Rome East/West Specialized Training

December 3, 2013

Because December is such a hectic month, and we have two senior couples arriving and two missionaries departing prior to Christmas, we decided to combine the two Rome Zones.  It makes a large group, but it doesn't require any more travel for the missionaries than it normally would.

The approved agenda is to hold a Zone Conference in each zone once a quarter or every other transfer and then to hold Specialized Training every other transfer or once a quarter.  This transfer we are doing Specialized Training.  It's the first time we have used the current format and were anxious to see how it turns out, but we were pleased.  Instead of meeting 5 or 6 hours like we do at Zone Conference, the meeting is only two hours long.  The goal is to not have any missionary travel more than 2 hours each way.  Because of the vast area our mission covers, it isn't always possible to do that, but we try whenever possible to accomplish the goal.

The agenda for Specialized Training is decided by the Zone Leaders and Sister Training Leaders in each zone.  They are the ones who are really in tune with the needs of the missionaries in their zones.  We are there to help them in anyway we can.  The Zone Leaders do most of the teaching with the assistance of Sister Training Leaders and District Leaders.  Sometimes we are asked to teach a certain section or answer questions.  This time around we asked for 30 minutes to do a special presentation.

President Waddoups and I centered our adestramento (teaching) on the importance of teaching how simple the gospel is.  Most investigators are very childlike in their knowledge of religious teachings.

3 Nephi 9:22

"Therefore, whoso repenteth and cometh unto me as a little child, him will I receive, for of such is the kingdom of God.  Behold, for such I have laid down my life, and have taken it up again; therefore repent, and come unto me ye ends of the earth, and be saved."

We dressed the missionaries up in simple costumes and re-enacted the story of the birth of Christ just like they do in primary so we could help them understand how they can teach simply and still have the spirit with them in abundance.