WASHINGTON D.C. SOUTH MISSION: A RESCUE MISSION- ZC ANNANDALE & MT VERNON

Sunday, February 21, 2010

A RESCUE MISSION- ZC ANNANDALE & MT VERNON

Our third Zone Conference was held in the Mt Vernon Stake Center and included the Mt. Vernon and Annandale Zones. The ZL's are Elders Ozaki and Sackett in Mt. Vernon and Elders Packer and Karren in Annandale. Superb young men. All our Zone Leaders are wonderful.

Our Rescue theme continues to be inspiring and hopefully translate into a desire to rescue all of Heavenly Fathers Children so they can be saved in the Kingdom of God.

At the close of the conference, Pres. showed some slides of the earthquake in Haiti and talked about how dependent the people are on others to rescue them from their situation. They can not do it for themselves. Many of the Lord's children are also unable to save themselves without the missionaries and their contacting and teaching them about the Gospel.

My part of the program is about having a "Mighty Change of Heart" , what causes the mighty change and what the results of that change are. It is through missionaries that the Word of God is brought to people, which is what changes hearts. Hearing about the Savior and feeling the spirit brings great change to people and then as evidence that the change has really occurred, a change in thoughts, desires, and actions takes place. But it takes continuous effort to maintain a changed hearts for our entire lifes, also known as enduring to the end. We must do the things necessary to keep our changed hearts in healthy spiritual condition.

Departing testimonies were given by Elders Mechling, Bird, Ross and Sis. Downey were touching and beautiful. We will miss them all the next transfer.

A musical number was performed by Elders Rothman, Doman, Ceuvas, and Allen. "Should you feel Inclined to Censure" What great harmony.

Talks were given by Elders Ockler and Wallace and Sis Knutsen.

Combined zone picture includes: Annandale Zone: Elders Packer, Karren, Perkins, Tamir, Mechling, Gray, Bird, Wethington, Wasden, Hougaard, Ross, Bell, Sill, Brogan, Baraza, Sis. Downey and Gwynn. The Mt.Vernon Zone: Elders Ozaki, Sackett, Doman, Bowers, Geary, Gillihan, Grundvig, Choi, Reeves, Rothman, Ockler, Stuart, Wallace, Barrett, Cuevas, Allen, Loppe, Orme, and Sisters Knutson, Basurto, Arnett, Aulava, Bagley and Bennett.

Elders Wasden, Grundvig, Barrett, Choi, -----,Rothman, Bird, and Hougaard, Elders Wasden and Hougaard are the new office elders and they are doing a magnificent job. Thanks guys.

Elders Karren, Cuevas,Ozaki, Loppe, Gillihan, Geary, Sill, and Packer

Sisters Knutson and Basurto, Elder Cordner and Sackett

Sisters Gwynn, Downey, Bagley, Bennett, Aulava and Arnett

Elders Mechling, Ross, Bell, Bowers, Doman, Wallace, Stuart

Elders Barraze, Brogan and Gray. Ross ties are good buys.

Elders Barraza, Brogan, and Gray,Wethington, Perkins, and Tamir

Elders Allen and Orme.

Elder and Sis. Butler: our new missionaries who arrived just the night before. Dr. and Sis. Aldous

Eldlers Brogan, Cuevas and Packer

Sisters Downey and Gwynn

Sis. Bennet, Arnett, and Aulava

Elders Barraz, Ceuvas, Sill, and Gillihan

Elders Doman, Bowers, Choi, Grundvig, Ross, and Wallace

Elders Wallace, Mechling, Wasden, Brogan, Allen, Bell, and Stuart

The Relief Society Sisters

Elders Orme, Loppe, and Barraza, three of our Spanish Elders

Elders Ozaki and Sackett

Elders Bell, Packer, and Brogan

Elders Cuevas, Sill, and Bell

Elders Loppe and Gray

Elders Orme, Barrett, and Ozaki (front) and Grundvig, Choi, Bell, Tamir and Wethington

President Albright and Elder Karren, with Elder Gray .

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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.