Monday, June 20, 2016

Transfers & Zone Leaders

Well everyone this week there was a lot of big news!! 

First off I am being transferred! After being in Sandy River for three months I am being transferred to the Tanasbourne YSA (young single adult) Ward, and will be serving with Elder Argyle!! This YSA Ward covers 3 Stakes. It covers the Cedar Mill, Beaverton, and Hillsboro Stakes. Cedar Mill is just north of Beaverton.... 

And secondly, President Ballard assigned me to be a Zone Leader. Elder Argyle and I will be the Zone Leaders in the Cedar Mill Zone! There are 9 zones in the Mission and roughly 30 missionaries in each one (w/ 2 Zone Leaders to cover each zone), so there are around 250 missionaries in our Mission. Zone Leaders are responsible for the Zone and the 30ish missionaries that serve there, and are supposed to do exchanges, trainings, go to leadership meetings, and basically just help as much as they can. I'm nervous because it's a lot to handle, but I'm also super excited because I will be able to learn a ton! 

So this week I can't really remember all of what happened, but on Friday the Head of the Missionary Department, Elder Brent Nielson, came and spoke to us all day. It was awesome. He said and taught some really cool things. He said that a lot of the time when the apostles assign missionaries they are inspired to assign them to a mission president, not a mission. I didn't know this! I thought that was pretty interesting because I have been assigned to the Ballards for a reason, and he told us to find out that reason. Another really cool thing he talked about was the enabling power of the Atonement or Grace. For the longest time I didn't really understand what Grace was and now after studying and listening to Elder Nielson, I have a better understanding of what an amazing principle it really is. Grace is the divine means of help or strength given to us through the love of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Grace is the power that allows us to change, to become better. It gives us the strength to endure through the hardest of trials, it enables us to fulfill our potential and become the person God wants us to become. For me I have often found myself trying to overcome a challenge by simply relying on my own strength and willpower, but I have learned how much better life can be and how much happier I am as I rely on the Grace of our Savior. But how can we access this enabling power? The answer is in Mosiah 24:15: "And now it came to pass that the burdens which were laid upon Alma and his brethren were made light; yea, the Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord."..... If we submit to the will of the Lord, if we endure trials with patience and willingness, understanding that God knows best, then we can access the enabling power or grace of Jesus Christ. Matthew 11:28-30 says, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." I know that as we put our trust in the Savior and rely on His Grace, our burdens can be made light. We don't have to endure things on our own through sheer grit. We can yoke ourselves to Christ and bear up our burdens with ease. 

I am grateful to have served in Sandy and I'm excited for this opportunity to serve in Cedar Mill! Hope you all have a great week and thanks for all the emails and support!! 

Love, Elder Hill
 Sister Torrie with Elder Hill
 Doing service with the Sister Missionaries
 Skibowl with the Elders
 Elders with Tristen & Ruth
 Elder Hill & the Stevens' Family
Elder Hill & the Smith Family
Elder Hill & Bro. Shaffer

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