Preparing for General Conference

Elder Jacoby Remington's Mother: Jacoby's letter refers to General Conference, which might not make sense to some of you.  Those of you who are not members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and receiving this email, here's just a brief explanation of General Conference.  Since our church is a world wide church, twice a year the leaders of the church put on a meeting held in Salt Lake City, Utah, which is then broadcasted to members and others throughout the world.  This meeting is called General Conference, and it's an opportunity for them to teach important truths and gospel principles to all the members of the church throughout the world.  General Conference is October 5th and 6th, and can be found on the BYU channel in the morning and afternoon.  Hope this is helpful.

Family and Friends,

I am excited for General Conference this week and look forward to learning lots of new and important principles and ways to become better. The key to getting the most out of General Conference is the preparation before, concentration during, and application after. In my personal study, Mosiah 2:9 really stood out to me and I think we can apply it to General Conference. This is when all the people have gathered their tents around to hear the words of King Benjamin. He gives them this wise counsel before he begins his great sermon.

I have not commanded you to come up hither to trifle with the words which I shall speak, but that you should hearken unto me, and open your ears that ye may hear, and your hearts that ye may understand, and your minds that the mysteries of God may be unfolded to your view.

Firstly we need to understand that we can't trifle with conference. We shouldn't just watch conference because its what everyone expects of us and then not really get into it and actively search ways to put in practice what they teach. Something small but important is that we shouldn't watch it in our pajamas while eating breakfast and reclined back on the couch... I know that's harsh and truth be told that's what I did before but then President Amaya taught us something that I'll never forget and I decided that I would change that habit. He explained that the way we dress for an occasion reflects the importance that said occasion has for us. That's why we don't go to church in pajamas, we don't go to the temple in pajamas, and we shouldn't watch the Prophets and Apostles of God in pajamas. We have to make an effort and wear Sunday clothes even if we stay in our house to really show that this is something important to us. He told me that and it hit me like a ton of bricks and I realized that he's right and I invite all of you to not just throw the idea away right off the back. Do it and you'll see that President Amaya is right and you'll get more out of conference. 

Also a huge part of the preparation has to do with President Uchtdorf's talk that I shared a few months ago: "General Conference - No Ordinary Blessing."

I recommend reviewing it again before conference and remember that the key is to go into conference with personal questions that you need answered and then have a prayer in your heart to hear and find the answer while you watch. I did it last April and it made conference so much more meaningful. 

Last key to a good preparation before conference is to simply be worthy of the Holy Ghost. Study the scriptures, say your prayers, go to church, and be obedient so that there is nothing interfering with you being in tune to the Holy Ghost because without Him you won't learn anything really. This includes getting a god 7-8 hours of sleep Friday and Saturday night so that you're not fighting to keep your eyes open! That is something that I can tell you from experience in high school will keep you from learning for obvious reasons. The preparation before conference allows us to have an edifying experience during conference. 

During General Conference, we need to be concentrating on what they are saying and most importantly how we are feeling. Take notes and write down the spiritual promptings you receive (especially things that you need to change in your life and ways to apply the message you hear). DO NOT write down every single little thing that they say and feel like you're doing a great job for writing a ton... they will print it all out in the church magazines so you don't need to worry about writing down a ton of quantity just focus on writing down quality material that is personal and relevant to you. Write down 3-5 personal questions and go over them in your head while listening and through the Spirit the answers will come :) King Benjamin wisely teaches that we need to have our ears, hearts, and minds open. We open our ears by being there seated, properly dressed, focused, and giving our full attention to what they teach. We open our heart by being completely willing to fully apply everything they teach. We shouldn't think that ¨oh well that's nice but I´ll do it later or its not that bad if I don't change¨ no, no we have to have a true desire to apply it. We open our minds by pondering on the messages we hear and thinking of various ways to live what we learn. 

Concentration during General Conference allows us to truly apply what we learn after General Conference. 

After General Conference, the application of what we learned truly will bless our lives. Do what they say and you'll be happy. Its that simple. 

I love you all very much and am loving every moment of the mission. We just had a great baptism and I'll be sure to send pictures next week because I'm out of time! 

Elder Remington

Nothing Better than Being an Answer to Someone's Prayer

Family and Friends,

As the title says, being the answer to another person's prayer is a spectacular experience that we should all have more often and will have more often as we consecrate ourselves more on always doing good things (D&C 58:27) and are more in tuned to the Spirit. Trust me when I say that there truly are few things that give you more joy, happiness, sense of purpose, and a satisfaction from knowing that you're doing what God wants you to do. 

I can't go into details about all the experiences I've had in this week but several times there have been people that were really struggling with some serious problems and we're feeling really confused and down on themselves and through listening and following spiritual promptings I was able to help them. One day we were way busy in the office doing a bunch of reports for President and then out of the blue I felt the need to call a missionary and chat (not understanding fully why or what I was going to say) and then he said I need help, started to cry, and told me of a lot of trials he was having... I had the chance to listen to him, to comfort him, and be there for him. Another time I felt the subtle impression that with a certain companionship I needed to be the one to do a 12 weeks verification (something in the mission that we do every week where you evaluate the progress of a companionship in how they're teaching and working, its normally with the zone leaders but we can do it in special occasions) and in the verification for that companionship it turned out that they were really discouraged, frustrated, and unsure why they weren't having lots of baptisms when they had been working so hard. Once again I had the sweet experience of listening to them, showing that they were important and were doing a good job, and teach them specific principles from Preach My Gospel that really helped them. Their was a special moment when one of the missionaries with tears in their eyes looked directly at me and smiling with great relief said, ¨Thank you Elder for helping us.¨ The Holy Ghost filled the room and I felt grateful that I had been worthy of the companionship of the Holy Ghost and that when I felt that I had acted. 

I don't share this to boast but rather to share how great life is when we are in the service of God. I know this Church is true and that the Lord loves and looks out for every single one of His children. 

Be happy and serve others.

Love,

Elder Remington 

Things Happen for a Reason

Family and Friends,

Thank you everyone for the feedback and suggestions on the 8 Attributes :) I really appreciated it and learned from you all :) This week was an awesome week for Elder Magill and I here in Ecuador Guayaquil North Mission. Due to lots of new missionaries coming soon for many weeks we had been busy with office work; finding houses, renting houses, filling out paperwork, helping sick missionaries, and making graphs and charts analyzing data for President, etc.etc. By no means will I say that I don't enjoy doing those things, and I for sure understand how important it is that we do those things so the the Kingdom of God continues to be established.... however I will say that there is nothing like working hard and sweating out in  the mission field teaching and serving with other missionaries. You just can't replace that! This week we got to do 4 companionship exchanges from Tuesday to Friday in all sorts of different parts of the mission and it was AWESOME :) I learned a ton and I just love being out there serving side by side with these wonderful Elders :) It really is a blessing to have this assignment and be able to love and know and learn from so many different missionaries :) 

Last week two very interesting events happened that helped me remember and learn an important lesson. First, President Amaya told me very directly that I need to stop mumbling, that he can't understand me at all on the phone, and that I need to speak more clearly. He said that if I keep talking that way that I'll put people to sleep when I give talks or teach. Second, my companion and I carelessly left our cell phone at a store and it got stolen. Ok. Two events that at first glance without taking an eternal perspective of things appear to be very bad. However, when taken with humility, prayer, self-inspection, trusting in the Lord, a desire to always learn and improve, and an eternal perspective then these two events are seen for what they really are.... blessings and opportunities. 

The honest feedback and sound advice that President Amaya gave me was spot on. Ask my parents and they will testify to this that my entire life I have had a problem with mumbling on the phone. I don't fully know why I do it but I know its a problem and I recognize that I need to fix it and now thanks to President for telling me last week I have been really working on getting better at pronouncing clearly and speaking loudly on the phone :) and its worked. Many people would defend themselves and get offended or hurt that President said that but that would just be stunting their growth and missing a great opportunity to improve :) I simply smiled and eagerly said, ¨You're right President, I need to improve. Thanks for telling me and I'm going to do better.¨ Its hard to do many times and the natural man will want to fly out and start to explain how great of a public speaker you are and defend yourself stubbornly.... but we have to learn to submit to the whisperings of the Holy Ghost and be meek and humble and patient (Mosiah 3:19) that is a key to happiness and success. The sweet thing was that a few days later Elder Magill and I gave a presentation together at a leadership conference and President was super impressed and he congratulated us on how good of a job we did in public speaking and training the Elders :) and now I don't mumble on the phone (most the time) haha still got work to do sometimes haha. 

The second event of losing the cell phone was a wake up call to my companion and I. It was a consequence for us of being less focused and not obeying with Exactness. Now by no means am I saying that we were being way crazy and disobedient no, no, no of course not. Just that due to being in the office so much and having to stay up late some nights stressing over houses, sick missionaries, and tons of other urgent things... the two of us had forgotten a little bit of the reason we are here- to bring souls to Christ. Also we sometimes didn't follow the missionary schedule with exactness and were late at times. That's why we lost the phone. President Amaya wisely taught us once that if we are focused 100% on the work and obeying with EXACTNESS, then we will always have the Spirit strongly with us to warn us of any little thing like losing a cell phone. If we had been 100% focused and obedient we would've felt a prompting of the Spirit and gone back right away for the phone and wouldn't have lost it. Simple and true that being 100% obedient is easier than being 99% obedient :) and the painful and humiliating experience of losing our cell phone reminded us of that lesson very strongly! I'm not saying that we should run around losing cell phones to learn lessons but I do know that the price of a cell phone doesn't compare with the worth of being able to obey exactness and always count with the guidance of the Holy Ghost. Therefore I see that experience as a blessing :) I am thankful for the opportunity to once again obey with exactness! D&C 90:24 Learn from every experience!

Love,

Elder Remington

The 8 Attributes of a Successful Zone

Family and friends,

Ok everyone I have finally polished up the 8 attributes enough that it is ready to send… its still a work in progress but this is a close to final product. Before sharing this I have to say that I don’t deserve the credit for any of these ideas. This list is a compilation of various ideas and experiences that I have acquired over many months of missionary work through simply observing, asking, practicing, and learning. These ideas and techniques come from many great minds of the Ecuador Guayaquil North Mission such as Elder Linares, Elder Vielma, Elder Lopez, Elder Rios, Elder Ayala, Elder Carrillo, Elder Tibanlombo, Elder Muñoz, Elder Magill, of course President Amaya, and countless others that are too many to name. Likewise much of these strategies and ideas come from my wonderful mother and father and above all there are many that came directly from my Heavenly Father through whisperings of the Holy Ghost. Thus the only thing that I get credit for is being a good observer, having a strong desire to learn and improve, and for writing all these ideas down and applying them. I am truly grateful to my Father in Heaven for blessing me to know so many wonderful people who have helped me in so many ways. I thank all who have helped me to create this and sincerely hope that these attributes can help all who read them and apply them. I believe strongly that the basic principles in this list can be applied to any and all aspects of life. Obviously there are some parts that are specifically for future and current missionaries (especially zone leaders) but that doesn’t mean that the ideas and basic principles can’t be adapted and applied to anyone in any situation. Whether you want to be a better student, parent, coach, teacher, employer, employee, team member, brother, sister, or grandparent I promise that these principle will bless you and help you be more successful in all that you do. These are eternal principles and all 8 of these attributes are attributes that our Heavenly Father possess and perfectly masters. I know that he desire all of us to obtain them and perfect them as well. They are a key part of becoming more like His beloved son Jesus Christ. Enjoy and let me know what you all think I’d love to get feedback. 

Love,

Elder Remington 

8 Attributes of a Successful Zone

1. Unity: Be one in thought, desire, and purpose.

                      

(a)   Always have the mindset that we are all a team!

(b)  Have companionship exchanges frequently to ensure solid baptismal dates and get to know all of your missionaries. On exchanges teach them correct principles and be an example, but most of all take a sincere interest in them asking what they like, what are their plans and dreams, how are their families, etc. Remember their names and the details of their lives and the stories they tell you and then ask them specific questions about things they told you. Help them feel important and validate in all that you do. This will increase the confidence, love, and respect the missionaries have in you. It will also assure that they are motivated to work hard.

(c)  Have group prayer and fast as a Zone for the names of all the people who have baptismal dates for that week, and their challenges for all those people. All the missionaries then pray for those investigators. (3 Nephi 27:1 and Alma 17:2-3)

(d)  Before going to the district meetings, briefly meet together as a Zone and review the Zone’s progress with the monthly goal (how many baptisms you’ve had so far in each sector, how many baptismal dates you have in each sector, and how well you are prepared for the following month as well).  Use this time to congratulate those who have had great results in baptisms, church attendance, and lots of baptismal dates. Consider giving out little prizes to motivate them, and asking those who have had success to share with the Zone advice of what they have done to have such success. This should be a brief but inspiring meeting in which everyone is on the same page and leaves more excited about reaching the goal. (D&C 38:27)

(e)  In Zone or District meetings, show unity by having everyone sit in a semi-circle.  Some missionaries like to sit in the back or all in scattered parts of the room. Make sure everyone is seated together in a way that shows unity.  Think of Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, it’s that same kind of idea, that everyone feels that they are equals, that they are important and that they all contribute to the same great cause. (Moses 7:18)

(f)  Talk in terms of unity. Never tell your missionaries, "Hey you guys have to do this" or "You’re doing this wrong" or "Why did you do that?" This makes the missionaries feel like you are trying to command them and eliminates feelings of unity and promotes feelings of anger, irritation, stubbornness, pride, and resentment.  Always speak in terms of a team using the words, ¨we¨ and ¨us¨, for example:  "Let's do this” ...  “We need to improve in that” ... “How can we all apply this?” … “We did a great job on that.”  See the big difference? This is a small detail but it’s magical and it works great to foster greater unity, love, respect, loyalty, and a sense that we are all a team. (2 Nephi 33:12)

(g) Remember that it all starts with your companionship as zone leaders. You both have to be an example for everyone else in the way you communicate, work, and laugh together. Your companionship must be exemplar in unity, service, and obedience so that all the rest can follow and it will be contagious for the whole zone.

2. Diligence: Steady, consistent, earnest, and energetic effort in doing the Lord’s      

work… (working) persistently and with great effort and care. (PMG 121)

(a)   Focus and concentrate all your efforts on your objective as a missionary:  “Invite others to come unto Christ by helping the receive the Restored Gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end.”  As a part of this, completing your monthly goal as a Zone should be your passion and every waking thought. In everything you do, try to think about how to improve and better pass your goal while walking, eating, studying, taking a shower.  Every part of your day should be designed to better reach that goal.  Have a strong hunger to baptize. (PMG 10)

(b)  Work, Work, Work. There really is nothing that substitutes hard work. In the mission you can either be freight or haul freight. Haul freight and help all the missionaries in your zone haul freight too. Working hard avoids distractions, avoids boredom, avoids temptations, keeps you focused, and keeps you happy. There’s nothing better than coming home from a long hard day of work! (PMG 128)

(c) Be willing to make sacrifices (comfort, time, effort). For example you might get along with your companion a lot better than other missionaries in you zone but even still you will sacrifice being with your companion for many days to do companionship exchanges because you know it will help the zone baptize more and that’s worth it to you. There are countless examples like this one but the principle is always the same that there is nothing more important to you than being efficient in the Lord’s work.

3. Love: Feeling of deep devotion, concern, and affection. (True to the Faith 96)

(a)  If you love what we do ... you will do it well J

(b)  Lavish them with praise and appreciation for all they do. Give specific compliments and serve them frequently. See them not as they are but as they can become and help them recognize and reach the potential they have. Apply this wonderful advice from President Eyring with all your missionaries. ¨Every person is different and has a different contribution to make. No one is destined to fail. As you seek revelation to see gifts God sees in those you lead in the priesthood—particularly the young—you will be blessed to lift their sights to the service they can perform. With your guidance, those you lead will be able to see, want, and believe they can achieve their full potential for service in God’s kingdom.¨ (Help Them Aim High).

(c)  Pray specifically naming all the missionaries in your Zone, asking specific things for each missionary, and then writing the thoughts and feelings that come to mind and heart (PMG 97). This is the key to lead your zone by revelation and become a truly inspired leader because you don’t know the exact needs and challenges of all your missionaries but God does, praying in this way gives you access to that information and that helps you lead in a very personal and effective way (3 Nephi 3:19). Really care about each of your missionaries and their temporal, spiritual, and emotional welfare. Most of all help to keep their spirits high, this is a high priority. Be willing to defend and protect your missionaries from all danger that lowers their spirits or focus.

4. Obedience: The submission of our will to God’s will.

            (a)  The First Law of Heaven (D & C 130:20-21) obey and be blessed! It really is that simple.

         

(b)  Enjoy the spiritual guidance and support to direct the work. Have peace of mind and a clean conscience in all you do. Understand that all other attributes will be in vain if you don’t learn to master this because without obedience you won’t have the Spirit and without the Spirit you won’t have success. (PMG 176 Presidente Benson)

        

(c) Never hesitate to correct disobedient actions or inappropriate attitudes or comments but always remember that it is important to do it in the opportune moment and in private. Do it with love and with scriptures and they will learn and change. (D&C 121:43)

5. Organization:  Organize yourselves; prepare every needful thing; and establish a house, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God; (D&C 88:119)

(a)   Daily planner and area book must be updated daily. The way you use these inspired materials is an evidence of you love and dedication to the people you are serving and if you use these materials well you will be guided in your efforts and they’ll become a source of revelation for how to serve better in your sector. Teach your missionaries how to use them well and motivate them to always do it. In planning always put specific names of people in the plan and the back up plan to use time wisely. Never put ¨tracting¨ as a plan or backup plan. Tracting is only a backup to the backup plan or should be done when prompted by the Spirit.

(b)   Organize all baptismal dates of each sector in the zone in a chart in a notebook or on a whiteboard (but make sure it is easily accessible and visible in the house so that you can look it over often) and update it always. Love that chart and look it over and think about it with your companion. This is a great moment for revelation and decision making about where to go for companionship exchanges or baptismal interviews. Make sure that each sector is the zone is strong and baptizing.

(c)   Work with members. It’s the key to success in always baptizing and having converts that stay active. Make sure everyone in your zone has good relationships of trust with all the members. Use the progress report, attend ward council, attend missionary coordination, and communicate regularly with the ward mission leader. Be a good friend to the members; make them laugh but always with a balance. Share 10-15 minute messages after meals and then ask for referrals. Plan Family Home Evenings with them and nonmember friends. Be a joy to be around and make them excited about missionary work!

(d)   Work smart. Many missionaries will find a lot of people, then teach all those people, then baptize all those people, then give them the follow-up lessons for new converts, and then have to start all over again. That’s why a lot of sectors or zones will pass the goal one month and fail the next because there is no consistency. Maintain a balance of constantly doing all 4 at the same time. Most of all constantly remind and motivate the missionaries to find new investigators without stopping, always always always. Also don’t just focus on the current month but also plan ahead and already be preparing well for the future so that you can start the next month well hitting the ground running and not having to scramble to start all over with a new program.

(e)   Use the members to help bring lots of investigators to church and to make sure they have a spiritual experience there and that they feel welcome and comfortable. Follow very specifically #4 in the Weekly Planning Session (PMG 148) its super solid. Make a little chart of who will ¨take these people to church, who will greet them, and who will sit with them during meetings.¨ Then put a name under each part and plan with the members so that it happens. For example:

Investigators              Bring              Greet              Sit By

                                    1.

                        2.

                        3.

(f)    Understand and apply the proper doctrine of goal setting. Balance is the key. A goal that is too low doesn’t help you reach your potential by stretching and really working and sweating for the goal, it permits you to just coast and stunts your growth. Likewise a goal that is too high and unrealistic only discourages you because you feel like no matter how hard you work you always come up short and in the end you baptize less than you would with a smaller goal because you work less hard because you feel like it doesn’t matter you won’t reach your goal anyway. Make sense? Therefore, it is necessary to base yourself in solid goal setting principles found in PMG 146 especially this part, ¨Focus on people. Although you will use numbers, be able to support your numbers with the names of the people where possible.¨ Trust me that this is golden and its one of the biggest secrets to completing every single goal you set. Thus when you are setting your monthly goal for baptisms if you have 3 people with a baptismal date and you put a goal of 2 than you lack faith but if you put 6 your faith is dead because faith without works is dead and your works are the baptismal dates that you set in preparation for the month. Ultimately the most effective way to work is that the number of baptismal dates you have should be equal to the goal you set. If you want to set a high goal… WORK HARD! Don’t just set high goals when you haven’t done the sufficient work to deserve that high goal because then you’re just setting yourself up for failure. Work hard, have lots of investigators with baptismal dates and then put the high goal but now it a good goal because your faith has works to back it up. I can’t tell you how many missionaries don’t understand this principle and how much pain it would save them if they did. Understand it and use it. It isn’t complicated. It’s simply applying PMG and it works.    

                 

6. Communication: Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. (1 Corinthians 1:10)

(a)   As we learn from the scripture above, speaking to each other and communicating is a key to being joined together in the same mind and united as one. Have brief Leadership Meetings with the District leaders after each district meeting. Give them feedback and suggestions on their district meetings. Train them how to be better leaders. Encourage and inspire them. Discuss the needs, goals, and specific plans for zone that week such as companionship exchanges or interviews. Especially be watchful that all missionaries are lively, healthy, obedient, and they are getting along with their companion. Discuss difficulties and problems in the zone and find solutions.

(b)   Use text messages to encourage, inform, and receive important information from the zone.

(c)   Give feedback frequently and be positive and specific. Give feedback with love and receive feedback with humility.

(d)   Call the missionaries during the day to motivate them and in friendly subtle way remind them to set baptismal dates and find new investigators.

(e) On exchanges make that kind of feedback for 5 essential things:  the agenda, the folder, the daily report, Christ-like attributes (using sincere compliments PMG chapter 6) and their teaching skills (studying PMG Chapter 10 together and then having practices based specifically in what they most need). Your missionaries need to see you as their leader and at the same time their friend. They should follow you out of love and loyalty and not out of fear or intimidation.

7. Quality Teaching: Now you as teachers are not being sent out to teach new doctrine. You’re to teach the old doctrines, not so plain that they can just understand, but you must teach the doctrines of the Church so plainly that no one can misunderstand. (PMG 193 Harold B. Lee)

(a)  Immerse ourselves in PMG by studying it daily, looking up scripture references, doing the study activities (few actually do them but they’re great for applying what you learn), and living what you learn. Watch ¨The District¨ videos and analyze them with your companion. Consider sharing some of them for part of a district or zone meeting to emphasize certain principles.  

(b)   Always have practices using real investigators in companionship study and District meetings.

(c)   Teach the importance of always setting baptismal dates in the first or second lesson at the latest. Be an example in boldly doing that and helping others do it as well in the companionship exchanges. Help missionaries get over their fear of setting a baptismal date. It should become natural to them and they should be very confident and comfortable in doing it. Remember that in His first visit to the Nephites, the first principle that Jesus taught was baptism… we are His representatives thus we should teach as He taught. (3 Nephi 11)

(d)  Evaluate teaching after each lesson and practice based in the points found in PMG 21.

8. Attitude: A missionary with a good attitude produces good results.

(a)   The thoughts we sow will, accompanied by faith and hard work, will be the fruits we reap.

Think about baptisms and you will baptize.

(b)  Be brave, straightforward, bold, and confident with other missionaries, investigators, and members by never accepting no for an answer or throwing in the towel easily. Never be a creature of your circumstances, be a CREATOR of your circumstances.

(c)  Always have a smile and be grateful for the extraordinary privilege of being a missionary!  Know and never forget that you are currently involved in the most important work on the face of the planet. Understand that you are at the right place, at the right time, doing the right thing and have joy in what you do J (Alma 36:23-25).

(e)   Follow the prophetic counsel to see men not as they are but how they can become. Have a positive attitude when talking about others. Don’t focus on the flaws and weakness of others, help them strengthen those weaknesses. Be positive and think big. See their strengths and help them reach their potential. Develop the capacity to look at your companions, missionaries, members, investigators, and everyone you meet as a child of God with divine qualities. Remember that if a child is told all his life that he is dumb, selfish, and will never amount to anything in his life then it is most likely that he will live that way. Likewise if you raise a child with love and care, praising him for all that he does and telling him how wonderful he is then it is likely he will live in such a way. People almost always live up or down to the expectations you set for them. Set high expectations for all your missionaries and help them live up to them J  

Doing Well

From Elder J. Remington's Mother:

Hi,

You may be wondering why you haven't received a general letter from Jacoby for several weeks, well I'm wondering the same thing.  I guess being A.P. is a lot busier than Elder Remington imagined, and he just doesn't seem to have the time to write much at all.  In the past four weeks all he has sent is a few sentences saying that he is happy, and he is learning a lot.  What more could a mom want, right?

He did also explain that he is busy writing and perfecting a list to send out to missionaries in his mission and in other missions called, "8 Attributes for Zone Leaders." He is doing it in both English and Spanish so the translation part is taking a while to get it just right.

Anyway, just wanted you to know that Elder Remington is happy and doing well.  

Thanks for all your love and support!

Darlyn

P.S. I am sending him a birthday package soon, since it takes 8 weeks for him to receive packages. [His birthday is November 1st]. I would love to put in the package birthday letters and wishes from his friends.  If you want to send me an email message I will put it in the package for him.  Or if you'd rather just send him a birthday card on your own, here is his address:

Elder Jacoby Remington

Mission Ecuador Guayaquil Norte

Edificio Mallorca 4 Piso

Casilla 16160

Guayaquil, Ecuador

First Weeks on the Job

Family and Friends,

These first few weeks in my new assignment have been very busy, educational, interesting, exciting, stressful, and spiritual all in one. This assignment has lots of mixed emotions. It is a great privilege and great responsibility at the same time. I think back on how the way that I completely admired and looked up to the assistants when I first started the mission and I feel a lot of pressure and honestly I can feel really inadequate at times... but then I remember that God is the one who makes the assignments and that if He has called me to this assignment then its because He has provided the way for me to do it well :) simple but true (1 Nephi 3:7). My companion and I have been talking about how we have to find a balance between learning from the failures and successes and past assistants but never comparing ourselves. Comparing is always wrong because either you put other people down or you beat yourself up (pride or insecurity) and both are very destructive to our spiritual progress. We've got a good rhythm going with the way were working together and its really a wonderful experience to learn from one another and grow together. Its a huge blessing to be such great friends because we really trust in each other and its natural to communicate and always give feedback on things we need to change or improve. At the end of each day in daily planning we go over what we did well that day and how we could've done better. Then we set goals and plans for specific ways that we will improve the next day. Its simple, practical, and effective. President Amaya always says that you should improve just 1% everyday and that way in 100 days you'll have become a different person, new and improved :) and after 2 years you will have become about 730% better if you do it right... thats why theres no going back to your nets when you go home. You've got to be a new person and maintain that improvement and conversion to the Lord. Being companions with Elder Magill has really helped me in that process. 

Last Sunday night, President Amaya gave an amazing talk at a fireside in the Quevedo Sur stake center (my old zone) and he decided to take us with him :) it was a wonderful experience! A few weeks before the fireside he planned something special with two zones as a little surprise for all the youth there. In the middle of his talk he said that he wanted to share something with everyone, he called up a missionary to play the piano. Right as he started to play the prelude of "Called to Serve" Elder Magill and I burst open the back door and 38 missionaries came marching in to the chapel singing with great enthusiasm the classic ¨"Called to Serve" .... wow talk about goosebumps and a super strong spirit that was felt by EVERYONE there :) tears were rolling down the cheeks of several people and everyone there had a huge smile as we sang proudly and happily with voices of thunder :) we walked from the back of the chapel up to the front where everyone could see us and then on the final verse two sister missionaries directed for everyone there to sing together... words cannot fully describe how happy I felt in that moment especially since this was my good old zone Quevedo Sur where I first started my mission (in Empalme) and where I had just barely left 2 weeks ago (Quevedo 1) therefore while I was singing I could see the faces of several converts, friends, people that I had interviewed to be baptized and seen grow, and many good people from all parts of the zone :) it was awesome. Then after singing President Amaya directed us in reciting together D&C 4 and then we all left together in an orderly manner. It was very powerful and there were several young men and young women who entered that chapel without any real desire of serving a mission and left from that experience with a fierce determination to serve a mission as soon as possible. After the talk I was able to chat with several of the people from various parts of the stake and it was a very special night for me :) Quevedo Sur will always have a special place in my heart. 

I continue to be amazed by how much this work is completely directed by the Spirit. Elder Magill and I decided the other day to go to the district meeting in Orquideas and when we got there they said that President Amaya would be arriving later that day to do interviews... coincidence.. I think not. Likewise we had transfers the other day and it was INCREDIBLE to see how inspired President really is and then later after the transfers we saw even more how every little change worked out just right for some people that were having problems and needed help. It really is a grand privilege to work closely with President Amaya. Whenever we are traveling together in the car rides I always like to chat with him and ask him tons of questions about leadership, missionary work, life skills, gospel principles, and all sorts of topics to be able to learn as much as I can from. Thats always something I've been good at haha asking lots of questions... I suppose it can be annoying to some people but personally its helped me out a lot in my life. Since I first started the mission I've always done it and I've learned a lot from simply asking questions. When I was in the mtc I'd ask questions about Spanish and talk a ton in Spanish to the workers and teachers there (thats how they realized that I should be in the advanced class and thats why I was able to go to Ecuador six weeks early), when I first got to the mission office I asked a ton of questions with the assistants there and to this day I remember very well the different suggestions and advice they gave me, in all the zones I've been in I always asked a ton of questions with my zone leaders and learned a lot from each one of them, and likewise from various members in the wards I've served that i really respect during meals with them I don't like to just eat... I ask a lot of question and learn. Its a good habit that has helped me out a lot and I recommend it to all. Talk more. Ask questions and learn. My dad calls this quality being a chatty Kathy haha but he too recognizes that it is important. 

I continue to deepen my appreciation for the marvelous book How to Win Friends and Influence People and the principles that I apply from that book continue to bring me success and help gain the trust and love of the missionaries here. They are lots of little things that make a huge difference. For example, there is a great part that I will forever remember that says "Remember that a person's name is, to that person, the sweetest and most important sound in any language.¨¨ That is so true. Just think about it everyone and imagine this situation. You're at a birthday party and then your friend introduces you to someone and you talk with them briefly but then they have to leave. Two weeks pass and then in the grocery store you see them and they come up to you and say ¨¨Oh hey how's it going? (awkward pause and gesture with hands) Remind me your name again¨¨ You say your name. ¨¨Oh thats right oh yeah¨¨ 

Ok now compare that situation with the following. You're at a birthday party and then your friend introduces you to someone and you talk with them briefly but then they have to leave. Two weeks pass and then in the grocery store you see them, they give you a big smile, come up to you and say ¨¨(Your name), how's it going?¨¨ Big difference huh. If they say your name it means they remembered you. It means you're important. Everyone wants to feel important and be validated. Remember people's names and it will take you far. Elder Magill and I try to do lots of little things to help the missionaries feel our love and feel and know that they are important. We made flash cards of the names of the new missionaries arriving and took the time and effort to study them all and memorize them during the week. When we were receiving all the 31 new missionaries that arrived this week we were able to give them a firm handshake, a warm smile, say their name, and welcome them to the mission :) Also we made a excel list of all the people who have birthdays this month and we call them the day of their birthday to sing to them and chat for a bit. They always smile and laugh and you can tell it means a lot to them. Who doesn't want to be remembered? Little things go a long way. 

I love you all and hope you are happy. Actively involve yourself in the work of salvation and you will be truly happy :)

Elder Remington 

New Companion :) New Opportunities

It was a surprise to get this email today, since it's not Monday, nevertheless it's always great to hear from our missionary.  He doesn't say it in his letter, but it sounds like he is the A.P. now.  For those of you who don't know a lot about missionaries, A.P. means he is the Assistant to the President of the Mission.  So, he and his new companion, along with the Mission President, will be in charge of their whole mission.  He sounds excited about his new assignment.  Thanks for all your love and support to our missionaries! ~Elder Remington's Mother

Family and Friends,

Elder Remington and Elder Magill

My new companion is Elder Magill :) We've been good buds for a long time and we always talked about how sweet it would be to some day be companions... that day has come. For those of you who have been paying attention, you know what that means. He is truly a great friend and a wonderful example of Christlike love, obedience, happiness, diligence in the Lord´s work, and he has a positive attitude that's contagious. We're very similar in our way of doing things and we work really well together. I'm excited to learn a lot from him and work hard together. Most of all it is truly a privilege to be able to work so closely with President Amaya and get to know him super well. We've had some long car rides with him while going to visit some of the zones and the conversations are super intense :) I've always known that he was a very wise and inspired man of God but I never knew how much he really loves us all. Now that I get to work with him regularly and I see all that he does for us I have a much deeper appreciation for him and I'm grateful to the Lord for blessing us with such a wonderful mission president. He truly is inspired of God and I know that I have a ton to learn from him. I'm excited for the opportunity to learn and grow even more. 

One of my favorite things about my new assignment is that we have the chance to visit all the zones and work directly with the missionaries and help them out in their sectors working with them and teaching with them. Also when we travel with President Amaya we get to have little meetings with all of them and review their area book and daily planners to give some feedback and encouragement. Since the first review we did together, Elder Magill and I are always on the same page and really feed off each other in helping them improve and motivating them at the same time. It's amazing how the Spirit directs this work. On Monday our first day together I had an impression that we need to go visit zone Duran South and Elder Magill felt that we needed to go to Duran North. Before we had the chance to plan with President where we had thought of visiting he called us and said that he wanted us to join him to visit Duran North... and then the next day he said we should go to Duran South :) we were all on the same page. While we were we saw several situations of missionaries who really needed our help and we were able to make a difference. 

At BYU with over 30,000 students, Elder Magill and I just so happened to have two classes together and got to be great friends. With over 400 missions in the entire world that we could've been called to, we just so happened to be called to the exact same mission. Of all the dates that we could've been assigned to for entering the mtc, we just so happened to be assigned to enter the MTC on the exact same day. And in a mission with a little less than 200 missionaries, we just so happened to be called to be companions. I really doubt that all of that is coincidence and I'm quite sure that the Lord had His hand in it all and that he and I have a great work to do here in Ecuador Guayquil North Mission. He told me that while they were making transfers with President Amaya he had a neat experience. Right as President moved my name next to Elder Magill to be companions he felt a calm assurance and joy that it was the right thing. I too have felt confirmations of the Spirit that this is inspired of God and I'm not sure what the Lord has planned for us to accomplish but I'm excited to get to work and find out. 

Love, 

Elder Remington