Week 83 Onward ever Onward

Well, luckily this week wasn´t as stressful! I´ll tell you about it.. But first, I´ll answer the questions.

1.  How many leaders do you have in your branch that fulfill, or are capable of fulfilling their callings?  Any Elders Quorum Pres., High Priest leader, Relief Society Pres.??
We have our branch president, we´re his councelors. There´s an elder´s quorum president that just recently moved back from Ciudad del Este, but doesn´t do much to help out right now. And a relief society president that doesn´t do anything on Sundays.. So there are a few callings, but they´re not really being magnified.

2.  Would your District President and his wife, as well as your Branch President and his wife work with you in a focused effort to strengthen your branch!
Our district president doesn´t do anything. Am I allowed to say that? For example, for General Conference, we had to call him to come set everything set up.. And when he gets there, 10 mins late, he´s got bed head, a dirty polo, jeans, and crocks.. Then he leaves again. On top of that, he literally does nothing. Well, he´ll go out with the missionaries from his branch every now and again. I can´t imagine President Beus being like that.. He gets it done! But what about this guy? They have the same responsabilities!
Our branch president on the other hand, is a stud. He always askes us when he can come help us. I told him that the best way he can help right now, is by interviewing the members! Helping them progress towards the Temple. So we´ll start there. That will help a ton! So he´s gonna print off the list of members and start interviewing all the sealed families, then all the people that are endowed, then those who are able to go to the temple.

3.  I know you have Roberto, who recently returned from his mission.  Is there any other priesthood brethren, or sisters, who would step up if you made a big deal out of your need for their help?
I´m not sure. We just need more priesthood! That´s where the interviews will be helpful.. There´s a lot of priesthood holders here, like 16 of them, but they´re just inactive! And their priesthood doesn´t have power because they´re drinking again and doing other bad stuff.. So they can´t help their families either. Roberto called the Temple and put all their names on the prayer roll, so I think that will help a lot too.

4.  How many full families do you have in your branch who are semi to fully active?
Full familes.. President and his family, the guy who sometimes teaches the Book of Mormon class and his family, and his daughter and son in law. All the rest are the sisters and their kids.. and the husbands are at home.

5.  What was your most memorable experience?
I loved my talk yesterday.. I felt really good when I was speaking and everyone was paying attention. When I give talks now, I just use scriptures.. Sometimes a story, but I just like feeding pure doctrine. I spoke on the Rock of our Redeemer. We always here Matthew 16:18 (I think that´s the reference..) "upon this rock, I will edify my church.." from the Catholics, but they totally say it wrong. They always say, "You are Peter, and upon YOU I will edify my church.." But that´s not what the verse says! So I explained what the "rock" is. I used 1 Cor. 10:4, Acts 2:38+, Efesians4:11-12, stuff like that. I´ll have to show you when I get home, I have it all marked in my scriptures. I also explained the story of the Good Samaritin, how Christ used it to explain the Plan of Salvation. I felt the Spirit super strong and I felt relieved when I finished. It was just a cool experience for me of how the Spirit guided my words. I know it was like that, because people payed attention! 

I got my "trunky papers" today.. I guess they´re sending it in the email now. They sent them in the mail before. It just askes what positions of leadership you served in and what airport is closest to your house.. I can´t believe how fast the time has gone by! I only have 5 months left. It´s almost been 2 years since I got my call! It´s been a good experience. If I could just take the testimony and knowledge I´ve gained here home with me, I´d be happy. I feel blessed because I´ll be able to take more than that with me. I´ll get to be neighbors with my converts in the Celestial Kingdom! I love the mission, no matter how hard it gets at times, it´s the best thing I´ve ever done and I´m glad I came!

Sorry Mom, I was lazy this week and didn´t charge my battery on my camera, so I didn´t take any pictures. My battery goes dead 2 days after I charge it.. I´m gonna try to find a new one. But I´ll send new pictures next week for sure!

I think I´m going bald.

Love you!! Have a great week!
Elder Colby Dane Heiner

P.s. Tell Drake and Nicole congrats!! I´m super excited for them! I´m excited to meet her one day :D