done that in the same way.
Or yesterday we tracted into this guy who was fairly verbally agressive and just wanted to bash doctrine but we kept our cool, confused him with his own words as he contradicted himself, gave him a card, bore testimony he couldn't argue with and headed on our way haha pretty awesome to trust in the promise that we will not be confounded before men.
Well guys, I am so grateful to live in this wonderful country, the only country that the restoration of the priesthood and gospel could have possibly happened in. Even though we're on opposite sides of the USA, I remember all the fun times we have had watching fireworks at the property, Disneyworld, downtown Atlanta, Philly, the lake in Fairfield, and so much more. I love you guys so much. Happy fourth of July. Eat a hotdog for me and give some ooos aahhhhs and eees. Peace be the Journey :)
Love,
Elder Molinaro
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