We are just starting week 2 of this new transfer. I have a new companion,
Elder Hubbard from Fallon, NV. He is just great- we get along very well. He
has 1 year in the mission.
Tomorrow we have a meeting where our mission president will say goodbye,
for he finishes his mission on 1 July. It will be a day of emotions for him and
for us. I have learned so much from his instruction. I also look forward to the
new Mission president, President Valadez from Puebla, Mexico, just around
the corner from the DF (federal district). It should be good.
I have been learning a lot about vision in the scriptures. For example,
Ammon, when he arrived with the servants of the King Lamoni to care for
the sheep, SAW that the servants were fearful because their lamanite
brethren scattered the flocks. What did Ammon do? His heart rejoiced.
Who in their right mind would rejoice upon seeing such misery (the servants
were going to lose their life). The answer is in the verses that follow. Ammon
rejoiced because when he saw those servants, he didn´t see their imminent
death as they did, but rather the opportunity to make them and the whole
people believe in his words. He thought, this is my chance! I will gather the
flocks, SO THAT i can manifest the power of God in me SO THAT I can
win their hearts SO THAT they will believe my words. And what resulted?
King Lamoni, his wife, the servants, and many of the people were converted
and baptized. Later, Lamoni, a recent convert, asked the missionaries (Ammon)
to accompany him to his father´s house. After a few more events, His father,
his mother (the queen), his brother (Anti-Nephi-Lehi), more servants and many
more of the people were converted (they become those who lay down their
weapons of war as a testimony). Imagine what would have happened if Ammon
never had had a vision of the future and had been discouraged when he saw
the servants. How many souls would not have been saved? How many
times did people REACT when they SAW something in this story? I invite
you to read this story and pay attention to "and WHEN the
king/queen/people/Ammon/Aaron/
their reaction.
Likewise, I invite you to ponder your own vision of yourself in the
future. Do you have one? Have you really SEEN it? Do you have goals
to fulfill that vision? Plans to reach those goals? Daily tasks to
ensure that the plans are realized? this pattern of
VISION-GOALS-PLANS-TASKS really does help us achieve our
potential. Like Ammon, his vision was that the people of Lamoni
(lamanites) would believe in his words and be converted. THAT
is what he saw when he saw the servants fearing for their lives.
Ammon´s Goal was to win their hearts. Plan? manifest his power.
Tasks? Go, Look for, find, gather the flocks, etc. That is what we
are working on in the mission right now. It is important to have this
pattern VISION-GOALS-PLANS-TASKS written and visible so
you can remember For waht purpose you do everything you do
every day. Exaltation is a great vision...
Love you all
Thanks for the prayers, love, and encouragement.
Elder Bunker
