Notes from President Kelly

PresidentKelly gave an awesome talk.  It was very inspiring and filled with love  From the first time that  we met him, we loved him, and we were so thankful that he could be our mission president.  He is so humble and so very caring for all these missionaries.  He said that they have had 400 missionaries under their watch.  And that they know each and everyone of them.  And love them just like they love their own children. I know that is so true.

He reminded us that we are only one piece of the puzzle.  This is Gods work.  We are helping him.  Everyone of us has our agency to accept the gospel.  We must not get upset when things happen that are not in our control.  Dont let your happiness depend on the decisions of others.  We are not responsible for Adams transgressions and we are not responsible for our companions transgressions and we are not responsible for our investigators sins.  Just be sure that we are as obedient as we can be to the commandments and to the little white handbook.

He told us a story about three weeks into being the new mission president, he gets a call from one of his elders who says that his companion ran away and he didnt know what he should do.  President Kelly told him to go back to his apartment and wait.  which the elder did.  Two hours later, he gets a call saying that the missing elder had returned.  He spoke to the elder and asked why he ran away.  The elder told him that he just needed some time to himself.  He hadnt done anything wrong, but just needed to clear his head.  He just walked around for a few hours and came back.  President Kelly told him, that if he ever even left his companion for five minutes, he would be sent home.  This mission isnt about needing your own time to clear your head.  You have committed to being a missionary for The Lord and you need to stay within sight and hearing distance of your companion at all times.  President Kelly called the elders mom and asked her to call her son and reinforce this rule.  She did.  And he said that if you ever need reinforcements, call a mom.  They will set you straight.

Prresident Kelly asked us to pray for our new mission president and his wife.  He said that he still could use our prayers for him and sister Kelly, but to remember the new president.  This is a big job.

He shared and gave us each of copy of President McKays 10 rules for Happiness which he said he was given as a new young Missionary many years ago and which he kept with him all through his mission.

All our new missionaries got to get up and bear their testimonies and it was wonderfu to hear sister Rossell and Sister Wright bear their testimonies.  They are valiant and strong sister missionaries.  They will do wonderful.  All the departing missionaries got to bear their testimonies and that is such a sweet thing to listen to as they give their farewell to all the Roma Missionaries.

We ended our meeting by singing the mission song, which is Inno Delo Missione Di Roma.  This song was written several years ago by a past mission presidents wife.  It was the last time that these missionaries would be altogether to sing it for their mission president and his wife.  It is a stirring song with beautiful words.  All the missionaries stood and wrapped their arms around the shoulders of the missionaries on both sides.  They sang with all their hearts and passion which was a departing gift to President and Sister Kelly.  The love that filled the whole room was incredible and I have never experienced a feeling like I got as they sang it.  It was like the armies of Helaman singing for Helaman  just before they all dispersed to go back home. Paul videoed the last verse and I hope it posts it to his bog in the near future.  He has been too busy to post anything, but I hope he gets a minute to do it.