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| In our backyard, hanging over the fence from the neighbor's yard. Thanks for sharing! |
Our past two weeks have been filled with interviews and multi-zone
conferences. As Sister Hammon and I concluded the last multi-zone conference
(MZC) on Friday and were driving home, we just looked each other and said, “What
an incredible week at multi-zone conferences.”
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| Mt Rubidoux Zone |
The spirit was strong in each of
them; the music was spectacular; and participation was outstanding; and the
tears were plentiful. We were amazed with the trainings the zone leaders, sister
training leaders, and outgoing missionaries gave. It was a huge learning
experience to know our Mission is in good hands, and the outgoing are leaving
an enormous legacy for all of us to follow and emulate. President Norman and
President Hansen gave highly inspirational messages about loving God with all
of our hearts.
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| Moreno Valley Zone |
The conference was replete with incredible diverse topics? Some of them were taught
at every MZC, and others were taught during specific MZCs by specific zone and
sister training leaders and outgoing missionaries.
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| Riverside Zone |
“Sacrifice vs. Consecration and Sanctification”
“Setting up, following up, and assessing goals”
“Preach My Gospel: following patterns”
“Adjusting to Missionary Life”
“We make Christ our Center by loving Him with all our hearts”
“Enduring to the end by Walking with God”
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| Walking with God and enduring to the end comments from missionaries |
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| Walking with God and enduring to the end comments from missionaries |
“Disciples of Christ”
“Being diligent with an eye of faith”
“Finding the elect”
“Have we not reason to rejoice?”
“Urgency of the work”
“Asking inspired questions”
“Bold but not overbearing + Persistence”
“Street contacting using 2 Nephi 25:26”
“Elevated home visits”
“Increasing our access to Christ's Grace through believing in
Christ”
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| Hemet Zone |
We decided we needed to tap the outgoing missionaries one more
time. There are 27 of them returning home in the July transfer, all of them
former or current leaders. Everything about trainings propelled us to
understand the greatness of the missionaries and of the California Riverside Mission and want to do
better.
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| San Jacinto Zone |
During the testimony meeting, the outgoing missionaries (all 27 of them) had great
counsel for all of us and bore strong, powerful testimonies.
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| Menifee Zone |
E. Sorenson—“You can have the spirit with you the whole time. Our
desires can change through the Atonement of Jesus Christ.”
E. Eldridge—“We must remember why we are doing this. The people
who we are teaching deserve the very best. These experiences will affect the rest
of your life.”
E. Avei—“We must ask inspired questions. They come through
studying and inspiration of the Holy Ghost.”
E. Rose—“The Gospel of Jesus Christ has brought peace and joy into
my life.”
E. McCracken—“It’s not all about me. The people out there are a
lot more important than we are.”
E. Steed—“The greatest gift is gaining the gift of love and
understand who Christ really is.”
E. Cox—“I remembered the statement ‘If Brother Cox goes on a
mission, he will never regret it.’”
E. Osberg—“My mission has been the greatest experience I have had
in my life.”
E. Medearis—“I have a renewed view of the world.”
E. de Mare—“My mission has been like a ship in raging waters. I
have learned things on my mission I would have never learned before.
E. Dew—“I love my mission so much. I hope to hold to the standards
I have learned.”
E. Bailey—“This mission has been the biggest blessing of my life.
It has been the hardest thing I have ever done.”
E. Watson—“My view has gone from watching missionaries go home to
watching friends go home and now watching us go home.”
E. Holyoak—“I didn’t realize how much I loved my mission and how
much I have changed. I want my mission to be the launch pad for the rest of
my life.”
E. Balls—“Heavenly Father will propel us.”
Hna. Tonini—“If we say we are going to be happy in the future, you
will never will be happy.”
Hna. Hernández—“Every second of the journey has been sacred. The
biggest miracle has been me changing.”
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| Corona Zone |
S. Wilson—“I found my testimony; I’ve laid my foundation. When you
rely on the Lord and have courage to make that jump, we can learn new things.”
S. Ruggles—“How great it has been to see the growth in me. Learn
to do this: Enjoy to the end!”
E. Lewis—“I am a disciple of Christ and look forward to teach
others.”
S. Palmer—“Your Savior is by your side even through afflictions.”
E. Holloway—“My last half of my mission has been better than the
first half because I changed my attitude.”
E. Day—“My mission has been the longest, shortest, hardest, most
fun thing I have ever done.”
Hna. Harper—“I have loved every minute. My mission has offered me
the most sacred moments of my life.”
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| La Sierra Zone |
E. Frisby—“I have realized many of my weaknesses have brought me
to my knees. It is at these moments when I have felt Him.”
E. Hale—“There is no reason why we cannot have both feet in the
mission.”
E. Tobiasson—“I have seen many miracles, and I am going to take
the things I have learned to the next chapter of my life.”
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| Lake Elsinore Zone |
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| Jurupa Zone |
Of course, the food was outstanding.
Every Relief Society had a summer theme.” We
had fried chicken, hot dogs, pulled pork sandwiches, watermelon, potato salad,
coleslaw, and a host of sides and desserts. I can tell you no one went away
hungry.
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| Lunch with the Hemet and San Jacinto zones |
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| 4th of July decorations |
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| Lunch |
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| Moreno Valley Relief Society |
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| Hemet Relief Society |
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| Lake Elsinore Relief Society |
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| Jurupa Stake |
What about the famed "Golden Plunger Awards" for the cleanest apartments. Here they are:
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| Elder and Sister Dickerson, Elder Ballard and Elder McCracken |
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| Sisters Price and Grillone |
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| Elders Carlisle and Casper (see the Golden Plunger?) |
How can missionary work be without
baptisms? We had a few the past couple of weeks. We were able to attend several
of them. What wonderful people who have chosen to enter the strait and narrow
way of baptism.
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| Lots of months of teaching, lots of missionaries teaching |
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| Even President Hammon had the opportunity to baptize! |
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| Wonderful Chinese baptism |
We had one of our senior couples return home with honor this week. Elder and Sister Thorne served as one of the Mission's office couples. They served well, and we will miss them greatly.
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| Elder and Sister Thorne and President and Sister Hammon |
What a glorious week it was! Sister
Hammon and I celebrated our one-year mark this week. More on that in another blog. We love our missionaries and our mission, the California Riverside Mission!
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