Multi-zone and stake conferences, brownies, testimonies, and Golden Plunger Awards--Hurrah for Missionary Work!

The entrance to orange groves near the Mission Home

What a delightful week this has been! Being with all the missionaries in the California Riverside Mission multi-zone conferences is always wonderful, inspiring, and insightful. Our agenda was full and robust, with trainings, from “Online Proselyting Training” to the “How Do I Fulfill My Missionary Purpose?” (the new Chapter 8 in Preach My Gospel) to following the Safeguards for Using Technology to using technology to better accomplish our missionary purpose to setting goals and making plans for individuals in order to help us use technology effectively to using the Area Book Planner app to help us become accountable to the Lord and to mission leaders and even to yourself. 

San Jacinto Zone

Hemet Zone

 We also focused on a “voice of warning” about using technology, always remembering that fulfilling our missionary purpose is the only safe way to use their/our smartphones and technology. Plus, we had a heavily dose of the Atonement of Jesus Christ and how we make Christ our Center by believing that the Father and He are the sources of all light, understanding, inspiration, revelation, and eternal blessings.

La Sierra Zone

Jurupa Zone

 The incoming and outgoing testimony meetings were incredible! The spirit was strong as these new and “mature” missionaries bore solemn testimony of the truthfulness of what they have been teaching and what they have learned. I wanted to share a few of the quotes they shared in their testimonies:

§  Hermana Esplin (new)—"The gospel has been a light in my life. I have seen a light in the eyes of those I teach. I am here because I have been given much.”

§  Elder Dunham—“The Lord has changed my attitude.”

§  Elder Clark—“I am definitely not the person I came out as.”

§  Elder Whitesides—Regarding his assignment here in California: “It was learning to do what Heavenly Father wants me to do.”
Sister Harris (Sydney)—“The Book of Mormon has refined me.”

§  Sister DiPietro—“The gospel has change my life and me as a person. It has made me more confident.”

§  Sister Harris (Ashley)—“I learned how to come to know Christ.”

§  Hermana Flores—“Heavenly Father has made me (us) into incredible creatures. When we turn our wills over to Him, he can truly transform us.”

§  Sister Goodwine—“This is the work of the Almighty God…and if it doesn’t change your life, then you aren’t doing it correctly.”

§  Hermana Stettler (new)—“I am here for everyone else…to share the love with other people.”

§  Elder McLaughlin (new)—“God protects us and watches over us.”

§  Elder Johnson (new)—“My testimony has changed my life.”

§  Hermana Moran—“We are here for a reason. Faith in God is faith in God’s timing.”

§  Elder Williams—“No matter how badly we have messed up, Heavenly Father has a plan for us. I have learned this through the spirit.”

§  Elder Brown—“I believed it before I came out, and now I know that Jesus is the Christ.”

§  Elder Mounts—“If I have learned anything, it is to lose yourself in the work. I was so afraid of changing; now, I am a different person.”

§  Hermana Chase (new)—“It is wonderful how the gospel can change us as we try to become like Jesus.”

§  Sister Neerings (new)—“I love sharing light and talking about the truth and the gospel.”

§  Elder Lawler (new)—“It is so amazing how investigators grow. I try to picture them in baptismal white.”

§  Elder Sato (new)—"I am glad to be here and grateful to share the gospel.”

§  Sister Reagan—“I wouldn’t trade these 18 months for anything. I have loved every moment of my mission.”

§  Elder Gibbons—“I have come closer to the Savior.”

§  Sister Mackley—“I would not change the last 18 months because of what I have learned.”

§  Hermana García—“The mission is the hardest thing I have ever done. My life changed because of missionaries.”

§  Sister Hubbard (senior)—“For the things I have learned on my mission, everything has been reaffirmed today. Watching you is impressive.”

§  Elder Hubbard (senior)—“You’re good spirits. You’re good souls. Don’t be shaken. Go forward, and He will be there for you.”

§  Sister Bascom (new)—“My dad asked, ‘How far can you go without pedaling’? I have lots of hopes to learn while continuing to pedal forward.”

§  Sister Brereton—“We cannot be slow to remember Him. We need to focus on miracles and tender mercies. Blessings will come because we are obedient.”

Mt. Rubidoux Zone

Lake Elsinore Zone

I thought Sister Peterson’s comment probably summed up the feelings during entire multi-zone conferences: “We have received a special dose of the Holy Ghost.”

Menifee Zone

Hemet Relief Society sisters who prepared a wonderful meal

We were spiritually enlightened and fed this past weekend when we attended the Lake Elsinore Stake Conference. Elder Paul F. Watkins, an Area Authority Seventy, presided over the conference. Sister Hammon and I both had the privilege of participating. Sister Hammon shared her testimony about being a child of God. I spoke on “What attributes of the Savior can missionaries and members develop that will make us more effective ministers?” President Wilson spoke on numerous subjects but a couple of thoughts I would like to share. He said, “The gospel of Jesus Christ is one of invitation. He wants our personal prayers to become more fervent. Reading of the Book of Mormon will bring more clarity. As we make a careful, meaningful study of the scriptures, especially the Book of Mormon, there will come a depth of conversion in word, declaration, in heart and in your actions. Through a Prophet of God, we are seeing a hastening of the work in these times. The Lord’s message of peace and new form of ministering will come by and through us. The message will be provided to us for those who are in need.”

Corona

Elder Watkins spoke on a variety of topics. Some inspiring thoughts from his messages include: “The staggering task of it all and the Lord’s confidence in us as His feet and hands. Inspiration comes incrementally. The Church is alive.” He then asked the question, “Are we alive?” In essence, we are “a living Church with living Prophets and a living Christ. Let us hope that miracles happen more quickly. The days ahead will be more challenging, and no one will survive on borrowed light.” One of the things he talked about on Sunday morning is how we are all prophets (lower case) vs. the Prophets (upper case). We act as prophets as we stand and testify of the Prophet (See Numbers 11:29; Luke 2:36; Enos 1:22). He ended with this profound statement: “A good life lived is a witness for Christ.” 

Riverside Zone

The last few days, we have been spending on upcoming transfers. We have a few visa waiters coming to our mission; fifteen missionaries who are leaving; two elders who have been here waiting for Madagascar who are returning, and six missionaries coming to our mission. We look forward to the new ones coming but shed tears of both joy and sadness to see 15 return home with honor and two go to Madagascar now that it has reopened its borders after the plague. They are incredible young people.

Moreno Valley Zone

Overall, the past couple of weeks have been full of incredible spiritual experiences as we have interviewed, trained, attended stake conference, and visited with members and investigators. We love serving our missionaries.

"Golden Plunger Award" for the cleanest apartments: Elders Victorino,
Yeaman, Elder/Sister Dickensen, Elders Su'a, and Carrillo

"Golden Plunger Award" for the cleanest apartments:
Sisters Winters, Adams, and Price with Elder and Sister Davis

""Isn't the food great!" L: Sisters Wilson, Reagan, Peterson, and Grover;
R: Sisters Garcia, Fortin, Bascom, and Parker

Stay tuned for next weeks’ comings and goings!

"Gotta love all this food, right?" L: Elders Gallacher, Guymon, Nielsen, and Balls;
R: Elders Revill, Holyoak, Wlson, Frazier, Sorensen, and Broadhead

"Brownies: the staple of missionary life."

President and Sister Hammon