Zone Conference - Tuesday, May 4, 2010

Knowing the alarm was going to wake us fifteen minutes earlier today must have triggered something in my subconscious because I was awake at 5:00 checking the clock every 10 minutes waiting for it to happen. I should have just got out of bed.

We wanted to get up a little earlier just to make sure we were ready to leave about 8:15 so we could get to the office and get organized before we had to go into the church where our zone conference was being held. President likes everyone seated and studying at least 15 to 20 minutes before the meeting begins.

Today his emphasis was on obedience and repentance. Elder Kroff interpreted for me as much as he could as the meeting went along. I got the gist of what was being said, but not details of stories and examples that he was relating. In addition to the importance of these principles in missionary work, President Argyle is preparing these missionaries for life after their missions. He is concerned that they stay firmly rooted in the gospel now and forever, knowing that Satan will work overtime in his cunning ways to lead them away from the truth. Oh, how I wish I could have heard his remarks in English, or that I understood enough Spanish to grasp it all.

The Assistants led a discussion and did a roll play in how to have a successful planning session as companions at the end of the day. Plus, the zone leaders shared insight regarding how to get a committment from an investigator to attend church. Then groups formed to practice what was taught.

These are our elders minus the sisters. This shot was taken later in the afternoon and the sisters were having their interviews with the President. Some ham it up, and some play it straight.

Sister Argyle had the attention of everyone as she talked about nutrition and the cost of food. She was a breath of fresh air after spending a couple hours in such serious discussions on important gospel principles. She had purchased a variety of fruits and vegetables and had it all calculated out what each serving would cost. The price of food has increased lately, and she wanted to dispel the idea that the missionaries could not afford these healthy things as part of their diet. She will have carried all of this produce to eight zone conferences.

Hermana Argyle knew only limited Spanish before this calling, and decided she had to be able to talk to her Latin missionaries too, so she took the tutored language training at the MTC for six months before they came, and she is amazing. She speaks fluently and understands everything. She was an Italian missionary in her youth, and sometimes gets things mixed up between the two languages. She is a fun person and a sweetheart!

Today she gave me a box of wonder Alfajores (cookies) from Cordoba, and some nuts for my birthday, along with a note of appreciation. In it she said that "when she grows up she wants to go on mission like me". . . . Well, being a mission president's wife, she has served the "mother" of all missions and done so with honor. When they do go later in life, lucky will be the mission that has them in the ranks.

Elders Peterson, Hales, Smith, and Parra approve of the lunch of lentil soup which had potatoes and meat in it. Very good!! Crusty bread and fruit hit the spot too.

Elders Ludlow, Roman, Fernandez, Tapia, and Lazo also enjoy the lunch break. Elder Fernandez and Elder Lazo are the Assistants to the President.

Maria Vecchiarelli and son Juan had kitchen duty. Maria is from the San Fernando ward and has cooked for our zone conference ever since we have been here. The mission pays for the food and she donates her time. She likes doing it and she is a very good cook. She is a good friend to me and I love her a lot. She and her husband and son have been members for a little over a year. They are preparing to go to the temple.

Now that we don't see our Tigre sisters every Sunday, we look forward to Tuesdays when they come over for District meetings in the church and to zone conference time when we can visit with them and catch up on what is going on in Tigre. Hermanas Shaffer and Sandoval make a cute duo.

Flan with carmel topping was served as a postre and readily consumed by Elder Turnbull who is peaking around the corner and is our birthday boy today, and Elders Harris, Cabrera, Labra, and Denton. Elders Labra and Denton are the zone leaders.

After lunch, Elder Kroff and I returned to the office while the President conducted interviews and Sister Argyle had other things going on with the rest of the group. We were so full from lunch and very sleepy, so we each laid our heads back in our chairs and took a quick nap. It was quiet and no one bothered us. Perfect time to sneak one in!

Neither of us were in the mood for much work, but we forced ourselves to get something done. When the President was through with the younger set, he came back to the office and wanted to visit with us, so called us in his office for a chat. He sometimes feels like he is neglecting us, but we assure him we are fine as we know where he needs to place his emphasis. We enjoyed talking to him and then he was off to work with the Assistants in the San Fernando area. As he goes to the different areas for the conferences, he stays the evening going out with the elders and teaching and helping with their investigators. He loves interacting and teaching. So he leaves home some mornings at 7:00 and gets home at 10:30 at night. He is not slacking off at all. He will give it his all right up until the plane leaves. And then, he will probably be making contacts on the flight home.

We decided we would skip dinner tonight and just have a snack since we ate so much at lunch. Rich went to his English class at 6:30 and I ironed some shirts and started this journal entry. It has been a good day. We look forward to our Zone Conference.