Dear Family,
You will find attached a document that I was ask to prepare reporting our mission. I was surprised at this as we still have things to do and time to serve. However, this is requested now by the standard procedure of things in accordance with the Mission Presidents Handbook. I hope it gives you some insight about our mission experience.
Love
Dad (Doug)
Slovenia Croatia Mission Report
July 2005- June 2008
#1 What did you do to increase your missionaries spirituality and prepare them for future service in the church?
Upon our arrival we felt an urgency to lift the missionaries’ spirits. To increase their faith in Jesus Christ. To teach that God is a God of miracles today as well as in the past. We taught the missionaries that they are special. That they were chosen in the pre-existence to come to this mission. We taught that Satan has ruled this part of the world for centuries and that only the best sons and daughters of God are called to this mission. We taught that Baptisms are going to increase because there are many elect people in the countries of this mission.
We have taught missionaries to be like Nephi. To be obedient and go and do. To have total faith in the Savior and his atonement.
Preach My Gospel was finally received at the end of 2005 in the different languages of the mission. We have used it extensively. We are teaching and studying a chapter a month. We focus on implementing what we learn from each chapter. As missionaries make those changes in their personal missionary efforts, they become forever changed as a son or daughter of God. They will be better in all they do in their life because of Preach My Gospel.
We have taught them to plan, find and teach by the spirit. This also comes from Preach My Gospel.
As part of this mission's Standards of Excellence, we read and study the scriptures. There is a specific reading schedule with a deadline to have that completed by. This develops the habit of daily scripture study. It gives them personal growth and the spirit teaches them personally.
We did our best to use and implement the tools given to us in the Mission President Handbook, Preach My Gospel, the Standard Works, and teachings from our leaders at Mission President Seminars and Mission Tours.
#2 Describe successful efforts to increase the numbers and retention of convert baptisms.
In 2005 we focused for six months on increasing missionaries' faith and in honoring the Prophet Joseph Smith by baptizing. We ended up with 35 baptisms counting Serbia which was added to our mission effective 1 Jan. 2006. We set the goal to double baptisms in 2006. At the end of 2006 we had 70 baptisms. This was exactly double 2005 baptisms. To do this we taught that President Hinckley asked in 1999 that baptisms would be doubled. We taught that if a prophet said to do it, it was possible. We tried to have an increase in baptisms again in 2007 and we were actually ahead of the pace in 2006 until July 2007, then we fell behind for the last six months of 2007 and ended up with 46. This is still an increase over 2005.
We focused on Young Single Adults as a major effort to baptize and retain. Our strongest converts came from this age group, so we felt it was important to have an annual YSA Conference and to establish Institute Classes and Institute Outreach Centers in all of the branches. This has resulted in 10 marriages of members; all but one is a temple marriage. Some of them have children, while others are expecting children. This is a long term blessing to establishing the church here.
We have established Family History in all three countries of Slovenia, Croatia, and Serbia. The new converts that get involved in Family History stay active.
Translation of scriptures is approved and moving forward. Serbian Book of Mormon received in Feb. 2008. Triple Combination in Slovene is due in 2011. Triple combination in Croatian is due in 2013. All of this helps convert and retain.
We have six full time missionaries called from this mission. They will add great strength in leadership upon their return.
#3 What suggestions do you have to improve assistance from the Missionary Department and others?
Travel through Paris, France to return home from a mission is always a problem. The connection is too short and the ticket agents in Ljubljana refuse to issue boarding passes in Ljubljana for the connecting flight in Paris. We then have to try to let parents know their missionary won’t be home until a day later. It creates an unnecessary nightmare for all involved. I suggest another route home.
#4 What are the most significant challenges that your successor will face in your mission?
• Multiple languages. Dealing with this is a challenge. Often there is misunderstanding with local leaders. You have to be very cautious to make sure they know what you are teaching and they catch the vision. Keep it simple. Meet with them every month.
• Visas. Each country has its own law and it changes. It is a continual challenge to get missionaries visas and to renew them.
• All the challenges that come establishing the church in developing countries.
Priesthood Leadership- Increase number male converts, train them.
Teacher training- Too many are new and give lectures rather than teach a lesson.
Lack of translated materials. Long time members get tired of the same lesson manuals.
Summary: In 2005 President Hinckley challenged all members of the Church to read the Book of Mormon. When I heard this I was already reading the Book of Mormon and I was half way through. But I felt that I should start over at the beginning and re-read the entire book and to do it in as short of time as possible. As I did this I had a personal spiritual experience. The feeling came many times during this reading of the Book of Mormon that I was to establish the Church while on this mission. This led me to focus on all of the following:
• Increase faith of missionaries
• Become a Preach My Gospel Mission
• Increase convert baptisms and retention
• Increase temple attendance
• Set up Family History Centers in all three countries
• Increase temple marriages
• Increase number of full time missionaries serving from this mission
• Organize Young Single Adults in all three countries and have activities
• Hold Institute in all branches
• Change District Presidencies and train them in monthly interviews
• Request scripture translations for Serbia, Slovenia, and Croatia
• Develop native branch presidents
• Construction of new churches in Ljubljana and Zagreb
• Improve or change rental facilities where we hold church
• Establish Institute Outreach Centers
• Improve member missionary work
• Call branch mission leaders in all branches
• Open new cities
• Train auxiliaries
• Change annual Youth Conference away from a family conference to being a youth conference
• Improve the spirit of meetings
• Increase unity among members and among missionaries and members
It has been a real joy to have had this experience. We have made many eternal friendships. We have been directed time and time again by the Spirit. We have been blessed in our extended family in many ways. We both have experienced the loss of a loved one that is dear to us during our mission. Sister Weight's brother died in March 2006 and my mother died in January 2007. It was a special experience in both cases. We are thankful for the plan of salvation. Our testimonies of the gospel have increased through this time of service. We are so blessed. God lives and he loves us. Jesus is the Christ, the Savior of all mankind. He lives. The scriptures are true. Joseph Smith is a prophet of God and he still works to do all that is required of him in this the dispensation of the fullness of time. We are led by living prophets today. This mission will continue to have greater success. I express my gratitude for this experience. And I testify of these truths, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Douglas L. Weight
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