July 29, 2012

Hey everybody,

So I got a call two days ago, on Saturday morning. It was our Mission President, President Christensen. After some small talk about what we had scheduled that day, he asked me, "Elder Dean, I was wondering if you would come up and be an Assistant to the President." After a second I said yes I would. There are two APs in our mission, and one of them is going home this Wednesday, so I was called to fill the spot.

For those who don't know, AP is kind of a lot of responsibility. It's not something easy. The APs are the ones who basically help the President with everything and advise him on issues in the mission, particularly concerning missionaries' problems and how that factors into transfers--the time we decide who will serve with who and where for another six weeks. To get an idea of how much thought we have to put in that, just think about how there are 63 companionships in our mission right now. You have to have at least two missionaries in an area. Seven missionaries are going home in a week and eleven are coming in, and when you move one missionary you have to fill that space in with another one. And there are vacancies in leadership positions that have to be filled, and missionaries who don't get along, and missionaries of all ages and experience levels, and missionaries that are having a hard time and need someone to help or need to be stretched or need a break, and missionaries that have been in the same place for seven months and need a change of venue, and then sometimes missionaries that are blatantly disobedient and don't care about anything.  We have to know all of that and try to make the best combinations for the missionary work in each area, and also taking into account what will help each missionary to grow in the gospel and build a solid foundation for the rest of their lives. That's what we've spent most of my time in the office so far doing, is arranging transfers, because we have to call everyone tonight so they can start the new transfer period. There are also other miscellaneous responsibilities we have to take care of, on top of doing missionary work. So it's not a light thing. It's a responsibility that requires me to be a perfect example and to have good relationships with every missionary, regardless of how much they care about missionary work.

After I got the call, i didn't really know what to do. I was pretty torn, because I didn't want to leave Sindang and all the people there that I've grown to love, and I definitely was nervous about being AP, for a million reasons. But all the previous week I had had a weird feeling that it would be me. Of course I was like, "Wow, nice prideful thought, myself," and then thought about something else, but it actually happened! And I think it'll be good. Because I prayed about it and felt the Spirit,and I know that through the Lord I can do all things.

So on Saturday night I packed up all my stuff, and on Sunday morning before church we rode in a taxi to the church building and hid my luggage. (I have way too many things, and I have to send a package home soon. Seriously, my luggage was super heavy!) Actually on Saturday night me and Elder Jeong had a heart-to-heart about how we had both been a little prideful the previous transfer, and he gave me a lot of really good advice on being AP. Lately me and him had been pretty distant, so that was good. I'm really going to miss serving with him. On sunday evening, there was a fireside for the new mission president, and after that we took my stuff up to the office in Samcheong Ward. Usually missionaries switch areas on Wednesday, but they needed me up here early to get trained. We have a lot of office work to do too, so I can't guarantee the length of my emails from now on.

So here I am, confused and nervous and all sorts of things. But I'm excited too, I think it'll be good. If anyone has any advice on leadership, just let me know.:D I love you all, thank you for your prayers!

Elder Matt Dean