ZONE LEADERSHIP COUNCIL

I think this Zone Leadership Council meeting is one of my very favorite. It is held once each 6 weeks. All the zone leaders (16 of them) attend and our 2 spanish assistants and the 2 mission wide assistants. This is really an amazing. I get to watch as young men demonstrate the ability to council together, teach one another, discuss ideas and problems and come up with solutions.

They really show concern and love for the missionaries they are serving with and want to do what is best for everyone. They are going to be future leaders in the church and I get emotional everytime I witness this event. They all get up before the sun, play Basketball from 5:30 to 7:30 a.m. and then descend on the mission home to invade all the showers and get cleaned up for the day. Meanwhile I get up at about the same time they do to start breakfast. Todays menu: cinnamon peacan pull-a-parts, egg chilli breakfast bake, fruit, sausage, drinks. After the long game they were hungry. After breakfast they begin their meetings. After 2 hrs they take a break and have drinks and treats, and go back to meetings. Each Zone leader companionship gave a presentation on an assigned subject and all did masterful jobs. President Albright spoke at the beginning and end and does a wonderful job leading them in decision making. After the meetings are over its time to lunch. We had barbecued pulled pork sandwiches ( I'd been cooking 3 roasts for 12 hours and they were great). A hugh salad, chips, drinks, fruits, and dessert. They are all so kind and complimentary and always say thankyou. They are quick to offer to clean up and help. I really love everyone of them. Our mission is in good hands with this bunch.

Our faithful leaders. back row: Pres. and Sis Albright, Elders Redford, Langi, Bell, and Leippman, Johnson, and Gifford. Middle row: Elders Newton, Ross, and Sill, Elton, Esplin, Baldwin, and Elton.

Front Row: Elders Cuevas, Ozaki, Hardy, Withers, Shattuck, and Gannaway.
The whole leadership group trying to act silly.
Elders Newton and Sill
Elders Esplin and Lewis
These guys really love each other. And they all give hugs when they are leaving
Elders Ross and Esplin
Elders Gannaway, Langi, and Leippman
Elders Baldwin and Johnson
Elders Metcalf and Ozaki
Elders Bell, Shattuck and Gifford
Elders Gannaway and Metcalf

Elders Withers and Lewis
Elders Ross, Gifford, Elton, Leippman, Shattuck, Johnson, Langi, ?, Sill, Redford, and Esplin.

Lunch time (pulled pork sandwiches) in the 2nd dinning room.
Lunch in the dinning room. Elders Cuevas, Bell, Withers, Newton, Metcalf, Gannaway, Ozaki, Baldwin, Pres. Albright and Hardy.

The Council meeting in the Living room. I took this pictures from upstairs. These 20 young men sit here and council together and make presentations and it is remarkable leadership training.
Elders Melcalf, Ozaki, Langi, Johnson, Leippman, Newton, Lewis, and Bell at breakfast.
Breakfast in the dinning room. Elders Newton, Lewis, Bell, Cuevas, Hardy, Elton, Ozaki and Johnson.

Elder Metcalf getting breakfast.
The next 5 pictures are the early (5:30 a.m.) basketball the Zone leaders play on ZL Council day

Elder Gannaway looks like he's concentrating pretty hard.
Elder Johnson
Looks like Elder Newton has the ball.