First Week as a Zone Leader

This week was a good week.  Our numbers were still relatively high despite our low proslyting hours because of Zone Leader Conference and the one day mission on Saturday.  We were able to contact a couple of referrals throughout the week who turned into some new investigators, and even one family that speaks only cebuano, so it is great that I have Elder Saure.  I haven't been able to communicate with them the whole time I have been visiting the recent convert that they live with.  The spirit definitely knows what it is doing when it comes to transfers!

So this week was my first full week as a Zone leader and it was busy and fun. Monday night and Tuesday morning we had our Zone Leaders Council.  All the zone leaders meet at the mission  home to talk about business and to receive training from the AP's and President Lopez.  It was way fun, because it is like all the cool missionaries and none of the annoying ones!  I got to see Elder Doane and Elder Esteves.  They are both doing good.  Elder Esteves leaves on May 8th.

Wednesday we had our Zone Leader Training, where our whole zone meets and we present training to them about what we learned in the ZLC.  It was good, except Elder Saure gave my training!  He though he was supposed to give the one I was giving, and since he went first, my whole plan went out the window.  I had to give a training on what he was supposed to give with zero preparation.  I literally winged it, but it was great!  Everyone in the zone told me it was the best they had seen and even the couple missionaries came up and said, "Well, I think we know who the next AP is going to be."  I just laughed and said thanks.  I know it is a cocky statement to make saying it was really good, but it was--especially with no preparation!

Saturday we had to conduct a one day mission in Murcia, which is about 30 minutes from Handumanan.  It is for all the stake missionaries who are preparing to serve missions.  We do a training for them and then they go out in the barangay (town) and proslyte and look for people to teach!  It was fun, but it cut into our work and that is always rough to try and decide who is important to visit and who can wait until the next day.

Sunday we went to church and then had a meeting with the stake presidency and President Lopez about missionary work.  About two hours before the meeting, I texted President Lopez and asked him what he wanted us to talk about so I could prepare something.  He texted back, "baptism".  I was like, what the heck--thanks for being so specific!  I didn't say that to him, but to Elder Saure.  Anyways, we are in the meeting and they turn the time over to us, so as instructed, I start talking about how we can get more baptisms.  I tell them what we need is the members to start giving more referrals and we need to figure out what we can do to get them more excited about missionary work.  Well, I guess it cam off a little strong because after the meeting, President Lopez talked to us about how to conduct meetings with stake leaders and he said, "Elder Wilstead, you probably shouldn't do what you did in there again!  I understand what you were saying and I liked your confidence in a meeting with leaders, but you might want to tone it down a bit next time!"  I was laughing and just said, "Well President, I talked about baptism!"  He laughed and it was one of those things that you just chalk up to experience!

So, one cool thing I have seen here in Handumanan is a major spike in attendance at Sacrament Meeting.  When I got here it was at 125, and yesterday we had 155!  I was so excited!  It made me feel like maybe I have made a difference here.  I definitely will not take all the credit, but I might sneak some of it!!!

About my choice of scripture for my plaque.  If there is one thing I have learned from my mission, it is that without Heavenly Father's help, we are all very weak!  I promise I could not still be on my mission without his help.  It is too mentally, spiritually, and physically (surprisingly) draining for a man to do this by himself.  I have learned just how much we truly rely on God for everything we do! I don't know if I would say I am not cocky anymore, because I am.  I just know where the true source of my strength comes from!

I love you all!