Well, the submission
to become a stake was sent by the first of January.
We didn't make the goal in terms of numbers, but there is still a
chance that we can qualify since it's not always about the numbers.
Either way, we made significant progress and were able to find many
people as well as clean up the membership system. We found over 1000
people that do not live within the limits of the branch (we're
talking about limits that are bigger than the entire mission) and found
many inactive and less active members. We will continue to
work with the less active and inactive members. We will be able to work much better with the branch and district leaders since we were able to work closely with them in the assignment we had been given. We did super-searches in three branches as a zone with members. Now that the membership system is clean, it will be much easier to find
the members. We will have to reconstruct the directions (almost all are poorly written or unspecific) and make a map of all the homes of members for easier access. Since pavement, street numbers, and house numbers are nonexistent, and considering the fact that most families
have unstable income and housing. Since it is very difficult finding someone's home by reading an address (and almost all the addresses were either unspecific or incorrect). Most of the people we found this month were by interrogating every person in the neighborhood. With a map, we will be able to attend to the needs of all members by visiting them, holding activities in their homes, etc. This will also help the mission work go forward since it's more efficient and
effective working with members and references. New
missionaries won't be lost trying to find members nor investigators- it'll all be on a map. These ideas aren't very new nor original, but it seems that no one has decided to put the ideas to work. It's a little frustrating having to 'clean up the mess' that others have left- missionaries, members, and leaders alike- but it's something that needs to be done. I believe negligence and ignorance are the two biggest factors. Lots of missionaries come and leave, many secretaries don't understand their calling, leaders direct the work with little experience. The Gospel here is in its second generation of growth- every thing is new and the circumstances are not exactly optimal in such an unstable society. Given the circumstances and the challenges, the efforts of missionaries and members have allowed incredible growth here. It's also more interesting being busy doing little investments of time and effort that will benefit others in the future. Mission work is a system; all the parts need to work well in order for there to be progress and stability. This requires effort on everyone's part, not just the 'missionaries and the leaders'. We'll all have to work as a team if we want success. We are motivated to start this year well and will do our best to keep this work moving forward!
work with the less active and inactive members. We will be able to work much better with the branch and district leaders since we were able to work closely with them in the assignment we had been given. We did super-searches in three branches as a zone with members. Now that the membership system is clean, it will be much easier to find
the members. We will have to reconstruct the directions (almost all are poorly written or unspecific) and make a map of all the homes of members for easier access. Since pavement, street numbers, and house numbers are nonexistent, and considering the fact that most families
have unstable income and housing. Since it is very difficult finding someone's home by reading an address (and almost all the addresses were either unspecific or incorrect). Most of the people we found this month were by interrogating every person in the neighborhood. With a map, we will be able to attend to the needs of all members by visiting them, holding activities in their homes, etc. This will also help the mission work go forward since it's more efficient and
effective working with members and references. New
missionaries won't be lost trying to find members nor investigators- it'll all be on a map. These ideas aren't very new nor original, but it seems that no one has decided to put the ideas to work. It's a little frustrating having to 'clean up the mess' that others have left- missionaries, members, and leaders alike- but it's something that needs to be done. I believe negligence and ignorance are the two biggest factors. Lots of missionaries come and leave, many secretaries don't understand their calling, leaders direct the work with little experience. The Gospel here is in its second generation of growth- every thing is new and the circumstances are not exactly optimal in such an unstable society. Given the circumstances and the challenges, the efforts of missionaries and members have allowed incredible growth here. It's also more interesting being busy doing little investments of time and effort that will benefit others in the future. Mission work is a system; all the parts need to work well in order for there to be progress and stability. This requires effort on everyone's part, not just the 'missionaries and the leaders'. We'll all have to work as a team if we want success. We are motivated to start this year well and will do our best to keep this work moving forward!
 |
| Aaron and Elder Rodriguez |
 |
| Fortaleza de Santa Bárbara |
No comments:
Post a Comment