Have you ever thought about what it takes to supply 240 missionaries with teaching materials? I had not until I got here and found out one of my assignments is to order those Missionary supplies. Luckily the office elders give me a list to work from. I reach out to the Missionary distribution center in Salt Lake. It takes a while to get supplies out here so we have to plan ahead.
Every six weeks Missionaries requests their supplies before Zone conferences, sometimes in between if they have run short or there is a specific need for a friend they are teaching. Yesterday sisters came by the office looking for a Book of Mormon in Swahili.
The supply closet consists of Books of Mormon another Testament of Jesus Christ in different languages, pass-along card about Jesus Christ and pamphlets explaining points of doctrine. We order a few Bibles but most people being taught already have those.
The supplies are laid out on a table grouped by serving areas called zones at Zone Conferences for missionaries to pick up.
Our shipment came the day AFTER conference 750 Books of Mormon in English, Haitian Creole, Spanish and Swahili and other supplies but the Lord continues to bless the work here in Indiana as we had 4 Books of Mormon left after all the requests! A mini miracle again!
When the shipment came the pallet had Sister Davis on it. It is a constant flow of ins and outs!
Ever changing cars and moving parts is mission life too.
This car came to us as it had been rear ended and due to the bicycle rack on the back the window was shattered. It waits for its turn in the auto body shop.
3 cars arrived from the Maryland Mission 2 days ago. It made Elder Davis’ day, LOVE that smile 😊 A 1/3rd of the mission is sharing cars currently or on bikes and as we expand the mission to prepare for the division more cars are needed. So we are praying this is just the beginning of more cars!
Another orchestrated flow of in and outs are missionaries. Transfers happen every 6 weeks in-between zone conferences. Transfers are where missionaries who fulfill their 2yrs or 18month missions head home and new missionaries arrive.
We know months in advance who is going home as it is set to match the 6 week cycle of ins and outs.
As far as missionaries coming out to our mission we learn anywhere from 4 months to 6 weeks beforehand. I get a e-mail letting us know about a missionary who has excepted a call to the Indiana Indianapolis Mission and on what transfer they are expected to arrive.
The mission numbers ebbs and flow, those going home do not always match those coming out. For example in February we have 14 going home and 22 coming out. You can imagine the domino effect this has in the mission field with companionships.
This is where divine inspiration is prayed for and sought by our Mission President. President Matheson takes this very seriously and seeks the Lords confirmation when changes are made.
Sometimes it comes easy and the Lord shows him who should serve with who and where they should serve. Other times he has to study it out in his mind, make a decision and wait for the confirmation by the spirit. Either way no one is moved until the spirit confirms that it is right.
Tonight we have a missionary flying in from Mongolia who has been in the Philippines MTC and a Missionary who has been waiting for his visa will be flying out to Italy the end of the month. It is amazing how it all works!
As I write this post, the wind is howling! Wind gusts 40miles an hour. Storms blow in as fast as they blow out with the landscape being so flat there’s not much to stop it.
The flu season is upon us. There are so many sniffles and coughs! 2 of the office Elders were out with what we thought was the good old flu. Elder Davis dropped off some fruit for one Elder who had had a rough night. The missionaries are told to call the Mission nurse if they have any medical issues that are not getting better. Upon describing the symptoms to her it was decided Elder H should be seen. Elder Davis was called to give a ride to him and his companion to the hospital as their car was in the shop.
Upon examination it was determined his appendixes needed to come out. Mission President and his Family were called and made apprised of the situation. Surgery went well and he is back in the office to heal for a few days. Never a dull moment here! Grateful for modern medicine that can take care of those, ok here it comes… ins and outs! 🤣❤️
We LOVE YOU ALL! We are still Smiling and grateful to be serving here in Indiana💖
❣️Skittles Elder and Sister Davis
Love this and how much you are blessing this mission! Love you guys♥️