Last year it was Faith Factor.
This year was The Amazing gRACE!
Each year we have had fun putting together a Specialized Training that focuses on an important aspect of missionary work and presented in an "out of the box" way. This year we decided to focus on Elder Bednar's talk "Becoming a Preach My Gospel Missionary." In his talk he speaks of 5 Requirements. We developed 5 energy-driven challenges-one for each of the 5 requirements. At the end of the challenge zones participated in a 5-minute debriefing session where they looked up scriptures, read quotes and discussed in detail each of the 5 requirements.
We couldn't do these activities with the arms, hands, brains for our senior couples. Each couple helped so much and I think they had fun along the way.
We started advertising several months ahead, the Assistants made a really fun video to get everyone hyped. We invited zones to participate in a zone t-shirt contest reflecting the theme.
Missionaries arrived in their proselyting clothes and changed into their P-Day clothes for the activity. It was so much fun to see their creative work with their t-shirts. Every zone decided to participate in the t-shirt contest.
DAY 1--Held in Ilagan
DAY 1--Held in Ilagan
Tuguegarao South Zone
Burgos Zone
Ilagan Zone
Tuguegarao North Zone
Roxas Zone
Roxas Zone
DAY 2-Held in Santiago
Alicia Zone
Solano Zone
Solano Zone
Cauayan Zone (Their t-shirts said SWAG [saved with amazing grace]
Santiago North Zone
The charge was to create a t-shirt that reflected our theme: The Amazing gRACE to becoming a Preach My Gospel Missionary. We were amazed at the creativity and thought that went into their t-shirts. Each missionary got to vote for two zone others than their own. At the end of the gRACE we announced the t-shirt contest winners who received a little handwoven coin purse with enough money to purchase an ice cream cone.
During the activity, zones collected a puzzle piece upon the completion of each requirement challenge and debriefing period. The first three teams to gather their puzzle pieces and find the Winner's Mat won prizes.
During the activity teams had to find these signs and then participate in the challenge for each requirement.
Requirement #1(The Gottfredson's)
PMG Missionaries Understand that they serve and represent Jesus Christ
Activity: Scripture Search for names of Christ/ Word Search to find those names
Requirement #2(The Assistants)
PMG Missionaries Are Worthy
Zones divided in half and completed these challenges.
I Stand ALL A---Mazed! –Each member of the team will get through a maze without touching the rope (if it’s touched they must start over!)
Be Ye Clean—Members are given a rag with a stain. Each member must take a turn to wash it clean. If they can’t do it after so many minutes they can ask for a clue. (For the clue they knew they had to find their priesthood leader who could help them--It was President Carlos who traded their stained rag with a clean one.)
Requirement #3 (The Shaners)
Preach My Gospel missionaries treasure up the words
of eternal Life. This requirement will be a treasure hunt done in four parts as follows:
Part 1: ALL
ZONE ACTIVITY
Part 2: DISTRICT ACTIVITY (districts will be doing
different activities)
Part 3: DISTRICT ACTIVITY (districts will be doing
different activities)
Part 4: ALL ZONE ACTIVITY
As you complete each activity you will earn a scripture clue. After
you’ve earned all six scripture clues you will huddle as a zone and solve the
scripture puzzle. Give your answer (which will be a scripture reference) to the
hosts and if you are correct, you will receive your Debriefing CardHere are some of the photos taken from the Requirement #3 Activities
Following the clues missionaries found their next activity.
Requirement #4 (The Mills)
PMG Understand the Holy Ghost is the Ultimate and True Teacher
Missionaries were given a host of objects and a few minutes to use the object to help investigators overcome a concern. Then role play in a spirit-filled exercise.
Requirement #5(The Lakers)
Preach My Gospel Missionaries: Understand Teaching is much more than talking and telling.
Activity: 3 Minute to
Win It Challenges and a debriefing session to help missionaries understand this important concept. The challenges were: Open Your Mouths (oreo challenge); Lift Up Your Voice ( Panty hose with orange in one leg knocks over bottle with words under it. One missionaries calls out the words while zone unscrambles the words and forms a sentence) and Quick to Observe (study a table full of 20 missionary related items and recall as many as you can)
Quick to Observe
Mandatory Merienda (All zone members were required to sit at our merienda station and eat a banana and drink at least half a bottle of water with a flavor pack to add. At the conclusion they received a puzzle piece.
The first three teams to complete their puzzle and run to the Amazing gRACE winner's mat received prizes. Everyone had a lot of fun and more important--everyone learned more about becoming a Preach My Gospel Missionary. This month during their zone training and district meetings their leaders are focusing on each of the requirements to solidify their understanding of each of these important principles.
Winning Teams--(Oops I missed one of the teams on Day 1)
Day 1
And the Day 2 t-shirt winners (who wore matching jackets instead of t-shirts)
The BEST surprise of all? The morning of Day 1 there was a buzz at our gate and a wonderful visitor came to spend two days helping us with our training--no other than Elder (now Brother) Cajumban, a beloved former missionary and assistant to the President. He helped us out both days and we loved seeing him and hearing about his adventures as an RM.
