Nichole
September 10, 2012
Dear Elders and Sisters –
It’s the start of another great week in the Spokane Washington Mission. It is has been a busy week for all of us and has been a week of change. We were sad to say goodbye to 24 missionaries. It was hard for Sister Mullen and me to say goodbye to each of these faithful Elders and Sisters as they left; but, that was replaced with the excitement that we felt as we welcomed 19 missionaries to Spokane. They all arrived ready to work and excited to be here. It is one of the miracles of this work every time we send home one group of missionaries and get in another group. I am happy to report that all made it home safely who were headed home and we did not lose any of the missionaries who arrived last Monday.
After loading up their luggage, we headed off to downtown Spokane for fear busting. A special thanks to the Elders and Sisters who gave up part of their Pday to accompany these missionaries. We gathered back at the end and shared our experiences. We exercised our collective faith as we went out and had a great experience. I loved hearing different missionaries talk about their experiences. As you may recall, it is a little intimidating to go fear busting – I am happy to report that everyone did great and we came back with as many as we started with!! We welcome those who arrived this past week. They bring with them gifts and testimonies and an enthusiasm that will bless our mission.
Growing up in Idaho, I recall watching sheepherders herding sheep along country roads. They were on horses and they had sheep dogs who would help them keep the sheep moving in the right direction. As a young boy, it was amusing to watch as a sheep would leave the herd and head in another direction. When one sheep went, others followed. I watched as the sheepherders on their horses and the trained dogs would work together to bring the errant sheep back into the herd. They were constantly working to keep the sheep headed in the direction that they wanted them to go. I observed 2 things about sheep. 1- Sheep follow and 2 – it took constant effort and a lot of work to get the sheep where you wanted them to go.
I had often read New Testament references to sheep and to Christ as the Good Shepherd. My experiences with sheep as a young boy did not give much meaning to those references. Years later, Sister Mullen and I visited the Holy Land. On a hill overlooking Bethlehem, I observed a young shepherd boy. He had sheep and a dog; but, there was something very different. His sheep followed him wherever he went and when he would stop, they gathered around him. His dog did not herd the sheep; but, was there to help protect the sheep. I learned that at night, shepherds put their sheep into a common sheepfold for protection at night. In the morning, the shepherd would call his sheep and only his sheep would come out of the sheepfold. They knew his voice and followed him. I was reminded that 1 – sheep follow; but, I learned a new lesson about sheep – they know the voice of the shepherd and love him and don’t have to be herded.
This experience gave the scriptural references to Christ as the Good Shepherd new meaning. In John 10:14, Jesus teaches: “I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.” Jesus knows His sheep and they know him. In verse 16 he continues “And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.” He tells the Nephites that they are the other sheep that He was speaking of and then states “And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.” (3 Ne 15:17) I believe that these sheep He spoke about include those in our mission. These are the sheep that we are looking for. We are the Lord’s under shepherds who are bringing His sheep back into His fold. Jesus tells us “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me”
Jesus’ sheep hear His voice and follow Him. Too often, as missionaries, we are too busy trying to herd the sheep and drive them towards Christ. We forget that His sheep hear His voice and follow Him. We don’t need to try to convince others to follow Christ. We need to find those sheep who will hear Christ’s voice and follow Him.
Elder Eyring taught “God will put prepared people in the way of His prepared servants who want to share the gospel. You have had that happen in your own life. How often it happens depends on the preparation of your mind and your heart…
God is preparing people to receive your testimony of restored truth. He requires your faith and then your action to share fearlessly what has become so precious to you and to those you love.
Prepare to share by filling your mind every day with the truths of the gospel. As you keep the commandments and honor your covenants, you will feel the testimony of the Spirit and more of the Savior’s love for you and for those you meet.
If you do your part, you will increasingly have the sweet experience of meeting people who are prepared to hear your testimony of the truth—offered from heart to heart, yours to theirs.” (First Presidency Message – Ensign - September 2012)
You are doing a great job. We are seeing many of Christ’s sheep coming into His fold. We are seeing many come back to His fold as they return to activity in the Church. Each week, I hear miracles where Christ has placed His sheep in your path and you have found them. They hear His voice and follow Him.
The work is not always easy but it’s always worth it. Continue to work hard, be obedient, listen to and follow the promptings of the Spirit and go out each day and do your best. Then trust in the Lord that it He will make up the difference. I promise you that He always will. Look forward and not backward. No matter what happened yesterday or last week or last month or last transfer, each day is a fresh start.
We love you and are praying for you.
Much Love – President and Sister Mullen
This is the email I got today from Skylar
i am doing fine no need to worry the only big thing that happened was we got a knife pulled on us and the guy told us just not to talk to him it was freaking awesome and we almost got hit by golf balls. and the reason there is a charge for wal mart was because the first day we rode bikes i got 2 flat tires so we had to go get new tubes at wal mart and u cant use the share card for that and we are going shopping today after we play a llittle basketball. elder Stacey is the best ever he is from orem Utah. my quilt is awesome. my new address is 6335 winesap NE moses lake WA 98837 i live with a member family but right now they are serving there own mission somewhere else so we have the house to ourselves :) but they will be back sometime in october so will will move somwhere else. right now also on sundays we cover 2 wards so we go to church twice that is pretty cool. right now we have about 5 people we are ready to put on date to be baptized. i need u too send me a few things i need more treats and i would like my red nikes i miss them well thats about it for me i will talk to u guys later love u guys
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