From October 3

Family!

Hows it going? This week was a short one, especially with Conference taking two days out of the few and another I was out of my area with Elder H. on exchanges, and a lot of the other time we have been planning/prepping the zone goal for october, and we actually presented it today, and it.  was.  epic!  I will start off by telling you about that, and then answer questions...

So this month we decided to go for a Halloween theme and the name is Metro Fear Factor.  The goal focuses on raising a key indicator each week, based on which one was lowest for the week before...it is their districts "fear factor", and district leaders set goals for them to reach and overcome their fear as a district.  As key indicators consistently improve, baptisms will follow.  September went well, our baptismal goal was 11 and we pulled 10, but getting missionaries to baptize monthly is our overall vision.  So, on a personal level, each missionary will come up with something that is their fear factor, or something that scares them about missionary work, it could be knocking doors, talking to everyone, inviting people to be baptized, or speaking the language, or a number of things, but they will be striving to overcome that fear as they go throughout the month.  

So monthly personal goal, and district weekly goal.  As each missionary rises to a higher plain and overcomes their fears, we will all rise to a new level and all be blessed as we progress together.  Holy cow there is a lady yelling in Spanish at this little boy and I am laughing inside jajajaja...ok sorry, easily distracted.  So its called fear factor and we have these sweet cards that say fear factor on them and they put them in their planners and move them day to day, and there is Psalms 27:1 written on there too...look it up :)  

So the name, obviously inspired by the show, is what we played on to present it.  We had everyone walk up onto the stage, and there was an eerie red light on, and a fog machine running, and everyone sat down, and we had a black light and a ton of stuff written in highlighter so it really popped and we had three scriptures chosen from the Old Testament that introduced three different challenges that three contestants from each district had to participate in.  For example there was a scripture about the power of the tongue and it translated into a Sister Missionary wheeling out a boiled cow tongue, super nastified and the three people had to eat it.  There was a scripture about bowels gushing out, and boiled cold pig intestine followed, and worms eating flesh was the third, and we had them eat these weird korean silkworm cocoon thingys...it was so cool!  

We were like the hosts and the black light and the fog and the missionaries were lovin it and cheering and egging each other on, and I am fairly confident that the excitement will carry the goal through the rest of the month.  It was so fun to plan and throw together having limited resources and lots of restrictions obviously being a missionary.  It was definitely something I will never forget.  We wheeled the tongue out on a cutting board with a big knife sticking out of it, death to the chef style and yeah...I don't know if you can tell but I am still excited about it haha.  We timed the contestants and the district that ate their stuff the fastest won.

As far as your questions?...I really loved Conference, it was great and it is really different trying to listen to it for yourself, and trying to listen for someone else too, like Oh man I hope Sister E. heard that, or I hope Brother U. is paying attention (he actually went to Utah with his in-laws to see it so we're hoping he really liked it).  I think the themes were for sure the Book of Mormon, and the scriptures in general, and how to better my teaching abilities and relationship with God. I liked the talks about prayer, and about how there is nothing too small for the Lord to answer if I just have faith...like President Monson and the guy coming in to speak that was way funny.  I really liked his talk too about how the ten commandments are still in effect, and even thouh people think religion is outdated, it is our job to be in the world not of the world.  Always weird when people refer to their missions in talks for like 20 seconds, like my mission was great and I learned a lot...as a missionary it feels like they need to really explain all that goes into it...third period art could be great and you could learn a lot, but it is hardly the same!  Just kinda funny.

 

The new training program doesnt really affecet me, except for things we need to plan because we have two trainers that are on different schedules than the rest of us.  They study in comp study for two solid hours with a strict curriculum, and it pretty much brings the mtc into the field for a little while...12 weeks :)  In the mtc now they focus primarily on teaching skills and here they focus on the doctrine of the lessons and the trainer trains during comp study on a few different subjects.  So far it is still in the pilot stages, but as far as we can see, it is going well. 

The best thing about being a zone leader is being so busy all the time and really getting to be in a position where I can think about the welfare and progression fo so many of God's servants.  The busier I am, the more I feel like I am doing for the Lord, and there comes a greater satisfaction.  For example, today was my 7th zone goal that I have had to plan and present and execute in Metro...that seems like a lot!  And every month we think of something, and we always say man what on earth will we do next month, but when we wait on the Lord, the revelation comes in the moments of need.  

I love getting to get to know so many missionaries and care for them personally and on so many levels.  It is a lot of added responsibility and a lot of extra prayer, but it is worth every minute of it.  The hardest thing is correcting people that I have grown close to.  I become friends with those in my zone, but then they make some dumb choice, and it is my responsibility to correct and guide...that means I can't be doing anything wrong because they watch our every move...talk about pressure!  Now of course there are times when we mess up, and make a dumb choice, but I guess the most important thing is the next choice I make after that.  

My investigators are doing well, Sister E. came to Conference and the Visitor's Center yesterday and loved it, and she is preparing for baptism.  My chin doesn't go down to my chest anymore haha mom I know how you feel...guess I carry stress in my shoulders too, but it is all good. I am absolutely loving my mission and have no doubt that it is the best two years for my life too :)  Love you guys so much!

 

Love,

Elder Molinaro

September Clean Apartment Awards

September Zone Leader Council

September Zone Conference

August Zone Leadership Council

Temple P Day

July Zone Leadership Council

From September 28

Hey guys!

So, this week has been a long one because today we went to the temple, but it was a really good week.  Really good.  Brother O, Sister H. and Sister R. got confirmed, and we are still working with them, making sure they are keeping all their covenants and continuing their daily reading and study.  We have gone over there so much we just feel like part of the family, but its good...in fact, now that I think about it, everyone that I have helped to baptize just feels like family.  They are just people that I love so much and get really close to, so it isn't ever oh this person is getting baptized or this person didn't read, but its more like my best friend is getting baptized, or what can I do to help my friend understand the importance of these things...change of perspective kinda.  

I don't even know what to say about what happened this past week...you guys gotta ask questions because honestly everything feels like its the same and I have no idea of what might interest you...you should have some questions from people in the family for me to answer every week!?  That would be way easier.  While it is hard to put my finger on one specific thing that has happened, I can think of a couple general things.  

Well first off, we were teaching Brother O. and Sister H. and while we were teaching them, they watched their Chihuahua get smashed by a car!  It definitely drove the spirit away, and they were all bawling and screaming, especially Sister R, it was the first pet she had ever had...there is no scripture that says that all dogs go to heaven...we didn't know what to say, so that was really tough to see the people I love so much suffering.  Also, we have new investigators coming out of the woodwork. Since last monday we have found at least 20, and all of which are starting to progress, we are just super pumped and working harder than I have ever worked in my life/mission.  And the greatest thing is that the people we are finding aren't like one here one there, but we are finding families who want to learn and we are teaching boldly and simply so they know what we expect of them and then they do it! 

October gearing up to be a sweet month, can't wait!  Well guys it has been great to chat with all of you, I love this email thing haha can't wait for Conference, please keep Sister E. in your prayers, she will be baptized any Sunday now!  Love you guys so much :)  Can you have some questions for me on Monday?  Thanks!

Love,

Elder Molinaro

From September 19

Dear Family,

I...have not been transferred, and neither has Elder H.  My eleventh transfer in the mission and still in just my second area haha I wasn't disappointed at all to tell you the truth.  I like staying in an area for a long time because then I really get to build relationships with members and investigators and you really end up internalizing the area book and keeping formers and referrals and stuff in your head...kinda cool.  It is also easy to tell when people are lying when they say oh yeah I have already talked to missionaries...then I ask how long ago and they say oh about 4 or 5 months...gotcha!  I have never seen you before in my life and I was here 4 or 5 months ago! You end up making friends with the homeless people at the different stop lights and the dumpster divers looking for recycling, especially when you see them out there and run them out a few plastic bottles.  

All in all, I am really enjoying my time in Metro, and I am glad I get to stay, but I highly doubt I will stay one more because Elder H. has one left after this, and I doubt they would flush us and pretty sure I won't stay 7...but its possible I suppose.  Only time will tell...speaking of time, where is it going!?  It is almost hockey season again!  This past week was good...actually I will say great, this past week was great.  Transfer day was crazy nuts with all the new stuff happening, but Metro officially has a new face...quite a few of them, and lets just say its gonna be interesting haha I am excited for the diversity and the comical stuff that I am positive will ensue.

We have three missionaries training brand new missionaries, and the MTC has officially changed their curriculum which affects stuff in the field, so there is a new training program called The First Twelve Weeks, and it is pretty cool/intense.  We got a crash course of it at MLT on saturday and it is in depth studying and a different schedule and pretty cool actually.  We got two new district leaders.  One its his second transfer as a DL and the other is brand spankin' new, so that will be fun to be able to help them improve and reach their potential.  

Investigators?  Sister E. is doing well, really strong desire to learn, and she wants to be baptized bad so that is a big step, but her 2 year old child is an F7 tornado and it is hard to get the spirit there for any extended period of time when we teach her...any ideas moms, grandmas and future moms?  Please?  haha he is a great test of patience, but she is doing really good.  Brother U. is starting to show more interest, still stuck between wanting to be a kid and realizing he has a wife and a kid now and he can't have both.  We have received a few really good referrals this past week too that show a lot of promise and I am so excited to be able to work with them.  

And...Brother O, Sister H, and Sister R. got baptized yesterday!!!!!  Yeah baby!  We were so thrilled!  Their baptismal service was right after Stake Conference, and the service went so well, went off without a hitch which is rare.  We invited a ton of people, and the ward gave good support, and the Young Women came together to sing a special musical number and really invite Rosa to do stuff, and the spirit was strong, and it was so good...so good...can't even really put it into words, but it was terrific, and I was/am so happy!  Thanks for all your prayers and fasting, etc, every little bit has helped and they are strong in the gospel and looking forward to learning more.  Hopefully the pictures I attach go through ok.  

What else happened this week?  Two more things.  After mail pick up at the temple, we are standing by our cars, waiting for some missionaries to come outside and this white Ford Explorer pulls up and we hear, "hi Elders," look over, and there is David...David Archuleta.  Turns out he was in LA for some meetings and was doing baptisms at the temple and he thought he would come and say hi and give us some referrals for friends he has in San Pedro...great guy, Sara I approve haha!  

Oh yeah haha last saturday we walked into our apartment complex to find a ton of people practicing dances and planning something.  One of our formers was there and told us about the quinceanera coming up for one of our neighbors...which ended up happening on Saturday night...or should I say Sunday morning?  Needless to say, we had a live mariachi band outside our window blaring on tubas and trumpets until 4 in the morning.  There were balloons, food, presents, and beer...so much beer, and probably about 200 people there to consume it all.  Lets just say it wasn't the best nights sleep of my mission with a live band, dancing, and 200 of my closest drunk latin friends.  What a combination, I can't wait to show you all videos of it haha it was pretty epic.  

Well guys thats pretty much the haps for this past week.  I am absolutely loving my mission and learning something new every single day.  I love the struggle of doing hard things, watching myself and testimonies grow, figuring things out, working with zone members, and most of all I love my Savior Jesus Christ and I have gotten to know him so well over the last little while.  Love you guys a ton and I pray for ya every day.  Peace be the Journey :)

Love,

Elder Molinaro

Elder H, Sister R, Sister H, Brother O and Elder Molinaro at their babtism