Giant Jenga!

The leaders this past week had a conference with the President. We had to make a few choices for the mission and talk about a few up coming events. 

Hermana Parkin and I were in charge of doing the activity. They gave us the theme of: How as leaders can we help missionaries that we serve reach their potential. A pretty detailed theme. Not like consecration or obedience or goal setting...petty detailed. So it was the theme for our street conversations for a while and we finally came up with the best idea!! JENGA

We came to the conclusion that the reason why so many missionaries can not progress in the mission is because of all of the demands the mission life gives us. The schedule, the rules, the goals we have to meet, the physical drain, getting out of your comfort zone and so much more.


 "Now these are the circumstances which attended them in their journeying, for they had many afflictions; they did suffer much, both in body and in mind, such as hunger, thirst and fatigue, and also much labor in the spirit." (Alma 17:5)

 But we also know that the gospel of Jesus Christ also gives us so many resources to overcome the demands. A source greater than what this world has to offer. 

So Hermana Parkin and I ran all over Concepcion to find cardboard boxes from a store that would lend them to us for free. We found them and the guy happened to be a man that I had contacted in Hualqui...I knocked on his door. His name is Ramon. We cut up a ton of boxes and made the lids and all that good stuff and made a huge Jenga.

We divided everyone up into 4 teams and kept score. The teams got two point for removing a box with one hand only. One point for removing a box with 2 hands. And the points were erased if it fell on your teams turn.

The second round was the same but they received one more point if they would name a demand that the mission gives us as the removed it. We explained how after that it was not enough to only recognize the struggles of the mission and leave the holes there but that we need to replace the holes with support. You can not keep placing one demand on top of another because they will break down and never be able to keep progressing but always start from ground one.

 33"Fear not to do good, my sons, for whatsoever ye sow, that shall ye also reap; therefore, if ye sow good ye shall also reap good for your reward.

 34 Therefore, fear not, little flock; do good; let earth and hell combine against you, for if ye are built upon my  rock, they cannot prevail.

 35 Behold, I do not condemn you; go your ways and sin no more; perform with soberness the work which I have   commanded you.

 36 Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not.   37 Behold the wounds which pierced my side, and also the prints of the nails in my hands and feet; be faithful,   keep my commandments, and ye shall inherit the kingdom of heaven. Amen."( D&C 6:33-37)

The assistance did not want to teach after our game because they said it would be too boring after something fun like that. So we kept going. But we were all on the same team and we had to do everything possible to keep it from falling while sharing ideas of resources to support the demands.