We've just been running full speed recently trying to finish off the last few weeks of my mission. We recently set a record for baptismal dates as a Zone at 50 which is crazy since our mission is only going for 200 altogether. That's 1/4th of all dates set. Crazy. We've been going around telling missionaries that in order to baptize people you need to ask them to be baptized and it's really sparked a flame in them. Some missionaries make putting people on date as some huge statement and grand presentation when really it's a simple question. If they say no, you get a key opportunity to find out exactly what their need is. It's not as hard as we make it out to be.
I'm not sure if I've mentioned yet, but I did stay in my area for my last transfer and with the same companion. That's 4 transfers with one companion making it the longest companion I've ever had. It's alright though, we get along just fine. We are absolutely nothing alike but it's chill, we make it work. He's a farm boy who's never played a video game in his life and doesn't know much about pop culture and I'm the complete opposite. One thing we do have in common is we both love social media work as missionaries. I think it's a big reason we are still together because he admits that I am the only companion he's had that is okay with all the social media meetings he has to attend since he’s the head of social media for our mission, and all the work he does online. We firmly believe that if we are going to find a family to baptize for Christmas, it'll be found through social media. We'll see what happens.
Our mission has been making a big push with doing 10 minute long lesson which is a huge change because before, the average lesson was around 45 minutes to an hour long. Our mission president went to a mission president seminar recently and a lot of the general authorities and missionary department told him that the only thing that's holding us back from achieve 100 Baptisms is our teaching skills. They emphasized short, powerful lessons that get the people yearning for more. Well, we've been doing this the last couple of weeks and it has proven to be amazing. Our friends are so much more willing to meet because they don't have to sacrifice as much time to see us. We leave them on a cliff hanger every lesson so they are so ready for when the next lesson comes. Also, we've been counciled to try and set up the next lesson for the next day, not next week. We can't have any room for Satan to get on these people and make them look at stupid websites that'll ruin everything. The conversion of the people we are teaching has gone up so much since we started doing this.
I'm in the last 3 weeks of my mission right now and it feels surreal. It always sounds like a cliche when people say the mission feels like a blur and goes by quick but it really does. I've been at this for so long that this is an adapted way of life, it doesn't feel like a 2 year detour from normal life. It just feels like normal life. The transition back home should be a whole new ball game, but you can't be too worried about it. I just need to make sure I get my spiritual habits in check, reading and praying daily. Some missionaries when they get home say phrases like ''I miss the spirit in the mission'' but I think that can be avoided if you just stay spiritually in shape. Anyways, I got a lot to do before I finish off this milestone of my life. Can't slow down now.
Have a blessed week.
Elder Jackson Batman
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