Zone Conferences....round 2!

For this round of zone conferences we decided to visit each zone separately...that is 12 zones! 

This week we visited 4 of the 12 and are wondering if we have it in us to do the last 8! 

Zona Tulua

Elders Moscol, Martinez, Contreras, Shelly, Hansen, Kutterer, Ocon, Ruiz, Chipunavi, León, Calderón, and Vasquez

Hermanas Charry, Rojas, and León

Zona Palmira

Elders Mamani, Llontop, Valeria, Carillo, Ramos, Sorensen, Novoa, Wilde, Martinez, Marcasciano, Fiestas, and Belnap

Hermanas Rendón and Mirabal

Zona San Fernando

Elders Jamett, Alfaro, Bello, Guevara, Haycock, Coria, Walton, Sierra, Miranda, Asmat, Rázuri, Ramirez, Hernandez, Franco y Garrido

Hermanas Lasso y Talquenca with Hermana and Elder Torgerson

Zona Popayan

Elders Saavedra, Canari, (future missionary Alex) Rocha, Barrantes, Hammond, y Zanuttini

Hermanas Careno, Mancilla, Sanchez y Juymaya

 I am really enjoying the personalized time we are having with these missionaries. 

Our format for this zone conference is: 

7:30am   arrive and set up  (remember that this often involves leaving home at 5:30am!!)
8:00am   President Prince interview with the zone leaders
     During this time I am having a lot of fun play 20 questions with the missionaries who are waiting.  We dive into the scriptures and learn how to use "inspired questions".  Learning can be fun and it is always fun when I win...but sometimes I just have to let them win!  (anyone who knows me will know that is NOT true!!...they are great scriptorians!)
9:00am  Start our zone conference.  This conference is focused on the messenger (or missionary) and what we need to do to have the type of impact that Moroni had on Joseph Smith when he visited him.  President Prince digs right into the scriptures and we learn the importance of giving to the Lord ALL our heart and mind through the examples of Adam, Abraham, and our Savior.  It is a beautiful time of instruction and reflexion.
10:30am  Zone Leader time to talk about the Attributes of Christ their zone needs to work on.  This has been a wonderful time to see the zone focus on their own particular needs.  Our zone leaders are marvelous and it is great to see them teach and fulfill their stewardships.  We have seen zones become more united right in front of our eyes as the day progresses.
11:15am  Mini discussions focused on a scripture that the missionaries have found about the Savior and what it means to them.
11:30am  Testimonies of those who will go home from the mission before the next zone conference and those who have arrived in the mission since the last zone conference.
12:00 - 1:00pm   LUNCH, zone pictures, and celebrating the birthdays of the last 3 months in that zone.
      A note about lunch....it is different everywhere we go.  In one zone a couple who is trying to earn money so they can get married SO they can get baptized, provided the lunch for us.  It was delicious, they were ever so grateful and we are excited for them to get married and baptized!!   In another zone we ordered dominoes pizza...it is nice to have that once in awhile!!



1:00 - 4:00pm   Rotations...we have 3 rotations: 

1 - The tools of the messenger...cleaning up your area book with the assistants  

2 - English program and the cleanliness (personal and home) of the messenger with Hna Prince              (they especially like eating banana bread in this session!)

3 - Interview with the President

4:00 - 5:00pm  Zone Game time  (fútbol (soccer), volleyball, or basketball)  depending on the weather and the availability.  The rain has kept us in the cultural hall some days and hasn't stopped our warriors from playing fútball on others.  I have never seen such skill in handling a soccer ball. 

We end with a rousing cheer of "who is the best zone?"

 a closing prayer and then send everyone home to clean up and go out and preach the gospel. 

They are marvelous missionaries and are becoming brighter messengers

to share the restored gospel here in Colombia!