WASHINGTON D.C. SOUTH MISSION: ZONE CONFERENCE ANNANDALE & MT. VERNON

Thursday, September 3, 2009

ZONE CONFERENCE ANNANDALE & MT. VERNON

Relief Society sister who made lunch

Sister Downey and Funch

Sisters Arnett and Larsen

Elders Brogan and Paige

Elders Bird and Bell

Elders Perriton and McGill

Elders Forsberg and Jeppesen

Elders Paige,Geary,Schaelling, Johnson

Elders Knechtel and Stockham

Elders Karren and Carter

Sisters Bertucci and Murray and President Albright

Elders Gifford, Hardy, Brunstad, Turley, and Peterson

Elders Robbins and Hill

Elders Lee and Lebbie

Elders Nickel and Lieppman

Elder Nickel, Lieppman and Brogan

Elders Jeppessen, Brogan, and Gifford

Elders Geary and Lassen

Elders Bird and McGill

Elders Perriton and Johnson

Elders Bell, Sackett, Hall, and Peterson

Today was the 3rd conference. The Mt. Vernon and Annandale Zones attended and it was held in the Annandale Stake Center. The Zone leaders who conducted and led discussions were Elders Lieppman, Johnson, Hardy, and Bell. The district leaders are Elders Brunstad, Sackett, Jeppesen, Carter, and Lee. These are all strong leaders and doing a wonderful job. We have great confidence in all of them.

Our meeting followed the same outline as the first two conferences and we had a very spiritual and uplifting day. Everytime I see the Zone Leaders give their presentations I am completely humbled at their ability to teach and motivate each other. They come up with the greatest ideas and involve all the missionaries. It is really something to witness. I wish all their parents could see them as they lead each other in these meetings.

The musical number was Elder MGill singing with Elder Sackett accompanying him. It was a beautiful number that really brought a spirit to the room. Music always has a way of doing that and the musical numbers are one of my favorite parts of the conferences. We have an abundance of talent in the mission.

The Relief Society Sisters always fix wonderful lunches for the missionaries. And today this Relief Society went the extra mile. There were about 12 sisters in the kitchen all morning making all fresh food for us. They made homemade tortillas and grilled them outside on a grill by the kitchen door, they made fresh salsa right there and all the ingredients were fresh-most of them from their gardens. I couldn't believe the love and work that went into the meal. When we finish eating, the Sisters are asked to tell us their names and any connections to missionary work. Today almost everyone had missionaries or were return missionaries themselves. And they Love coming and feeding the missionaries. Our missionaries write thank you cards during lunch and give them to the ladies before they sing to them. They are very gracious and mannerly and I am so impressed with each of them.

2 comments:

Debi LassenSeptember 10, 2009 at 9:42 AM
Hello President and Sister Albright. Our son, (Elder Steffen Lassen) wrote and asked us to see if we could find your blog you are keeping while on your mission. I searched and found it today. It is nice to read your posts and to hear from your perspective as Mission President.
I enjoyed these photos from this zone conference.
We are thankful for your love and service to the Lord, to these elders and sisters and to those who are accepting the gospel in your mission. Best wishes to you both and thank you for keeping a blog. I hope to follow it in the coming weeks and months.

Sincerely, Sister Debi Lassen (a fellow blogger!)
www.debilassen.blogspot.com
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deniseandjordanSeptember 13, 2009 at 6:07 PM
Tell Sister Anisa Bennett I LOVE HER! This is Denise ( Taylor & Nicole Sinquefiled's Future sister in law) I was her Disney College Roommate :) if i could get her address from you i would be so happy.. I met you guys in vegas when Jordan and i were there for Easter! I'm glad to see you are taking care of my SISTER :) Thanks! tell her hi for me!- Denise
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Stephanie Smith Fireside

Last Sunday evening we were privileged to attend a fireside in the mission. It was held at a beautiful old chapel in McLean. One of the pictures shows the inside of the chapel and the wood beams on the very steep-pitched ceiling of the room. The gym is under the chapel in the basement. I have never seen a floorplan like this one. Very unique. This fireside hosted Sister Stephanie Smith. Her story was in the Ensign sometime in the last year. She has a remarkable conversion story. She has held very high government positions and at one time was 5th in command at the CIA. She said something at the first of her talk that I wrote down: she said, "I've been on some remarkable adventures. But no adventure in my lifetime has been as extraordinary and life-changing as my path to conversion and baptism in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints. She then told about her introduction to the church. She was at a time in her life with tremendous worldly success achieved after clawing her way to the top without any regard for others, and she felt her life was shattering into a million pieces. At this time she turned to a colleague she admired who was a member of the church. He told her two things. That her Heavenly Father knew her by name and loved her and that Heavenly Father had a plan for her success. The next day he sent her a map to the temple visitor center. She told how when the missionary sisters came to her door, she didn't think she could relate to these young women. The first thing they did was ask if they could sing to her. They sang,"I am a Child of God." That was the beginning of her conversion, a long a beautiful story. You can read it on the web at Meridian Magazine. Her testimony was a real inspiration to me. There were over 350 people there and she does a great missionary work speaking to investigators. What a blessing to have heard her and felt her spirit.

Chelsea Our recent Convert

We have met the sweetest young sister. Chelsea is amazing. She joined the church during the last year and has an incredible testimony also. She never misses any missionary function and we were able to take her with us to the Stephanie Smith Fireside. She also came to the mission home a few weeks ago and we had family night. She gave the lesson and is was unbelievable. She is hoping to go on a mission next year. What a great young woman. This is a picture of her with Elders Ganaway and Gifford.