9 October 2015
Dear Elder Daniel Gerald Stephens,
Congratulations on your new assignment as a trainer in the Spain Málaga Mission! This is a very special calling and I have confidence in your ability and desire to influence and properly prepare a new missionary to succeed in the mission.
As a trainer you have great responsibility to help your companion adjust to the mission schedule, be obedient to mission rules and gain the vision of missionary work. Help your companion to have confidence in his/her ability to learn, teach and baptize.
The focus of his/her training should include:
1. SPIRITUALITY. Teach habits of obedience and preparedness so that he/she can be worthy of having the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost and be a spiritual missionary.
2. PREACH MY GOSPEL. Teach your companion how to become a Master Teacher. Teach how to set and achieve personal goals (daily and weekly planning) as well as having companionship study. Review the principles taught in this manual every day, especially in your companionship study.
3. FINDING. Teach your companion the skills needed to find the elect and honest in heart who are ready to hear your testimonies of the Savior and His restored Church. Teach him how to prepare the members and investigators to help you meet others who may be interested in hearing the gospel. Help him to love and be friendly with the people of this great country.
4. TEACHING. Prepare your companion to teach with skill and confidence under the influence and power of the Holy Ghost. Help him master the lessons and always let him participate in the discussion.
5. BAPTIZING. We are here to teach repentance, to testify and to baptize. Teach your companion what is needed to bring souls to Christ. Show them positive feelings and faith. The Holy Spirit will be perceived by investigators as they put their trust in the Lord and you. Positive feelings represent the presence of the Holy Ghost and by their continued faith and trust in the Lord, their testimonies of the truthfulness of the gospel will continue to grow.
Remember that you have been called to serve as a trainer. This is a sacred calling and trust. These new missionaries come to the mission with a special spark and enthusiasm for the work. It is your responsibility to help them find their strengths so that they can better achieve their potential. New missionaries have often expressed their joy, appreciation and even reverence for the enthusiasm and dedication demonstrated by their trainers.
I am absolutely confident that you will play an important role in the life of your new companion. It will be your responsibility to help mold him/her into a true servant of the Lord Jesus Christ. Do all you can to live worthy of the guidance and promptings of the Holy Spirit. You have my support and trust and I know that the Lord loves you and is confident in your ability to succeed.
Sincerely,
T. DarVel Andersen
President, Spain Málaga Mission
Sunday, October 11, 2015
Hello! So finally finished the best month in a half with my boy from
Canada Elder Lowry. It was such a fun transfer. We called it a "6
week interchange" because it's basically all just a big blur and we
were just running all over the place haha. So Monday night the
Columbian investigators and some cool members we all went out to eat
(tapear). It was sad to say good by to people I had gotten so close
with but it won't be a good bye for forever I'm sure.
So Tuesday morning I left to Malaga and got to meet my new trainee!
And guess what he's from Holiday Utah haha. He just graduated from
Cottonwood high school his name is Elder Samuel Hirst. He's a way
cool guy! He is tall and super skinny. I'm going to get him on this
work out (body beast!) plan and we're going to go to a fitness store
and by some protein and stuff haha. He's super smart he was valid
Victorian and sterling scholar and all that. He speaks pretty well for
a noobie but he doesn't understand anything just yet haha. It's weird
training and reopening an area because the first week I feel like I
was kind of worried more about learning the area and stuff.
But Cadiz is SOOO pretty!! It's one of the oldest cities in Europe and
our apartment is right in the middle of the old part haha so it's fun.
Cadiz is basically a little island and the streets are SO small. When
you get lost in the middle you just take a street and keep walking
until you get to the end of the island haha. But everyone here in
Cadiz talks super fast it's a little hard to adjust but I can
understand everything. It's kind of weird because the word for "dude"
or "bro" here is they say swear words. It's literally just not
offensive here. People told me that but I didn't believe but yep
contact a guy and he replies "hey what's up ******" I'll probably get
used to it and maybe start calling other people stuff who knows haha.
Well Cadiz is probably the prettiest area in the mish so I got super
lucky! Literally all of my areas have been really pretty. But the ward
here is supposed to be really good so I'm way excited!
Elder Stephens
Canada Elder Lowry. It was such a fun transfer. We called it a "6
week interchange" because it's basically all just a big blur and we
were just running all over the place haha. So Monday night the
Columbian investigators and some cool members we all went out to eat
(tapear). It was sad to say good by to people I had gotten so close
with but it won't be a good bye for forever I'm sure.
So Tuesday morning I left to Malaga and got to meet my new trainee!
And guess what he's from Holiday Utah haha. He just graduated from
Cottonwood high school his name is Elder Samuel Hirst. He's a way
cool guy! He is tall and super skinny. I'm going to get him on this
work out (body beast!) plan and we're going to go to a fitness store
and by some protein and stuff haha. He's super smart he was valid
Victorian and sterling scholar and all that. He speaks pretty well for
a noobie but he doesn't understand anything just yet haha. It's weird
training and reopening an area because the first week I feel like I
was kind of worried more about learning the area and stuff.
But Cadiz is SOOO pretty!! It's one of the oldest cities in Europe and
our apartment is right in the middle of the old part haha so it's fun.
Cadiz is basically a little island and the streets are SO small. When
you get lost in the middle you just take a street and keep walking
until you get to the end of the island haha. But everyone here in
Cadiz talks super fast it's a little hard to adjust but I can
understand everything. It's kind of weird because the word for "dude"
or "bro" here is they say swear words. It's literally just not
offensive here. People told me that but I didn't believe but yep
contact a guy and he replies "hey what's up ******" I'll probably get
used to it and maybe start calling other people stuff who knows haha.
Well Cadiz is probably the prettiest area in the mish so I got super
lucky! Literally all of my areas have been really pretty. But the ward
here is supposed to be really good so I'm way excited!
Elder Stephens
What a week! We had the opportunity to do many things! Last p-day we
went to the famous Alhambra in Granada. It was our whole p-day, we got
up at 6, traveled for 2 hours, got there and looked at it and it is
HUGE! It took a few hours to look at all! Then traveled home and p-day
was over haha. But it was so awesome! I'll send pics of course haha.
So I received a call Friday night from President Andersen saying that
I'm going to train! I'm going to re-open the area in a city called
Cadiz! I was super sad when he called me saying that I was leaving but
know I'm pretty excited to get to know another city. It's so sad that
I'm leaving this area though because I've gotten so close to the
people here especially the family of Darren. It was awesome to be
able to see Daren baptized but I wanted to see the whole family! I'm
thinking they'll all get baptized in this next transfer! Just need a
little push haha.
But I'm excited for Cadiz! It's a city right on the beach but on the
other side of Spain. The city is really pretty and they have a crazy
accent I've heard so we'll see.
So Darren got confirmed yesterday and it was awesome! Rosario liked it
a lot, she should be baptized in no time haha. They just found out
that his little brother Christian has pneumonia like 3 days ago so
that's pretty sketchy. Also Emi and her kids came to church and also
Kristel and her mom so it was a successful last Sunday!
I have loved my time in Almería! It's crazy to think that when I got
here there was literally no work. They say that there are people
prepared just for you when you go on the mission. I was sent to
Almería to find Darren and his family. God has given them this chance
to get to know the gospel and I hope they all take advantage. I would
love to see this family sealed in the holy temple!
Love you all! Elder Stephens
went to the famous Alhambra in Granada. It was our whole p-day, we got
up at 6, traveled for 2 hours, got there and looked at it and it is
HUGE! It took a few hours to look at all! Then traveled home and p-day
was over haha. But it was so awesome! I'll send pics of course haha.
So I received a call Friday night from President Andersen saying that
I'm going to train! I'm going to re-open the area in a city called
Cadiz! I was super sad when he called me saying that I was leaving but
know I'm pretty excited to get to know another city. It's so sad that
I'm leaving this area though because I've gotten so close to the
people here especially the family of Darren. It was awesome to be
able to see Daren baptized but I wanted to see the whole family! I'm
thinking they'll all get baptized in this next transfer! Just need a
little push haha.
But I'm excited for Cadiz! It's a city right on the beach but on the
other side of Spain. The city is really pretty and they have a crazy
accent I've heard so we'll see.
So Darren got confirmed yesterday and it was awesome! Rosario liked it
a lot, she should be baptized in no time haha. They just found out
that his little brother Christian has pneumonia like 3 days ago so
that's pretty sketchy. Also Emi and her kids came to church and also
Kristel and her mom so it was a successful last Sunday!
I have loved my time in Almería! It's crazy to think that when I got
here there was literally no work. They say that there are people
prepared just for you when you go on the mission. I was sent to
Almería to find Darren and his family. God has given them this chance
to get to know the gospel and I hope they all take advantage. I would
love to see this family sealed in the holy temple!
Love you all! Elder Stephens
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