WASHINGTON D.C. SOUTH MISSION: ZONE CONFERENCE MCLEAN & OAKTON

Thursday, September 3, 2009

ZONE CONFERENCE MCLEAN & OAKTON

Elders Langi and Loar

Elders Gannaway, Langi, and Stimpson

Sisters Lau, Hahn and Glauser

Elders Cuevas and Sill

Sisters Alvarado and Knutsen

Elders Bowman, DeHoyos, and Miller

We are starting our 2nd round of Zone Conferences. They are so much fun. This time we are doing 2 Zones together for a combined conference. The first one was with the McLean and Oakton Zones. It was held at the Oakton Stake Center.
President Albright is teaching them about positive thoughts and how it affects their missionary work and every part of their lives.He taught them about the power of positive affirmations. In Preach My Gospel there is a whole page of these statements. Each day they are to say things like "I am a great missionary". "I am a powerful teacher", "I love my companion" , "I find joy and satisfaction in my work" "I have personal prayer each day". I think they have really enjoyed this presentation. Our Assistant have put together a great presentation on "Teaching a Masterpiece". They are so creative. Then they play a game called "Defending the Spirit" which is lots of fun. Then the 4 zone leaders: Elders Elton, Langi, Esplin, & Sill gave powerful presentations on becoming spiritual giants. What outstanding young men. My presentation focuses on the blessings that come from obedience. We discuss the story of Naaman and the idea of following simple and easy rules. I use this quote, from Pres. Ezra Taft Benson, "When obedience ceases to be an irritant and becomes our quest, in that moment God will endow us with power." The blessing attached to obedience is having the spirit with us, which is necessary for all missionary work.
We had a wonderful lunch time when we get to visit and watch all the missionaries have fun together. When the missionaries stand in a big semicircle and sing "Called to Serve" for the Relief Society Sisters who make lunch my heart just swells. It is an incredible sight and sound. After lunch we go to the chapel and have talks and testimonies and musical numbers. Today 4 Sisters performed together. Sisters Jacobsen, Hahn, and Bay sang and Sister Lau accompanied them. They sounded like angels. During this portion of the meeting the spirit bears witness to me that these are God's elect out here serving the Lord.

1 comment:

3 boys and a ladySeptember 3, 2009 at 5:59 PM
I can't wait to come and see you! Wow, that new convert is so amazing. I hope my boys are that amazing. love you
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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.