Every Monday morning President Brubaker sends an inspirational message to our missionaries via e-mail. It is there waiting for them to read when they write their weekly letter to the President and send their weekly email to their family. This is the letter he wrote our missionaries this week.
Dear Elders and Sisters,
As we travel from city to city for interviews, we have noticed these sheds or small hay barns. For the longest time we wondered why the four poles were sticking up into the air.
Recently we became aware of the answer … the roof moves up and down the poles as the hay is added to or taken away from the “barn”. In this way the roof is always securely covering the hay from the elements, regardless of the amount of hay in the barn at any given time.
This “barn” provides consistent protection amidst changing circumstances.
Let’s think of this roof as obedience to the mission rules, the white handbook and the promptings of the Spirit. If we are 100% obedient, it is like a strong watertight roof always there to protect us. Obedience shields us from the elements of the opposition. It lets us sleep well at night, knowing things are in order. When it is in place the wind of temptation has little effect on us. Best of all, like the hay, there will always be Spiritual Nourishment available to us as we are obedient.
On our missions, as in life, there will be changing circumstances. As we live close to the Spirit we will know how to adjust the ‘obedience roof’ and always live in such a way as to please our Father in Heaven.
Keeping the prescribed schedule is important.
When teaching, the 45 minutes and out rule, is important so the Spirit stays strong. Always being in sight of our companion avoids a multitude of problems. Writing a letter to the president each week is being obedient. Careful planning to avoid “down times” is a form of obedience. Only taking our camera with us one day a week other than P-days and missionary work purposes, is a form of caring for our ‘obedience roofs’.
So why the poles? Does the level of obedience change? NO, we should always strive to be obedient … The adjustment comes as we follow the Spirit WITHIN the guidelines of the rules. Certain missionaries have asked for, and received, permission to have an extra half hour of language study as is needed. By coordinating with your leaders you may want to switch P-days once in a transfer to be able to see a museum which is closed on Monday.
Now, there is a part of us that might want to adjust the poles for selfish or lack of diligence purposes. When we start bending or breaking rules on a whim, we leave the roof too far up in the air. If we do this, soon the wind and the rain of the adversary can severely damage our ability to serve as effective missionaries.
We have a very strong culture of obedience in our mission. As a mission president this is such a blessing. It allows me the flexibility of making adjustments, knowing that you will not take unfair advantage.
But, please be aware; there is no tolerance for outright disobedience in our mission. To do so would be leaving the roof up in the air and letting the adversary have a foothold where he would most like to have it.
Strengthen your roofs! Examine them for weak spots. Take action to patch them where needed. In this way you will ensure the blessings of the Lord to be ever present in this most important work of helping God to bring about the immortality and Eternal life of His children.
Have a wonderful week and know of our love for each one of you,
President Brubaker
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