"We want investigators to know and understand why we are teaching them, to help them come unto Christ by repentance and baptism."

Hola familia Qué mas!! 

The Lord has been very good to us here in the Colombia Cali Mission! This week was a blessing because we started it off going to Popayan on Monday and Tuesday for interviews with the missionaries there and I got to take advantage Monday night to visit all of the great converts there! Also the interviews went just wonderfully, we were able to train on the new retention focus and all about the responsibilities that we as missionaries have in that process. We also had a training on teaching clearly and completely, and also leaving clear with the investigators our purpose as missionaries. 

As Dallin H. Oaks said:

 "We do not preach and teach just to persuade people to live better lives. … We invite all to come unto Christ by repentance and baptism and confirmation in order to open the doors of the celestial kingdom to the sons and daughters of God. No one else can do this.” 

We want investigators to know and understand why we are teaching them, to help them come unto Christ by repentance and baptism. When they understand that, they understand better what our role is as guides in the process and what they must do to have success. If this isn't clear to them, we lose time because they are thinking we are just there to preach and they don't act and progress how we need them to. It worked really well and I felt at home once again being in Popayan. 

This week was also a blessing because we headed back to Cali Tuesday night and got to pick President Prince's brain on certain gospel topics and missionary tactics, that was the best haha. We got back on Wednesday and immediately got to work on finishing the planning for the Leadership council! It is such a cool experience planning with President and learning how he seeks revelation on how to better guide this mission. It is an experience I am really grateful for. 

The thing I have learned is that I need to be constantly thinking and analyzing and preparing to help him in that process. He is super busy with a ton of things that go on in the mission and he doesn't have all the time to think about all the details of what needs to be done in the mission. Basically our job is to make his job easier, and I am slowly getting the hang of it. 

The council went really great, we talked a lot about the importance of committing investigators with a baptismal date and how to use the members to help facilitate their spiritual conversion with a social conversion. If the investigators feel the fellowship of the members and feel at home in the church, they have a huge support system in which they can grow and be supported in their conversion process. Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labor.

For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.
Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone?
And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken. (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12) 

And now we are focused on next week's trainings in the interviews and also working a lot more in our area, should be fun! 

Enjoy the rest of Conference!

Elder Eliason 

I'll send pictures a little later!