Dad - More thoughts on Teaching

Caleb:

We saw some pictures of you at the airport and in the church on the mission Facebook page.  You look great.

Now comes your first companion.  I hope and pray that you get a good one and someone that you'll respect and love.

Here's a thought for you regarding your teaching.  Take a paper and write your frustrations, as relating to your teaching, down in a list.  The list may be long; don't worry about it.  Leave the list open so that you can add to it if needed.  Then go back through the list and identify things that you can't control.  Put a line through those things (leave them on the list so you can refer back to it) and make a mental note that you are not going to worry about those things.

If done well, this will clarify your perspective.

Now you have a shortened list.  Take this list and pick ONE item that you think you can work on and make improvement; ONLY ONE.  In your mind, recognize that the other items remain and that you are content to allow them to be frustrations for the time being.  Then - focus your energy on the one item that you have identified.

Formalize a process to deal with this frustration.  I think you need to do this.  For instance:

1) Week one, I will experiment with different ways of handling this issue until I find something that I like.  I will note all of the things with which I experiment.  Maybe I'll find multiple ways of dealing with this issue.

2) Week two, I will use the techniques, aids, and "things", that I've identified in my teaching.  I will constantly evaluate how these improvements work.

3) Week three, I will refine my efforts and evaluate if this frustration is still on my "list".

Again, this is your process.  The key is to make it a process.  Involve the Lord.  Ask for the spirit.

Do this for one item on your list.  When done, review the list and pick another.  Do it again.

Now comes the point several months along at which you look at your list and you realize that NONE of the frustrations that you identified months ago remain.  The spirit will move you as you realize that your previous weaknesses have become strengths.  You will have actively participated with the Lord in becoming a man of God.

Well, there you go.  I hate to say it, but this is great advice.  If you follow it, you will be amazed at how well it works.

Writing this letter has made me emotional as I've felt the spirit of what I've said.  I wish I was as good at following my own advice as I am at giving it.  I love you with all my heart,

Dad

On Wed, Dec 16, 2015 at 6:00 AM, Caleb Gibbons <cgibbons@myldsmail.net> wrote:

11140 sunburst LN Apt A
Fredericksburg, VA 22407

Thanks for your support. Also I'm still thinking about Adams gift.
I'll email you and tell you what I'll have you get for him. And also..
Why am I waking up at 4:30 every day. In the MTC it was 4:14 everyday.
So is it my sleep schedule or am I just sleeping weird idk you should
just see if you can figure it out for me!