WASHINGTON D.C. SOUTH MISSION: You've Got Mail

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

You've Got Mail

There is a lot of mail that goes through our mission office. Over 100 pieces arrive each day. Our Sister Holmgren then readdresses each piece and forwards it to the missionary. We keep our mail man very busy to say the least.. He actually comes twice a day.

But the most amazing mail is what arrives on President Albright's e-mail. Each P-day the missionaries get to use the computer and send home their e-mails. Along with that, they are assigned to write an e-mail to the mission President. (this is church wide policy). This is their opportunity to tell Pres. Albright how things are going in their area, with their investigators, with their companions, how their family is doing, ask questions, tell experiences or miracles, and voice any other concerns they may have. They also send in their Key Indicators (which is another whole post).

So each Wed. around 11:00 the e-mails start arriving and by afternoon, Pres. Albright has about 160 e-mails to read and respond to. At 5 to 10 min. per e-mail this means if Pres. responds to about 23 letters each day it will take between 2 to 4 hours per day all week in order to finish all the emails by the next Tues evening in time for the new letters to start arriving the next morning. This is really one of the greatest parts of a mission presidents job. It is where he can get great information and communicate with each of his missionaries personally. President Albright tries very hard to respond to each letter even if with only a line or two. This is so they will know he is really reading each of their letters and is concerned about each one of them individually. Pres. Albright loves each of them and I can tell by the time and concern he puts into these letters how important it is to him. Thanks Mark for doing all you do.

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Stephanie Smith Fireside

Last Sunday evening we were privileged to attend a fireside in the mission. It was held at a beautiful old chapel in McLean. One of the pictures shows the inside of the chapel and the wood beams on the very steep-pitched ceiling of the room. The gym is under the chapel in the basement. I have never seen a floorplan like this one. Very unique. This fireside hosted Sister Stephanie Smith. Her story was in the Ensign sometime in the last year. She has a remarkable conversion story. She has held very high government positions and at one time was 5th in command at the CIA. She said something at the first of her talk that I wrote down: she said, "I've been on some remarkable adventures. But no adventure in my lifetime has been as extraordinary and life-changing as my path to conversion and baptism in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints. She then told about her introduction to the church. She was at a time in her life with tremendous worldly success achieved after clawing her way to the top without any regard for others, and she felt her life was shattering into a million pieces. At this time she turned to a colleague she admired who was a member of the church. He told her two things. That her Heavenly Father knew her by name and loved her and that Heavenly Father had a plan for her success. The next day he sent her a map to the temple visitor center. She told how when the missionary sisters came to her door, she didn't think she could relate to these young women. The first thing they did was ask if they could sing to her. They sang,"I am a Child of God." That was the beginning of her conversion, a long a beautiful story. You can read it on the web at Meridian Magazine. Her testimony was a real inspiration to me. There were over 350 people there and she does a great missionary work speaking to investigators. What a blessing to have heard her and felt her spirit.

Chelsea Our recent Convert

We have met the sweetest young sister. Chelsea is amazing. She joined the church during the last year and has an incredible testimony also. She never misses any missionary function and we were able to take her with us to the Stephanie Smith Fireside. She also came to the mission home a few weeks ago and we had family night. She gave the lesson and is was unbelievable. She is hoping to go on a mission next year. What a great young woman. This is a picture of her with Elders Ganaway and Gifford.