Dear family and friends,
This week has been interesting.
Firstly we had our Zone Leader counsel thingy on Tuesday, so we had
to get up bright and early to head out on a 2 hour bus right to Xalapa,
which was fun.
Then of course we had our meeting, which went well and we enjoyed
it. We got lots of good guidance on how to help our zones to have more
success and how to take care of our investigators better, etc.
Then on Wednesday, we had our zone class, and a pretty normal day afterward.
We talked a lot in zone class about something we learned in the counsel that I'd like to share.
Firstly, it was kind of funny because Sister Lopez (President's
wife) told us that those of us who were going home in the next few
months should pay special attention to what she was going to talk about
to apply it afterward as well. Her topic was ''The language of love''.
Imagine all of the Zone Leaders, the majority of us that have 20
months or more in the mission already. We all just looked at each other
and loved, but she moved on applying everything to our companions and
fellow missionaries, and it was way cool.
There are five different basic types of the language of love. All
of us speaks our own language of love, and sometimes we don't understand
the other languages. For the same reason, sometimes we think that our
(applying this to the mission) companion doesn't love us and that we
don't matter to them. Or that our leaders don't love us, or our zone,
etc.
We have to learn all the languages and try to speak the language the corresponds to every person.
The five types are:
1. Encouraging words (realize that I'm just
translating/paraphrasing, for anyone that's already heard of this and
knows I'm not quoting exactly right). For example, ''Great job!'', ''I
love the way you teach... etc.'' ''You're doing awesome!'', etc. The
type of person that speaks this language is all about the words. Always
giving complements and helping others to feel loved and appreciated.
2. Quality time. The type of person that speaks this language likes
to spend time with the people they care about. They like to do
activities, talk together, etc.
3. Acts of service. The type of person that speaks this language
may not be much about words or activities, but rather serves the
people they care about. Cooking a meal, helping to clean, washing
dishes, etc.
4. Gifts. The type of person that speaks this language is all about
gifts. That doesn't mean expensive things, but rather means a thought
projected. For example, a creative note or letter, a flower (not really
applying to my companion in the mission now. Haha), a tie (hint-hint!
hahaha), etc.
5. Physical touch. The type of person that speaks this language
needs hugs, pats on the back, arms around the shoulder, etc. to
feel accepted, encouraged, and loved.
For each person there may be more than one language that we like to
speak, but the challenge is finding what each person speaks the most,
and SPEAKING THEIR LANGUAGE.
For example, in our zone there are some missionaries that are all
about quality time. I don't speak that language much. They're all about
the activities and telling stories, etc., while I am a little more
serious (believe it or not) and a little less excited about activities.
But now that I understand that, I need to try to speak their language
more and spend more quality time (without crossing any lines) with the
missionaries in my zone.
Fun activity time!
Those of you that are married or in a relationship, write down with
your spouse/couple which language you think they speak most and see how
you can speak that language better! Talk about it and get along,
y'all! =P
Those in the mission field, DO THIS WITH YOUR COMPANION, and whoever else you have responsability for. Trust me, it helps.
Well, other than all that jazz, the week went well and we enjoyed
our time here in the coooooldness of Teziutlán, Puebla. Hope you all are
having a great time in wherever you're at, and remember that God loves
you, whoever you are and in whatever situation. Sometimes He helps us
feel that through other people, experiences, or just a peace that comes
to our heart, but if we look for that love and more importantly, share
it, it'll change our lives.
I love you all as well and thank you for the changes you've all made in my life, big and small.
Elder DeFreese
p.s. Guess which language I speak and send me your thoughts!
I've learned to speak a few more out here, but there's one in
particular... =P
1. Catholic church in an old prison/museum thingy in Perote (about
an hour away, still in the zone), where we went last Monday to sight-see
a bit.
2. In this mission, the slang for going home (finishing the
mission) is ''dying''. So, seeing as how my companion and I are getting
closer to that point, our zone makes fun of us and calls us zombies,
etc. This gift was given us on Wednesday at the Zone Class we had. It's
''Pan de Muerto'' (bread of the dead) and some flowers that are customly
(is that a word?) used to put on the altar of loved ones that have
passed to the other side in these times of Día de Muertos (day of the
dead), which is from the 1st of November I believe to the 3rd or 4th,
who knows, I get confused. Haha
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