Winter Zone Conferences

Car inspections at winter zone conferences are rather grueling, especially for our Arizona vehicle manager, Elder Spencer.  But he soldiers on.  Some of the missionaries write off external cleanliness in the winter as hopeless, but these missionaries shine in any weather.  The ever-cheerful, even joyful, Elder Leon with Elder Emry above and the more serious but equally dedicated to cleanliness Elder Cummings went over their cars again after arriving at the meeting to make them spotless.  Each won the coveted "Golden Plates" award for their zone.

The Zone Conferences were also a spiritual feast with the messages delivered by President and Sister Evans as well as the zone leaders and Assistants to the President.  The APs presented on the topic of using technology on the mission including giving lessons by Skype.

The Area Medical Advisor and his wife, Elder and Sister Sonkins were with us.  They are based in Boston and were delightful to get to know.

The Original

This week we were at the Grandin Building historical site for a presentation by Mark.  He owns the LDS bookstore next to the Grandin and is an expert on the original Book of Mormon and related topics.  He makes replicas of the original edition.  So far, he has made over 4,000 of them.

Apple cider and apple fritters for refreshments.  A good evening!

Gone but not forgotten

Daughter Angela has adorned the missionary display case in the Marquette chapel with pictures around our plaque.  Hopefully, people will recognize us when we get back.

January- Over halfway on our Mission

We have reached the halfway point on our mission.  I chose not to burn a white shirt as it the tradition with some younger missionaries.  We continue to be busy although not as frenzied as December's pace, but things are becoming routine.

The transfers in January were not as taxing as only 5 departed and 3 arrived.  We have been here long enough that we are well acquainted with the departing missionaries and are sad to see them go.

President and Sister Evans with Tyler and Elsie. 

The Spencers and us with Elders Leifson, Feiseler, Fauga and President Evans.

When the new missionaries arrive, President takes them to downtown Rochester and challenges them to give a Book of Mormon to someone on the street within 20 minutes.  They usually are successful.  Then they come to the Mission Home for dinner and an orientation that we are involved with.  They spend that night at the Mission Home and then go to the Sacred Grove and other history sites before coming to the Mission Office to meet their first companion.   With President and Sister Evans are Sisters Rea and Hallows and Elders Knorr, Hale,  and .... 

Our family home evenings with the Senior Missionaries who serve at the historical sites and with facility management continue to be a delight although they were not recorded with pictures.  On Jan 9, we were the host couple.  I presented about John Young and the LDS History on the farm and in the vicinity.  It was well received.  Sister Jones led a game called "Speed Friendshipping."  Participants sat in two rows facing each other and then had a minute each to talk to the person across from you on an assigned topic, such as "What did you do for fun in the winter in your childhood."  Then, one row moved over one seat and another topic was addressed.  This continued until everyone had visited with everyone in the other row.  It, too, was well received.   Next was time for refreshments.  Sister Jones' unsweet treats like spinach balls, sausage and cheese, crackers, veggies and dip, cider and cranberry juice were a hit after all the holiday calories. 

This week's program was Patriarch Millroy from the Palmyra Stake who spoke about being a Patriarch and some about the recent history of the Church in the area. 

On the 25th was a world-wide broadcast to missionaries with Elders Oakes, Bednar, and Anderson and others.   Four of our zones met in the Pittsford chapel and the Buffalo Zones met in Amherst.  So there were about 60 missionaries assembled at the office.  There is always so much energy and enthusiasm when they gather and the more missionaries, the more there is.  So, it was an exciting day. During the broadcast, changes to the schedule were announced that included more sleep, less meal time, and more flexibility on preparation day.

Fiesta in Batavia

Our Batavia Branch had a social with a Fiesta theme  We went over and spent the night in one of the unoccupied missionary apartments.

Sister Jones tests the pinata. 

Yummy food and colorful decorations.

Swinging at the Pinata.

Zorro unmasked. 

Just desserts!

Cyber Missionaries

Sister Jones and I deliver mail and packages to the Hill Cumorah Visitor Center a couple of times a week since all the Sisters rotate through there.  When things slow down, the Sister Missionaries man the computers and chat with online investigators.

From Sister Crofts and Barrett's Glad Tidings newsletter article:

"The missionary sits down at the computer and logs in to their online teaching center account. Within a few moments, a request for a free copy of the Bible or Book of a Mormon appears on their screen. The missionary selects the request and calls the person desiring the free book. After confirming the individual's address is correct, the missionary proceeds to explain more about the restoration of Christ's church. As the message is shared, hearts are softened and the spirit touches souls. Some individuals begin to open up about the things they are struggling with, others accept invitations to be baptized, and many express their thankfulness towards the missionary who called them so quickly and shared such a powerful and simple message with them. The missionary feels joy beyond measure. Preaching the gospel while online is nothing short of a miracle. That miracle can be brought to ALL of our areas as we continue contacting our media referrals as quickly as possible...preferably  from when you receive it. The people we receive as referrals are precious souls that need saving. They can't get home to our Heavenly Father without the knowledge we have. (PMG pg.163) We are all part of a miraculous work that keeps getting better and better. Contact the referrals, experience the miracles, feel the joy.'"

Sisters Abreu, Topham, and Tucker. 

W'All is missionaries.

  We were supposed to drop off a package Monday evening to the Hill Cumorah Visitor Center after the Senior's Family Home Evening in Palmyra, but forgot it.  There was unusual excitement to get it, so we drove it out on Tuesday.  It contained tee shirts for the Palmyra South Zone.  Sister Tucker is from Texas.  Her Y'All morphed into a collective W(e)' All.