Training and Training and multi-zone activity: What’s there not to like?

Evening from our backyard

Multi-Zone Activity (south zones)

Every couple of months, the mission divides into two multi-zones and gathers for an activity. Sister Hammon and I were able to go to Monday’s “south zones’” activity. She had purchased four spike ball kits, and we set them up. Plus, we also provided a space for “gratitude” where the missionaries could create thank-you cards and such with card stock, stickers, and other paraphernalia. It turned out well. We think the highlight of these activities is two-fold: 1) getting together with other missionaries and 2) basketball.

Selfie of missionaries in the south part of the mission

Elders Willes, Simpson, and Brown--wanting to play BB

Spike ball, anyone?

Sisters Carson, Gray, and Greenhalgh

Loving spike ball: clockwise--Elders Holyoak, Jensen, Saxton, and Phister 

The creative ones: Clockwise--Sisters Hernandez, Price, Bartschi, Butler, Ford, and DiPietro

More creatives:  Clockwise--Troncoso, Harper, Hernandez, Grover, and Carson

Sister Harper

Elders Roper, Baum, and Dew

Elders Rose, Anderson, Olsen, and Yang

Sisters Butler, Troncoso, and Bartschi

Sisters Ruggles, Chandler, and Hernandez

Sisters Regan and Goodwine

Sister Ford, Elders Maughan and Watson

Mission Leadership Council (MLC)

Every mission has a Mission Leadership Council (MLC), comprised of zone leaders and sister training leaders. We had a wonderful MLC this week. What is delightful about this Council is we are able to share doctrinal subjects and participate in training to help our mission. I initiated the training with “A process of learning, teaching, sharing, and being accountable.” Sister Hammon followed up with “Seeing yourself as Heavenly Father sees you!” (or “Comparing yourself to others is not part of the plan!”). Our Assistants, Elders Anderson and Dew, discussed “Accountability: The Lord’s way. President Norman, a member of the Mission Presidency, spoke on “Relying on the Lord and Just Serve. Sisters DiPietro and Goodwine and Elders Anderson and Dew spend time discussing and showing “Studying, finding and teaching with the Book of Mormon: A missionary’s perspective.” Hermana Hernández and Elders Steed and Fairbanks focused on “Seeking with Faith” and did role plays to show us various ways to seek with faith. Elders Anderson and Dew shared “Companionship Inventory: A positive revelatory experience.” I then gave a burst of leadership and doctrine. Overall, it was a revelatory session with so many people participating. 

Zone leaders, Sister Training Leaders, and our new Mission Counselors, Presidents Norman and Hansen

Plus, we had traditional MLC lunch of pizza (biggest pizzas I have seen!), brownies, and salad. 

Sisters Wilde, A. Harris, S. Harris, Goodwine, Moran, Garcia, DiPietro, Hernandez, and Ruggles

Note: The MLC ate all of these pizzas and salad!

Trainer-Trainee Training (T³)

Each new missionary in the mission goes through 12 weeks of training. After the first four weeks, they attend a Trainer-Trainee Training. We were able to have one of those this week as well. The trainer missionaries have done an exceptional job. Sisters Goodwine/Carson; Greenhalgh/Gray; and Elders Peterson/Beddes; Briggs/Carlisle; and Overman/Kocherhans spent some time explaining how the first four weeks went and how they have utilized the Book of Mormon in the teaching, studying, and finding. It is amazing how well everyone is doing in their companionships. Elders Anderson and Dew discussed companionship study and expectations of trainers. Sister Hammon shared her thoughts on the importance and purpose of missionary work. I spoke on the Doctrine of Christ of coming unto Christ. The spirit was abundant. Sister Hammon and I appreciate all the training missionaries and the new missionaries who are doing so well.

Our new missionaries of four weeks and their trainer missionaries--Awesome group!

Lake Elsinore Stake Conference

Sister Hammon and I attended both the Saturday night and Sunday sessions of Lake Elsinore’s Stake Conference. Exceptional and revelatory! Saturday’s session’s theme was “Become and help others to become true followers of Jesus Christ and enjoy the blessings of the temple.” Six members of the Stake discussed their conversions and experiences in the temple and how they were able to go to the temple. Incredible stories? We spoke afterwards with Brother Michael Morton. He had been a less active member of the church for many, many years. On Saturday morning, just before Stake Conference, he went through the temple with his brother and received his endowment. His wife had been baptized just a year before. He told us how appreciative he was for the missionaries, particularly Sisters Palmer and Wilde (who was with him and his wife in the temple) and what incredible missionaries they were to help him and his wife. His story—and the other stories—made our hearts swell. The influence you all have on members, less actives, and investigators/converts is enormous. Remember that: Your companionships along with the Holy Ghost, the third member of your divine companionship, help people come unto Christ. How powerful is that feeling! Thank you for being such great examples.

President Wilson with us and some of the Ward Mission Leaders in Lake Elsinore Stake

 The Sunday Session was equally as wonderful! One of the sisters who spoke has been a member just for two years and was sealed to her husband only six months ago. She said that the Church through temple has the “ultimate message of hope and love.” President and Sister Northcutt, who are the San Diego Temple President and Matron, spoke about temples and how we can be in the temple, and the world just goes away while we bask in the spirit and truth. President Wilson spoke on “Emotional Congruence,” a type of alignment when we are able to feel in the moment the emotions and feelings of those who we are with. It’s like the people at the Waters of Mormon who understood about what they need to do to mourn with those that mourn. It is also about feeling happy when someone is happy. In essence, we need to be completely present during any conversation sans any digital device.

Sister Hammon and I are loving our calling and being with the missionaries, the members, and those who are being taught the gospel of Jesus Christ. We met a high school senior, the captain of her cheer squad, who is investigating the Church at Lake Elsinore’s Stake Conference. What a wonderful example of a young woman of virtue who is seeking truth.

And thus it is, every single day! The Lord is definitely watching over us and our family.

Our sweet Avonlea posted this week.

Anna Rose and William posted this week.

Emiline and Anna Rose 

A painting spree!

This is what these angels really look like at Church!

The Johnsons having fun in the hot tub

We love you all!

President and Sister Hammon

  

In our backyard

Interviews, Talks, Incredible Missionaries--California Riverside Mission

 Interviews

Elders Cox, Staley, Hales, Peterson, Broadhead, Luthy, and Beddes

Lots of interviews this week. After each transfer, we go on the road and visit all of the zones in our mission. Sister Hammon directs traffic, takes pictures, discusses missionary things, and shares grapes (the treat this round of interviews). I have the privilege of interviewing each of our missionaries. What incredible missionaries we have in those zones! I appreciate all of you who came and shared your wonderful missionary experiences with me. Thank you for discussing how you have been using the Book of Mormon  in your studying, reading, finding, and teaching. That is definitely what we expected would happen. These Book of Mormon  experiences will only enhance your missionary endeavors and created expected and unexpected teaching and finding miracles.  

Elders Larsen and Braunstadter; Sisters Palmer and Mackley

Elders Gallacher, Shurtleff, Stark, and Frazier

Sisters Chandler and Ford

Sisters Price and DiPietro

Elders Walker, Casper, de Mare, Simpson, and Patterson

Elders Baum, Beal, Jensen, and Saxton

Elders Yeaman and Roper

Sisters Rossignoli and Diamond

Elders Hallows and Moloney

Elders Gossett and Frisby

Sisters Butler and Ruggles

Elder and Sister Hubbard

(See more pictures on my Facebook page!)

Ward Mission Week

On Sunday evening, we spoke at the Corona Ward’s Missionary Week celebration! What a great event! Sisters Harris and Bryant, the Ward Mission Leader, his wife, and other ward members did an incredible job. Bishop de la Cerda gave an inspiring testimony of the work. We look for incredible things from the Corona Ward! The refreshments were delicious; the company even better. We hope they share their experience with their Zone and District. I may have them share this experience with us during other trainings.

Opening to the refreshments after the fireside

Sisters Harris and Butler and their "Sister" cookies

Table of goodies after the fireside

Speaking

Sister Hammon and I spoke in both the University Heights Ward (Elders Frazier and Stark; Elder and Sister Thorne; and Elder and Sister Davis) and the Circle City Ward (Elders Medearis and Herald). President Norman spoke in the Arlington Heights Ward Sacrament meeting. He said: “It was wonderful. There was a great spirit there. My wife and I stayed for Gospel Principles class. Elders Eldridge and Osberg had a new convert who was confirmed. It was a good day.”  

Hermana Madrid, a former missionary comes to visit.

We also met a former sister missionary in our mission, Hermana Madrid. She brought her mother so they could tour her mission. She was an amazing missionary and trained many of our sister missionaries. She did a fantastic job. Muchas gracias, Hermana Madrid. 

Hermana Madrid and her mother

We love the Book of Mormon and wanted to share one of our favorite scriptures.

“But behold, that which is of God inviteth and enticeth to do good continually; wherefore, every thing which inviteth and enticeth to do good, and to love God, and to serve him, is inspired of God” (Moroni 7:13; also read Moroni 7:12-19).

We continue to enjoy our amazing California Riverside Mission! We are humbled each day as we travel around the mission and talk to our missionaries, members, and ward and stake leaders. We hope to do good continually.

Early morning outside our front door.

It has been enormously hot. Today, it is 111 degrees, and the air conditioning went out at the Mission Office. Hot box. Sauna. Yes!

It does rain in Southern California

Lots more first! Incoming! Outgoing! Interviews! Sister Training and District Training Meeting!

Incoming! Outgoing! Interviews! Sister Training and District Training Meeting! All in one week! We love the firsts of everything.

Outgoing!

The following missionaries left for home this week: Elders Brinkerhoff, Drebot, Jackson, Jones (A), Jones (C), Murphy, and Wood; Sisters Godoy, Keith, and Rodriguez. They arrived at the mission home around 4:00 p.m., and we began eating around 5:00 p.m. Olga and her mother had made street tacos and a refreshing drink from orange juice and cucumbers. 

Olga and her mother. They prepared street tacos! Excelente!

Everything was delicious! Our testimony meeting with all of these elders and sisters was incredibly spiritual and enlightening. These missionaries spoke of miracles and tender mercies while serving here and growing and progressing spiritually. After the testimony and a little dessert, 

Dessert: Tres Leches. It was divine. Sister Hammon did an incredible job.
We think this might be the start of a tradition for outgoing!

Sisters McCracken, Rodriguez (outgoing), Thorne, and Davis

Elders Thorne, Davis, and McCracken

the outgoing missionaries and I had “companionship study.” We studied light and how to keep that light within us, particularly after mission.

Last hurrah at the Mission Home: Dinner, testimony meeting,
and dessert with incredible missionaries!

Tuesday morning dawned early, like at 5:00 a.m. because we needed to have breakfast ready to go early so the missionaries could catch their flights. We began eating at 6:40 a.m. We cooked French toast, eggs, and sausage, coupled with fruit and juice. They ate heartily. Soon, though, it was time to go.

We loaded the truck and the vans and headed to the airport, arriving in plenty of time for them to check in. 

Truck loaded and ready to go!

Once they were checked in, we took even more pictures at the airport with them, mostly with their cameras. Then, we gave them all big missionary hugs and off they went, up the stairs and escalators and through security, and then they were gone. Tears came to ours eyes. We have known these missionaries just one transfer, but our hearts have known them much longer. What a challenge it was to let them go—but what happiness we had, knowing they would be seeing their parents and their families in such a short time. Could there be a happier time when their families saw them for the first time after two years or 18 months? Lo dudamos mucho. We doubt very much!

             

Final group pictures before heading off: Elder Jones, President and Sister Hammon,
Hermana Godoy, Elder Drebot, Elders Brinkerhoff, Jones Jackson, Murphy, and Wood

Incoming!

We didn’t have to wait very long before the incoming missionaries arrived. The first came flying down the stairs, and we didn’t recognize him from the pictures we have had. In fact, his name tag was in Chinese. We greeted him like we would any others and discovered he actually was going to the California Arcadia Mission. No one was there to pick him up. :(  Soon, though, ours began to trickle down the stairs and the escalator. 

Elder Molony and Elder Staley

Sister Carson, Sister Hammon, and Sister Gray

Before too long, they were all there. What a joy to see them all, ready and eager. We then hustled them out to the vans and cars, loaded them their luggage up, and away we went.

Incoming missionaries! Excited to be here! Finally1

In about 45 minutes, we arrived back to the Mission Office where we had some goodies for them. After they had had some nourishment, knowing they had been up since 3:30 this morning. Once nourished somewhat we began with Mission Basics, other important details about their new lives here in the mission, and interviews. After all that, we had a delicious dinner. Once we finished, the Assistants and we met in my office to finalize my thoughts about who should be with whom. Once we finished eating, we walked to the Relief Society Room where I revealed who their new companions were going to be. What a choice experience that was. Then came testimony meeting.

We were extremely impressed with the testimonies of the new missionaries—

Sister Carson 

Sister Gray

Elder Beatty 

Elder Beddes

Elder Carlisle

Elder Kocherhans

Elder Loveridge

Elder Molony

Elder Saxton

Elder Shurtliff 

Elder Simpson

Elder Staley

Elder Stark

It was definitely a great spiritual feast for all of us.

The last event of the evening was picture taking, dessert, and off with their new companions. Sister Hammon and I had a picture taken with them, then they had one by themselves, and then one with their companions. What joy it was to see them take a picture with their companions. I can already see the love that they all share. Hurrah for Zion! As they go out to work.

Sister Training and District Training Meeting!

What a wonderful group of current and new sister training and district leaders! We met in the cultural hall and participated in discussions about leadership in the Book of Mormon, following the patterns of Book of Mormon leaders; exchanges; district planning, using the Organize, Review, Analyze, and Revise (ORAR) method of planning; and sister training leader exchanges. We appreciate the spirit and the vigor you all bring to the Mission leadership. We look forward to seeing how your districts progress and grow. 

Current and new district and sister training leaders

Sister Goodwine, trying to learn by osmosis;
Elder Avei in background wondering when it is his turn!

We have enjoyed this week thoroughly! We love doing what we are doing! May the Lord continue to bless all of you.