Multi-zone conferences, testimonies, and Golden Plunger and Clean Car awards

Bougainvillea just the street from the Mission Home

What a delightful and amazing week with multi-zone conferences (MZC). We thoroughly enjoyed our time with the missionaries in the California Riverside Mission. One of our favorite times in the mission is when we gather with them, feel and share their spirit, listen to them sing, hear their testimonies, watch them grow and develop right before our eyes, and dine with them. Truly, we had a spiritually uplifting week. We relish these times.

For our most recent multi-zone conference (MZC), the missionaries gathered into four groups: Corona and Jurupa zones in Jurupa;

Corona Zone

Jurupa Zone

Mt. Rubidoux, Moreno Valley, and Riverside zones in Moreno Valley;

Mt. Rubidoux Zone

Moreno Valley Zone

Riverside Zone

Lake Elsinore and Menifee in Lake Elsinore;

Lake Elsinore Zone

Menifee Zone

and the Hemet Zone in Hemet.

Hemet Zone

We were impressed by the presenters, the comments from the missionaries, the musical numbers (Wow!), and the spiritual environments the missionaries created. They just had great comments. The lunches were wonderful and delicious. We truly appreciate the Relief Society sisters (and some brethren) in the Jurupa, Moreno Valley, Lake Elsinore, and Hemet stakes. They love our missionaries, and we love them. They always provide incredible meals and smiles.

Jurupa Stake Relief Society with Priesthood 

 

Lunching with the elders!

Lake Elsinore Relief Society Sisters

Lunching with the sisters

In line and filling up their plates--Round one!

Hemet Relief Society and Priesthood

Either President Hansen and President Norman from the Mission Presidency enlightened us each morning with the topic “What the Book of Mormon is and what it affirms.”  President Hansen told us of the ripple effect connection: “You can’t get more than you give. You cannot go to the stream with a cup and expect to bring back a gallon of water.” In essence, he said, “When we receive power, you must use this power, these gifts, to help others.” Plus, he said, “Don’t expect the gift of the power of God if you are not obedient or diligent.” President Norman specifically outlined, with your help, “What the Book of Mormon is” and “what it affirms.” You created an enormous list, both days. President Norman helped us understand that the Book of Mormon “helps us find purpose in our lives and is a source of personal testimony.” 

From the front door of the Mission Home

Other topics included “Joy is greater than fear”; “How do I know I am improving”; Christlike attributes: Meekness”; “Living and Teaching by the Spirit”; Complacency and Apathy”; and “The Gathering of Israel—an integral part of the restoration of all things.” I know most missionaries took copious notes and learned many things by the spirit.

             

Sister Hammon and I focused on how we can help the “rising generation” with the gathering of Israel. We extended this invitation: “Will you rise up and determine your true purpose, develop priorities that will elevate your lives, create a plan to do what needs to be done, and then do what you know you need to do to become a true disciple of Jesus Christ?” We asked each companionship, district, and zone to set goals that will enable us to fulfill this invitation.

             

Sisters filling up....

One of the spiritual highlights of the MZC is the testimony meeting. Both the outgoing missionaries (those going home) and the incoming (those beginning their missions) testified of the truthfulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. All testimony meetings were incredible! What wonderful missionaries going and wonderful missionaries who came. We were, indeed, blessed by their words. Here are a few of them:

Outgoing:

• E. Frazier—“Home is where the heart is. I am home here. I love my mission. I am becoming the person the Lord sees. If you aren’t happy with the work, you haven’t started yet.”
• E. Briggs—“The biggest accomplishment is being able to trust in the Lord. The Atonement of Jesus Christ stretches so far. The spirit can be the music to your ears.” (Elder Briggs gave four testimonies….thank you!)
• E. Shurtleff—“You have a positive influence for someone in life. Serving is the most exciting rollercoaster. There is pain in change but also satisfaction. Peter changed his life by stepping out. When we step outside of ourselves, we truly discover ourselves.”
• E. Guymon—“God has a plan for each of us as long as we put our shoulder to the wheel and listen to the Holy Ghost.”
• E. Rivas—“Without the missionaries, my family and I would have been lost. I saw a light in the missionaries, and I want to have that light.”
• E. Gregory—“Before mission, I loved adrenalin. Now, I seek the spirit. I have felt it, and I have wanted more. It’s like the taste of eternity.”
• E. Marrow (returning to Puerto Rico)—“I have loved it in California. I don’t know who I would be without all of you.”
• (We did not find out that Elder Marrow and Elder Lawes were returning to Puerto Rico until the last day; so, Elder Lawes did not have the opportunity to bear his “outgoing” testimony from our mission. I can tell you, though, he would have testified of the great truths he is teaching.)

Incoming:

• E. Stolle—"Before mission, I never had good studies. Now, I have never felt the spirit as strong as when I have read the Book of Mormon.”
• E. Huckstep—“God has a plan for each of us.”
• E Larsen—“This is an amazing gospel that fills me with joy.”
• E. Johnson—“I am growing more accustomed to the power of the Holy Ghost. It’s amazing when I feel it.”
• E. Patrick (leaving for France)—“As you teach by the spirit, you have a clear understanding of how beautiful the gospel is and how it feels of being not just the teacher but also the tool.”
• E. Mackay—“We are never alone. The Savior is always with us.”
• E. Rich—“I feel everything has become clearer.”
• S. Lobb (leaving for Taiwan)—"I am so grateful to share the gospel with others.”
• E. Furguson—“The mission is clearly not the easiest thing in the world, but we must pray for people who are waiting for us.”
• S. Ashby (leaving for Taiwan)—“I have loved every moment I have  been in California. How unifying it is to be a missionary.”
• E. Rowe— “When we believe something, and we testify, the spirit will testify.”
• E. Contreras—“The Church is true. The Book of Mormon is true. The Holy Spirit is in us.”
• S. White—“I have a strong testimony of Jesus Christ.”

Of course, at each MZC, we acknowledge those with the cleanest apartments

Winners of Golden Plunger Award, Corona Zone: Elders Gallacher and Casper

Winners of Golden Plunger Award, Jurupa Zone--Elders Huckstep and Quinton

Winners of Golden Plunger Award, Riverside/Mt. Rubidoux zones--Sisters Chase and Ruben with Elder and Sister Troxell

Winners of Golden Plunger Award, Moreno Valley Zone, Sisters Bascom and Rossignoli with Elder and Sister Dickinson

Winners of Golden Plunger Award, Lake Elsinore Zone--Sisters Weston and Maxfield

Winners of Golden Plunger Award, Menifee Zone--Elders Ngatuvai and Svenson

Golden Plunger Award Winners, Hemet Zone--Sisters Moffit and Preator with Elder and Sister Wall

And the cleanest cars. The incentive for the cleanest apartments is the traveling “Golden Plunger Award.” Plus, we had a tub of licorice, a missionary favorite and tradition. For the cleanest car, they also receive a traveling “Car Award.” Elder and Sister Davis who are Church Service Missionaries over housing and cars (interim) developed the “Golden Plunger” and “Cleanest Car” awards. 

Cleanest Car Award, Elders Lawes and Castro

Cleanest Car Award, Hermanas Caldes y Sorensen

We also sang happy birthday to those who celebrated birthdays since the last transfer. Then, we sing some version of “Happy Birthday” to all the birthday missionaries.

Elder Sato; Sisters Myers, Winters, and Bartschi; Elders Williams, Johnson, and Briggs

Sisters Begay and Parker; Elders Chapman, Gregory, Santos, Simpson, and Briggs

Elder Komers; Sisters Peterson and Moffit

We love and appreciate the missionaries in the California Riverside Mission. Many thanks to them for their wonderful examples; their obedience, diligence, and willingness to do hard things; and their continuous improvement. We know Heavenly Father will bless for our efforts in doing all we can to become disciples of Christ.

President and Sister Hammon

Mission Elevated!

On one of our morning walks down our lane!