Elder Hixon: Five Hundred Minus Nine.... for now

(digging ditches with Skirk)

This one's going to be pretty short. This week flew by, but I have some pictures to make up.

We had a pretty exhausting week. We spent a lot of time at Red Cross helping because of the floods, and we unloaded something like 2-3 tons of milk between the 4 of us in less than an hour. It was fun overall, but exhausting because in addition to that we were busy inviting all of our members and everybody in the streets to come to a special church service Sunday that the whole mission was uniting for. We had a goal set in January to see 500 people at church across the mission in one week together before the end of June. That means of the 5 countries and 13 cities, we needed something like 80 more people. So we have been about that, and have been on track and climbing. Church attendance is one of the strongest indicators of people progressing and coming to Christ, and we are taking it seriously. Obviously with June being the month of invitations in Europe, and our last month for this goal and with President Rowe, it's cram time. We all pulled for this, did all we could leading up to thousands of people talked to daily, spending every waking minute either at Red Cross or inviting, taking shifts between the 6 of us, many exchanges so every area could be worked in by the 2 who stayed to work each day.

Then the last night was over. We had stayed out as late as possible within our guidelines and that was it. We had the chapel set up with chairs to overflowing, and we prayed harder and harder for the miracle we needed. We feel strongly about this, and we knew it could happen. We did everything we could do, but obviously all we could do wouldn't automatically make it happen. We needed more.

Sunday came, and not a single person who we contacted on the street and invited came. Not a one. However, less actives did, one named Branka who I've worked with for over a year and haven't seen at church once came and looked fantastic! She's a cute old baka and it was a miracle in and of itself.

The great miracle was that, even with our lack of "success," and with 12 active members gone, we still hit an all time high of 60!!! Members brought friends. That was the miracle God wanted us to see. That after all we had done to prove ourselves worthy and trustworthy to do the work He has asked us to do, HE provided the miracle, and we couldn't miss it.

Then came the phone call, and it was like a movie. We won our battle, but the war is far from over.

491.

We hit 491! Which is the highest it has ever been in these countries, but not 500! And what's worse is that Beograd alone could've snagged the other 9 what with our 12 members gone.

So now its 4th quarter game time.

Our big pull that we were working for, this "special Sunday" of meeting the Mormons that we all worked towards in order to all hit highs at the same time, has passed.

And we have 3 weeks left to make it happen.

Love you all, keep praying for the people here, and continue to join us in inviting others to "come and see" and partake of the Atonement of Christ and it's change. He came with healing in his wings, and we await His return, attending to His work with much haste.

-Elder Hixon