Zone Conference - Tuesday, March 23, 2010

A beautiful morning greeted us as we started the day. Couldn't be better! Today is our zone conference and it is a normal one -- meaning that we aren't combining with other zones, and it isn't an abbreviated one with just interviews because of some big mission conference that has just taken place. We start at 9:00, have instruction from President and Sister Argyle, lunch is provided, interviews conducted in the afternoon, mail and supplies distributed, and a good time had by all.

The missionaries look forward to zone conference time as they get President and Sister Argyle to themselves for six hours. They would not, could not miss it for any reason. To be taught by the President in this intimate setting of around 15 to 20 missionaries (our zone having 22) is frosting on the cake for them. They love it! President Argyle is a master teacher of the gospel and deeply feels what he imparts to the missionaries.

The theme for this conference was "Flooding the Earth with the Book of Mormon" taken from an address by President Ezra Taft Benson in 1988. The President made up a reference sheet for the missionaries that fits in the inside cover of their Book of Mormon. It has a list of some of the most asked questions by investigators and where to find the answer using the Book of Mormon. Suggestions were given as to how to refer to these questions when in a discussion, and emphasis was made on getting the investigator to read with the missionaries in the Book of Mormon, not just sending them home to read on their own.

In the cultural hall of the church, tables and chairs are set up in a "U" shape with instruction going on by the blackboard. The assistants are used to give portions of the training, as are the two zone leaders. The 1.5 liter water bottles were part of Sister Argyles training on health matters. She provided these water bottles for the whole mission which constituted purchasing about 160+ of them. She talked about the importance of drinking two liters of water a day and eating healthy foods. I can actually understand her Spanish the best. She talks slowly and clearly.

Hermana Argyle joins in a group with Hermanas Shaffer and Sandoval in roll playing after some instruction is given.

Elders Coria, Hales, and Peterson practice with each other too. At one point, President Argyle joined with Elder Kroff and me and we did our interchange in English. We were the investigators and he was answering our question of concern by using the method he introduced. He wanted us to ask a real question that we are concerned about at this point in our lives. In that short five minute practice session the spirit was so strong. He taught with such power and conviction. He is one amazing man!

Hermanas Kroff, Sandoval, and Shaffer enjoy the meal provided by some Relief Society ladies in the San Fernando ward. It was a large piece of chicken with a warm potato salad and rolls. Dessert was individual cups of jello with cubed apples added. It all tasted really good.

These hungry elders give a thumbs up on the food too. Elders Turnbull, Ludlow, Roman, Smith, and Davis smile for the camera.

Our office elders ALWAYS enjoy a good meal.

Elders Denton, Martinez (both zone leaders), Cano, Jiménez, and Turnbull pause from eating to accommodate Elder Kroff's shot. Hey, Elder Turnbull got in this one too. He moved to the other side of the room.

While interviews are going on, Rich and I can go back to the office and work. However, there was so much activity in the office that I didn't get one thing done. There were a couple workers there doing something with the internet line, and some elders came in for help from Elder Kroff to get their email accounts changed over.

Sister Argyle came to visit with us about the English program that Rich helps her with. The location of the test that the Latin missionaries take after completing the lessons and training in workbooks that they study needs to be changed. The person who was giving the test in her home is unable to do it anymore, so the only solution available right now is having it administered in our office under Elder Kroff's direction. They can take it in the President's office. Hope we won't be too noisy for them.

Dinner was easy tonight because there was none. We have started fasting for Uncle Jerry who is having by-pass surgery tomorrow. Rich had his English class tonight and I worked on this journal entry and also ironed some white shirts.