My sweet family how are you?
Thanks for the love and support and especially all of the prayers! I really appreciate it and know that it strengthens me. This week has been very similar to other weeks have been, here in Scotch Plains.
There are so many people who are struggling. It's frustrating that we haven't been to ward council or PEC since I've been here. There is a lack of communication between us and the ward leaders which is a direct result of not being invited to those meetings. We have valuable info that they need and are ready to take assignments which can't be given. If we don't attend ward council, the many recent converts and others who are struggling will go un-helped. No new member lessons are being taught either. What else is new as a missionary?
This past week we have talked with several people who are considering turning away from the church and turning away from God as a result of not properly handling trials. Trials come regardless of how you handle them. You may as well choose to turn to God and earn Eternal Life in the process. Try telling that to someone who is struggling, and all of a sudden a concept that is so simple that anyone with a particle of a brain-cell could comprehend becomes difficult to understand. That's not the attitude I have when helping people, but sometimes I can't help thinking that on the car ride home. In all seriousness it really has been such an eye-opener. My companion and I often reflect on this transfer (which will end after this week) and we are mind boggled. There have been so many people who have needed help desperately, and we of course have been the one's they have turned too. This happens everywhere you go to some degree, but it's been unreal here. I have never spent so much time on my knees praying with everything I have for so many people. There have been many disappointments and it takes a lot of effort not to get discouraged.
Last night we talked with a recent convert who has one of the saddest stories I've ever heard, concerning her experience after baptism. She has one of the most dysfunctional families I've ever seen. Her family and friends don't only disprove of her choice to join the church, but actually hate her. She does everything for them and never does anything for herself. All she gets in return are disgusting comments and rude remarks. So many people have abandoned her. She barely finds the strength to make it through the day let alone find happiness. What do you say to someone like that? There isn't much you can. We are there for her, however, and I think that counts for something. She has always handled this very well until the day I arrived here when she found out that her boyfriend (who is serving a mission) fell for an investigator and wrote her off (so despicable). She really is an amazing person, but because of experiences she's had and because of poisonous words uttered by her family members each and every day, she believes that she is incapable of being loved. It breaks my heart. This is one of the many people we are working with right now.
This transfer has been so different. We have focused almost all of our efforts on helping recent converts and less-actives, instead of finding and baptizing. I don't mind though. What's the point in baptizing if there is no retention? In a perfect world the members would reach out and help them. I'm not saying that they don't, but I know that someone could make that extra effort and change or even save a life. Other than that things are going very well. My companion and I are getting along very well and we have a blast. We have to work very hard to keep our spirits up with all the chaos around us, but we manage. Oh by the way, Tom who was going to be baptized this next Sunday will not be baptized as soon as we thought. I know that it will happen eventually so I'm not to disappointed in the set-back.
Love Ya Lots!
Elder Tilley
Monday, February 21, 2011
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
The Gospel is the Best
Happy Valentines Day!
As far as getting things done, this has been the best week of my mission. From a numbers standpoint we had amazing success! We worked hard, got the members involved in just about everything we did, and we were blessed in so many ways by the Lord. We have so many people that we are teaching, that it is very difficult to get to them all. We try to prioritize, but it always feels like we let someone down, or that someone slipped through the cracks. This ward is also pretty needy. I think I've given more blessings and rendered more service in the past four weeks here, than I have in my entire mission if not my entire life. It's pretty nice to always have something to do. Never do I feel that I'm not working to my full capacity. There is no issue of working hard, I just evaluate the day and decide if I worked as smart as I could have.
I don't think I've mentioned this, but we have been teaching a man named Tom and a woman named Laurie. Tom has been taught for quite a while, but we started teaching Laurie the second day I got here. They both live right next to each other and both know a member who also lives right next to them (Sis Hernandez) and so we teach them both at her house. They are all really close and are always together, so they are able to strengthen each other and help each other out with the homework assignments we give them. Anyway, they both have accepted invitations to be baptized, and should both be baptized on the 27th. Hurray! They have both changed so much. I love being over at that house. We teach a lot of people there, and there are always members who are there hanging out who will help us teach. The Gospel is the best!
This Sunday we found out that it is David A. Bednar who is coming to speak to us. I'm so excited! I know that it will be a huge blessing and benefit to both the people of New Jersey, as well as it's full time missionaries. I really can't tell you how much I love this mission. All the time we are reminded of how our mission is bucking the trend of the East Coast. The work in most of the missions out here is slow and has been getting slower. Our mission has made enormous improvement from year to year since President Bahr has been the mission president. I can't remember the exact statistics off the top of my head, but the baptisms here per year have increased from like150 to 300, to 400. Our goal for this year as a mission is 500 baptisms. In the first month of this year, we set a record for most baptisms in a month for this mission. The previous record was 45 and we had 58! It's an exciting time to be here and especially to be a zone leader and have a direct impact on the planning and carrying out of our goals. I really have learned so much on how to be successful as a missionary, which directly translates to success in life. I will forever be grateful and in even more debt to the Lord, for the opportunity I have to serve as a missionary. I can't even come close to describing the life-changing, no eternity changing effect it can have on you as a child of God, if you will but give yourself completely to the Lord's work and serve him with all your heart, might, mind and strength. "He will create of you more than you will ever, ever in all eternity create of yourself. You will create of yourself a smudge, he will create of you a masterpiece..." (I forgot who said that). It's so amazing that when you not only forget yourself, but lose yourself in helping others, that you actually find yourself and end up gaining more than you ever could by focusing on what you need. We are a church of service. I think many of us forget that. It's sad to see members who "can't" magnify their calling because they're "too busy". I wish everyone truly believed that their church calling was just as important, and in my opinion much more important, than their profession, or hobbies. Oh well, one day they will learn. It may not be in this life, but when they stand before God and give an accounting of their life, they will learn. I love serving the Lord. I pray that we all will find a greater desire to do so, and they we will re-prioritize our lives. What's really important in life? What's really important in the Eternities? I love you all and hope you continue to find peace and happiness through the Great and Everlasting Gospel.
Love, Elder Tilley
As far as getting things done, this has been the best week of my mission. From a numbers standpoint we had amazing success! We worked hard, got the members involved in just about everything we did, and we were blessed in so many ways by the Lord. We have so many people that we are teaching, that it is very difficult to get to them all. We try to prioritize, but it always feels like we let someone down, or that someone slipped through the cracks. This ward is also pretty needy. I think I've given more blessings and rendered more service in the past four weeks here, than I have in my entire mission if not my entire life. It's pretty nice to always have something to do. Never do I feel that I'm not working to my full capacity. There is no issue of working hard, I just evaluate the day and decide if I worked as smart as I could have.
I don't think I've mentioned this, but we have been teaching a man named Tom and a woman named Laurie. Tom has been taught for quite a while, but we started teaching Laurie the second day I got here. They both live right next to each other and both know a member who also lives right next to them (Sis Hernandez) and so we teach them both at her house. They are all really close and are always together, so they are able to strengthen each other and help each other out with the homework assignments we give them. Anyway, they both have accepted invitations to be baptized, and should both be baptized on the 27th. Hurray! They have both changed so much. I love being over at that house. We teach a lot of people there, and there are always members who are there hanging out who will help us teach. The Gospel is the best!
This Sunday we found out that it is David A. Bednar who is coming to speak to us. I'm so excited! I know that it will be a huge blessing and benefit to both the people of New Jersey, as well as it's full time missionaries. I really can't tell you how much I love this mission. All the time we are reminded of how our mission is bucking the trend of the East Coast. The work in most of the missions out here is slow and has been getting slower. Our mission has made enormous improvement from year to year since President Bahr has been the mission president. I can't remember the exact statistics off the top of my head, but the baptisms here per year have increased from like150 to 300, to 400. Our goal for this year as a mission is 500 baptisms. In the first month of this year, we set a record for most baptisms in a month for this mission. The previous record was 45 and we had 58! It's an exciting time to be here and especially to be a zone leader and have a direct impact on the planning and carrying out of our goals. I really have learned so much on how to be successful as a missionary, which directly translates to success in life. I will forever be grateful and in even more debt to the Lord, for the opportunity I have to serve as a missionary. I can't even come close to describing the life-changing, no eternity changing effect it can have on you as a child of God, if you will but give yourself completely to the Lord's work and serve him with all your heart, might, mind and strength. "He will create of you more than you will ever, ever in all eternity create of yourself. You will create of yourself a smudge, he will create of you a masterpiece..." (I forgot who said that). It's so amazing that when you not only forget yourself, but lose yourself in helping others, that you actually find yourself and end up gaining more than you ever could by focusing on what you need. We are a church of service. I think many of us forget that. It's sad to see members who "can't" magnify their calling because they're "too busy". I wish everyone truly believed that their church calling was just as important, and in my opinion much more important, than their profession, or hobbies. Oh well, one day they will learn. It may not be in this life, but when they stand before God and give an accounting of their life, they will learn. I love serving the Lord. I pray that we all will find a greater desire to do so, and they we will re-prioritize our lives. What's really important in life? What's really important in the Eternities? I love you all and hope you continue to find peace and happiness through the Great and Everlasting Gospel.
Love, Elder Tilley
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
I Love My Mission
How art thou my family?
This week was a great one as we were blessed by a servant of the Lord who taught and inspired us. Elder Paul V. Johnson of the Seventy visited our mission and it was great to hear from him. He taught a lot about faith, and what we could do to strengthen it. I really enjoyed learning things I can do to improve as a missionary. At the end of the meeting my companion and I were one of four companionship's to be interviewed by Elder Johnson. It was a neat experience to be able to talk and interact closely with such an experienced person. It was a privilege. I'm still really excited for the end of the month when we will have another two surprise general authorities visit us! We're extremely lucky.
This month we have focused on faith as well as all Christ-like attributes as a mission. It's been something that I really needed. So much has been going on and there have been so many responsibilities to take care of, that in a way I have lost myself. I've spent so much of my energy and efforts helping others, that I've forgotten to take care of myself. Both my companion and I have felt the same way. Everything is "business". We've really taken a step back and are helping each other remember that we are sharing the Everlasting Gospel and changing lives.
We need to develop greater charity and love. It's especially important as we continue to experience more and more drama. I didn't think it could get any worse than it was. Without going into much detail, one of our newly acquired, recent converts from the other missionaries area did something to another recent convert that has landed him in jail and will probably lead to excommunication. It's been one of the greatest eye openers in my life watching the consequences of those missionaries decision. So many terrible things have happened to people they taught or influenced since they left.
I don't mean to give an excuse to those who poorly used their agency, but I can't help but think that if they were there during the last couple of weeks, certain things would have been prevented or ended up differently. The impact those two could have had, as they were lead and guided by the spirit, could have changed many things. Instead, there area has been left (for the most part) neglected and abandoned.
We have stewardship over it now, but it has taken all of our remaining time in the past week, just to learn who people are. So many of their investigators are disappointed and even furious that the missionaries didn't say goodbye. They feel like the missionaries didn't even care about them, which makes everything they taught invalid to them. It has been quite a mess to clean up. On top of that, we found out that one of our members has a crush on my companion. She wrote him a love letter of sorts.... It was actually pretty funny. I'm not too worried about it, but I will be keeping a close eye on things. This same thing has happened to either my companion or I in every area I've been in, and from what I've seen so far as a missionary, it's pretty unavoidable. Luckily I have complete trust in my companion. There is just too much to think about and do.
I've learned a lot about life in these few short weeks as a zone leader. The use of ones agency has so much effect on others around them. I've seen those who use their influence for good and those who use it for evil, I just wish that more would do the latter.
To answer your question mom, both my companion and I are zone leaders. There are 9 zones (each of which has about 20 missionaries) so there are a total of 18 zone leaders. The area I am in now is a lot like Ledgewood, my first area. The ward is not quite as big, there are usually about 120-140 who attend sacrament each week. I am really enjoying my time here. In our ward there is a young man (I think he's 22?), who is a recent convert that I really love. He was just made a ward missionary and has been so enthusiastic in sharing the Gospel! He was baptized the transfer before I got here, and has been inviting his parents and his brother to church. He also talked to his girlfriend about the gospel, and she wants to meet with us. This Sunday he told me that he was fasting for spiritual guidance, and he decided that he is going to serve a mission. I'm so excited for him! Our ward Mission Leader's son just came home from BYU because he is leaving for his mission to Cote D'Ivoire in a few weeks also. It's such a privilege to take those two out and help them understand what a mission will be like. I love It!
This Mission is so incredible. I love my mission president and his wife so much. I know that I was fore-ordained to serve here and no where else. I am so grateful that I decided to serve a mission. When I think of the people I have met whose lives Heavenly Father has been able to touch through me I feel such an amazing joy. I feel bad for those who chose not to serve. Both they and the people they would have touched miss out on so much. I love the work of the Lord, and will always be a part of it. I love you all so very much.
Love Elder Tilley
This week was a great one as we were blessed by a servant of the Lord who taught and inspired us. Elder Paul V. Johnson of the Seventy visited our mission and it was great to hear from him. He taught a lot about faith, and what we could do to strengthen it. I really enjoyed learning things I can do to improve as a missionary. At the end of the meeting my companion and I were one of four companionship's to be interviewed by Elder Johnson. It was a neat experience to be able to talk and interact closely with such an experienced person. It was a privilege. I'm still really excited for the end of the month when we will have another two surprise general authorities visit us! We're extremely lucky.
This month we have focused on faith as well as all Christ-like attributes as a mission. It's been something that I really needed. So much has been going on and there have been so many responsibilities to take care of, that in a way I have lost myself. I've spent so much of my energy and efforts helping others, that I've forgotten to take care of myself. Both my companion and I have felt the same way. Everything is "business". We've really taken a step back and are helping each other remember that we are sharing the Everlasting Gospel and changing lives.
We need to develop greater charity and love. It's especially important as we continue to experience more and more drama. I didn't think it could get any worse than it was. Without going into much detail, one of our newly acquired, recent converts from the other missionaries area did something to another recent convert that has landed him in jail and will probably lead to excommunication. It's been one of the greatest eye openers in my life watching the consequences of those missionaries decision. So many terrible things have happened to people they taught or influenced since they left.
I don't mean to give an excuse to those who poorly used their agency, but I can't help but think that if they were there during the last couple of weeks, certain things would have been prevented or ended up differently. The impact those two could have had, as they were lead and guided by the spirit, could have changed many things. Instead, there area has been left (for the most part) neglected and abandoned.
We have stewardship over it now, but it has taken all of our remaining time in the past week, just to learn who people are. So many of their investigators are disappointed and even furious that the missionaries didn't say goodbye. They feel like the missionaries didn't even care about them, which makes everything they taught invalid to them. It has been quite a mess to clean up. On top of that, we found out that one of our members has a crush on my companion. She wrote him a love letter of sorts.... It was actually pretty funny. I'm not too worried about it, but I will be keeping a close eye on things. This same thing has happened to either my companion or I in every area I've been in, and from what I've seen so far as a missionary, it's pretty unavoidable. Luckily I have complete trust in my companion. There is just too much to think about and do.
I've learned a lot about life in these few short weeks as a zone leader. The use of ones agency has so much effect on others around them. I've seen those who use their influence for good and those who use it for evil, I just wish that more would do the latter.
To answer your question mom, both my companion and I are zone leaders. There are 9 zones (each of which has about 20 missionaries) so there are a total of 18 zone leaders. The area I am in now is a lot like Ledgewood, my first area. The ward is not quite as big, there are usually about 120-140 who attend sacrament each week. I am really enjoying my time here. In our ward there is a young man (I think he's 22?), who is a recent convert that I really love. He was just made a ward missionary and has been so enthusiastic in sharing the Gospel! He was baptized the transfer before I got here, and has been inviting his parents and his brother to church. He also talked to his girlfriend about the gospel, and she wants to meet with us. This Sunday he told me that he was fasting for spiritual guidance, and he decided that he is going to serve a mission. I'm so excited for him! Our ward Mission Leader's son just came home from BYU because he is leaving for his mission to Cote D'Ivoire in a few weeks also. It's such a privilege to take those two out and help them understand what a mission will be like. I love It!
This Mission is so incredible. I love my mission president and his wife so much. I know that I was fore-ordained to serve here and no where else. I am so grateful that I decided to serve a mission. When I think of the people I have met whose lives Heavenly Father has been able to touch through me I feel such an amazing joy. I feel bad for those who chose not to serve. Both they and the people they would have touched miss out on so much. I love the work of the Lord, and will always be a part of it. I love you all so very much.
Love Elder Tilley
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Interviewed by an Apostle?
Hey family,
This has been the busiest most stressful week of my life! I didn't even have time to stop and think. Since one of the Missionaries who had problems was in our zone, we had to deal with all the garbage and other consequences. One of them was in our ward, so they closed that area and now we are over the whole ward. We also had to tell the members in our ward and in our zone what happened. So we've been trying our hardest to get to know their area in a matter of days and take over for them. We also had to go to their apartment and clean it out. Lots of stress.
We also had zone leader council this week because it's the end of the month. On top of that we have had to come up with and set new goals for our zone this month and train the district leaders on what we learned in ZL council. We also had to prepare for zone meeting which is held once a month. Oh yeah, and I had to prepare a talk for sacrament meeting. They also are allowing us to get DVD players and TVs in our apartments to watch the District DVDs, so we had to make sure our zone members got enough TVs and DVD players from the members. The other set of Missionaries had a baptism planned for this weekend, so we had to plan that last second and explain why one of them wouldn't be there. We had to do all of these things plus other zone leader duties, all while trying to do missionary work. It's been crazy! There are still a lot of extra things we have to finish up doing, but this week should be a lot better. Last night I took a deep breath, sat on the couch, and just relaxed. It felt so good.
Life is good other than having 0 time to do anything for myself. It stinks having extra responsibility, but it is pretty cool to be in the loop on everything. My apartment is so nice. It's huge (for a missionary apartment) has 2 bathrooms, a dishwasher, and a fridge with a water dispenser (that's the only thing I could think to call it). My companion is Elder Brickey, and we live with Elder Monk and Elder Elder (no joke that's his name) and they are all awesome. At first I was disappointed with the ward because I loved the last one so much, but I'm starting to love the members here. It's kind of nice not having to worry about which members are in your area now that we cover the whole ward. I'm loving being a missionary, like always, and am glad to be here.
This month is going to be awesome, because we have Elder Paul Johnson of the Seventy coming to speak to us this weekend, and at the end of the month we have 2 surprise General Authorities visiting us. I'm almost positive that at least one of them is going to be an Apostle, because we were told that we may not be able to shake their hands, and that we have to leave the church grounds within 10 minutes after the meeting. It's going to be AWESOME!!! Whoever will be coming will also be interviewing The Assistants, Zone Leaders and select District Leaders. I could be interviewed by an Apostle! I'll probably pee my pants... anyway, hopefully I'll find out through the grapevine who's coming soon. I love you all so very much!
Love, Elder Tilley
This has been the busiest most stressful week of my life! I didn't even have time to stop and think. Since one of the Missionaries who had problems was in our zone, we had to deal with all the garbage and other consequences. One of them was in our ward, so they closed that area and now we are over the whole ward. We also had to tell the members in our ward and in our zone what happened. So we've been trying our hardest to get to know their area in a matter of days and take over for them. We also had to go to their apartment and clean it out. Lots of stress.
We also had zone leader council this week because it's the end of the month. On top of that we have had to come up with and set new goals for our zone this month and train the district leaders on what we learned in ZL council. We also had to prepare for zone meeting which is held once a month. Oh yeah, and I had to prepare a talk for sacrament meeting. They also are allowing us to get DVD players and TVs in our apartments to watch the District DVDs, so we had to make sure our zone members got enough TVs and DVD players from the members. The other set of Missionaries had a baptism planned for this weekend, so we had to plan that last second and explain why one of them wouldn't be there. We had to do all of these things plus other zone leader duties, all while trying to do missionary work. It's been crazy! There are still a lot of extra things we have to finish up doing, but this week should be a lot better. Last night I took a deep breath, sat on the couch, and just relaxed. It felt so good.
Life is good other than having 0 time to do anything for myself. It stinks having extra responsibility, but it is pretty cool to be in the loop on everything. My apartment is so nice. It's huge (for a missionary apartment) has 2 bathrooms, a dishwasher, and a fridge with a water dispenser (that's the only thing I could think to call it). My companion is Elder Brickey, and we live with Elder Monk and Elder Elder (no joke that's his name) and they are all awesome. At first I was disappointed with the ward because I loved the last one so much, but I'm starting to love the members here. It's kind of nice not having to worry about which members are in your area now that we cover the whole ward. I'm loving being a missionary, like always, and am glad to be here.
This month is going to be awesome, because we have Elder Paul Johnson of the Seventy coming to speak to us this weekend, and at the end of the month we have 2 surprise General Authorities visiting us. I'm almost positive that at least one of them is going to be an Apostle, because we were told that we may not be able to shake their hands, and that we have to leave the church grounds within 10 minutes after the meeting. It's going to be AWESOME!!! Whoever will be coming will also be interviewing The Assistants, Zone Leaders and select District Leaders. I could be interviewed by an Apostle! I'll probably pee my pants... anyway, hopefully I'll find out through the grapevine who's coming soon. I love you all so very much!
Love, Elder Tilley
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