Well, if I could remember what happened this week I guess I would tell you, but one thing I am sure of is that it has been nuts. More solving marriage problems and finding out who wants to get baptized. Also seeing how the other dupla puts together a wedding. That was interesting. Their wedding was a more for the branch to see and know about. Ours on the other hand, was more of a secret. Also, just crazy nonsense in the house and general discontent about the way I handle this leadership position. Thank you for your ideas at the start of your letter, Mom, they really help. Sometimes I am confused if I am doing the things I need to be because I receive a lot of heat from my district, but I get a lot of encouragement from my leaders, so I think I am doing what's right. My week has been good and I am excited for transfers, not because I think I will be leaving, but more to see what changes happen in the house. I do feel I have a little bit more time here before I go somewhere else. The zone leaders told me to help my district stay focused because towards the end of a transfer everyone slows down in the work and sometimes there is only three weeks of work realistically done in a transfer. Pres. Kretly has already voiced his opinion on this and the reason why. He said most missionaries believe they will get transferred so they slow down because the work they do will not be for their benefit. He brought in the principle of charity, as in: we need to work hard until the end so that the next missionary that gets in doesn't have to do so much work or at least has an area up and running when he gets there. It's a principle that could really help out the entire mission, but the problem is getting all the missionaries to realize it. It basically means that you spend three weeks working for yourself and the next three working for someone else. Not only that, but other missionaries will know what kind of a missionary you were when they get there and then more people will be excited to work with you.
On the other side of things, Elder Poyfair and I will probably have
different companions next transfer and for me that is sad. First, because I don't think I have ever had a better companion on the mission and also because I receive a lot of help from him. We were sitting talking about some of the stuff he might encounter with other missionaries and what advice I had and how to help. It was an interesting conversation on just people in general. I won't write it here because it was too long but maybe a little later.
Oh, and also we had an interview with President Kretly this past week which was weird because he never usually does that so it was a surprise. One of the most interesting things he said was not in the interview but when he was taking us home in his car (that was really nice). He said, "Elders, in this mission there are no bad areas, only bad missionaries." That made me stop and think, "Wow! What a thing to say." I mean, you hope there aren't bad missionaries, but you have to think, why would an area suffer, not because the people don't accept the word (we get that everyday, in areas around the world and they still progress) but because a missionary will hear a rumor about an area and based on that information decide not to work as hard, which is basically what I was told before I got into T3. That it was a bad area. But low and behold, a little work and we made this area sing. I guess I shouldn't say "we", but more along the lines of the Lord made this area sing when we were willing to get to work. Is it sad to hear a mission president say something like that? Yes. Does the truth hurt? Yes. Should he have taken it back? No. It's true! Now I am not saying there are a lot of bad missionaries, but just a few can hold back so many. We work in two's and that means if we have four, that's eight people that aren't able to work to their full potential. That may not seem like a lot, but when you only have 40 companionships in a mission, that is a quarter of your work force that is out of good working order, not to mention sicknesses and injuries that are just a common result. When you mix in all the other things that happen out here, it's pretty much half your work force. I assume what is the same out here in the mission flied is generally the same back in the church at home. It reminds me of what Ballard talked about two conferences ago, you know the talk about the honey bees. If I can only contribute one twelve of one table spoon, then I need twelve others to help me out. If we are going to get the honey pot we are looking for (4 stakes by 2015), it's got to start here and with everyone working to get there. I am looking for solutions not excuses.
Sorry for the vent fest. This is something I want and I feel as though certain things are standing in my way that I can't do anything about. It's frustrating because I know if others could see what is trying to be accomplished or at least understand, there would probably be a little bit more help on all sides and not just one. I guess what I am asking here is how do you get others motivated to a cause? Something I want to study this week, something to maybe help out my leadership here in T3 and something that might help the mission as a whole.
I am going to get off my soap box now.
I am so happy that you guys were able to get away and go to Florida. That is awesome! Yes, I am a little jealous, but no worries. I have been in tropical weather for the last year or so and it's great. Lots of rain this week and it actually got kinda cold, which is weird. Other than that, life is good.
I can't wait to hear about the Halloween stuff and see pictures.
I love you guys and hope your having fun, Elder Proksch
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